Taylor hid himself inside the hollow of an overturned stone statue.
It was once part of a beautiful fountain, but now it became he's only shelter.
"Damnit, it's crammed in here!"
He whispered.
Through a small crack, he observed everything with careful focus.
The two man froze in place when Garin's fierce presence pierced the silence.
In that moment, Taylor felt a jelly-like movement in his pocket.
The slime was squirming slightly, sensing the danger.
"Didn't you here me?"
Garin said as he stepped forward.
His voice growing sharper.
"Stay the hell away from her!"
The hooded man tensed sharpening his senses.
While the man with the tall hat narrowed his eyes as he stepped forward.
Waving his cane, which looked weight and design more like for killing than an accessory for nobles.
With swift motion, he lifted the cane high and incited:
"Ignis in euterum!"
Then, six fiery orbs ignited at his sides.
One surged towards at Garin.
-Wooom!
Garin reacted instantly.
Dodging to the side as a fire ball rocketed past him.
Leaving smoke behind.
-Wooom!
Garin dodged it effortlessly.
Wooom-!
*Too slow!*
With a simple swing of his blade Garin deflected them.
He dashed forward.
Closing the distance between him and the top-hatted man.
The man retaliated.
Swinging his cane like a staff.
Wooom-!
Realising a scorching blast of flames.
Garin ducked low.
Before springing back to his feet.
His sword ready.
As he lunged forward.
The top-hatted man countered with a flick of his rist.
He shot two fire balls.
Spiralling towards Garin.
With a swift upward slice of his sword.
Garin deflected all two fire balls into the ground.
Boom-!
Exploding harmlessly.
Sending embers flying.
"You can do better than that!"
Garin taunted out loud.
As he charged.
Closing the gap with rapid footwork and a furry of strikes.
His blade dancing through the air.
Each motion calculated.
Attempting to bypass through the man's defences.
The man blocked with his cane.
Using it as both shield and weapon.
-Cling!
Sparks erupting with each strikes.
"Is that all you got?"
In that moment of desperation.
The top-hatted man swung his cane in a wide arc.
Releasing a torrent of flames.
Wooom-!
Garin leaped into the air.
Executing a powerful downwstrike.
Aimed at the man's shoulder.
The flames scorched below.
Crackle…! Crackle…! Crackle…!
Garin landed defiantly.
Narrowly avoiding the flames that licked at his heels.
Garin pressed the attack.
Thrusting his sword forward.
Startled by Garin's agility.
The top-hatted man stumbled backward.
-Wooo!
The flames from his cane sputtering as he regained control.
"Time to end this!"
Garin spat.
***
From a hidden vintage point behind the statue.
Taylor couldn't believe what he was seeing.
*Magic….*
He saw the falmes dancing in brilliant colours.
Swirling and crackling with a life of their own.
He watched the intense scene unfold.
He was scared.
Yet at the same time, his heart was racing.
Garin gathered a flow of energy from his sword.
-Swooosh!
Unleashing a powerful slash.
Repelling the man's blazing fire.
The man barely dodged the attack.
The slash leaving behind a thin line of crimson across his face and nicking his hat.
"If you move she dies."
Flinching, the man leaped back.
Touching his face.
Crimson sliding down his left cheek.
Just as it seemed Garin had the upper hand.
The hooded man suddenly spoke.
"If you take one more step…."
His blade poised at her throat.
Taylor could only watch helplessly.
"Let's retreat the ritual has already failed. Years of work down the drain just like that."
The hooded man just nodded in agreement.
"L-Leave her alone!"
Taylor suddenly shouted.
Lalia using the last of her strength muttered.
"Taylor, don't! Just runaway!"
"I suggest you listen to your mother, kid."
The cloaked man taunted.
Taylor shook his head, unwilling to leave her behind.
"P-Please just run…."
Slice-!
In a horrific instance.
The man slit her throat.
Right Infront of their eyes.
Taylor stared, at her lifeless body.
Her layed motionless.
But a faint smile still lingered on her bright face.
Her hazel eyes still open, staring.
Garin fell silent for a moment.
He had jut lost he's reason to live.
"Taylor, run as far as you can, now!"
Garin warned.
Then finally Taylor turned sprinting.
Shaking with each step.
"You bastards! I'll kill you!"
Garin screamed.
His sword emitted a bright glow.
SWOOOSH—!
Unlishing a powerful attack.
A cloud of smoke erupted.
They had managed to escape.
"Haaa… Haaf… Haaa…"
Reaching the edge of the forest.
Taylor ran then, glanced back at the village engulfed in flames.
Tears streaming down his cheeks.
*Why am I crying….? Could it be I really thought of her as my mother? No, that can't be…. so then why does this hurt…. She's just a stranger, isn't she?*
"Haaa… Haaa…."
He breathed heavily.
-Thud!
He stomped hard on a rock, falling face first.
His tears flowed freely.
Crunch-!
The slime crawled out of his pocket.
Trying its very best to comfort him.
As he broke down.
His vision darkening
"…."
Silence took over.
***
As morning began.
He woke up, feeling a jelly sensation in his hand.
The slime had slept alongside him.
It had watched over him the entire night.
Jumping as he woke up.
*What happened? And why can't I think straight?*
He sat up slowly.
Then he was hit with a sharp pain, on his forehead.
*Ouch!*
He muttered, as he touched the sore spot.
Vibrant green leaves swaying gently in the morning breeze.
A stark contrast to the flames that had engulfed the village.
Panic gripped him as he scrambled back to his feet.
Desperately following his footsteps from the night before.
*Lalia!*
He cried out in his mind.
*It must've been a dream! Yeah, that's it…. Just a bad dream?*
Denial swept through him.
Not accepting the reality of what happened.
Crunch-!
He moved through the underbrush.
Finally emerging from the bushes.
"Haaa…. Haaa…. Haaa…."
Taking in deep breaths.
Charred remains of the village came into view.
Anger surged through him.
*How could this happen?*
He thought, as anger rised with each step.
Then he arrived at the rundown village.
Walking past the scorched rubble.
The vibrant fountain.
He and Liam used to play in.
Was now nothing but a shell of its former self.
He couldn't locate Lalia's body anywhere.
Approaching the rubble of his home.
Brought bargaining into his mind.
*If only he had been stronger, If he had acted sooner. Maybe…. Just maybe things would have turned out differently!*
His mind raced with regrets and 'what ifs'.
*Why was I even brought to this world, If not to protect those he cared about?*
The reality of the situation crashed down on him like a tidal wave.
As he leaned against the rubble of his once home.
He suddenly remembered.
*The letter!*
He took out a small envelope from his shirt.
He carefully opened it, taking out a letter inside.
'Dear Taylor I know this is a lot to process now. I don't know if you read the first letter but… Here goes I'm in love with you, it's been a while since I've head these feelings.
Ever since you rescued me from those bullies. I know it's a lot to process, but that is how I truly feel. I'll be waiting for you when the festival ends, just don't be late this time.'
-Drip!
-Drip!
His tears, fell on the neatly folded envelope.
*If only you knew that I wasn't the real Taylor!*
Swallowed by depression.
He cried himself amidst the debris.
***
In a far away village the survivors where still recovering.
As some of them were bandaged.
Some held devistating injuries, but not life threatening.
The neighbouring village were kind enough to provide them food shelter.
But luckily they were all okay.
Elda with a few children were playing.
The mother was holding her child and Glenn was embracing them both.
Liam's father and Miss Elda watched the children play, without a care in the
world.
Meanwhile in a grave tomb Garin was mourning.
In a nearby three Lowell was standing there, looking at the horizon.
"Lowell, come and play with us!"
Liam said in a
Lowell looked back.
"Okay! In just a minute!"
She replied.
***
A few hours had passed.
The slime jumped onto his lap.
Finally standing up.
A surprising lightness filled him.
At the end of the day.
That was just how life worked.
He figured if life had hated him.
Then why not just hate it back.
This was acceptance.
Before he turned to leave he looked back at the village.
One more a promise burned in his heart.
"I'll find those responsible for all of this. And then I promise with my own hands…. I'll kill them!"
Revenge ingnited his spirits.
"Thank you for everything you've done La—mom!"
Then with those last words.
He departed into the unknown.
***
A/N:
[Thank you following the story it's been a long ride. But now I can finally end it with no regrets. To all those who've been following it up until now, thank you I really appreciate it. Oh, and I almost forgot one more thing….. April fools.]