33 Not tonight...

Under the luminous moon, onto the never sleeping streets of Orario, rolled a wheelchair, carrying a girl lost in her chaos. Held onto a single string- a question Granny Ren asked her as she closed the gaping-burnt cavity on her back with healing gel.

'That's so awful,' the kind doctor said before chuckling, 'why would he do that, I wonder.'

Why really?

Lili knew the answer. It was at the tip of her tongue, just an inch away… But what slipped instead was a growl.

Does that reason alone takes his blame away?

Not a question she had time to sit back and contemplate.

Amidst the flashes of haunting brutality, she somehow lived through, her eyes were scanning the faces of each passerby and the roofs with utmost attention as the still working hand turned the wheels by her side.

'Not today… find him, feed him the pills, and go to sleep. Leave the rest for tomorrow.' Was her plan. For she feared what she might do- what she might say once she sees him again.

But still… their sickening sneers, the giggles, and curses hurled at her face, her desperate pleas for help- the burning metal, the broken wrist, and ribs were all demanding a reckoning.

A rational angel and a vengeful devil were waging a war inside her, tearing her mind apart.

One adamant that it was not completely his fault. It all happened right in front of her own eyes, she has seen the broken look on his face as he Blinked away. That angel begged her- don't be too quick to judge. She was in fact safer without him around, he's just a Non-leveler.

While the other barked, he should've never left her alone in the first place, not after knowing that Soma Familia could be actively searching for them. His new magic was supposed to be their safe escape, and he knew that.

But there was one thing they both agreed upon- It felt good, to look them in the eye and say, No. How alive she felt when those all-mighty Honorable Adventurers all trembled a stride back as she took one forward having choked the life out of her fears.

Even though it did not end with her victory, but she survived and she did so with dignity- having fled after punching her nightmares in the face. She achieved what she had long checked- Impossible. All steaming from that sense of hope he gave her.

And those ruby-red eyes.

A debt she will repay in full and with interest.

Hence, 'Not tonight,'.

Let the sleep calm the raging war between emotions and reasons.

.

.

.

Argus Blinked-Out in a dark alley, jaw clenching, and losing. Face scrunched, twitching from the piercing pain hell-bent on rending his body and soul apart. Just the simple act of standing still was a horror. The holes those shrapnel dug into the bone of his left calf, his right thigh, and his back made certain of that.

The skull-splitting pain weaving from his right ear wouldn't even let him clench his jaw.

And then the gash on his neck, not even allowing a slight turn.

The stomach was the worst, just as big of a mangled mess as it looked, daring him to breathe.

Each passing second- each movement was ripping apart his sanity, bit by bit.

But he must forge on… at least that's what fought with- the absolute need to get to Lili.

'She can't be left alone for long… not after she turned her magic off in the Guild'

Not even in his most horrifying nightmare could he picture what will happen if they found her and he was not there.

So, with his tear-stained eyes stretched to the utmost limit, he focused his gaze on the dilapidated pharmacy ahead and Blinked in its direction.

-Ding!

The bells chimed, and the doors burst open revealing a staggering Argus, grunting and humphing akin to a cornered beast, jolting away the two owners from their idle chat.

"Pain-Killers…" Argus growled as he dragged his feet through sheer will alone, towards the startled blue-haired man before throwing a pouch of 500 Vs in his direction.

"Do you have a prescription?" asked the man, and just a second later-

-SHING!

A blade tore through the air, pausing just mere inches away from the man's eyes as Argus grabbed him by the collar, "Just give me damn pills!" he growled, barely holding himself from tumbling over.

"Hands off of him, fiend!" roared a feminine voice beside, followed an arched bow aimed at Argus's head. The only thing stopping the lady was the man's palm gesturing her to stand down.

"Get the child some pain-killers, will you? Naaza. They're by the second cabinet," The man said as he gazed at the desperate bestiality in Argus's eyes with unexpected sympathy,

"His condition is critical…"

[Naaza...?] That name rang more than a bell.

/uh-oh /

Argus's eyes snapped to the left.

And there stood a woman- a Dog-Person with long brown hair, droopy-fluffy dog ears rested adorably on her head, and similarly droopy violet eyes, raging in panicked-fury at the moment.

Naaza Erisuis.

[Then this must be…]

Indeed, dark blue hair and eyes of the same color, gazing at Argus with eyes filled with compassion and understanding, rivaling 'HER'.

Miach, the head of the Miach Familia, and the owner of Blue Pharmacy.

[Holy fuck! I pulled a blade on a God!] At once the blade left Miach's face, so did his hand on the collar, but not before brushing his shirt straight, "There! Good as it was… and, I-I'm sorry, Lord Miach!"

Argus panicked back, kicking off another soul ripping wave of agony, almost falling off his feet, "Fu-! My wounds… they're..."

He would've if Miach hadn't acted fast and caught him. Supporting the hissing and gasping boy up from the shoulder, "I know… You meant no harm. Naaza, hurry up, he's hurt!"

"He had a blade on your head! Are you drunk?" She replied, not moving an inch. She did not happen to share the same compassion as her God did, and she sings her stars praises every day for that.

And Argus… well, being Argus, he replied, "Ha… Hakuna your ta-tas, Lady. I'm dying here!" resounding a burst of roaring laughter from the God while Naaza glared daggers at the men with her bow trembling, and cheeks puffed red in rage.

"Please, Naaza? Can you please hakuna your ta-tas…? For me, at least?" Miach sang along, failing to resist the tingling urge.

To which she replied by throwing her hands up in surrender along with the bow and arrow as she stormed her feet towards the said cabinet, grumbling, "Wow… just wow."

Pulling out a small bottle of Pain-Killers, she tossed it in Argus's direction, but not before, "We'll be keeping the change."

"Keep the pouch as well… and the string attached to it," He replied, fumbling with the bottle's cap as he let go of Miach's shoulder before turning around. [No time…]

But not even a step he took before Miach's voice rang beside him, "Wait…," Miach said, as he pulled out a vial of golden-blue potion from his cloak and handed it to Argus under Naaza's horrified gaze, "Take this with you… a gift celebrating this fateful encounter. It's our latest invention… a healing potion capable of not only healing the body but rejuvenating mental energy as well. The first two-in-one potion ever made. The day hasn't been kind to you, hasn't it?"

While Argus stared frozen at the potion resting in his hands, while Naaza shirked, "You can't do that!"

"Yes, I can, my dear," Miach replied, eyes not leaving the dumb-struck Argus.

"No… she's right… it's too-"

"Then do us a favor," Miach cut him off with a laugh, "Remember us… we're Blue Pharmacy!"

The gears in Argus's mind turned once again as he gave Miach a nod, despite the threats from the gash on his neck, "Not just this name… I'll remember the kindness you've shown me today… You won't regret it, I promise," Argus swore, as he pulled the lid off the bottle before pouring 3 pills into his mouth, and gulping them all with the potion.

While Naaza walked up to him, hands folded, and said, "Well, consider yourself failed… I'm regretting it."

Before Argus could open his mouth, Miach's hand plopped onto her head as he said, "Go on. Your eyes tell me you have places to be."

"That I do."