Nothing around Emil felt quite right.
Some inner force had started rumbling deep in his body a flame that did not fire it, it was rising stealthily. His heartbeat started to feel strange. His heartbeat thundered through his head like a battle drum, threatening to unleash its content within his soul
He didn't comprehend it at all
The system window that had always stayed closed at the edge of his field of view had flashed just now automatically. For a single second. And now, for the first time since he came to this world, an unknown world, it was trembling
"Why now? Why is this happening in the middle of a fight?" Emil said while being in pain, he balled his fists. He didn't have time to think about it. One misstep and he'd be dead in the blink of an eye
He dodged the arc of a sword, his breathing was harsh
Bandits had encircled the carriage. Three of the guards had already turned their backs and had betrayed them, betraying them and attacking them. Only two knights stood at his side, and they were barely holding their ground
Luin stood behind him, he was still shaken, and he was gripping a small dagger
"Back off" Emil warned as he struck his weapon at a bandit, nipping the man's arm "Let me deal with"
But before he could get the words out of his mouth, a fist flew from the side. It hit squarely into his temple and then
Crack
The world spun around
Pain burst in his head as the ground came up to greet him
Everything went pitch black
Luin stood stock still. His eyes went wide as he watched Emil fall to the dirt, not moving
His friend. His sole companion was now in this state
Down
Blood trickled from Emil's lip. His breathing was weak and not steady at all
Something inside Luin broke as he saw Emil in this state
His own hands, that had been shaking moments earlier, now they started to firm up. His own eyes flashed with something cutting cold, hard fury. Luin experienced for the first time in his life the dam in his head shattered.
"You harmed him. How dare you harm Emil" Luin breathed
The bandits jeered and advanced
"What is the little rat going to do now? Cry tears?" one taunted
But Luin did not hear them. His body started to throb with power. It started low like a heartbeat and then burst upwards. Mana, once deep beneath the surface, swelled like a tsunami
The air around him rippled
Sparkles of silver light flashed at his fingertips
"Tch. That kid is glowing out of nowhere"
"W-What the hell is that?"
The other guards stepped back
And then Luin screamed
There was a tremendous release of magic from his body, which blew dust and air in every direction. His eyes became shining silver, and a shining ring of runes appeared under his feet
"You desire a battle?" he shook with voice "Then behold this spell"
"Third Circle Magic: Tempest Fang"
Wind shrieked. A colossal, curling blade of wind and magic leaped forward, cutting down two bandits in an instant. Their screams rang out into the forest as their bodies were knocked back, unconscious or dead
The rest guards and bandits both stood there frozen
"H-He's a Third Circle mage?! That's not possible at all he is just a child. How can he be a third circle at that age?"
"We did not sign up for this"
"Run. Run as fast as you can to save your lives"
And the battle was over
The traitor guards ran first. The rest of the bandits dispersed behind them, terror in their hearts. The wind ceased, but Luin's mana continued to churn around him like a tempest unwilling to depart
His chest rose and fell. Sweat trickled down his face
He didn't care about that at all
All he could think of right now was Emil
Luin fell to his knees next to his friend, and then he scooped up Emil's lifeless body and wrapped him in his arms. Emil's head lolled against his shoulder
"Emil, please" Luin whispered, his voice cracking. "Wake up, damn it"
He placed a hand over Emil's chest, feeling the faint heartbeat
Tears welled up in his eyes
"You promised we would make it together. Don't break your promise, Emil"
Inside Emil's mind
It was silent
Blackness stretched endlessly, with no walls, no ground, no light, Just darkness. Emil stood in the middle of it, he was barefoot, his shirt was torn, and he was confused
He turned in every direction
There was Nothing
Then, suddenly a voice
"You have come"
A figure stepped out of the darkness, a hazy silhouette composed of darkness. It had No face. Nobody, there was only smoke and eyes that glowed dimly gold
"Who are you?" Emil asked in a curious tone while squinting his eyes
The figure cocked its head
"Ethan"
Emil's breath stopped in his throat
"How do you know that name?"
"Because that's who you are. Ethan, you are an outsider, A reader, the one who has seen this world's end"
Email retreated a step
His thoughts whirled
"Then who the hell are you? And how do you know about me?"
The figure did not reply. Rather, it advanced further its steps booming such as thunder through the desolate void
"You are not prepared to hear that yet. Not yet. But we will be together again when you are stronger. Maybe in a few years and then can have a proper talk"
Email tightened his fists
"Why am I here?"
"Because the seal is crumbling. Your power your destiny it's all beginning to come back to you"
Emil's voice became a lower murmur
"I don't want destiny. I just need to survive in this world and for that, I will do anything which is in my hands and my control"
"You can't hide from it, Ethan. You've already watched this world collapse. And I want one thing from you and that is I want you to Save it. Save the inhabitants of this world"
An extended silence drew between them
Emil stood there, and now he was daydreaming
"But I'm nobody in this world," he said "What can I even do?"
The figure chuckled quietly
"You're not nobody. You just haven't become who you're supposed to be"
And then, the figure hesitated
"Hmm. You need assistance, don't you?"
Emil glanced up
"I do"
"Good then. I'll assist you a little bit. What do you desire? I can give you anything, but keep in mind that I will provide just one thing"
Emil didn't so much as hesitate
"Unseal one of my powers"
The figure whistled
"Oh risky decision. Most would request weapons or power. But you, you want to unlock what's already within you. Interesting"
He lifted his hand and clicked his fingers.
"Then so be it"
A burst of light flared. Email sensed something deep within him open like a gate creaking ajar
"I'll send you back now"
"Wait who are y-"
Back in the real world
"EMIL!!"
His eyes flew open
The world came crashing back
Luin's face was the first he saw golden eyes which were filled with tears, tear-stained cheeks, cradling him in his arms like an injured brother
"L-Luin?"
Luin gasped
"You're awake! Thank the heavens"
Emil attempted to sit up, but Luin pinned him back
"You idiot why did you fight alone? You could have died"
Emil smiled weakly
"I'm not that easy to kill"
Luin choked a laugh between his tears, wiping his face
They sat there for a moment. Two boys on a destroyed battlefield. One gasping for breath, and one was living again because his friend was back to life again
Emil slowly sat up, his head was still reeling. And Something felt way off
His body. His mind. His mana
It was like a part of him had awakened
"System window," he muttered
And then
[Ding!]