Dirty traitor dogs left and right! Luc did everything in his power to move, but his body refused to listen. Because he could do nothing physical, he churned thoughts to distract himself from the incoming scratching. As he thought, what bothered him the most was a single question.

Why does this keep happening to me?

The immediate answer Luc had for himself was because he had tried pushing Matthias off the cliff. But he knew that it wasn’t the whole story. Matthias hated him partially because of his father. Luc couldn’t do anything about that. What troubled him more was that Baz had chosen to side with Matthias instead of him. Before that had happened, Baz had been trying to tell him something.

If only I didn’t cut him off. If only I had listened to what he had to say. Then maybe I’d be outside looking in, instead of lying here waiting to die.

The swishing and scratching noises stopped. Luc wanted to turn his head to look, but his body remained paralyzed, and the pit remained void of light. However, as he lay there, he found that he could blink again. Maybe the paralysis is wearing off?

There was a clattering sound from behind Luc. Suddenly, the entire vicinity was flooded with blue light.

“W-w-who are you people?” said Maho, voice hoarse and frail. “Sor? Sheel?”

Luc tried once more to turn his head. Once again, his neck refused to move, but his fingers and toes seemed to be regaining some movement.

“You!” shouted Maho. There were grunts of pain and exertion. A moment later, hands grabbed Luc by the shoulders and rolled him onto his back. Maho stared down at him, eyes wide with fear and maybe a bit of hysteria.

“You’re alive!” said Maho, shaking Luc. “Are we still in the pit? Where are the others?”

Luc found that he could open his mouth. He tried to speak, but his tongue would not budge. The only sound that came from his mouth was a series of gargles and mumbles that sounded like the cries of a newborn baby.

“Speak!” shouted Maho, shaking Luc all the harder.

Luc didn’t care too much about the shaking. His gaze was fixated on what was behind Maho. Illuminated in the blue light were about a dozen figures. Each one of them was dressed in clothing made of straw – their torsos were wrapped with what looked to be a cloak made of straw, and their legs were covered by another ring of hanging straw tied around their waists. While they looked to have human-like statures, each one wore a colorful mask depicting the face of an animal. From a cursory glance, Luc could see a rooster, dog, pig, and tiger, among several others.

Luc became aware that Maho was still screaming at him. Grimacing, he tried to speak once more.

“Stop shaking me,” said Luc.

A look of relief spread across Maho’s face and he lowered his head, heaving deep breaths. It occurred to Luc that Maho was a lot younger than he looked. While he had the same thick beard as his brothers, his eyes and facial structure were those of a young man’s.

“They’re gone,” said Luc, moving his arms and legs. Seemed like everything in his body was returning back to order. “They left us behind.”

“I knew it,” said Maho, slumping to the ground next to Luc. His breath came in short bursts, and he blinked repeatedly. “I knew that we shouldn’t have used slaves. Never a good idea.”

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Luc propped himself up against the wall of rock. The straw covered figures had formed a half circle around them. Every few moments, they took a step closer.

“Who are you?” Maho shouted at the figures. “Why won’t you answer?”

“They’re not human,” said Luc. After having encountered so many different monsters over the course of one night and one day, it didn’t seem to faze him anymore. He also didn’t seem to feel the fear that would usually overtake him. Maybe it was that he had already resigned himself to death. Maybe it was because everything had made him a little crazy.

“T-they’re not human?” said Maho, eyes wide. “So what do we do?”

He’s asking me? Luc felt that he should feel proud that someone had finally respected his authority as the heir of Tosa. But for some reason, he didn’t feel that way at all. If someone like Dante or Matthias were here, Maho would definitely be asking them. Maho was only asking him because there was no one else to ask. But what exactly is the difference between them and me? Once again, Baz’s decision came to mind. Turning to Maho, Luc spoke. Not an order or a command but a question.

“How…how did you get into this mess?”

Maho stared at him, incredulous. “What?”

“I don’t mean this pit,” mumbled Luc. He wasn’t used to talking to commoners. “I mean the whole Nighthawking business.”

“Do you have any idea of the situation we’re in?” said Maho, jabbing a finger at the approaching monsters. “How about you think about ideas on how to get out of here rather than asking me my life story!”

Luc lowered his head, embarrassed and ashamed.

Maho fumbled open the pouch at his side. Inside the pouch was a small pile of gemstones. There only looked to be a handful left. Cursing, Maho patted down his body. When he didn’t find anything, he cursed explosively once more.

“I don’t have many gems left,” said Maho, sweat coating his brow. “I don’t have much stamina left either from keeping all of these gems lit.”

“Ah,” said Luc. He didn’t have much else to say. Looks like this is where it’s going to end.

“Stay here,” said Maho. “I’m going to see if these things are actually dangerous.”

Using the wall as support, Maho hauled himself to his feet. Casting a wary glance around, he hopped into the middle of the semicircle surrounding them. He kept his hand tucked in his pouch, ready to draw gemstones at a moment’s notice.

“I will ask you one more time,” said Maho, voice wavering. “Who are you, and why do - ”

The figure with a snake mask made an almost imperceptible movement with a hand. For a moment, nothing happened. Then a hole appeared in Maho’s midsection, running clean through his body. Maho stood there for an instant, confused. As blood began trickling down his dirtied robes, Maho’s face twisted in pain, and he fell to a knee.

Luc stood. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but nevertheless, he stood. Before he could make a move, Maho held up a palm, stopping him.

“I never wanted to do this,” said Maho, voice quiet. “I’ve always been the weakest among my brothers. One of them can control the wind and the other can become an impenetrable wall. What can I do? Make someone a little bit faster and stronger by having them swallow a gem? Light the night with pretty colors? Ha! Don’t make me laugh.”

The tiger mask raised an arm. There was an audible whoosh, and three deep gashes slashed their way across Maho’s back. Maho collapsed onto his hands and knees, blood spurting from his wounds.

“When…my brothers said they were going to train to be the Emperor’s royal guards, I didn’t know what to do. The royal guards are supposed to protect the Emperor and the Court Nobles. My brothers told me with my Skills, I can’t protect anyone. But foolish me, thinking I can keep up with my brothers, came with them on this mission. The mission that’s supposed to get them promoted to royal guards!”

Rabbit mask made a twisting motion with his hands. There was a crunch and Maho’s left arm twisted backwards. A scream of pain escaped Maho’s mouth, echoing throughout the bottom of the pit. When the scream ended, Maho braced himself using his right palm. Luc could see it trembling on the stone floor. With a push, Maho forced himself to rise to his feet once more. He stood there for an instant, wavering and staggering. But he did not fall. Slowly, Maho turned to look Luc in the eyes.

“When you get out of here, tell my brothers that they were right. I don’t have what it takes to be a royal guard,” said Maho, reaching his right hand into his pouch of gems. With one swift movement, he shoved all the remaining gemstones into his mouth. His throat bulged as he swallowed. Then he turned to face the masked figures.

“I won’t ever protect the Emperor. But I can protect you.”

Light burst from Maho’s body, nearly blinding Luc with its brightness. Shading his eyes with a hand, Luc squinted to try to see what was happening. Maho grew brighter and brighter, flooding the pit with rays of red, green, and blue. For an instant, Maho stood there, light resonating from his body, like a star right in front of Luc.

“[Gemlight Supernova]!”