A Knight's Burden

They trudged back to the castle, the heavy silence of the forest hanging around them like a fog. The weight of everything they had encountered pressed down on them, especially the strange creatures and the overwhelming barrier blocking their way. Emily stayed close, her eyes constantly scanning the shadows for any signs of movement, while Ken walked ahead, his broad shoulders tense but steady. Every now and then, he glanced back to check on them, his concern written clearly across his face.

When they reached the gates, Alex and Lena were waiting, their eyes locked on them, clearly waiting for an update. Alex's usual warm smile faded slightly when he saw the exhaustion on their faces. His tone was urgent but kind as he spoke.

"Well?" Alex asked, his voice soft but laced with concern. "What did you find?"

Avi took a deep breath, trying to push through the headache still gnawing at the edges of his mind. "The northern part of the school... it's changed. The gate isn't what it was before. It's... massive now, covered in runes, almost like a portal. We couldn't get through. There's a barrier of some kind blocking the way."

Emily stepped forward, her voice tense. "We didn't just find the gate. We encountered a spirit wolf on the way there. It was level 2, but we managed to defeat it pretty easily. It wasn't like any wolf we've seen back on Earth. This thing was fast, its eyes glowing with some kind of eerie light, and it had three tails, greatly differentiating it from Earth's wolves."

Avi nodded, adding to her report. "The animals here—everything is different. The wolf alone was unlike anything I've ever seen. The creatures here are stronger, more aggressive. If we're going to survive, we need to expect more of this kind of thing."

Ken spoke up next, his voice low and serious. "After the wolf, we pushed on to the gate. But when we got close, that's when the headache hit Avi. We knew we couldn't keep going, so we decided to head back. That's when the guardian bear showed up."

Alex's brow furrowed at that. "A bear?"

"Yeah," Avi said, rubbing his temple, the ache still there, though it had dulled. "It was massive—bigger than anything we've ever seen. Dark fur, earthen spikes on its back, glowing core at its chest, and it didn't hesitate when it saw us. We tried to move past it, but it was too strong. I... I couldn't even help. I just couldn't focus with the headache."

Ken's voice dropped as he described the fight. "We had to fight it off. I tried to keep it back with my shield, but the bear was relentless. Emily and I... we couldn't get a solid hit on it. Then Emily, she—" Ken paused, looking at Emily, a mix of gratitude and awe in his eyes. "She cast a fireball spell. It wasn't much, but it caught the bear off guard. The blast wasn't enough to hurt it, but it stunned the bear just long enough for us to escape."

Emily nodded, her expression firm despite the exhaustion in her eyes. "It wasn't a full-on fight. The bear wasn't intimidated by us, but when the fireball hit, it hesitated. That hesitation was all we needed to pull back."

Avi glanced at Alex, seeing the frustration building in his eyes. Alex exhaled sharply, his hand running through his hair in agitation. "Damn it... he almost died again," he muttered under his breath.

Ken placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, trying to ease the tension, but Alex's frustration only seemed to grow. "I shouldn't have sent you out there," Alex said, his voice tight with self-blame. "You're our strongest, Avi. I'm relying on you too much. I shouldn't have put you in a position where you couldn't fight."

Avi opened his mouth to protest, but Alex raised a hand, cutting him off. "No, let me finish. I've been relying too heavily on you. I can't keep doing that. The whole school alliance's safety can't fall to just one person."

Ken stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Alex, you're right. He's been through a lot already. We all have. You're right, we need to step up. But right now, we need Avi to rest. We can't keep pushing him when he's not at his best."

Alex looked at Avi, his gaze softer but still filled with that underlying concern. "You need rest, Avi. You can't keep going like this. You're no good to us if you're falling apart."

Avi sighed, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him. His headache was still there, the ache making it hard to think straight. "I'll rest," he muttered, already knowing that he wouldn't be able to focus on anything else until he did.

Alex gave him a sharp nod, though there was a softness in his eyes. "Good. We'll have a meeting tomorrow. You need to be at your best for it. We'll figure this out, but we need you to take care of yourself."

The others began to disperse, and Avi felt the weight of their gazes on him as he turned to head inside. He hated feeling like a liability, but he knew Alex was right. He needed to rest.

As he walked away, he could hear the low murmur of conversation behind him. He couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing—that the path ahead was only going to get harder. And the more he thought about it, the more he feared that it wasn't just about the creatures they were facing. There was something bigger at play here, and he wasn't sure he was ready for it.

The next morning, Avi woke up expecting the meeting they had discussed. He was still feeling the remnants of his headache, though it had dulled enough to be manageable. But as he made his way down to the main hall, he was immediately confused by the sight that greeted him at the castle entrance. Everyone was already gathered outside, fully equipped in their armor and weapons. Even Emily and Ken.

He froze, a sense of dread creeping up his spine as he took in the scene. Was he missing something?

Ken noticed him first, his face softening, but only for a brief moment. "Avi..." he started, his voice quieter than usual. There was a forced smile on his face, but Avi could see the strain behind it. "We've been assigned to scout different directions—East, West, South. The usual stuff. You're staying behind to rest."

Avi blinked, stunned, as his gaze shifted to the others, all gearing up and getting ready to leave. His mouth went dry.

"What the hell?" he muttered, almost to himself. "Is this a joke?"

He could feel the tension in the air. Even Alex, standing in front of the group, didn't meet his eyes. His usual warmth was gone, replaced by something heavier—guilt, maybe, or just a sense of responsibility weighing down on him.

Avi didn't wait for him to speak. He stepped forward, cutting off whatever Alex was about to say. "Alex," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "You're telling me I can't go?"

Alex finally met his gaze, and Avi saw it in his eyes. There was something he hadn't seen before: doubt. Alex looked at him like he wasn't sure whether he had fully healed yet. And the more Avi thought about it, the more he realized… Alex probably didn't trust him to go back into battle, not after yesterday. After the headache, after the bear fight, after everything that had happened.

"I... I don't think you're fully healed yet, Avi," Alex's voice was softer than usual. "I can't afford to put you out there again. Not like this."

Avi felt his stomach tighten. So this was it, then? He wasn't the guy anymore. He wasn't the guy who fought. The thought stung harder than he wanted to admit.

"You're just going to leave me out, aren't you?" he said, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them. He hated how bitter they sounded, but he couldn't help it.

Tyler, ever eager to make a comment, threw in his two cents. "What happened, Avi? The so-called hero's finally showing his true colors—more of a burden than a savior now, huh?"

His lackeys snickered behind him, and Avi clenched his fists, but he didn't say anything. He didn't need to respond to him. Tyler was just looking for a reaction.

Ken's glare was enough. He shot Tyler a look that could've killed, his jaw tight, but before anything more could happen, Emily stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "You know, Tyler, Avi did save your sorry ass back in the last wave. Maybe show some gratitude for once instead of running your mouth."

Tyler hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He scowled but didn't reply, clearly put off by Emily's calm but pointed words.

Ryan, Mia, and Sophia quickly moved to Avi's side, their voices gentle but firm. "You're not going into this one," Mia said, her expression soft but resolute. "We've got this. Just take it easy. We're only scouting, remember? There's no combat. We'll be fine."

Ryan nodded. "We've got a full team this time. Fighters and support combined. We're better prepared than the three of you guys yesterday. You need to rest, Avi. You've already done more than enough. We're not going into battle; it's just a scouting mission."

The weight of their words pressed down on him, but it did little to stem the frustration seething inside. The sensation of being useless, a mere spectator instead of an active participant, gnawed at him. Before he could voice his discontent, Alex spoke again, his tone steady yet urgent.

"Listen to me," Alex said, his gaze sweeping across the group. "Yesterday, you all heard the report. There are dangers out there. The creatures are different from what we've seen before. We need to be prepared for anything. Avi, Ken, and Emily gave us a warning; they encountered a guardian in the forest, and there may be more. Stay sharp, stay focused, and come back in one piece. We can't afford to lose anyone."

Tyler, ever the enthusiast, suddenly shouted, his face alight with competitive fire. "Whatever's out there, I'll crush it! Bring it on!"

The others cast him a mixed look, some amused, others skeptical, but all of them knew he was posturing. It was almost comical, the way he puffed himself up, but then Avi understood—it wasn't an act for show; it was to maintain an appearance of bravado.

Ken shot Tyler a hard look, but before tensions could escalate, Ryan stepped forward.

"Don't worry, Avi. We'll come back safe," Ken said, offering a reassuring smile. "We've got a solid team. You've got nothing to worry about. Just rest, and we'll handle this."

Emily's smile followed, soft and genuine. "We've got this covered, Avi. We won't let anything happen."

Avi's eyes shifted over them and then to Alex, who met his gaze with a brief, reassuring nod. "I'll be here, overseeing everything," Alex said, his voice steady but missing the usual leader's bravado. He wasn't a combatant. His strength lay in his ability to lead, to ensure everything was in order, not in fighting on the frontlines.

"Just rest, Avi. We'll be fine out there," another player added, their voice filled with determination.

It was hard to admit, but their words struck deeper than he'd anticipated. Maybe they were right. Maybe he did need to step back and take care of himself. He was no good to them in his current state.

Avi drew in a deep breath, nodding. "Alright. You guys go ahead. Stay safe. And try not to get yourselves killed out there—I'll need someone to carry me to victory when I'm back on my feet."

A few laughs broke out as they gathered their things and prepared to leave. Alex glanced at him one last time, checking that he was alright, before turning and issuing orders to the others. Tyler's usual brashness returned, and he was already shouting about how he would take down whatever came their way.

The group set off, and Avi watched them disappear into the distance. For the first time in a while, he was on the sidelines—and it didn't feel right. But as he turned toward the training area, the weight of the last few days pressed down on him. Maybe this was what he needed. Time to heal. Time to rest. But how much longer could he stand on the sidelines before he was needed again?

He reached the training area, where the silence was comforting, pressing down like a heavy blanket. The practice dummies stood like silent sentinels, waiting. He summoned his daggers, Shadowfangs, from the dimensional inventory. The dark, sleek blades gleamed in the soft light, feeling both alien and familiar in his hands.

He began to work through the form the young knight in his dream had shown him. His body felt sluggish, movements uncoordinated. Each swing grew heavier, as if the weight of his thoughts were pressing down on him.

The fight with Ethan. The blackout surge that had turned him into someone else—something else. The battle instincts that had taken over, as though they belonged to a different version of himself. And then the demonoid boss. Exhausted, underleveled, outclassed—he shouldn't have won. He couldn't have won. But he did. Why? How? It felt as if something outside himself had lent him that strength.

A sharp, stabbing pain flared in his head, as if something were clawing its way out. He ignored it, focusing his frustration into each strike. But the more he hit the dummy, the louder those questions grew, drowning out his focus. He stumbled over his own feet and crashed to the ground.

Slamming his fist against the stone floor, he shouted, "Like this! I'm just a normal kid a few weeks ago!" His voice reverberated off the empty walls. "I wasn't some battlefield hero! I wasn't this!"

He pushed himself up, anger boiling over into something raw. "Normally, I wouldn't even be able to hold a damn dagger!" The daggers slipped from his hands and clattered onto the floor, emphasizing his point.

He stared at them, chest heaving. Weak. That was what he was supposed to be, wasn't it? A scared, clueless kid trying to keep up with a world that had turned upside down. Not this… thing he'd become. The power surges, the inexplicable victories—none of it felt like him.

He picked up the daggers again and forced himself to continue, each strike against the dummy echoing in the empty hall. Every swing grew heavier, as if his own thoughts were pressing down on him.

The others had adjusted so quickly. They accepted this new reality, embraced their roles, their powers, their changes. They moved forward without hesitation. But him? He couldn't stop thinking about the life he'd left behind—a normal life.

He missed it. The simplicity. The little moments that made up a life that now seemed impossibly distant. Two real friends who would laugh at nothing and share everything, even when they didn't have to. The comfort of a warm meal after a long day, the sound of music drifting from the street performers down the block, the quiet chatter of people going about their business. Family. His father's kind but worn-out face, eyes perpetually shadowed by fatigue, but still soft and warm when he smiled. Always working himself to the bone to keep them afloat, pushing through exhaustion for the sake of his children. And her—his little sister.

"Avisya…" The name slipped out, a whisper choked by longing. Her face flashed in his mind, clear and vivid, as if she were standing there before him. So small, always pale, with dark hair that barely framed her thin face. But her smile—bright enough to light up the darkest room, to make him forget the weight of the world. She would look at him with eyes full of admiration, eyes that made him feel like he could take on anything, even when he was just her older brother who couldn't fix her illness, who couldn't make the pain go away.

A tremble ran through him. He swallowed hard, trying to hold back the rush of memories threatening to drown him. "Wait for me, okay?" His voice cracked, strained, desperate. His fingers tightened around the hilts of the daggers until his knuckles turned white. "I don't know what's happening back on Earth, but I'll get out of this place. I'll come back to you and Dad. I promise."

The air around him felt charged, heavy with the weight of the unspoken words and the promises he made to himself. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to feel the warmth of his sister's tiny hand in his, the sound of her laughter. But the memory slipped away like smoke, dissolving under the pressure of the present. He could almost hear the echo of her voice calling out to him, sweet and hopeful.

A sudden surge of anger, raw and biting, ripped through him. He slashed harder, faster, using the frustration, the guilt, the ache of longing as fuel. The wooden dummy groaned under the onslaught, splinters breaking loose and scattering in a wild dance of fragments. He pushed himself further, muscles straining, sweat trickling down his temple, blurring his vision until everything but the dummy and the need to strike it down faded into nothingness.

The thud of his strikes grew louder, rhythmic and almost hypnotic, as though every cut was a blow against his own helplessness. The dummy cracked, splintered, its limbs shaking as if protesting the punishment it was receiving. He couldn't stop; he wouldn't. The questions clawed at him, relentless and unforgiving: What was this power, this instinct that took control of him, that made him a weapon instead of a kid? Was he even himself anymore, or had he become something else, something hollow, something unrecognizable?

"So much for being a hero," he muttered bitterly, the laughter that followed as empty as a sigh. It echoed off the stone walls, a sound that was part disbelief, part resignation. The words rang in his ears, mocking and truthful all at once. "Now I'm nothing more than a damsel that's depressed."

The last strike forced him to his knees. His chest heaved, lungs straining for air, body trembling from exertion. The daggers slipped from his grasp, landing beside him with a soft thud. He stared at them, the sleek, dark blades that felt foreign and familiar all at once. His gaze drifted down to the splintered remains of the dummy, its pieces scattered around him, a testament to his rage, his desperation.

He dropped his head, eyes stinging with the effort not to let the tears come. The room was silent, but inside him, a storm raged—doubts, regrets, grief, and the searing need to be someone more than the broken warrior who couldn't save everyone.

Tomorrow, he would figure this out. He had to. For Dad. For Avisya. For everyone.