No! No, no, no, no. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. How? Why was I still here? Taylor was laid out on the ground in front of me, the same place where we had kissed. Her body motionless and pale. Why? My brain wracked itself in thought. Was it because of the Goddess? That couldn't be. I realised what it was. No matter how hard I tried to keep going, that I convinced myself I wanted revenge. This is where I wanted to die to keep Taylor alive and now I had lost that chance.
I cried loudly and screamed to the overcast sky. My hands found their way to her body and I cradled her against myself.
"I'm sorry," the words felt hollow. After all I had been through, talking with the Goddess, realising I was Jane… my relation with Lara. A part of me thinking about Taylor, wondering if I could take a chance with her. My future before my past. That's how it should have been. I shouldn't have cared about what Jane was.
Then I felt it, a small pulse. My eyes widened and I grasped her wrist feeling for the barely beating heart inside her. It was so soft and slow that a part of me thought I must be imagining it. She was still alive but wouldn't be for long.
"Goddess help me!" I screamed. "Please, I'll do anything. Another bargain, just give me a chance to bring her back." Silence was all that came. I refused to end it here. This was my last chance. Think. What did I know, what could I do, there had to be something no matter how small it was.
"Look there's one alive here!" a voice shouted in glee and I turned to see a masked demon grin towards me.
Anger flooded through my veins as I gently placed Taylor down. For now I had to deal with these monsters. I picked up her dagger and readied myself. They rushed towards me as one became two, then three, four, five, six. Their bodies crushed against mine as I fended them away from Taylor. I would never let them touch her. Amongst it all I died.
My vision cleared and once more I was staring at Taylor's body laid out on the cold stone. No matter how many times it took, I'd bring her back to me. Silently now I searched through my memories, as the times I was Jane seeped in. I welcomed them as my own. If any small part helped me I'd take it gladly. My ordinary life with Lara, learning with her at school, fighting with her, being her friend. It looked like my life almost revolved around her. It was no wonder why I had come to this world to find her. None of it helped me now. I needed something more than that peaceful life. I needed experience, power, a magic to heal her, to make her smile at me once more.
A searing burn stretched through my head and mind. I couldn't understand where it came from but like an expanding web, knowledge I never knew before awoke inside me. As if reacting my mana began to fluctuate causing my heart and chest to clench in pain. It forced me to the ground, blood and saliva pooled in my mouth and seeped from the corner of my lips. A plan began to form in my head.
"Thank you," I groaned to whoever gave me this knowledge. Of course it could only have been the Goddess. It seemed she hadn't forsaken me just yet. I took Taylor's dagger and cut into my wrist. Fresh blood spilling to the ground. My fingers moved imprecisely as I dipped them in the blood and began to draw. With Taylor in the centre I worked outwards, infusing my blood with mana and drawing the circuit to save her. Before I could even get the first layer complete, something thudded within my chest and I crumpled forward. The light faded.
Again my vision cleared and Taylor was laid out before me. I didn't hesitate. The knowledge still fresh in my still burning mind. The brief relief from the pain in my chest only spurred me to bring it on faster as I cut myself with her dagger once more. My fingers dipped in blood trying to write something I had never seen before, moving on instinct alone. Circles and paths, symbols to represent the forms of mana. Although my body couldn't contain them the world did. This circuit would do it all for me. I just had to draw and activate it. A magician like Ardent or heroes like Lara could form the circuits freely with magic. I didn't have that luxury. As the first layer was complete and I moved to the second, once more the grinding pain inside my chest suddenly thudded. My body fell limp.
As my vision returned and I saw Taylor once again I realised what it was. My heart had given out. They say that the heart was the organ of love, it was also true to say it was the common control point of mana. Drawing the circuit required mana not from the world but myself. I grit my teeth and cut into my arm again. The blood spilled and as the familiar crunching pain beat inside, my fingers flashed forward faster. No matter how many times it took, I'd master it. The art of drawing circuits. Faster and more precise with each death. I'd bring Taylor back if it was the last thing I did.
I don't know how many times I had to start again. Dozens of attempts merged together to the point I didn't even feel the pain. Cutting my wrist, painting the ground with my blood, the complex drawing expanding more and more, faster and faster. My mind was a blur as the knowledge had long since taken hold only requiring me to pull it forth. How many attempts it took I couldn't say. Hundreds or even thousands, what mattered was the result and finally it was done. Written in my own blood, I stood puffing and pale as the grand circuit was completed. It measured more than two metres in diameter with Taylor in the centre. Where at first I couldn't understand, it made sense now. The formulation and conversion of mana from the world to do my bidding. Despite its grand design I could make a potion to do the same task but for the me now, it was more than I could ever ask for.
My chest heaved in pain as my senses returned. The crushing sensation clenching against my heart was nearing its limit. It would kill me again before I passed out. There was just one last thing for me to do. I fell to my knees beside the circuit, my palms pressed against the ground. A final flush erupted from my body as the written blood shined white. I pulled myself closer to Taylor, scraping along the stone and reached for the knife still stuck into her stomach. With a determined groan I pulled it free. The light around us peaked releasing a pillar of colour into the sky. It broke through the darkening clouds above revealing the sun above it.
"Please get up," I held Taylor's hand with hope. My body exhausted returned to normal, my heart beating with the echoes of pain. Still I couldn't collapse now. "Taylor, please." I called out her name. There was no response. Had I been too late? Was she gone for good? The questions rose inside me despairingly. Although the knowledge had been somehow gifted to me, it was the first time I had used it. No one would be surprised if it failed. Even someone as experienced as Ardent made mistakes.
My muscles finally gave way. The light around us began to fade and was replaced by the sun beaming through the hole now made in the clouds. My head laid down on Taylor's unmoving chest unable to lift itself any longer. A tear fell down my cheek. After all my effort I had failed, and now I couldn't even die. Then as I closed my eyes a gasp and shudder shot beneath me.
"Ow…," Taylor groaned shifting her body. "What happened? Wh-Rain?" She took hold of me in shock noticing my emancipated appearance. "What did you do?"
I struggled a smug smile, "Magic."
"But you can't…." she looked around seeing the now burnt in magic circuit drawn across the stone. "You did this?"
"Of course," I felt like laughing with happiness.
"You saved my life?"
I nodded ever so slightly.
"I-I really can't not love you now," she grasped my head in a hug. The sensation was incredibly nice on my tired body.
"There!" a loud and obnoxious voice interrupted the moment. "They broke the barrier, quickly kill them!" The masked demon pointed towards us sword in hand.
Taylor moved from beneath me and laid me down gently, "I'll take care of this."
"Don't die," I was serious. If she got hurt again I wasn't going to be able to pull another one of those so soon.
"I wouldn't dream of it," she winked at me and picked up her dagger from the ground. "After all I still have to give you your reward."
The masked demons ran towards us with a blood thirsty scream. Taylor didn't flinch. My mind played tricks on me as she seemed to vanish from sight but at the same time was in clear view. The oncoming demon had no clue what to do and just swung his sword. Unlike when I used it however Taylor dodged perfectly and slit his throat. He collapsed choking on his blood.
She pointed her dagger towards the others, "I won't let you take another step closer to him." Was that line to make my heart flutter? How noble of her.
The rest of them charged but just as they came within striking distance a flash of white appeared and stormed into them, sending the demons into the walls of the temple. Lara stood with her sword drawn, eyes vivid with determination.
"What's going on here?" she demanded to know.
I coughed, "You're late."
"Rain!?" she noticed my exhausted figure in shock.
"Help inside first," I said simply and she nodded.
"Taylor protect him," she commanded and dashed inside the Temple. The thin collar around Taylor's neck glowed but she didn't seem dissatisfied. She didn't have to do much however as no other masked demons came out form the Temple grounds. After a few minutes Ronalt, Ardent, Earnest and Marley arrived with the carriage along with many of the town's guard. At that point my head was resting on Taylor's lap. It wasn't like I could go against her at this point and her thighs were much more comfortable than the cold stone. They rushed in after Lara as Taylor and I stayed outside.
"Taylor inside the carriage top shelf of the kitchen. There's a potion inside. Can you get it for me?" I asked as I couldn't move.
"Sure," she smiled somewhat suspiciously and laid me back down as she entered the carriage. Pina who was still attached pulled it closer and tried to reach me but couldn't. Instead she made concerned tweeting noises.
"I'm okay," I tried to calm the lovable bird but she wasn't having it and nudged her head into my side.
"Hey Pina feathers off he's mine," Taylor came out of the carriage potion in hand. From the colour I knew it was the right one. Pina moved back as Taylor pulled up my body and held it. "You better accept this, don't want to waste it after all."
"What are you talking-?" my question was answered as Taylor poured the vial into her mouth and plastered it on top my own forcing my lips to open. The bitter tasting liquid was forced down my throat and with it Taylor's tongue. She held her embrace and cradled my head only parting as she gasped for breath. My face was dyed red.
"I haven't kissed anyone like that- well, ever," she smiled sweetly causing my heart to thump more than it already was. The potion began to work and I felt my limbs begin to obey my commands.
I struggled to stand beside her and coughed awkwardly, "You know I could have drunk that myself."
"Consider it a small part of your reward," she was still holding on to me. Her hands behind my head. "Now where's mine? I did protect you, you know."
I looked around. No one else was near us, well aside from Pina but she could keep a secret. "Fine, just this once."
"Wait really?" Taylor said surprised. "Ah- you don't have to. I was joking-."
I kissed her. It was my first time being the aggressor and it honestly felt awkward but I felt her lips bend into a smile. She kissed me back. I pulled away.
"That's it?" she huffed disappointed despite her blushing face. "Let's keep going."
"We have work to do," I pushed her away gently.
"Ah fine," she sighed.
"But Taylor," I faced her earnestly. My eyes soft looking at hers with a smile. "I'm taking this seriously so let's take our time, okay?"
She went rigid and struggled to look at me properly. But when she finally did it was with a bright smile, "I'd love to."