Nyx dropped to her knees, clutching her throat as pain ripped throat as pain ripped through her veins, mana flaring and collapsing in wild spasms.
"Master...?"
The forest wind howled. Her eyes widened—something had gone terribly wrong.
——
The Forest—Moments Earlier.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Lith's boots slammed against the dirt trail, the forest blurring past in streaks of gold and green. Dew scattered with Avery step, glinting in the early light.
He should've been gasping by now—heart pounding, lungs burning like always. But instead...
Hah...nothing. His breathing stayed steady. His steps were light, almost effortless.
"What...is this?" He muttered, brushing his fingers against his chest. His heartbeat was calm. Every stride felt natural, like his body had finally caught up with the world. Back then, in the orphanage courtyard, he could barely run halfway before collapsing. Now he was Sprint I through rough terrain withouts even breaking a sweat.
A faint pulse ran beneath his skin—Bzzt... Like static electricity humming through his veins. Is this because of Nyx? Because of that bond? He frowned, shaking off the thought. He couldn't stop now—Lee was still ahead.
"Lee!" Lith called out, his voicemail carrying through the forest air. "Wait up!" But no answer. Just the sharp shhk! of metal slicing through vines.
"Lee!" He yelled again.
"Keep up, old man!" The voice came back, mocking followed by the sound of laughter.
Lith sighed, running a hand through his hair even while sprinting. "I'm fifteen. How am I the old one here?"
Ahead, Lee's silhouette darted between trees—swinging his small axe at roots and branches, whsssh! Chhk! Crack!
"Would you stop swinging that thing around before you hit yourself?!" Lith shouted.
"Relax! I've got this!" Lee called back without even looking.
Lith gritted his teeth. "You always say that before something explodes."
"Then pray it doesn't!"
Lith groaned. "Why do I even bother..." He pushed harder, the ground crunching beneath him. Thmp-thmp-thmp! His coat fluttered behind him like a shadow in motion. Every sound—the beating of his heat, the whisper of leaves—felt sharper. Too sharp.
Then—Bzzt—thrm.
The air around him shifted. The forest grew unnaturally quiet. No birds, and no wind? Just that heavy silence beforehand something breaks.
Lith slowed, his instincts flaring. Something's wrong.
"Lee," he called, lowering his tone. "Stop for a Moment, we're already inside the forest—it's dangerous here."
Lee didn't answer. He was already hacking at another bush. Sskh! Thwack!
"Quit worrying! You're too uptight!"
That was it. Lith surged forward, grabbed Lee by the back of his collar, and pulled him back.
"Wha—hey! What's your problem!?" Lee twisted around, scowling.
Lithygrip stayed firm. His voice was calm, but it carried weight. "Don't rush into unknown ground. You don't know what's waiting."
Lee frowned, cheeks puffed in annoyance. "You're acting like my dad. I'm not some helpless kid, alright?"
Lith sighed, meeting his glare evenly. "Then start acting like you want to live."
Lee froze for half a beat—then rolled his eyes. "Tch. Fine, fine. You win, Father Lith."
"That's not—" Lith began, but Lee cut him off with a smirk.
"Happy now? Can you just let me go already?"
Lith exhaled slowly. "Just... don't make me repeat myself." He loosenihis grip.
The instant Lee's feet hit the ground—fwssh!—he bolted again, laughing. "You're too easy! Later, priest-boy!"
Lith blinked once, then pressed his fingers to his temple. "...Unbelievable." he started running again, muttering under his breath. "How is he younger that me and still his suicidal?"
Crunch. Crack.
Leaves trembled under his boots as he chased after Lee, deeper into the fof-thick forest. The air changed again—heavier this time. A pulse of mana rippled through him—thump...thump...thump—like his heart was being squeezed by invisible hands.
He stumbled, clutching his chest. W-what...is this feeling? Then—something shifted.
Whmm—whmm—
A pulse rippled through the air, faint as first, then heavy. Lith stumbled mid-steo, nearly losing his footing as a sudden chill gripped his chest.
His hand flew to his heart. "Wh-what...was that?"
It wasn't fear, it was like a...warning? An instinct so raw it made his blood crawl. The air was thick, charged, trembling with the weight of something alive.
Each step forward made it worse. His body screamed for him to stop. But Lee was still ahead.
No. This feeling again...it's bad. Really bad.
"L-Lee!!" Lith's voice cracked. "Stop right now!"
"Ha! For what? So you can drag me home, Father Light?" Lee jeered, his laughter cutting through the wind.
Lith clenched his teeth. "Lee! Listen to me—it's dangerous!"
But the boy didn't listen to him, he never did. Lith ducked under a low brach, vaulting over a root. Thmp—shhk—crunch!
The he saw it. Lee turned his head just long enough to flash a teasing grin. "You're too slow, old—"
And Lith's world froze. His eyes widened and his breath left him for a second.
Ahead of Lee—half-hidden in the mist—something vast stirred. A hulking shape rose from the cracked ground—a creature of blackened flesh and bone. Muscles twisted like cords beneath its skin, each movement creaking with unnatural strength. Thirty feet tall. Horns like jagged spears a jaw that split open into writhing, tendril-like flesh.
The Alpha Fiend-Tongues. It had been sleeping. Until now. The ground rumbled as the beast's eyelids snapping open—gleaming with molten green light.
Thrrrmmm...
"LEE!!" Lith's scream tore through his throat.
The monster's gaze looked on Lee. And then, time shattered into slow motion. The Fiend's arm swung forward—a blur of claws, wind splitting with a deafening roar.
WHOOM—SHHK—!!
"NOOO—!! LEE!!" Lith's mind went blank. And then—Maria's voice echoed in his head.
"Please...bring him back alive."
"I'll bring him back. I promise."
His legs burst forward like lightning—faster than his body should allow. One second, Lee stood frozen. The next—Lith slammed into him, wrapping his arms around the boy's torso.
FWSSH—THUD—!
They rolled through the dirt, crashing into roots and rocks. Lee's breath caught as Lith shielded his head, taking the full impact on his back.
GRKK—!
When they finally stopped, Lee was gasping on the ground, half on top of Lith. "Lith! Hey—Hey, are you okay? Y-you're bleeding!"
Lith coughed, spitting red into his palm. "I-It's fine...just—" cough "—just a scratch."
But Lee wasn't convinced. His eyes darted over Lith's face—too pale, too still. The ground beneath them trembled faintly, a low grrrmm—rumbling somewhere in the distance.
"W-we should go. Now," Lee stammered, glancing toward the shadows between the trees.
Lith tried to push himself upright. "Y-Yeah, let's—"
Hkkk—!
He lurched forward, a wet sound ripping from his throat. Blood spilled from his lips, splattering onto his hand.
"Lith!" Lee shouted, eyes wide. He grabbed Lith by the shoulder, but his hand froze when it brushed against something warm—sticky. Lee looked down. His fingers were stained blood. He stared, unblinking, then slowly looked behind Lith...and his stomach dropped.
A long gash cut across Lith's back, seeping dark red through the torn fabric. For a moment, all Lee could do was stare—then the image of Lith shielding him from the Fiend-Tongues through his mind. Lee's throat tightened. "This...this is because of me..." He stumbled backward, lifted his head weakly, confusing clouding his eyes.
"Wh-What's wrong, Lee?" Then his arms gave out. His body sagged forward, collapsing onto the ground with a dull thud.
"Lith! Hey—Lith!" Lee dropped to his knees beside him, panic taking over. His hands shook as he reached out, afraid to even touch him. "N-No! Heal yourself? Come on—heal your wound!" His voice cracked, half shouting, half pleading.
Lith's eyelids fluttered open, unfocused. "I... can't."
Lee's breath caught. "What do you mean you can't!? You're a healer, right? That's your Gift!" He gripped Lith's arm. "So—so do it already!"
Lith coughed again, his voice breaking between each word. "I—can't heal... myself. I've never done it before..."
The confession hit Lee like ice water. He froze—then looked down at the priest's trembling body, the blood pooling slowly beneath him. "This is my fault," Lee whisper, voice shaking. "If you hadn't—if you didn't save me—"
Lith managed a faint, pained smile. "D-Don't...say that." Then another tremor rolled through the ground. Thrrm—
The air thickened. The Alpha was moving again. Lee looked up, terror spreading across his face. "We have to move—now!"
But Lith didn't answer. He was already slipping, breath shallow, eyes dimming. The world dimmed at the edges. Still—he force himself to stay calm. Until, he froze for moment. There was a weight in the air—something cold, heavy, and sharp enough to make his heartbeat stumble. He didn't see her, but he knew.
Nyz was coming... And she was angry.
A chill ran down his spine. He couldn't explain how he knew, but every nerve in his body screamed the same warning. This isn't good, if I lose it now, she'll—no. I need to focus.
He pressed a trembling hand against his chest. The sigils carved there began to glow, faint—black and gold light winding together like living veins. He drew a slow breath and whispered the words he usually used for others, but never for himself: "...Lux revertat... vitae meae..." ( Let the light return to my life. )
A faint pulse rippled from his body. Golden light spread beneath his skin—then darkened, laced with shadow. When Lith channeled Nyx's mana through their bond, it wasn't ordinary healing. Her power wasn't made to restore—it was born of balance. Life and death, intertwined as one. So when he tried to heal himself... something else answered.
The air boomed.
WHOOOM—SHHHK—THUD!
The ground split open around him. Grass withered. The Fiend-Tongue that had pierced his side convulsed, shrinking. Its veins bulged with golden fire. Its flesh cracked like burnt paper, green ichor hissing into vapor as its life drained away.
Then—silence.
Lith's wound sealed shut, his veins glowing faintly gold before fading into black. The Fiend collapsed with a dull thud, its massive body hollow and gray—like its very soul had been scraped out.
Lee stood frozen, eyes wide, unable to breathe, unable to speak. In his mind, only one thought echoed, trembling with disbelief. That...that's not a Failed Gift. There's no way in hell a Failed Gift can do that...
Lith staggered back, staring at his steady hand. His breath came uneven, his voice trembling—not from pain, but from something far colder. "I...I healed myself...? But—" his gaze drifted to the withered corpse before him, ash swirling in the air. "W-what...what just happened?"