The darkened man now off the field of battle was barely able to contain his rage. Walking up to the great wolf he patted it on the head before taking a few steps back. “I have some business with that boy so I’m going to need you to stay out of it.” Clasping his hands together he commanded the earth. It formed a dome around the great wolf. ‘I hope this can hold it long enough.’ He strode menacingly over to the boy. Standing over him he sneered, “WAKE UP BOY!” Reaching down, the darkened man grabbed the boy by the leg, his reinforcement magic welling up within him. With his now enhanced strength he threw the boy by his leg, launching him into a tree some dozen paces away from where they were.

Joseph awoke to pain all over, coming to he realized the wind had been knocked out of him. He used a tree nearby to stand himself. Looking around he saw The Boss who was hardly recognizable with his overflowing rage. “What… happened?”

The Boss was making his way over to the boy while he got to his feet. The boy looked at The Boss and said something but the darkened man didn’t care to listen, rather spoke over him, “DO YOU WISH TO DIE BOY?”

Joseph looked at The Boss confused, even as he was struck in the face by his fist. “Boss, why are you—”

The darkened man didn’t respond, “I asked you a question boy, DO YOU WISH TO DIE?”

Joseph stopped the next punch thrown at his face but failed to stop the Boss’s hand from wrapping around his neck. The Boss lifted him off the ground by it.

The darkened man barked at the boy, “I asked you to show me your merit, ALL I SAW WAS A DEATH WISH! SO, boy I ask again!” The darkened man slammed the boy into the ground by his neck, “DO YOU WISH TO DIE?”

Joseph was able to pry The Boss’s hand away just enough to speak, “NO!”

The darkened man scoffed, “That’s not what it seemed like! Tell me! You asked me to make you stronger, WHY? What is it you fight for?”

Joseph struggled to form his thoughts, the memories of the men beating him for saying he wanted to fight God flashing in his mind. “I-I want to protect EVERYONE!” Joseph used the last of his remaining strength to throw The Boss off of him, causing him to land on his back a few paces away. Joseph stood, “And to protect everyone I have to be strong enough to defeat someone!” Joseph dropped to one knee having used the last of his strength and now succumbing to the pain throughout his body.

The Darkened man got off of his back, “Tell me BOY! Who protects who, if you die? Who defeats who, if you die? What goals are achieved, if you die? A BOY WHO CANNOT PROTECT HIMSELF HAS NO RIGHT TO TRY AND PROTECT OTHERS! All you’ll end up doing is placing the burden of your death onto them. Is that what you want?”

Joseph slammed his fist into the ground, “NO! That’s why I have to get stronger!”

The darkened man threw a chunk of terra at the boy with his magic. It hits the boy, causing him to tumble back and over himself, “And can you get stronger, IF YOU DIE!” The darkened man felt a hand on his shoulder.

“I think that’s enough Boss.” The mage spoke concerningly, “No matter how much you beat him, it won’t bring back your son…”

The Boss whipped around and grabbed the mage by the throat, staring deep into his eyes, “… Yes, your right. It seems I have lost my temper.” He pulled the mage close, “I thank you, however if you ever mention my son again. I shall do more than just lose my temper…”

The mage rubbed his throat while The Boss walked away from him. ‘I knew I shouldn’t have said that last part.’ Walking over he planned to pick up the unconscious boy, but, “You’re still awake?” He looked at the boy who was coughing up blood with tears running down his face.

Joseph saw a figure above him but didn’t care to pay attention to it. ‘He’s right. I hate that he’s right. Why does he have to be right? I can’t protect anyone if I can’t protect myself. But what am I supposed to do then, ignore the people who need help now for the people who will need help in the future? Is that what a warrior would do? A warrior who lives to grow strong can protect more people than a warrior who dies weak. And a warrior who grows strong enough to kill that corrupt God will save more people than a warrior who only grow strong enough to protect the those around him.’ Joseph reached up, wiping away his tears, “I can’t die, no matter what.”

The mage looked down at the boy, “He really is just a kid. How could one grow to his age and still be so innocent?” The mage looked towards the boy enviously before hearing the sound of rocks breaking and being thrown to the side.

White now stood over Joseph, letting out a fear inducing roar. She then curled up beside Joseph and began licking his wounds.

***

It had been two days and Joseph had all but fully recovered. Joseph went to the boss with White beside him, she had yet to forgive The Boss for what he had done.

The boss glanced towards Joseph, “Recovered already boy, maybe I went a little too easy on you.”

Joseph looked at the boss with a serious face, “You cannot kill me.”

The boss turned completely towards Joseph trying to figure out exactly what the boy was thinking.

Joseph continued speaking, “I cannot let you kill me because I cannot die. I understand that now, thanks to you. I understand what I must do. If I want to accomplish my goal, I will have to put the suffering of others right now, below that goal. So, will you teach me to be stronger or do I have to go and find someone else?”

The darkened man smiled, ‘I wasn't sure if my message would get through that thick skull of the boy. I am glad it did.’ Standing up, the darkened man stepped towards the boy, “If you have truly decided to become stronger, you must understand that it will involve you getting blood on your hands. Whether directly or indirectly. The world of battle is not meant for boys. You'll need to live as a man or die as a boy.”

Joseph clenched his fists feeling the rage burning into him at the God who put him in this situation. “I will do what must be done to get what I need.”

The darkened man frowned, “That sounds like the voice of a child. What if to get what you need cost everything?”

Joseph smiled, “Costs everything? What a small price to pay?”

The darkened man felt a wave of something run through him. ‘What is this? Did I just feel fear? No, of course not. It must have been nothing.’ The darkened man put his forearm out to the boy, “Glad to see you understand now. Many men give everything without coming close to what they want. So to get what you want at the cost of everything is indeed a small price to pay.” The boy put his forearm to the darkened man’s, “Now let us move forward as men. Tell me, what is your name.”

It took Joseph a second to realize he had never told The Boss, or any of them, his name. “Joseph, my name is Joseph.”