The kids—Emilia, Sirius, and Xander—stood frozen, staring at Aurelia's lifeless body lying on the ground. The once vibrant girl now seemed nothing more than a broken, discarded doll. Her body, pale and unmoving, mirrored the cold expression on the children's faces.
Philo's smile—a twisted, unsettling grin—seemed to mock them in their grief, fueling the fear that gnawed at their insides. The chill of terror washed over them, like icy fingers creeping under their skin. It paralyzed them for a moment, but the sound of a distant, echoing roar cut through the tension, snapping them out of it.
The roar of the incoming Abyssal Shade—their greatest threat—rattled their nerves. Sirius was the first to react. Without a second thought, he launched himself toward Philo, his steps swift but measured. The burning anger in his chest threatened to overtake him, but he fought it back with everything he had. His parents and Aunt had taught him well. Rage was a fatal weakness in battle, and Sirius wasn't about to make that mistake now.
Philo, still holding that maddening smile, watched Sirius's movements with twisted amusement. He slowly stepped away from Aurelia's lifeless body, never breaking eye contact with the children. Sirius's movements were deliberate, calm, yet filled with the undercurrent of fury that seemed to vibrate the very air around him.
Sirius reached Aurelia's body first, Xander close on his heels. Emilia struggled to push herself up, her legs wobbling, but she was determined. She needed to be there. By the time Xander reached the body, Sirius had already started checking for signs of life, his fingers gently brushing her skin, his voice trembling as he called her name. But there was nothing. No response. The light in her eyes was gone.
The three of them fell silent, the weight of the moment settling in their chests. The pain of losing someone they had fought to protect was suffocating. It was a bitter reminder of the mercilessness of this battle they found themselves in. Philo, still standing nearby, kept his smile, but his eyes glinted with cruel satisfaction.
"She had it coming," Philo said, his voice casual, as if discussing nothing more important than a passing inconvenience. "That little girl had no respect for her elders. And besides, it was her untamed tongue that got us all into this mess, wasn't it?"
The words hit them like a slap, igniting a flare of rage in Xander. He stepped forward, fists clenched, ready to pounce. Emilia, her gun still in hand, raised it toward Philo, the muzzle aimed directly at his mocking face. But Sirius's voice cut through the moment, firm and steady, holding them both back.
"Stop," Sirius said quietly. He shook his head and held Xander by the arm, preventing him from charging forward. Emilia, still furious, looked to Sirius for an explanation. But what he said next left them both stunned.
"Now that she's dead, can you let us go now?" Sirius's voice was calm, but his words were thick with sorrow. He didn't even look back at them as he addressed Philo.
"Huh?" Philo raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion.
"You've done what you came here to do. Aurelia's dead, and we won't last much longer. The Abyssal Shade is closing in. The least you could do is leave us to our fate," Sirius continued, his back still turned to Philo. His words seemed heavy, like they were dragging him down, but his resolve remained unbroken. Xander and Emilia exchanged confused glances, neither of them understanding why Sirius was asking for mercy now.
Philo tilted his head, considering the statement. "Hmm. You're right. If I leave you now, you'll probably die. The Abyssal Shade is closing in fast." He paused, as if reflecting on the logic. "But no, I won't."
Sirius felt his heart tighten, a sense of desperation creeping into his voice. "Why not?"
Philo's smile widened, as if the answer amused him. "The thing is… I know you'll most likely die. But there's also the possibility that you might survive. And if you do… well, that would be a problem for me, don't you think?"
Sirius's shoulders tensed. There was no escaping this. No pleading, no bargaining. Philo wanted them gone, he wasn't about to let them live.
"Then I guess we have no choice," Sirius said, his voice tinged with resolve. He turned to face Philo directly, eyes narrowed. "We'll fight."
"I guess so." Philo's casual response sent a shiver down Sirius's spine.
Xander stepped forward, his eyes burning with an intensity that mirrored Sirius's. "I'll be your shadow, brother," Xander declared, a solemn promise in his words.
Sirius nodded, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Let's go."
The fatigue was overwhelming, the weariness from their endless struggle threatening to drag them under. But they had no choice now. They would fight until they couldn't fight anymore. With weapons raised, they closed in on Philo, who stood waiting with his sickening smile still intact.
Without warning, Philo blurred, his form turning into a streak of motion as he dashed toward them. Sirius didn't flinch. He planted his feet, taking his stance with his heavy club raised, ready to defend. Xander disappeared into the shadows, his form barely visible as he prepared to strike. Not too long after, Sirius and Philo clashed once more.
Philo aimed for Sirius's blind spot, but the boy was quick. Sirius deflected the blow with precision, the impact sending a shock through his arms. Philo swiftly shifted his position, attempting to strike at Sirius's throat, but Xander's dagger intercepted the attack, forcing Philo to retreat. Without missing a beat, Sirius swung his club at Philo's side, but Philo dodged with ease.
The battle raged on, a blur of steel and movement. Philo, with his future-sight, was a formidable opponent, but Sirius and Xander's teamwork was seamless. Every time Philo tried to attack one, the other was there to defend. The battle grew fiercer, the tension mounting with every exchange. Philo's grin never faltered, though. He was enjoying this.
Suddenly, a shot rang out. Philo disengaged from the fight, dodging the incoming projectile with a fluid motion. Sirius and Xander took advantage of the opening, pressing forward with renewed intensity. Emilia, having repositioned herself, fired again, her aim true, but Philo continued to evade with a casual grace, his eyes darting around as he sought a way out of the pressure they were putting on him.
Then, something in Philo's eyes shifted. It was as though he had realized something—something too late.
His eyes widened, but before he could react, a fiery blade pierced through his gut, coming out the other side. The sword burned with a searing light, and blood spurted from his mouth as he looked down in disbelief.
Aurelia—a fragile, battered Aurelia—stood behind him, her expression twisted with rage. Her frail body seemed to glow with a raw, untapped fury as she drove the sword deeper. Philo's shocked gaze met hers, and for the first time, his smile faltered.
He had fallen into their trap.
Aurelia had pretended to be dead, but she was never truly out of the fight. The children had blocked Philo's view, giving her the precious time she needed to recover enough to stand, her pain pushed aside by the overwhelming need to strike.
When the negotiations had failed, and Philo refused to let them go, the children had set their plan into motion. Sirius and Xander kept Philo occupied, and while he was distracted, Emilia repositioned herself to provide cover fire. When they drew him closer to Aurelia's body, the intensity of their assault increased, trapping Philo in a battle he couldn't win. It was the perfect moment for Aurelia to strike, and strike she did.
But Philo wasn't done yet. Even wounded, he was dangerous.
Sirius and Xander, now seeing the opening, advanced on Philo, weapons aimed for his lungs. It seemed like victory was within their grasp. But before they could land the fatal blows, the world around them froze. Time itself seemed to halt for a split second before everything nearby was sent crashing backward by a powerful gust of soul essence.
Aurelia, already on the brink of collapse, fainted as her head hit the ground. Her blood loss had taken its toll, and she was no longer a threat. Xander and Sirius were the only ones still standing, though the force of the blast had knocked them off balance. Emilia, thankfully, was far enough to avoid the blast, but she still remained a distant figure.
They turned to face Philo, who stood unaffected, clutching on to his sword inflicted injured with his hand. He was studying his body with a sick curiosity. "So this is what tier 2 is like," he mused, as if he had just made an important discovery.
A cold dread washed over the children. The terror was palpable in the air, suffocating them, and Emilia, in a moment of panic, fired at him again.
The sharp crack of gunfire echoed...
Bang! Bang!
The energy beams zipped toward him, but Philo effortlessly dodged, his smile still eerily calm. He turned to face Emilia, his gaze cold and amused, before turning in a blur, rapidly closing the distance between them.
"Emilia, run!" Sirius shouted, panic rising in his chest. But it was too late.
As Emilia turned to flee, Philo appeared in front of her, his movement so fast she couldn't react. She tried to fired again instinctively, but Philo merely slapped her away. She crumpled to the ground, unconscious, her gun falling from her hand.
"Nuisance," Philo murmured, his nerve wrecking smile never faltering.