BOOM!

Another shot catapulted from his hand, crashing onto the wall beside me. A scourge of debris exploded in all directions as the projectiles disintegrated upon impact.

A kick directed for my stomach was dodged as I rolled to the side of my assailant. His fists, covered with stone, slammed onto the chamber floor from whence I last stood, missing me by a mere inch.

My breath grew heavy, my eyes were watery, and my throat was dry. But I couldn’t stop. If I were to pause for even the slightest moment, I would be hit.

[Down…]

I duck as a rock shoots over my head…

[Awaken…]

I inhale…I exhale…I open my eyes…

My eyes opened once again to another unfamiliar scene. Unbeknownst to me was how exactly I was able to dodge these attacks. One second, I was witnessing a projectile coming right at me, and in the next, my body was suddenly tilting or rolling. It was as if my body had a mind of its own, reacting accordingly to its surroundings.

I was actually managing quite well, considering that I’ve never been in a fight before. Hell, my life had been without its issues up until now. The last thing I would’ve expected was to be in life threatening situation, and yet here I was.

Another punch flew towards my face. Once again dodging the blow, I somehow anticipated the move before it even came to be.

Avoiding contact was all I was doing, and that in itself was in issue. I was practically on the defensive, progressively losing ground as the circumstances continued to rage on. There had to be an end to all of this. If I didn’t come up with something quick, I was going to lose this battle.

[Up…]

I jump as kick sweeps from below and a rock crashes onto the ground near me…

Opening my eyes, I found myself descending mid-air.

“Oi, watch where you’re firing that!” the blond guard shouted to his partner.

“My bad, I didn’t know you were goin’ for a sweep,” the short guard responded from afar.

“Whatever, just keep your focus on him.”

The blond guard was making his approach, swiftly gliding across the floor with fists ready to ignite.

Adrenaline pumped through my veins, prompting my fear to exponentially increase.

I gotta get out of here!

My head spun around the room in search of the staircase until I found it. Go go go!

I bolted to the staircase, the blond guard hot on my trail. I was close, a single step away. All I need was one more push until-

“Wull Rulk.” A large stone barrier emerged from the ground, completely covering the exit. I stopped just in time to avoid collision.

Shit!

[Left…]

I roll to my left as the fist slams into the newly formed stone wall…

I opened my eyes to find myself rolling.

“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?” the short guard yelled, witnessing his wall shatter to bits.

“Now we’re even!” the blond guard spat back.

“Stop this please!” I pleaded, getting back onto my feet. “There’s no need for-”

“Shut up!” the blond guard roared as he lunged from behind.

I stepped to my side, causing the guard to fall forward. However, nothing could faze him. He recomposed himself and prepared for another assault. The short guard did the same, forming another rock in his hands.

Oh god oh god oh god.

[Back…]

I backflip as a rock flies beneath me…

Whoa what was that? Why is the world upside down?

I landed sloppily, but I had no time to rest.

[Left…]

I step to my left as a front kick misses me…

The blond guard’s foot struck the wall, causing a burst of dust to blow into his face, stunning him for a brief moment.

I was running out of time. I had to come up with something fast. I glanced around the room, finding it littered with boxes and knapsacks. Having witnessed the effect of the dust on the guard, a sudden idea came to mind. Perhaps it was a spur of the moment, but it was something. I decided to go along with it and readied myself.

3…2…1…go!

I rushed over to a box in the corner. Another rock flew over me, barely missing my head. Once I arrived, I positioned myself behind the box.

“Where the hell you think you’re goin’?” the blond guard said as he rushed towards where I was hiding.

Now!

I picked up the box and launched it at the blond guard, causing him to stop in his tracks. He punched through the oncoming box, shattering it to bits. However, some of the splinters landed in his eyes, blinding him momentary.

Using this to my advantage, I begun my second phase of attack. Grabbing a knapsack from the floor, I sprinted towards the guard and threw it over him, elongating his blinded state.

With his eyes being completely covered, it was finally my turn to go on the offensive. He wouldn’t be able to react in time, thus allowing me to get the first hit in. If all went well, this would be my chance at ensuring some sort of victory. But it all depended on this one blow. It was now or never. With my fists raised, I was about to land a blow...until everything backfired.

“Dumbass.”

Huh?

Ripping the knapsack right down the middle, the blond guard wrapped the material around my outreached hand. Using his weight, he slung me over his shoulder and slammed me to the ground, shattering the floor.

In just that single moment, the battle was over. The wind was knocked right out of me. A numbing sensation ran up my spine, completely paralyzing my body.

[Right…]

My body tried rolling away, but it was futile. A blow landed square on my right cheek, discharging an immense pain throughout my face. Then a kick to the gut ensued, sending me flying to the back of the chamber.

I weakly groaned. My body was slowly gaining its senses again but was still unable to fully move. Nonetheless, I couldn’t allow myself to lay still. I attempted to lift my right arm up.

However, the blond guard wouldn't let me escape. He came to where I was and crushed my hand under his foot.

"Stay down," he said, sneering.

“ahh…Ahh…AHHH!” I wailed in pain. The bones in my hand cracked under his boots. I used my other fist to repeatedly slam the top of his foot, but that only irritated him. He rewarded my efforts by kicking me once more in the stomach.

“We finally got the fucker?” the short guard asked.

“Yup, he’s no longer able to move.” The blond guard held his head up high, triumphantly standing over his prey.

“What do you wanna do with her?” The short guard pointed at Anna, who had been patiently watching the whole scene play out.

“Ah you know what? We’ll leave her alone for now. It’s not like she’s goin’ to do anything. Come on over here and help me beat this asshole.”

“Sounds good.” The short guard glanced over at Anna. “You stay put for now, you hear me?”

“As you wish sir,” Anna nonchalantly responded.

“Now then, let’s begin,” the blond guard affirmed, sadistically grinning.

The next moments went by in a blur. I couldn’t quite remember many of the finer details, but the beating that those guards gave me could be described as pure savagery.

Their punches and kicks repeatedly landed on all parts of bodies, bruising me beyond imagination. My body felt as if it were being burned alive; scorched atop of a blazing ember. The fact that I didn’t cry out as much as I did was truly amazing. To put it simply: I was in hell.

By the time they took a rest, I was already pummeled to a meaty pulp. Blood ran down my face. My limbs were once again numb, and my breathing turned raspy, almost suffocating.

“Ah, I feel much better now,” the short guard said, stretching his arms.

“Me too. Looks like all our hard work paid off,” the blond guard responded.

“…why?” I muttered.

The blond guard turned towards my laying body. “Huh, you say somethin’?”

“…why…do you…”

“Why do we…ah, I see. That’s a fair point. You’re probably wondering why we turned you into a bloody mess. Interesting…well, today’s your lucky. We’re a bit tired, so I suppose we’ll entertain you in the meantime.”

“You got this?” the short guard asked his partner.

“Yeah, I got it,” the blond guard responded, giving him a thumbs up. He then turned to face me once again. “Now then, where to start…oh I know. Let’s begin with you.” He said, pointing right at me. “Firstly, you’re a strange fella. I’ve never heard of someone who doesn’t have a single ounce of affinity. Hell, I thought you were bluffin’, trying to make a fool of yourself. But I’ve come to learn that you don’t tell lies.

“I’m not sure how well you could understand this, but we people with actual affinity could feel the presence of affinity in others, even if it’s just a tiny amount. For you, there’s nothin’ there. Seriously, nothin’.

“Now, we can’t necessarily blame you. You didn’t ask to be born like this. On top of all of that, you’re a bit screwed up in the mind. You couldn’t remember shit if it could save ya. But that’s not your fault. You’re different, and I suppose that’s fine, but sadly for you, we can’t help but hate different.

“Anyone that isn’t a warrior is like dirt beneath our shoes. We’re warriors because we’re born the strongest. This kingdom was built by the strongest and should’ve remained that way. But life ain’t so fair. The kingdom is full of non-warriors and trash alike. It’s disgusting. But what could we do? As much as I hate to agree with that bastard Henderson, they’re legal citizens. We couldn’t necessarily harm them, that’d be against the law. We were bounded by the kingdom’s jurisdiction. Honestly, it’s really frustrating. I mean, how else were we supposed to express ourselves?

“…Then came an idea: why not use an alternative? Use something in which the general populace tended to not care about. And so…that’s what we did.

“We went with the nasty purple eyed bastards that everyone hated. It was a great excuse! They might be harmless now, but they once did some pretty nasty shit. We had to give them what they owed. Blood for blood, am I right?”

A jolt surged throughout my battered body as I heard him say that.

What did he…blood for blood...no…surely not… “Do…do you…do you mean…”

The guard’s eyes widened with intrigue. “Hey, you catch on pretty quick! I’m amazed. Yep, you guessed it. Why else do you think we went all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?”

“No way…no…”

“Disappearances happen all the time, y’know. It just depended on who exactly was disappearing. If it’s an old ass farmer on his last limb, a search party would immediately be sent out. But for a demi-human child, well, no one would give a rat’s ass about em.”

“How…how could you be…so cruel?”

“Cruel? Now that's a bit unfair to be called ‘cruel.’ Why must I be the only one labeled ‘cruel’ when everyone else feels the same way about demi-humans as I do? You’re being awfully cruel for calling me such a name…but I forgive you. After all, you don’t know better. But still, it's quite a shame. If only you would’ve left us to do as we pleased, you wouldn’t have gotten yourself into this mess.”

The blond guard sighed and stood up. “I think I’ve talked long enough. Now you understand a bit more of the world you live in. It’s rather harsh, am I right? You wouldn’t want to deal with it anymore. Having no affinity, no memories, being weak, you’ll surely die in this world. It’d be better if you were free of all of it.”

[…ie…]

“Wait…what are you-”

“We don’t want to keep you suffering any longer.”

[..die…]

“Huh, hold on. You’re kidding, right… right?!”

“If only you never existed…”

[…YouWillDie…]

“Hold on what the fuck are you sa-”

“Galvin…we’re gonna kill ya.” the blond guard affirmed, unsheathed his resting blade.

“Yeah go on and get him!” the short guard shouted.

[…YouWillDie…]

“What no…no no no!”

He drew closer to my laying body. “Rejoice Galvin. You’re going to be the first and only person with no affinity that we ever kill. But don’t worry, your death will live on forever in my mind.”

“NO NO NO NO NO PLEASE PLEASE!”

I tried to raise myself, but I couldn’t move. Even if I could, I had nowhere to run. I was stuck, waiting for my killer to claim his next victim.

[…YouWillDie…]

The blond guard raised his sword high in the air, ready to strike down.

I could no longer keep my composure. All sense of calm immediately vanished as I screamed in a frenzied panic.

“AHHHH! AHHHH! AHHHH!”

The blond guard jumped in surprise, lowering his sword as he begun to laugh.

“Oi, he still got some kick!”

“I’ll hold him down,” the short guard said, grabbing a hold of my arms.

“Yeah you do that. Now Galvin, there's no need to worry. We’ll make this quick! You’ll suffer no longer!”

[…YouWillDie…]

“NO NO I DON’T WANT TO DIE! I DON’T WANT TO DIE I DON’T WANT TO DIE! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!”

I screamed and screamed, pleading for my life.

“It’s already too late! We’ve made up our minds! Just hold still and take it!”

But I couldn’t hold still. I wanted to live. I wanted a longer life than just two months. Why was it being taken away from me so early?

“If only you never existed Galvin,” The blond guard said, raising his blade once more.

[YouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDie]

“STOOOOOP!”

No no. I don't want to die. Someone please. Please!

[YouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDieYouWillDie]

“HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP MEEEEE!”

“Rulk Spulk!”

And in just a mere instant, a rocky spike flew to the back of the blond guard’s head, piercing his skull and blowing his face apart. For a split second, the guard stood there, unmoving and completely frozen. But soon after, his sword clattered to the floor, and then his body collapsed. What remained of his head splattered to the ground, leaving a bloody mess. Lying before me was the blond guard's corpse.

“ahh…AHHH!” the short guard screamed, having witnessed his partner being brutally murdered. He immediately released my arms as he looked around the room in a frenzied panic. The moment he found his escape, he tried making a dash for it. However, his attempts were futile. As he stood up, a spike pierced through his stomach. A gush of blood spewed from his mouth. In utter shock, he looked down at the spike that pierced his belly. Getting one final glance, he looked up at his killer before collapsing.

As quickly as it began, both guards were dead. Blood seeped from their bodies, dyeing the chamber floor red.

In an extreme turn of events, my pleas were heard. I was saved from death, but at what cost? I was supposed to feel relieved, but I wasn't. I couldn't. Instead, an irking fear emerged as I sensed a new presence of danger.

I turned my head to gaze upon the guards’ killer. She calmly stood there as her purple eyes stared at the dead bodies, displaying not a single shed of remorse.

"Blood for blood..."