"God. I can't believe we got tossed by that single guy." Bif slammed his fist against the wooden floor of the cart. He clenched his teeth and kept his gaze looking down as he sat in the cart.

"I 'spouse this is one of those "things that are left out"...but it's good we got out." Lylas kept his eyes ahead on the path. He was angry but also trying to keep his head on his shoulders.

"Yeah...the contract said nothing about that guy in the wraps and armor. Then again, I'm not surprised I guess." Ventrix was sat upright in the cart. His hands were held to his side where the man had stabbed him. A light gold glow enveloped his hands and the area as he worked to stabilize his wound.

"Something like that was bound to happen. Though...it's my fault we got caught unprepared. I apologize." Avures didn't lift his gaze from Rael's wound. He held her close and continued to use what healing magic he could muster to keep her stable.

"Avures. It's not your fault." Rael patted Avures's thigh as she continued to sit against him in his embrace. "Olicia...did you at least find the children?"

"No..." Olicia huffed and put her face in her hands. "When I went ahead, all I found was that the cave we were in just spanned on and on. And then, there was that guy at the end of it."

"Great. Fantastic. Awesome. You didn't find any of the kids we were looking for and almost got us all killed. Good job." Bif's voice increased in volume as he started clapping his hands and looking at Olicia.

"Look! They weren't in the cave! What do you want?" Olicia's voice cracked as she threw her arms in the air.

"Some fucking honesty without the bullshit! Just like that!" Bif pointed at the purple-haired girl. "Your little sarcastic remark almost got Brainiac, blue-blood, and red-head killed!"

"Hey guys, sett-" Lylas sighed as he was talked over.

"I thought I made it pretty obvious I was being attacked!" Olicia shouted back at Bif. "That guy had cut me and stabbed me a whole bunch!"

"And you know what we saw? None of that! Did you forget your own power to regenerate? You stupid fucking bitch! How are we supposed to know when you walk back with no wounds at all?" Bif stood up in the cart and was throwing his arms all around for effect.

"I-..."

"I only understood at the last moment...because I remembered...that's why I was able to get Avures out of the way in time." Ventrix sighed as he continued to sit there.

"See? Avures almost fucking died!" Bif gestured to Avures. "I don't know about you or anyone else, but I'm not having any of my friends die for some fucking kids we know nothing about! And I'm not dying for kids I don't know about either!"

"Dammit Bif!...they're the whole reason we're doing this..." Rael weakly shouted out.

"I don't care! Fuck those kids! I don't know them! None of us are dying or throwing our lives away for some kids! And you almost throw Avures's life away for your little sarcastic comment!"

"Well!...What do you want me to say?" Olicia stood up in the face of Bif. "Pff!...Maybe he should have been quicker, huh? That way Ventrix wouldn't have gotten hurt and almost died to save him!"

"You better hope for your sake you're not being serious..." Bif's entire body tensed up...

The wagon stopped, and both of them stumbled as the sudden motion ending threw them forward. As they managed to keep their balance, they both saw Lylas hop over the front of the cart and walk to them.

"That's enough! Both of ya!" Lylas got close to both of them.

"Do you hear what she's saying? You're just gonna let her say those things?" Bif pointed to Olicia as he looked into Lylas's eyes.

"Muscle-brain!...first, ya need to lay off of her. You're not achieving anything by yelling at her. Nothing's changing. We're all here aren't we?...so sit down." Lylas put his hand on Bif's shoulder.

"...whatever. Count yourself lucky. Try and talk me down a third time and see what happens. Of course, don't give me a reason to need to be talked down." Bif slapped Lylas's hand off his shoulder and sat back down on the cart.

"And for ya, Olicia..." Lylas turned towards the girl. "I'm not sure why ya felt the need to say that...or what's gotten into ya lately...but it needs to stop. We're a team."

"...I'm sorry..." Olicia's voice whimpered as she averted her gaze from his eyes.

"Apologize if ya want, but he'll decide if he accepts it or not." Lylas pointed to Avures. "Don't be saying that about people who are supposed to be your comrade."

Lylas turned back to the front of the wagon. Stepping over the front part and sitting back in the driver seat. Olicia slowly sat back down as well. A large silence fell upon them all as Lylas got the horse moving again. Olicia looked at Avures. He was already staring at her. And so was Rael. Olicia swiftly moved her gaze away but looked to Ventrix instead. He still sat there looking off into nothing. But she couldn't ignore the wound on his side...

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The day had been long, but the sunset was drawing near. The six of them rode their way back to Lontan. Not another word was said between them all. As they approached the town, Lylas spotted a crowd seemingly waiting for their arrival. He sighed in despair. Those people were probably hoping they'd be returning with their children. His stomach churned thinking about how they hadn't brought anyone home. Lylas could only hope to rush past them and get help from a doctor or cleric for Rael and Ventrix.

As the horse and wagon drew nearer, the crowd of people parted to each side to allow them through. What started as hopeful talking and excited whispers soon fell into silent cries and murmurs. Lylas regretted not coming back at night, or at least, having the horse go this slow. It was apparent to all who crowded around that they hadn't brought back those children. Lylas guided the horse to the stable of the inn where he quickly parked the wagon, tied the horse up, and went to help get Ventrix and Rael. However, there was no way he could have been quick enough.

"Excuse me but..." A middle-aged woman approached the group as they slowly came off of the wagon. "Where are the kids?"

"They-" Lylas sighed and was about to explain when he was interrupted.

"Yeah! Where are they at?" A man from the crowd piped up.

"I thought you were supposed to get them back? What happened?" An older man shouted to the front.

"Where's my baby boy?" A woman frantically yelled out to the front.

"You guys are Lancers, right? Where're the kids?" Another voice shouted.

"Some Lancers you are!"

"Where's my baby?"

"Look! They're practically children too! I can't believe this!..."

"I want my little sister back!..."

"This is the best they could get?"

"Bullshit!...go save those children!"

The voices droned on and on. As much as the six of them wished the crowd would stop, they understood why they were upset. All the words and emotions from everyone in the crowd started to blend. Rael and Ventrix weakly stuck to the side of Avures and Olicia respectively. Bif hopped off and walked to Lylas's side. As the crowd continued...they weren't sure how much more they could take...

"Enough!" Bif's voice boomed over the crowd. Silence fell upon them all. "Your s-"

"We had a minor setback...we'll get your kids back. Don't worry...we-" Lylas had interrupted Bif only to be interrupted himself.

"How are we not supposed to be worried? You're coming back hurt and our kids are still out there!" A voice screamed out.

"Now now! Have some faith in these young Lancers!..." The crowd parted for none other than Gargas Bindle.

"Gargas! I swear to god...you picked some fucking kids for this...if they fail, it's your head!" Another male voice shouted.

"Enough!...now, scurry off! They need to rest and heal before going back out, and you all are doing no favors to these young Lancers who are trying their best to get your kids back!" Gargas shooed the crowd away. Hearing his words, they all muttered among themselves before slowly dispersing.

"Thanks..." Avures sighed in relief.

"Now. I happen to have a few clerics on hand. Let's get you kids patched up, shall we?..."

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"So, from the looks of it...it seems as if you were cut across the torso, and then hit with a powerful bludgeoning tool..." The cleric healing Rael curiously looked at them as they worked their magic.

"It really hurt. Like a lot. The guy didn't even move when he did it either." Rael stared up at the ceiling as she lay down on a bed. She looked over to Avures. "Maybe he just doesn't have to move when he casts. Just like you."

"I don't know. I wasn't paying good attention to that I guess." Avures shrugged as he stood next to the bed.

"At least this kid's wound is easy to heal." The cleric attending to Ventrix sighed in relief.

"It's kinda good that we can at least stabilize ourselves between blue-blood and Avures." Lylas crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall. "But none of us can actually "heal" wounds. It worries me a little."

"Relax. As long as no one gets the jump on us, we're fine." Bif stood near the door.

The six of them were inside Gargas's mansion in a room with multiple beds. The noble was kind enough to offer the service of clerics in his household while also offering beds. The room itself wasn't too lavish. It was more like a guest bedroom. Four beds, some windows, with minimal decoration while also being on the first floor. He, however, was not present in the room with them.

"Hmm...alright. Stay in the mansion and try not to move too much. Both of you." The two clerics gathered near the door. One of them spoke. "We closed the wounds, but we'll work more on them tomorrow to strengthen them so they don't reopen."

"Huh?!" Rael sat up fast. "You mean we can't do anything until you're done with us tomorrow?"

"Careful!...and yes. It'll be trouble if you reopen the wound..."

"Thank you for your help, truly." Avures bowed to the clerics.

"Of course. And best of luck to you if you go for the kids again tomorrow." The two clerics left the room and shut the door behind them.

Silence filled the room.

"So, what's the plan moving forward?" Ventrix sat up in his bed.

"The plan is that the two of ya aren't going anywhere." Lylas moved to the center of the room.

"What do you mean? We can do things." Rael stood up. Her armor had been removed from her, and her ax sat next to the bed. She simply stood in a red piece of fabric which was usually under her red gambeson. Both the gambeson and this fabric were still torn open from the cut. The loose fabric's cut exposed her stomach. Without her armor on, the fabric came down past her knees like a makeshift dress with a skirt.

"No no. It's probably for the best." Ventrix shook his head. His armor had also been removed. Both the plate and mail had a deep stab within them and had been thoroughly damaged by it. Instead, he wore a white undershirt that went along with his usual casual attire.

"If we come up with something for ya to do, we'll let ya know." Lylas sighed and shrugged.

"Aw...fine." Rael plopped back down on the bed, crossing her arms and pouting.

"Anything to say, guys?" Lylas looked between Olicia and Bif. Bif shook his head. Olicia shrugged. Lylas sighed, disappointed with the lack of...anything really. "I guess it's time to turn in for the night then. Bif and me are gonna go sleep in the inn. Y'all can have this room."

"See you, losers." Bif waved as he spun around and walked out the door. Lylas rolled his eyes and followed closely behind.

"I need some fresh air before I sleep." Ventrix slowly stood up from his bed and walked to the door.

"I'll go out too..." Olicia followed suit. Rael and Avures were a bit perplexed but figured that she just didn't want to be in a room with them after what she said...

"Huh...ah. Let me fix that. I grabbed some supplies from another room here..." Avures walked around to the other side of the room and reached down beside a bed.

"Hmm? What is it?" Rael watched Avures walk back over with a wooden box. She watched as he opened it up and got on his knees at her bedside. Sowing kit.

"Your fabric here is torn. I can't really fix the gambeson...but I can fix this." Avures grabbed a needle and some thread, prepping to sow the opening. He grabbed a hold of the fabric where the tear was.

"Avures..." Rael's tone grew somewhat hushed as her face grew red. He grew confused by the sudden redness on her face. Avures tilted his head and looked back down at the tear. He could see her soft pale skin. He could partially see her belly button and her waist. The healing magic had patched her up decently, but a scar remained from where the cut had been. Avures carefully and slowly brought the needle and thread up to the tear.

"What is it?" Avures asked back as he tried to focus. He kept trying to focus on a good place to sow the fabric back together, but her clear and soft-looking skin distracted him. He wasn't sure what this feeling was.

"I'm not wearing anything under this. Be careful." Rael put her hand over her mouth. Avures felt his face grow warm. His expression didn't change, but now he felt uneasy and nervous. Inching closer and closer...

"Got it!..." Avures sighed in relief as the redness partially went away. He managed to thread the needle and string through a decent spot. "Are you telling me you don't wear any undergarments in your armor?"

"Am I supposed to? It seemed uncomfortable in the training gear when I did...so I just haven't worn any in my armor." Rael's eyes looked off to the side as she lowered her hand and grinned.

"I-...I don't know actually." Avures continued to sow shut the opening with precision. "You could have said that earlier though."

"I'm sorry!...you were just so sudden in trying to fix it. I wasn't ready. Besides...you were looking near there really intensely..." Rael's voice grew back down to a whisper as she smiled.

"Oh!...Shush." Avures shook his head as he continued his work.

"You know, Avures. You don't have to hide how you feel from me." Rael patted Avures on the head and ruffled his hair slightly.

"Mm...done." Avures put the needle and thread back into the box. Still, on his knees, he looked back over to the stitch. He slightly adjusted himself and grabbed a hold of the fabric. He pulled it up to his eyes to get a closer look at his stitch-work.

"Mm!..." Rael grunted as her entire face lit up like a flame. She quickly moved her hands down to the skirt area.

"I think I did an okay job..." Avures studied the stitch-work. It didn't need as much attention as the dress did, so it was okay to leave it like this. He let go of the fabric and looked back up at Rael's face. "Huh? Something wrong?"

"No...no..." Rael moved the fabric back down to the crotch area...this Avures took note of and mentally face-palmed himself.

"My bad...I didn't-"

"It's fine. I sometimes forget you're oblivious..." Rael scoffed as she smiled again.

Right..."

"Oh...my hero did such a good job." Rael cooed at Avures as she scooted closer to the wall. She gestured for him to sit beside her. "Saving me and fixing my fabric thing."

"Don't say it like that..." Avures climbed up onto the bed with Rael, sitting beside her as his face flared up. Suddenly, he felt something warm and soft on his cheek. An accompanying sound was heard with it as well. Avures's eyes went wide as he looked over at Rael. She looked deep into his eyes as the tips of her ears shone a red color.

"That's my gift for my hero." Rael giggled as she kept staring at him.

"Thanks..." Avures put his right hand on his cheek that she kissed him on. It was a feeling he didn't want to forget...

"You seem a little distracted still...am I distracting you?..." Rael's eyes grew soft and seductive. But it only lasted for a moment as she started to look concerned instead. "Or is it something else?"

"Well..." Avures sighed as he looked down at his legs. "If I could have just seen a little farther into the future...or read those bandits' pasts...maybe we could have avoided all the injuries altogether."

"You shouldn't blame yourself for all that." Rael put her hand on his shoulder.

"I know...but it's hard not to. Olicia was kind of right too. Though, I'm not mad at her anyways."

"It's a whole lot of what-if anyways. Avures, you know the only thing that matters is what happens, right?"

"Yeah...still. It's my job to make sure we don't stumble into trouble. I put this burden on myself. I told you before..."

"You want everything to turn out okay...I understand. Me too, honestly. And look, we're all okay." Rael leaned her head against Avures. Rael was right in his mind, but he also knew something was amiss. He looked at his right hand...

"Rael. Do you mind if I try something?" Avures held his right hand up.

"Go ahead...Avures..."

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"Why did you follow me?" Ventrix sat on the grass outside the mansion.

"I need to clear my mind." Olicia sat next to Ventrix. A cool nightly breeze grazed across both of their faces.

"Then go off. But I'm not going to hold back in response." Ventrix kept staring ahead. He looked on at the forest that they had traveled through.

"Is it really my fault?..." Olicia grasped strands of grass with her hand.

"Yes and no." Ventrix sighed. "It's also partially my fault."

"Why do you say that?" Olicia waited for a response before letting it all out.

"Well. I can understand what you mean, even through your sarcasm. But no one else can. But it's not just sarcasm really. I'd actually compare you to Avures. Neither of you can properly express yourselves for similar, yet different reasons." Ventrix looked up at the moon hanging in the sky. "It's my fault because...well...I have to take some responsibility for you being this way. I-"

"Oh shut up! Mister savior complex!" Olicia threw the blades of grass to the wind. "You have to take responsibility because your daddy said so? Because I'm your pet beast? Fuck you!"

"No...because I've just been looking past your issue instead of being a good friend and helping you. It's easy for me to see who you are. But not so much for everyone else." Ventrix gazed over to Olicia who looked to be filled with anger. But her expression dropped...

"Issue? I don't have any. Pf...you must think I'm like these other misfit children we share a class with. I don't have issues." Olicia crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"It's clear that you struggle to be genuine...I remember that night. I got you to be genuine with me. Maybe it's because you don't have to hide around me. Maybe it's because I can already see through you...but I think everyone else should get to see that side of you. That true version of you."

"What does this even have to do with what happened?" Olicia threw her arms up.

"What happened, happened. You made a mistake. And, albeit, it was a mistake made from a silly habit. But, it only outlines the deeper issue. Olicia, we need you to be the real you. What causes you to not do that?" Ventrix turned himself towards her.

"Who are you to say this isn't the real me?...and why should I tell you?..." Olicia turned herself towards Ventrix.

"Would you rather it be anyone else? Why not be genuine with the person who does the same for you?" Ventrix moved closer to Olicia. He grabbed her hands gently and held them.

"Look..." Olicia sighed but didn't pull her hands away. Instead, she gripped his hands in return. "I...being myself is just something I don't do because of the way things were back home. No one ever took me seriously. And people would find ways to make fun of me or torment me because of how I was."

"Is it because of the bug thing?"

"Well...kinda...it involves it. I don't know. But every time I was genuinely being myself...everyone would jump on me and batter me down with mean words and jokes and...and...I couldn't stand it." Olicia's eyes grew watery. "It was so frustrating. Having everyone take the piss outta me anytime I did anything."

"So people didn't just think you were weird...they also harassed you?"

"Yeah. The sigil thing didn't help either...it was just so many things. And my parents never took me seriously either...imagine living through most of your life and everyone either writes off what you say or laughs at it..." Olicia pulled one of her hands away from Ventrix and wiped her tears. "It makes me so angry...and made me feel so lonely. So I just...stopped."

"Stopped?...what?"

"I stopped being serious. I just laughed along with their hurtful words and jokes. And I'd always call the things I enjoy, like the bugs, weird. Because in my mind, it puts this wall up where I can't be hurt if I'm already hurting myself...but it doesn't work that well anyways." Olicia sighed as she wiped her tears again.

"That's...deeply introspective of you."

"Being alone with my thoughts lets me do that...heh...I sometimes get jealous of other people. I feel like they can be themselves. Especially people like Rael..."

"But that part you said there...that was genuine, was it not?"

"Yeah...what about it?"

"Do you see me laughing? Do you think Rael would laugh at you? Avures? Lylas? Bif, even?...don't answer that one actually." Ventrix clasped Olicia's hand with both of his.

"...I don't suppose they would. I just...it's hard to want to be me when I know what's happened before."

"Then, try this. Pick one person, and open up...okay? And you'll see. And hopefully, it gives you the confidence to open up more." Ventrix slowly pulled his hands away from hers.

"I'll try...I just don't want anyone to die because of me. If this will help..." Olicia stood herself up and wiped her tears for the last time. "I suppose your mom helped you tell me these things."

"Maybe..." Ventrix smiled. "She probably could have said it all better than me..."

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

As the night went on and on, by the lakeside, some ruffling around could be heard. The snapping of twigs, the breaking of leaves, and the sound of grass being stepped on as someone was moving around. With the moonlight reflecting off of the lake's water being the only source of light, this figure worked and worked tirelessly. There were some preparations that needed finished. After all, this was a plan that came about in a split-second revelation.

Avures took a deep breath and sighed in relief. He walked over to the lake and sat himself down against a tree as he looked out onto the water. The moonlight shimmered gracefully upon the reflective surface. The sense of ease it brought him was unmatched. And, with a plan like this, he needed to clear his mind as best as possible. He wouldn't have long until sunrise, and he was a decent way away from town. But, if everything he saw was correct...then...

"You got some guts, kid. Leading me all the way out here...that's some nifty misdirection. But I'll guess it's a product of luck or knowledge from your master." That familiar voice called out. Footsteps brushing aside grass and crunching leaves and branches could be heard. The moonlight reflecting on the surface of the lake bounced to the figure, revealing them. The man in the armor and wraps. He stopped some distance away from Avures and stood there.

"I'm not sure what you mean by that..." Avures stood up using the tree as a crutch.

"Master?...like Zen or Grula?..." Avures thought to himself as he pulled out his sword.

"But... there are two ways we can do this. I want information. Either you talk, or I beat it out of you." Avures pointed the sword at the man. Confidence wasn't exactly his forte, but his future sight allowed him to be confident. And, with a plan like this being so risky, he couldn't afford to show any weakness.

The riskiness came in part to him being alone. All he knew of the man was from what he had seen in the vision and from before. So, it was a bet to make. A bet that he might not show up if anyone else was with him. Avures had one great advantage in all of this though. It wasn't his future sight, but rather, being able to pick the battlefield. Most of the nighttime, Avures spent setting up multiple traps around the battlefield with magic. This was due to a certainty in his mind that a fight was unavoidable.

"Mm...you really do have guts. Making demands of me. Using her blood to lure me out..." The man crossed his arms. Avures didn't flinch at all, holding on to his words and confidence...

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"Rael..." Avures pulled his right hand away from her arm. The visions had subsided, and Avures knew what to do. Or at least, he had some idea in mind. "Can I...ask something of you?"

"Avures...of course. What is it?" Rael smiled at him, ready to assist.

"Well." Avures reached into his coat and pulled out a small, empty water skin. "I know it sounds odd...and you can say no...but can I...can I get some of your blood?"

"...pf...ha...ha-ha!...oh man." Rael couldn't stop giggling and covered her mouth. She took a deep breath and relaxed. "Avures, you made it sound like it was gonna be something really weird or something I wouldn't do at all."

"To be fair, I feel like asking for someone's blood is weird." Avures sighed in relief. Rael took the water skin from his hands. She screwed off the lid, handed it to Avures, and held the container with one hand.

"Mm, not at all. At least, not for you to ask...hm...Avures, how about this? Agree with what I'm gonna say before I say it." Rael slowly brought her free hand up to her face. She carefully stuck her thumb in her mouth and bit down on the tip of it. Her teeth ruptured a small amount of skin, causing blood to drip down from the wound she made. She smiled with a toothy grin. A small amount of blood stained her front teeth.

"Huh?...well, I don't know if I should. What are you even gonn-" Avures raised an eyebrow at Rael's statement. Rael moved her bloody thumb over the top of the water skin and let the crimson liquid drip down into it.

"Agree with me. Say yes. In fact, say..."yes dear"..." Rael was grinning ear to ear as she spoke. Avures grunted as he looked away from her. "Look. I'm doing it for you anyways, right? So...I guess you don't have to...but could you do it for me?"

"...yes dear..." Avures muttered as his gaze slowly drifted back over to Rael's face. She seemed pleased enough by his words. Rael closed her eyes and reopened them in those doe eyes that always melted Avures's heart.

"Good. Now, Avures...here's what I want from you. Whenever you have a problem, whenever you need help, whenever you need to say something or do anything...come to me...okay?" Rael's eyes seemed to hold him in a trance. Avures found himself captivated.

"But what if I-"

"Ah-no no." Rael shook her head and Avures shushed himself. "I want to be the first person you come to when you need help. Got it? After what happened before...I won't ever brush you off again. I want you to use me...I want you to sacrifice me if you need to...okay?"

"Rael!...I don't think I could do that." Avures shook his head in protest, but Rael persisted. "I couldn't sacrifice anyone..."

"But...could you sacrifice yourself?" Rael tilted her head slightly.

"I-...that-..." Avures found himself unable to properly respond. It was rhetorical, they both knew the answer to the question...but, Rael didn't know Avures was doing something close to that.

"See?...how fair is that? I bet you would sacrifice yourself for me, and probably the others too. But to not allow or expect that from me...you're making me selfish against my will. So let me say it again for you, silly." Rael finished dripping blood into the water skin. She pulled her thumb away from the top and put it on Avures's face. She slowly and softly dragged the tip of her thumb down Avures's right cheek, leaving a small, faint trail of blood. "Let me help you. Come to me, use me, sacrifice me if you need to. All the same things you would do for me. We're in this together...okay?"

"You're right. Sorry if that made me seem a bit selfish...but I think I understand what you're saying." Avures grabbed hold of Rael's hand on his face. He pulled it down and then grabbed the water skin from her.

"Good. Because I wasn't going to take "no" for an answer." Rael smiled as Avures capped his water skin. "What do you need it for anyways?...if you don't mind me asking."

"Oh...uh-" Avures looked away from her...only to find Olicia standing in the doorway. He froze up. Rael looked slightly confused and then saw Olicia as well.

"Should I...go?" Olicia pointed to the door with her thumb.

"No...you're fine." Rael's face was the same color as a tomato. "How long were you there?..."

"Not...that long." Olicia inched over to her bed and sat down.

"Well. Uh, I'll be back later tonight." Avures stood up, dusted himself off, and quickly walked out of the room...

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"I'm sure you also placed some sort of magic to eliminate the smell of her blood from that wound...you're too clever for your own good. You're clearly not a thrall but..." The man tapped his foot as he stared at Avures. The man put his hands out to the side as he shrugged and sighed. "Let's talk then. I'm open to words. But if I don't like what I hear...it's your blood."

"I-uh...what?" Avures raised an eyebrow, not expecting him to just back down and talk.

"C'mon...wait...you didn't think I'd just talk? Well. I guess you know nothing about me, so fair. But go on. What information are you looking for?"

"Alright..." Avures rubbed his chin. The way this man talked and was willing to talk...either he recognized that Avures had the advantage, or he wasn't too involved with the whole operation with the kids. "I want to know where the kids are at."

"Huh?...oh, you're here to get them back are you?" The man shook his head. "Look. I plan on returning them myself once we're done with them."

"Done with them?...are you not holding them for ransom?"

"Ransom? No. We're-who put you up to this?" The man pointed at Avures.

"I'm asking the questions." Avures didn't budge.

"Look. Kid. I'm giving you a chance here. We're clearly missing pieces from each other. Don't ruin this. Now. Who put you up to this?"

"Gargas B-"

"Hah! I knew it!" The man interrupted Avures and put his hand on his already-covered face. "I don't imagine he planned on this though..."

"What do you mean?"

"You're being played by him. You and your friends...Lancers, right?"

"Yes?..."

"You're all being taken for fools." The man's tone lowered. "Both by the noble, and by the redhead."

"You're going two different directions here. Stay on track..." Avures instinctively lowered his sword as if he became uncertain.

"What's wrong? Lose some confidence, bud? Maybe her grip on you isn't as tight as I thought." The man crossed his arms once more. "I'm not sure why she came here...or why she came under the guise of Lancers...but once Patchwork is done with those children...We'll be killing her once and for all."

"What did Rael do to make you want to kill her?" Avures lifted his sword back to where it was. His voice raised, and he felt himself tense up.

"Is that what she's calling herself?...that sounds familiar..." The man muttered to himself. "Her crimes are far too numerous...an example of evil incarnate. Do yourself a favor, kid. Get you and your friends outta here while her spell over you is still weak."

"She's not evil! I don't know where you got that idea, but that isn't Rael. We're going to save those kids. Now, tell me where they're at!" Avures gripped his sword harder as he continued to point it at the man.

"I was a little confused at first. But now I get her game. Gargas might have just killed everyone here trying to cover his ass and saved that witch. Which means if I don't act now..." The man dropped his arms to his sides. He slowly pulled his shield from his back, and unsheathed his sword. "No one will survive. Tell me, kid. She must have put a spell over you. Maybe she made a pact with you, maybe she used her blood to enthrall you...I don't know. She must have made you feel special...but know this. To her, you're expendable."

"That's not true!..." Avures readied himself for a fight. He had prepped the battlefield just in case. It was his advantage...but why had his confidence waned? It was as if-...

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"See?...how fair is that? I bet you would sacrifice yourself for me, and probably the others too. But to not allow or expect that from me...you're making me selfish against my will. So let me say it again for you, silly." Rael finished dripping blood into the water skin. She pulled her thumb away from the top and put it on Avures's face. She slowly and softly dragged the tip of her thumb down Avures's right cheek, leaving a small, faint trail of blood. "Let me help you. Come to me, use me, sacrifice me if you need to. All the same things you would do for me. We're in this together...okay?"

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Was he right?...

"I'll try to show you. I'll try to break you free from her spell. But, I'm sorry if I can't." The man stepped forward.

In the end, Avures had learned next to nothing except for deceit.

The man walked forward with confidence in his steps. Avures stood in a stance. It was time for his preparations to unfold. As the man took one more step forward, a glow emitted from the ground underneath him. A rune-like circle glowed black, and the man found himself unable to move at all. At the same time, Avures rushed forward. Raising his sword high, he went to swing down...

That popping sound boomed forth, and Avures felt immense pain in his gut. A great, tremendous force had directly struck him and sent him rolling backward. The air was completely knocked out of him, and Avures choked up spit as he desperately tried to regain his breath. His body ached as he managed to stand back up. The man was still frozen there for a moment. But, he soon broke free, giving Avures only time to breathe.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"He attacked me...while paralyzed?..." Avures took a stance again. Each gasp for air he took seemed to lower his confidence more and more. That pain became etched in his mind. Whatever that thunderous force was...Avures feared it.

The man swung his sword in a sideways form. He was way too far away for a physical attack. Avures conjured up a black shield, knowing this was magic. He was just in time. As the barrier formed around him, it was immediately assaulted by an attack that seemed invisible. With the limited amount of light...this man had to be using wind magic which was hardly visible in the presence of sunlight as is. Avures held his left hand out. A thin whip extended out of the palm of his hand. The length grew longer and longer. Avures didn't want to be in a close melee with the man. As he continued to hold his shield up, Avures violently lashed the whip at the man over and over.

The wrapped man used his shield to block each hit. Avures had hoped that he might slip up, and use his sword to try and block...but that wasn't happening. The man had simply stood there and kept moving his shield around to block. However, while that was happening, the man looked directly at Avures. In what felt like a slow moment, Avures's shadow barrier suddenly blocked some attack which instantly shattered it to pieces. He could instantly recognize that tremendous force as the same one that just assailed him.

With his barrier down, his only defense was his offensive attacks with his whip. Avures relented, dispelling the whip. The man started to sprint at Avures. Avures quickly conjured up something else. It was hard to excuse this waste of potential, but it was something he invested a little into just in case. Like the shadow whip, Avures conjured up a second sword in his left hand as he wielded it with his right. Its appearance was much like the whip, having a shadowy and black appearance to it. At the same time, Avures let that spatial pattern from his right hand spread its way back up to his eye as he peered into the future...

It didn't make sense. Or maybe it did...but, Avures's visions led to him experiencing great pain like before. It was like his guts and organs were being shot through his entire body out of his back. Over and over...however, it revealed a few things to Avures.

This man's martial skills vastly trumped his. But he already knew that.

He was trying to avoid any truly lethal blows on Avures.

And, that force seemed to always strike wherever he looked to...

It only made sense. Whatever sort of attack that was, it was tied to his one eye. Back when Rael had been hit by it, when he was initially struck with it, and then when his barrier was broken...though he couldn't outright prove it, it seemed consistent through the numerous visions he had witnessed in an instant.

"Perfect Dark!" Avures prepped himself for a melee. The ground was overtaken by shadows in a large area, but the man didn't stop his approach. Avures had two options for this. Deep Murk or Darkness. However, considering the wind magic...Avures knew his Deep Murk could be blown away. So, Darkness became the obvious choice. As long as he couldn't see Avures, he couldn't hit him with that attack. At least, that was his theory. Dark tendrils sprouted up from the ground all around the man.

"A shame you have to make this hard for me!" The man slowed his pace as he turned his body to a set of tendrils. He sliced with his sword like before. A great, long slice of wind spilled forth and cut down those tendrils. He looked to the other side and did the same. However, it had given Avures enough time to tailor his magic.

"Darkness..." Avures focused everything he had. From the radius of his Perfect Dark, a large dome started to rise to overtop the area. As it finally all converged, complete and utter darkness enveloped the area they fought in. However, Avures could see through his own magic just fine. Mechanically, it was very similar to Deep Murk. However, this technique was resistant to being cast aside. Anything out past two feet of vision, for whoever was subjected to it, was covered by magical darkness. Impenetrable by all except for True Light. It was a technique more founded in the grasp of Manipulation, Utility, and Enchantment. But, like all techniques, could be modified at the user's whim and their types.

Avures was surprised by the man's willingness to fight within this dome, as he hadn't tried to retreat out. There was another benefit to all of this. Being within the radius of Perfect Dark made one more susceptible to the user's magic. Avures knew his magical potency was about average, so it was to his great advantage.

"I can't see shit in here...but this should help." The man took his sword hand. Carefully, he pulled the wrappings down below his covered eye, revealing it. "That's better...a little bit at least."

It was time. Avures was using an absurd amount of mana and taking in an equally great amount of flow to use as well. How long could his body keep up this intake and output? He wouldn't stand around and wait to find out.

Avures appeared in front of the man. Bending at the knees, Avures had his arms crossed and sliced through at the man's legs...

The man looked at the boy, and great pressure emitted onto him. He watched as Avures was thrust into the ground. The shadow below him slightly parted as the grass and dirt shattered below his body and created a small crater. Avures's body lay there face down on the ground as the shadow reformed. The man sighed and shook his head. However, he became struck with confusion as Avures seemingly dispersed into shadows.

"Illusions? Hmm...my own Enchantment magic was beaten out?..." The man lifted his right arm to his face. He could see his sort of windy aura encompassing him. "I'm not so sure...well-met. You're skilled in your own right, even if you are lacking overall. Tell me, kid. What's your name?"

"Avures Kovar..." Avures's voice boomed throughout the dome of complete darkness.

"Yuval...I am no master of a last name. But on my free will, I will free you." The man slammed his sword into his shield, echoing a loud crashing sound throughout the dome.

Two instances of Avures appeared on each side of the man. One was in the air, leaping at him with a sword pointed to his neck. The other held both swords and lead with a downward swing. Avures felt guilty, using a similar tactic to the one he watched Lylas use...but it was the one way he could think of to create an opening.

Yuval blocked the downward swing with his shield and turned himself to deflect the stab at his neck with a side swing of his own. He knocked the one in the air out of the way, but the Avures on the other side managed to sneak a stab in with his second sword at his left thigh. Yuval grunted, and a storm of wind enveloped him. In an instant, the storm sliced outward throughout the dome. The illusions of Avures were sliced apart in a bloody fashion but dispersed to shadow once again. Avures himself was in a safe spot, easily able to shield the attack with magic.

While Yuval knew little of magic other than what he specialized in, one thing was for certain. Illusions don't hurt. They can touch and replicate the feel of something, but to inflict damage? Unusual to say the least. That was when he started to sniff the air...

As Avures watched the man sniff the air, he remembered...from his vision before, and from Yuval's own words...the whole reason he had gathered Rael's blood was to draw him in to get answers from him. His sense of smell was incredible. It had to be. Or...it was a form of wind magic assisting him. A Utility-based technique. Avures had to act quickly, otherwise, his whole strategy might fall apart.

Several more copies of Avures appeared in the man's vision. But, from behind him, Avures was ready to strike.

"I may not know a lot about magic like this...but..." Yuval sliced through all the copies at once with his sword and magic, dispersing them all into shadow. He then kept swinging with the momentum...and sliced Avures cleanly through the chain mail he wore across his mid torso. "I've figured out your little trick."

Avures retreated a few feet. As he did, it felt like the man's eyes were following him. He ran circles around the man, but Yuval kept tracking him with ease. He couldn't see through the darkness at all, but...

"Your little tendrils. You placed illusions over top of them to trick me. Clever. However, you've fallen victim to my elevated sense of smell. All this misdirection is useless..." Yuval kept turning to Avures, trying to scare him into another frantic attack. However, this was actually to Avures's advantage.

The thing was, Avures could see him, but Yuval could only smell him. While not as resourceful as Lylas in a fight, Avures had gone for a double-edged maneuver. If he was able to strike Yuval, it worked out. However, even if he didn't, it played into his hand. The proof of this. As Avures kept running circles around Yuval, he took his left arm and rubbed it over the wound. It wasn't that deep of a wound. In fact, Yuval probably intended for it to be like this to counter Avures's strategy since he seemingly didn't want to kill him. But, Avures got blood all over his arm.

A flurry of tendrils all sprouted out of the ground around Yuval and frantically began to slam down at him. Yuval sighed as he began to deal with the onslaught nonchalantly, thinking that Avures was in desperation mode.

As this was happening, Avures was quickly stabilizing his wound. Even with his little healing magic expertise, he was able to seal up such a surface-level wound. However, the blood remained on his left arm. Going as quickly as possible, Avures sprouted a tendril beside him and started rubbing as much of the blood on it as possible. Though he couldn't get it all off of him, a majority was now coating this tendril. To test, Avures sent the tendril in the other direction of him.

Yuval kept battling out against the tendrils in the center. As he did so, he kept his focus on Avures, turning to face towards his smell. Eventually, he grew tired of this. Yuval once again conjured up a storm of winds and sliced apart all of the tendrils all around.

Avures panicked, but saved his plan, managing to put a barrier around himself and that bloody tendril just in time. It was now or never. The illusion of himself seemingly replaced the tendril, and from opposite directions, they both rushed to the center.

Yuval watched as two copies of Avures flanked him. The one who initially entered his vision...and then the other.

"You're a fool! I truly thought you'd know better, kid!" Yuval turned to face the stench of blood and stabbed Avures in the gut...

Shadows...

Yuval's eyes went wide as he looked back towards the Avures who he thought was an illusion. He raised his shield up as Avures came in with a side swing with his shadow blade in his left hand. The sword hit the shield...

Yuval grunted in pain as he felt a sharp pain in the side of his torso. He was in utter shock as he watched the shadowy blade pass right through his shield...

Avures had landed a solid attack against the man. But, he needed to retreat before the man could use his eye's ability again. With a swift jump, he hopped back out several feet into the magical darkness.

"Well-played...Avures. What you lack in strength, you make up for in smarts. You're way too clever to remain under her spell as her slave." Yuval winced in pain.

"I'm not her slave! And I'm not under a spell!" Avures threw away those thoughts. To even think he let those ideas drag down his confidence in the first place.

"Then let's see that! C'mon!" Yuval readied himself in the center once more.

For his next trick, Avures created several illusions of himself on tendrils, all trying to recreate that blood smell the other had. Or at least, a concentrated enough stench to confuse him. And, that part wouldn't be hard, as he felt blood trickle out of his nose. The toll on his body was starting to add up. He needed a decisive blow now. This was his final set of attacks. Surrounding Yuval, Avures and his illusions charged forth. As they got closer and closer, only inches away...

"Shatter..."

The voice of Yuval rang out all around, echoing in the dome. As he said it, the shadows on the ground, the darkness all around them, and the illusions...as if someone had thrown a rock through a window, the sound of glass breaking emanated...and it all disappeared. Their surroundings were replaced with the outside world once more with the light of the rising sun greeting them. Avures was no longer supported by the Enchantment magic he unconsciously wielded at this point and nearly tripped over his feet right in front of Yuval. He looked over at his left hand. That shadow blade was gone as well. It was as if...every piece of magic around them...had been completely dispelled at once.

"What?..." Avures looked at the ground in front of him, not wanting to lift his eyes to meet Yuval.

"Shatter. My shade. A power I created to make sure I would never again become the slave of someone else. All magic affecting you and me has been instantly erased. Now. Look at me, kid." Yuval sheathed his sword and put his shield away. Avures reluctantly looked to Yuval, meeting his gaze. "You're truly under no magical effect now. What say you?"

"Rael...Rael's not evil. She has no spell held over me. Whoever you think she is...that's not her. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And I'll be saving those children with her too..." Avures wiped the blood out from under his nose as he caught his breath. With no support from his magic, he was really feeling the pain of overexertion.

"So...you willingly serve that witch?...I didn't want to kill a kid...but you disgust me." Yuval clenched his fist, and punched Avures in the jaw. Avures stumbled backward from the hit. He instinctively grabbed at his jaw with his left hand to clench the pain. He brought his sword up and charged back at the man. However, Avures noticed it too late, but the man was looking straight at his sword arm...

The same sound of that power rang out...Avures's sword went spinning through the air and landed blade first into the ground. Avures screamed out in pain as his right arm's bones all shattered from the force. The attack shoved him to the side, but Avures remained standing. He clasped at his right shoulder, trying to clench and think away the pain or anything for that matter. Avures's breaths were frantic and uncontrollable. The pain was unbearable.

"Shame too. You have potential. But you're a flawed fighter. I was willing to play along with your little game and not use this ability of mine...but I don't care now." Yuval's eyes were completely honed in on Avures. "Tell me, Avures. What are you fighting for? What's your objective? Your motivation? What do you believe in?"

"I-...I-..." Avures glared at the man with anger in his heart, but none of it showed. He tried to focus and think. He didn't know what to do, but maybe he could stall. But, he still answered honestly. "I'm fighting to save those children...To get that information from you...To keep you from killing Rael...To get to the future I want..."

"And there it is. Your flaw. Your answer is all over the place..." Yuval shook his head and sighed. "This is why Lancers are so unreliable and shit. You have all this power, talent...and yet, your attacks have the cut of a dull kitchen knife. You aren't the first Lancer I'll have killed. And you most likely won't be the last. But you're all the same. You lack a sharp and strong mentality and you can't summon that up!"

The sharp popping sound erupted once more, the force hitting Avures in the gut and launching him against a tree. His back smashed against the bark of it, and the overall force sent pieces of bark flying out to the sides from behind him. Avures gasped for air as all wind was knocked out of him once more.

"You have no conviction!"

The sound emanated once again. Avures was pinned against the tree as the force struck him once again in the gut. Avures choked up and spit flew out of his mouth. The tree stood strong, but the wood behind Avures cracked and split.

"Your goals are all over the place!"

Once again, the sound ruptured through the air again. Avures couldn't seem to catch his breath. The sheer force and pressure of the attack kept him from drawing any breath. The tree completely cracked, and slowly tipped over behind Avures. However, he merely fell to his hands and knees in front of where the tree once stood. He managed to catch a single, desperate breath before...

"Your motivation is weak and flawed!"

Again, Avures was crushed by the pressure and force as it came from above this time. It slammed him against the ground, creating a small crater. Avures's entire body felt like it had just been completely overwhelmed as he lost his breath once more and retched up blood.

"You couldn't even tell me what you believe in!"

And for another time, Avures was subjected to the same sound coming from Yuval's power. This time, it deepened the crater while having the same effect on Avures once more. It felt like his insides were all being crushed up instantly. Avures coughed up even more blood than before...

However, it seemed as though Yuval was done for a moment as it all fell silent. Avures tried with everything he could to move...but nothing. His body was in pure agony on the inside and outside. His bones felt either crushed or weakened, and his muscles were burning and screaming in pain. An indescribable amount of torment was afflicting Avures as his organs were practically mush. Avures quietly moaned as he suffered. He could summon no strength forth. He couldn't move. He was simply laying in a pool of his own blood as he weakly clung to life with slow, bated breaths.

"I'm going to die...aren't I?...I'm dying...I'm dying...this is it for me..." Avures's thoughts were slow and echoed throughout his head as the lack of blood was getting to him.

"It's not too late to change..." Yuval had walked over to the crater and picked Avures up by his hair, lifting him up to meet his gaze. Avures's eyes struggled to focus on Yuval. His vision was blurry and shaky as he almost couldn't look him straight in the eyes. "Well?..."

Presented with last mercy from Yuval...through all of his words...through Avures's own beliefs...and through the promises he had made...

"R-Rael..." Avures faintly uttered.

How could he forget her?

How could he change?

She was everything to him. If he had to die for her...he'd gladly do it.

And he would do it again if he could...

"You stuck to what you said...fair enough. Goodbye, kid."

A final eruption of force and pressure blasted through the air. As Yuval let go of his hair, and Avures slowly fell...the blast hit him directly in the gut once more. The attack launched him several feet back through the air. He went farther and farther until...

*Splash*

Avures broke through the surface of the water on the lake as he slowly sank deeper and deeper into the blue...

"I'm going to die...and that's okay..." Avures's mind slowly went adrift as he aimlessly watched the surface of the water become farther and farther away.

"I tried my best...I'm okay with dying..."

The reflection of the rising sun, that red and orange color...it was so pretty to him...

"Avures..."

As much as moonlight had always been his preference...something about the early sun and its colors had always captivated him...

"Avures!..."

It was like his other half in a way. It was always right next to the moonlight as it waited to come out. They both complimented each other...

"Avures!"

Avures heard a muffled splash sound. His eyes weakly spotted something. It seemed to cover up his view of the sun. But, it had a redness of its own...

A hand reached out to him...

Something clicked.

"I don't want to die! Not yet! I don't want to die!" Avures mustered all the strength he could. Rael was right in front of him, swimming down to him. He raised his left arm against all the pain, against the pressure of the water. He reached out for her. Avures struggled to keep his eyes open. Rael frantically reached for him and reached for him again. She kept missing, and Avures sunk deeper and deeper. She made a desperate attempt, swimming down as far as she could.

Rael and Avures both reached for each other...Avures fell unconscious...

"Bah!...Ah!..." Rael's head came above the surface of the water. She grunted and struggled as she pulled Avures's head above the water too. Breathing fast and hurrying as fast as she could, Rael swam back to the edge of the lake carrying Avures. Using all of her might, she carefully heaved Avures back onto land, then used her strength to pull herself up as well.

"Don't you dare die on me!" Rael dragged Avures over to a tree and sat him down next to it. She lifted his chin, tilting his head back. She then put her mouth to his, giving Avures's body a breath. She then repeated it, moved over to his chest, and started pressing down on it over and over.

Yuval watched the scene unfold ahead. Initially, he was going to cut her down where she stood. But she had run past him completely and dove into the water.

"After everything!...Please don't die on me!" Tears of anger and grief streamed down Rael's face as she kept trying and trying. Rael quickly repeated the process, wasting no time in giving more breaths to Avures and desperately trying to save him.

"Ah!..." Avures shot awake, still unable to move, but awake. He struggled to catch his breath and coughed over and over. He began to gasp for air, the pain also exacerbating the situation.

"Avures! Here!" Rael put her hands onto Avures, focusing in on him and giving him some of her mana. Avures wasted no time in channeling that mana into magic, using it to heal himself and stabilize himself while numbing the pain.

"Rael..." Avures winced in pain as he tried to move. Rael sat him against the tree to help. Avures looked at Rael. Her hair was soaked and flat. Her red fabric was also completely soaked and clung to her skin. Water dripped down all over the ground from her. "Rael!..."

"Avures! You!-You!" Tears continued to stream down Rael's face uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly. Avures could feel how her entire being was shaking to the core. "How dare you try to die on me?! Why didn't you come to me for help?! I thought we made a promise?! We're in this together! I don't want you to die, Avures!"

"Rael!...I'm sorry...but we have to go...quickly..." Avures winced as Rael's squeezing was managing to hurt him through the numbing of his pain.

"Ah!...you!" Rael let go of Avures and turned to face Yuval. Her eyes flared up with intense hatred. Rael spotted Avures's sword. A flame whip extended from her hand. Rael lashed it over to the sword, wrapped it around it, and pulled it to herself. Rael held the sword with both of her hands as she confronted Yuval.

"Hold on..." Yuval put his hand up.

"Hold on? Hold on?! I'll fucking kill you!" Rael's voice cracked as a great flame started to envelop the sword.

"Yeah! Hold on!...I've made a mistake..." Yuval sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing the back of his head.

"I'll say you have! I won't let you kill the one person I love!" The flame kept increasing in size over and over again as Rael grew even more furious.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. You were right, Avures. She's not who I thought she was. I apologize." Yuval approached the two of them. Rael, who had become confused by this, slowly dispelled the flame on Avures's sword. She lowered her arms as he walked up to the two of them.

"What are you talking about?" Rael turned her head to Yuval who stood in front of Avures.

"I mistook you for the witch who ruined my life. I sincerely apologize. Both to you, and Avures." Yuval gestured to the two of them.

"I told you...she's not evil...there was no spell over me..." Avures lay against the tree, still unable to move.

"Right...I can't say that I'm sorry enough, kid. It was a terrible misunderstanding." Yuval put his hand over his eyes as he became wracked with guilt.

"Wait...you're that guy from the cave!" Rael pointed the sword back at the man.

"Your girlfriend here is a bit slow on the uptake." Yuval sighed.

"She's not...my-"

"Yes, I am. Avures...what were you thinking?" Rael looked over to Avures with a wide-eyed face.

"He was going to...track you down and kill you...that was what I saw earlier...so...I used your blood to make him come to me...so I could get answers from him..." Avures closed his eyes as he tried to make the feeling of weakness go away.

"Avures...why didn't you just tell me?"

"I was...just trying to protect you..."

"I don't care!...it's not fair..." Rael dropped the sword to the ground as her eyes welled with tears once again. "We made a promise...what am I going to do if I find you dead one of these days because of this? What if you had died?...then what? What am I supposed to do without you?"

"I...I don't know..." Avures turned his gaze to Rael. Small beads of water cascaded down her cheeks. To think he mattered that much...to think what he almost put Rael through...did his life really have that much value? The life of someone who never really cared about anything until recently in his life...was it worth that much? From his little sister, that love was unconditional. But this...it was different. Would everyone else have felt the same way?

"Come to me, use me, sacrifice me if you need to. All the same things you would do for me. We're in this together...okay?"

Was this what it was all about? To achieve this future, to secure a future for everyone...was he not meant to do it alone after all? Could he truly rely on everyone else?

"I'm sorry, Rael. I wanted to protect you...but I had only considered myself in that. I was...being selfish..." Avures mustered all the strength he could to try and stand up. But, he struggled and began to fall, however, both Rael and Yuval helped him to stand.

"Well..." Rael sniffled and wiped the tears from her face. "At least you know why I was upset..."

"You wanted answers...right?" Yuval handed Avures fully off to Rael. "Let me atone for this by helping you."

"I made an observation." Avures gazed at Yuval. "You don't seem like the type who would be in with kidnappers. What's your deal?"

"Well...I made a mistake. I got too caught up in wanting revenge. When I saw her jump into the water for you, it kinda dawned on me. I've been supporting Patchwork because he seemed like the only way I could get what I wanted." Yuval crossed his arms and lightly shook his head.

"I feel like I'm missing something here...Patchwork? Missing kids? Returning them?" Avures shook his head as well, confused by what he was saying.

"You're not from around the area I take it? I figured you guys might know what was going on cause of your one ally with the demon sigil. That Yulva."

"No, we aren't from around-...wait, how do you know her name?" Rael tilted her head inquisitively.

"Different story for a different time. But, since you don't know...maybe you noticed...just about everyone you see around here has a sigil, don't they?" Yuval turned his head toward the direction of the town.

"Come to think of it..." Avures looked in that direction as well. Perhaps he hadn't noticed it when they initially arrived...but, when returning after their defeat...lots of the townsfolk he saw had a sigil on their neck, arms, and hands.

"Mhm. Something about the land here causes just about everyone born here to have a sigil at birth. Course, hardly any of them are close to the strength of a demon sigil...but someone got the bright idea of kidnapping young children, cutting off their sigils, and sowing and grafting it onto their own skin to gain its powers."

"And that was this Patchwork guy right?" Rael looked back over to Yuval.

"Wrong. That was Gargas Bindle initially." Yuval narrowed his eyes as he looked back toward the direction of the town.

"Wait. What? But he put us up to this..." Avures looked back at Yuval with shock.

"Right. He did. Originally, it was all his idea...but the guy wasn't sure if this whole skin-grafting thing was possible. I have no idea why he wanted the power, only god knows. But basically, he tested it on someone else first. And that person is Patchwork. It worked as Gargas thought, but Patchwork took over the whole idea. he co-opted a bunch of bandits into following him with the promise of riches and power."

"How did that happen?"

"Gargas had doctors who kept notes and knew how to properly do the procedures. Patchwork stole all the documents and persuaded the doctors to go with him. And of course...you know low-lives...and of course, now, Gargas wants it shut down. Both for revenge, and for the hope that his involvement stays a secret."

"So...how do you know of all that? How did you get involved with all of that?" For Avures, it was all starting to come together. Of course, Gargas didn't have a favorable reaction to their initial statement of knowing about the bandits. And the sudden hospitality upon their return after failure...was it an attempt to soften them up so that if they did succeed, he could get off free?

"Patchwork told me all about it. Originally, I caught wind of the whole thing on my own and came to shut it down. But...I was outmatched in a straight fight. Not only that, I saw potential in his plan. So, I struck a deal with him. I keep Lancers off of his back and help his plan, and he helps me get revenge." Yuval looked back to Avures. His eyes looked calm.

"Revenge for what though? What justifies this?" Rael looked rather upset with the whole explanation.

"What justifies this?...nothing I suppose..." Yuval looked straight into Rael's eyes. "But what happened to me that day, and the one who perpetrated it...I can never forget it..."

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For most of my life, I had been a slave. I was a trophy slave of a conquered family taken into a different family. Typical warrior culture from the east side of these lands dictated my early life. Though, it was from this family that I earned my name, Yuval. Several years of my life were spent doing farm work, bodyguard work, and gladiatorial combat. It was through all of this that I became a free man. Afterward, I used my combat prowess and power to become a sword for hire.

"You know...a lot of people say I have an eye for talent." A young, feminine voice originated from a red-cloaked figure sitting across the table from Yuval. A seer.

"Is that so?" Yuval couldn't quite see her eyes or face, but her lips were curled into a soft smile.

I was pretty damn good at being a sell-sword too. Reliable, strong, and honest. "Better than a Lancer", some would say. I knew it was true. And it was this attention that drew an older man to me. He was a bald and shifty guy who had a particular hatred for the cults that hide within dark corners of the land. I could share in that hatred. Nothing good ever came from them. So, he hired me. And for some years, I traveled with him and his guild. However, it would all change after one encounter with a certain cult.

"And it's true. I always find the best and most reliable people. And it's these people whose fates I'm concerned about."

"I've met a lot of good people who've died. I understand what you mean."

In what was to be a standard cleansing of a cult that had emerged from a schism...I watched a man get blasted into pieces by a mere child. And though it was resolved quickly after, I had heard about more of these children existing. These children of the cult had their own following with their own extreme power. There were more of these dangerous individuals. And, the one who had hired me seemed to have no intention of hunting these other ones down. So, I had taken it upon myself to do so.

"They deserve so much more than what life gives them."

"Such is fate."

I spent years hunting for any traces of them. But in hindsight, it was all time wasted. Though my presence wasn't large enough or intimidating enough to make these cultists cower, they liked to stay in hiding for a very long time anytime after they strike. So, after five or six years...I gave up. I had settled down in a small hamlet. I even got married and had a child. But things came crashing down, and fast.

"And I simply want to let them fulfill their temptations and desires without worry."

"...I don't know about that." Yuval lightly shook his head.

"One day you'll understand."

I had met a young seer who came into the village warning us of imminent danger. Specifically, the young girl had come to me. As far as everyone was concerned, most problems involving conflict ended up relegated to me. She explained that she foresaw a cultist attack on the hamlet concerning a person of interest they were looking for. I did what I could to convince the villagers to leave, but they were the type of people who considered themselves chained to the land they had grown up on. Seeing no other option, I fortified the defenses of the village as much as I could. But then...that fateful day came.

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"Refugees? From where?" Yuval talked to a lightly armored guard. They stood outside at midday. The skies were filled with clouds, and the weather was particularly cold.

"I keep getting different answers...I have no clue...I-" The guard nervously shook his head...but was interrupted by the robed seer running towards them.

"Yuval! Your child! Your wife!" The girl panted for breath as she finished hurrying towards the two of them. Yuval's eyes went wide.

"Where?! Where?! What's going on?!"

I ran as fast as I could to where the seer was leading me. She had been so instrumental in helping us prepare for this cult invasion so far. She had made good friends with just about everyone in the hamlet as well, so I knew she wasn't just making things up. When we arrived, I saw my wife with her neck wrapped up by a robed man's arm. She had a knife pointed directly at her neck by the man's other arm. The cultist had their back to the wall of a house. A single guard was standing and trying to get him to stop, but he wouldn't budge. A small crowd had also gathered around the commotion. The man in the gray robes with pink edges was unwavering.

"Yuval! Thank god you're here! I didn't want to get your wife hurt! I'm sorry!" The guard looked down in shame as he lowered his spear. Yuval walked past him and patted him on the shoulder.

"That's alright...I'm gonna give you one chance to leave here with your life!" Yuval stared daggers at the man. The seer walked to his side as well, fearing for herself.

"Your life...for hers..." The cultist pointed the knife directly at Yuval.

The fact that the cultist had singled me out as soon as I showed up. It would seem strange and pointless for him to hold my wife hostage and demand the life of someone else. But demanding my life be taken instead? It had to have been done for a specific reason. But regardless, everything was already in motion.

"Yuval!...he-he...He killed-...Y-" Yuval's wife had been shut up as the cultist pointed the knife at her and poked it in, drawing a small amount of blood.

"Not another word. Your life, for hers." The cultist reiterated.

Though she couldn't finish it...I knew what she meant...our four-year-old son was dead, and this man had killed him...

A tremendous, ear-shattering boom rang out. The cultist was instantly forced against the stone wall of the house he used to keep his backside safe. His grip on the knife and Yuval's wife released. She ran forward away from the cultist and to Yuval. She wrapped her arms around him as tears streamed down her face and loud cries escaped her lips. However, as the cultist was slumped against the building...he was still alive. The hood over his head had been blown back, revealing a middle-aged man. Yuval gently took his wife's arms off of him and walked over to the side of the building where the cultist sat.

"I should fucking kill you. Scum...but I need you to stay alive so I can get information." Yuval lifted the man by his robes and held him up in front of him.

"Heh...ha-ha...he-he-he-hah..." The cultist weakly giggled at him. Yuval threw him onto the ground and took a deep breath.

"What a sick human being..." The seer walked to Yuval's side. "He doesn't deserve to keep his life..."

"As much as I want to kill him...I can't...not yet..."

"He killed your son...he almost killed your wife...this was done with the intent to target you...no...to make you suffer." The seer looked over at Yuval. His right fist was clenched with great strength. Blood started to trickle out of his curled fist. "I'm not sure if there's any information you can get from him...after all. These cults are known for their tactics of cruelty. What's there to ascertain other than intent and actions?"

"Maybe so..." Yuval looked down at the knife the cultist once held. It was right at his feet. He bent down and picked it up. He looked at his own reflection in the small blade. A single tear cascaded down from his right eye and down his cheek. "I'll never get my son back..."

"A cruel act like that...can only be repaid in cruelty."

"I shouldn't..."

"Yuval...just this once...follow your desire...give in to your urges, and repay him for what he's done. It's the only thing you can do." The seer continued to look at Yuval. Yuval spent several moments still staring at that knife. "I understand your obligation to duty...but you've done what you can for this place. No amount of information is worth letting this man live. Do something for yourself..."

And so...I did...I brandished the knife. I carried my feet over to where the man still lay on the ground. I brought the knife up high as I knelt down. And with the strongest force I could muster, I brought the knife down on the cultist. Everyone around me watched as I stabbed the cultist several times over. After the first three stabs, I was pretty sure he was dead. But, I had continued. I stabbed him over and over. The pain I felt...knowing I lost my son forever...I couldn't bring myself to stop assailing his body. I thrust that blade into his body at least a hundred times. When I finally decided to stop...I slowly rose back to my feet. The blood practically flowed off the blade like a stream of water. And it was in that moment of fulfilling what I wanted most, that everything changed forever.

"See? I knew you'd see my side eventually. Feeling temptation and being drawn towards it is natural for humans. And to follow our desires is our right..."

I turned to face the seer...and was greeted with the face that haunted me to that point, and would continue to haunt me for the rest of my life.

Scarlet-red hair...warm red eyes...and a young, girly face that held a simple smile in her expression.

At that moment, every single hour, every single day, every single year I spent looking for that person...every sleepless night I thought about that moment...every waking dream a replay of that man exploding from the inside out...and that child's innocent looking face tied to the actions of something resembling a demon...it was burned into my memory. To see that exact face, in that exact way right in front of me...I instantly recognized it for what it was. My worst nightmare had come true.

"You...what are you talking about?..." Yuval's knife hand shook. He was unsure of what to do at the moment. Something he thought he wouldn't ever see in his lifetime appearing right in front of him...and in the worst way possible.

He was frozen in place as the girl giggled to herself. As his eyes wandered, his wife tilted her head at him, wondering why he was in shock.

Behind all of them...the crowd of people who had gathered around...all began to attack each other. Some of them split off from the crowd, while others were surrounded and restrained. The guard who was there tried to stop the commotion, but a person had sneaked around them and jammed a knife in their neck, causing the guard to fall to the ground dead. And even farther in the distance within the town, a great fire could be seen. Smoke rose to the sky and overcast the entire village within minutes.

"You killed the killer of your son, and the would-be killer of your wife. You committed an act of my suggestion to fulfill yourself. An action that deep down, was seeded within you. You were honest with yourself, both in action and words. You succumbed to temptation...it must have felt great, stabbing him as many times as you did..." The seer began to slowly clap. It seemed as if time were slowing down all around them. Chaos and destruction were taking part, but everything else felt quiet and insignificant to what was unfolding here. "Do as you wish, take what you want, and fear not sin. Give in to the carnal desires of your flesh, and give volume to the darkest recesses of your mind. Temptation is my name, my crime, and my nature. It's a pleasure to finally reveal myself to you. And it'll be an even greater pleasure for both of us as you follow me."

"No...not like this!" Yuval raised the knife and charged at her. His eye focused in on her...but then, nothing. His entire body stopped running, his arms went to his side, and his face rested.

"Hmm...that's a good boy. I told you. I have an eye for talent. And your talent is one I want to make use of. I've allowed you to indulge your desire. Now, you'll indulge mine." Temptation smiled as she daintily rose her left hand over her mouth, but didn't cover it. "Kill her..."

Words that still echo throughout my mind to this day. Words that haunt my dreams, and give me nightmares. Words that caused actions I could never undo. The reality was set. And my reality was meant to be cruel. With the knife still brandished, my body moved against my own will. My mind rejected everything my body was doing, and yet, it moved on its own. I screamed out in anguish mentally, but no one could hear me but myself. Every step towards her was another eternity in the moment, each filled with lifetimes worth of regret and sorrow.

"Yu-Yuval?..." Yuval's wife took a single step backward and froze in place. He stood in front of her...knife raised.

The blood was thick, and all over me. As my body disobeyed me...I became numb. The first stab was one directly to the stomach, to the womb. I wanted to puke. The second stab went to the heart. My own heart felt like it had been torn asunder. And the third stab went directly into her throat. I had no control over my own breath. And the fourth and final stab went through her skull and pierced her brain. In that moment, I was numb.

I felt myself regain control of my body. The knife slipped out of my hand. I fell to my knees overtop of her body. My breaths cut short, and my hands shook as I looked down at them. Her blood stained my hands...my palms were covered in the blood of my wife. My body acted against me. The love of my life, and my child were both dead...

"I'll...I'll kill you!" Yuval turned around and thrust himself towards Temptation...but his own body gave way again as he fell short and he could no longer consciously move it.

I didn't even have time to mourn.

"Ha-ha-hah!...aw...good boy." Temptation laughed as Yuval crawled over to her feet. He got onto his knees, lifted her right leg slightly, and began to lick her foot. His body was out of his control completely, and he couldn't stop as he licked dirt and grime from off of the bottom of her foot.

I was humiliated. I couldn't even mourn my family.

"Giving into your desires makes one a slave to temptation. A desire suggested by me, and fulfilled by oneself, is a binding contract. How poetic. A slave turned free man...turned back into a slave." Temptation grinned from ear to ear as she watched her new slave continue to act pathetic.

"She's not here..." A cloaked individual came forward and spoke to her.

"Mm...figures. Well, I suppose it wasn't a waste of time even without finding her. Come, Yuval. Help me burn this place down completely. Leave nothing left." Temptation pulled her foot away from him as Yuval stood back on his two feet.

"Yes, master." Yuval plainly spoke...

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The hamlet I moved into...the hamlet I met my wife in...and the hamlet I had my family in...all turned to nothing by my own hands, against my own will. And as I did it, I saw many familiar and unfamiliar faces. The ones I didn't recognize were most likely refugees who had infiltrated here. The ones I did recognize were either in on it the whole time, or most likely fell victim to Temptation's power like I did.

And for a while, I figured that this would be my new life from now on. A slave to a woman comparable to a witch. I rarely ever had free will of my own from then on. And even when I did, this power kept me from hurting or affecting her and her cult following in any way. I was trapped. It was worse than I had ever imagined a place like Hell could be. My entire being was a jail cell for myself as my body walked, moved, and acted against my will.

It wouldn't be until around three years later, or a few months ago, that I was able to escape.

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"So, you came to me for help? What's your game exactly?" Temptation sat in a throne-like chair while she wore a dark green dress. She crossed her legs and rested her head on her chin as she was addressed by two figures.

"I know what you're thinking. We're your natural enemies...well the truth is...its not quite like that. It took me a long time to find you, so please, allow me to explain and humor me..." One of the figures bowed. They wore a black cloak with purple edges.

"Go ahead. I'm listening..."

"I'm looking to cause a bit of a shake-up within the Ozix cult. I've created a plan and pulled some strings to get most, if not all, of the leadership in on it."

"What sort of plan is this? If you don't mind me inquiring."

"A plan to cause indirect suicide. All of the Ozix cult's leadership killed in one fell swoop. Which for you, means they're off your back as well. Basically, I've convinced the cult to attack the Academy in the hopes of obtaining something related to Ozix. However, they won't commit fully to it unless they get more numbers. But, I've called up about every cell for this already."

"Hmm...you mean to say, all of the leadership will die...except for you? You want control, don't you?"

"If it pleases you to hear so, yes. The slaughter part comes in as I have purposefully misled and misinformed them. They'll have the strongest the Academy has to offer facing them in field. The leadership will be too proud and devoted to pull away."

"My my...being drawn to your temptations...who's to say I won't contact your cult and inform them of your treachery?"

"What reason would you have to do so? It should be obvious that we're both reasonable and cunning people. It serves neither of us to get rid of a potential ally...but I get it. You're missing incentive and direction. What I'm asking for is cultists of your own to assist. You can even have them pull out after the battle has started. Name your price."

"Hmm...I'm looking for someone. Particularly, someone who shares the same exact face as me. Find that person and tell me their whereabouts, and it's a deal."

"Hah!...well, you're not gonna believe this..."

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This deal was settled. After they were done negotiating, Temptation sent me along with a couple of cells of cultists to assist Ozix cultists. It was during this time that I became free. Several days into our travel, I can't exactly remember when it happened, but I could consciously control my own body again. I had just become so accustomed to being a slave to her power that I hardly even noticed my own autonomy once again. All I could figure was that her power had a range...and that range must have been pretty damn far. But, I was free. In the dead of night, while everyone else was asleep. I escaped. I fled as fast as I could without drawing attention.

I remember washing myself in a pond and seeing my reflection a day after...to see my own reflection...it reminded me of that day, and all those horrid years I spent being a puppet and being humiliated on a daily basis. So, I covered myself up completely. And then I took the time to make a shade. I remember some Anti-Magic users I met back in my gladiatorial days, and it gave me the inspiration to create Shatter. A shade that could instantly break apart and erase any magic in, on, or around me or anyone else within range. It had finally truly made me free from Temptation's grasp...

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"And since then, I'd been trying to think of ways to get revenge. I know I dumped a lot on you, but I hope it helps you understand. I've always believed in the ends justify the means. I just like to remain honest about it." Yuval bowed his head to the ground and sighed.

"So...when you first saw me...you thought that..." Rael pointed to herself with a shocked expression on her face.

"Yeah...I apologize. I thought I dealt a serious blow, but I didn't want to have your friends all attack me. So, I originally planned to come back in the night and finish you off."

"...I forgive you...and I have to be honest with you. I don't know whether or not you put it together...but I am that girl from the Academy she's looking for..." Rael lowered her gaze to the ground. Yuval's gaze jumped up to Rael.

"I see...but I saw you save him..." Yuval looked over to Avures. He then shook his head. "If you're like Temptation...or the one before her...I couldn't tell. Don't let yourself be like them. You're too good of a person to end up like them. And please, for your sake, avoid them at all costs if you can."

"Mhm. I'll try. I'm also sorry about your family and possibly causing you grief." Rael bowed while still holding Avures.

"Mph...you're fine, don't worry. It wasn't you, after all. And allow me to apologize to you, Avures. It seems we were all misguided." Yuval bowed to Avures.

"It's okay...just...you did almost kill me." Avures sighed as he still leaned on Rael for support. "What was that by the way?...that powerful attack..."

"Something I was born with. Wind is my element. And my eyes allow me to bundle up and blast air pressure with precision. Even if I'm paralyzed by magic, I can still will it to happen." Yuval pointed to his eyes.

"Huh...can you tell us the exact location of the cave the children are in?" Avures knew that the tunnel they entered was either the wrong one or had a trick to it.

"Hmm? Oh, you were in it. It just might not have looked like it. Patchwork uses Earth magic, and can open and shut different areas of the cave with ease. Hopefully one of your friends can use Earth magic to do the same." Yuval sighed and looked at the two of them.

"You know. You did kinda give us your whole life story. That's crazy...if you ever need our help with your whole revenge thing..." Rael gave a thumbs-up to Yuval.

"I appreciate the gesture. But it's probably for the best that you don't interfere. Also, thank you. Putting this all together...it made me really realize that I was acting like a slave to my dream of revenge. I was doing something horrible. I'll figure this out my own way...and hopefully, you can figure this out from here on out." Yuval turned away from the two of them and started to walk away.

"Bye, Yuval!" Rael waved toward the man. Avures followed in tow. But, Yuval turned back for a moment.

"Oh...and Avures, one last thing. I wasn't kidding or exaggerating. Did you ever read that one book by the second magi? Basically, your power and strength are influenced by the state of mind you have. It might seem like a lot of mumbo-jumbo...but if your mental edge isn't sharp and focused, your attacks will be dull. It's okay to be thinking of a lot of things, but your goals, beliefs, motivation, and conviction should all line up in sync so that you have purpose when you fight. Trying to fight with all these things scattered around makes you weaker. And you won't last out here if you stay like that. That's my advice to you. I hope we meet again!" Yuval turned away for the last time and waved behind him.

"Say...Avures. Didn't you read that book? You could have just said that and saved him the trouble." Rael lightly bumped Avures as she started to help him walk back to town.

"Well...I had a hard time understanding it myself." Avures thought about all the attacks he had unleashed on Yuval. He had two successful hits. Otherwise, he was completely outmatched. But Yuval's strikes...they outweighed his own completely and decimated him. Was that the difference the mental edge made? Did having a clear and sharp mentality like that really solidify one's power?

"Oh...really? I figured you'd get it. You're the smart one after all."

"I think hearing it from him like that made it a lot clearer though..."