A new hunt pt.1

Havel breathed heavily. Blood dripped from his body, adding to the crimson puddle where he waited motionless. Ada was still behind him, unharmed, fortunately. In front of him, on the contrary, was the creature his companion was terrified of. The dark lion watched them carefully.

A second gasp left his lips, generating water vapor. His body was hot and heavy, a sign that he was rapidly depleting every available source of energy.

He forced his shoulder joint to move and glanced at his right arm, which dangled almost as if it was broken. A series of cerulean specks dotted the entire skin up to the height of the bicep, causing a more than annoying tingling sensation.

The demigod grimaced and remembered one of the first times Elaine used her powers to heal him.

The two were at the Great Mansion, a place where each Equinox Flower had a free room to use as they pleased. They had just returned from a mission, the first in which Havel had used the 'crimson meteor' against a monster. Due to his inability to control the new technique, a series of blue spots had appeared on his arm and Elaine was busy healing it.

The girl pressed on his forearm to evaluate the diagnosis.

"Yes, it definitely is an ichorrhagia."

Havel blinked, "Ichorrhagia?"

"Yes, a lesion of the silver vessels that causes mana to leak from your body," explained Mardi's daughter, "It is often confused with the phenomenon of leaking from your divine core, but it is substantially different. However, you must not use mana in any way until the injury has healed, otherwise you will only hurt yourself."

"Okay, thank you Dr. Rolland."

"I'm serious," she said, miming the gesture of slapping him. "This way you only risk your health. Why do you fight like this? Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"Die? I am the strongest! To die I must be defeated and I will never be defeated!" he immediately burst out laughing after completing the sentence.

"Maybe… I was just wondering if there's a way you do that…"

"Isn't it clear? I want to destroy all monsters so that every demigod can have a happy and free life."

"So you want to protect others?" the blonde placed her hands on those of Sidal's son, "It's a noble goal. I'm happy to help you with this. As a true member of the Equinox Flowers!"

The image of the smiling demigoddess was the last thing he saw before the memory faded, replaced by Nadim's golden eyes.

Yes, a noble goal…

Much had changed since then, perhaps too much.

The realization that pained his soul the most was that, if he had been asked at first, he would have said that he was fighting so desperately to protect Rutia's daughter, a trusted companion and probably the person he cared most about in the world, but, on the other hand, if the question had been asked on a deeper level, he would have hesitated to provide an answer.

The truth was that he was doing it for himself, because he hadn't been the same since the moment his body hit the ground during the fight with Shirei. He had always considered himself unbeatable, the strongest demigod of the Lilies Park, the leader of the Equinox Flowers, the most valid representative, the perfect ideal to which a son of Sidal could aspire.

But since he had been defeated, something inside him had changed.

Facing monsters had begun to be a source of stress. It scared him, he feared he might be defeated once again, that he might hit the ground harshly. In the past, he had always heard that death in battle was the greatest end a son of Sidal could aspire to, a moment that the god of war would admire and glorify. Growing up, however, he wondered about that concept considered absolute by his brothers.

What's the point of dying in battle? Why be the strongest if I can't go home to my friends? Should I die just to respect my identity?

It was all in his head, he was aware of it, but he couldn't help but feel those sensations. 

He was afraid to fight and, even more, he feared he might lose.

For this reason he was willing to do anything, it was what he needed.

He wanted to prove to his father that he hadn't made a mistake the day he saved him from his "normal" life. 

He was grateful for what he had and couldn't lose it, this meant being able to survive and win every battle.

Two reasons justified his need to be the strongest: to protect and survive.

He would have sacrificed the second of those two reasons exclusively to safeguard the other, only then would he have allowed his father to admire the longed-for warrior death that he craved.

It would make him proud of his blood, of Havel Granbish.

At the same time, he wanted to prove to himself that he could do it. He was still a hero, as they were the ones who saved the day.

Heroes face the most dangerous enemies with a smile on their faces and always win.

It was true.

So he had to succeed too. There was no need for Ada to worry about him, because the leader of the Equinox Flowers would not have been defeated.

He needed to win… for himself and his teammates.

"Havel, I'm ready."

The boy hesitated hearing the female voice coming from behind him.

Ada reached Sidal's son and stood beside him.

The girl, who until recently had been crouching behind him, trembling with fear, had slowly stood up. Despite the tears streaming down her face and her eyes still full of terror, something in her had changed. She had made herself strong, against every instinct, against every fear that immobilized her.

The blond felt his heart tighten in his chest. Ada, fragile in that moment, yet so determined. In the past she had repeated that she wasn't, but the boy had always considered her the strongest companion he had. For a moment, a flash of pride crossed his gaze. Seeing her fight, despite everything, gave him a spark of hope. 

That happiness was soon replaced by a deeper pain, a pain that had nothing to do with his injuries. 

He should have been the hero. It was him who had to protect her, defeat the lion and bring her home safe and sound. 

Once again he hadn't succeeded, he had to offload his burden to others. His body was too weak, his strength not enough.

Again…

Rutia's daughter stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Nadim. He clenched his fists forcefully, trembling, but with determination. He didn't need words to express what he felt: he wanted to fight. Despite the terror, despite the knowledge that the lion was immensely stronger than them, she was ready to resist.

"Ada…" Havel whispered, but his voice trailed off before he could finish the sentence. She looked at him, and for a moment time seemed to stop.

She reached out to him, and her trembling fingers touched his forearm. Havel felt a sudden warmth rush through him, despite the uncomfortable tingling that pervaded his injured arm. Ada's fingers intertwined with his, in a simple but meaningful gesture.

"Thank you," the demigoddess said in a shaky but sincere voice.

Sidal's son couldn't answer right away. Part of him was happy to see her like this, but the other was devastated. Despite his desire to be the hero, she was the one who gave him courage.

Nadim's roar brought them back to reality. 

The dark lion watched them, his golden eyes narrowed into slits, almost as if he was annoyed by the contact. Havel could sense the change in the lion's attitude: it was no longer just amusement or contempt, there was something personal in his anger.

"Pathetic," Nadim hissed, "You're clinging to each other as if you could save yourself. But nothing changes. You will be devoured. Both."

Havel clenched his jaw, his gaze returning to Ada. She looked up at him too, and for an instant their eyes met. They didn't need words, they knew what they had to do.

Their hands separated and the two demigods prepared to attack. 

Nadim stared at them, amused. "Are you really ready to die together?"

The lion darted forward, with impressive speed. Havel clenched his fist and raised his good arm, concentrating the remaining mana in his core for a desperate attack, a second crimson meteor. A red flash lit up around his fist, ready to explode at the creature. 

Ada raised her arm and darkness began to form around her, a manifestation of the power she had struggled to control in the past. Her hands trembled as she shaped the mana needed to condense the darkness, but she didn't stop.

At that moment, as the lion approached, Havel couldn't help but think of Shirei. He wondered what had happened. The one who had defeated him in the past, to show him that he wasn't unbeatable. 

Father, make sure he's safe…

Every time he entered battle, the memory of that battle tormented him. He had become weak, a warrior who fought without the true spirit of a hero, but he knew the way to get back everything he had lost.

They would defeat the lion, destroy the temporal rift and when all would be already over, he would demand revenge from Cragar's son.

So I can't die here, neither of us can. Try to stay alive, Purple.