"Solflare, fer auxilium. Golden Fire." Rowan cited his healing spell to cure Reiji's wounds.
"Thanks," Reiji said as he recovered.
Rowan and Reiji stood over a limped Catis who seemed to have submitted to demise.
"Why haven't you ended its life?" Rowan asked Reiji.
Reiji didn't say anything.
But Rowan could see a weird expression playing on Reiji's face.
"There he goes again," Rowan thought.
He wondered most of the time about Reiji, "There's just something about him that is different. But in a good way." pertaining to Reiji's way of thinking.
Reiji pulled a piece of meat out of his torso and threw it close to the Catis' mouth.
He fixed his gaze onto Reiji with a spark of curiosity, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Why is he trying to feed it?" He asked himself.
The monster nibbled the meat then turned away.
"Don't you like it?" Reiji asked the monster.
Rowan raised the side of his lips in amusement, "Is he trying to be friendly with it?"
"Maybe it's just not in the mood for food in that state." Reiji stated.
Reiji turned to Rowan and they met gaze.
"What?" Rowan asked.
Reiji leaned forward, "Do you think you could cast your Golden Fire on this creature?" He asked with keen interest.
Rowan stepped back a bit, shaking his head.
"What do you mean cast my Golden Fire. That's a monster, Reiji. That's a crazy suggestion!" Rowan responded.
Reiji persuaded, "Have you ever tried to heal a mons–"
Reiji was interrupted.
The monster, at a small gap on divided attention, attempted to cast its magic against them.
But before I could escalate, Reiji had dismissed the monster's attempt by stepping on its tail.
"Hey, stop fighting." Reiji whispered to the monster.
"See!" Rowan reacted.
"That monster was most likely developed due to the condition of this place. Harsh, ruined, and chaotic." Rowan expressed.
"But," Reiji tried to butt in.
Rowan raised one hand and said, "No. It's birthed in this condition," pointing at the ruins, then asked, "Do you know what that makes it?"
Reiji turned his head downward and asked, "What?"
"Harsh, ruined, and chaotic." Rowan stated plainly.
Reiji paused, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Why are you even thinking about it, Reiji? We obviously have to get rid of it." Rowan emphasized.
"This is what I meant when I mentioned previously that I want to try something." Reiji explained.
"I see, but you've tried with that meat. Meaning, it failed." Rowan asserted. "Look, it's trying to do something again." Pointing at the monster.
Reiji dismissed its attempts again.
Reiji was fully in control of the monster, but Rowan still didn't buy it. He remained firm with his decision to get rid of the Catis and move on.
Reiji forced the monster to eat, but it remained hostile.
He pet it on its head, but it clawed, bit, and rejected him.
Concern built in Rowan's expression, he gazed at Reiji with an aching with a pang of pity.
"This is your first time getting rid of an emergent monster do you?" Rowan asked gently.
Reiji looked at him and said, "I don't want to get rid of it."
"Step back, I'll do it." Rowan instructed.
Reiji stood and extended his arms, "Wait. Don't do that."
The monster found an opportunity to escape.
Limping, it walked away from both of them as they reasoned with each other.
"I'm trying to think for options since you didn't want to cooperate and just heal this thing." Reiji stated before chasing after the monster.
Rowan let out a tired sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"Why is he being so stubborn about this?" His mind was worn down from the effort of trying to make Reiji understand.
He ran after Reiji.
"Carrot, don't struggle. I'll take care of you." Reiji murmured to the beast while he followed.
"Carrot?" Rowan wondered.
He ran closer to Reiji.
"Did you just name that monster Carrot, Reiji?" Rowan blurted out.
"Yes, why? Maybe naming it will help." Reiji stated.
Rowan burst out in laughter, "You're actually really serious about this, huh?"
"I am. If you just heal this thing, maybe it will eat that piece of meat and it will calm down." Reiji reasoned.
"Okay," He tapped Reiji on his shoulder, "Make it stop moving for now."
Reiji picked up Carrot by the nape and brought it back into the center of the square.
"If you're really itching to have a second round against this thing, I want you to understand this." Rowan began explaining.
"Once healed, it will definitely run. It's conscious about its capabilities, it's instinct will tell it to run and avoid battle. Unlike Leo classification who will fight to the death, Catis will try to survive." he expounded.
Reiji listened carefully.
"If it escapes, that will make it more dangerous. It's experienced and might even seek more power to avenge. Do you still want to risk it?" Rowan wondered aloud.
Reiji hesitated and fell silent.
"Why do you insist on this, Reiji?" Rowan leaned fully invested.
"Because I just know they can be tamed." Reiji answered.
"Its not the same as a horse, if you're thinking that. A horse is birthed when us humans excel and exceed our own capacity. But his thing is– wild." Rowan clarified, adding more details why they should not do it.
Reiji shook his head, "I know, you've already explained that."
"This is not about a horse, but a monster I've seen before. It was huge, its eyes were crimson red. Sharp claws, strong physique. But it was loyal. Protective." Reiji justified his actions.
"Okay," Rowan said.
"I should not start doubting him, he has proven himself multiple times." Rowan told himself.
"Then let's do it." He voiced his support.
Reiji's eye flickered and he immediately informed Rowan of his plan.
Rowan cast a firewall first to corner Carrot.
Reiji positioned himself, with his staff ready for action.
"Round two," Reiji declared.
"Solflare, fer auxilium." Rowan began citing.
"Golden Fire."
...
Rowan felt an uncontrolled burning of his energy.
His vision began to blur and tunnel.
"What's going..."
His legs felt like jelly.
"...on."
Then a wave of dizziness washed over him.
Then everything went black.