“Why? Without our crests, we can’t use its power to defeat that Shadow.” Lemi worryingly said.

It’s true. When I looked at the back of my hand where my crest was, I could barely see it. I didn’t pay too much attention to it before, but it looks like most of its magic power was sucked away. By what? By that Shadow Wizard?

Without our Crests, I couldn’t see any chance of victory. The five of us were trying to flee the castle filled with mindless soldier blocking our path. As the others worked together to fight off the attackers, I was being carried through the escape because of the injuries I still have. Lemi’s used up half her supplies and some magic to speed up my recovery.

We managed to find a room to hide and take a quick breather.

“Kihet, you were right. I should’ve listened to you.” Shiba punched the wall. “Instead, I dismissed your warning as if I treated you like a fool. I’m the fool here.”

“You didn’t know. It’s not your fault.”

“I’m worried about Miyabe and my dear sister. Who knows how many soldiers Eizan brainwashed back in Xu. I must get back immediately.”

-I’m worried too. I hope they’re safe as well. I hope Sorah and Martha are doing well.

“Prince, you don’t address the Holy ones with their title?”

“It’s by my request.” I answered. “If you want, you guys can drop the titles too.”

“Same here. I actually feel uncomfortable being given a title.” Lemi added. “Kihet, how are you feeling?”

I tested my body, jumping around and exercised my limbs. With Lemi’s treatment and my mysterious mark closing the injuries, I was up on my feet, but my tail remained cut.

“I can run now. If I have a weapon I can also fight.”

“Good, we can use all the hands we can get.” Salith passed me her spare dagger. “Sorry, I don’t have anything else suited to your size.”

“This will do. It feels like a sword to me.”

“In any case, we seem to be in a predicament. That Shadow is one of the enemies of the world and Eizan summoned it.”

“Were you not aware or at least suspicious of him at all?” Kridas asked.

“I was fixated on the disappearance of my people and at the time, I thought he was my most trusted subject to lead the investigation. He was able to mislead my judgement by controlling the information passed onto me. Once I return to Xu, I will prepare an army. What about your Queen?”

“Her majesty is safe. As soon as we got Kihet’s information, we escorted her out of the capital before the traitors could get to her.” Salith looked out the window. “That’s enough talk for now. Carmyn shot us a signal. I’ll take point. Grandfather, cover our rear.”

The five of us followed Salith through the castle, killing every enemy intercepting us. To be honest, I’m glad someone like Salith was on the team. I’ve experienced her strength firsthand but was still impressed how easily she broke through enemy blockade. I couldn’t believe I survived that.

The rest of us followed her lead. Kridas was in charge of decimating heavily armored units and Shibata slew the lightly armored ones. Lemi used her magic scarcely to prevent overburdening her frail body while I took down strays rushing her.

We fought through the great halls, finding Alam, Carmyn and the others under cover. They took shelter against enemy archers.

“Carmyn, give me the situation!” Salith waved.

“No, stay back! Take cover!”

A burning projectile shot through the wall into a few pillars and the rubble that made up the ceiling collapsed. Luckily, we had Salith with her tower shield protecting Lemi, Shibata and me. Kridas and the other giants were able to shake off everything that fell on them. Giants were durable.

I heard screams and shouts outside. The Shadow Wizard levitated in the air above the city outside of the castle, indiscriminately dropping meteorites into the city. That was only the beginning as hundreds of magic circles blanketed over the sky, suddenly being unleashed all at once.

This was chaos. Buildings caught on fire, everything’s collapsing. Why is this happening?

“It’s now or never. Everyone, the enemy is disarray! We must pave the way for Xu’s Prince and the Holy Enuis! Advance!”

Despite the horrific scene engulfing Halsgrof in flames, Salith was the first to keep her composure. She regrouped her soldiers and rushed the gate. They caused mayhem among enemy ranks and prevented the enemy’s ability to rally themselves.

“The gates are still closed.” Alam swiftly cut down a guard. “I’ll go and open it.”

“I’ll go with you.” I volunteered.

“You sure? You just recovered.”

“I’m fine. I can handle myself.”

“In that case, I shall join you two.” Shibata declared. “I believe a rush with three swift fighters is enough to break through the enemy.”

“W-wow, this is making me nervous. I’ll be fighting with Xu’s Prince and an Enui.”

“Ha! Consider it an honor. I am also curious about to see how one of Rozzosea’s elite fighters fare. Do your best to protect me.”

In order to get the gates opened, Alam, Shiba and I ascended the tower’s staircase, carving into the mass of Giants trying to impede our advance. The path in front of us became crowded. Alam brute forced through their muscles. Shibata’s blade cut through their armor gracefully while I took a more rouge like approach.

While I’m not as strong as Alam or as nimble as Shiba, I was raised as hunter. I climbed up wooden beams, sniping unwary foes. I snuck behind the enemy lines from above, silently take down two before I was discovered. I quickly leapt off the stairs, mimicking Shiba’s butterfly axe kick into the guard’s helmet and plunged my dagger into his face.

“Move back!”

I pushed my entire weight forward and kicked off, causing the guard to crash into his comrades. The guards fell one after another. Their numbers tumbled down the stairs allowing us to pick them off one by one.

“Nice job!” Alam complimented.

“I can see why Miyabe was impressed by you. Your ability to learn from one look is fearsome.” Shiba added. “We’re nearly there. I will lead the charge. Hurry!”

Archers waited for us with bows drawn when we stepped out of the tower. From here, it was a straight line making us easy targets. Shiba remained unfazed as he ran out, holding his sword firmly. He knocked down all of the arrows and raced towards the enemy. It was amazing how easily he’d did it.

That’s something I can’t just copy.

“How’d you do that?”

“Awareness, prediction and years of training.”

Somehow, he sounded like he won with that smug on his face.

Alam and I followed close behind him as Shiba batted aside another wave of arrows like it was nothing. The three of us fought past the last line of guards and unlocked the gates.

“It’s opened!”

“Good, let’s regroup."

I surveyed the courtyard, searching for Lemi and others in this mess. She summoned magic barriers around Salith, Carmyn and Kridas as they moved past the gates through a storm of arrows.

I saw more enemy soldiers pouring out from the castle. The one leading them was the King while Eizan trailed behind.

Eizan noticed us on top of the walls and made a smirk.

“Tch. That snake’s aiming for my crown.”

“Shiba, we have company!” I raised my weapon.

Reinforcements made their way up the stairs and blocked our path down. They were Devils hypnotized by golden dusts. Judging from Shiba’s reaction, he recognized some of their faces from missing posters and some were elite soldiers.

Suddenly, Alam pushed Shiba back. A small figure fell on Alam’s back and repeatedly gouge his shoulder.

“AAAARGH! You little!”

Alam caught the child’s arm and tried slamming him onto the ground. With cat like reflex, the child slipped free of Alam’s grip and safely landed a few meters away from us.

-That’s Eizan’s son.

There was a spot of tore up flesh. Alam was bleeding like a fountain. The skin turned purple with some sort of viscera around it. I didn’t have any supplies to treat it. I hurriedly pressed over the injury with my rags.

“He’s poisoned!” I exclaimed. “We need to treat him!”

“Kihet, the enemy’s rushing us!” Shiba warned.

Three Devils locked blades with Shiba while I was preoccupied two. They weren’t ordinary soldiers. They were Shiba’s elite guards turned against us. We were struggling to push them away.

“Because of the Royal family… I lost everything!” The child climbed back onto the merlons and pounced at Shiba with a vengeful cry. “Everything is because of you ----!”

“Duck!”

Alam dashed forward fully extending both of his arms. Shiba and I quickly dropped down, watching him sprint between us. His long arms caught the Devils and the child in mid air and hurled them into the tower.

He then held us over his head.

“What are you doing?!”

“Sorry, Kihet. I’d just slow us down.” He coughed. Blood dripped down his mouth. “Salith, two packages incoming! You better keep them alive!”

Alam threw us out of the walls where Kridas caught us.

When I looked back, a Devil stabbed Alam’s side. He swatted the attacker, throwing a punch at another foe. Alam yanked out the weapon lodged in him and hacked into his next foe.

“Wait, we have to help Alam!” I shouted.

I saw grim faces as everyone continue running. They were purposefully ignoring me.

“He… will buy time for us.” Kridas muttered. “I’m sorry, but we can’t afford to lose you and Lemi.”

“But-!”

“Do you think Carmyn and Sal wanted this? The three grew up together. It’s tough for them as well.”

At that time, I realized the others knew sacrifices had to made. With the Shadow Wizard whisking endless barrage of spells and the enemy in hot pursuit, the warriors that joined Salith were aware of slim chances to escape. Even so, they were prepared to die for Lemi, Shiba and my sake.

I just can’t accept reality. There were faces I haven’t seen, people I haven’t talked to much. Yet, they’re willing to give up their lives.

Alam knew the enemy was aiming to open the gates for the King’s warriors to chase us. Before I turned into the alleyway, I saw his last moments as he raised his good arm defiantly and howled a war cry. He and shoved his entire arm into the mechanism. The gears grinded his arms, spitting bones, spilling blood and tearing flesh. He was then brutally pierced by spears, swords and arrows from all direction.

There was a sounding boom. The gates closed as they had to deal with Alam who jammed the gate’s mechanism.

The only ones that made it past was Carmyn, Salith, Kridas, Shiba, Lemi and me. Everyone else stayed behind to hold the enemy back.

Carmyn pursed her lips, fighting the tears.

“If those warriors were Xu’s soldier, their loyalty would allow him to soar through the ranks.” Shiba admitted. “I’ll swear on my pride, Xu will take revenge on behalf of Alam.”

“And I will give my prayers to Alam.” Lemi held her hands together solemnly.

“Thank you.” Carmyn responded. “I’m sure he’d be grateful.”

“Let’s make sure everyone escapes first.” Salith added. “Over here.”

We snuck around blockades and soldiers by going through ruins and hiding behind rubble. Most of the soldiers weren’t looking for us, and instead rushing towards the Shadow Wizard.

“Carmyn, let’s stop here for a second.” Kridas suddenly demanded.

“It’s not time to go drinking, Grandfather.”

“I could go for some but look. The stable is still standing with some Giraxes in there. We can use them to ride out of here.”

“Indeed. Travelling by foot will make us easy prey to catch outside the city.” Shiba commented.

Giraxes were a bull like monster that are commonly used to pull carts similar to Felks in my village. Their large muscular build allows them to carry the giant’s supplies. Unlike the Felks, they were slower in exchange for unmatched endurance that allowed them to travel longer distances than any other mounts and move past difficult to pass terrains.

We stopped at a familiar location. From the shape of the half standing building, it looked like the tavern Kridas and Lemi invited me to when I first arrived to Rozzosea. It was burning from a meteorite. Tables, chairs, broken barrels were stained with blood. There were corpses half buried in debris. One of them was the barkeeper holding his children.

I was seething with anger. I gritted my teeth and made a fist and my nails dug into my palms making them bleed.

“I’m sorry.” Lemi reached out, closing the barkeeper’s eyes.

How long will this nightmare last?

I then noticed Shiba swaying a bit.

“Shiba, are you okay?”

“H-huh? Oh, perhaps I’m a bit fatigued from all the running.”

-He’s definitely overexerting himself. I mean, I am too. We have an entire city of soldiers trying to hunt us down.

“Luckily, there are four.” Kridas tossed aside the door to the stable. “Lemi, you and Kihet will share one. Sal and I will be front and rear guard.”

“I suppose I’m riding with this fair lady?” Shiba looked at Carmyn.

“I apologize, but do you mind taking the reins? It would be best if I can shoot my bow.”

----------------------------------------

Rozzosea’s infantry found us. Their legs could only carry them as close to the Giraxes only to be flung off the road by their horns. Anything their horns missed, Carmyn’s bow was there to hamper their advance. Salith and Kridas would follow up with their destructive weapons. Lemi and I rode in the middle.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Since Lemi was limited to a number of magic she could cast, she volunteered to take the reins while I defended her. I was lucky enough to snatch a big shield and used it to block arrows coming towards us.

I’m beginning to worry about her health. The complexion on her face was growing worse.

“Salith, they’ve set up a checkpoint!” Carmyn growled.

She fanned out her arrows, hitting a group of archers stationed on the roofs.

“We won’t be able to ride through! Is there another path out of the city?” Shiba asked.

“We can’t afford to stay much longer. If we get caught in that Shadow Wizard’s magic storm, we’re done for!” Salith answered.

“Keep on going and don’t stop!” Kridas whipped the reins and brought himself to the front of the pack. “I’ll take down that checkpoint!”

Kridas cupped his Girax’s eyes and blindly rammed into the wall of stockade. It tripped and met its end with bundles of spears through its muscly packed body. Kridas used the momentum gained by being flung off its back and leapt into the enemy’s backline. He turned his body and decapitated the soldiers around him. In one fluid motion, his axe spun and split the stockades.

As he turned around, making sure the others galloping through, his stomach felt cold. He looked down, finding a hole cleanly through his body and a spear anchored in the ground behind him.

“GRANDFATHER!”

The spear retracted out of the ground the air and moved like it was possessed by a ghost. It twirled and shot itself at Kridas’ back.

“Nngh!”

Carmyn suddenly appeared, moving her sword to redirect the flying spear away, but it orientated itself mid-flight and chose Shiba as its next target.

“Woah!” Shiba managed to deflect it in time.

He watched as the spear soared into the watchtower crashed into the gates.

-That thing flies faster than I can see.

Lemi and I were the next target as I saw a glint coming out of the smoke. I quickly push Lemi off the Girax and watch our Girax get skewered and shredded.

“The Wizard is here…!” Lemi cried.

It floated down and stood between us and the exit. It playfully waved its fingers and recalled its flying spear.

Carmyn launched arrows in quick succession as she noticed it wasn’t aware of her presence.

The Shadow Wizard tapped the bottom of its spear, suspending the flying arrows. It was some sort of wind barrier.

“You monster!”

Salith howled in vengeance as she leapt off her mount, unleashing a devastating blow. Shiba followed suit with his sword.

While Salith, Carmyn and Shiba kept it busy, I carried Lemi towards Kridas.

“Hang in there, Kridas!”

“Kihet, get some healing ointments from my bag. I’ll cover up the wound.” Lemi instructed. “Oh no…”

-That doesn’t sound good.

“What is it?”

Lemi removed Kridas’ armor showing me a magic circle implanted around the hole in his stomach.

“What is that?”

“Kridas’ been stigmatized.” Lemi explained in our language. “A spell is put on him and it’s rapidly evolving to a volatile state.”

“Can you get rid of it?”

“I… can’t. I haven’t gone as in depth in researching magic like Elius. I can only treat the wound. The other option to dispel this is to defeat that Shadow. I don’t see us capable of doing that without our crests.”

“If you’re talking in your language, this is it, isn’t it? This is the end, for me.”

“Please don’t move, you’re still bleeding.”

“I know when to give up. I’m old.” Kridas smiled and tightly clenched his axe. “Good grief, it looks like I’ll be joining Alam soon. It’s better if I fight and try to get this magic thingyabob off, yeah?”

“Carmyn!”

Salith yelled in the distance, watching Carmyn get engulfed in an explosion. We couldn’t hear a response from her.

-Not another one!

“So it’s like this. At this rate, everyone’s not going to make it out. At least… you two…”

I can already see Kridas’ face turning tired.

“It hasn’t been long, but I’m glad I was given a chance to meet you two.” Kridas said. “Well, that’s enough of a break. Duty calls.”

“Kridas, I…”

“You put a lot of smiles on the people’s faces when you first arrived, Lemi. You did the best you could. Don’t blame yourself. This is something out of your expertise.” He reached for Lemi’s head and shook her hair a bit. “Get going you two. We only have two Giraxs left and take Xu’s Prince as well. And also, Kihet.”

“Yeah?”

“Treat Sorah well. She may be a feisty one, but she cares a lot about you. You two will make a good couple. Don’t die on her.”

“I will.” I answered, helping Lemi on one of the Giraxes.

I was hesitant about leaving, but Kridas reminded me of someone I must continue to stay alive for.

If I only could use those flames coming off the mysterious symbol that apparition gave me. I tried to imagine summoning grey flames, but to no avail, nothing came out.

“Shiba, Salith, we’re getting outta here!”

Shiba quickly got on, but Salith remained standing down against the Shadow Wizard.

“No thanks, Kihet. Grandfather alone can’t stop this Shadow.”

“You sure, Sal?”

“I’ve already informed the Queen I won’t be making it back.”

“You know, you’re as stubborn as your mother.”

“As long as they make it out, we’ll win. I’m sure of it.”

----------------------------------------

Blood gushed from Kridas’ stomach as the Shadow Wizard manipulated the earth to stop his advance with a wall of spikes. He was impaled in the shoulder, the ribs and the legs. Despite deep injuries, he managed to push his way through to get his axe in swinging range.

He cleaved down with all his might, splitting an infinite stone pillar that sprouted from the ground. His axe grinded against the splitting pillar until the load was too much and broke the handle.

While the Shadow Wizard focused everything to defend against Kridas’ superhuman strength, Salith bashed her mace and scored a direct hit. Unfortunately, she found herself stepping on a magic rune, electrifying her.

“Sal!”

“I’m, not going down, this easily!”

Salith unleashed a war cry, breaking free from the cage of lightning. Her hair was pointing in all directions and her skin was slightly burnt from lightning shock. All in all, she kept standing and it was enough for to continue fighting,

“As long as one of us is still alive, that Shadow won’t get to them!”

“Heh, well said! If I’m going to die, I’d rather go out with a bang!”

----------------------------------------

My view was obstructed by fallen towers and flames. We rode for the exit, trampling the last, dumbfounded guards.

There were also Devil archers on our right, so I moved the shield over to protect Lemi.

“Kihet, archers on our left!” Shiba yelled.

“Shit!”

“O’Light, embodiment of the living. Spirits, essence of souls. Guide brave ones the courage to march into the depths of abyss. Grant them the protection to withstand the reckoning force. Ank, Cirl, Ulos, Foram, Nalus, Maks, Ashent!”

Lemi was forced to cast [Barrier] to protect our right flank. This escape was taking a heavy toll on her. She began wheezing, and her body was overheating.

“Lemi, are you alright?”

“I’m” She huffed. “Hanging on… somehow…”

We’re almost out of the city. Once we get out, we should rest up at Xu and then go back to the village to warn the Elder.

A bloody howl came behind us.

Kridas used [Wars Blood] and plowed that portion of the city with his hands. The earthquake reached all the way to us, and a massive dust cloud brewed in the distance. Then, it was the end of him. The magic circle on his stomach grew and began covering him ice. Once he was fully encased, his body crumbled into irreparable fragments and was forever gone.

“Kridas, Salith…!” Lemi sobbed.

“We’ll get back at that Shadow. I promise.” I said.

I won’t let their sacrifices be in vain. We’re almost there. Just a bit more.

“Woah, hey!”

Our Griax suddenly stopped. No matter how hard we swing the reins, they refused to take another step forward. They were grunting and pointing their horns at the gate like they were afraid of something.

There was a group of soldiers standing directly below the gate. One of them walked forward and took off his helmet. He held an unforgettable disgusting grin. I never felt my anger rise this quickly in my life. How did he get here this quickly?

“I thought it was a bit too easy to run away from you.” Shiba growled.

“I’m flattered, Prince. Unfortunately, I must ask you to relinquish your life and the crown to me.”

“You know well of my answer, snake. You think I would listen to the words of a traitor? In truth, I deeply thought of you as a friend who will see to the ends of Xu’s reformation. I thought we shared a vision to see the Ogres and Devils live peacefully without conflict.”

“Those words are touching, truly.”

“What went wrong? If it’s about my father, I am doing everything in power to change so another instance will never happen again.”

“Sadly, I can’t forgive everything Devil folks did to my kind. Grudges will always remain and it’s already too late.”

“I see. It’s futile. Perhaps I may have a moment?”

“A moment won’t hurt. I have all the time.” Eizan snickered.

Shiba climbed down Girax and turned towards us.

“Kihet, I have something to confess. It seems I’ll be unable to escape after all.”

“What do you mean? We can breakthrough them together.”

He walked over, taking off his crown and pushed it at me. When I try asking, he pulled back his sleeve, showing me a purplish scar the same as Alam’s. But it spread all over the entire arm.

“Why didn’t you say so?!”

“I am familiar with this poison, hence why I kept it a secret to not worry you further when the brave Rozzalian Alam was affected. Lemi, you’ve must know what my condition is after a glance of it.”

“The infamous White Star Aven. A magical plant with no antidote that its poison can only be suppressed by magic until all the symptom fades. When your body is covered in purple, you die. Prince Shibata, is that why you did not ask for my treatment?”

“I cannot bring my selfishness to ask one of the Holy beings to strain themselves on my behalf. It would be a dishonor to Xu’s tradition ingrained in me.”

“No, not you too!” I shouted. “What about Lily? What about Miyabe? What about the child in Miyabe?!”

“Kihet, the appearance of my dead body would only upset them further. Would you be so kind as to tell them a heroic lie about me?” He smiled. “I’ll entrust you to safe keep my crown until the coming of my heir. Do not lose it no matter what.”

He turned around to face Eizan not before giving me a bump on the shoulder.

“I know my dearest sister has grown attached to you. For my last wish, please, watch over her in my stead as soon as possible.” Shiba drew his golden blade. “I’ll open a path. Do not let me down.”

“But-!”

“Are you blind? Do you not see my resolve? My fate can no longer be changed. Return to your village, report this matter to the Elder. If you die here, these bastards will succeed and damn the rest of the world.”

“Kihet, we have to go. Please.” Lemi begged.

----------------------------------------

“Stop the Enuis! Don’t let them take what’s rightfully mine!”

“You have no right to ignore the ruler of Xu!”

Shiba drew his sword in perfect form rushing head on into the enemy. He danced out, quickly dispatching two Devils and clashed against Eizan’s elite guards. His prowess was a force to be reckoned with though his left arm was numb from poisoning.

He swept his leg, bringing one guard down while it was preoccupied with blocking his sword. Twenty lines of light flashed around him, cutting down all the guards that were once under his command. While he successfully removed the guards from Kihet’s escape route, the biggest threat flew straight at him.

In terms of strength, Shiba had the advantage. Eizan had the cunningness.

“No matter. I will hunt them down later. How does it feel to kill your own soldiers?”

“You have no right to ask that! You brainwashed them!”

“How about another round then?”

Shadow tendrils wrap around and consume the bodies littered around them. It was wriggling disgustingly as it broke the corpses down and reconstructed them into hideous monsters with black miasma mimicking the Shadow Wizard.

“Undead?!”

“Not quite, but close enough. These are the Tower’s summon under my command.” Eizan cackled. “With this, my revenge is nearly complete. I shall wipe Wu’s family off the records just as your father nearly did to mine! How does it feel?”

“Shitty. I never expected myself to die in a foreign country. It’s a pity I’ll be unable to see the sacred tree bloom beautifully like the one I saw when I was a child.”

“Then you’ve resolved yourself. Haku, come out and kill him.”

Shiba kicked aside one of the shadows, leaping into the air and struck another one down with his sword. Unsurprisingly, they acted accordingly to his theory and regenerated. However, more, around hundreds emerged from ruins and stared at him.

There was a child standing behind him with vengeful looking eyes. The boy drew his dagger slathered in poison and rushed an assault following Eizan’s lead.

-Kihet, I’m counting on you.

----------------------------------------

“We’re out! We just need to make it to Xu!”

I took over controlling the Girax after finding out Lemi was coughing and her body trembled uncontrollably. Her body was growing cold and I already blanketed her with anything I could spare.

Halsgrof was surrounded by tall walls. That’s why I couldn’t feel the cold wind smacking us until we rode past the gates. It was nearing the end of autumn. The grassy plains have turned yellowish and the skies were dull in color with grey clouds looming over the fields. Rain could come down at any moment.

“Hang in there, I’ll find us a safe space to get some rest.”

“N-no. Keep going.

“But you’ll-.”

“I’m fine! We can’t afford to stop.”

I’m just worried how much longer Lemi could keep up. She’s never been burdened with this much stress before.

I’m still naïve. My whole life, I’ve looked forward to walking on lands outside my village to meet new people and see new things. As someone who spent most their time in the village, I haven’t fully been accustomed to the world. Kridas and Shiba were the first to shed light what a wonderful world I could be looking at. Not something like this. Not that something like the Shadows threatening everything and everyone.

I’ve only experienced a portion what the land outside the village was like before this shitstorm. Everything and everyone are being taken away from me!

Fueled by anger, I whip the Girax to move at a faster pace.

I looked back after we’ve moved about an hour away. Just when I thought we were at a safe distance, I saw a hole tore through the city’s tall walls. Bright light radiated from the opening. A beam of light coursed through the skies above us.

-That Shadow Wizard can still reach us!

“Kihet!”

“Yah! Move!”

I quickly whip the Girax to gallop towards the opposite direction. That Shadow Wizard was using magic to close off our path.

The beam of light went ‘Pew to Bang!’, a missile into fireworks. Slow falling burning orbs rained down on the field. Ruptures of white light struck the horizon as if the world is about to end. The falling orbs of light were about twenty meters in diameter. They detonated upon contact with the ground, unleashing devastating shockwaves and consumed five times their surface area around them.

-There’s too many! It’d be a miracle if we can survive this!

Death came across my mind. My friends and I were supposed to fight those Shadows, but the difference in strength was too much to close the gap. Maybe the Oracle… but there wasn’t an Oracle. The Creator only chosen the eight of us and two we’re about to be killed!

I steered the Girax away from the erupting path and into the grassland. The sky was dropping burning stars in every direction I looked at. I barely dodged one, but then two of them collided in front of us. My vision whirled, finding myself flung off the Girax.

I saw a star covering my view.

Everything went bright.

----------------------------------------

I was miraculously alive. How long did I blackout?

“*Cough* Lemi. Lemi, are you alright?”

I prayed as I climbed up from a crater and looked at patches of dug up earth. All I could saw were craters miles down into the horizon. This kind of power should be impossible. That Shadow Wizard was a walking disaster on its own. I’ve only seen two of its kind. How many more were there?

The sleeves of my clothes had torn off and one of my boots went missing. Perhaps it was burnt off. Fresh cuts painted all over my body. My hair oily and my mouth was dry.

“Lemi!” I shouted.

There was no response, only whistling wind. The lush land of grasses was completely barren.

A chill ran down my spine as I desperately limped around the high grounds looking for her. I minded my step, carefully maneuvering the perimeter around me to look for Lemi.

“Please, no…!”

She was in a few craters next to mine.

But when I saw her, I stood still.

Her legs were blown off. She clutched onto a magic stone by her chest which was the reason I’m not as injured as her. She must’ve erected a barrier to save me.

She was still breathing, but standing next to her was the Shadow Wizard, looking down at her.

“Lemi!”

I recklessly ran at the Shadow with my dagger, suddenly slamming my face into a wall of ice that popped out of nowhere.

I staggered back and shook off my headache. I supported myself, leaning against the glacial wall dividing us. The Shadow Wizard continued standing next to Lemi, but it looked at me.

Weak, I’m weak. Why couldn’t anything go the way I want for once? Why am I always getting protected and babied by everyone else? For once, I want to be able to stand on my own!

“Get, away from her!”

I went into a mad rage. By the time I realized, silver flames combusted out of my arms. It set the ice on fire, melting the wall and allowed me to charge at it.

The Shadow Wizard summoned earth spikes to impale me, but the flames disintegrated its magic on contact. It didn’t burn away the magic, instead, decaying it. The rock spikes barely touched the tip of flames before crumbling.

Shocked, it attempted to flee by floating away. I was faster and dragged it back down, stabbing the wizard’s shoulder with my dagger.

The flames spread from my arms to my weapon and onto the wizard. The fire burned against the cloak of black miasma.

“Because of you, you killed them! You killed Shiba, you killed Kridas, you killed Carmyn, Salith and Alam!” I roared.

I would like to say that I’ve won against the Wizard.

As I raise my dagger, I felt something grab my wrist. It was another Shadow. This one heaved a giant guillotine sword over its shoulder.

-A different… one?

This one resisted the fire sprouting from my arms. The black miasma consumed my flames instead of the other way around.

It threw me off the Wizard and threw me beside Lemi.

I can see it raise its sword, about to bring it down on us.

“I… I won’t, let,” Lemi coughed.

A bright flash blinded me as she grabbed my hand. The air felt different. It was felt thick and cloy.

This looks like the temple where the Elder prayed to the Creator. The statues were here and the incense pots as well.

It hit me when I suddenly remember the Elder’s words before my friends, and I left the village.

“There is one more thing regarding to the Crests. If by chance, the worst becomes the worst, the magic power within those Crest will summon a gate to bring your bodies back to the temple.”

-Does that mean…?

“L,Lemi… you’re joking right? You can’t possibly…”

Silent. She had bit her tongue to end her life early just so she could activate a teleportation spell imbedded in her crest to move me away.

Her body laid coldly still.

----------------------------------------

He spent half a day giving Lemi a burial and grieving for his losses.

Kihet could feel himself becoming a husk. His mind was spewing nonsense to end his own life. His body became numb to the cold weather. The world’s as dangerous as he hoped, but not as unfair as he imagined.

He returned to the village to find more bodies near the entrance. The Elder was the only one left standing half dead with fresh wounds on his body.

“Kihet! You… you’re barely alive.”

“Elder…” Kihet’s bagged eyes barely allowed him to express any feelings. “No… no!”

“I’m still alive…” He tried to move but his wounds began to split. Kihet attempted to dash towards the clinic but the Elder stopped him. He asked Kihet to stay near as he does not have much time left.

“I’m sorry…” Kihet casted his eyes downward. “I wasn’t able to protect her Lemi…”

The elder shakes his head and does his best to reach for Kihet’s hand. “Listen. The others…”

-What happened to the others?

He saw the Elder dip his chin to his chest. His eyelids were fluttering tempting him to fall into an eternal state of slumber.

“Four… of the eight crests connected to the village disappeared.” The Elder’s news had brought Kihet’s face pale, ghastly pale.

-N-no… Sorah, everyone!

His eyes widened with fear. “F-four died? You’re kidding right!?”

“I’m sorry Kihet…” He was wheezing, his breath became shorter and shorter. “I tried… I cannot contact… the Creator…”

“E-even the Creator…?” Kihet’s words stutter. He looked to the ruined temple with shadow veil casted above.

“I… I’m glad to have, see you one last time. Only you can,” The Elder sucked as much air as he could to continue speaking. “So… ig... sti… ive…”

The Elder could only speak so much until his body slumped forward.

“Elder, please! What are you talking about? Don’t die! What do you mean? Tell me!” Kihet cried but the Elder gave no response.

The Elder’s eyes became transparent, like glass with his fading eye color.

-The village-, what about Hannah?!

He prioritized to search for Hannah.

Kihet followed the trail of blood into his parent’s ruined home. He turned the corner and fell onto his bottom with an inhumane screech. His nightmare became a reality. In the corner buried by bits of broken table, Hannah, or what’s left of her laid there butchered. The unspeakable horror claimed his tongue, his ability to speak. His blood boiled with hatred.

He approached the corpse and slammed his fists onto the floor.

Kihet kneeled in front of Hannah and begged her to come back to life. He kept apologizing though it was not his fault.

To ease his soul, he cremated the entire village. One person could not bury this many bodies. Kihet felt like he would lose what’s left of his sanity if he’d stayed any longer. He stepped out of his home and gathered resources from the equipment shed. He burned the entire village. The flames had tranced him, reminded him about the time he accidently released the fiery fiend from his dream.

The flames had consumed as much of the village as it could before the rain doused them. He limped his body through the charred village and headed to the tower. It seemed something was subconsciously calling to him.

There was a small orb of light under the tower, whispering.

“This is your sin. Accept it and accomplish your task as the Oracle.”

Kihet carelessly approached it. Strings of light reached to Kihet’s hand and wrapped around his crest. The name plate on the tree glowed brightly with the same symbol on his arms.

He sat underneath the tower. His head feeling light, vision became hazy and legs became unresponsive.

He clenched onto Shibata’s crown tightly and closed his eyes as he thought of Sorah, Lily and Martha. Everything went dark.

As the last active Enui remaining… He became the Oracle by default. What an unfitting honor, fate had led him.