Unalterable Event

Thomas rushed back to the North-Eastern Wing and to the 8th floor. All of his thoughts and his entire being prayed towards one thing: "Please let it not be too late!"

A bad feeling dreaded over Thomas. His stomach turned and he felt nauseated. He was heavily panting and slowly moved up the stairs, step by step. Thomas was completely out of breath from running as fast he possibly could back to the scenery and clinged for support against the walls.

The aura filled with death overtook Thomas, and he felt like he was being suffocated. The air got heavier and a dark presence filled it, making every step that much harder to take. Upon taking the final step of the stairs, he heard a scream, a much familiar one.

Thomas immediately rushed in and yelled, "Corbin!" and turned around the corner.

"Fukukuku… I thought the golden crests students were going to exercise their repentance here today on someone named Alex. But I guess you will have to do for today!" The demon cackled and Corbin reacted upon hearing Alex's name.

"Oh I see… this Alex is your friend! How unfortunate! Perhaps he will come find you and then I can finally punish the golden crests!" The demon kept laughing.

Meanwhile Thomas was yet to be spotted, his scream had not alerted the demon yet. He glanced over to Corbin to look for any kind of injuries. One of his legs was already impaled through and he was on the floor, bleeding.

"Why are you doing this?!" Corbin yelled out and tried to stand back up slowly.

The demon stopped laughing for a second, then assumed an expression with pure hatred and nothing but contempt in his eyes.

"Because all of you privileged folk deserve to die!" The demon screamed back, "Especially the golden crests, but you silver ones are no better! Always tagging along… laughing… taunting… all of you filths deserve to be eradicated!" The demon's voice echoed through the entire hallway.

Thomas thought about how he would go on and try to make his next move. There was another smaller hallway across. Thomas unsheathed his wooden sword and looked at it, then gripped it hard.

"Here goes nothing, please let this work!" Thomas whispered then tossed the wooden sword across and as far as possible.

The idea was to make some noise and make it look like someone was coming from over there.

"Well… well… appears like we have company!" The demon turned around and took a left turn to take a look.

That was the signal for Thomas to come in from the right. He rushed in and helped Corbin immediately back up.

"Thomas?!" Corbin said shockingly.

"Cannot explain, let's get a move on before it figures out no one is coming!" Thomas grabbed one of Corbin's arms and wrapped it around his own shoulders for support and prepared to dash.

They tried to make it as quick as possible to the other stairway at the other end of the main hallway. However a surging pain was felt through one of Thomas' legs as he looked down and saw a spear shaped ooze tearing through.

Both of them fell over and Thomas cried out in pain.

"THOMAS!" Corbin attempted to get both of them back up.

But the demons had other plans. Both of them were instantly wrapped around with two ooze-like arms, encircling their entire bodies like the two primary victims the first time around.

"Damn it!" Corbin cursed and attempted with his arms to disentangle himself.

Thomas bit his underlip, and thought "Not again…" he knew it was futile.

Corbin tossed him a look.

"Do not give up Thomas, I am sure Alex or someone will come and save us! Just keep fighting!" Corbin uttered out encouraging words contradictory to his tears.

"It is my fault, I am so sorry I could not save you Corbin…" Thomas heavily sobbed.

Corbin began to fully cry as well. The demon was slowly moving up to them and once it stood in front of them, Corbin turned back to Thomas for a final time.

"It is okay… just close your eyes and think about our cold drinks on the first day," Corbin smiled.

However Thomas could not help but watch, he felt responsible, and now he had to witness his other friend die right in front of him.

"Thomas… I--" Corbin got interrupted when the demon had bit his head off just like Alex's.

Blood gushed from his dangling body and Thomas shedded even more tears. The demon turned now to Thomas and opened his mouth again, and slowly moved in.

Thomas focused on one thing as its mouth moved closer, "If I get another chance, I will stop you, no matter what it takes!" His eyes filled up with revenge.

And that was Thomas' final thought before screaming out in fear with adrenaline pumping into his beaten and terrified heart. A sound was then heard of a bitten off neck and crushed bones, into a thud with his corpse being dropped on the ground, smearing it with blood.

"Rise and shine boys!" Alex grinned first thing in the morning.

"CORBIN!" Thomas screamed and woke abruptly out of bed.

He covered his face with his left hand, panting heavily and sat upright.

"Did you have a nightmare or something? Looks like you have seen a ghost!" Alex asked worryingly and sat besides him.

Thomas still panted heavily and was drenched in sweat. An immense pain and panic overtook him and the adrenaline prior to his death remained. Thomas grasped his chest tightly to be able to withstand the pain. Alex hugged Thomas.

Corbin rushed in from the bathroom and found Alex consolidating the sobbing Thomas.

"Wh-at hap-pe-ned?" Corbin mumbled with his toothbrush in his mouth.

Alex shook his head to indicate he did not know either and Corbin got the hint.

Thomas looked up.

"You look pale, are you sure you are okay?" Corbin put his hand over Thomas' forehead.

Seeing Corbin's face up close made Thomas sob.

"I am so sorry, I tried, but then…" Thomas collapsed on the ground and began to hyperventilate.

Alex and Corbin got up and shared a quick look.

"What's happening to him?!" Alex asked.

During Thomas' fall, he managed to open up the Arcane System quickly to check on something. One's vitality matched and was equal to one's entire HP.

[Thomas Rosemary]

…

[HP: 4/5]

…

Thomas was still hyperventilating and shook back and forth with both Alex and Corbin trying to hold him down, after putting him back onto the bed. Two thoughts occurred to him during this time. Whenever he mentions something to either one of them, he is struck with immense pain.

Then the second being, he is not immortal, his HP has decreased after he died. Furthermore, by the looks of it, the system scared Thomas to death for real with the two next new messages beneath his HP.

[Message: Your HP will be recovered the following day]

[Medicinal vials or abilities will not have an effect on you]