This had turned into an all-out battle. There was no reason for us to believe that the Torviela would be taking anyone’s side. For all we knew, they wanted us dead just as much as the other group. However, we still had an objective, and the fact that more parties were involved might either be a blessing or a curse.

Our priority, for the moment, was clear, get as far as we can from the supernatural. Outnumbered, there was very little we could do against them even if they were also fighting against each other.

“Let’s regroup with the rest,” I said. “This has grown far beyond anything we can handle.”

The treants flowed from around us, even appearing behind the demonic skirmish. And as we made our way, avoiding the walking trees, Grikhat began shooting at the demon and I prepared a spell to impale the demon, further fueled with a storing stone.

“Misa,” I spoke again. “The demon is after you. You need to keep a low profile. Stay behind me or Grikhat as much as you can. It can’t see you.”

She nodded and began running just behind me, using me like a screen or a shield.

When approaching, I heard hadtherad spells being called. Their spells aren’t functionally different than wizards’, but they have a special flavor. It’s the way they weave or twist the power that gives them a different kind of magic. As a wizard, being used to my type of magic, it would be hard or even impossible to replicate it. There’s also the fact that since we’re structurally different kinds of life, the way we interact with the power – just as much as how we interact with our world – is different.

Wind spells slammed into the demon, cutting through the air like a pressure wave, you couldn’t see it so much as you could hear it as a booming sound and feel it rumbling in your chest, much like an oversized subwoofer.

Water spells slashed like whips, cutting through the air at high speeds. The water that was settling in puddles simply arose, like tendrils, and struck like whips, the very tip surpassing the speed of sound and compressing into a stream. The cracking of supersonic water hitting the demon felt similar to the clapping of the railguns.

Earth spells broke the floor beneath the demon and held it in place, as a vice of concrete stopped the demon from moving. Meanwhile, rocks shot like high-power hammers into the demon, the sound felt like small explosions whenever rocks broke on impact, shattering and staggering the demon.

There was, however, a lack of fire spells now. I thought of my inadequacy. I was good at fire spells, but I no longer could use them. Even if I could, what good would a fireball do to hurt a demon forged in hellfire? Fire could hurt the demon, but it would require insane levels of temperature or high purity. I might be able to produce the former, but given my current situation, I can’t even light a cigar.

My earth spell was about ready, however. I had sucked my storing stone dry and I felt the power running wild. The sensation of so much power inside me was like a balloon, the pressure made me feel like I was expanding – in a sense, my soul was.

Before I lost more magic – much like how a hydrogen tank would lose its hydrogen through diffusion and filtration – I decided to attack.

I aimed my staff at the demon, and right when I had him staggered for a moment, I released my magic.

“Spada!”

The moment the spell was activated I felt like a curtain fell over my eyes, darkening my sights. A second later I managed to regain my sight and control of my body.

When I saw the demon, I caught a glimpse of the moment right after it was hit. The floor had erupted like a bomb had fallen on it, but instead of a shell-made foxhole, there was a spike the girth of four people, which tip had shattered. Pieces of the spike rained, like bowling balls and bigger. The massive demon, who had taken the hit straight on from an angle below, was sent flying two meters off the ground and five meters away from where it stood stuck to a rock vice.

Elation formed a smile on my face. I had made the demon bleed. Metaphorically.

When I turned to see Yand-Una, she looked astonished, even creeped out. She eyed me with a dichotomic face that showed fascination and disgust mixed in. As for the other hadtherad, who had gone quiet, they were simply looking at me with their blank radera look, no color could be seen on their pimples. Tedet, on the other hand, boasted a proud red of excitement along with his girlfriend.

“Hit it with another one, Ed!” he screamed.

“I can’t! I’m out of gas!”

“Do anything. Hit it while it's down!”

I reached inside me and found only embers. The magic within me was weak, I felt it in my faltering muscles as well, like they were tired from continuous, strenuous use. I had another storing stone, but that was all I had. The use of so many stones through my adventures had run me dry of their magic. I only had the one fully charged.

The rest of my team and friends were trying their best to deal the finishing blow before anything else could happen.

The torviela that had just arrived were finally falling on us, but from an angle away from the demon, placing themselves between the supernatural skirmish and us. It seems they thought of the demon as a higher threat than the fight behind them did.

For some strange reason, however, they were not attacking, simply looking at us. Waiting.

“What are they doing?” asked Yand-Una.

“Waiting for a chance, maybe?” I answered.

She looked at them pensively but turned to look at the demon that finally got on its feet.

“Can you do that again?”

“I’m completely out. I have another storing stone, but that’s all I’ve got.”

“Why did you use that spell? You have so much powerful fire magic.”

“I can’t,” I said and felt my finger throb. For a second, I even thought I felt my ankle throb, from long ago – it was all in my head. “I can’t conjure it. I don’t know.”

She shook her head, disappointed and sad.

The demon behind her growled.

“Can you use a water spell?”

“I suck at them,” I said. “I don’t get the feeling.”

She placed a hand over me. “Have you ever played with water guns?”

“Yea?”

The demon behind her slashed at our team.

“Try that, but bigger. Stronger. I feel like that’s the kind of image you need.” And then she winked. A small smile formed on her face. There was a sense of camaraderie behind it. “You have one chance. She needs you.”

For that moment, my warden ceased to be my warden to be my comrade. It was like she was trusting me more than she was trusting herself. Her next line was more than the evidence I needed.

“We need you.”

She removed her hand from my shoulder and held on to her saber. Her stance was that of a warrior and she showed me her slim back that, from my perspective – eclipsing the setting sun beyond her – seemed broader than it should.

I turned to see Misa and she held on to her pistol, like how she would a baby. She held her body close, defensively, like she was exposed to the cold. If anyone saw her posture, they’d only see a scared person. But I did not look at her body, I looked at her burning eyes. Her face was stoic, calm. Not a single drop of emotion in it. And when she looked at me, she showed me both a maternal concern and a soldier’s resolve.

I did not hear her words but I read her lips.

“Cover me,” I said, knowing well she would do so with her life.

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Are you crazy? I asked myself. She is going to get herself killed.

“Don’t be a hero, alright? Scream if you need any help.”

I did not wait for an answer, I know she would comply. Something inside me trusted her. It told me it was alright. Something within me eased my concerns.

I know she can do it.

Deep in thought, I concentrated on my water spell. I thought of those water guns Yand-Una suggested and something inside me clicked.

This might be it.

Give them hell, Misa, I thought. I believe in you.

* * *

‘Cover me,’ Mr. Ed had said.

‘Roger,’ I had responded.

This was my time to shine. I had worked so hard to be useful but, so far, I had only been in the way of everyone. The last time I tried to fight, I swung a metal object like a fool, hoping my weak hits would connect. They did, but they amounted to nothing.

Today, Mr. Tedet had given me a gun and I was able to use it but to no effect. My aim was off, and every shot – except the one that did not matter – had missed. But after getting used to the recoil and sights, I had figured it out, if only a little.

Mr. Ed trusted me with his life. He has been brought to this extent. I’ve felt guilty all this while, knowing this is what I’ve caused. Every single one of these people had been brought here for me.

I did not deserve it, but I knew this was already too late. I knew they would not back away from this. The guilt only grew larger. I felt like I was not worth the pain everyone had gone through.

Despite this, Mr. Tedet had told me that I did not have to think too much about it. He was doing this because he was helping Mr. Ed, and Mrs. Galieta, who was only there because of her husband. Then there was Ms. Yand-Una, who said she was only doing her job as a wizard, telling me that was also why Mr. Ed was doing this.

They told me I didn’t have to overthink it, that I wasn’t being a burden, and that this was just business as usual.

I could not help but feel like I had doomed all these people to a fate far worse than I had imagined when I first had asked Mr. Ed. I thought the demon was just a stalker.

How naïve. I had known about vampires, so why did I think it was just a person?

No. I had already known it was supernatural. I just hoped it wasn’t. I was very scared knowing it could be. For the first time, I felt genuine fear for my life after what I had witnessed in the law firm. I was so scared I had run to ask for help, hoping it was something else.

I had known, and yet I had pushed that responsibility unto others. And this was my punishment. Had I been stronger, I would’ve waited it out. I would have died but I would not have to look at nice people getting hurt.

And what if anyone dies?

That I would not be able to take. I rather die myself than someone else.

“Give them hell Misa,” I heard Mr. Ed say from behind me. He looked deep in thought. “I believe in you.”

This was it. The burden of responsibility.

My time had finally come. I’m going to finally do it. I will be able to save someone’s life by protecting them.

For all that I had done, for all that I had tried. I could not save a single person in my life. Maybe this was going to be it. My redemption?

I shook my head.

No, this was community service. Redemption comes after.

I thrust my gun forward, aligning my sights, and held on to Mr. Ed’s words. If he believes in me, I must believe in myself as well.

I aimed at the torviela before me. They made a gurgling sound and then jumped into the fray behind them.

I was confused. I thought we were fighting them. Was I wrong? No one told me about the torviela being our friends.

At that moment, I saw the walking trees approach us. I wasn’t sure how I would deal with them with my gun, but I aimed at them.

It approached and I aimed. I held my gun tighter. I wanted to say ‘stop, don’t come any closer,’ but I knew it would not respond. I held my mouth shut and I tried squeezing the trigger.

Maybe closer? I waited until it was closer to me.

Suddenly, a torviela jumped into the tree and smashed a hand in it. The tree used a branch to hold onto it, but the torviela whacked it with his arm. One, two, and three whacks, the branch was split apart. The torviela held into another branch and swung over the tree. From behind it punched the tree an indefinite amount of times, then the tree just stood still.

Was it dead?

“Human,” the torviela said in a thick radera accent. “Forget about the treants.” He pointed at an angle between us. I triangulated with my sight another figure approaching us. “Isn’t that your job, vampire hunter?”

I knew it was joking, even making fun of me. But there was some esoteric truth about it. Humans and vampires have been enemies since time immemorial. This time, a simple human was killing vampires. It somewhat fits the occasion.

Despite the obvious mockery, the words made me feel a little sure of myself. This was a battle I thought I could win. If other people had done it before, I could do it as well.

I believe in you.

So, that’s what you meant? In that case, I won’t disappoint.

I aimed the gun at the vampire approaching us and squeezed the trigger. The steady gun cracked like it always does, but this time, I thought the sound was muffled. Even if there was no gunpowder, you don’t need an explosion to create an opposite reaction to the bullet being propelled out of the barrel, all you needed is a little bit of Newton. And so, the recoil sent the gun backward and my hand held onto it better than before.

Aim was true. The vampire was hit right in the chest. Its body flopped with the sudden impact, losing its stride and the grip on its life. The body of the vampire simply fell after two more wobbly steps.

“Not bad,” the torviela said before going off towards the next enemy.

A smile crept its way to my face and I turned to see Mr. Ed. I was expecting some sort of praise, but he was deep in thought. I looked for Mr. Tedet, but he was also concerned with the demon. I was a little disappointed, like children expecting the praise from their parents that never came. I shook my head and, with it, my disappointment.

Focus, I told myself. There’s someone whose life depends on you. Focus on the next target.

I never would’ve imagined myself killing something, even when vampires are in a way already dead, as explained by Mr. Ed and Ms. Yand-Una. I had hesitated when I first took up the metal object, and then again moments ago. But right now, that hesitation was lost. I guess the accounts of people doing things like these were true – it only takes a few tries before it becomes easier.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get used to it, but so long as I’m fighting on the right side – the side of the mortals – then I am content with it.

Side of the mortals? I asked myself. What am I, a wizard?

I turned to look back at Mr. Ed. I saw in him a goal I could never reach. No matter how much I tried, I would never be able to be someone like him. Someone to risk it all for the good cause. And yet, today I was proud of at least a small thing. I may not be able to fight as he does, but anything I can do to be part of this fight, then it makes it worth it.

My weapon instinctively aligned itself before me. I was ready for the next shot. I had one more clip from Mr. Tedet. If I remembered correctly, that should be ten bullets. What I used so far, means I have four in my gun.

The next vampire ran towards us and I traced it with my sights. One pull of the trigger, and the shot was dodged. The vampire tried side-stepping anticipating my shot.

I panicked slightly. I aimed and traced again and shot. Once again, the shot missed. I tried for the third time and completely missed my target when I should’ve been able to hit it.

There is only one more bullet. I need the shot to count. If I don’t hit, I will leave Mr. Ed vulnerable. I won’t have time to reload.

I aimed. The vampire side-stepped. He was closing in. I tried pulling the trigger but it felt too stiff. I pulled the gun closer to me trying to figure out why I couldn’t pull it. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it. I aimed again. The vampire was coming straight at me.

This was my chance. I had to make it count. I squeezed the trigger. I squeezed harder and harder. I was about to flinch as the vampire came closer. My gun was shaking with the strength I put into the trigger.

The moment I saw the vampire leap unto me, I screamed, hoping any last bit of strength would help me shoot my gun. For a slight moment, I thought that maybe the gun was out of ammo and I was already squeezing the gun to its fullest. I closed my eyes and awaited the hit.

The gun shot. I felt the trigger click past whatever was stopping it. The recoil shot the gun towards my face, hitting me straight on. I did not realize exactly where I got hit, and I didn’t have time to process it when there was a vampire fell on top of me.

He slithered and screamed when he rolled over me, falling towards Mr. Ed. I saw the blood form a pool, but the vampire was still living and twisting, like a worm twists in agony. It screeched and reached out to my friend and savior.

“Ed!” I screamed.

Before I knew it, I had grabbed another piece of metal from the bottom of the canal. This time, it was a heavy metal rebar. It looked too big for me to lift and even hold, but I did it anyway.

I ran with the rebar held high and positioned myself on top of the vampire and it tried scratching my legs as well.

“Aaaaaah!” I yelled my war cry.

The rebar found the vampire’s head and I felt something give as it reached its destination. I lifted it again, the vampire screeching. I yelled once more and put all my body behind it. The rebar missed and it rang on my hands. It felt painful for a slight moment before it almost slipped from my fingers.

I tried again and again. I lifted and swung the rebar down once and twice. Three, four, five times. Occasionally I missed. Rarely I dropped the rebar that I had to pick up again. I lost sight and hearing. I was seeing red.

I lost count of how many times I had swung it. Twenty? Thirty? It could’ve been less; it could’ve been more.

I swung until I could no longer lift the piece of metal. I swung until I could no longer scream.

I fell backward. The vampire was not only still, but his head was unrecognizable.

I yelped and crawled backward until I touched my gun. I grabbed it and pointed it toward the dead vampire. The muzzle of the gun was not looking straight, the gun was drooping in my hands. I could no longer hold the gun, and yet the memory of the gun running out of ammo came to me. And, so, I tried reloading the shaking gun with the shaky ammo clip.

Impossible. I could not do it. I almost cried.

Instead, I laughed.

“Misa,” I heard Ed’s voice. “I knew you could do it.”

My thoughts stopped. My shaking stopped. My breathing stopped. And I swore my heart did as well.

“You gave them hell like I knew you would,” he said with a stern and proud face. “Two kills on your own, on your first day, without training? You have more skill and experience than half the wizards in the Cabal.”

He turned to face the demon.

I felt something tug at me.

“Ed,” I tried shouting but could only gasp out.

Ed turned to look at me and his stoic face quickly turned surprised.

I looked back and spoke with my tired and raspy voice: “Give ‘em hell.”