I coughed, smoke filling my lungs. Quickly, I covered my mouth and nose with my kimono sleeve and ran towards the others to help them up, going to Helena first knowing that she was closest when the explosion happened and might need help first. I waved my fan in my face, trying to clear the smoke. Behind me, I saw Murro attempting to do the same while Emily was helping Helena find her cane. Once the smoke cleared, I saw a figure in the distance that matched Joseph’s, but there were no signs of wolf ears or a hat. Strange, I thought, walking closer to the figure.

I gasped, seeing that it was indeed Desaulniers, but he was groaning in pain and seemed to have been affected by the explosion. “Joseph! Are you alright? What happened?” I asked frantically, helping him sit down and lean against the rocky wall. “Ugh…” he groaned, taking deep breaths before answering, “I got caught in the explosion that Aesop made. It made me fly backwards and hit the wall. It hurts like heck,” he said, rubbing his arm where he tore his sleeve in the accident. I rubbed his back, trying to make him feel better, when suddenly I heard someone shift.

Quickly turning my head, I went into panic form and held up my fan, bracing myself for an attack. But all I saw was Aesop walking towards us, no longer an exorcist. He looked tired, and I assume he was like that from using all his energy in the battle against The King. “You look tired, Aesop. You should rest,” I said, carrying him and placing him gently next to Joseph. I got up again, clearing more smoke and grouping everyone together. Emily took care of everyone while Helena gave them encouraging words. It’s finally over… I thought, breathing in the now clear air. But I spoke too soon.

***

“Raaah!!” someone shouted, and then I quickly moved out of the way of an attack. Lucky Guy appeared, no longer having a powerful look and bleeding from multiple cuts and bruises. “How are you still alive?!” Murro shouted, almost cowering behind his boar. “I am The King! I cannot die! I am immortal!!” he yelled, seemingly insane. He ran towards Aesop and pushed him to the ground, hands clutched around his neck. Poor Aesop seemed too tired to want to deal with him, and he didn’t seem to have the energy to turn back into The Exorcist. Huffing, Lucky Guy tightened his grip on the small boy, a murderous look in his eyes indicating that he was intent on destroying Aesop.Aesop kept a calm expression, as if he didn’t care about the situation at all, which seemed to frustrate Lucky Guy even more.

“WHY AREN’T YOU SCARED?!?! YOU’RE ABOUT TO DIE!!” he yelled maniacally, his anger so huge you could probably see a red aura around him. Aesop slowly moved his hand up, gently grabbing onto Lucky Guy’s wrist. “Why?” he said, his voice almost soothing, keeping the rest of us from panicking. “Because if I die, I can see my love again. Why would I be afraid of that?” Aesop sounded like he genuinely did not care, tilting his head the slightest bit. There was a moment of silence, and for a moment, I thought that maybe things would be okay. But I was wrong. Lucky Guy angrily thrust his right arm out and summoned a long black blade. “THEN WHY DON'T I GRANT YOUR WISH!!” he yelled, swinging the blade up over his head. I screamed. Aesop closed his eyes. Helena panicked. Murro shut his eyes. And the author threw another big plot twist onto our heads.

-Unknown POV-

‘It’s dark.’ Opening my eyes, I felt pain all over my body, and though my sight was blurry, I could tell that I was sitting in a pool of my own blood. I lifted my head up with the little strength I had, seeing cavern walls all around me. ‘The… the golden cave. I remember… Michiko… and… who else…’ My memories were jumbled up, and I couldn’t seem to remember everything clearly. I strained to remember, a blurry vision of a male with a warm aura appearing in my mind. ‘I… feel like… I should protect this… person…’  Wincing, I noticed small cuts all over me, the biggest one being on my shoulder. ‘Ouch, that must be why I’m bleeding so much.’ I looked up, seeing a high ledge, and I heard commotion from up there.

Gathering my strength, I stood up, holding the rocks for support. I felt myself becoming wobbly, and I quickly moved towards the small cliff face and held onto there. With much blood, sweat, and tears, I was able to pull myself up, slowly climbing up to where I assumed I fell from before this temporary amnesia. After much time, I was able to get to a ledge big enough for me to sit on and rest. I peeked over the rocks above me, seeing some people sitting there. They felt familiar, but none of them had that warm aura I felt from the vision. Disappointed, I sank down a bit.