Secret Art
I don't know how much he heard about our conversation but I think he only heard the part about escaping. I quickly run towards Euro but the master grabs me by the shirt and hits me too. I got knocked down on the ground and as I return my gaze to Euro, the master was giving him a series of punches and kicks. The master mercilessly beat Euro up with no intention of stopping.
"Stop!" I begged.
I rush towards the master and tried my best to push him away from Euro but it was futile.
"Don't interfere, you trash!"
With that, he punches me on the face which made my vision hazy. I forced myself to keep myself awake but I am really losing my consciousness.
"Euro!" I weakly mumbled
I forced myself to stand up and save Euro but I can't maintain my balance. I fall to the ground and I couldn't do anything but watch the master beat him.
"Stop!" I weakly begged.
At this rate, he'll die.
I was losing hope when all of a sudden, the four girls scrambled towards the master and tried to free Euro from the master's grip.
"Get off of him!" they all implored.
Despite their effort, their summed-up strength wasn't able to break Euro free from the master. He's a full-grown man. His strength is incomparable to these young girls. The master didn't hold back and gave each one of them a beating. After that, he returned to Euro and continued beating him. He stopped when the youngest girl grabs his foot.
"Mas…ter, ple...ase stop!" she weakly mumbled.
Instead of feeling pity, he treads the little girl and kicked her in her chest.
Lub! Dub!
He's a demon.
Lub! Dub!
I felt intense rage within my heart after seeing the little girl spew blood from the kick. Although she points the blame on me for breaking the urn, I felt an extreme impulse on helping her. Despite her being afraid of the master, she still tried to stop him knowing she'll get hurt just to protect Euro. She's afraid of the master but she still tried to stop him. And because of that she…
"Ashley!" one of the girls called with an ailing voice as she pats the little girl's cheeks.
"Ashley! Wake up! Please! Ashley! No! No!"
No!
The girl that was patting her stood up and grab a rock out of rage. I felt something waking up within me as I gaze at the dead body of the little girl. A strong surge of energy builds up within me. For an unknown reason, I saw radiance from everyone. These aurae I'm seeing are their intentions and emotions. The girl with a rock, I sensed intense grief and rage bursting. She tried to hit the master but she failed. I saw how the master stopped the girl by the hand and takes the rock from her and smashed it to her head. The aurae that I sensed from her suddenly vanish after getting hit. The master glared at the remaining two girls that were severely injured and strode towards them. I sense bloodlust.
No!
He's gonna…
As he was about to hit them with a rock, Euro made it in time and tackled with him. Euro was already reduced into a pulp but he still tried to save the girls.
"What did you do to them?"
I saw Euro cried in grief. The master glared at him and punched him in the face while holding the rock. Euro got knocked down as a puddle of blood began to appear. The master grins as he moved closer to him. As I watch him walk closer to Euro, I sensed his intention to kill.
His aura begun to darken.
As I witness him raising his hand with the rock, an unexpected eruption of energy overwhelmed me.
I won't let you touch them ever again.
I stand up and paces towards him. I kept my gaze locked at him as my distance keeps getting near. I felt the air vibrating around me. As I clench my hand into a fist, a charge of energy started to concentrate within it. When I finally reach the master, I stood still behind him. I suddenly lost my reason and wasn't able to think clearly about the situation. My mind becomes blank. I'm drowning from the resentment clouding my mind. I then heard a weak cough from behind. I search for the source and saw the girls. When my gaze reaches the little girl who tried to stop the master, wrath forced me to make a gruesome decision.
"How dare you hurting them, you lower life form. An insect like you does not deserve to exist."
The master finally noticed my presence behind him and was about to apprehend me. I dodge every attempt he made. When he tried reaching for my neck, I instantly punch his head with all my force along with the concentrated energy I build up within my fist. My punch was accompanied by a thunderclap. The force that I exert was too powerful which vaporized him and not even his ashes remained. My intense rage didn't calm down and I felt like I want to do more. I was told to not harm others yet I broke it. The glowing tree forbids me to hurt others but I disobeyed. But if I didn't do that, Euro and the others will die. I did what I have to do. I gave them the justice they deserve. But I can't erase the fact that I killed someone. My mind is getting corrupted. My mind is getting manipulated and I become impassive. But, upon seeing the sight of Euro, I snapped out from intense anger and confusion. I wept in sorrow as I saw how bad his condition is. I felt pain in my chest as I slowly walk towards him. I held his head and laid it on my lap. I softly pat his cheeks, trying to wake him up but he's not responding.
I felt fear in my heart.
Lub! Dub!
I want him to live!
Lub! Dub!
Please, live!
I laid my hand on his chest and used my given abilities to revive him. This is one of my abilities given by the glowing tree. I can heal any life-threatening injuries and wounds using the power of nature. Euro is still breathing but he's slowly dying. I tried the best I can to revive him. I exert all my energy to restore every damaged organ. This skill requires accuracy, precision and knowledge which I'm afraid I lack. I know what risk I'm facing if I used it without comprehension but I will take it.
"Euro, you said that you want to travel the world, right? How will you achieve it if you won't fight for your life?"
I can't stop my tears from streaming down when my healing ability wasn't working. I then felt his heart stop beating. Even the girls, their lives have already ceased. Everyone is now dead.
"No! Please don't give up! All of you, please don't leave me!"
This is all my fault. If only I was brave enough maybe I have saved everyone… and my friends.
But I didn't.
If only I did something from the start, my friends would still be alive. If only I fought back…
If only…
I felt remorse thinking of the greatest mistake I made. I just realize it when everything was already too late. My friends died because I let it happen to them. They weren't liars. They weren't the ones who lied…
I am the one who lied to them.
"I'm so sorry for breaking our promise. Please forgive me!"
I look at Euro and the girls.
I…
I can…
I can still save them.
"At such a young age, you've suffered so much. Now, I will grant you the life that you all deserve."
I will save them.
I don't care if I have to pay a hefty price. I want to save him and the others. Ashley, the little girl, I want her to live. I know she did something bad to me but she just did it out of fear. Everyone was scared of the master but they fought back to save Euro. They build up the courage to fight back while I did nothing. I was too quick to judge them. They're all good kids. I take off the cloak Euro gave me and use it as a pillow as I carefully laid Euro's head on it. I stood up and made a decision.
"I don't care about the cost that I'll pay, I will save you all."
"…"
"Please..."
"…"
"…come back!"
"…"
"Almighty Essence of the Celestial Creator, heed my call and return the essence that was lost."
"…"
"Art of Essence Revival: The Gift of Life. Commence!"
A stream of energy from me quickly connects to each one of them. That technique I used, it's an ability that was never and will never be forgotten even if I lose all my memories.
My healing ability is a separate skill where it can heal and restore any kind of injuries, disabilities, illnesses, and diseases. But this kind of skill I'm using right now is a power that neither the Glowing Tree could do. A power that defies death: The ability to resurrect the dead. However, it would only take an effect if the soul agrees to be revived.
With all of the energy I exerted, I successfully healed and revive everyone, with no exception, including the master but I left him unconscious. With this, my sin for breaking my promise to the Glowing Tree will be compensated. And now, I will do the thing that I should have done from the start. I will protect everyone who I cared for. As Euro came back to life, he gazes on his body wondering why he's alive. A tear of joy gushed from my eyes. He finally notices my presence and with that realization, his confused expression changed into surprise and I already know why.
"Izac, why are you fading away?"
I smiled at him accepting my fate. The price to pay for using such a technique is my own life. Losing my memories is one of the factors why there was a price upon using it.
"It's alright. I'm glad I saved you. Now, please live your life and be free."
Before losing my vision of them, I saw light rushing towards the cloak and formed an emblem. From that moment, I saw how the cloak obtains my memories of this timeline.
But how did Alby got the cloak?