They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

I closed my eyes and call out Sam's name in my head. Hoping he can hear me. I know it's impossible. I know it's ridiculous. But what choice do I have? What am I supposed to do? I don't have my blessing.

It was removed from me. I have no magical shadows crawling in my veins. Pente wants me to learn a lesson. And I don't have any idea what. I hate cryptic messages. I'm stupid. I'm not smart enough to decipher what he wants to say. 

I only know he was too damn hard to understand. He said I should treasure life. Isn't that what I've been doing? I was reluctant to let Magnus kill Dad. Look where it got us. I was a fool for falling into a woman's charm, how does that play for me now? 

So many questions unanswered. So many puzzle pieces still unplaced in its proper position. I want to scream at the Death god to save Sam. I don't have the power to bring the dead back to life.

No. I shake off the thought. Sam isn't dead. Not yet. Magnus wasn't giving up either. He continued pumping. His forehead trickling down with sweat. I gaped at him. Guilt slice right through my soul. 

This is my fault. 

I was stupid. Why didn't I remember what the skully warriors said about Blood hogs right away? Why did I let incompetence in me take over? Why did I listen to the knife's words? I should have gotten used to it. 

Those were the exact words I kept telling myself for seventy days. Nonstop…So why falter now? Look what it bring to us… Sam was killed. And it was my fault. 

My eyes flutter open for a moment. Alpha Beast, in his parrot form kick Magnus in his cheek. Scraping his skin.

"He's already dead! How long are you gonna do that stupid pumping? You want to break his ribcage too?! Isn't his death enough?! We failed Magnus, we failed!" 

Magnus noticeably flinched. His eyes looked fragile. His expression giving away his vulnerability. I know that face. He's blaming himself. Sam's death affects him more than me.

Our safety is his promise to the deities that gave him the bracelet. His oath to his fellow Rankers and Rank Elders he left in magical realm. Knowing that one died… how painful was it for him. 

I stretch my hand to touch his shoulders. But stopped. His shoulder blades tighten. He's trying to get a hold of himself. I can't bring myself to tear whatever thin walls of bravery he manage to scavenge in his soul.

"One more time." He murmured. "Isn't this bracelet –" he tugged on the gold with thirteen gems decorating its side "A protective charm? Even if he's marked and cursed by Blood Hog. I found him. So he won't die. No. I won't let it." His words sounds like it meant to assure himself, not talk us out. 

Beside me, Seven collapsed on her feet. Magnus was the first to come to her aid. He shook her shoulders. She's dangerously pale. As if the strength is seeping out of her limbs. Her crimson eyes are dilated. 

"My Master is exhausted." Alpha Beast said, the air shimmered around him and he stepped in front. His body turned to Seven. He made an arc with his wrists and the branches outside responded, it creak and killed more Childe trying to walk through Seven's wood barricade.

Seven completely lost consciousness in Magnus arms. I gritted my teeth. I make a grab for Sam's hand. I shouldn't be negative. I must hope against all odds that he's not dead. No. Not yet.

We still have a lot of things to talk about. I wasn't able to hear most part of his life story. I want to listen more. Laugh more. The moment he materialized I began to imagine all of us traveling from city to city. 

I may not know which part of the world we are now, yet I want to explore this place with him. I realized we can't live like normal people anymore. Enemies are swarming all around us. Trying to grit our throat and snatch our blessings. 

The Dark Elf is still out there. He sensed what I intended to do back then. That's why he ditch Magnus and vanish without a trace. 

Sam…. I called in my head. We still need to fight the Dark Elves and other Faeries. You still need to avenge your pops. You have a duty to slice the Blood hog her neck. Kick her head and make it a ball for soccer. Or volleyball. 

Sam….

All of a sudden, a chill began to rise from my body, spreading towards Sam. I closed his eyes with my palm. And I close my eyes too. I don't know what I'm doing. I just know I need to find him.

Everything around me, screams of Childe impaled, branches shook off until it gave away, Magnus and Alpha Beast rising voices. All of it completely vanished. No sound, no light, I was drifting in a very dark place. My feet scuffled along against the dead grass on my feet. A few meter from me is the lake giving eerie aura. 

One that screams one touch and something sinister will rise up from the bottom and swallow me whole. I called out Sam's name. The lake surface bubbled and a shadow – taller than I am, rise like I wake it from its slumber.

This is not Sam. The shadow has a human figure, and instead of eyes I see hollowed grey marsh lights burning. I scrunched my nose from the smell it's giving off. If those monsters we face smelled like dumpsters and dog's breath, this guy carried all the decayed stench of dead animals in its body. 

It slithered towards me. I took a step back, alarmed. I don't have anything in me. No weapons, no blessings – how am I gonna fight this guy?

But then..something weird happen. The shadow… as if it's greeting its old master into coming back home, it bowed its head lower and said,

"It's been a long time – Lancelot."