I clenched my fist and a sword manifested on my palm as I took it out from the magical sphere. Ignoring the black-haired boy who had yet to recover from his shock, I ran to the right side where the refugee section was located.
"Aargh!"
"Whoaa!!"
"Urg!"
The clamoring of the soldiers and clashing weapons filled the surroundings. Orange hue dyed the area as flame became their source of light.
I witnessed how their necks were stabbed by swords, how their blood splattered and drenched the soil, how their eyes were pierced by arrows, how their limbs were cut off, and how their lifeless bodies one by one fell to the ground while I was running.
Although my stomach churned, I tried my best to calm it down. I had to keep my eyes wide open, so I could get used to all of these kinds of sights.
--Bang!
I deflected an arrow that approached me as I sprinted and titled my head sideways when another came in.
However, my steps came to an abrupt halt when someone grabbed my forearm. I turned to the culprit and a pair of golden eyes that burned with hatred glared at me. He shouted furiously.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
"Don't touch me!"
I jerked my arm out from his grip and began to run again, however, before I could make any move, his hand yanked my shoulder and I was forced to face him.
"This is not a playground for a kid like you!"
I slapped his hand away and snapped back at him.
"Am I really that useless in your eyes?!"
"..."
He didn't reply and just stared deadly at me with his chest heaving up and down.
'To be honest, I don't understand why he's mad at me, aren't I the one who should be angry instead of him?'
His eyes moved and suddenly shoved me to the side.
--Bang!
He parried an arrow that came from my back. However...
"Alex!"
I pushed him and my hand reflexively went for a thrust.
--Splat!
My eyes were widening when red liquid splashed right on my face and I drew my sword that was planted on someone's neck. I staggered backward as he fell on the ground and his blood soaked the soil.
'Ahh... I murdered... a man...'
Even though I killed Trickster, it was not directly like this. Somehow, this one left a bitter and unpleasant aftertaste in my heart. I had no idea what happened but I could feel my body swaying left and right.
"--snap out of it!"
I was startled when I regained consciousness. I lifted my head and Alexander's back was facing me.
--Bang!
--Bang!
He parried every arrow that shot toward us.
"Argh!"
I glanced sideways and a soldier was seen falling with his neck pierced by a dagger. I swept my surroundings but what I found were knights battling everywhere.
"Listen Ian--"
Alex turned and grabbed my shoulders, he looked at me with his wild eyes.
"--I know you want to help the people here, but this is not the time! You're--"
"Shut up!"
I smashed his hands off and he stopped speaking. We glared at each other fiercely, fearlessly. He lifted his sword without removing his eyes from mine.
--Bang!
An arrow stabbed the earth below as he diverted it.
"Answer me, Alex. Am I such a burden--"
"Yes. You're a dead weight in my eyes!!"
He cut me in an instant.
"Ha!"
I couldn't help but scoff at his bluntness.
"I hate you."
With that, I whirled my back and started running.
"Ian!"
No--
'There's a way to stop them.'
"Haaa..."
I took a deep breath to prepare myself. However, unexpectedly someone snatched my forearm and dragged me away. I looked up to see who it was and the black-haired boy came into view.
'What a coincidence.'
I planted my feet on the ground and we suddenly stopped moving. He turned to me, his eyes still blazing in rage somehow.
I tried to open my mouth but he cut me right away.
"Yes. You are useless, you are a burden and you are a dead weight. Satisfied?"
My lips quivered upon listening to his harsh and blunt words. I tried my best not to be provoked.
"Now let's get the fuck out of here."
He tried to pull me once again, but I refused to move. He spun towards me and opened his mouth, however, I cut him.
"Ian--!"
"Alex, do you want me to trust you?"
He shut his mouth and his brows furrowed, confusion dyed his face.
"What are you--"
"Protect me."
"What?"
As he was perplexed, I removed his hand gently.
"You hear me well."
Even though this section had fewer enemies, I couldn't leave myself unattended since the magic I was trying to cast required tremendous focus and time.
I glanced at where the fire arrows were coming from and ran to the center of the refugee section.
"Ian wait!"
Without me looking back, I knew Alexander followed me and once I arrived, I started to intonate my incantation inwardly.
–Bang!
–Bang!
My ears caught how Alex deflected every arrow that came toward us, somehow it reassured me that he was protecting me.
After a few minutes of chanting, I could vividly feel a liquid slide down from my nostril and my senses started to fade away bit by bit.
I heard Alexander's voice, albeit it was faint and barely audible, but I could tell that he was growling in anger.
"Ian. Stop. Right. Now."
Ignoring his complaint, I continue to recite inside.
"Goddammit, Damian! Stop it!"
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om