Pride(3)

The village people stood far away from the battlefield. The situation that had unfolded was so unexpected that they couldn't help but tremble in fear, praying for it all to be over.

"This must be a sign...it has to be a sign" An elderly man with tattered clothing and a boney frame raised his hands to the sky and cried loudly for all to hear.

"BEHOLD THE AWAKENING IS NIGH! FOR YOU SEE, DISCORD HAS COMMENCED AMONG US IN OUR GREAT GOLDEN KINGDOM, POLLUTING OUR MINDS OF EVIL" the elderly man waved his hands, his eyes blazing madly.

" WE MUST PREPARE! PREPARE FOR THE REAWAKENING OF THE ERA OF BLOODSHED FROM AGE-LONG!!!!"

Mothers glared at the yapping madman in anger while covering their children's ears, some of which clung to their mothers' skirts in fear. Grown men tutted silently, and shook their heads annoyed that this old man was not paying attention to his surroundings.

"WE MUST PREPARE!!!!"

The old man, who seemed to have done this quite frequently, yelled at the top of his lungs. When the village men couldn't take it anymore, someone walked up and intervened.

"Shut the hell up old man, that's just an old fairy tale!" one man cried and pushed the old man on the floor.

*Thump* his body hit the pavement hard.

"What does a couple of criminals wreaking havoc have anything to do with that old story?" The man yelled in anger.

"Yea, you don't actually believe it do you, that's just something the nobles say to scare us. Besides, the hounds are taking care of it as we speak"

Many protested and grumbled, but not the fallen old man.

"heh..heh...hehehehehe...HAHAHAHAH" The old man laughed. Causing the crowd to step back in bewilderment. They felt as if the old man had finally snapped in his insanity.

"I've warned you…." The old man slowly raised himself up.

"Those who have eyes refuse to see, those who have ears refuse to hear…."

"This.... is all preordained in the ancient texts….." He finally stood up, stepped forward, and grasped at the man who pushed him. Clenching his arm hard, causing the man to wince in pain.

"Blood shall once again befall on our golden floors...." His tattered clothing drooped downwards barely clinging to his thin body, his hair that was in small patches flopped everywhere.

" and we shall all meet our ends at the hands of the demon" He smiled crazily, yet terror was painted in his eyes. Having had enough, the man violently shook his arm off and punched the old man in the face, knocking him out cold.

"C-crazy old man…" The man said. The people sighed in relief.

Yet the old man's words still left a heavyweight upon the air….

*********************

Sorren gazed at the impending climax with fear and anticipation. Though Jean seemed to have the upper hand in the situation, Sorren felt otherwise. He recalled from his father to never let your guard down, regardless of what light is shown at the end of a tunnel.

The boy felt a tickling sense of anxiety and sincerely hoped that this hopeful situation wouldn't cost Jean anything, not a single missing breath. He bit his lip as he continued to watch the fight.

Porter clenched his hands tightly. He said nothing as he watched the situation unfold. His pitch-black eyes seemed as though they were blazing, he clenched his jaw.

'Hot-headed idiot. Leaving it to him was a complete waste of time" Porter clicked his tongue internally. He knew Dormon wasn't the brightest person in the world, yet his unending brutality and intimidating nature were just what he needed in order to enforce his "views" of a perfect image.

Porter chewed on the inside of his mouth.

'It would seem like I really will be the one to officially end you Jean lock' he thought. Porter's patience had finally run out.

"HAH…..HAH….HAH"

Dormon's breath was ragged. His body trembled in pain, he felt as if his entire body was on fire despite only having an arrow wound on his arm. Dormon squirmed uncomfortably, biting his lips to keep conscious. He glared fiercely at Jean who stood still with a smirk.

"J-JEAN...HAH...HAH...Y-YOU BASTARD!!!"

Jean rolled his eyes and plugged in his ears. "You haven't changed at all with that loud mouth of yours...do us a favor and shut it will ya…." Jean said. This made Dormon even angrier.

"Y-YOU DISGUSTING BLANK, DO YOU REALIZE WHO YOU JUST ATTACKED!!" Dormon roared staggering towards Jean. His arm was bleeding profusely, he could no longer feel it. Jean glanced at him in indifference.

"Hmmm? No clue really…" He said.

"I'M A AUTHORIZED…...Y-YELLOW HOUND!" Dormon was in so much pain that his speech was clipped, he struggled hard to even get a sentence out. His humiliation grew and he turned red in rage.

Jean was enjoying this. Dormon had a tendency to always overestimate himself. In the past, he would flock to the weaker kids and flaunt his strength to feel superior. It was indeed true that Jean was never able to beat him in the past, but not because he wasn't strong enough. He simply did not feel bothered enough to try hard.

In the past, Jean lacked any tendency to wield a sword or any weapon for that matter this was because he was judged to lack the necessary talent to wield a sword or any other weapon except a bow, which was something he was naturally adept at since childhood, therefore he didn't bother with mastering combat and instead stuck to observation. However, the yellow hounds did not authorize bows as a means of defense.

" NOT EVEN THE DUNGEONS WOULD BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES" Dormon cried.

"Do you know what's at the end for you in all this..." Dormon growled.

"You'd be dragged like a rag doll by horses, your limbs pulled against their will until they rip off, or better yet burned just like your fugitive parents" with every list of punishments, Dormon's smile grew wider. Sorren flinched and squirmed back. The sounds of those punishments were so terrifying. He felt that Dormon had completely lost his mind now.

Angry-crazed pupils glanced at the children, and he gritted his teeth.

" You're getting what you want now right? Having so much fun aren't ya….You want To kill us all because of your cowardice?"

"I SHOULD BE THE ONE KILLING YOU FOR MURDERING ANNA!!"

Jean's smirk vanished and was replaced with a blank look.

Sorren frowned.

Anna? Who's Anna?

Porter sighed heavily. He looked away as if the memories were too much to bear. He covered his face.

"Just had to bring that up huh…." He whispered.

Sorren squirmed.

"What? W-what is he talking about now? Sorren cried. Were they just making things up just to back Jean in a corner? Sorren felt anger. "STOP LYING!! JEAN WOULD NEVER KILL ANYONE, AND NOT SOMEONE WHOSE INNOCENT FOR THAT MATTER YOU LIARS!!!!"

Porter slammed his foot on Sorren's leg, prompting the boy to scream.

"That wasn't a lie boy…." Porter's tone turned venomous, making Sorren clamp his mouth shut. Porter hung his head low, allowing shadows to darken his face. "I never finished telling the story did I?"

His stringy hair hung loosely and he gripped at his roots, a small, strained smile spreading on his lips.

"Anna….was our friend….." He said quietly.

"We were...all planning on being a part of the yellow hounds. We wanted to bring results for our kingdom to be recognized by the king." Porter said.

" Anna, in particular, was most enthusiastic, you see. Even with her small magic core, she worked hard to have a place there" Porter closed his eyes, smiling at the memory.

"I thought she was so beautiful….her charisma spread to all of us, and we found ourselves working hard just like her"

Sorren could feel the sincerity in his voice, to him he didn't seem as though he was lying. He wondered what it's like to be in the past. He felt like this woman, Anna, was probably what kept the group together, and when she passed, it sort of broke everything apart like a fragile piece of glass.

'I lost my parents too….' Sorren understood what it meant to lose someone. Everyone has their way of coping, maybe for porter, blind justice was his way of coping, even if his actions seemed so one-sided.

'Maybe this Anna's death was why that red head guy is so angry and aggressive' Sorren gazed at Jean who stood silent. Conflicting emotions spreading through his heart. Truthfully, he no longer knew what he was to believe anymore.

"On that day….when I lost her…..I wanted to…." He paused and breathed in. Sorren could feel the essence of grief coming from him. His heart tickled a bit as he listened.

"On that day, I was planning on proposing to her. But, only to find her limp body covered in blood." His voice trembled.

"And the person who I thought was my friend…." He gritted his teeth "The person who I thought was my friend standing over her with her blood on his hands. He was planning on doing something so vulgar and disgusting to her"

Sorren said nothing.

"So you see, this is what I've been trying to tell you kid, that bastard, that Calamity over there is nothing short of a waste" Porter slowly lifted his head. Sorren crained his neck as much as he could to see him, and when he did his blood ran ice cold.

"Seeing people flock to him like a bunch of bugs pisses me off. A murderer like him doesn't deserve such happiness, that's why...you kill bastards like him" Porter looked like a monster of madness. His pitch-black eyes seemed deep, like an endless abyss of horror. His face was etched in shadows where a nefarious smile that betrayed all innocence lay bare.

Jean didn't say anything for a long while. His eyes looked like empty sockets. After a while, he finally spoke.

' Alright….and?"

Dormon gaped in shock at Jean's nonchalance.

"Y-YOU DARE T-TO"

"What a shame huh, a poor woman killed by I a measly blank, and you who was so prodigious with your sword failed to protect her, ain't that something" Jean laughed mockingly at Dormon.

He was provoking his ego.

There was one thing Jean knew regarding Dormon. It was his massive pride in both himself and his kingdom. Jean knew that his pride was constantly crushed to no return during the earlier battle. It was going all according to Jean's plan to finally kill him once and for all.

Just as they had done to him, he would return it 10 folds. It was why Jean stalled around so much. Dormon was an impatient fool who could never work well with others unless it benefitted him. Jean smiled internally.

'We're finally at the last stage. Just one more push' He thought internally.

Dormon was thunderstruck, it felt as though something within him snapped, and he no longer could think rationally. All he thought was: Kill him, Kill him, kill him, Kill him

"GRAAAAAAAH"

Dormon roared loudly as he grabbed at his sword. The whites of his eyes could be seen, his once fair skin was now as red as a devil. Saliva dripped and splattered from his mouth as he howled in rage like a wild animal. Magi toms blazed like a raging inferno engulfing the air in scorching heat.

"DIIIIIIIIIIE" Dormon tried to rush at Jean who stood there.

But then….

*Clang*

"?????"

The sword fell to the ground.

Dormon was confused.

He reached for his sword again but

*Clank* *cLANK*

Sorren frowned. "W-what's going on?"

He watched as Dormon repeatedly tried to grab his sword, but his arm couldn't move, it felt as though it was numb.

"W-WHAT"

The shock of it all caused him to regain his rationality once more.

"What's going on, why can't I…" He tried clenching his fist but it wouldn't budge.

"Impossible Impossible Impossible IMPOSSIBLE!" He screeched as he did it again and again.

He who had been trained to take many hits from weapons, he who had been in numerous confrontations with many blanks across the kingdom, was confused as to why his arms were no longer moving. Even if he was pierced by an arrow at most he felt he'd just have a bit of trouble moving it due to pain, but not being able to move it at all was unexpected.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIIIS!!!" Dormon shouted in a panic. He even tried to grip his other arm but his entire arm, wrist, and even fingers wouldn't move.

"Hmm you mean you don't know?" Jean said casually.

"W-WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME, YOU BASTARD!!"

Jean laughed a bit. "Come on Dormon, make a guess, why might you not be able to move that arm of yours"

"Y-YOU DARED TO POISON MEEEE"

Jean shook his head "Never mind don't guess, I forgot you were too much of an idiot"

"I simply….shredded your nerves to no return," Jean said smiling brightly.

Everything grew silent. Even Porter stood there shocked.

"J-Jean...h-how did you…" Sorren started.

Jean smiled.

" I guess there are a lot of things I've never told you huh lad. Well, I am a hunter and hunters are trained to aim at critical spots in animals that can instantly kill them."

"During my time in the training force for the hounds, I spent my time….observing you see. Animals have all types of habits that tick, but humans….are just the same if not even more obvious."

"During our little battle, or rather game of hide and seek, I simply led you around...quite obviously I might add. I knew that you'd figure out that attacking the source of your blindspot would evidently lead you to find me, soooo," Jean rolled his eyes.

"I simply laid the bate to attract the dumb animal that you are"

Dormon fell down like a broken puppet as if his strings had been cut. He was not processing what was happening. Without his sword, rather, not being able to use his dominant arm meant that he was forever useless. Jean kneeled down so that they were face to face.

"Do you know why I've never been able to beat you beforehand?" Dormon slowly looked at Jean.

Jean's lips curled in a wolfish grin. "It's because….you were never worth the effort until now….while you were too busy sucking your own little "Spindle" there lavishing on your outer strength…." jean paused and pointed at his heart "I've been focusing on how to end thing internally, in.one.simple.shot"

Dormon's eyes still were widened as if his entire mind had just been broken. He felt pride in his strength and abilities, he climbed the ranks and even made a name for himself. Hearing people say his title as an "overseer" made him jumpy with glee, and he soaked himself in the rumors like it was a relaxing bath. But now, all that was destroyed in the face of a scrawny blank who he felt had no value in life.

He was a blank who murdered people and ran away like a measly coward once his family was executed. When Jean returned he thought he could simply overpower him like he'd done all the other criminals, but that proved false when he was out bested by a retired hunter, and none other than Jean.

Jean smiled seeing the brokenness in his eyes. "Allow me to deliver you my final gift, Dor, for a good reunion. Farewell," Jean raised his bow and pulled back the drawstring. Just as he was about to release the bow

"I think that's enough now" A low voice interrupted. Jean felt a chill and quickly turned. His eyes widened as he saw Sorren in a bubble of water, suffocating. Callie and Cale were also in their own water bubbles.

Jean cursed. Losing sight of Porter was the ONE thing he tried his hardest not to do.

He turned around his eyes caught sight of Dormon who was still slumped like a doll. Porter was right behind him and patted his shoulder.

Dormon slowly raised his head, his eye lifeless.

"This isn't like you Dor," Porter said sadly. Dormon looked at Porter "M-Machin, what do I do...my arm is..."

Porter patted his shoulder gently. "Its alright, we all make mistakes which is why I can help fix the mistake"

Dormons eyes shined in hope.

"R-really then-"

*SLICE*

Jeans eyes widened. Even Sorren felt repulsed by the sight.

*THUMP* Dormons head rolled on the pavement, a fountain of blood spurting upward before falling slowly to the ground.

Porter smiled "There we go, the mistake has been fixed!"

Jean was shocked. he didn't expect Porter to step forward like this, it was completely against what he knew. Jean's eyes quickly glanced at the children who didn't have much time left, then back at Porter. But then...

"!!!!!!"

Porter was nowhere to be found once more.

"CRAP WHERE'S POR-"

*STAB*

"U-urgh"

Jean felt a piercing pain in his right side. His breath was caught in his throat and his body felt as if it was swaying in the air. He slowly looked down and saw a long spike of water pierced out of his rib. Blood seeped quickly in his shirt, he could feel blood trickling down his bare skin.

"U-HUK...UUGH" He staggered forward and fell to his knees.

"It's annoying really, This idiot said he could handle you only to get bested, quite disappointing really" Porter walked beside Jean and watched as he gasped for breath.

"Haah well you win some and you lose some, but in this case, I guess you'll be losing it all again huh Jean" Porter kicked Jean on the ground and stepped on his wound.

"UUUUUGH..HUGH"

Jean groaned in pain. His eyes reflected Porter's gleeful smile as he watched him die. "Now all the annoying blanks shall perish in one fatal swoop. I wonder...will I be praised for another flawless victory again? Just like that one night?" Porter laughed again remembering the time.

Jean moaned in pain "Urrrgh...mmm b-bastard…"

Sorren clenched his neck, wanting to breathe. He reached out to Jean, Callie and Cale as his vision darkened.

Then…

"FWOOOOOSH*

Porter flinched grandly and jumped backwards just in time before a coiling line of flames separated him from jean and the kids.

*Fwoosh* *Fwoosh* Fire shaped arrows struck at the bubbles of water that were encasing the children, popping upon impact. The kids fell to their knees coughing up heaps of water.

*Koff* *Koff* *hak..hak*

Sorren regained his vision and looked around. "W-who's that now?"

Jean smiled a bit as he clutched his wound. Porter gritted his teeth angrily. "Tch, what is she doing here?" He groweled

Blonde hair that now hung loose, a yellow uniform gleaming in the bright sun. Piercing sharp brown eyes as it gazed upon the scene.

"Funny I would like to ask you the same thing Porter…. '' a cold and feminine voice pierced the stunned air.

The woman stood firm, her golden hair swung wildly in the inferno of blood-red flames. She drew her sword and pointed it at Porter menacingly.

"When Overseers aren't even authorized to use such force in the first place" Riza Plough had come on the battlefield.

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Name: Dormon Rageborn

Age: 27

Home: Capital Village: Lo'Ven

Magic Core: Medium

Affinity: Fire

Status: Deceased

Info: Dormon was once the childhood friend of Jean during his time in his home village Lo'ven. In his youth, he trained to be a yellow hound, his main choice of weapon a sword. He was overconfident in nature due to his gift of the sword and flocked to weaker children to make himself appear superior. It was never known how he and porter met, but it was hinted that Porter was the only person he'd listen to precisely because of his dark nature that frightened him.