Mast glared at Lucas. Then spook with a sense of fervor that bordered on insanity.
"You truly are a heretic. You have let that vile demon take away the last piece of redemption I could've offered. Now All I can do is pra-" Before he could finish Lucas punched with swiftness.
Not letting Mast get any more prayers. Taking Misia's warning to heart this time.
"Words of warning. Death will come when the zealot prays" those words gave Lucas at least a way to defend back against Mast's trick. But defense wouldn't win him a fight against a mad man.
Lucas closed the distance even more. Intending to make sure Mast had no thinking room. Though going close to someone with a knife wasn't the best idea.
He struck at Mast's face, missing his head by an inch. Mast retaliated by attempting to gut Lucas whole. Which was dodged by swaying to the right.
Jabbing at Mast's gut, he took the blow and replied by stabbing one knife into Lucas's side. Groaning at the pain. Lucas smacked his hand away from the knife before loading a right hook into Mast's jaw.
Sending the zealot tumbling. It gave Lucas enough time to think.
Ow. Stupidstupid! Who willingly goes close range against a knife! It's what they're best at! Need to turn this around, can't let him pull the knife out or I bleed to death. Easy enough. Thought Lucas. Changing his stance so his right side faced Mast whilst the knife in his left remained away from him.
Lucas took deep breaths before approaching the staggered man. Who was slack jawed. Literally.
At least Lucas had a target he could aim for.
Pulling his right hand back. He prepared to faint a hook whilst Mast readied himself to dodge. He swayed to the right ready to dodge a hook that never came. Switching to his left. He hit Mast square in the gut before unleashing a right hook.
Aiming for Mast's dislocated jaw. Lucas missed by an inch because of a knife cutting his arm. Causing it to falter.
Taking his chance. Mast dived for Lucas's unguarded left side which held the bronze knife. He made it halfway before a knee met his face. Causing the man's already broken face to suffer more damage.
Unloading a flurry of punches into Mast's jaw, the zealot could only laugh loudly. He knew he was going to lose, so he pulled off a last ditch effort to buy more time.
"NOW! Grab the knife!" Yelled Mast. Lucas immediately halted his flurry to swing at a nonexistent thug.
Oh for fuc-
Lucas couldn't even curse in his mind before Mast rolled out of his beating.
The zealot smiled at Lucas. And armed himself with his two knives. Noticeably with a knife that was warm with Lucas's own blood. Mast had taken the opportunity to rip it out of Lucas's side and make the cut bigger.
Now Lucas was on the backfoot.
Now that he no longer had a knife sticking out of him. Lucas went back to his normal stance and faced Mast head on.
Though the zealot had more injuries and smaller knicks thanks to Lucas's ashen knuckles. Lucas now had a worse wound dripping with bright red blood. As well as less but more severe cuts alongside his arms.
Lucas shot first. Swinging for a wide hook that was too slow to be meaningful. Mast just side stepped with a bright smile. And cut down Lucas's leg and kicked him down. Causing Lucas to fall.
Landing on his backside. He just glared at Mast weakly. Who had put his jaw back in place
"You've done well for a child. But war is not for children. But men, an-"
Lucas was thankful Mast liked to hear his own voice. Else Lucas would probably be dead, though he did have time to save himself. His mind scrambled for a method while his right hand did its best to cover his bloodied side.
Yell for help? Nah he'd just stab me. Maybe something simple. Like spit in his face. Wouldn't buy me any time. Maybe a mix. Get him to let his guard down. Yeah, that could work. Lucas had a plan. A full proof one and not at all spotty, it would work too. No… It had to work.
Suddenly having a coughing fit. Lucas did his best to seem weak and near death. Which made Mast stop his rambling.
"Oh? Already? You seemed so full of life seconds ago, a shame really. Have any last words?" Mast spoke with glee. Getting on one knee and turning his ear to Lucas.
Who leaned forward with all the strength he had. And bit down on Mast ear. Ripping it off in a bloody spray.
Mast immediately turned to end Lucas who threw the blood that had pooled in his right hand right at the zealots eyes. This along with the man's rage made him sloppy. Sloppy enough for his attack to miss and for Lucas to deliver a kick to Mast shins.
Causing him to fall on his face. Holding his eyes and cursing him. Lucas struggled towards the blinded man. Grabbing his throat and using all his force to choke him.
Mast tried to defend. Punched and scratched at Lucas's injured side. But he was panicking, he knew he lost. But like an animal, he struggled anyway even when the last bit of light left his eyes.
Misia was right. He truly was a mutt.
Lucas was light headed. He crawled back to the battle. Hoping they had won. But his pace was too slow. He hoped someone would find him.
Just as he thought that a familiar thug with a metal pipe walked over.
"Well…well, an easy kill, hell you even killed Mast, that's an achievement kid. You would've been a legend if you didn't die in a backwater towns gangwars" the thug mused. Before bringing the pipe down on his head. With all his might
A loud ringing was playing in his head. Lucas didn't think he'd survive another hit.
The thug held his pipe high. But it never came down once he did. A bullet found its way into his chest before he could. Falling alongside Lucas. Who looked up to see the red eyed kid with a gun.
"Hey…thanks for killing Mast. Made my job easier. Thought you should know your shadow has a person in it" the kid muttered before their face changed. Their limbs started stretching. And in a minute or so. A gaunt white haired woman stood in front of him.
Dropping the gun near Lucas. Who was half-dead. She then walked out of view whistling a familiar tune, though he couldn't quite remember it. Lots of things happened this week so he couldn't be blamed.
Thoughts were getting harder and harder to articulate. His sigh was blurry. His arms were weak. And right now he was gushing blood from his side. Honestly the whole situation was horrible.
The only kinda good thing was that the ashen knuckles had stopped drinking blood. It looked almost calm.
Although Lucas didn't know how a pair of knuckles could look calm. They just did. But besides the point.
He wasn't gonna last long. And with death coming ever so closer. Lucas closed his eyes and stopped fighting the fatigue that was gnawing at him since the fight started.
Lucas
————————————————
Oz
They stood over the quickly dissolving corpse of the thugs leader when a loud gun shot sounded. Oz slowly turned towards the source, and slowly walked towards it, they saw no reason to rush.
Until they realized Lucas was missing along with the bandaged man. That got them to hurry, running towards the gun shot. Oz turned a corner to find Lucas half-dead on the floor. A myriad of cuts and bruises covering his arms.
Walking over and grabbing into their bag for a health potion. Oz quickly found out that they had not packed any. Oz had been unprepared for this situation, and they never liked being unprepared.
Especially since the consequences were the closest thing they had to a friend since Eve dying in some ditch. Picking up Lucas. They scurried off to Misia's shop. Ignoring the battlefield which was mostly mannequins walking over and finishing off the stragglers of the thugs.
Oz kicked the door open and raced down the hall. Misia herself was deep in the store stitching herself up, sitting on a table. When Oz grabbed her attention. Gently putting Lucas on the table.
"Move over. Make some space and stitch his side. It gets worse by the second and watch him properly" Ordered Oz a hint of frustration creeping as they took a deep breath.
That wasn't optimal, emotion will only hinder you. The best course of action is to make a health potion. With the resources on hand the best I can do is make a sub-par potion to stabilize him.
Pushing through the yawn and silk that attempted to look appealing. Oz went to find the kitchen, thankfully it didn't take long. Going past a shelf as the kitchen made itself known.
Grabbing a pot that was stored in the top cabinets. Oz put it on the stove and turned it on. Glyphs glowed orange as fire roared into being. But not before filing the thing with water
Putting their bag to the side. Oz pulled out the items needed. A pair of red root flowers. Raw honey in a jar. And animal blood. This wasn't Oz's ideal way to make a health potion. Personally they preferred the more synthetic materials since they usually had a better effect due to being raised for alchemy.
But they couldn't afford to be picky at the moment. Plucking off the flower's petals and dropping them into the water and steering with a wooden spoon. The water soon took on a red hue, giving it thirty seconds before they added the second ingredient. Pouring the honey in, it soon dissolved into the product.
Thoroughly steering the red liquid. Oz then grabbed the bag of animal blood, and gently poured half into the concoction. Steered for a minute before pouring the rest in.
After tasting it and finding it sweet. Oz figured the potion was finished and immediately took the pot off the stove. Rushing back. Oz found that Lucas had bandages over the smaller cuts and a wide stitch over his side.
Misia herself was fanning herself with her hand as she watched over Lucas from her own comfy looking chair, his coat and shirt hung over her chair.
"I must say alchemist. Your assistant has quite the tolerance for pain. Stayed quiet the whole process, quite impressive for someone who couldn't be older than twenty. How old is your assistant?" Said Misia.
Truthfully. Oz hadn't the slightest clue. Though Oz thought of Lucas as a friend. They didn't know a darn thing about him aside from the fact he lost his memory.
If Oz had to make an educated guess. Based on the fact that he still seemed willfully naive about some thinga and very reckless at times. Lucas still had to be growing. Oz pegged him between sixteen to nineteen.
Oz themselves were nineteen though closing in on their twentieth day of creation.
"I believe he is older than fifteen yet younger than twenty. Though I have no proper evidence. And I doubt Lucas himself would know" Shared Oz as he sat down and held the pot above Lucas's mouth. Pulling his jaw open and poured some of the potion in.
Normally Oz wouldn't pour boiling hot liquids down someone's throat. But Lucas had a tale. And tale owners were usually more durable than the average man.
Misia was right about one thing. Lucas had one hell of a pain tolerance. Even if tale owners were more durable that had nothing to do with pain tolerance.
It spoke to the fact Lucas had not squirmed or made even a look of discomfort while boiling water was poured down his throat.
Oz stopped pouring and put the half full pot next to him. And then slumped in the nearest pile of silk.
Oz had taken about two different potions of speed and one of reflex just to match their new speed. As much of a buff it was, eventually it would come crashing down.
Instructing Misia to pour a quarter of the potion per hour until there was no more. Oz closed their eyes. And shut down.
4 hours later
Oz opened their eyes and stood up. Almost machine-like in efficiency. Before remembering the situation.
They turned to see Misia was asleep. Having put Lucas's coat over herself as a blanket. Lucas himself was staring up at the ceiling. Bored out of his mind from the look on his face.
"How long have you been awake?" Asked Oz.
"About an hour. Honestly I thought I was paralyzed but nope. Just tired, I can move my pinky though! Which isn't actually that much…but hey, it's something" chirped Lucas. As he wiggled his pinky proudly.
Relief met Oz as Lucas confirmed that he was fine. While Oz milled through their thoughts. Lucas continued his chatter.
"Anyways I had this weird dream…actually compared to my other dreams, it fits in. But…actually, What was I talking about?" Oz knew Lucas to be a strange person. But that was beyond the norm. That was odd. Lucas never forgot what he was talking about mid-conversation.
Bu- "hey what was in the pot?" Oz was tempted to ignore his question due to the abnormality. But…but…what was Oz thinking about? Oh right they had to answer Lucas's question.
"It's a health potion"
"How'd ya make it?" Asked Lucas.
His curiosity was one of the reasons Oz liked him. He got to teach as well as talk about their passion. Anyhow it was Oz's turn to ramble.
"Well it starts but filling a pot wit-" Oz's rambling continued going well into the night.