They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"Hey!" Magnus grabs me at the collar before I plunge myself in the Fire hogs hole. I stagger. I blink my thoughts away and look at the horizon set before me.

The sun is creeping in the sky. The clouds had gathered around to greet it's arrival. The sound of sirens and surprise squeal of morning joggers cut through the forest. They must have seen the trees burn down to ashes.

I gulp. I stare at Magnus, horrified. "Seven," I whispered. That's all it took for his face to be as horrified as me before started to bolt across the yard.

The holes, when the sun hits them have mysteriously shrink back. I ask Magnus why. He said the traps they set up are only good at night. Once morning comes and the sun peek in the sky, it will start to recede back to the ground and disappear.

And even if it didn't, it will never harm any locals. Saying it only reacts to individuals who has blessings like us. I breath in relief. At least, one problem solve. One more to go.

Seven.

I ran after Magnus. Keeping up his speed. He stumbled in the clearing. He skidded in the dirt and arrive seconds early than what's normal for his speed.

If he's actually 'normal'. On the other side of the road, I saw Sam. Ragged looking and had patches and cuts all over his clothes and skin. And then Jesper. Strapped in his back, is Seven.

Unconcious. My heart pump loudly against my ribs. I sprint and skid like the rough slope is a racing marathon. My mind went blank.

The deity girl said, don't let Seven die. I'm nervous. My palm is sweating. My feet is aching. I arrive a second before Magnus. My hands immediately flew on Seven's face. Feeling her pulse.

She's alive. But barely.

Jesper's back is now wet with Seven's blood. Sam is giving all the support that he can to not let any more blood spill lose on the ground.

"Jesper, can't you heal her like you did to Magnus?" I asks.

"I - I can't. It's strange man, none of my powers work -"

My vision turn red and I grab his collar, yanking him towards me.

"Then make it work!" He huffed.

" Seriously man, I did all that I can. I even rebackward the time of her body one day ago. Like what I did to you and Sammy here a few hours ago to bring back your powers. But nothing work. Their wounds are not closing up."

"Then what the hell will work?! She's dying for Pete's sake! We can't just -"

"Calm down Lance." Magnus tried to break me away from Jesper.

"There's nothing Jesper can do - nor any of us. Our powers weren't insufficient enough to heal the wounds made by demons."

"Then what will?!" I slap his hand away from my shoulder. He sigh. Look around.

"That's what I don't know." He said through gritted teeth. His fist is tightly clench to his side. The force exerted is too much the skin around his hand started to reddened.

"We need to bring her and Sam to someplace where they could rest. Find treatment. You said you talk with the deity right? What does she want?"

Because of my anger. Towards myself who wasn't able to do anything. Towards the demon who did this to Seven. Towards the dead Twylyth who made my life - our lives miserable... The conversation I exchange with the deity of time flow out.

Non stop. I told them about the Twylyth's trap. The favor for a favor exchange. The request to kill a man called Mr. Jones.

When I realize what I just did, I look up. I frantically search our surroundings. Anything. That could give me a sign that the deity of time is back to transform me into ashes.

"Then we'll go." Magnus said. "Let's strap Seven's wounds for now. It's dangerous to keep her cuts expose like that. It might get infected."

"Why are we going there? It's dangerous. Especially for Seven -"

"No it's not." Magnus cut me off. He notice Sam is limping, he took one of his hand and strap it around his shoulders. We march back to Madel's inn.

We cross the road, carefully, making us less suspicious to the growing number of people who came out to see the smoking forest.

"If there's anyone who knows how to heal her wounds then it's the Dark Elves. My best guess is we'll end up fighting their right hand, the djinns. Before we get to face him off again."

"Djinns like magic genie?" I scowled at Jesper. This conversation is a bad timing to crack jokes right now. He averted his eyes and murmur sorry.

"How strong are they?" I asks.

" They're overall ability ranks Class 2. And that's more than Rank Ruler and Rank Elders blessings combine. But I'm sure you guys we're no match to these djinns." Magnus said miserably.

"Are djinns faeries?" Jesper asks, he clamp his mouth shut.

"Yes," Magnus patiently answered. "There are twelve races of them. Rank by how their mana is more powerful than the rest. It's categorize by class. Class 1, the Dark Elves. They're the kings and rulers of the Faery Kingdom. Class 2, the djinns. And they're mana weren't that different. They could alter almost anything. Take control of our surroundings, both living and non living things without our knowledge. Djinns could manipulate the reality and make it the version they want you to see."

Sam, while limping and leaning against Magnus's frame whimpered. It was a bit low but I couldn't mistake the fear he's trying to swallow but failed.

I gaze at Seven's weak frame, at Sam's wounded legs. Our group is less. We're less in numbers, experience, powers. We're less in everything.

And one of the two best shot we have against the crazy strong faeries is wounded. I grit my teeth. This is all my fault. If only I didn't forgot about her. If only I came back and help her fight...

I just told her "Don't die on me." Now look what happened. She's slowly dying and nothing in me as a person or as an Eklektos can help her.

Damn it!