Redirection

'Leo, stop.'

'No.'

'I'm not sure I should give you any power, right now.'

'I think there isn't a better time.'

'Leo, calm down.'

'When has saying that helped anyone!?' Leo wanted to throw a fist at someone right now. He felt so furious at everything. Or maybe he was just angry with himself–distraught after only seeing his real friend when they were gone.

He calmed himself before saying, 'if you give me power now, I'll still have a chance to do something. Obviously, Tiam gave that asshole enough of a running to take the Holy Water, so he might be weak.'

'So are you.' Raphael was still cradled Tiam, refusing to even move from that spot.

'You don't understand,' Leo said with bitterness flushing his tongue.

'Yes, I do!' Raphael's face twisted, and Leo realised what had happened. He realised what was wrong. This meant far more to Raphael than just revenge. For someone in his position, this was the worst outcome. Quiet took the group for a time. It was long enough to realise that everyone had just come out of a very tense and scary situation, and things were not in the right place to be arguing rationally. Thankfully, there was someone nearby with a calmer head.

'I'm cutting in.' Jun of the Massacre wound his blade into the stone. He spat some blood before speaking. 'You are like children on a playground, all argument but no resolution. I will be your parent.' He pointed at Leo. 'You are right, lightning boy, you should indeed receive more power.' His finger swung to Raphael. 'But so are you. Any man would kill himself trying to fight in his state.' He ground his teeth loud enough to set Leo's skin on a long and sickly crawl. 'I have been watching your little team for some time, and now I see that you might do what others could not. You may actually succeed in that ring of death.' He turned his blade a few more times before lifting it onto his lap. Leo only realised now that he had never seen the man without his weapon, and it was like it always touched his body at some point. The man's technique in a fight also reflected this, as he would often handle the metal of the blade itself in attacks.

'I do not see this angel as your first priority, however.' Jun waved a hand like he was dismissing Tiam altogether.

'But he killed my friend,' Leo croaked. He felt more of that black mess run through his mouth, carving new warm trails over his tongue.

'He was an absent party until your friend visited him. Whether his reasons may or may not be pure, he defended that water like it was a living thing. He will come to you in time, if you being alive was really a problem.' When did someone with this much clarity and wisdom get the nickname, Jun of the Massacre?

'What should I do then?' Leo wanted to add, wise guy, but Jun was a scary fellow. In fact, the man was barely injured aside from what seemed to be some internal bleeding. It was like his skin wasn't breakable, but his insides got bruised instead.

'You and I keep fighting in the ring. You get more powerful sponsors like the lady here, and your enemies will come to you. They've been appearing without much prompting from you, have they not?'

'I guess.'

'Then do not waste energy, lightning boy. Recuperate and gain strength, then reach the bottom of this damned colosseum.'

Finally, Leo began to notice the strain his body was wringing itself with. Every muscle in his body was pulled thinner than splaying twine, and his bones ached as if they were punctured with iron needles. This man might have been the one thing stopping him from landing himself with a hole to match Tiam's.

'Besides.' Jun tilted his head until his shoulder crunched. He lifted his nose at Tiam. 'That person isn't dead.'

Leo's bedroom was silent aside from the occasional voice or clatter of debris from outside. He watched Tiam's pale lips part slowly, allowing the shallowest of breaths to pass between them. Unable to recall another time that he felt so relieved, Leo sighed and let his eyes fall for a moment.

In that moment, as had been happening all evening, he opened his eyes to realise he had slept for some hours. The sleep took him like a mighty weight, then disappeared faster than it arrived. Tiam hadn't moved, and their wrapped wound was more grotesque than before. Finally, Leo felt energetic enough to sit up. He stretched and let his muscles release every bit of tension like it was a fine mist flowing from his pores.

He spied the large body of Jun, lying against the far wall like some soldier ready for a fight. Leo couldn't recall inviting the man to join them, but he did know that his intentions in joining them were mostly pure. Apparently, he wasn't after the wish or any such thing at the bottom of this colosseum, but had a bet with a demon that he needed to win. The stoic fellow hadn't explained any more than that, and Leo learned words weren't often his strong suit.

Quiet voices caught Leo's ear, rising from the balcony gently and as cool as the evening breeze. He stumbled out of bed and came face to face with both Raphael and Selaphiel. They stopped speaking before he could catch any idea of what the conversation entailed. Raphael did put something behind his back, however. Also, he seemed a little flustered.

'You look well,' said Raphael as he haphazardly leaned on the railing.

'You look ready,' stated Selaphiel. Her eyes refracted the low light from beyond them like a pair of mossy green moons. 'Will you accept my support in your endeavour here, Leo Cadmus?'

Leo wanted to be sarcastic, or just a little fun, but maybe the day had changed him. 'Of course. I'm ready.'

His hand felt rigid, and the skin changed form. It glistened like the surface of a beautifully polished geode.

'Leo, you are now an heir to the power of a second archangel.'