Decisions

[Lance, ignore Shiro as he is just having high adrenaline rush from fighting]

"But Shiro-"

[Trust me]

"If you take their power sooner or later they will ask something return!" Shiro shouted. "So stop arguing and do as you're told!"

"But, but, I can't risk-"

"I'll kill them!" Shiro snapped.

Lance stopped speaking abruptly, his mouth hanging open and his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

[Shiro, do you know why he is under our rule?]

Shiro's eyes widened slightly and his gaze softened. For a second his eyes widened in fear as he thought back to when he first met.

He then charged forward, his movements becoming much more powerful as he advanced towards them.

Lance watched, mesmerized by the look of determination and passion that flashed in his eyes as he clashed swords with two enemies simultaneously, pushing them aside and sending them flying with one single swing of his blade.

[Lance was brought back to be Crimson Crow's child as he is fated to kill him]

The voice reminded him. With each swing of his weapon the men would be flung away and knocked over as if they weighed nothing. It was amazing. He stood there watching the entire time, completely shocked at just how strong Shiro truly was. If there had only been less of them then maybe he wouldn't have had such trouble fighting these soldiers.

As they continued their clash, Lance noticed that the men kept approaching them, determined to continue their attack and destroy them.

"And you believe he owes you his existence?" Shiro asked.

[Yes, he does, Shiro.]

"Is that so?" Shiro mused aloud. "Well he doesn't have to prove himself to me."

His expression hardened before he charged again, his sword slashing through the air, knocking down an enemy and making it fall back. Another one quickly joined it, this one managing to block Shiro's strike and send a shock wave through his arm, causing him to drop his weapon for a brief moment.

That moment gave the opponent enough time to charge at him once more. His opponent swung his large sword around him and aimed it at Shiro's head. As he prepared to strike, his opponent moved his body away and raised his hand, aiming straight down towards Shiro's chest.

The sword came crashing down, sending sparks in all directions, forcing Shiro to jump off and pull away. A third man stepped forward, preparing to try another attack while the fourth tried to take advantage of Shiro's distraction.

They were all sent flying backwards into the wall behind them and fell heavily. After watching them fall to the ground in defeat, Lance let out a sigh. A heavy weight seemed to press on him as if all that weight could actually break him.

[You can't protect him forever]

That statement hit Lance like a ton of bricks. Even though he wanted to, Shiro was no longer the superhero he used to be. And even if Shiro wasn't, he couldn't really afford to lose anyone else. Lance knew what happened to people who lost their allies and loved ones. Especially friends.

[Lance, you cannot run away forever.]

Lance suddenly thought about how he wanted to save Suri by listening to the seraphs and Shiro arguing he forgot why he needed to be stronger to defeat their enemies.

Shiro turned back towards him, his expression questioning as his eyebrows drew together.

"Are you alright? You looked kinda spaced out."

"I am fighting too!" Lance shouted. "I'm not going to just sit here and watch you guys win every fight without me! I need to learn!"

[Finally you get it]

[Health 200/200]

[Mana 100/100]

Lance bit into his palm till he bled allowing it to float mid-air articulating it into a large sword and letting it fly towards the enemy. Shiro's eyes widened in awe as the sword flew at the soldier and sliced right through his torso. Lance pulled his hand away as the sword disappeared and looked at Shiro.

"If I just let you fight my fights then I will never be able to save, Suri on my own!" He yelled.

Shiro simply stared at him blankly. Then slowly a smile appeared on his face as his hands clasped behind his back.

"Alrighty then. Let's see who you are."

He then ran forwards and attacked his foes once more, easily defeating them, and leaving little doubt that his strength rivaled Shiro.

Lance felt a small pang of jealousy in his chest. Why did he want to join Shiro anyway? Sure, he was good with swords, but was it really worth it? Did it make any sense to spend so much energy to improve yourself, when your life was already pretty much perfect?

The boy shook his head. This wasn't really the time nor place to think about such things. Right now he had a mission to fulfill. Saving Shiro and Suri. That's what mattered most to him.

[+ 100 experience]

[+ 100 experience]

[Level 3…level 4 congratulations]

Lance ran after him, jumping up and down as his foot slammed onto the ground with every landing. Each kick and shove propelled him closer to Shiro. Soon they were side by side against the other, both of them breathing hard and panting in exhaustion as their weapons clattered to the floor. Lance finally broke free of the trance he had fallen into.

"I didn't know you could move that fast!" He called back.

Lance groaned and rolled his eyes. He knew it was impossible, he just didn't want to admit it. How was that fair? All Lance wanted to do was help Shiro defeat these guys, yet Shiro was being nice and praising him instead.

"Don't get your hopes up, I haven't been working that hard for you." He replied sarcastically. "Plus, those guys weren't nearly as good as you."

Lance turned towards the sound. What he saw made him pause. Two figures, similar in shape and size, approached the duo, swinging wildly at both Shiro and Lance.