I woke back up, the woman and that monster facing off in-front of me. Their movements were fluid and sharp, especially for a creature like that, its lanky body had swiftly swerved around many strikes tossed at it by the lady who saved me. I attempt to get up, a grunt escaping my mouth, everything is so damn blurry, I even have a bit of tinnitus ringing in my ears.
"All-Father. . ." I mutter, my voice is rigid, heavy with breath. Even as I got up, I fell back down on a knee, coughing out blood.
"Boy! Stand down! You'll be killed if you approach the Kechī!" She yelled at me firmly, concerned, too. She's still guarding against the monster's clawed hands, swinging and slashing rapidly as she used that same Magic to create barriers to guard against them, she dives in towards closer proximities with the beast as she soaked her hands in Enogu, rapidly striking the waist up to the upper chest of the beast in a pattern, releasing her Magic to send the being back.
"Pitiful– Practitioner!!" It yells, the belts unbuckling themselves as the beast begins to radiate Enogu itself. To say I was amazed was an understatement, I'm dazzled, even if I shouldn't be but— The sparks of pastel blue and blackened red Enogu flashing around an empty city, nearly pitch black, were gorgeous. I lay back against the wall as the tinnitus fades away, placing my hand on my stomach, my breaths becoming heavier and more rigid each time I exhaled. After a while, the fight hit a deadlock, the two conversed.
"It seems the wolf boy has sustained a much worse injury than you. He can't even stand." It said, mockingly, having its voice raised so it knew I had heard them clearly.
"I can still save him." She says, stern and firmly like a knight holding their blade. "You're swift and fluid but you can't traverse at high-speeds." She stated. Her posture was firmer than her tone, her hands still radiating Magic. That monster suddenly vanished from sight, re-appearing at her side before swinging a hand down to slice her up, only to meet a quick guard. Even from here I can see how startled she is, possibly even terrified. "It has the ability to perform a Micare?!" She says, startled and afraid, I can feel the despair in her voice grow and grow, like a tree in the spring.
I began to get up fully, my vision is still blurry but look around and grab the nearest object within my vicinity, a glass cup, I immediately chucked it at the monster, 'Shatter!!' The beast didn't evem budge, instead it turned towards me, immediately vanishing from my sight and re-appeared in front of me. I was petrified, I attempted to move but I can't, the very image of this creature put my body into paralysis, unable to speak too, I could only whimper as that woman grabbed the monster in front of me by the wrist and tossed it away about a few feet back. "Don't just stand there, run away! Stay in another building if you must until I deal with him!" She commanded, dashing in to continue fighting that– thing.
I finally could move again, stepping slowly before running around the fight, searching for nearby buildings to enter before suddenly, 'WHAM!!' The woman crashed into me, making us both skid back on the concrete road.
"It was fun playing with you but your Enogu is mine!" It claims, raising it's hand before they attempt to slice the both of us in half. I immediately push myself and the woman out of the way, at the sacrifice of my right wrist. "-Gch!" I yelped, holding my wrist in pain as blood leaked onto the floor.
"Hold on, I'm starting to remember something." It says, taking a second as the area fell silent, loudly silent. "Ah, you're that boy's brother, aren't you? You're both wolves and have white hair." It chuckled before continuing. "I didn't recognize you, you're vastly different from how you looked four years ago. I'll even admit, your brother was delicious. Scrumptious, even." It mocks, looking at me as it confirmed fully that this was the same monster that murdered my brother. I was filled with rage, clenching my fists tightly as I removed my left hand from my wrist, staring at them.
"You heartless piece of-!" Before I could even get out my words, my chest was seamlessly cut. "-Tch!!" I stumbled back, raising my hand as I yelled out. Almost a roar of rage. "I'll kill you!!" I falsely promised.
"Funny how you think such a thing. You have no weapon and in no condition to even fight back." It spoke. Laughing as it raised it's hand and swings down, I was ready to meet my brother, until–
'Fwoosh!!'
"-?" It stared at the object in my hands, A longsword. An odd one at that, a handguard that at one side, has a cross-shaped segment, and a diamond-shaped lump on the other. The blade extended to about 152 centimeters long. The hilt had many overlapping black stripes that formed a cross; even on the blade, black lines overlap to form two X-shaped sigils. The pommel was also odd, it resembled a magic circle. What even was this weapon?
"How curious." It muttered before instantly vanishing away, reappearing 6 feet away from me. I overheard the woman say "He can manifest a Hyōmei?" She wondered. Is that what this blade is? I lowered my hand, even if I'm hurt, bleeding, breathing harshly.
I will avenge Rui.
"You're the reason my life for the last four years has been a hellscape! You're the single scumbag who's ripped the most important person from me! This blade will act as the canvas for beasts like you to paint with your sorrow and sins–" I yell out, pointing the longsword at the monster. "-a canvas for those whom you killed to paint on with their uneasiness and pain! And a canvas for my brother to paint his soul and love for me on! Even if that means defying the future I've planned ahead. I'll do anything for my brother's sake, even after death." I claim, Rui was important to me, my family are the most important people to me, but now a segment is missing like a lost puzzle piece, ripped away. "More false promises, you're just a schoolboy. You don't even know how to swing a sword!" It shouts. It's right and I know it. But that's why I'll try. I ran forward, fueled by rage and motivation to avenge Rui, sluggishly swinging my blade up to slash at the beast but it immediately parried with its numerous claws, I watched closely as it swung it's hand to my side. "Damn!" I immediately held the sword to my side, guarding before it grabbed the blade, throwing it out of my hands. "Cute attempt." I commented on my efforts, kicking my sternum harshly, causing my body to slide across the pavement.
Again, my vision was blurry before I saw a white flash. The sword, it's in my hand again. "What the hell is this—" I was cut off by the monster immediately lunging forward, swinging its hand down again before it was met with a sphere of Enogu from that woman, immediately dashing into grab my foot and drag me away. "-Huh?" I lift my back up, using the blade to support myself up.
"Why did-"
"Leave now. This time, actually listen to me." She sternly commands.
"That piece of shit killed my brother, you don't—"
"I do." She assures. "Now leave, or I'll arrest you for disobedience." She walked forward as she threatened me with the ultimatum of me being arrested if I continued.
I simply nod, I can't get driven and fueled my rage and resentment like this, I loathe this monster. No matter how uglier they get, no matter if I encounter worse ones, this one in particular will be the one I'll forever resent. I ran away, tossing the sword into a bush. I have to stick to my goals. This can't happen again. It can NEVER happen again.
❖ ❖ ❖
I walk across the pavement leading to my house's front door. I live in a two story building that's pretty spacious, especially on the inside. My mother always keeps the rooms neat and tidy for any guests. I grab the doorknob and twist it, pushing forward as Mother sits on the couch, looking at the door.
"Hey, M—" I was cut off by an immediate hug.
"Shirō!! What happened to you?!" She noticed my bruises and broken glasses. What should I say? 'Oh, I fought a big monster with a bunch of belts and gigantic claws.' She wouldn't believe it so I lied, and even then, with the woman my mother is, this was difficult. Morally difficult.
"A pair of students bumped into me and I fell on the concrete, got a few cuts and my glasses broke." I say, this took a dive on my morality, lying to my own mother.
"I'm so sorry, Shirō. Go rest up, your injuries aren't deep." She says, taking note of how my wounds looked, giving me a pair of bandages.
I walk up to my room, taking off my school uniform as I wrap the bandages around myself. I sigh, dropping onto my bed as I take off my glasses, laying them on the table but as I look to the corner of my room. The sword rested. Didn't I throw it out? Why is it here all of a sudden? I got up and walked towards it, the room was silent but my mind wasn't. Filling up with thoughts, like a bathtub being filled with water. I picked up the hilt, I didn't have a sheathe but I took a good glance at it. It's white and black, and that only. No blues or reds. No yellows or purples. Just monochrome. I carry it to my left side room window, throwing it out of the window. "What even is this thing?" I asked myself, before turning around and it was there again, same spot.
"Forget it." I picked it up and placed it onto my drawer. I took a good, long stare at it. Is someone just using Magic to play with my head or something? No one's even around the house. I sigh and walk over to my bed, laying down on my back, soon rolling onto my side, staring out the window. This day was odd– no, terrifying. I could've died, I nearly died. I use my tail to drag the blankets up to my shoulders, closing my eyes.
Nothing will ever get in the way of my goal for a normal, magicless life.