Vegetable

[1 Year Later]

[In the City of Samara, 21:00 PM]

The Garnan and some it's members met in the middle of the dark street. All of them wore cloaks to prevent themselves from being recognized by the masses. At the same time, they all entered a building with tense expression on their faces.

'I heard what happened. What do you think of it?' Rona asks Devian, 'I don't have an idea. There are countless strong and talented people in this world. It's likely that he tried to flirt with a strong person without properly assessing their strength. Otherwise, he would have not suffered such injury for all of us to be called to see him.'

What Devian said made sense, they are all aware that Ralph the kind of person that would lust for men regardless of their strength. But this time, they are all considering the fact that he may have fooled around with someone a few levels higher than him. 

'Well, that does make sense.' Rona agreed. 'Whoever it is, they must not be from this kingdom. We are quite known in the entire kingdom. There is no way someone would do something like beat up a member of Garnan unless they are outsiders.' Nana added. 'That as well. Let's just have Shelly heal him and get some answers. That way, we don't have to waste our time looking for the culprit.' Arche suggested.

'We are already planning for that. I already told Shelly about it earlier,' Arche looks at Rona with anticipating eyes and smiles, 'After this is over, want to do it? I miss doing it with you guys.' He added, and almost all of them blush. 'I miss doing it with all of you as well. I'm down for it, how about all of you?'

Out of all of them, Arche and Nana are the ones who overly flustered. And so, the group decided to do the recreational activity they always do after a long fight. Upon entering the room where Ralph is recovering, they are utterly surprised and shocked to see him in such a vegetable state.

Devian instantly fumes upon seeing his comrade and slams his hand on the wall, shaking the building softly, 'What the hell happened to him? Why does Ralph in that state?' he turns to the only person inside the room, a physician who was waiting for them to arrive. 

He nervously approached the heroes and tells them everything that he knew so far, but even though he told them everything. He is not spare from their wrath, Devian snaps the physician's neck out of anger.

'You are the nearest one to this place, and you don't even know how he ended up like this?' 

[THUD]

Arche move the physician's body away as they stare at Ralph's sorry state. 'This is extreme, who in the world would do something to a Garnan's member? Are they out of their minds?!' Arche says while watching Shelly trying to heal Ralph back to his original state.

'How long do you think you need to heal him?' Devian asks, 'Honestly, I don't know. No matter how I try to figure out the extent of his injuries, I can't get a definitive answer, it's like something is stopping me from doing so.' Hearing Shelly's words made Devian uneasy.

What they all thought was only a mere few minutes extended for almost two hours until Shelly shakes her head, defeated and demoralized. 'There is nothing I can do. Even with my healing abilities, I can' do anything! Hic! Hic! Hic!' 

It was the first time that Shelly admitted defeat, in all the fight that they have been through together, there was not a single time that Shelly admitted defeat. The sight of her losing hope gave them a taste of fear.

'Then what the hell are you saying, Shelly? You can't heal him?!' Arche lashes out to her, but Rona stops him from berating her, "Stop it, Arche. If Shelly says it's impossible for her to heal Ralph.' 

Instead of listening to her, Arche lashes out at Shelly even more. 'Can't heal him? Doesn't that mean she is not qualified enough to heal Ralph? Maybe there are others out there that are more qualified than her as a part of Garnan-!'

[BAM!]

Devian throws a punch at his face, putting an end to his rage. 'If Shelly can't heal him, then there's no one can. Shelly had showed us how capable she is. Now is not the time to doubt her skill.' Devian says trying to control his anger. 'We must look for the person that did this to him and make that person pay.' he added.

With heavy hearts, the current members fell in silence while watching Ralph fighting for his life, 'I never thought that I would see a friend on the verge of death. It's painful.' Devian hold Ralph's remaining limb and grind his teeth in anger, 'Don't worry, my friend. I will make sure to cripple the one that made you like this. I swear on my name.' he whispered to Ralph's ears as he turns to his comrades.

They all gave him the same expressions and turn their heads away, Devian bitterly clenched his fists and turns back to Ralph's unconscious body. Seeing how his friend's situation is, Devian grab Ralph's head and put an end to his misery by twisting his neck.

[CRACK]

'To think that it felt like this, killing your own friend by your own hands. This is unpleasant.' Devian says to himself as a piece of paper slides down from Ralph's pocket.

Arche noticed it and stands in shock as he read the contents. '........ guys? What the heck is this?'