Two days had passed. Leonardo had locked himself in his room. Despite countless efforts from Evangeline, Albert, and the mansion staff, the boy wouldn’t budge. He spent most of his time buried in books, draining the last bits of his phone’s battery, and sleeping.

  Now, wrapped tightly in his covers, Leonardo silently read about magic. The quiet was suddenly interrupted by loud banging at his door.

  Albert needs to leave me alone.

  Leonardo attempted to wait out the knocking. As usual, however, his peace was shattered—the door flew off its hinges.

  He gasped, sitting up in alarm as Albert stood in the doorway, looking stern.

  “You lazy bum,” Albert barked, prompting Leonardo to straighten up quickly.

  “Make up with Evangeline already. I thought I was training a man, not a bitch.”

  “But Sir R—”

  Albert cleared his throat loudly.

  “But Master... I—I just can’t,” Leonardo muttered, turning away.

  “Me and the other soldiers are heading out to deal with the goblin threat. When I’m back, you better have grown a pair and made up,” Albert said before storming out.

  I’m not doing that… Bro definitely lost brain cells while training if he thinks I would.

  Leonardo returned to reading until he fell asleep mid-page. An hour later, a loud crash from outside jolted him awake, drool on his chin, eyelids barely open.

  “Wha—?” he murmured groggily.

  Curious, he got up and opened his blinds. In the distance, faint flames flickered in the distance. It must have been the town.

  His curiosity piqued, he grabbed his sheathed blade, slung it over his back, and set off.

  As he approached the town, the sound of terrified screams echoed through the air. Leonardo’s heart sank. Had the soldiers failed?

  Surely not. Maybe it was just a freak fire. Nothing serious.

  But as he arrived, the sight told a different story—buildings engulfed in flames, townsfolk fleeing the centre.

  The air was filled with panicked cries: “Where are the soldiers?!” “Where’s my daughter?!” “My home! My family’s home!” “IT’S A DEMON!”

  Leonardo staggered in place, overwhelmed. The cries, the suffocating scent of burning wood, and the destruction—it was too much.

  His daze was broken by glowing symbols appearing in the sky—blue ones. Magic.

  Rain began to fall, oddly concentrated on the worst of the fires.

  “Eva,” he whispered, breaking into a sprint toward the town centre.

  As he got closer, fewer people remained. The corpses of the burned lined the street. It was horrific.

  But he couldn’t stop. He had to find Evangeline.

  “Leo!”

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  Her voice rang out.

  He turned just in time to see a wall of flame heading for him. But Evangeline stepped in front, summoning a stone barrier to block the impact.

  “What the fuck!” Leonardo shouted, falling back.

  “Not much time to explain. Run, Leo—it’s a demon. A strong one,” she said, clearly exhausted.

  He could see the toll it had taken on her. She’d used up most of her mana. He stood frozen.

  “Leo, I said ru—”

  The barrier shattered, blasting both of them back into the debris of a candy shop.

  Standing before them was a humanoid figure—clearly not human. Crimson eyes, withered grey skin, and a full black cloak. It was demonic.

  “If only you had listened, boy. Maybe you would’ve lived,” the creature chuckled, its voice husky and deep. Layered twice as though it had to vocal cords.

  It raised a hand, a circle of dark runes materialising at it’s palms. A flame burst from the circle’s centre, devouring everything in its path, charging towards the two.

  The flames split before reaching the two. Evangeline had casted a barrier at the right time.

  “Eva… we can do this together,” Leonardo said, reaching shakily for his blade.

  “I can do this,” she replied assertively.

  She retracted the barrier, then with a motion of her staff, sent a gust of wind hurtling toward Leonardo, launching him down the street.

  Midair, he watched her clash the beast’s vicious inferno with one of her own. She was holding her own.

  He crashed into a side alley but stood up, stunned.

  That’s ridiculous she wasted all her mana on the town, there’s no way she’ll last against a thing like that.

  Desperate, he tried to return to the center—but he was lost, going in circles.

  I can’t even find my way back… I’m so useless.

  He collapsed to his knees.

  Then—he felt it.

  A tug at his chest. Behind him stood the stone arch—the resting place of the holy sword.

  He stared at it. He knew what it was. He had rejected it, rejected fate. But now… rejecting it meant rejecting the only friend he had in this world.

  Leonardo sprinted toward the stone, gripping the hilt tightly. He pulled.

  Nothing.

  Wait—are you serious? I’m not even the one?

  Am I really that hopeless?

  He nearly gave up—until he heard a scream.

  Eva.

  "Damn it! Just come out! I’m done running! I’ll do whatever it takes! I’ll save Eva! Sword, if you’re listening, be my servant! I’ll save the world okay! Just lend me your strength—please!"

  His whole body surged. The foreign mana inside him bubbled, overflowing. The sword trembled—then slid free.

  With a burst of light, the blade rose high. Its edge gleamed. The guard was golden. The leather grip was pristine.

  Power flooded into Leonardo. The sword didn’t just feel right—it was part of him.

  “This is what I needed.”

  He dashed back toward the fight, feeling impossibly light. The sword amplified his strength—he was stronger. Faster.

  Up ahead, flames engulfed the town centre. The demon hovered above, launching blasts of fire. Evangeline was still fighting.

  How am I supposed to reach him…?

  “Jump,” a voice echoed in his mind.

  So he did.

  He leapt—high and fast—closing the gap. He swung toward the demon’s head, attempting a surprise attack.

  Spatially aware, the demon blocked with a ball of fire, absorbing the blow. The result of which was an explosion, that hurled them apart—Leonardo slamming into a rooftop.

  He stood quickly, unscathed.

  “Eva, are you okay?!”

  “I’m here,” she said weakly, leaning on her staff. Seeing the sword in his hands, she smiled.

  “Took you long enough.”

  “Don’t fear—because I am here!” Leonardo shouted with a forced grin, masking his panic.

  Flames erupted again—debris flying. In an instant, the demon appeared, claws poised to strike.

  Leonardo sidestepped, letting the claws glide against his blade. He retaliated with a swift knee to the demon’s abdomen , sending it to its knees.

  “To think I’d kneel to a child!” the demon snarled.

  “To think you’d be so weak. Come on buddy, try harder?” Leonardo taunted, looking down at the demon.

  “I can smell your fear, boy.”

  The demon slashed upward, clashing against Leonardo’s blade, and sending him backwards. It then summoned more runes, dark fire spewing forth.

  Leonardo recovered fast, weaving past the attacks.

  “Life or Death, Life or Death, Life or Death” he muttered, charging forward.

  But the demon wasn’t done—it changed tactics.

  “You’re a little too focused on me,” it grinned, a rune shifted in it’s circle and it’s flames diverged towards Evangeline.

  “Evangeline!”

  She blocked it just in time with a water spell. “Idiot, worry about yourself!” she shouted.

  Leonardo turned back—too late.

  A dark fireball collided with him. He tried to slash through it—but it exploded.

  He crashed through a building, hitting his head. His vision blurred and his limbs stopped responding. His sword felt heavy now, even pushing off the ground was arduous. He must’ve succumbed a concussion.

  And then—dark purple flames surrounded his peripheral.

  “LEO!” Evangeline belched, her voice raw and full of terror.