A year before.
Elian managed to arrive in time to save the demon boys from Layian's village. They had fled from the Legion's attack. Their homes were reduced to ashes and smoke.
One of the Legion soldiers tried to shoot an arrow at one of the boys, but Elian, enveloped in purple lightning, managed to deflect the projectile.
The children were stunned. Who was that person in purple armor?
"He's a marked one!" A demon girl yelled.
'A marked one?' Elian wondered. 'Yes, I suppose I am.'
"What's up with that mask?" A demon girl asked.
'The mask? It is a long story.'
More soldiers arrived, the archer's reinforcements. Elian was not afraid, he was powerful and fast enough to fight against ten men of the Legion.
Some came with swords and shields; others with bows and arrows.
The children looked at Elian as if asking him 'what are you going to do now?'
"Surrender!" A soldier exclaimed, pointing his bow at one of the boys.
It all happened in a second. A purple lightning moved among the soldiers and their bodies immediately fell. Whatever happened, it hit them in the blink of an eye and its strength was enough to defeat them.
Behind the inert bodies, was Elian, with his arm outstretched and surrounded by purple electricity.
The children had been saved.
"Help us get back to the village!" A boy exclaimed, taking a step forward. "Please. Our parents were caught up in the Legion's attack." He seemed to be older than the other children. Maybe fifteen years old. He had a rough look. "With your power, I'm sure we can save them."
Elian was silent, turning his back on that demon boy.
"Please," the boy insisted. "We can still save them. We have to hurry before it's too late!"
Elian turned around and found himself face to face with the boy.
"I'm sorry," he said, "but it's already too late."
"No, no…," the demon boy shook his head.
"I'm sorry... but we have to move on."
The boy fell to his knees and tears streamed down his face.
"Father, mother…"
"From now on, I will protect you," Elian stated.
"Protect us?" The boy asked, wiping away his tears. "Can you take on an entire army of humans?"
"I will be your one-man army."
The boy looked at Elian skeptically.
"What's under that mask?"
"That's not important…"
"If you want us to trust you," the boy stood up, "let us see your face."
Murmurs were heard among the children. Words like 'Yes, show us your face.'
Elian grunted, but put his hands to his mask. He hesitated a few seconds; however, he reluctantly removed the mask.
He revealed his pale face, his gray eyes, his thin nose and his graceful features. He had an androgynous look. Was he a boy? A girl? It was hard to tell.
"You're human…," the demon boy muttered.
"Only in the outside," Elian replied. "I have nothing in common with those beings."
More murmurs were heard.
"What's your name?" the boy asked.
"Elian."
"Just Elian?"
"Juts Elijah."
"Where are you from?"
"Doesn't matter. And what's your name?"
The demon boy extended his hand as to give a handshake.
"I am Katan. Nice to meet you."
When Elian shook hands with that boy, he felt a current throughout his body. That was when the relationship was born. The one that would change his life forever
***
In the present…
"Katan…," Elian groaned. "Katan… Katan…"
The boy felt something cold and scratchy under him. Was it grass? He tried to get to his feet, but was stopped by a searing pain in his stomach.
"Please don't strain yourself," a voice told him.
Nahuel? Yes. That was Nahuel's voice. There was no doubt.
A blinding light hurt his eyes. Was it day already? How long was he unconscious?
"Katan…," Elian whispered.
"Please, Elian, don't move. You are healing, but you still need to rest a bit more."
"What happened? What happened to Katan?
Silence.
"What happened to Katan?" He insisted.
No one answered his question.
Then Elian remembered. He remembered the fire, remembered the blood, the smell of burning flesh. He remembered Katan's lifeless eyes. He remembered Jaex.
Katan was gone. The person he loved most in the world was gone. And he hadn't been there to protect him. Elian made a promise and broke it. And people, children, had died.
'It's my fault…'
No, it wasn't his fault. It was Jaex's fault and the whole damned Legion.
'Jaex…'
He felt the rage return.
"JAEX! DAMNED HUMAN!" Elian jumped up and tried to run, going nowhere in particular. He just ran and ran, until his legs gave out and he fell facedown.
His body was very weak. His knees were shaking and he felt a deep pain in his stomach.
"Elian, no!" Nahuel ran to pick him up. "You have to understand that you were stabbed! It's a miracle you're still alive!"
"Do you want to die?" asked a small, furry creature with ears like a rabbit. "The blue-haired girl did her best to heal you with her magic, and I did my best with the medicinal herbs I know. But none of that will matter if you behave like an idiot, human child."
Elian wanted to reply something, but everything went dark.
"The wound opened!" He heard the furry creature scream.
"Elian, please don't die!" Nahuel exclaimed. "Elian? Elian? Look at me, Elijah. Look at me!"
That voice was the last thing he heard before falling unconscious.