Zenaris Wiscith sat on the ground, waiting for his assailants to catch up with him. He had already waited too long, and he resented having that much time to think. It felt like someone else’s beliefs were imposed on to his memories. Except, he began to realize slowly, that these these thoughts were his own. From a different, albeit the same, Zenaris. He also felt something else deep inside, something eerily familiar; an intense desire to just die.

He saw a huge figure making his way through the street to him from the corner of his eye. He didn’t have to look twice to know it was David, the giant who had almost taken Selicia and killed Sam and himself both. His head hurt, but he had managed to make the right decision a moment ago. He had guessed David’s accomplice, Sebastian, could only sense power-users, and he had been right. Or maybe they had just considered him more important than the royal princess.

And so he watched him approach. David was moving slowly; the injuries he had suffered had been tied up tightly with cloth, but his laboured moment seemed like it had nothing to do with his wound. And Zenaris knew that he had been right on two counts now; just like how Sam’s and Zen’s power took something away, it was the same for David.

He staggered to his feet; his head hurt with all the memories and implications that had stricken him. He hoped he had been right about how his power worked too, because otherwise it could end with David slaughtering everyone at the inn. The behemoth approached at a length. Unbeknownst to the two, Sam too ran towards them with what vitality he had managed to regain.

“Hello. It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” Zenaris lied, gesturing around himself. David opened his mouth to speak for the first time, and his voice was soft and low, unlike the rough strong voice that was expected.

“You don’t have to fight. We don’t have to kill you.”

Zenaris couldn’t wait longer. He blinked, and then flickered. And he was gone the next moment. David kept his ears keen and looked around footprints or anything that might give up his location. He lifted his arm and tapped his ear twice, waiting for a message. He swung his body to the right, just as a knife passed through where his chest had been; Zenaris staggered into the world where he disappeared. He couldn’t bring himself to kill; not again.

Sam threw a rock at David, but David seemed to know exactly where Sam was standing as he dodged it. He walked over to Zenaris, who was only a few feet away. Zenaris lay on the floor, clutching his head. David swung his arm down with a ferocious speed.

“The other boy is right behind you. No, he hasn’t used his talent yet. But he will. Be ready!” Sebastian hissed, as he sat in a room not far away. He was using his power at a distance, unwilling to get into a fight powerless as he did before. “There!” He said excitedly, as he felt a felt small spark of energy in Sam. He tensed, his gut telling him to run away. “Finish up fast. That powerful presence is a dozen houses awa-” he got to his feet, aware that this presence had covered that distance and more. David must have been standing toe to toe with him now if Sebastian sensed right.

Though he wouldn’t live to find out; he looked down to see a rapier poking out of his belly. His blood leaked out slowly as he slumped to the floor. He looked up to see a hooded girl wiping the blood of her sword. No, this was no girl. He felt himself smile. Selicia listened to him as he spurted out his last words. “So this is how I die.”

Charles blocked David’s attack with his bare hand; the sound the impact made made Sam flinch backwards, and a burst of air made Charles’ shirt rustle. David punched with his other arm; his fist was caught by Charles and then it was returned. Charles then took his leg back with frightening speed and kicked David.