The weighty thud of footsteps followed by heavy, labored breathing filled Shade’s ears as he surged towards the forest exit, flas licking at his heels. He vaulted over a fallen tree trunk and finally burst free.
"It appears that the demon has co back to ruin our celebration."
Shade Cromwell rolled his eyes. So villagers stood before him, clutching what looked like crude weapons, clearly planning an ambush. They didn’t wait for him to respond, charging with their grotesque weapons, intent on killing him on the spot.
The villagers scread and swung their weapons, but Shade dodged easily. As they continued to rush him, the young man suddenly crouched and groaned in pain. A triumphant roar rose from the villagers.
The mole beside his left eye began to burn, a pulsating agony to the point that he could no longer keep both eyes open. He squeezed his eyes shut, a futile attempt to block the pain, stumbling as a blade whistled past his ear.
The miasma leaking out from the villagers didn’t just stain the air, it seeped into him, and with each breath, his vision flared, his eyes shifted from black to searing red.
Shade scread, clutching his head, desperately trying to cling to his sanity. The throbbing refused to stop; his eyes felt like they were burning from the inside. Nothing could hold him back as he unleashed his flas, starting with the villagers.
They shrieked in agony as the red flas swallowed them into madness. Blood wept from their eyes, and they cursed the young man, calling him the demon he truly was.
Flas enveloped Shade, but he felt no heat. All he could feel was the relentless throbbing behind his mole. The young man stumbled into the village’s plaza. Screams of terror filled the air as the other villagers feared the mighty god of death had finally co to drag them all to hell for their sins.
"Forgive us, oh lord."
So villagers dropped to their knees, pleading and trying to avert Shade’s wrath as he marched towards the underground prison, leaving smoldering remnants of his flas behind. As he entered, a dense wave of miasma washed over him, forcing him to his knees, almost making him lose composure as he gasped for air.
The air was suffocating, threatening to steal his sanity entirely. Shade didn’t want to be there. He shouldn’t be there.
Shade groaned, biting down hard on his right arm. The sharp pain anchored him, preventing him from completely losing himself. He dragged his feet, sauntering down the stairs deeper underground. It felt as if he had co to et his doom.
"You—why have you co back!? You’re bringing more trouble than helping, you know that don’t you? Leave this instant!"
Scarlett scowled at the young man, her reaction worsening as she saw him teetering on the edge of his other form, about to lose control. It hadn’t even been a day since Scarlett left Eirin inside the chamber, and Shade Cromwell’s presence would only worsen the situation.
"Where is she?"
Shade’s stiff tone, coupled with his eyes flickering between black and red, caused the woman anguish. She watched her forr pupil slowly losing his sanity, clutching his arm, desperate to hold his breath.
"Seeing how you haven’t changed terrifies ," Scarlett said, finally giving up and pointing to the huge gate near them.
Shade dragged his feet, now clutching his stomach. Scarlett Jenkins stared at the young man, her hands balled into fists. She watched him kick the gate down, allowing the contained miasma to leak out.
Scarlett rushed to lock everything, her desperate attempt to seal the miasma inside. However, all her efforts were about to beco futile as she heard the stomping of the approaching villagers.
"You are aware this isn’t the correct way to do this. Many lives will be lost if this continues."
Sweat covered Scarlett’s temples, and her pale white hands began to turn black as the miasma seeped into her skin. She imdiately masked herself with healing magic to avoid the worst—death itself.
"It’s not fine for those trash to die, but it’s fine to let her die?"
Shade’s eyes glowed crimson with anger as he rushed into the chamber swarming with miasma. He used his enhanced vision to see clearly inside. The sound of coughing made the young man snap his head to his left.
There, he saw Eirin sitting near the gate he had just kicked open.
His eyes widened as he almost tripped rushing towards the teenage girl whose blood continued to pour out of her mouth. Despite the dangers, Shade supported Eirin in his arms as he repeatedly called her na.
Eirin struggled to keep her eyes open, and even when she managed, her sight was blurry. However, seeing a glint of those crimson red eyes made Eirin smile unconsciously.
"What’s with your face?" Her tone was hoarse, and she couldn’t even manage a laugh, causing Shade’s temper to flare.
Several thoughts raced through Shade’s mind as he picked Eirin up. Despite the ongoing turmoil within himself, he rushed towards the chamber exit with Eirin in his arms.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Scarlett yelled.
Shade ignored his forr master and continued making his way towards the door leading to the stairs. He glared at Scarlett, forcing her to open the barriers.
"How could I let this misery affect other people and put them in—"
Scarlett froze, feeling the imnse pressure just from Shade’s stare. She couldn’t break eye contact with the young man, fearing that the mont she looked away, she would be swallowed whole.
"I—cannot do that."
Scarlett couldn’t fathom that her forr student would force her to do sothing against her will. Even though she was adamant, it didn’t matter to the young man.
Shade rolled his eyes before kicking the barrier, creating a crack with little effort.
"Shade Cromwell, stop it!"
Despite Scarlett’s attempt to stop him, Shade continued kicking the barrier down until it finally broke, releasing all the miasma from underground.
"You must know you are committing a grave cri with your actions!"
The young man stood in front of the door, his back facing his ntor.
"You were planning to murder soone innocent," he said.
Shade walked away with the villagers cheering in the background, inhaling all the miasma they could take. anwhile, the prisoners shrieked in fear as the miasma suffocated them.
Eirin coughed another blood clot, creating a ss on Shade’s clothes. "S-Sorry."
The teenage girl chuckled and coughed as her trembling hand tried to wipe the blood off Shade’s white shirt. However, doing so only made it worse as the blood sared across every part of the young man’s shirt.
"H-Hehe, I—didn’t an to."
Even though she had lost too much blood, Eirin felt oddly at peace, energized even. It was as if she was walking on cloud nine, the warmth from Shade’s body made her exquisitely comfortable.
"Am I dead? You’re not calling stupid like you usually do."
Her voice cracked, despite that, Eirin continued smiling and talking to Shade while the young man ignored her. His vines were showing near his neck as he struggled to control his twisted desire.
"They’re right."
Shade stole a glance at the teenage girl after she chuckled while staring at his neck.
"You do look handso when you’re not saying anything."
The young man froze, feeling sothing surging through his body. As if electrified, he couldn’t move an inch from where he stood. All the villagers rushed towards the underground prison as if possessed, streaming past the two of them, causing Eirin to follow them with her eyes.
Shade took deep breaths before taking another step forward. His steps grew heavier, and so did his breathing. More stairs greeted them, and the weight on Shade’s legs made him stagger. The longer he stayed in that place, the closer he is to his breaking point.
Eirin held onto Shade’s shoulder as she stared at the young man, her head still fuzzy. "I need to stay there and help the people," she tapped Shade’s shoulder.
"I need to help them."
Shade continued walking up the stairs until he reached the village chief’s house. Despite Eirin’s subtle attempts, Shade’s continuous strides made Eirin chuckle, she was out of her usual self. She soon lost consciousness, her arm dangling.
"You... help your...self."
The young man even struggled to talk as he thought ’almost there’ while dragging his feet. The mont he felt the wind outside, the moonlight shone so bright he could no longer withstand it.
Shade fell to his knees and gently dropped Eirin to the ground. He clutched his head, grunting.
’I cannot let her see this... I cannot let her see .’
The young man took a last glance at Eirin lying unconscious on the ground. Blood stained her mouth, dripped down her neck, and even reached her white shirt. Unaware of her surroundings, peacefully laying on the ground.
Shade’s hands instinctively reached for her, but he grabbed himself, stopping whatever he was trying to do.
"No!" He scread. "I controlled it... I can still... do... it."
Shade grunted, picked himself up, and ran towards the woods.
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