“I have a cocktail sausage” said Wardi, loud enough that we could hear it from a few metres away. Poor Wardi it must be so frustrating for him.

  “It wasn’t strong enough to do that before, keep on your toes everyone!” I Shouted out ready an attack.

  Rhua attempted to bait the boss again with another shield throw and run yet it not only dodged the attack, but it also countered with a move, tucking itself into a ball shape and bouldering into the three of us, the barrier absorbed all the damage it would have done, the knockback against the wall was unavoidable.

  Before we had even got back on our feet, cries and shouting could be heard, Wardi had rushed to Silana who was screaming in agony from several blue spikes impaled in her and Rhua was being mercilessly bombarded with spikes that were failing to break through her Bulwark and Phalanx, yet the impacts were taking the wind out of her with the constant supply of Kaha generating the protections.

  The blood spilled all over, the floor and covered her and Wardi, Horace shouted in anger and began his revenge showering the boss with heavy shelling and crossbow bolts.

  Lucy screamed out “GOLPE DE TRUENO,” and again “GOLPE DE TRUENO,” “GOLPE DE TRUENO~”! she was surrounded by marks of the bolt element, dozens of dark purple flickering orbs began expanding in size forming into huge electrically charged swords and flew at the boss ripping through it, taking its limbs as they passed through.

  “Lucy!” My words rang out as she began falling, I caught her in my arms and noticed the empty navy bottle on the floor Damn it Lucy, why did you take another potion! I thought, the Lùth exhaustion took hold, blood began leaking from her mouth.

  “Keep her upright and a mild rejuvenating potion she needs the natural flow to recompose itself” shouted Rhua standing back up again after taking multiple rounds by herself. Horace threw me a potion and I forced Lucy to drink it slowly, drop by drop, slowly she seemed to respond, it’s going to be hard to keep this fight up if we don’t get rid of that damn thing soon, I thought.

  As it had taken such a huge amount of damage, Rhua jumped and slammed it in the head with her sword and it fell forward making it easier for Horace’s mortar to keep blasting it to pieces. It was in that moment that I saw it and Horace did as well, the damn thing smiled at us, a wicked smile of goading, as if everything that just happened was part of a plan.

  Mine and Horace’s eyes met, and he spoke first “you saw it to right, it SMILED AT US” he piped up and angrily.

  I replied, “Stop screwing with us, whatever you are; whomever you are!”

  The others had all gathered where Silana still lay weeping from the pain, I carried Lucy over slowly, she’s hyper vulnerable in this state herself and she could get Lùth sickness if I hurt her.

  “Dritt! what do we do, what do we do!? Wardi shouted at us. Rhua tried to use a soothing salve of greater healing as the spikes disappeared with the boss beaten. Most of the wounds healed, but some still stayed open partially, the bleeding continued.

  “S-she needs someone with higher-ranking healer art or higher-ranking pp-potions of healing” Rhua’s words fumbled out

  “Too many lurk the road back to Et-Navn, the skybridge will be safe for us, we can probably find someone in Murk City.” I said.

  “She’s going to need all the healing she can between here and there, Horace, get synthing, use every resource you got, we can’t let her die said Wardi with tears starting to form in his eyes.

  ~~~

  Muurch 15th, 2018

  “You keep your hands off her, I’m not playing around here, same goes for you as well, dirty little scrot” a young boy says to a snivelling little cretin in front of him.

  “Fuck off Wardi, you don’t get to tell me any-hngg” A mighty punch into the boy’s stomach and he dropped to the floor like a bag of taters, he deserved it, his friend too; they’re always picking on the weak kids, Wardi absolutely hated bullies and refused to stand down when he saw them acting out.

  “It’s ok Wardi, don’t hurt him again, let them go.” a young girl in a flower dress said to him, shaking back and forth with a blanket in her hands. This was Rayen, his neighbourhood friend.

  “Tristan, come on, I don’t wanna get messed up, my mom will kill me if I look like Dritt for the photoshoot!” said the weedy little snotbag with an edgy skull t-shirt.

  “Ugh fine Corey,” coughed Tristan, he continued by saying “Don’t think is over Wardi, we’ll get you bigtime someday”

  Wardi kicked the kid, and he stumbled into his snotbag friend on the floor “Yeah bring an army next time!” He shouted at the little bullies, one day, something will bite ya he thought to himself.

  “Sorry Rayen” said Wardi to the little girl.

  “It’s ok” she sniffled in response still sobbing. “…I don’t like fighting, it scares me” she followed up with.

  “I know, I can’t stand bullies, or my friends being hurt!” He said standing up tall and posing like a fabled red caped comic book hero. The girl didn’t understand what he was doing and stared at him blankly.

  “Come on, let’s get you back home” she joined him at the side, still rocking a little but it was gradually slowing down.

  They approached the girls house; it was directly opposite from where Wardi lived, and being in a neighbourhood where everyone knows your name and face, just walked up to the door with her and let himself in.

  “Irena, Remo, anyone here?” Said Wardi loudly.

  “That you Wardi? A male voice responded.

  “Yeah, sniveller and snotbag were at it again, I sent em packing though!” Wardi proud of himself stated.

  “Tsk again those damn kids” A stomping came from upstairs, and a man rushed to the bottom.

  “Mi tesorito! Look at you, those nasty little boys, they never leave you alone! Imma give their parents a good telling off as well!” The girl had stopped rocking and looked her father in the eyes.

  “I’m going to my room now.” Turning she looked at Wardi, waving goodbye he smiled back at her waving as he did so.

  “Thank you, little man, you always look out for my little girl, you’ll grow up to be a true gentleman someday” said Remo to the neighbourhood shield.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “No problem, sir, you can count on me!” said a young Wardi saluting with three fingers to his forehead.

  Septem 3rd 2028

  An older Wardi is walking through the halls of St Marks High School, he’s taller, and packed on a couple of pounds of muscle, his hair became neater and darker as the years went by. It’s the final year before university, tensions are high, sleepless nights of revision ahead, emotions are fragile and over the top in this place. He sees Rayen and stops to say hello.

  “Hello Wardi” said Rayen staring at him blankly.

  “Hey Rayen, think you’ll be ready for the finals?” he replied to her.

  “Yes, I am ready, and I will expect many grade A results.

  “That’s ambitious Rayen, are you applying to Camford still, they will want straight three A grades at a minimum…you can do it though” said Wardi smiling at her. She smiled at him and nodded

  “The private tutor helped me lot’s; I will do it thanks to the guidance.”

  They hadn’t noticed that Tristan and Corey had approached with some bullies, and several girls that were more scared of them than being interested. “Dorki… Mongo” mind getting the fuck out the way, you’re lowering the hallway IQ."

  “Do you ever learn Tristan? You couldn’t take me alone, nor could you when you brought two mates and their older brothers along, Wardi said loudly in front of the others in the hallway, and loud enough for the girls hovering around him to hear and began laughing.

  “Say that to my face again Dorki go on” Wardi did not hesitate at all and headbutted Tristan, who was knocked out instantly, blood erupted out of his nose onto Wardi and then proceeded to rapidly kick apart Corey’s thigh who dropped to the floor trying to hide his tears and cries of pain.

  “Come on, who else wants to try me!” Wardi shouted beckon the rest of the gang, none came forward however, the girls rushed off to look for a member of staff screaming.

  “You promised…hnngg…. no fighting!” Rayen was shaking and gasping for air as she said this, and Wardi felt a wave of disappointment in himself for scaring Rayen once again.

  “Dritt, I’m sorry Rayen, come on let’s get out of here” She reached out to his hands, and they walked away to her classroom but it’s not over in these situations, it never is.

  Septem 10th 2028

  “Why the hell am I getting punished for this!? you know Tristan is a troublemaker, he’s always been a twat, and you let him get away with it Headmaster Davies!”

  “Mr Ilves, need I remind you that young Tristan Falk, is currently still unconscious from the dangerous attack you did on him, and Corey Willis is relying on crutches to get around with a heavily damaged leg” Replied the Mr Davies.

  “So, me and every other person is supposed to just let a girl with a hidden illness just get targeted daily and NONE OF YOU do anything about it, turn a blind eye so to speak?!” Wardi shouted, fuming, shaking with anger.

  “Look my hands are tied, you must be suspended Mr Ilves, or the parents would press charges” Wardi was blind with rage looking around for the nearest thing he could use and grabbed the phone on the headmaster’s desk, throwing it against the wall in protest then getting up in his face.

  “No, your hands are lined with cash, everyone knows Falk’s parents have been donating for years, there’s no way you’re able afford a car and house like you have in this place, fuck you, SIR.”

  Wardi grabbed a chair on the other side of the desk and threw it towards the window.

  “Call the police Maria, before I get hurt in here! Shouted the Mr Davies panicking, whilst Wardi continuing to trash the office to pieces, eventually being pulled off by police officers who arrived several minutes later to take him down to the station. The once decorated office completely trashed from a lone students valid protest.

  Juuni 6th 2034

  To Wardi Ilves

  Hey Wardi, thanks for always staying connected it, means a lot to us and Rayen especially of course. It would be great if you could stop by sometime after your done overseas, the neighbourhood just isn’t the same without its chief security guard, ha! Rayen says “Hey” by the way. As always, looking forward to hearing from you, my man!

  Your loving other dad

  Remo

  “Damn, that hit me hard, got a letter from my other family” Wardi said, sinking into the trench, gun pressed and held tight against his chest.

  “What’s up lieutenant sir?” said a private concerned for his superior.

  “Ah, just the little things you know, the mails been so slow lately from all that air combat. The logistics are all over the place!” Wardi replied laughing.

  “My mum was sending me care packages, I miss those Cranky Jay’s Flappers, the vinella flavour is the best! Here sir try one!” said the private, who pulled out the food bar and handed it to Wardi.

  “…Private, did you just break protocol and sneak food onto the battlefield!?” Wardi said to him pulling the young soldier in close, causing the soldier to panic. “S-sir, sorry I-”

  "Just kidding ha! Let me try that stuff, I normally don’t do sweet things” said Wardi ripping open the delightfully crumbly Havre grain bar and took a bite out of it…OO that’s good!” he said closing his eyes and enjoying the experience.

  Juuni 25th 2034

  “I’m sorry you had to go through hell over on the frontlines kid, even after the investigations cleared you of everything, your one of the finest soldiers that’s ever come up through these ranks” said the Colonel to Wardi.

  “I appreciate that sir!” Wardi responded.

  “Someone of your calibre is better suited to civilian life, the war was finally over, go on get out of here lieutenant!” the colonel continued saying.

  “It’s been an honour sir!” Wardi said whilst saluting the major who held his hand out. Offering to shake it.

  "See you around kid, you’ve served your time in hell.” Said the Colonel breaking protocol out of true respect.

  Juula 8th, 2034

  Wardi stepped out of the taxi, still wearing his army fatigues as is tradition for a soldier’s homecoming, he saw Remo’s car in the driveway and stopped by first, Remo greeted him “Hey kid…” Wardi worried at Remo’s unusual behaviour, Irena appeared behind him, red eyed from all the tears. “Hey Wardi, come in we’ll tell you what’s happened.”

  Wardi stood outside the Oak branch hospital, it’s the first time back since he was born, but he passed it occasionally if he was on the bus to town.

  he approached the hospital reception for where to go to see Rayen. Room-R02 patient name: Rayen Valesqa

  He took a deep breath, yet his hand still shook at the door handle, the sight of comrades falling in battle, the bullets that flew at him, they still couldn’t compare to the fear of what he could see next.

  A monitor beeped on the left side of the bed and only further added to his anxiety when looked at the woman in the bed. “H-hi Rayen” said Wardi trembling further struggling to look at her.

  Rayen sat up, and giggled at him, her once long and beautiful brown hair with orange tones was gone, replaced by small and barely clinging patches of hair at the back, her skin no longer rich and Sunkissed replaced by burns and scarred raw skin across what’s left of her face.

  “It is great to see you again Wardi Ilves” she said with a strained tone

  “You too Rayen Valesqa” Said Wardi trying to match her positive energy slightly, giggling nervously over surnames being used for the first time between them.

  “How are you doing” he asked her.

  She was hesitant to answer for a few seconds and eventually told him

  “The doctor said, I should have died already, the smoke has destroyed my lungs, it’s only because of the oxygen mask I’m still here she laughed. But I begged them, keep me alive, do whatever it takes it would not be fair for me to leave, without a goodbye for my hero” she said smiling.

  The composure he was desperately clinging to, shattered. Tears rained down his face, he erupted into sobs. “This can’t be happening Rayen, you don’t deserve this, I’m the one who hurt people, took life away from others this is wrong, its TWISTED!” He shouted with anger.

  Rayen ripped off the mask and forced herself out of the bed and staggered over to Wardi, barely reaching him, the hospital gown almost took her out along the way up to the last second and wrapping her arms around with all the energy she could muster. Wardi placed his arms around her tightly and Rayen was filled with excitement, happiness from finally getting to see her favourite person in the world.

  Rayen wiped away his tear with her hand and looked at him deep in his eyes. “I finally know what a hug is” she giggled and continued whilst gasping for air, “Wardi?” she said, and he looked at her in response and quivered a feeble “Y-y-yeah?” in response.

  “I could not go to prom night, will you do me the honour; be my homecoming king?” she says, finally being able to look him in the eye. Wardi blushed in response and fumbled his words, “O-of course my homecoming queen, I will do the work for you.”

  And so, they swayed, their movements dictated by the monitor tempo. As the it rose, Wardi cried harder, he knew it was a response to her body failing faster and he held Rayen tighter. The beeps were thunderous in his head only worsening and worsening. Rayen’s grip began loosening, this should not be happening to someone so sweet and innocent he thought to himself. Fighting back the tears, holding her tighter and tighter he leaned down, her head and his adjacent, in her final moment, struggling for the last breath, the words tore through Wardi as she turned her head, and whispered into his ear-

  My protector and champion

  Sir Ilves the bravest

  Adieu