A Collapse of the Heart

"Unhand me! Get off of me, you fiends!"

Kiev shouted and tried to run away. He was dragged on the ground and led to Tyrien to the town square.

"Sonalious! Friend! H-help me, please! The locals have gone crazy! I-I am the leader of Lorea, am I not?"

Sonalius stood where he was in contempt. He looked at the statue of Kiev beside the real man.

"You're nothing like the person this town thought you were. If you weren't useful to us... I'd have killed you myself for freely giving into Sig'car's control."

"You... Fine! I'm useful to you right? So you can't kill me!" Kiev showed his teeth and smiled devilishly.

"Just because we can't kill you doesn't mean I can't harm you." Sonalius glared at the man, and he shivered in his skin.

Tyrien stepped forward, annoyed at the groveling.

"Keanu is proficient in torture techniques. If he doesn't corporate we can simply let Keanu have at him for a few hours."

"Excellent..." Keanu stepped forward and showed a brutish smile, looking down Kiev. His three-meter, hulking body destroyed any confidence Kiev might have had.

"O-okay! Wait! I'll talk!" Kiev's eyes darted between Tyrien and Keanu haphazardously.

"Tell us where the rest of the lychnus are!" Tyrien pulled out her sword and brought it to the man's neck.

"East! His castle is east of Lorea, about two kilometers away!"

"Good... You'll take us there tomorrow morning if you value your life." Tyrien patted his head.

He had never felt so humiliated in his life. The whole town watched as his image was destroyed by Tyrien and Sonalius. Keanu took his hammer and swung it into the proud statue of Kiev.

"You need a new leader." Keanu spat.

The town leader's statue was destroyed, and Kiev felt horrible. There was nothing for him in Lorea now, and everyone was furious at him. His fate would be left in their hands.

Tyrien dismissed everyone and put bands on Kiev's arms and legs; he was kept with them, unable to escape or use energy. The town worked on repairs quickly. It was a joyous moment for many of the inhabitants. Now that they were free, things could go back to normal!

Rey and Riza, however, didn't have such thoughts. Whenever Riza thought of Lorea, her heart ached from the pain. All she could think of was that her parents were gone.

"Kiev... Where are my parents?"

Rey demanded hesitantly. He couldn't help but fear the answer.

"The family of Arriero, The family of Crasto, and the family of Reymond... sentenced to death by hanging when Sig'car came here."

"What?" Rey fumbled backward onto the ground in disbelief.

"I'm sorry... they were great-"

"You're joking, right?! Y-You're joking! I didn't come all this way for your bullshit! Where are they?!" Rey shouted. He felt delirious as his heart dropped to his stomach.

Kiev stood there, not saying another word.

"Answer me, damn you!"

Seeing Kiev's silent, almost smug look, something broke in Rey as he felt endless rage brewing within himself. He charged at Kiev with red eyes, his energy ready to explode.

"Rey!" Riza stood in his way, "Get ahold of yourself!"

Rey acted as if he didn't hear them, however. He shoved her away and condensed his energy... He was going to kill Kiev!

"Enough." Tyrien stepped in and pinned him to the ground before he could attack.

"Get off of me! Get off of me!!" Rey struggled with all his might.

"Damn it, Sonalius! Help me with him!" She yelled.

"Damn it! Damn you!!" Rey banged his head against the ground. Tears ran down the side of his face as he seethed in rage. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go! They were supposed to live!!"

Rey struggled, screaming as loud as he could. He felt insane — like he was going to lose his mind! His body glowed purple and felt hot to the touch. Tyrien looked at him seriously and had to step backward. An overwhelming sense of danger overcame her.

"What the hell is he doing?!" Tyrien exclaimed and froze when she glanced at Riza. Her face was of utter shock and anguish too, however. It seemed that Rey had opened up wounds in her as well.

Rey got to his feet, his veins thickened under immense pressure as if they were about to burst. It was as if purple wisps burned off of his body as he phased through the air. His breathing turned rapid as he looked at Kiev.

"H-hey! Get him away from me! Get him away!!" Kiev stammered and stumbled backward. Shivers crawled down his spine. He felt frozen as he stared into Rey's piercing eyes.

Rey heaved his chest up and down, each step seemed to slow time and break the stone under his feet. His eyes turned purple, and his short hair turned a silky blonde color. He felt tremendous power flow into him as his body bulged. Wisps of purple energy thickened over his shoulders like a chain. His tears fell into the air and vaporized before their eyes.

"Enough... Enough!" Rey's voice shook the air as he let his aura spread without control. When it hit Kiev, he couldn't help but cry out.

"You...! What are you doing?!" Kiev felt his organs rupturing under the pressure caused by Rey. He felt the aura and realized Rey was still an Evolved... but the thick pressure it exuded! It caused Kiev to drop to the ground and cough up blood.

"Rey! Damn it. We need him!" Tyrien was shocked. How could an Evolved be so strong?! This was sick! All of Rey's aura turned violent and engulfed Kiev in a single moment without him needing to move a finger.

Even Rey hadn't known how he activated that state, nor did he care at that moment; all he cared about was vengeance. Death to the lychni; death to those responsible. If not... he might go insane; he might break!

"You can't kill me! Y-you need me!" Kiev cried out.

Rey was unmoved, however, and glared at Kiev before ending his life. He collapsed on the ground convulsing. Tyrien could only grit her teeth as he died. She wasn't willing to fight with Rey like this.

"Kill... Kill..." He muttered and tugged on his blonde hair. His purple eyes darted to Riza and gazed at her face. Pain, sorrow, sadness, longing, regret... There were too many emotions for Rey to process. Her sadness weighed on his heart and woke him up from his rage.

It took all his willpower just to refrain from destroying everything around him. Feeling the immense energy he had, and the sea of hatred he had for the lychni, his eyes shone with a strange glint.

"I... I'll be back."