"Who the f*ck did this?"
"Aldrian, I can't move an inch!" Dein cried out.
Leon's vision slowly began to clear. Looking to his right, he saw a girl with soft, muted green hair that fell just past her shoulders in slight, uneven layers. Her face was well-formed, featuring smooth skin and a sharp, balanced jawline. Her eyes weren't wide or striking, but steady, resting under relaxed brows. Her expression carried the look of someone who was overconfident, but entirely capable of backing it up.
"Donkey, what are you doing here in the slums?" Virelle asked, looking down at him. "And why are these people beating you up? Failed to pay back a loan or something?"
Leon's vision fully cleared as he muttered, "Vi-Virelle?"
"Yes, it's me. I'm on patrol duty and heard some noise coming from this direction."
Aldrian's frustration boiled over. "B*tch, free me... or I—"
Virelle tightened her shadow roots. Aldrian screamed in pain, "Aahhh!!"
"Or you'll what? You can't do sh*t, can you?" Virelle mocked. She quickly untied Leon and ripped the cloth from his mouth. Leon gasped, greedily drawing in the air that had been denied to him.
"So, tell me what happened."
"So let me get this straight," Virelle summarized, "you were getting robbed, tried to fight back, pissed them off, and then they did this to you?"
Leon's legs were throbbing too violently for him to stand. "I... I'm going to sit down. My legs hurt too much."
"Hey! You f*cking b*tch, let us go!" Dein yelled, but Virelle completely ignored their cries.
"We need to leave before my roots disappear," she said to Leon.
Leon looked down at his legs. Deep blue bruises were forming, and the bleeding hadn't stopped.
"Stop being a baby, get up," Virelle chided. Leon shot her an annoyed glare. "W-what? I saved you, shouldn't you be thanking me? Come to think of it, this is the second time I've rescued you. You owe me big time."
He tried to push himself up, failing repeatedly. Finally, with a strained effort, he managed to stand, balancing precariously.
Suddenly, Aldrian gasped. "Huh? I... I can move again."
"Me too," Dein muttered, flexing his fingers. "My limbs aren't locked anymore."
Virelle startled, her eyes widened. "Wh-what? How? We... we need to run!"
"Not so fast," a voice cut through the dark announced as a man appeared out of nowhere.
Leon panicked. "Who are you?"
The man scoffed. "Me? You don't need to know who I am."
Virelle froze, her gaze locking onto the man's attire. "No... What is someone like you doing here?"
Sensing her dread, Leon asked, "Why? Who is he?"
"A... Ravexis enforcer," she whispered.
"A Ravexis enforcer? A rebel?"
Virelle nodded grimly. "An enforcer is a member tasked with turning others into rebels. They are usually... as strong as a high squire."
A high squire? Leon's heart sank.
Virelle snapped into action, shouting, "Draen!"
Her flow sparked into existence, only to vanish a second later.
"Draen!"
"Draen!"
"Draen!"
"Stop trying. Your flow is futile here," the man said smoothly.
"Did you... set up an anti-flow barrier around this area?" Virelle asked, fear finally creeping into her voice. She glanced sideways at Leon and murmured, "Can you run?"
"No... leave me and get out of here," Leon replied.
"Stop trying to be a hero, donkey. We'll die if we're foolish." She stepped forward, shielding him. "Let this kid go," she demanded aloud, while secretly pressing a dagger into Leon's hand. "Be ready," she breathed.
"Let him go? He's a throne dog too. Why should I?" the man replied.
Seizing the distraction, Aldrian raised his metal rod and lunged toward Leon with clear killing intent. The cold metal reflected in Leon's widening eyes—
"Draen!"
Roots erupted from the ground, locking Aldrian mid-air before dissolving a second later. It wasn't enough to stop him completely, but it shattered his momentum.
"Do it!!" Virelle screamed.
Leon thrust the dagger forward, but his hands shook violently. Can I really... kill somebody? he asked himself.
Aldrian regained his footing and swung the rod again.
"Draen!"
The roots flashed into reality, locking Aldrian for another agonizing second. Leon was still paralyzed with fear.
"If you don't do it, we die!" Virelle shrieked just as the rebel swept in, kicking her brutally to the ground.
I have to do it, I have to do it, I have to do it!
Leon tightened his grip, forcing his trembling hands to steady as he drove the blade forward.
Sqkk.
The dagger sank into Aldrian's stomach.
"Aahhh!!"
Dein watched his brother collapse and screamed in agony. "No!! How dare you! You f*cking bastard!"
Blinded by rage, Dein rushed Leon. Meanwhile, the rebel completely overpowered Virelle, pinning her down and clamping a hand over her mouth, making it impossible for her to chant.
Leon's mind raced. He'll freeze again... I just have to wait for her.
But looking over, he saw Virelle entirely immobilized.
"Now what will you do, you son of a b*tch!" Dein roared, swinging the rod down onto Leon's shoulder.
The heavy blow sent Leon crashing to the dirt. "Aahh!" he screamed.
"You dare stab my brother? I'll kill you!" Dein raised the rod high, bringing it down in a executioner's arc.
Instinct took over. Leon rolled frantically to the side, the rod slamming into the dirt where his head had just been. Scrambling onto one knee right behind Dein, Leon gripped the dagger with everything he had left and thrust upward.
Sqkk.
The blade found its mark. Dein stiffened and collapsed instantly to the floor.
Using the last reserves of his strength, Leon forced himself to his feet, pointing the bloody dagger at the rebel. "Leave her!"
Steadying his ragged breath, Leon lunged for a stab. The man effortlessly dodged the clumsy strike, but the movement forced him to release Virelle. Stepping back, the rebel drew a strange, twisted sword. He moved with terrifying speed—
"Draen!"
The shadow roots caught him for a single second, buying them just enough time to throw themselves out of the way of his swing. The force of the slash was immense, kicking up a violent cloud of dust from the ground.
"I will deal with you first," the rebel hissed, glaring at Virelle, "and take care of the brat later."
"What's all that racket out there?" a voice shouted from a nearby house. Lights began to flicker on in the surrounding buildings as neighbors started to awaken.
"Tsk."
Not wanting to draw any unwanted attention, the rebel vanished into the shadows, disappearing into thin air.
"Leon, get up. We have to get out of here right now," Virelle urged, rushing to his side.
Leon began to limp heavily, forcing his battered body to run.
"Wait," Virelle muttered, quickly dropping to check the brothers' pulses as they passed. Her eyes widened. "They're both dead... how did you kill them with just one stab each?"
"I don't know... let's just run!"
Leon's stabs, though frantic and unpracticed, had accurately pierced their vital organs. Must be a coincidence, Virelle thought to herself as they fled into the night.