It hurts, my body hurts like hell. Maybe the pain I didn't felt when I died back then is coming back, now.
It hurts, as if my heart is going to explode out.
Why now? Why does it have to come back right now when I'm already set on? When I've already decided? Why is it giving me hesitation now, all of a sudden? Why?!
"Ed!" Russell called me. "Ah? S-Sorry were you all saying something?" I asked.
He sighed. "We were worried you looked pale. Why don't you get a rest, if you're not feeling well?" Russell said, with a worried face.
Ah…
"There's no need to, don't worry I am fine" I smiled.
So, please don't look at me like that. I don't deserve it… your worries and kindness, I don't deserve it all.
"Are you sure?" Russell asked. "Yeah" I smiled to him.
Just go please, don't worry about me. Look away from me, go away from me, please. I beg of you, please!
"Russell-kun, it will be your turn next" Niahl stated. "Ah yes sir…!" Russell nodded, as the others went ahead to the audience seats
Reina patted Anna's head. "Good Job Anna…" she said, as they went to the seats. "Thank you, Reina-chan…" Anna smiled.
I looked down, as I grasped my chest. Damn it..!
"Let's first start with your Element, Russell-kun" said Niahl.
Russell took the arrow of the bag. "My Element allows me to multiply things I can and have touched" he stated.
"When multiplying a person, I can only multiply their body, not their soul" continued Russell.
Niahl hummed. "That means you can only multiply things that have a physical appearance that can be seen and be touched" he said.
"The truth is if I am locked inside a place where the air won't have any place to go, I can multiply the air" Russell smiled.
Niahl's eyes widened. "That's interesting! Hurry up, let's start and show me!"
Russell took a deep breath, as he aimed the tip of his arrow to Niahl. "Multiply!" he whispered as he unleashed an arrow.
Niahl stopped the arrow, by catching it with bare hand. But, thousands of arrows came flowing towards him, though, he managed to dodge them all.
"I see so you really can multiply them afterwards, once you've touched them" Niahl wiped his sweat off.
Russell smiled, "If it took an hour or a few more minutes, I won't be able to multiply it anymore, though"
Niahl smirked and Russell repeated it again. This time, as well, Niahl managed to dodge all of them and catch some.
It hurts, my heart hurts. I can't hear anything.
"This can be a good training for one's reflexes, wouldn't it?" Niahl smirked. "I do think so too, but can someone catch them like how you can?" asked Russell.
Niahl tilted his head to the side, "Dunno"
Even if I opened my eyes I can't see anything. Only a dark, dark place…
Niahl managed to catch all of the arrows that came for him, in the third wave. "Mister Niahl, you are having fun, aren't you?" asked Russell, with a slight chuckle.
"You noticed?" smiled Niahl, as the third wave ended and he slowly stood up straight, whilst wiping his sweat down.
I can't smell anything.
The fourth wave came, followed quickly by the fifth wave. "Come on! That's too much to catch, even for me!" complained Niahl.
"It's not like I told you to catch them, didn't I?" mumbled Russell, as he followed with another wave.
"I can't feel anything" I mumbled, as Gino noticed and looked at me. "E—" Gino was about to call me, when Reina tapped his shoulder and stopped him.
Russell released the seventh, eight, and ninth wave at the same. And as usual, Niahl managed to catch them. Although, a few managed to bruised him.
Russell chanted, "One by one, repeating again and again. A blade is equal to a thousand blades, here I prove…" as he aimed the tip of his arrow to Niahl, once again.
"Moltiplicare…" Russell whispered, as he unleashed the arrow.
Only a one arrow appeared, and it was the arrow Russell just unleashed. Since, it was only one, Niahl nonchalantly dodge it.
And that is his mistake. From where the arrow just appeared, thousands of arrows appeared. Niahl didn't have time to slash it all resulting his loss.
A later effect…Russell did what he was doing since earlier, just on a different way. He unleashed the arrow, and multiplied it on the way.
Which is what Niahl didn't expect, because of the repeating procedure Russell continued, since earlier.
"Good one…" Niahl praised Russell. "Thanks sir…" Russell said. "Last is Ed-kun…!" Niahl stated, as he looked at me.
"Ed" Reina called me. I looked at her, with a blank face. "Ed-kun…?" Anna mumbled. "What's wrong Ed?" Gino shook me.
I gasped. "Sorry, what up?" I mumbled. "It is your turn" Forth stated, as he tiled his glasses. "Is that so? Thanks for telling me" I stated, as I stood up.
"Hey, are you fine? You look pale…" Reina said. "Are you worried about me? That's very unlike you" I stated.
"Yes I am worried of you..."Reina looked at me with serious eyes. I frowned. "That's where you're supposed to lie" I mumbled.
Reina asked, "What did you say?"
I turned to look at her, as I quickly changed my frown to a smile."Don't worry, I'm just fine" I stated, as I turned away from them.
My ears are ringing.
"Ed-ku-!" Anna was interrupted by Reina. Anna looked at her, and she shook her head. "Don't" Reina stated.
"Then, I'll be going…I would be a laughing stock if I were to lost, when all of you won against him" I stated, without turning to them.
"Ed!" Kirt called out to me. "What?" I asked him, whilst trying to use the softest voice I can, so that they won't worry about me more than now.
"If things were to go bad, I'll stop you. So, don't worry and go do what you need to" Kirt stated, as he looked at me with an unusual stern face.
"What are you talking about?" I asked him, as I snorted. "You know what I am talking about. I don't have to phrase it, right?" Kirt stated, as he smiled.
"Fine… If that time were to come, I'll leave it to you" I mumbled, as I waved to him.
Suddenly, rain fell down. "Next to the snow, now it is the rain…" I mumbled. "Ed-kun are you sure you're fine?" Niahl asked me.
"Yeah, it's just lack of sleep. You don't have to worry" I stated. "Are you sure? If you want we can postpone this battle, and have you get a sleep in your room…" Niahl stated.
"It's fine…" I mumbled. "If its sleep I need, I can just take one after this battle" I stated.
I scoffed. "Don't you just want to rest, Niahl? That's why you're giving me options like postponing" I stated.
Niahl coughed, "I don't" I giggled. "No, I'm telling the truth. Tell me if anything's wrong" He stated, with a stern face.
I nodded, as I looked down.
Like I've said, you guys don't have to worry about me. This despair and sadness inside me, they'll just disappear later on.
So I am really fine…
Niahl looked at me, before looking at the others. As if he was saying "What do you think should I do to him?"
Of course, they gave him a doubting expression and an urge to prevent the fight. But, Niahl averted their eyes, and looked at me again.
"Fine, if that's what you want…Come and get me!" Niahl stated, as he readied himself.