Lauri felt dazed, "What…" Gritting his teeth, Lauri slammed his fist into the man's breastplate again. "What the hell are you talking about!? Just kill me and get it over with!"
The man didn't move, he only shook his head.
"No… I can't, you've been marked for something worse… Worse than death." Taking a step forward, the man grabbed Lauri's arm, pulling him towards the door.
"Let go!" Lauri tried to fight back, but his punches were still meaningless as they smacked against the man's armour. If anything, these punches only served to hurt Lauri's fists.
Lauri cast Merry's body one last tender gaze before he was pulled out of the room.
Out of the room, Lauri was pulled down the stairs. They passed Richard's corpse.
Lauri could hardly look at his friend's body.
'I'm sorry Rich… I failed you… I failed you both…'
Soon they reached the bottom, Lauri's eyes grew colder as he saw two bodies lying on the floor of his home. It seems other villagers attempted to find salvation in the home of their protectors. Their attempts were cut down by cold steel.
Pulled outside, Lauri's cold expression remained as he saw the massacre.
The village square was littered with bodies, covered with blood. The food stalls that had been filled with beautiful delicious food lay shattered from the fighting, any decorations that were still left standing were all stained by the blood of Lauri's friends.
And in the middle of the square, in front of the statue of the mysterious woman. Granny knelt before the black knight. Not out of any form of submission, the old woman had been bested.
Blood dripped from a wound on her neck. The Imprints she had summoned, the armour of perfect white stone and spear made from crimson wood, were nowhere to be seen.
Most probably Granny's Imprints had been destroyed in the fight which led to her loss.
"Granny!"
Lauri pulled against his captor's grip. The man let go of Lauri's arm, letting the boy run towards the woman who had raised him.
The men and women clad in dull grey armour turned their heads to watch Lauri run. None made any attempts to impede him, their blood-stained blades remained lowered.
Lauri navigated the gruesome scene, not wanting to step or jump across the bodies that populated the ground. He almost slipped on a patch of blood where the ground dipped.
Reaching the woman, Lauri's cold gaze grew worried.
Granny was bleeding, a lot. There wasn't only the wound in her neck, but a dozen smaller cuts all over her body. Her skin held a certain glow to it, but this glow was disappearing with every heartbeat.
"G- Granny… They're dead, Merry… Rich… I couldn't save them…"
The old woman's gaze was cold and almost lifeless, but as Lauri ran up to her, a small radiant light ignited within the depths of her eyes.
"Don't blame yourself, Lauri… There was nothing we could do… You and I-" Granny coughed blood, spitting onto the floor, she continued as if nothing wrong was happening.
"You and I are the only ones left."
This was something Lauri already knew, but hearing it come from Granny's lips made it somehow feel more, real. The information hit Lauri's mind, causing him to reel. Dropping to his knees, Lauri held his face.
'We're the only ones left? But, this village, our home, Laurence said that over three hundred people lived here. They killed everyone in such a short period.'
"Lauri," Granny wrapped her arms around Lauri's body. "Please stay strong."
The black knight approached.
"You fought valiantly, I'm sure if it was anyone else you would have bested them. But I am not allowed to lose my life. My apologies. You are at the apex of what it means to be a Knight."
Lauri furrowed his brow, 'Huh, a Knight?'
The black knight's helmet turned to stare into Lauri's soul. His voice was heavy, "You, boy. Step aside."
Lauri flinched, looking at Granny, he stared at the ground. Standing up, he threw his arms wide, blocking the black knight from reaching her.
Although Lauri knew, he could do nothing to stop the black-clad invader. He still had to try.
"I'm- I'm not letting you hurt anybody else!"
The black knight tilted his head. "Then you shall be moved."
As the black knight was about to take a step forward. He paused.
The air had started to shimmer, sparkles appeared in the air. The entire village square was now illuminated as if it were daytime.
Lauri could hear the invaders' chatter.
"What's this?"
"Is this someone's Talent?"
"Ha, it's kind of pretty, not gonna lie."
But Lauri's eyes weren't filled with awe, Lauri's eyes filled with a newfound hope.
Lauri had seen these sparkles before.
The village square erupted into a sudden explosion of violence.
The bodies of the attackers exploded as a figure moved faster than Lauri's eye could see. Their bodies were torn in half, their armour bent and torn as the speeding figure swept across the square.
The black knight disappeared into the shadows, just missing the figure as it passed by them.
Three dozen invaders were all slaughtered in a matter of seconds, leaving the village square empty, save for three people.
Granny, her head previously, hung low. But now, even her eyes were filled with a new determination.
Lauri, Lauri's heart swelled with happiness as he watched a figure appear before him.
Laurence, his usual smile, was gone, replaced by an expression of pure sorrow. His staff held in his right hand was covered in blood.
Looking at Lauri and Granny, Laurence slightly opened his mouth, but before he could speak. Lauri jumped forward, wrapping his arms around Laurence.
"I'm sorry Laurence. I couldn't save… I couldn't save anyone…"
Placing a hand on Lauri's head, Laurence shook his head.
"No, Lauri, I am the only one at fault. If I was here…" Laurence looked at the bodies surrounding them.
His gaze rested on the body of a small child still held in their mother's embrace.
Laurence was choked as he tried to form his words.
"I could have prevented all of this."
"Oh, not you too," Granny painstakingly got to her feet. "You both are as bad as each other-"
Her legs were unable to support her weight, Granny would have fallen had Laurence not already been standing next to her.
Lauri blinked, 'When did he get there?'
Holding Granny, Laurence's voice was sullen.
"Nice try, you old hag, I'll take it from here."
Granny chuckled.
"Oh you kids, always so full of life. Fine, just set me down here. Let me rest my creaky bones."
Gently resting Granny against the statue, for a few moments, Laurence put a hand to his face, covering his eyes.
Standing, he walked away, past Lauri, his eyes brimming with tears.
Lauri watched Laurence move away, slightly confused, he joined Granny sitting against the base of the statue. Lauri looked at his hands.
"What are we even supposed to do now… We can't stay here…"
Lauri waited for Granny to speak, when she didn't, he looked up to her.
A few moments passed and Lauri returned to looking at his hands, everything hurt, his body, his mind, his heart, his soul.
"Goodnight Granny… I hope you sleep well…"