The Holy Knight stood as a sentinel over the carnage, his massive hammer shedding drops of purple gore.
The guard hauled me forward to follow him. My first shaky step landed in one of his blood-stained footprints. The floor felt tacky and hot, like sand after a fire, slowing me down.
"Leonard, listen to me." Althea's voice was strangely distant. "You're going to collapse any moment."
*Me? It's not that bad, I'm just-* Movement caught my eye.
Another metallic bomb bounced from behind the corner into the hallway, landing behind the Holy Knight.
"Grenade!" I shouted, trying to fall on the ground, but the guard held me tight. Dizziness from the previous explosion still lingered.
*It's going to explode! Is it stun or-*
The Knight's armor crackled with sparks. Like a titan, he stomped on the bomb with a deafening "thud." The stone floor buckled under his boot, and the resulting explosion felt like a failed firecracker.
Right after, another group of monsters ran toward us. They hesitated when they saw our protector.
It was too late.
The Knight didn't hesitate—he dashed forward, his hammer already halfway to meet them.
This time the slam unleashed a wave of lightning, like God's wrath. Thankfully it didn't reach us. The monsters in its path transformed into a purple pulp. The ones that avoided the hit were instantly fried.
My eyes closed for what felt like a moment, but the guard's sharp yell pulled me back. "Wake up, move, move!"
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The stench of burnt flesh assaulted my senses. The guard grabbed me and dragged me away. We walked over a body I hadn't noticed earlier, much larger than the monsters from moments ago.
"The Aegis Shield is in effect and the Holy Knights are here," Althea calmly explained as we turned and reached the stairs.
The mark pulsed frantically with unusual heat, which contrasted sharply with the chill coming from the seal.
My gaze landed on another figure—a second Knight had joined us and went behind us. He held a large, thick staff with a gemstone at the top that crackled with sparks. His every step was steady.
*He's like a... walking fortress...*
The walk down was interrupted when the guard placed his hand on the floor.
*What is... he... doing...*
A new path of stairs opened.
"They won't stop until all key personnel are safe... but..." Her voice faltered. The guard's armor plating reminded me of sea waves. Althea resumed, words made sense again. "...you've pushed your body to its limits."
The guard's grip loosened for a moment. "Stay with me," he said. "Pull yourself together, damn it!"
*Try...ing*
"What I'm trying to say is..." Althea's voice faded.
The smell of ozone surrounding the knights became the salty tang of sea air. The clanks of their armor became the cry of a distant gull. A new, more familiar voice replaced my Guide's, finishing the sentence:
"You're safe now, so don't worry."
And I fell.
My mouth filled with hot sand. I rolled over and coughed. Sea waves splashed over a beach, the sensation soothing and calm.
My muscles relaxed.
"I'm here with you." She stood before me, but the sun behind her was a blinding halo.
"Victoria?" I didn't realize how much I missed her voice.
"Did you have a nice nap, sleepyhead?" she replied playfully.
I tried to shift, to see her face, but a moon shone beside the sun, just as brightly, doubling the glare.
*What is the moon doing here?*
"You won't believe the dream I just had," I began, when a small body jumped at me with the sweetest cry: "Papa! You're up, come play!"
Her hands locked tight around my neck. I pretended to be choked, and she giggled. Her hair smelled of wind over the sea.
"Let papa get up! How else can we play?" I managed, but she held on, her grip tightening, more and more.
Her joyful embrace became a crushing weight, the weight of a memory too heavy to carry. I couldn't draw breath. I tried to shout, but no sound came out.
The world snapped to black, and I was drowning.
