The crystal necklace broke within his hands as mana rushed into it. A silver luster took shape upon the boy's body, protective of every part of his figure.

But the man didn’t care.

His two blades swirled with pulsing mana as his torched mouth made way for a gruesome laughter, blood oozed with falling teeth.

“I CAN'T FAIL!”

He yelled as his weapons swung.

Arthur’s body crashed through the library door with a blast, the wooden figure shattered on impact and fell back as he skidded against the hallway and onto burning a blue rug.

He couldn’t move, no, his body was broken beyond belief, and only a scream of pain aroused from his depths.

He could feel the burning heat of blood oozing from a mark across his chest.

“This. . .what—”

His eyes shook in disbelief. He had been attacked directly through his defense, cutting straight through his protective charm—it wasn’t deep enough to break his bones, but it was a testament to how strong the man became all of a sudden?

He had no time to ponder.

Daggers crossed in front of a twisting flesh and sliced forward.

Arthur revolved his mana, prayed to Gaia and imposed his will upon it. A flame rope burned into his flesh and he quickly commanded it to tug.

Schril

The floor sliced into two, and at this point, the boy rolled over.

However. . .

An endless scream resounded as blood gushed from his left shoulder—an arm no longer attached.

The boy clutched his arm as he rolled upon the floor.

Steps resounded in his ears and he forced himself to state back at a nightmare.

The figure was blurry but he could see it.

His body twisted and turned, churning chunks of flesh, bone and blood back in place. It was like the work of Frankenstein, and at that moment, as crimson eyes came into being and crazed hair raged upon the figure, Arthur realized this was no man. This was a beast.

His figure shook with terror, the beating of his heart screamed for him to run, and the boy struggled with all his strength to do just that—backing away irregardless of the pain running through him.

Tears came down the crimson eyes of the man, and whimpers escaped his lips. He hunched over, blades dropping to the floor as claws scratched against the surface of his skin, digging deep in bowls. He too was in pain.

“I can’t fail-I can’t fail. . .I can’t fail. . .” He repeated, over and over, entranced with a hidden fear.

Finally, he looked down upon the boy, crimson eyes a glimmer.

Badum

Arthur heard his heartbeat with fury and, not knowing when, heard the yelp of fear escape his lips—there was a smell of piss.

‘Help—someone—anyone—.’ He pleaded, tears falling from his eyes.

The beast leaped toward him.

“SOMEONE SAVE ME!”

“!”

A spark of lightning thundered as a sword swirled into a blur.

Blonde hair floated and the beast flew, smashing back into the library.

Schzt

Arthur looked up into gentle blue eyes as short sparks settled.

There was a distant roar, but at that moment, his heart felt calm.

His throat choked and tears flowed along with blood, “Big brother. . .”

“Hush,” Layfon quickly huddled down and dropped a hand onto the boy’s head, “You’ve did your best. . .rest.”

Layfon poured as much mana as he could into the boy as he channeled his mana, lips whispering a chant.

Arthur felt his body momentarily heat up before settling as his skin began to meld back together and blood all but stopped oozing.

A roar resounded.

Layfon’s hand shook as he stared at the missing arm.

Deep steps came, something was charging towards them.

The protector lept into action, carrying his blade.

“I, Layfon Allen—Personal Guard to the future successor of Albion—pronounce your execution.” He announced.

And pierced.

A blade burrowed through a furry chest.

Layfon stared into crimson eyes, there was fury on his face—he should have been faster.

He looked down and pushed his weapon deeper.

“!” His shaking voice fell.

SCHZT

A cove of lightning ripped through the beast’s body.

It languished back, body chard and falling apart.

“I can’t fail—I can’t fail. . .” It lipsed as a black pill appeared in its hand and swallowed it.

The figure of what was once a man shook and begun to twist some more. Layfon felt a boom in mana around the area and a warning crept into his mind.

He had gone mad.

An illegal black market pill that extinguished someone’s life and forcefully used their remaining mana to create a last ditch explosion of pure force—why would he go so far? Was it a variant that had also caused the transformation of madness? He had no idea, but he knew better than to sit there.

“Layfon-!”

Before Arthur could speak, the teenage boy had already picked him up and begun a dash.

A crazed laughter followed them, and they could feel the growing wave of mana chasing after them.

“YOUUUUU CANNNNT RUNNNNN!” The mans words were like a screech.

Blue eyes stared down and Arthur saw only a fearless smile.

“Arthur,”

“No, no,” The boy was smart, tears streamed through his ruby eyes as he frantically denied reality.

“Take care of Maria.”

There was no way to completely escape. The protector knew that much. Layfon forcefully handed the boy a small ring and poured all his mana within.

Finally, he placed Arthur onto the floor.

“I love you, Arthur.” Layfon rubbed the boy’s crazed hair, rubbed the blood off his face, and showed a white grin.

He took his weapon and stood, turning to stand facing the charging beast.

“Forgive me for not arriving sooner,” He said, brandishing his blade.

“Take care.”

Blonde hair blew along with an azure attire as thunder rang. A sword slashed towards a beast.

Arthur stared in shock.

It was like. . .

The perfect picture of a knight in white and shining armor charging against impossible odds. . .the picture of. . .

A Hero.

“LAYFON!” The boy yelled.

An explosion reverted and he went flying.

Arthur looked down onto the ring and watched as the small crystal cracked. . .

Then shattered.

He covered it with his fingers as a sea of flames engulfed his surroundings. A layer of mana protected him, and he only felt the residual warmth amidst nothing but a blaze, the warmth of his tears.