Zero Langham
We continue making our way inside the temple. My mind keeps slipping back to my battle with Aldren. I need to clean up that mess. It's not looking good for my future if I'm caught killing someone already.
"Guys, we need to split up," I suggest. Lucian questions me:
"Split up? The hell? This temple has been a straight path. Where do you think you're splitting to?"
"I can go check the temple from the outside, see what information I can get," I reply.
"It's not a bad idea. You should take Toho, or I could come with." Terra vouches for me. I insist on going alone, emphasizing that they'll be the ones facing opponents and need all the strength they can get. Lucian didn't seem to care much, and I wore down Terra. Toho is still shifting in and out of reality from his tiredness. I turn the other way, making my way out of the temple. I refrain from using Rift and tiring myself out. I retrace my steps in pursuit of Aldren and eventually find the massive crater again. I make my way down the crater, the stench of dried blood radiating.
I look around, mapping my surroundings and Aldren's body. His limbs were scattered around, and his mushy intestines were located around; it was a very confusing picture. I gathered around and put together pieces of his body. During my gathering, I came up with a story if asked about Aldren's disappearance after our battle.
***
After some while, I put together the body. Took a while for the missing leg. I carried each limb from the crater to a nearby river. I never buried a body before; I've only come close to accidentally killing someone before. I tried my best, though. I dug a hole on the bank of the river, carrying the body pieces and dumping them. I made sure to triple-check everything.
I stand at the edge of the hole. The fall isn't long, maybe 6 feet; however, just the sight is making my palms sweaty. I run my palms over my uniform, trying to clean them. As I look down, the words escape from my mouth:
"Shit. What have I done?" I sigh. I begin covering up the hole again, trying to do my best to get my mind off this.
***
Toho Isei
As we went further, we finally saw an opening. We proceeded with caution; however, Lucian just walked through the opening. Our eyes adjusted to the new lighting—a plethora of torches placed in a single row without space in between on the walls. At the farthest wall stood the two men, kneeling in sorcerer uniforms, their arms chained together. Stood before them was one man. He was bulky, with a very muscular build. Besides him, there were four other men. We could tell they're all Marks. Scattered around the room were supplies and weapons, like in a workshop or hideout.
"Well, Well! Hello folks. The name is Jango." The cherry voice could be heard across the entire room. The bulky man's high-pitched voice took me aback. He continued rambling on, "You're just in time for the grand sho-"
Terra interrupts: "You need to release those men now. Afterwards, we'll take you and turn you in at Celestia." The smile from the man turned backwards, he gently responds:
"You know that you shouldn't interrupt someone." His frown turned into a menacing smile, "You made a mistake, pretty one."
'Corny,' I thought to myself. I blinked. I heard a small pop, followed by an agonizing stream. I turn to look at my group. Lucian has an ugly look on his face, like he's disgusted. Terra looks shocked. I turn to look at the Marks. He has something covered in blood in his palm. It was... an eyeball.
I look at one of the chained sorcerers, his mouth wide open, his scream filling the room. My vision made contact with his last remaining eye, a stream of water running down his cheek. Terra, as shocked as she is, moves quickly, closing the gap and throws a direct strike at Jango's face. He catches her hand, flipping her over. Terra lands on her feet in a crouched position. Lucian shoots a blast toward them, and Terra is caught in the crossfire. All parties were knocked in all directions.
"What are you doing!" Terra shouts out. She gets up on her feet, activating her Innate.
Gale Ward - Once activated, the user and their allies gain faster reaction speed and lighter steps, allowing for greater stealth and agility. More of a support Innate Technique.
Terra looks at Lucian and me, contributing her Innate to us, strengthening us; however, I can barely move. I stood there, feeling useless. I glanced around the room, Terra engaging with Jango, hesitation in every step, allowing Jango to connect more of his punches. Lucian is involved in a fight with the other four men.
***
Lucian Wraith
I stood in the corner of the square-shaped room. It was large, far across, I could see Terra. Then the Kuro freak is just sitting there.
"Damn idiot! Get the hell up!" I turn around, screaming towards him. Suddenly, all air escapes my body. I felt a strike land at the nape of my neck. My back arched as I got tossed forward. I land on my back, coughing up some blood. "Who do you think you are? Do you understand who you attacked?". My voice comes out raspy.
I get back on my feet. The burn in my chest is intense, the pill still coursing through my veins. Four Marks are circling me, smirking like they've already won. I flex my hands, feeling the fire essence awaken. Flames lick my palms, warm and sharp. I swing at the closest one. He tries to block, but the fire bites through his guard. He coughs, staggering back. Another lunges with a spear. I step aside, leaving a streak of flame on the ground. Spinning, I slam my fist into the third Mark. The fourth tries to flank me. I can't react fast enough. Maybe it's time:
"Spectral! Reach out!". I yell out as I slam it harder. Behind me, from my back, materializes another figure. A being that looks transparent with a tint of purple and light blue glow. A faceless expression. He reaches out, stopping the flank of the fourth Mark. It drives a punch straight through the Mark... straight through. A gaping hole is now visible through the Mark.
I turn around. My Spectral already dissipated. The Mark is clutching his body with his arms as he bleeds. A unreadable expression on his face, but the pain in his eyes still visible. He falls over on his back. I grin, followed by my chuckle, filling the room.
Lucian Wraith's Innate Technique: Spectral -Allows Lucian to manifest ethereal beings that can cause destruction. Focusing allows him to spawn more and become stronger. Spends a lot of Essence and willpower. Whatever pain the beings feel is also felt by Lucian, but only after the beings have dissipated or are called back by Lucian. The beings may soon also grow rogue, turning on Lucian.
***
Terra Kincaid
I grit my teeth, focusing. Gale Ward.
Light washed over me. My steps were lighter, faster. I weaved around Jango, dodging his swings. My first hit connected, shoulder to shoulder. He growled. I ducked under another swing and punched his ribs. My second hit landed. It wasn't much, but it counted. Jango recovered quickly. His next swing slammed near my head. I stumbled back.
Then fire. Lucian stepped in. Flames danced along his arms. I froze. What the hell? His Spectral shadow appeared, faceless and glowing, reaching toward Jango. The man's attention snapped to him. My heart skipped. Lucian didn't even glance at me. He moved, and suddenly the fight wasn't mine anymore.
"What—?" I whispered. My steps faltered, confusion twisting in my chest. Jango swung at Lucian. Flames met his attacks. I took the chance. Gale Ward let me land a hit to his side. Another punch connected. He staggered, but barely. Then he shifted. His arms glowed. His fist is filled with Essence. It seems like he was preparing to activate his Innate.
'Oh no,' I thought to myself. I tried to move. Before he could finish, a sharp stab erupted from behind. I blinked. Toho. Weak, pale, clutching his ribs, but gripping a sword lodged in the fallen Mark. He thrust it straight into Jango's back. Pain twisted his face, sweat and blood streaked down, but he didn't stop.
"Toho…" I whispered. Disbelief and admiration twisted together. Jango howled, staggering forward. Lucian did not hesitate. Flames licked his arms. Spectral hands slammed into Jango from every angle. The man fell, finally, a crumpled heap. I staggered back, panting. Gale Ward faded, leaving me heavy and exhausted. Toho sagged against the wall, leaning on the sword. Pain etched every line of his face.
I ran to him. "You're insane. You could have died!"
He coughed, blood at the corner of his mouth. "Had... to help."
I shook my head. Damn him. Lucian stood there, flames still flickering along his arms, watching like nothing had happened.
***
We recuperated. I freed the two Sorcerers from the chains. I did my best to ease the pain of the sorcerer who lost his eye. It was an unfortunate sight; if only I had been faster. The other wasn't hurt too much. They showered us with gratitude.
Lucian used the chains to tie all the Marks together. I was still in shock after finding the body of Mark with a hole through his chest. Lucian didn't seem all that worried. It made sense, even if he was confronted for killing as an academy student; being a noble and a higher race would keep things under wraps and probably leave them untouched.
Toho was doing better. He could now stand up by himself and limp around. I grabbed the two poor Sorcerers, and we all made our way out of this hellhole. If this is what a Sorcerer's regular day looks like, I need to grow up quicker. I can't continue being saved by people or doing mediocre in fights.
We walked through the same long hallway, the orange dim of the sunset illuminating the opening. We stepped out, making our way towards the large staircase.
"Hey, guys!" We heard behind us. I turned around, still helping up the eyeless Sorcerer. It was Zero. He leaped from atop the temple, landing wobblily beside us.
"The hell have you accomplished?" Lucian blurts out. Zero replies with a sheepish laugh and explains his efforts amounted to nothing. He couldn't find any other threat. It was a relief.
"Glad you're doing fine," I say to him as we walk down.
"You too, Terra. I'm sorry, guys... I shouldn't have abandoned the team like that to go on my own little search mission. We're going to become Sorcerers, and I need to realize that." Zero's expression was serious. It was admirable.
I interrupt, "No, no, don't apologize. It was all fine, but an accident did occur with one of the victims; he lost his eye. I..." I paused. I reflected, "I should have been quicker, then maybe I could have stopped that from happening."
"You did your best. You're already a capable Sorcerer and healer. I wanna work more with you." Zero's warm smile infected me. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Do-Do you want to maybe grab dinner with me tomorrow?" Everything froze. We took the final step down the staircase, landing on the dirt and rubble of the ground. Toho and Lucian, ahead of us, stopped and turned around. The eyeless Sorcerer, carried by Lucian, looked up. The other Sorcerer continues walking. Zero looked at me with big eyes. My mind ran with thoughts: 'OH MY GOD! What am I doing? Shit! Did I really blurt that out?! It-it isn't like I like him or anything. Just friends. Wait, are we friends now?!"
My mind tuned out Zero's light chuckle. I snapped out of it as I heard his answer, "I would love to."
Toho and Lucian continue walking ahead, snickering to themselves. My embarrassment is still radiating through me.
The two Sorcerers chuckle to themselves.