Rainen descended the stairs, stumbling all the way down. If not for the rails which he was able to use to support himself, Rainen would've fallen and been the one in need of assistance. Aha! What a sad sight that would be. Rainen didn't want Anne to see him like that, he didn't want anyone to see him like that, a weak child who couldn't even help himself.
"Anne. A-are you okay?" He asked. Rainen took a moment to look around the room, in his somewhat delusional state, the smell that swum into his nostrils, the vision that he was so lucky to behold, seemed more like a fading garden rather than that of a graveyard. Yet, with the relief of Anne still being alive, he was able to clear the vision in his head.
"T-Thirteenth." she muttered oh so quietly.
He puffed out his chest and did his best to stay upright. The pain continued to bear down on him. Opening his mouth to speak he coughed lightly, "I guess you're pretty strong huh Anne?" he looked at all the two different from everyone else. "Did a pretty good job at taking them out. Even lopped off the gorilla's arm."
He waited for a reply, none came. He rushed to her side, positioned his fingers under her neck and waited.
*Badum* *Badum* *Badum*
"Haaaaah." he sighed. She was still alive, and that was something to be glad about. "Let's get you somewhere safe." He put her arms over his shoulders and grabbed onto her legs. "Up you go. Uuuh." His first attempt to stand with Anne on his back ended in failure. "One more time." His second attempt yielded success, but as he started to climb the stairs, he ran into the wall.
"Sorry..." Anne muttered unconsciously.
He laughed a very soft laugh and said, "You don't have to say that you know."
The stairs were like hell for Rainen who had just collapsed on top of the buildings, yet, he bore through it to get Anne to safety. Finally reaching ground level, he wanted to fall down right there, but he, like before, withstood his tiredness and maintained his slow, somber, pace.
On his way through the empty streets, Rainen did nothing but look forward with weariness. Oh how he wanted to rest. The dark, heavy clouds in the sky that blocked the moon did nothing to aid his alertness. Walking along the very streets where hundreds of people had been before, he silently carried Anne through it all without uttering a word of complaint.
Hey uh, Thirteenth. I know you might be busy but I'm in a bit of a pinch. Come quickly if you can.
Rainen chuckled, the way that Henry had said those words were hilarious to his semi-delusional mind. He was glad that someone had cheered him up from the mood that possessed him.
Rainen walked with Anne on his back for another minute or so, glad that Henry seemed to be in good spirits. Yes, the night had seemed to have gotten a little brighter for the Thirteenth. The sounds of the city came back to him. Although people were in their homes, he could hear their faint chatter and scurrying feet. The clunking and rattling of chains surrounded him from all over, how far away they were, he couldn't tell.
As he listened, he started to watch, and as he watched, he started to think. He felt the link sever with Henry. He gulped. Were the things that he said not just a joke? The more that Rainen thought about it, the more unnatural it seemed. Why would Henry, who knew he was going to help someone, call for his help if he didn't need it?
Rainen shook his head, after a moment, the world seemed so much clearer than it had before. Though he thought himself rid of the dizziness, it still clung onto him like a tick. It came back to him because of all of his walking. He hurried his pace.
"Help!" he screamed.
It only took a moment for wandering city guards to appear.
"Stop!" one commanded. "What's going on here?
"She's hurt." Rainen put Anne on the floor. "I need to go."
He turned and disappeared.
--------------------
Henry sat on a box while twirling one of their rings in his fingertips. The two men who he had defeated were laid against the wall of the warehouse, both paralyzed by his spell. Henry examined the ring closely while wondering how much he could sell it for.
What he would buy with the money, he'd have to wait and see.
"Six more months huh?" he slipped the ring onto his finger. "Maybe this would be better as a present."
"For whom?"
Henry stood up from the box, eyeing the man carefully. "Who are you?" he asked.
The man laughed. "Haha. I asked you a question first. But sure, I'm Jackal." the man slipped out a blade. "I see that you have one of my comrade's items in your possession there. It's not good to steal."
At the word comrade, Henry stiffened, another enemy has appeared. Like Jackal, Henry pulled out his own blade, the one he had taken at the auction.
Without saying a word, Jackal dashed forward with his dagger at the ready. The dagger glowed, a horrible feeling ran through Henry. The sheer amount of power that emanated from the steel sent shivers down his back. He rolled to the side while sending a message.
Hey uh, Thirteenth. I know you might be busy but I'm in a bit of a pinch. Come quickly if you can.
Henry wasn't sure what the Thirteenth was doing but it was enough for him to leave in a hurry. It was certainly something important then, but Henry knew that any help he could get here would be useful.
For minutes they fought. Henry dodged and parried, while Jackal rushed and struck. Every now and then Henry would be able to manage a good hit, like a kick to the thigh but it didn't hinder the monster at all. Each counter attack only seemed to fuel the man's ferocity.
"GUH!"
Henry was kicked away. He rolled and quickly got back on his feet. Jackal lunged and Henry was forced to use his ability. Jackal flew back and held a disgusted look on his face.
"You know, you're a lot like a bastard I know." Jackal spit on the ground. "I can't wait to cut you."
A cold breeze brushed past Henry, Jack's clothes began to flap wildly, the boxes began to rattle, some fell off of their mighty pedestals. Somehow, Henry knew that this attack would be too fast for him. He gathered his mana into his hands and positioned them as if he were holding a large ball against his stomach. I have to get rid of that weapon.
Jackal bent down like an animal and pounced, the gap was closed in less than an instant. With a wide arc, the dagger bit into Henry's skin. The embroidered weapon shone, and Jackal smiled. He won.
With fresh blood on the blade, Jackal stood back to observe the person who was so much like Carlyle.
*SHINNNNG*
Jackal's eyes widened in surprise as a knife went past his head. Warm liquid started to run down his cheek. He stared at disbelief, it's impossible that anyone would be able to resist the dagger's effects, no human at least. He kicked Henry away. Maybe I didn't cut him.
Jackal raised the dagger up into his view, there it was, stained with blood. Why was he being attacked then? The other man should be under his control! Then, the blade cracked, it spread, spread across the weapon covering it in multiple jagged lines. When Jackal moved his hand, the steel broke off, shattering into pieces.
*WOOOSH*
Another stab by his opponent. Jackal felt like he could win, but chose not to fight. As he studied the man closer, the defensiveness which he had held before, disappeared. Jackal ducked and weaved under each and every blow. The speed in which his opponent moved was stunning, but the movements themselves were... mechanic.
To test his theory, Jackal made a gamble, he threw out his arm. His enemy's embroidered knife pierced right through his forearm. Ignoring the pain, he punched the man squarely in the face and followed with a kick, the knife stayed with his opponent.
"I see... it's a shame." Jackal turned his back. "Too bad that I can't bring you along. At least you'll make for a good ambush, or scapegoat."
Picking up his two allies who were still immobile, he left the mindless man alone in the building.
"It's over here!" the voice of a young boy said. "This is the warehouse!"
Three guards accompanied the group of young boys.
"Kid." one guard said, a little bit annoyed. "Are you sure that anyone's in there?"
"Mhm." the tallest one nodded his head. "He told us that we could help by getting you guys!"
The three guards looked at each other. The one with a beard stepped forward.
"If we go check this out and he's not there, you kids will stop bothering us right?"
The three eagerly nodded.
"Alright." the third guard said. "Let's go in."
-------------
"UUuuuuu. Ugh."
Rainen held himself in a tight embrace as pain coursed through his body. It was unlike anything he had felt before. Indeed, to him it was like his whole body was being torn apart by an unseen force. After using his ability, Rainen would have to sit down for a moment to gather himself.
Like a broken clock, every now and then he would work, he'd move his little fingers around the clock, but he'd also frequently stop, ticking endlessly at a single spot.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Rainen used it again but this time, he aimed for the ground. Appearing where he had wished, Rainen swallowed back the liquid rising from his throat. A little bit of it had reached his tongue, a very irony taste. He put his hand on the wall using it as support. He reached his limit for his ability, any more than this and he'd be puking blood next time.
Like a man trapped in a dark labyrinth, Rainen trusted the wall to guide him to his destination. At one point, he heard a scream. Somehow overcoming the pain, he fell into a slow, tired, run. His hands flew loosely in the air and he wobbled from side to side.
Finally, he reached the warehouse.
He opened the oh so familiar door and began slowly treading through. He didn't know whether to be relieved that there were no sounds of battle or afraid. Had he come too late? No no no. He shook the thought from his mind, he'd made it in time, just like he did with Anne. If Henry was injured, he'd just have to be carried back too. A faint smile touched his lips as he thought about what he'd be owed for saving his life.
His smile was spread even wider when he saw his friend at the end.
"Hey Hen-" he stopped midway. His vision shook, just like the rest of his body. The sight that laid before him, unlike the delusions back underground, was terrifying. He stood there petrified, unable to move, unable to speak, unable to unglue his eyes from the scene.
Henry, with a knife in hand, was surrounded by six dead bodies, three of which, were children. Rainen could not believe his eyes, surely this was another hallucination, another alteration caused by his mind. But as he blinked again and again, trying to wash the picture from his eyes, he realized that it wasn't something his head had made up.
Under the bright light of the torches, stood a scene with enough evidence to convict even that of a child. Yet, Rainen didn't want to believe that his fried murdered all these people. So, he did the only thing he could, stand by his friend's side.
"H-Henry." he said. "I, I know that you didn't do this on purpose. So don't give me that blank stare." Rainen let his knives and weapons all, including the one his sister gave him, fall out of his bracers. "I'll vouch for you. They, they sneaked up on you and, thinking they were the enemy, you took them down."
Henry stared at Rainen.
Rainen glanced over at the ring on Henry's hand. It belonged to Krestfall. As if he were trapped in a house fire, he could barely breath.
"H-hey. Henry. You'd tell me if you betrayed us right? I mean, you're so much stronger than me. I'm no harm to you." Rainen looked down at the bodies. "You, you didn't do this right?" he waited for the response that never came. "You didn't betray us right!?" he shouted somewhat angrily and in disbelief.
Henry bent low and positioned the knife behind him, ready to attack.
"If, if you did. C-couldn't you... couldn't you just tell me so that it'd be easier for me? Even if you hated me, at least tell me that you chose this. It, it'd be so, so much easier for me." Rainen held his neck, forcing himself to choke out the words.
Henry tilted his head.
"Come-come on Henry. P-put down your knife." Rainen held out his hand. "Like you said, we, Anne, Hannah, the group and I, we're here for you." Rainen pointed at himself. "If there's a goal, if there's something that you want to achieve, we'll help you. It's not too late for you to turn back, come back to us."
Henry held up the knife as if to look at it. After a moment, he started walking towards Rainen.
"That's right. Come here." Rainen beckoned him with one hand while the other sat by his side, mana being sent to it.
Henry struck out with the knife. Rainen ducked under and sent his fist flying. It connected with his stomach.
"Sorry but I'll have to turn you in. I didn't want to hurt you but since you had that ring on I had no choice...."
Rainen heard the sound of metal colliding with the floor. A strange, wet, warm sensation covered his right hand. Henry leaned heavily against him. With his left hand, Rainen slowly pushed Henry back and looked at his hand which he had charged with mana.
His face had twisted in horror at the sight. Covering his hand, from the knuckles to the middle part of his forearm was a scarlet liquid.
Henry, who was falling back, reached out. Rainen grabbed his hand and slowly brought him closer to the ground.
"H-Henry, a-are you okay?"
His blank stare had vanished, and for the first time, Rainen had noticed it too.
Henry chuckled, "Heheh..." but it was interrupted by a series of deep coughing fits.
"Wha-what happened? What happened to you?" Rainen put his hand over Henry's wound and started to heal him.
Henry declined his attempt and pushed his hand away.
"W-why?" Rainen asked.
"You know already..." *Cough Cough Cough* "H-here." Henry reached into his pocket pulling out the bracelet. "Give it to my sister."
Rainen shook his head, "Give it to her yourself."
Henry laughed but began to cough again. "Nice line. But please, please promise me that you'll give this to her." he held the bracelet in his shaking hand.
"Y-yeah. I will." Rainen took the golden ring. "You, you need anything? Maybe you'd like a song? I'm, I'm not the best singer though."
Henry smiled and shook his head, "Thanks for the effort." he coughed again. "I'm sorry...."
Rainen almost shouted, "Don't, don't say you're sorry. You know I hate when people do that."
"I'm sorry... Rainen...." Henry's arm went limp and his head fell back.
The boy stared hard at his friend whose eyes were still open. "It's not funny." he said in a quivering voice. "Don't say that you're sorry...."
The boy moved his hands over his friends eyes to close them. No matter how much they shook, he wanted to do at least this much.
The boy wiped the bloodied bracelet off and picked up three things from the ground. His staff, the knife that his sister gave him, and the knife that no longer belonged to his fallen friend, it was his now. As he started to walk out of the building, he turned back and said, "I wish that it was your choice. But, I'm glad it wasn't."
With the assignment that his fallen mentor, friend, had given him, he walked through the cold, dark night without complaint. The pain that had once racked his body no longer seemed to hurt him. Though his body ached and the feeling of being torn apart remained, they were overwritten by one much worse, by a pain that he understood too well, a pain which resided deep in his heart.
He looked at his bloodied right hand. In it, in the palm of it, he held the knife which he had now become the owner of. The boy loved his knives, unlike his hands, his knives do not kill savagely like his hands do. Unlike his hands, they were elegant. Unlike his hands, they were light. Unlike his hands, they were meant for killing. Unlike his hands, they did not kill so brutally.
The boy saw the house and dreaded every step he took towards it. The anticipation was killing him, like his hands, it was brutal. Each step he took came with a thought. What would she say to him? What would he say to her? How could he explain it? How could he tell her that he had failed to protect her younger brother? Would she hate him? He hoped she would. Would she punch him? He wanted her to. Would she attempt to kill him? He did not care.
Reaching the door, he knocked on it once, then twice.
"Coming!" the voice oh so cheerfully said. "Who is it?" the door swung open. Her face was full of shock upon seeing the dark figure.
The boy held up the bracelet.
Mia, Henry's sister, immediately recognized the small item. With shaking hands she slowly lifted it out of his grasp. She used both hands to try and steady it, she failed. It dropped onto the floor and she bent down to pick it up. Her hands could not seem to hold onto it. Each time she'd reach out and pick it up, it would once again slip out of her grasp. Finally she grabbed it, while on her knees, she put it against her forehead and began to cry.
"He-Henry...."
The boy who had wished for punishment, received nothing of the sort. The sight before him was too horrible to bear. Under the cover of the dark clouds, no light broke through, not a single shadow was visible. The thing that stayed closest to a person, the thing that held their secrets, their deepest thoughts, could not muster their will to appear against the mood.
Try as the shadow might, the sadness that its person bore, was too heavy for it to lift as well. So, like it did best, it hid behind the person.
A man had walked up to the crying girl.
"Mia. Mia!" he called out. Pulling her into a tight embrace in which she soaked his shirt. He looked at the young boy in black clothing, "Could you leave us alone?"
The boy nodded, or thought he did. The man pulled his wife back and closed the door, her wails were audible from the other side.
With heavy footsteps, the boy made his way back home. On his way, landing on his stained glove, was a gentle white snowflake. He enclosed it with his fingers and looked up at the sky.
"I hate Winter...."