His vision was still unclear... And Avures was particularly perturbed by the scene around him...

No bodies strewn about everywhere... Several buildings seemed to be destroyed or have small fires raging inside them... And no one else was around. He wondered if anyone was still alive...

He struggled to maintain concentration on his thoughts. The head pains were still raging on, and was blocking any deeper level ideas... He knew Bif and Olicia were most likely still unconscious by his magic. He needed to check on them first. Avures started to limp and sway towards the center of the village.

And that's when he saw it... A figure was running towards him... Blonde hair... Avures's mind was rushed and assaulted by images of Addle. The boy reached his hand for his sword, his vision draining momentarily as the figure called his name out. However, it was all muffled by the onslaught of the migraine whittling at Avures. Avures was about to draw his sword-.

"Avures! Thank God! You're alive!"

"Huh?"

Avures nearly fell over as the figure crashed into him. They took hold of his shoulders with their hands and stabilized him before he tumbled over. As Avures's vision cleared up the tiniest bit, he was able to make out Ventrix's face.

"Are you okay?... Hey! Talk to me!" Ventrix gave a light shake to Avures, smiling but restraining any joy until further on.

"I-..." Avures let go of his sword's handle, grabbing onto Ventrix's arm instead as he managed to maintain some coherence and understanding of what was going on. As he looked over Ventrix... Avures's look gained a hint of remorse. "Are... Are you okay?"

"Me? I'm fine... I know I don't appear so... But I am, truly." Ventrix let his grip on Avures's shoulders weaken as Avures let go as well. "... Avures?"

"Um. We need-..." Avures's brain scattered out once again as his balance gave way. Refusing to let him fall or pass out, Ventrix shouldered Avures before he toppled over, helping to hold him up as he gave a light tap to Avures's face.

"Easy... Let's go slow." Ventrix hoisted Avures's weight up on one side as he nudged the boy into leisurely walking beside him. "I need you to live, Avures... No matter what."

The two of them slowly strode forward hip to hip, the carnage around them being buried in the rain and night. Though the downpour was beginning to let up, the storm turning into a trickle, it seemed as if the chaos finally gave way.

Ventrix used up the last bits of Mana he had trying to keep Avures stable, his Healing Magic aided in closing some of Avures's wounds. Though the flesh and bone on the boy's left hand was much too serious for Ventrix to be able to treat...

"Avures!" The familiar female voice cried out ahead of the two friends. With her normally messy red hair being flattened and tamed by the sheer amount of water that soaked her head, Rael dashed over to the two of them as she dripped copious amounts of rain from all over. However, she stopped short with her excitement cut short as she saw Ventrix shouldering him.

"Everyone's okay?... I can't believe it..." Lylas approached the three of them from an indiscreet alleyway between a few of the broken buildings. "We got lucky..."

"Yeah... Unfortunately." Rael's deadpan glare fell on Ventrix and refused to ease up at Lylas's words.

"Rael?... Lylas?... Then that means..." Avures's tired and worn eyes scanned across the three of them... If they were okay, that meant Olicia and Bif were most likely unharmed too. Which meant... Through one way or another... Avures had managed to change the future. The terrible vision he had witnessed that time during the festival hadn't come to pass... All of the people he cared about were still alive...

"Hm?" Rael took her attention off of Ventrix for the moment to glance at Avures. Seeing him in such a sorry state made her heart weep, but she didn't want to be overbearing when he was clearly struggling to stay upright.

"... Nothing..." Avures's being overflowed with satisfaction and relief. Though it was probably the closest he felt to happiness, the feeling in his body didn't quite match the way he thought or understood happiness as. Despite his victory, it was only a placation where his body couldn't show a smile.

"We better get outta here." Lylas sighed and glanced around as he remembered the layout of the village, trying to remember where the stable was.

"Bif... Olicia..." Avures snapped the fingers on his right hand, calling the attention of the three of them to their other friends.

"That's right! Here. Let's go get 'em, Air-Head." Lylas shuffled over to Rael and nudged her shoulder towards the longhouse.

"But!-..." Rael hesitated jumping forward to go get Olicia and Bif. She didn't like that Ventrix had a hold of Avures. Not because she felt jealous, but because of the sheer distrust she currently held towards Ventrix... However, she relented after a few moments. "Right..."

Both Lylas and Rael jogged towards the direction of the longhouse. Meanwhile, Ventrix and Avures remained in their spot as the slow trickle of rainfall continued on.

"I'm glad you're alive, my friend... Truly..." Ventrix bowed his head as he continued to hold Avures steady.

"Me too..." Avures's plain face and emotionless demeanor contradicted the meaning of his words. Though he was glad to see everyone okay... A swirling mix of many different thoughts and feelings stirred around in his mind and heart, none of which he could give reason to.

"Hey. If you don't mind me asking... What happened that one night when you disappeared?"

"I just had a bad feeling I guess. I went to confirm my suspicions... I made a bad move... But I panicked because this was the place I saw in a future where everyone died."

"And you willingly put yourself through that?"

"Yes...if it means that I can change things...I'll keep doing it too. Because I want to make sure you guys will still be around."

"I enjoy having you around...I did the same for Rael too...and I'll do it again because I like you guys."

"I see..." Ventrix furrowed his brow as his eyes were locked to the ground. A sense of pity grew for Avures's sake.

But at the same time, that feeling of helplessness from his self-reflection earlier rose up through him and clogged his chest. Did anything Ventrix accomplished in that battle matter? Would he have been dead if Avures didn't interfere? Did he have any real power over the situation at all?

"I saw what you tried..." Avures's eyes were lazily cast to the ground as well... But it was as if he wasn't really looking at anything at all. "How did you know?"

"I eavesdropped on Lylas and Rael talking when they put it together..." Ventrix lost sight of his own feelings for a moment. What was he doing at that moment?... "... You don't hate me... Right, Avures?"

"... No." Although he had been shocked by the tactic, Avures didn't hold any resentment for Ventrix. He had merely tried whatever he could to grasp a safer future. "You did what you had to..."

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

Hoof-steps crushed against blades of grass with low volume as a wagon and horse protruded out from a thin fog as the rainfall came to a close. Following back from the path they had taken, the six friends sought to travel back to the Academy after their outing...

"Oh... Jeez..." Avures winced harder than he had when coping with the pain of coming down from Zen Mode as he glared at Rael in the wagon.

"Is it really that bad?... I'm kinda scared to-... Eh." Rael pushed her bags out of her face with her one hand, by habit as the hair that covered her right eye was now also gone, as she used her other hand to put a finger near her exposed eye. However, she refrained from trying to touch it, being much too scared of hurting herself.

"It is bad." Avures looked away from Rael, not being able to stomach the redness in her eye.

"Still... I think ya got off light compared to those two." Lylas leaned against the corner of the wagon as he turned his thumb from Ventrix and Avures.

"To be fair, most of my pain is self-inflicted..." Avures's vision was still somewhat impaired as he held his hand in front of his face. Moving it side to side in front of him was almost dizzying in a way.

"That brute smashed me through buildings... I can assure you, it wasn't fun." Ventrix guided the horses at the seat of the wagon, gladly taking the reins while everyone else rested.

"Serves you right." Rael rolled her eyes as she leaned against Avures. Though he allowed her to rest on him, he was quick to glare at her for her snide comment. "What?"

"... Anyways. What's up with these two?" Lylas nodded down towards Bif and Olicia. The two of them were laid down in the middle of the wagon side by side before they left.

"My Curse is still on them. I don't have the Mana to undo it... And neither does anyone else... So they'll stay like that until I recover or someone else undoes it." Avures held a bit of contempt over his own actions, cringing that he placed such a thing upon the two of them and not undoing it before the action broke out.

"So... Basically until we sleep or get back to the Academy?..." Lylas put his hand to his chin for a moment... Then he chuckled and closed his eyes. "Fine by me. It's more quiet this way."

"So, Kakodo Village, right? I think it is closer than the capital right now. Is there really a healer there?" Ventrix craned his neck back to get confirmation from Avures.

"Mi-"

"Mrs. Greene!" Rael perked her head up for a moment with a beaming smile on her face. "She's a healer!"

"... Sort of." Avures dulled the excitement of Rael as he interjected. "She's probably better than us. But not a cleric by any means."

"Oooo... I'm gonna tell her you said that." Rael elbowed Avures, teasing him as he tried to just relax.

"I see... Well... We shouldn't be far now-" Ventrix pulled back on the reins of the horse, causing it to stop in its tracks. The wagon came to an immediate halt as well...

"Did I hear something about a healer?"

Ventrix felt his body lock up as he watched a figure in front of him waltz toward the wagon... The other three were confused about the sudden stop... But they heard the voice call out to all of them. It seemed familiar...

"If you're in need of healing, then you're in luck. I'm glad we happened to cross paths, my students."

Wearing a dark blue button down coat with the long pants to match... A pair of boots and buckle... The orange scarf and white undershirt to go with his short, white hair with its bangs combed-over... And finally the thick pair of glasses shielding his light purple eyes... Meius strode out to the side of the halted horse, petting it for a moment as he fixed his gaze on Ventrix.

Lylas stood up and became petrified in a similar manner to Ventrix. While Rael and Avures happened to glance up as well, they were none the wiser as to the realization that raced through Lylas's mind. Meanwhile, Ventrix was entirely conflicted...

"So... He did plan for all of this to happen... That wasn't just some red herring..." Lylas wanted to reach inside his pocket for a knife... But ultimately understood what might come of that.

"Avures said he saw us all dead from this... Yet Meius sent us into it after saying he wasn't serving the cult... Was he just overestimating us?... Was Avures's vision wrong?... I don't understand..." Ventrix watched as Meius marched over to the side of the wagon and hoisted himself up onto the side.

"It looks like you all made it out!... Oh? Are those two okay?" Meius pointed between Olicia and Bif, raising an eyebrow at them laying on the floor near motionless.

"Mhm! They're fine!" Rael nodded her head with a clueless smile on her face.

"I haven't been unable to undo my Curse on them... They're just asleep..." Avures sighed as he bowed his head.

"I see... Here. I gotcha." Meius leaned over the edge and reached his hand down for the two students, touching both of them as a shadowy glow emanated from his hands.

"Wait. What do you mean by 'made it out'?" Avures snapped his head over to Meius as the latter continued to release the curse placed on them.

"Ah! See, I was caught up with some things when I was tipped off that this job you were all going on wasn't as it seems... I must accept responsibility for this... As it was I who recommended you, Avures Kovar." Meius retreated his hands from Bif and Olicia as he slid back down to just hanging onto the side of the cart.

"You put us in this mess?" Avures's left hand quivered as it rose up and clasped onto his face. Hearing Meius admit to that fact made him both confused and concerned. Rael was wide-eyed, feeling the same as Avures did. "We almost all died..."

"As I can see..." Meius's upbeat demeanor took a downward turn as he cast his gaze away from his students. With four sets of eyes on him, Meius placed his hand over his heart as he looked at them once more. "I am truly sorry. It was never my intention to place you all in danger. Had I not been tied up, I would have arrived sooner and prevented all of this."

"I can't get a read on this guy..." Lylas tucked in a tiny portion of his bottom lip and bit down on it with his teeth.

"Maybe... Maybe he didn't intend for it to turn out this way..." Ventrix had no idea how to proceed.

"Please, allow me to make up for all of this. Let me heal your wounds before we proceed." Meius held out his hands to both Rael and Avures. Though the two were hesitant at first... They gave in without much of a fuss.

Meius's hands both rested on the top of their heads as a shadowy aura encompassed the two of them. Avures removed his hand from his head and flipped it around to view the exposed flesh and bone. Within mere moments, the bone extended and regrew, connecting with itself as flesh extended out and became interwoven with itself. Finally, his spatial skin stretched back over the wound until it closed up completely. Avures flexed his hand, filled with a bit of wonder after seeing Meius's magic at work.

Rael felt the hundreds of small cuts all over her body sow back up within a single second. Her eyelid reformed, granting much needed moisture and respite as the redness in her eye faded away from her rapid blinking. Even the part of her bangs and hair on her right side was restored from the magic as well. However, one noticeable sensation remained within her... The one that nearly caused her to lose herself to the receptacle. However, Rael summed that up to it not being a bodily wound to heal.

"There we go!... That's a lot better." Meius gave off a soft smile as he removed his hands from their heads.

"I guess everyone calling you the Healing Master wasn't hyperbole." Avures muttered aloud as he and Rael both examined their bodies, surprised to see no injuries remained.

"Yup. I am the real deal... You two?" Meius glanced between both Ventrix and Lylas...

The two of them looked at each other. Ventrix knew that Lylas knew something was amiss and vice versa. However, both of them knew they weren't in a good position to turn this down or begin some sort of interrogation. With a defeated sigh, Lylas carefully walked over Bif and Olicia to reach the side Meius was hanging over. Conversely, Ventrix scooted closer to that side as well.

With no hesitation, Meius began the process. Ventrix had the greater wounds of the two, the deep bruises and cuts being removed and his body restored. Meanwhile, Lylas's body was completely exhausted, but had no real wounds to them asides from where Kataline had nicked him. However, as Meius began to pull his hands away... The two of them felt a sudden jolt within their bodies. The sensation cut off all thoughts and concerns in the moment as it felt like a rush of information was streamed into their heads...

"Okay! All done." Meius hopped off the side of the cart and slapped the wood of it. "Those two will wake up in the morning. I undid the Curse, but I made sure they'd sleep still unless you purposefully stirred them."

"Great! We get to keep riding without Bif being obnoxious." Rael clapped her hands quietly several times in succession as she burrowed her head back into Avures's side.

"Oh, and to also go with it, I'll pay you guys whatever you were supposed to get paid..." Meius began to meander his way towards the village where they had all previously been, prompting glares of confusion from the four of them.

"Wait! Why are ya going over there?" Lylas broke his nerves to call out a final question.

"Simple. I'm gonna track down every single last ally of those people and kill them..." Meius twisted his neck back towards the teens with his playful attitude suddenly shunted into a deadpan serious mood... Then, without warning, he swapped back. "Nah. I can't at the moment. Too much work to be done. I'm gonna take an assessment of the damage though... You all should head back to the Academy and take your week off... Bye-bye."

Meius waved back behind him as he strolled on ahead back towards where they had left... With that encounter over, Ventrix didn't speak another word as he got the cart moving once again. Avures and Rael both were less on edge than either Ventrix or Lylas. Lylas kept watching Meius leave, unsure of what might happen next... Or what that was even about...

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

As a wooden door creaked and shut with a firm sound, Avures knew he was not alone once more. He sat out on the grass cross-legged as a cool, nightly breeze danced across his skin... A soothing feeling that was much appreciated in his moment of uncertainty. The origin of the door opening and closing walked up beside where he sat and glanced down at him.

"Avures, sweetheart... Are you alright?..." The warming voice of the old lady who cared for him danced upon the wind beside him.

"Mrs. Greene... I want to say everything is fine... I told you about how it all went a few hours ago... And I should be happy that all my friends are okay... Happy that I avenged my family... But honestly..." Avures planted his elbows on his knees and rested his chin in his hands. He blinked rapidly, staring at the field of grass and trees in front of him that intersected the sparse houses of Kakodo. "I'm conflicted. And I don't know what to do. And my chest is just tight."

"What's wrong, honey?" Mrs. Greene tilted her head off to the side as she knelt down beside the boy. Her mere presence relaxed Avures with the comfort her voice and familiarity provided.

"I don't know how to explain it in a way that's easy to understand. But..." Avures slid his hands up and his face down slightly, his palms now covering his eyes and forehead as he gathered the exact thoughts he wished to convey... "I have the ability to see the future... My master tells me not to use it in order to protect my friends... But if I didn't have the vision of the future for our latest outing, they'd all be dead..."

"Mm... Your teacher probably knows better than I with that sort of stuff... But it sounds to me like it was very convenient for the moment. It's best to heed the advice of the people older than you, right Avures?" The calm, sweet voice of the elderly lady posed the question to Avures as she turned her head upwards towards the night sky.

"You're right... But the problem is-. It's like-..." Avures pulled his trembling hands away from his face as his expression tightened with uncertainty. "I feel like I owe it to them. It was because of those visions that I saved Rael's life... Saved their lives... What will happen if I don't do that? It hurts to do it... It hurts so bad to see what might happen... But if I don't... What am I good for? If I'm not there providing for them every step of the way, they could die. I feel like I have a great debt and responsibility towards them."

"Avures... Do you feel-"

"-Like I don't belong?... Yeah..." Avures took a deep, thoughtful breath as he folded his arms towards each other, resting one on top of the other. "They include me. They make me feel like I'm always great to have around, even if I can't express that gratitude back at them or look like I'm having a bad day all the time. So if I'm not returning the favor by using my power to keep them safe... I have no idea what I do for them otherwise. Why else would they want to keep me around other than to be nice?"

"But you like being around them?"

"I do-... But I also don't. I don't feel secure enough to indulge in that. What if I let up and they suddenly don't want me around anymore? Or something bad happens to them?"

"Avures. Slow down for a moment." Mrs. Greene placed her hand on top of Avures's head, slowly stroking his pitch black hair as she took a breath and moment to think of her next words... "Have you stopped to think about how you think of them? How you treat them?"

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"... What do you mean?"

"It sounds to me like you think they can't take care of themselves... And because of that, you're constantly worried..." Mrs. Greene remained soft, but firm with Avures. Her weary eyes rested on the boy, with Avures turning his head to meet her gaze. "You've put up these walls around yourself like you're scared of giving in and having to let go if the worst thing happens... But don't you trust them?"

"I trust them... I do. They're the closest thing I've ever had to a family... But if I don't provide this to them, what do I do for them? Nothing."

"It seems to me like you just don't want to accept it because you're terrified of losing the only thing you've ever cared about. But they just want to break you out of that shell. You can't keep letting yourself push these things away because you don't think you deserve it, or because you fear letting someone down. Saying you don't deserve it sounds to me like you're making an excuse for yourself if you were to lose something you care about. Something to isolate yourself in if anything bad were to happen..."

"I guess it is both of those things... Not just one or the other... Is it normal to feel like that?" Avures removed his gaze from Mrs. Greene, casting it towards the ground instead.

"Hm... I guess people feel like that from time to time... But I think you just need to be confident in them and in yourself." Mrs. Greene let her hand slide down the side of Avures's head, adjusting some strands of hair to move them out of the way of his ear. "You're a very smart boy, Avures. Don't you think there's something about you that they like? Don't you think that they see you as a good friend for who you are? Stop being so closed off to them. Allow yourself to live... Okay?"

"... I think I understand. It's just going to be hard to-"

"-Ah!... Avures... Remember what I said before?" Mrs. Greene removed her hand from Avures's head and pinched her fingers together, flicking him on the tip of his nose the moment he protested.

"Ow..." Avures flinched, jerking his face away for a split second as the small stinging on his nose instantly shifted his demeanor... He wiped his hand overtop of his nose, rubbing and itching the afflicted area as he focused back on his old caretaker.

"Take care of them, Avures. And let them take care of you, okay?" The elderly woman gave him a stern look, indicating what measures she might take again if he tried to protest.

"Okay... I'll try-I'll do my best." Avures nodded his head, satisfying the old woman as a small smile appeared on her wrinkled face.

"Good. Now, go get some sleep, honey." Mrs. Greene stood up from her knelt down position, inching over to the door she had emerged from. "Goodnight, Avures."

"Goodnight, Mrs. Greene."

Avures watched as she slowly shut the door behind her... The moment he was alone, Avures climbed up to his own two feet and cast his gaze out towards the stars...

He felt like he got drilled. But everything she said seemed to apply to him. Maybe he did just need to let go of his inhibitions...

"Beautiful night, right?"

Avures turned his attention to the source of those words... The blonde girl in her dress... Avura. She sat out on that same hill outside of the orphanage where the kids would play. Taking it as an invitation, Avures stepped out towards her, not sure what to say or think.

"I gotta say... I thought you were a goner... But, you really did it." Her arms were wrapped around her bent legs. She swayed her head back and forth as Avures approached her.

"I got lucky, honestly. I-"

"No, Avures. It wasn't some destiny or bout of luck. That was you... That was Avures Kovar, killing the man who took part in destroying our home and family." Avura's head stopped as Avures took a seat next to her. She tilted her head at an angle as she smiled. "And you did it all without your big sister's help."

"Well-... I can't say that. I did use my left hand... That power you gave me." Avures sat cross-legged again, crossing his arms as well as he recalled the battle several hours ago.

"Mm? That thing? I mean. Heh-heh..." Avura rolled her eyes and waved her hand back and forth at Avures. "It's not like it was my Light Magic... Or like a big powerful beam... So it doesn't count!"

"Ah-Huh..." Avures stared out towards the orphanage, wrapping his head around what to say.

"That means you win." Avura leaned forward, slightly moving into the sightline of Avures. Her smile radiated with a soft fondness, one that drew Avures's attention directly towards her again. "I bet you're excited for me to be out of your hair, huh?"

"... I think I'll miss you." Avures closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he tried to parse his thoughts together. Avura's eyes widened as her smile dropped.

"You'll... Miss me?"

"Well... Like the familiarity I suppose. I don't know how to put it. There's an ache in my chest and I don't understand why... I don't really want you to go away." Avures's eyes slowly peeled open as they wearily rested halfway open.

"Oh..." Avura returned back to her normal upright position. Avures's words left her with a blank mind. "... But it's your life. And I'm just a piece of the past... I know you've heard it from me in several variations, but you should focus on what you have now. Hanging onto what should've been and reaching for what can't be will only hurt you..."

"But you're the only piece of real family that I have left..."

"Real family-... Sure. You're right. But you have a good group of friends. You said it yourself, they're like the family you never had... And-..." Avura stopped. What was strange and unexplainable to her at first had become clear in the first thought that came to her head. The uncertainty of the boy she had witnessed time and time again was an inability for him to know and own his feelings... To understand what it meant. But Avura was clearly able to see what Avures was grasping for this time...

Avures wants to belong.

"Avures... I'm proud of you. And I think you've outgrown your big sister. You have the strength, resilience, and willpower that entails what it means to be a Kovar... So you should wear our family name with pride!... Just like you did fighting that short, evil man..." Avura scooted herself to face Avures, placing her ethereal hand on his shoulder as he continued to hold his blank stare forward. "Mom and Dad had to be just as resilient to take the risk of making a family together..."

"Do you think they'd like me?... Mom and Dad, that is..."

"Avures... I think you're everything they hoped you'd be. If they were able to talk to you like I can, I bet they'd be so proud of you... They would tell you how much they love you." Avura shuffled onto her knees as she dragged each leg forward inch by inch. She wrapped her translucent arms around the boy's torso, embracing him with a warmth similar to a fading flame as she moved her head behind his. "But they'd also tell you to keep moving forward... And to make your own path..."

Avures froze, completely motionless as the promises of family and the bond of his blood enveloped him with a calming sensation. The comfort of Avura's spirit pressing against him as she professed a deep care that gifted him her own praise, but that of his mother and father as well. His chest rose and fell with timidness, his eyes opening to their fullest as heat rushed to his face. His vocal cords danced with the music of his racing mind, twisting and tangling in such a way that left him unable to speak.

But was it yearning? Was it sadness? Was it depression? Or was it joy?

Avures's right hand trembled as he raised it up to his face... Yet his expression hadn't shifted or changed, and no suitable emotion rose to the surface. What was he feeling? And why couldn't he understand it?

What his mind settled on for an answer, and something that now gave him purpose... Was a yearning of the soul to discover what it meant to love... What it meant to achieve happiness, sadness, rage, and melancholy...

All so that he could truly appreciate what was given to him by his parents and Avura... And what his friends were trying to give him...

"I-... I'm going to continue to make you proud." Avures shifted his body over, returning the embrace in full, much to the delight of his sister... "I'll let you go... But keep watching... Keep watching so you can tell Mom and Dad all about it."

"Heh... I will... Don't worry, baby brother." Avura pulled away from Avures for the last time... Her ethereal form began to fade away, one dispersing orb of light at a time. She stood up, glancing at her arms giving way to heavenly forces determining her time was up. "Make sure you use my gift too! I'd be a little mad if you just forgot about it or decided not to use it!"

"Right. I will, I promise." Avures climbed to his feet as well, dusting off the back of his pants and his knees. He maintained eye contact with his sister, not knowing when he might see her again.

"Good!... Goodbye, Avures... I love you..."

"... Goodbye, Avura... I-..."

"I know... You don't have to say it..."

Avura gave a final wave, her fading lips stretching into a final smile as the twinkles of twilight finally gave out... Avura was gone, having faded into nothingness... And yet, her departure emboldened Avures. Her own words and claims were imprinted onto him. In a way, he was revitalized, ready to make his own path. And even though he had no idea what that path might be, he knew where to start...

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

A bright, sunny day opened after a night of near-disaster. Unfettered by clouds, and aided with a small breeze, the air outside was pleasant and embracing. Open fields left their path open as the six Lancers made their way to their next destination on a wagon...

"I can't believe I missed the whole damn thing! Are you kidding me, Brainiac!" Bif pushed and pulled on the left side of Avures as they sat next to each other on the cart. Avures grunted against the relentless force of Bif, trying not to let his friend yank him around.

"I-... I made a mistake." Avures tried not to let Bif scramble his head as a small headache began to arise from the shaking. However, at his squeaking out, Bif released his pal. "I just needed to stop you guys fast."

"Well... Pf... You wouldn't have had to if it wasn't for that jackass." Bif crossed his arms, jerking his head as a notion towards Ventrix who sat in the corner of the wagon.

Ventrix heard the words of his classmate, but had no response to it. He opted to remain quiet and glared at the wood he rested upon, knowing he currently had no friends at the moment.

"At least if you would have just called them out without making a deal we could have just beat their asses down in that cave!" Bif despised Ventrix's lack of response. Or rather, his own failure to goad Ventrix into a rebuttal, knowing he wanted to just keep yelling at him. "But noooo... We gotta do it fancy pant's way or no way at all."

Ventrix didn't resent Bif's statement. After all, he thought he did right. But he wished they could see it from his perspective.

"Bif. I actually think it was for the better..." Avures spoke up, baffling all in the wagon with them except for Lylas at the front. "In a small space like that, it would have only taken Korkolo a single move to wipe everyone out."

Ventrix held out momentary hope for some relief from the bashing he was getting. It paid off in the form of Avures speaking out for him. But he also knew where Avures was speaking from. It made him wonder... Would Avures tell them what he had told Ventrix himself?

"Huh? Are you seriously siding with him?"

"Brainiac, what are you talking about?"

Both Rael and Bif both jumped to life in unison as Avures having defended Ventrix was a complete shock to their systems.

"Do you really think so lowly of us?" Olicia recoiled at hearing Avures's words, feeling disgusted at the thought he conveyed.

"Hold it! No dog-piling on Brainiac!" Lylas shaped his hand into a fist and slammed it on the backboard he was sitting again, demanding silence from all five of them in the back. "Did y'all forget he's the one who got us out of that? Plus, he actually faced that dwarf prick one on one and beat ‘em. I'd say if anyone knows best about that guy's power, it'd be Brainiac."

"I dunno. It seems to me like everything would have just been fine if it was left alone." Rael shrugged, rolling her eyes as she glanced at Ventrix.

Again, Ventrix knew what they didn't...

"So that they could have just had their way and get the artifact anyways?" Avures tilted his head at Rael as he rhetorically questioned her line of thinking.

"Pf. Why are you against us on this? How is that any different from what he tried to pull?" Rael squinted at Avures as he was the last person she expected to continue fighting against her.

"Exactly. How is that any different?" Avures shook his head and sighed, fixing his gaze back to the slow-scrolling world around them.

"Are you-?"

"No. Actually. I get it." Olicia closed her eyes and huffed. "I think I'm with Avures on this one."

"God... Of course you would, fucking Bitch." Bif slapped himself directly on the face as his disgruntlement mounted.

"Think about it. Ventrix knew something we didn't at the time. If you knew disaster was going to come to your friends, wouldn't you want to try to stop it?" Olicia snapped her eyes back open as she chopped the palm of her hand with another hand.

"That implies he even thinks of us as friends considering how easy it was for him to decide he would sacrifice you and Bif!" Rael exploded outward, leaning forward as she pointed between Olicia and Bif.

"But he had to do something." Avures glanced between Bif and Olicia. "Do you honestly think he would have willingly given up your lives?"

"He literally said so-!" Rael grabbed Avures by the collar of his armor and shook him with unrelenting violence.

"Hey!" Lylas's voice once again demanded silence as he turned to face the five of them this time. "I see Brainiac's point. Let's hear it from Blue-Blood."

A silence drifted among the six of them as only the stomps of hooves on the ground sounded out. Ventrix furrowed his brow, holding onto the momentary respite to figure out his next words... But even with the quiet air lingering, Ventrix's thoughts were still clouded with confusion as to why Avures hadn't decided to set the record straight yet with his testimony of the would-have-been future.

"If what you are asking of me is if I would have actually sacrificed Olicia and Bif... The answer to that is a firm no." Ventrix's eyes were affixed to an empty spot of the wagon as he spoke, trying to put together a bit of concentration on what he wanted to say. "I wanted to use that deal as a precursor to strike him down after having the artifact unsealed... Where safe passage would have been guaranteed, and he would have had his guard down."

"Cause why would he expect ya to attack him when ya bargained for safety?... I get it." Lylas remained attentive to the five of them as he continued. "But what if Muscle-Brain and Bitch didn't go along with it? Then what?"

"... Then I would have had to accept the consequences of my actions then and there and try to strike him down before breaking the Pact would have caught up with me."

"Oh sure. That sounds all compelling after the fact, but-" Rael rolled her eyes as her grip on Avures came loose. Avures, in turn, put his hand up in front of Rael's face. It only served to partially reignite the rage within her, but was quickly tempered out by what Avures had to say.

"I fully believe him... I think everyone here is caught up in a bit of resentment. He did what he had to do, and if it didn't work out the way he wanted it to... He was going to take on the consequences himself." Avures lowered his hand as he addressed everyone on the cart. "It all worked out in the end... Who knows how it might have gone if he didn't try anything?... We might not have made it at all."

Ventrix's eyes jolted over to Avures. Caught by surprise and captured in this moment of shock, the young noble's body froze with elation and guilt. The action Avures performed that once earned Ventrix's ire was repeated again. Yet it was only the two of them who knew the truth. And unlike before, Ventrix was able to see that Avures was not grandstanding on his behalf for a projection of the boy's own disposition, or lack thereof. His self-sacrifice was one of pride and truth. Avures lied... And unlike the last time where the sacrifice made Ventrix displeased... He was not going to object, but rather appreciate Avures standing beside him...

A deafening silence hung over the six of them as Avures's declarations and defenses of Ventrix lingered uncontested. It was strange for everyone as they struggled to accept Avures's firm position on the matter and commanding argument, something he wasn't known for. But he was emboldened, both by a desire to keep this from forming a rift between everyone and by his own will to make his own path.

"You know what? While you piss me off sometimes Blue-Blood, I can't argue against Brainiac here. I ain't going to say sorry for getting mad... But I get it now. I won't hold it against you." Bif let his face fall to the wagon floor as his arm gestured around with weak repose.

"Mm..." Rael groaned aloud as she rolled her eyes again and tilted her head back with her face pointed to the sky. Her frustration was completely redirected from one or two people into everyone else. Her trust of Ventrix was still irreparably shattered. In Rael's mind, she was still convinced that it was all going to come back on Avures somehow... "Whatever. I'll drop it too if that's what we're doing. But don't try to act like it's anything more than that. I'm not trusting you with anything."

"Rael... I-" Avures tried to put his hand on the girl's shoulder, but she swatted it away without hesitation as she picked her head back up and glared at Avures and Ventrix.

"Don't fucking "Rael" me!-"

"Ha!" Bif and Lylas snorted and chuckled, trying to muffle their sudden giggles from their lowbrow humor. Olicia covered her mouth too as she tilted her face downwards.

"-Why do you keep sticking your neck out for some guy who only ever seems like he's out to use everyone here?" Rael pressed her finger into Avures's chest and then pointed at Ventrix.

"Because that's just not the case." Avures grabbed Rael's wrist, fighting with her as he pushed her hand down. "He wouldn't be here with us if he didn't care, would he?..."

"..."

"Why would he get himself wrapped up with us in these situations if he wasn't our friend?"

"Because he was told too! We were all told to stick together!"

"He could have just stayed behind if he wanted to. Can't you see that he actually cares?" Avures glanced back towards Ventrix. His counterpart kept a relaxed face as he stared back at the two of them.

"... I believe he cares." Olicia raised her hand with a calm demeanor as she addressed everyone. "Ventrix does care, even if it comes off a bit weird or backhanded sometimes."

"Yeah. Blue-Blood is an alright guy. And he's just as much my buddy as anyone else. So I forgive ‘em too..." Lylas put his piece in after Olicia. Bif also nodded in agreement...

"... Well..." Rael pouted as she turned her head down towards the wagon, refusing to face anyone at the moment.

"Look. At the very least. I don't want there to be any problems between anyone here. We should all get along, that's all I want." Avures let his grip on Rael's wrist slip away as she pulled her arm back.

Hearing Avures "want" something was a triggering moment for her. It was strange to hear him outwardly desire something... More so for her to be an obstacle in that way. And though she considered Avures to be the person closest to her and someone she would die for, Rael still put her concerns about Ventrix above his feelings.

"Could you at least compromise? You don't have to be close-friends with him... But at least trust him as long as I do... Would that work?..." Avures made a final plea with Rael, unsure of how to end the animosity otherwise...

"I-..." Rael lifted her gaze once more and glared at Ventrix. He stared back. She was almost anticipating some sort of switch up or show of guilt from him... But he didn't budge, allowing Avures's words to stand on their own versus her. "Ah... If that's what you want... I think I could work with that..."

"... You mean it?" Avures hadn't expected her to calmly give in to this resolution. It was like a huge ball of stress alleviated itself from his chest.

"Sure. I mean. I... Maybe I overreacted. Maybe I was wrong. I guess I don't want to be the reason we splinter out just because I'm holding a selfish grudge. So... For now... I forgive you..." Rael's expression held defeat. But as she glanced between Ventrix and Avures, she gave off a slight smile.

"To be honest, I've never had a reason to trust you. You may have Olicia's trust... And maybe even Avures's trust... And maybe, just for a second... You had me convinced you weren't all bad."

"But you suggested killing our friends and basically surrendering to people who do awful things... Forget it. You're scum."

"I'm done listening to you."

"If we don't get Avures back... I'm killing you. And I won't care about anything else until you're dead."

"I'm sorry for seeming heartless. Let me try to earn your friendships back..." Ventrix smiled, a soft but nervous expression of hope... He wasn't sure about Rael's sincerity considering her previous words to him... But if Avures was going to put himself in the middle to make this work, Ventrix would also make the effort. And he recognized that Rael must have felt the same way.

"Great, great. By the way..." Lylas had turned back around already to guide the wagon once again. However, the cart came to a sudden halt as soon as he finished speaking, throwing everyone a few inches forward. After recovering, the five of them glanced ahead and upwards... "Y'all wanna camp out for the day and night?"

Lylas turned back towards all of them with a grin on his face. As they all looked beyond, a sense of warmth and familiarity caught them. The same spot they had camped out at before... That giant tree on the small hill...

"Alright that's what I'm talking about!" Bif sprung up to his feet and vaulted over the side of the cart as he rushed up towards the top of the hill.

"This spot is nice. Honestly, we should do this every time we come back." Olicia stood up and grabbed some of the supplies from the wagon, hopping out and over onto the grass as she followed Bif.

"That's why I brought us here." Lylas began to take care of the horse, having it slowly climb the incline so he could tie it up. The other three hopped out of the back of the cart as Lylas did so.

"Oh! I should go find firewood!" Rael scurried out of the way of everyone else, nearly tripping over herself as she ran off.

As everyone else prepared to take the day of travel off to rest and have fun, Ventrix and Avures stood back at the bottom of the hill and watched on...

"... I appreciate it. I really do." Ventrix kept his attention towards the hill... Avures turned his head to Ventrix. "I hadn't expected you to stick up for me like that. You're normally much more quiet. I wasn't sure if that was you for a few moments."

"I feel different now. And it just felt right to say those things, even if I did lie a little. Sorry for throwing myself in the fire again there, I know you don't like that."

"No-no. It's okay. Thank you, actually." Ventrix felt the conflict rising up in him again. He owed Avures a lot... The ties to the five of them were being reinforced... But again, the recent conversations and events brought up the terrible subject of his own weakness... It was all so conflicting. But he needed clarity. After today, Ventrix was going to find answers for his own troubles. "Well..."

Ventrix began to walk on ahead of Avures, trekking up the hill to the campsite. Avures watched on by himself, reflecting on the change he induced upon himself thus far from last night. The more he thought about it, the more his wishes from the previous night here seemed more possible. But keeping all of his friends together wouldn't matter for much if Avures wasn't able to change.

He wasn't going to act as if they couldn't handle themselves. He was going to fully trust them, even if the worst were to pass... Just like Mrs. Greene had said, he needed to be confident in them and himself.

"Avures! Are you coming?" Rael cupped her mouth, shouting down to the boy below as his reaffirmations still dominated his thoughts. The five of them waved down at him as Avures glanced upwards. They were waiting on him...

"Stop being so closed off to them. Allow yourself to live... Okay?"

"Take care of them, Avures. And let them take care of you, okay?"

His old caretaker's words repeated over and over in his mind while he continued to stare at them. Avures wanted nothing more than to belong to his friends. But he realized now that he didn't have to be just some tool for them in order to belong. They had already accepted him. But he needed to accept them...

"Hey! Avures!" Rael trotted down the hill, careful not to stumble over as she hurried up over to Avures. He appeared to be frozen in place almost, his mind still somewhat cluttered.

And though the idea of failure and loneliness still permeated him, it was swept over by an emboldened desire to live his own way. But what was his own way? He wasn't quite sure yet...

Rael halted her momentum inches away from Avures's face. Her fiery red eyes infected his mind with thoughts of the reality in front of him once more. He blinked a few times in rapid succession. She smirked and let out quiet giggles as she grabbed Avures's right hand with her own two hands. But it was strange. Everything was in front of him, but his mind still raced. As Rael tugged and pulled backwards, he found himself anchored to the ground as if her force was meaningless.

Her face looked blurry to him, like a sort of glass pane was separating them... His feet stayed, but her force was still attempting to have him crossover... Everyone stood behind her waiting for him... It was his own decision... His own will...

He knew what he wanted. Avures wanted to understand it all. He didn't want to be an emotionless husk. But he couldn't do it alone. Through the ones who gave him purpose, he knew his answer lay. It was his choice to make.

No one could force Avures forward except for himself. All he needed to do was allow them to grab hold of him... He just needed to accept them as they do him... Avures needed-... Avures wanted them to help him.

As the cheers and calls for Avures heightened from all of them and Rael's yanking still continued... Avures put his thoughts and resolve together. For the first time in his life, he understood what something felt like... He understood what it meant and felt like to be free. It was as if he were unshackled. His fear, self-loathing, and uncertainty that clouded his soul had given way.

However, the anxiety of it all still remained as his only obstacle... But as he stared straight ahead into Rael's bright, alluring gaze that never failed to enamor him, he realized that he just had to let them in... Let them break down that wall...

"I want to understand... What it means to be happy!" Avures's mind reached its final conclusion. A glint of life in his eyes emerged as his soul fluttered upon the essence of change and hope.

Avures released his disquietude from his inner being, allowing his friends to take it on as his physical restraint weakened out to nonexistence. Rael's grip finally succeeded, Avures allowing her to pull him across the blurry pane and out into the clear sunshine and bright rays.

For better or for worse... Avures would march forward with newfound hope and resolve built upon the sacrifice and efforts of many others who cared about him...

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With a simple wave, Meius strode ahead of his students and dismissed them. Having gleamed the situation he was about to walk into, Meius had to hold in his utter curiosity until those students were completely out of view...

"Oh-Ho! I can't wait to see the mess they left behind! The most unlikely outcome occurred. I can't believe it..." Meius clapped and rubbed his hands together as he grinned with anticipation...