When he was slightly older than just a boy, the monster’s beatings grew worse.
Not of him, no the monster never touched him. He only ever put his hands on the banshee.
He’d tell the boy to leave, and then he’d start.
But the boy wouldn’t always leave. Sometimes he’d stay outside, watch through a crack in the door, frozen, knowing there was nothing he could do.
The banshee would be screaming and shouting and crying. Her cries had always been filled with so much agony. So much pain.
He’d hated it.
The situation. The monster. But most of all, he hated himself.
For simply staying still.
Caleb opened his eyes to the sound of screams.
Someone held him, hands pressed against his arm, mana flowing between the two. Kana from the texture, weight and glow.
He furrowed his brow. She wasn’t just holding him; she was healing him. Dragging him too. Away from something. He tried to force himself up, get his legs under control, but he could barely stand, his body rejecting any input from the brain.
The movement only loosened Kana’s grip and he slipped from her grasp, falling to the floor.
[Caleb, please. I can’t… dammit I can’t lift you!] Kana cried, trying to pull him up, his arms hard to lift from all the blood, monsters and his own.
“S-sorry” he mumbled, trying to regain control of himself. He tried to focus, to push himself forward faster, but he felt weaker than ever. He coughed hard, the pain in his side growing sharp as his chest grew tighter and tighter.
Something’s seriously wrong. And it’s not just the cancer.
He coughed hard again then glanced behind him. His eyes widened as he watched Eriana, Ryan and Sierra struggle desperately against a monster, a demon-like figure whose magical power glowed brighter than even the portal. It laughed as it fought against them not using any magic at all, only a blade like hand, it's other behind it's back.
And it was winning anyway.
His eyes flicked over to the others, watching as the second demonic creature rushed at them, the team scattering.
They shouted and cried out, Layla even grabbing one of the teens and taking to the air as Angelina carried James away with large and powerful magic filled leaps. The others weren't so lucky. When the monster reached them, all hell broke loose.
The panicked shouts turned into short lived screams, their bodies flung about like damaged dolls, as the demon monster began decimating them with a bladed hand. Christina crouched on the ground, clutching the pendant she’d had, a bright forcefield surrounding her body.
But with a sudden burst of mana, the demon cut through even that too, cackling as her blood and guts, splattered across the grass.
Six dead, in an instant.
Caleb barely had time to register what he'd just watched before it turned to the rest of them, and raced forwards, grinning wide. Eriana, Sierra and Ryan were losing against just the one, they wouldn’t beat both. He felt a sudden fear rise up in his chest, gripping his heart.
He tried to push harder, past the block between his brain and his body, but only succeeded in stumbling to the floor, dragging Kana down with him.
[Caleb?! Caleb?!]
“Go” he wheezed. But even as he said it, he knew that if she ran now, she still wouldn’t make it.
But Kana didn’t run. Instead she lifted him up as she looked to the danger, shielding him with her body. As he realised, his eyes widened and a burst of strength came to him, the same sacrificial strength that’d driven him to try take one of the demons one on one. He was going to die in three months anyway. Kana wasn’t.
A wave of heat, borne of the star within his chest washed through his body. It wasn’t the fire, or anywhere near enough to allow him to manipulate anything. But it was enough to give him control of his body for just a moment.
“Layla!” he roared as the girl zoomed through the air with reckless abandon. She turned to look at him and without hesitation he grabbed Kana and threw her upwards. Kana shrieked wildly, as she flailed then Layla caught her, veering off course wildly before she managed to spin and shoot off away from the town.
Caleb slumped to the floor and lay unmoving as he stared at the battle behind him.
Sierra was desperately shouting at the others to run as Ryan ignored her, and Eriana released scream after scream of frustration as her attacks of electric blue did nothing. The other monster drew near, slowing as it laughed loudly, taking delight in its prey’s fear.
Well shit, he thought. I guess this really is it.
Caleb felt a spike of magic power above the monster and fear gripped him. He'd known it was coming, but that didn't change the fear that took a hold of his soul. He didn't want to die.
Then a man clad in full leather armour appeared out of thin air above the first demon, the magic disappearing.
With a slash of pure power, he cleaved it in two and landed on the floor in front of Sierra, Eriana and Ryan. The three stared at him wide eyed as the second demon roared and charged forwards faster. But the man simply turned and fired a ridiculously powerful magic missile from his spell bracelet, which simply shot through the demon’s chest. It froze, grasping at the whole in it's torso, then fell to the floor.
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[Wave 3 defeated]
[Congratulations, Objective 2 completed.]
[Please wait until all trial participants have completed Objective 2 for objective 3 assignment]
Caleb, blinked in shock, still unable to move as the man turned to them and smiled, sheathing his sword, the magic emanating from it and him, potent. The leather knight pulled off his helmet, and ruffled his hair. He looked to be in his early twenty’s, with short blonde hair.
[You guys alright?] he asked.
“I- yeah” Sierra said. Ryan just nodded, whilst Eriana stared at the man dumbfounded. Then Sierra spun around eyes wide, and rushed over to Caleb, Ryan stumbling quickly behind her. Blood stained both their noses from over exertion of their skills, and as they lifted him off the ground, he realised it was dripping from his nose too.
“Caleb?!” Ryan cried.
“I’m… fine” he muttered.
“You’re not fine” Sierra said.
“Well…yeah. I… think I need a doctor” he mumbled.
[Then let’s get you to that church hospital quick] the leather knight said glancing over the rest of the battlefield as he jogged forwards. [We don’t need anyone else dying]
-
Caleb sat on, his back against a pillow that was firmly pressed to the headboard.
He stared at the bed, lost in thought, a bandage had wrapped around his head, and the relatively healed burns on his wrist sat in a magic gel that seemed to be rejuvenating it somewhat, its magic power glowing softly.
Kana sat at the bedside, with Sierra and Ryan at the foot board. The sounds of aggravated chatter, and heated discussion came from the opposite side of the room. He glanced up, looking at the leather knight in the corner, talking with everyone left, the chief and a few of the townspeople.
Caleb simply stared at the group, watching as they talked, but unable to make out what they were saying. still lost in his own thoughts.
A lot of people died, he thought. I nearly died again.
The thought was a constant, a singular sustained note within in the symphony of thoughts.
Even as he tried to think of other things the memories of all the fighting, fear and battles flashed through his mind. The bodies of the goblins, of the Endagon, of the first orc, the zombies, Jakob, Elena, Michael, David, Mario and now all the others out in the field.
It made him want to scream.
His mind's fixation on violence, on death, scared him. But what scared him more was how familiar the feeling was starting to become.
Is this what the trial's supposed to be? he thought. What even comes after? Is this what it will be like if I get out? Is this my life now? Endless fighting, fear and then... a horrible death?
He glanced down at his trembling hands and quickly clenched his fists tightly before wincing, his wrist throbbing.
[Caleb?] Kana whispered.
“I’m fine” he said, relaxing his hands. He felt Kana’s eyes remain on him, her magic power glowing slightly brighter. “You don’t have to heal me”
She watched him for a few moments longer then turned to look back at the others. Caleb did too, shaking his head to discard the thoughts of violence, before focusing on the town chief’s words.
[-can’t just evacuate on your orders alone] the chief said angrily.
[I’m sorry sir b-]
[That’s Chief Maron to you!] the chief spat. The knight nodded, clearly annoyed at having to tolerate the chief’s abrasiveness.
Caleb frowned as he watched the man, staring intently at his magic power. It was the only thing that took his mind of the violence. So almost like a compulsion, he stared at it, studied it. It dwarfed everyone’s, at least five times larger than even Layla’s.
But it was still nowhere as bright as his own, simply larger. And it still had weight. Caleb frowned, confused. He couldn’t make sense of it. He needed to know more. Wanted to.
[What right do you have to j-just waltz in here and take what we have?! To tell us to just leave our home?! All you of the last generation are so-]
[Look] the leather knight said harshly. [I’m sorry Chief Maron, but we have to evacuate. It’s a direct order from the King]
[The King?!] the chief sputtered. [I- Where would we even go? Surely not to those savages in Kipell?]
[No, they’re being evacuated too. We have to go much further, Chief. Past the mountains]
[WHAT?!!]
[I know, but until we fix this, nowhere in the plains is safe]
The chief’s eyes widened and he froze in his tracks, train of thought stopping dead.
[What do you mean the plains aren’t safe?] Angelina said, no longer in her armour.
[There’s a possible threat. We word of it from a good prophet] the knight responded. [That’s… all I can say]
“Will we have to leave too?” James said. The leather knight shrugged.
[Maybe, but I doubt it]
“Why?” Caleb said suddenly, his eyes narrowing. The knight turned to him and hesitated but spoke anyway.
[You guys have magic. Proper magic. I mean, you managed to kill all those Wielderhorns. I- let’s just say if you guys really are who I think you are, then the Captain will want to have a word with you]
“You mean help with your mission?” Sierra said.
[Yeah, I can’t say anything about it till he confirms, but we’re going to need all the help we can get]
Caleb nodded, looking back down at the white sheets of his bed, frowning. Everything was becoming awfully convenient for fighting again. They were trapped somewhere unsafe and might be forced to fight to protect somewhere with one, maybe two people stronger than them. Just like the tutorial.
No shit dumbass. It’s called a tutorial for a reason. Of course they’re going to be the same.
Except that it was probably going to be harder.
His hands began to tremble, and he hid them quickly beneath the sheets. He wanted to say something, to protest, but no one else was. Everyone just continued to stare at the soldier and chief in silence, seemingly resigned to their fates. He cursed the world, the arbiters, and himself silently. He’d have to fight again. He really didn’t want to. But it looked like he didn’t have much of a choice.
[Well… I think for now it’s best to just wait until your captain gets here. For now, we should let the injured be] the chief said, scratching his head. [I’ve got… things to attend to]
He quickly walked out of the room, followed by the leather knight. A moment of silence passed over everyone, before the few that remained began to leave too. Sierra and Ryan remained at the foot of the bed, only turning to look at him.
“You guys look tired” he said.
“Yeah” Ryan chuckled bitterly. Sierra only nodded, eyes still distant.
[I’ll stay with Caleb] Kana said. [You two should sleep]
“You sure?” Ryan asked.
“It’s fine guys. The beds are probably comfier upstairs, and they’ll probably let me go quickly”
They both nodded, then trudged out of the room with everyone else, but Eriana who sat in the corner, sword on the floor and knees pulled to her chest. Her eyes were wet, but behind the hurt was a clear and horrible anger.
“Eriana?” he called out.
[What?] she said curtly.
“Are you… uh… never mind” he mumbled as she glared at him. Kana glanced to her, then to Caleb and tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
[You should lie down. It’ll be better for your head]
“If I lie down I’ll fall asleep”
[It’s ok to fall asleep now. Your head’s healed and you have no concussion] she said. Caleb thought the words through for a second, then shrugged.
“Whatever you say”
He lay down against the bed, staring up at the ceiling as Kana stared at Eriana. His mind drifted quickly, the mess of thoughts weighing on him without the buffer of conversation. Caleb sighed. He was so damn tired. If whatever the arbiters had planned next was just as bad as this, he wouldn’t be able to take much more.
At the very least I’m still alive.
His side throbbed slightly in protest at the thought. He scowled momentarily, before ignoring the pain and closing his eyes. It was time to sleep.