3

My blade swung, yet it never met him. He used his power to attack me, yet it always missed. It felt like hours when they fought, it must've been only a few minutes.

It was a about time when the bad guy took a blow to his arm. He groaned hard as the blade pierced through the sleeve and skin. My elder self laughed. I would've joined her if it weren't for his mad glare towards her.

"Not no proud are you, Levi? The great sorcerer who killed thousands, no- millions, hurt already by the wield of a woman in a mere dance."

The sorcerer looks up again at the queen, and surprisingly he returns the cackle. He stretches his hand out, letting this blood fall into a floating clump as it surrounds him. He stares at her and chants; visible veins turn black and flow to his head.

He's evolving? I pondered. An small upgrade could be it- or a hidden card.

Black mist circled him as she watched, carefully.

In swift movement, he reaches for her, and expectantly her weapon catches his hand. This time, he doesn't bleed but transmits his energy onto the blade as they dive towards the mountain where she once fought. Noticing their movement, she drove her force sideways, switching their positions. Now he was back-first.

They crashed, creating a crater where fireworks of dirt set displayed. Revealing themselves from the dust, the queen struggles for the upper hand, yet I was disappointed for she couldn't withhold his venomous strength. He strangles her as she tries to reach for her weapon that he had knocked from her grasp. He tightens his grip, relieving her of breath- but gods did I pray for her to get up- so she miraculously gets a hold of something.

A rock. That would do.

She collided it into his face, breaking it into pieces and getting a crack out of his jaw. Levi rolls away from the impact with his hand plastered to his head in a howl.

How strong was I?

Before the sorcerer can recover, she tackles him, reaching for a pocketed knife hidden in the boot of her attire.

Desperately, she stabs him to the chest. It doesn't go deeper than 3 inches when he, despite in pain, lifted her with his magic and throws her towards the edge of the crater. He kneels, eyeing the weapon which sat in him. With a grunt, he pulls the blade out and sluggishly makes his way to her.

"You think that this would kill me?" He kicks her over the edge. She held onto whatever she reached, though she wouldn't have died from the long drop. He mashes her right hand, emptying his weight onto it; it cracks, it falls. He brings himself down to her level, raising the knife with awaited intentions. She felt immense pain, and yet still answered.

"No."

She gasped for air.

"No, I cannot." My throat locked as he continued to stare, anticipatingly.

"But he can."

Those were the final words before a man with a staff, materializing from nothing- likely teleporting- to behind Levi and implants the item through his chest, his heart. Again, for the last time he looks down at the damage.

"It really has been a long time since I last saw you, brother."

Trembling, Levi spins his head around to see what came across to be his brother. His eyes grew larger as he turned to the soldiers in battle. He screamed to the best of his ability.

"Die!"

And with that, he threw with all his might three little balls to the ranges that enclosed the war. Three tiny balls that looked so harmless, like the marbles a kid could play with.

And soon, the battleground went up in ruptures.

Mountains exploded and everything plummeted onto the target; the valley. Flames of all spells were generated and it surrounded the setting, allowing no one to leave. It spread inevitably to them, slowly consuming everything and everyone in the valley.

"No, no no no. No!" My greater self cried. "Stop this! Stop!"

Blood trickled from Levi's mouth as he laughed maniacally. He sighed in content, before pulling the staff from his chest. A thump was heard, his body was on the ground. Before I saw his eyes close, he stared into my eyes.

"You lost," were the last murmurs heard.

And he was gone.

The woman bellowed with all her voice for her warriors. She didn't stop. Screams and shrieks and cries of misery did she only hear. I understood her.

"There is nothing that can be done, we do not have the power to undo what is already done, your Majesty."

"Save them," the queen cried, she begged.

"I'm afraid not, your highness."

"I promised! I promised them that I'd bring them home, back to a peaceful kingdom, to their families, I promised them their lives, Leo!"

He only chuckles.

Then only she realizes. In horror, she pauses, looks deep into his eyes, and her face sinks even more.

"Then it would be a pity that our leader could not protect our soldiers. Do not worry, I'll return to Nedir and rule on your behalf."

Tears run as she can only gaze as he raises the baton once more.

"I trusted you," she whispers.

Two hearts, one staff. It was unexpected, I saw her- us fall to our deaths.

Then I gasp.

There I was, hyperventilating in a bed that I'd never been in, sitting up from my startling wake. Emmanuel sat to my right, bombarding me with worry. I look about me, seeing a wall of white in front of me and grey curtains to my sides. Tubes were stuck to my arms and one was in my nostrils.

A hospital.

"You called an ambulance?" I ask breathlessly. He responds with a sheepish grin. I sigh in relief.

"Should I call a doctor?"

"No, why?"

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm obviously dying."

He rolls his eyes.

"How long was I out for?"

"An entire day."

"What?"

"I thought you would've died. But then you were talking in your sleep, saying no's and don't die's and more sh*t. You cried even. I talked to the nurses. Most of them had seen you sleep talking and now they think that you're mentally sick."

I scoff, "Have they never had a bad dream in their life? Jeez."

"Whatever, I'll get a nurse for you."