The Magic Circles

Just as I came to the realization, the room went quiet and in the far distance, screams could be heard.

I put my hands against the windowsill and opened up the barricade which blocked off the noise. The screams were plentiful, and there was one big threat that I couldn't spot as of right now. I looked all around outside of the window but was unable to see what was going on.

"Anima?! What do you see?" Ipa yelled out to me. I didn't know, silencing him with my hand as I continued to peer out of the door. The screams continued...

I turned to Tama, but not even she knew what was going on. I wanted to chalk it up to another brainless, angry person, but the screams went on too long for it to be one instant threat. It was a constant one, but where was it?!

"Anima! That!" Ruby pushed me out of the way and pointed upward toward the Sky. Soul burst through the front door and it was now available for everybody to see. The sky was shrouded by large, golden, magical circles. In the anime I used to watch, this meant a big attack was coming.

"What the hell... do you think it's Zeus?!" I asked everybody. Of course, they wouldn't know, but having consolation right now would've been a lot more helpful than not having any.

I ran down the street to the crowd of people, witnessing several people push against an invisible barrier right on the outside of an alleyway. We were stuck inside? Then it was a huge attack waiting to happen! Shit!

"Come on, everybody, let's get the hell out of here!" I shouted back to them again.

We ran out the door, some of us without our armor in an attempt to make it out alive. I had mine and Ruby had hers, but every other piece of armor was missing from the house. Once we made it halfway down the street, I realized and looked back to evaluate whether or not it would be worth it to grab it.

"Anima, why are you stopping?!" Ipa yelled out to me again.

"Our armor! We might need it if things get bad! Soul, Ken, Tama, you guys find a way out, Ruby, Ipa, and I will get our armor. Go!" I yelled at them and we split up, running back to the house.

Ipa kicked the door off of its hinges as the screams got louder. They were full of more substance, more fear... it was getting scary.

The loud noises were starting to make me anxious and I couldn't think straight. All I wanted to do was to run. I wanted to leave as fast as possible, but something in my mind antagonized me.

I stopped yet again, this time, not of my own will. My body froze and I couldn't move at all. But I knew... I knew for a fact why I wouldn't move.

I was afraid, more afraid than I ever had been. The fear had slowly been crawling up my legs and had now locked my knees, and I couldn't do anything but watch my friends as they slowly ran toward the edge of the large magic circle above us.

I watched as they kicked up dirt and turned their heads to look back over at me, and I watched their mouths open wide as they screamed out my name. I heard the screams, and they melted together until everything was intangible.

In the face of my imminent death, I tore kids out of cars in an attempt to be something. I was a pathetic person in my past life. I made a promise to somebody I can't remember anymore, and I just tried to save those people so I could move past that promise.

That's right.

Maybe I wanted to be reincarnated somewhere else. Maybe I wanted to escape that hellish prison where my feelings and emotions were locked up.

But when I was sent here, everything changed for the worst.

I've been running constantly, just trying to keep my friends safe, but they'll never know how much I care about them. They'll never know that I'm killing myself in my head to have run that far with them. This isn't me.

I saved those kids the day I died on Earth, but here, I ran away from the kids who cried out for help. Why?

Because I'm useless.

What good could I do for them? How could I convince myself to move my body after shutting myself down like this?

I couldn't hear a thing, I couldn't make out faces, and I can't understand what was going on. I just sat back the entire time.

What's wrong with me?!

People are dying here, people were starving, people needed my help, and what did I do?!

I made potions, I made friends, and I made good memories, while they were suffering?!

AND I'M A HERO?!

I am so utterly pathetic that the thought alone filled me with rage. This feeling of uselessness was peaking inside of my head and I started to grit my teeth as for the first time in what felt like an eternity...

My body moved.

One foot forward in the complete opposite direction, not away from the screaming...

But toward it.

I'm a lousy Hero. I'm a pathetic excuse for a man, but that all ends as my feet hit the ground. I refuse to run.

I refuse to be happy when so many others cannot follow me. When so many others suffer while I get to have fun.

That's right. This isn't a vacation, this is my punishment.

This is my punishment for saving those kids on that bridge, and I will not back down from it.

My foot hit the ground for a third time as my vision closed in on the people in front of me. I could see it clearly now. Standing on the rooftop nearby was Zeus, pointing a staff down at everybody while a skill charged up. However, his white fluffy hair blowing in the wind revealed a stare that was far too sadistic to belong to him.

Is he my punishment? So be it, if he's my punishment, then I'll gladly take it!

Because I am the Third Magic Hero, and I will not back down!