THE FALLEN ONE (TFO)

Lucius continued, his voice quieter now, like confessing to the wind. He spoke about how he obtained Rare Death, the crimson blade, and how it was Sia, not chance, who had handed it over. A subtle manipulation on his part, masked by Sia's own affection and instincts. Mercy listened without interruption, though a faint smirk tugged at the edge of his mouth.

Still, when Sonic's name surfaced, that smirk vanished.

"I figured it was Sonic," Mercy muttered, almost to himself. "Your armour, your weapons... I knew they needed repairs. I suspected him from the start. But even then, I never imagined he'd venture this deep into the forests." His tone shifted, tinged with both irritation and curiosity. "Any idea why he was here?"

Lucius shrugged, the movement slight, almost weary. "Protocol only applies to SS-ranked beasts, doesn't it?" he reminded, eyes glinting with restrained bitterness. "This one was S*-rank at best. Sonic's hands are clean, legally speaking. No repercussions. And no, I didn't ask. I was... busy with something else."

Mercy's gaze darkened.

"Busy?" he echoed, voice dropping low. "With what or who? Maybe next time, instead of wasting your time flirting with his sister—whatever her name is—you could focus on more relevant questions?"

Lucius bit back a laugh, lowering his gaze. He hadn't flirted with Sonia—at least not intentionally. But he hadn't exactly stopped her either.

They walked in silence for a while, the occasional murmur of night creatures their only company. As the minutes stretched into half an hour, their conversation shifted to plans for the next six months.

Lucius was honest. He would receive the core of the Valgura, his weapons and armour reforged with its remains. And he would ensure Mercy's gear was upgraded too—a small token of gratitude.

Mercy didn't argue. He had never asked for rewards. Experience was its own currency. But at Lucius's persistent insistence, he finally relented.

"Fine," Mercy grumbled, half-smiling. "But Sonic's going to love me for it."

Lucius grinned.

They neared the cliffs, the path narrowing, shadows stretching long and thin under the moon's gaze. The scent of old stone and cold wind filled the air. The abandoned forest loomed ahead, empty of life, as if the world itself dared not breathe in that cursed region.

"You do have a plan to sneak into the city, right? Or am I supposed to carry your sorry ass over the walls too?" Mercy asked, a sarcastic glint in his voice.

Lucius chuckled under his breath. "I have my ways. This isn't my first time slipping past the Lunar Walls."

Mercy's death glare—sharp enough to slice steel—was immediate.

Lucius pretended not to notice, savouring the rare moment where he could annoy the unshakeable knight.

They would part ways soon, Lucius explained. Once they crossed the cliffs, he'd be on his own, heading toward the abandoned forests that fringed the city. Mercy nodded, silently agreeing. Lucius was injured—he wouldn't survive a real encounter—but the abandoned forests were truly empty. Even so, Mercy would watch from a distance, just to be sure.

"Fire a mana pulse if anything happens," Mercy ordered.

"Got it," Lucius replied with a casual salute.

The cliffs thinned until only the open wilderness sprawled before them. The city was still distant, just a vague silhouette against the starlit horizon. Before they parted, Mercy, almost hesitantly, asked,

"What are your future plans?"

Lucius turned to him, slowing. The wind caught his hair, his cloak fluttering behind him like a dying flame.

He had known his answer for years. But still, he gave it one final thought—because when you spoke your dream out loud, it became something sacred.

Lucius closed his eyes briefly, breathing in the cold night air, grounding himself.

Then he spoke, voice low, steady, yet burning with something fierce.

"Honestly? Being an adventurer... It's just a hobby. Like all hobbies, it might change someday."

He looked up, catching Mercy's unwavering stare.

"My real goal? My only goal... is to stay with my family."

The words hung between them, heavy, real.

"To live in the city I've grown up in. To spend time with the people who made me who I am. To create memories that no war, no beast, no tragedy can erase."

He paused, letting the next words settle deep into the earth itself.

"And to protect them."

His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into skin.

"If protecting them means standing against this city's enemies, then so be it. If it means fighting beasts, fighting corruption... I'll do it without hesitation."

The moon bathed him in silver, a lone figure burning with silent promise.

"For as long as I'm breathing, I'll protect these people and this city."

His voice dropped, softer now, a whisper the stars themselves might carry.

"And if I fall... then I'll die before them. Beneath the same walls that sheltered me. Under the divine gaze of Luna herself."

Mercy said nothing. But a flicker of something crossed his face—pride, sorrow, maybe something deeper he wouldn't name.

The two stood there, side by side, in a world that would soon turn against them.

But for now, in this small moment carved from the chaos of life, they understood each other perfectly.

Warriors. Brothers.

Oath-bound beneath the silent, eternal sky.

***

Once they reached their separation point, Mercy and Lucius exchanged a brief farewell. The corpse of the Valgura remained sealed within Mercy's storage ring—a precaution in case Lucius encountered trouble.

Lucius turned toward the dense forest path, heading for his usual spot—his secret way into Varis. Mercy, meanwhile, made for the city gates, ready to spin the tale of a fabricated investigation deep into the Rims to explain his absence.

Despite the bruises hidden under his coat and the fatigue anchoring his limbs, Lucius moved quickly. He scaled the walls and slipped into the inward forests that stretched between Varis and the Lunar Walls. 

Even wounded, his stealth was impeccable. Before long, he crossed into the city's outskirts without alerting a single soul.

He weighed his choices. The original plan was to meet up with Sonic... but since the corpse wasn't in his possession, there was no point.

Instead, he veered home. A few hours of rest, bandages, and the quiet comfort of familiar faces sounded far more necessary.

Besides, he missed his mentor more than he cared to admit.

Activating Absolute Zero, Lucius ghosted into the house. Inside, the living room was peaceful: Sara rested curled up on the L-shaped couch, her silver hair a loose halo around her. Lavya was slumped awkwardly over a stiff-backed chair nearby, the picture of stubborn loyalty even in sleep.

Lucius lingered, watching them, exhaustion slowing his thoughts.

Just how can you love someone so much... knowing she'll never be yours? He mused, gazing at Lavya.

I guess we're the same that way, he admitted to himself as he crept silently toward his room.

He didn't disturb Sia. She was still asleep, and that alone settled a deep tension inside him.

Wasn't today supposed to be the day Adrianna's visit was scheduled? The thought floated across his mind, but he let it go. Sleep came first.

Tasks could wait.

Lucius patched himself up as best he could, wrapping bandages over most of his injuries until his body looked more like a mummy than a boy.

Maybe Mercy will show up with his favourite healer this afternoon, he thought, smirking to himself as he finally let the exhaustion drag him under.

He suspected who Mercy would bring. And he didn't like it.

Adrianna reminded him too much of Ninia—the former head of the orphanage. Too much warmth. Too many secrets.

As if summoned by thought alone, Lucius woke hours later to the sound of a polite knock. When he opened the door, it was exactly as he predicted: Mercy stood there, relaxed in his black-and-blue uniform, freshly shaven for once. And beside him, tall and regal as ever, stood Adrianna.

The retired healer—now head of Varis's main hospital—wore a flowing white dress and medium heels that made her almost Lucius's height, though still a little shorter than Mercy. Her dark skin gleamed under the sun, her face marred by a burned scar trailing from her forehead down across one sharp cheek. One sleeve was pinned up neatly over the empty space where her left arm had once been.

Yet none of it dulled the sharpness in her gaze. Those jet-black eyes pinned Lucius the moment the door swung open, noting immediately how he favoured his right arm.

Lucius gave Mercy a small smile, genuine for a rare moment, then turned to Adrianna, expression flattening into something colder.

Mercy shot him a look that screamed, Be respectful.

Lucius sighed internally but dipped his head slightly in greeting.

He owed Mercy too much to pick a fight today.

Sara and Lavya were gone by now, having left breakfast on the counter before quietly slipping away, honouring Sia's wishes even when she insisted they not trouble themselves.

Adrianna entered first, Mercy gesturing with exaggerated chivalry.

"My lady, you before me," he said with a grin.

As soon as the door closed, Mercy subtly handed over the swapped storage ring—quietly passing ownership of the Valgura's remains back to Lucius, as agreed.

Lucius tucked it away without a word.

The three of them settled into the living room. Lucius wasted no time: he fetched Sia from her room, carrying her princess-style despite her half-hearted protests. Mercy and Adrianna both looked away politely—Sia, face burning, muttered curses under her breath the entire way.

Adrianna shot Lucius a sharp look—half warning, half death threat.

He ignored it entirely.

Once everyone was seated, Lucius leaned back, folding his arms behind his head with a smirk.

"Now then," he said lazily, his voice dripping sarcasm. "Let's talk about my mentor's health... and your spectacular failure, Adrianna."

The temperature in the room seemed to dip a few degrees, but Lucius only smiled wider, utterly unfazed.