i messed up pretty hard

The rain fell harder, the wind howling through the wasteland. The storm had begun—both in the sky and between two warriors bound by fate.

The moment Roadie raised his sword, the storm itself seemed to shudder.

Jaeger exhaled, steadying his stance, his grip tightening around his blade.

Then, in an instant, they clashed.

Sparks erupted as steel met steel, their swords colliding with such force that the shockwaves rippled through the rain-soaked wasteland. The air rang with the sound of their battle—metal screeching against metal, boots splashing through the mud as they moved like lightning, faster than the human eye could track.

Zed could barely follow their movements. Every strike, every parry was a blur, their blades cutting through the air with deadly precision. The sheer force of their swings sent gusts of wind spiraling outward, scattering the raindrops like shattered glass.

Jaeger was stronger. His technique was flawless, his strikes calculated, pushing Roadie back with relentless pressure. But Zed could see it—Jaeger was hesitating. His movements, though swift and powerful, carried restraint. Even as he drove Roadie to the defensive, he wasn't fighting to kill.

Roadie, on the other hand, fought like a man with nothing to lose.

"You're still holding back, Jaeger!" he snarled, his sword flashing through the rain. "That's why you'll lose!"

He forced Jaeger into a deadlock, their blades grinding together as their faces came mere inches apart.

Jaeger's breath was ragged. His Rhu reserves were dwindling, the toll of the battle weighing on him. zed's Soul Sword had already drained a significant portion of his Rhu, and now, as the fight dragged on, he could feel his body slowing.

Roadie saw it.

And he took advantage of it.

In a split second, he twisted away from the clash, his free hand slipping to his belt.

With a flick of his wrist, a dagger—black as night, its blade laced with a sickly green venom—whistled through the air.

It wasn't aimed at Jaeger.

It was aimed at Zed.

Zed barely had time to react before he saw the gleam of the dagger cutting through the rain, heading straight for him.

His heart stopped.

But before the blade could reach him—

CLANG!

Jaeger was there.

With a burst of speed, he snapped into action, intercepting the dagger with his sword. The force of the impact sent the weapon spiraling off course, embedding itself into the mud with a sickening thud.

Jaeger exhaled sharply, his stance wavering. His breath came in ragged gasps. He was completely drained.

Zed stared up at him, fear evident in his wide eyes. "S-Sir Jaeger—"

Jaeger placed a hand on Zed's shoulder, his grip firm, reassuring.

"It's okay, young master" he murmured, offering a small, exhausted smile. "I'll end this quick."

Zed swallowed hard and nodded, stepping back as Jaeger forced himself upright.

The knight turned to face Roadie once more, determination burning in his eyes.

But the moment he did—

SHLIK!

Jaeger's body jerked.

Zed's blood turned to ice.

Roadie was already in front of him.

His dagger—a second one, identical to the first—was buried hilt-deep in Jaeger's chest, right through his heart.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

Then—

Blood spilled from Jaeger's lips.

Zed's eyes widened in horror.

"NO!"

His scream tore through the night.

Roadie pulled the dagger free with a sickening squelch.

Jaeger swayed on his feet. His body had gone numb. He could no longer feel the cold rain on his skin, nor the burning pain in his chest.

He staggered—

And then, finally, his strength gave out.

He collapsed.

"Sir Jaeger!"

Zed rushed forward, dropping to his knees, his hands desperately reaching for Jaeger as he lay motionless in the mud, blood pooling beneath him.

Jaeger's breathing was shallow, his eyes half-lidded, unfocused.

Zed's hands trembled as he pressed them against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

"S-Stay with me! Don't close your eyes, damn it!"

Roadie threw his head back and laughed, his voice raw with triumphant madness. The sound echoed through the stormy night, mixing with the patter of rain against the mud.

"Finally... Finally!" he exhaled, eyes gleaming with unhinged excitement. He raised his bloodstained dagger, admiring it as if it were a divine artifact. "I can have peace!" His breath was ragged, his grin stretching wide as his shoulders trembled with exhilaration.

He looked down at Jaeger's unmoving body, then at Zed, whose hands were still pressed desperately against the fatal wound, as if sheer will alone could keep his mentor alive.

"I can now shine!" Roadie declared, spreading his arms as if embracing the heavens. "The world will remember me as the one who slayed the great Sword master, Sir Jaeger!"

Roadie swung himself onto his black horse, gripping the reins with a satisfied smirk. The rain soaked his cloak, but he didn't seem to care. He sat tall, victorious, as if he had conquered the world.

Zed, on his knees, was desperately pressing against Sir Jaeger's wound, his hands slick with warm blood. His mentor's breathing was shallow, his usually sharp eyes dimming with every passing second.

Roadie watched the scene with an amused chuckle.

"Don't bother, kid," he said, his voice almost mocking. "He'll die in a few more hours… slow and painful."

Zed's fingers clenched, his body shaking, but he didn't lift his head. He couldn't. If he looked at Roadie now, he might do something reckless.

Roadie tilted his head, observing the boy's trembling form. Then, as if remembering something, he grinned.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot." His voice dripped with false warmth. "I left you a gift in Highvale."

Zed's heart skipped a beat.

Roadie chuckled darkly. "I hope you like it."

And with that, he yanked the reins, his horse rearing before galloping into the storm. The darkness swallowed him whole, leaving only the sound of hooves fading into the distance.

Zed's hands trembled as he pressed down on Sir Jaeger's chest, desperately trying to stop the bleeding. His fingers were coated in warm blood, mixing with the rain that poured down over them. His vision blurred—not from the downpour, but from the tears burning in his eyes.

"Sir Jaeger, stay with me!" Zed pleaded, his voice breaking. "You're gonna be fine! I—I just need to stop the bleeding!"

Sir Jaeger coughed weakly, crimson spilling from the corner of his lips. The man who had once stood like an unshakable fortress, who had always shielded Zed from harm, now lay broken and cold beneath his hands. He tried to raise a hand but barely managed to move his fingers.

"Zed…" His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Don't talk! Just hold on!" Zed bit his lip, panic clawing at his throat. He had read about poisons before, knew what they did to the body. And Roadie's blade—it had been laced with something deadly.

Jaeger's fading eyes lingered on him before he let out a weak chuckle. "Lukas… is that your real name?"

Zed's heart stopped.

His breath caught in his throat, his blood ran cold.

"How… how do you know that?" he stammered.

Jaeger let out another tired laugh, though it came out more like a rasp. "You're a terrible liar, kid. I knew you weren't Zed from the day we met in the dining hall."

Zed felt his chest tighten. He had been so careful. He had played the part. And yet…

"Then why?" His voice cracked. "Why did you protect me if you knew I wasn't him?"

Jaeger exhaled slowly, his expression soft. "I don't need a reason to protect someone I care for… someone I hold dear."

Zed's breath hitched.

Jaeger continued, though every word seemed to cost him.

"I wanted to expose you that day… but then I saw Lady Aurora." His voice wavered, and for a moment, Zed saw the guilt hidden beneath his weary gaze. "I couldn't do that to her. So I decided to watch you instead… and if you ever made a wrong move, I would have cut you down myself."

Zed swallowed, his throat dry as sand.

"But you didn't," he whispered.

Jaeger smiled weakly. "Because you proved me wrong." He coughed again, more blood spilling past his lips, but he forced himself to go on. "When I saw how hard you trained… how much you cared… I couldn't see you as an imposter anymore. And when you protected Lady Aurora that day… I knew."

Zed's tears dripped onto Jaeger's blood-stained armor. His whole body shook.

"Being with you… training you…" Jaeger's voice wavered, his eyelids growing heavier. "Those may have been my best days."

Zed let out a choked sob.

Jaeger's fingers weakly grasped his wrist. "I always thought… that one day, you'd tell me the truth. That you'd trust me enough to speak. So I waited."

Zed shook his head, guilt crushing his chest. "I—I'm sorry… I didn't realize… I'm sorry, Sir Jaeger. This is all my fault—"

"Don't blame yourself, kid," Jaeger muttered.

" I'm sorry…" Zed whispered, pressing his forehead against Jaeger's shoulder. "I should've done something—I should've stopped him—"

Jaeger let out a weak laugh. "You always… blame yourself for everything."

Zed's teeth clenched, his body shaking. "But if I were stronger—if I could just—!"

Jaeger raised his trembling hand, placing it gently on Zed's head. It was weak, barely there, but it still carried the same comforting weight it always had.

"You are strong," Jaeger murmured. "Much stronger than you realize. You have a good heart Lukas… and that's why… you'll be different."

"Different?" Zed's voice wavered.

"You won't become a monster like him," Jaeger breathed, his hand slipping away. His breathing slowed. His body grew limp. "Promise me, Zed… no matter how dark things get… you won't lose yourself."

Zed's breath hitched. He swallowed the lump in his throat, gripping Jaeger's hand tightly.

"I—I promise," he choked out.

A small, tired smile touched Jaeger's lips.

"Good…" His voice was barely a whisper. "That's my boy… I wish I had more time… but I'm glad I spent it with you."

Then, his body went still.

Zed froze.

The night was eerily silent now, save for the soft pattering of rain against the dirt.

"Sir Jaeger?" Zed whispered. He gave his mentor's hand a gentle shake.

No response.

A hollow, unbearable weight settled in his chest.

"Sir Jaeger…?" His voice cracked. "No, please—please don't go. Please—"

He gritted his teeth, pressing his forehead against Jaeger's lifeless chest, his shoulders shaking as the dam finally broke. Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the rain and blood.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Zed felt helpless.

Alone.

The world blurred as tears fell freely, mixing with the rain, the blood, the dirt.

"I wasn't ready to lose you."

He clenched his jaw, gripping Jaeger's limp hand as if that alone could anchor him, as if that alone could turn back time.

"I wasn't ready to be alone again."

His shoulders shook, his breath ragged.

He had already lost so much.

And now, he had lost the person who made this world feel a little less cruel.

But no matter how tightly he held on…

 sir Jaeger was gone.