The battlefield had fallen silent. Not the kind of silence that followed victory. But one that lingered heavily, suffocating, and filled with the remnants of everything that had just been lost.
The ground was scattered with bodies, some completely still, others barely clinging to life. The air carried the faint scent of blood and ash, blending into something that made breathing difficult.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because no one knew what to say.
They had survived.
But survival did not feel like something worth celebrating.
Not after this.
At the centre of it all
Lucius lay on the ground.
Unmoving.
Unconscious.
For a long moment, no one approached him.
It wasn't hesitation born from fear alone, but from something far more complicated: uncertainty, disbelief… and guilt.
The one they had all dismissed.
The one they had called useless.
Now he had been the one to save them.
But he remained unconscious.
He wasn't waking up.
"He's still not moving…"
Clara's voice was quiet, strained, as if forcing the words out required more strength than she had left.
She took a step forward, her legs unsteady beneath her weight, her body still trembling from the battle that had nearly taken everything from them.
"Shira… can you check on him?"
Shira exhaled slowly, exhaustion evident in the way her shoulders dropped.
"You're worrying too much," she said, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness. "He always collapses after pushing himself. He'll wake up like he always does."
Her gaze shifted toward Lucius.
But this time
Even she didn't sound convinced.
Clara shook her head, her expression tightening.
"No… this isn't the same."
There was something wrong.
Something she couldn't explain.
But she could feel it.
And it refused to go away.
Shira noticed.
And after a brief pause
She moved.
Each step toward Lucius felt heavier than the last, as if something unseen was pulling at her.
But the moment she reached him.
She stopped.
Her entire body went still.
"…This isn't right."
Her voice had changed.
Completely.
Gone was the indifference.
Gone was the dismissal.
In its place
Was something far more serious.
She crouched beside him, placing a hand near his chest.
Then
Her eyes widened.
"Head mage!" she called out sharply. "Get over here now!"
The urgency in her voice broke whatever stillness remained.
The head mage and the others rushed over, their expressions tense, their movements hurried despite their exhaustion.
"What is it?" he asked.
Shira didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze remained fixed on Lucius.
"…He's dying."
The words didn't just fall.
They hit.
Hard.
"What?!"
"That's impossible!"
"He was just fighting how he could be dying now?!"
Clara stepped closer, her breathing becoming uneven.
"What do you mean… dying?"
Shira finally looked up.
And there was no uncertainty in her expression.
"His body isn't responding," she said slowly. "Not to anything."
The head mage immediately began channelling magic, his hand hovering over Lucius as a faint glow spread outward.
One mage joined.
Then another.
And another.
Layers of healing magic built upon each other, filling the air with light.
But
Nothing changed.
Lucius remained still.
His skin had grown pale, unnaturally so, as if the warmth of life itself was fading from him.
"It's not working…" one of the mages whispered.
"It's like the magic isn't being accepted…"
"No," another said quietly. "It's worse."
"It's being rejected."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Clara dropped to her knees beside him, her hands trembling as she reached out, hesitating just before touching him.
"Lucius… please…"
No response.
Not even the slightest.
The head mage's expression darkened.
"There is… one place we can take him."
All eyes turned toward him.
"It is not somewhere we can go freely," he continued carefully. "And the one who resides there is not someone who is easily approached."
Clara didn't hesitate.
"Will it save him?"
A pause.
"…It might."
Before anyone could respond
A sharp metallic sound cut through the air.
A blade.
Drawn.
Everyone turned.
Liam.
He stepped forward slowly, his gaze fixed entirely on Lucius.
"What are you doing?" Clara demanded, rising immediately.
Liam didn't answer right away.
His eyes didn't leave Lucius.
"That thing…"
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"…is not a hero."
The words settled heavily.
"You saw it," he continued. "That power wasn't normal."
"That doesn't matter," Clara shot back. "He saved us."
"And what happens next time?" Liam replied.
She froze.
Just slightly.
"What happens when he loses control?" he continued. "When that same power turns on us?"
"That won't happen."
"You don't know that."
Clara stepped forward, placing herself between him and Lucius.
"You're not touching him."
Liam's grip on his blade tightened slightly.
"For all we know… he could be the reason everything is happening."
"That's enough."
Her voice was sharp now.
Firm.
Unyielding.
For a moment
The air itself seemed to tighten.
As if the fragile unity between them was on the verge of breaking completely.
Then
Liam exhaled slowly.
And lowered his blade.
"…Fine."
But his gaze remained.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"When this goes wrong…"
He turned away.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
The tension didn't disappear.
It stayed.
Lingering.
Unresolved.
"I'll take him."
Collen's voice cut through the silence.
Clara turned immediately.
"No. You can't."
"…Why?"
Collen hesitated.
"…Because I can get him there faster."
It wasn't the full truth.
But it was enough.
Clara looked at Lucius again.
His breathing
Faint.
Weak.
"…Fine."
There was no time left to argue.
Shira spoked
Guys, he has only a few days to live. You have to hurry up
Moments later
They left.
———
The journey was not easy.
Lucius remained unconscious, his body limp as Collen carried him across his back.
Clara walked beside them, her steps unsteady but determined.
The path ahead was uneven, filled with debris and remnants of the battle they had just survived.
For a while
Neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of their footsteps filled the silence.
Then
"…Do you really think he'll make it?" Clara asked quietly.
Collen didn't answer immediately.
His grip tightened slightly.
"…I don't know."
Clara looked down, her expression tightening.
"He saved us," she said softly. "Even after everything… even after how we treated him…"
Her voice faltered.
"…And now this is happening to him."
Collen remained silent.
"…You saw it too, didn't you?" Clara continued. "That power… it wasn't normal."
"…No," Collen replied.
"But it wasn't something evil either."
Clara looked at him.
"…Then what is he?"
Collen's expression hardened slightly.
"…Someone we don't understand yet."
They continued walking.
The silence returned.
But it felt different now.
Heavier.
"…Liam is wrong," Clara said after a while. "Lucius isn't a threat."
"…Maybe," Collen replied.
That answer wasn't enough.
Clara stopped walking.
"…You don't believe that."
Collen paused as well.
"…I believe," he said slowly, "that if we make the wrong decision…"
He glanced back at Lucius.
"…we might regret it."
Clara clenched her fists.
"…I won't let them kill him."
Collen didn't respond.
But he didn't disagree either.
And that alone said enough.
They continued forward.
Uncertain of what awaited them.
———
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
Lucius stood alone within it.
"…So this is where I ended up."
His voice echoed faintly.
No answer came.
He looked around.
Nothing.
Only emptiness.
"…Hello?"
Silence.
He began to walk.
Step after step.
But the darkness did not change.
Until
A voice.
"You took your time."
Lucius stopped.
"…Who are you?"
A soft chuckle followed.
"That question again…"
"…Where am I?"
"That is not important."
"…Then what is?"
A pause.
Then
"Why are you still alive?"
Lucius narrowed his eyes.
"…I should be asking you the same thing."
Another chuckle.
"You're interesting."
The voice felt distant.
Yet close.
Everywhere.
"You are dying."
Lucius shook his head.
"That's not possible. I have Reversal."
"Yes."
A pause.
"But you were never told the full truth."
"…Explain."
"Your human body has limits."
"And you have surpassed them."
Lucius fell silent.
"…So this is the cost."
"No."
The voice deepened.
"This is only the beginning of it."
Lucius' expression hardened.
"…Then why am I like this?"
"Because you are incomplete."
The words echoed.
"…Incomplete?"
"You were not meant to exist as you are now."
Silence followed.
"…Then what am I supposed to do?"
A long pause.
Then
"Survive."
Lucius exhaled slowly.
"…You're not very helpful."
"I am not here to help you."
"Then why are you here?"
A pause.
"To observe."
"To confirm."
"…And to decide."
Lucius' eyes narrowed.
"Decide what?"
But no answer came.
Only one final word
"Live." You still have unfinshed job to do.
And everything shattered.
———
Days passed.
The journey continued.
And far away
A figure stood in the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
Smiling.
"All is proceeding as expected…"
A pause.
"But that one…"
Its smile deepened.
"He is becoming a problem."
A whisper followed.
"Lord Dox will not be pleased."