Lucian Cooper

‘I regret this so much,’ I groaned.

Somehow that halfwit had managed to persuade me into this. Drew looked over and he must have seen the expression on my face.

‘Calm down. We left a note.’

‘That’s exactly what I’m worried about,’ I groaned, ‘He's going to kill us,’

Drew clicked his tongue and nodded towards the giants.

‘Just look at the giants! See how many there are! Quality entertainment!’

I looked at him blankly. The ranks of giants were endless and formed a long thick wall and he found this fun? I frowned then smiled slightly. 

‘Drew I know it was hard on you but you don’t have to pretend you’re ok,’

I turned to look at him but he was already gone. 

‘I can’t hear you!’ He called as he slashed through a giant’s head. I sighed and sprinted after him.

‘Don’t forget the plan,’ I yelled but he was already too far away and too deep into quenching his thirst. I groaned. It was now out to me to carry it out. Alro stood in the centre of the hill watching, amused. He didn’t seem to see me. I scanned my surroundings quickly. Everyone was watching Drew rage through the giants. Perfect. 

Flying through the air I raised my sword to strike him down. 

‘Ah ah,’ Arlo tutted.

He suddenly appeared next to me with a grin. My eyes widened but I couldn’t do anything as the butt of his sword smashed into the back of my head. My face slammed into the ground. I turned around just in time to see him bring his sword down. CLANG! A clear high sound rang through my ears. Drew looked down and grinned.

‘You in a little trouble Lucian?’

Arlo clicked his tongue. Drew smirked and threw him back. I leapt to my feet.

‘Drew why are you here? What about the giants?’

‘What giants?’ he asked innocently.

He was right. There were no giants left. What was left of them was a bloody mess of disembowelled corpses. Alro laughed.

‘I’m very impressed,’ he said with a slow clap.

‘I don’t take compliments from traitors,’ Drew spat.

‘My my how rude. I almost thought I was talking to Alaric for a second, but then again he’s much too weak to have made it this far.’ 

Drew clenched his dagger tightly making his knuckles turn white. 

‘You take that back,’ he hissed.

‘Well Alaric has no complaints about my statement,’

Drew let out a guttural yell. He had lost all sound mind after such a provocation. The two jumped to each other and started exchanging blows. I watched helplessly as their weapons danced leaving me no space to intervene. Drew’s rage was gnawing away at his senses. He let himself get hit by the most simple strikes but his rage gave him strength to continue even in that state. He was even managing to push Arlo back but it wasn’t enough. 

The air froze and snapped. Arlo’s carefree smile had disappeared, replaced with blared teeth and a bloodied face. 

‘That’s enough,’ he snarled. ‘Ignis,’

A large fireball launched from his fingertips. Drew’s eyes widened in shock. 

‘Custodio,’

I stood there with my hand extended. My brow, wet with sweat. Magic had always taken a lot out of me. The fire had dispersed into a ring around us. Arlo looked at me with a maniacal grin.

‘I heard you stopped using magic after I left but look at you little brother,’ the bloody mess called his face lit up, ‘And it’s the very first trick I thought you too,’

‘It is my own,’

‘Your own?’ he laughed, ‘Please I made you I taught you everything you know brother,’

‘You have no right to call me your brother,’ I spat.

I nodded to Drew. He leapt at the madman, dagger level to his heart. A loud crack was heard. Arlo had grabbed Drew’s arm just as his dagger was about to pierce his heart. Drew winced. It was a gruesome sight. A bone was jutting out and blood had pooled around his feet. He grit his teeth and with the last of his strength pushed the dagger into Arlo’s heart. Blood gushed from his chest. Drew gasped and fell to his knees. He looked up and grinned at Arlo.

‘I got you!’

I grit my teeth and rushed forward. 

‘Drew!’ I yelled.

He grinned. 

‘Didn’t I do good?’ He looked up to the sky, ‘Alaric I hope you’re happy,’

His eyes turned milky white as the last of his blood ran from his arm. His breath was gone now replaced with silence. He wore an expression of peace and happiness. I wanted to be happy for him. That he died happy. That he died while he achieved his goal. But I couldn’t. 

‘Drew!’ I yelled, ‘DREW!’

But he was gone and his ears could no longer hear me. Don’t leave me. This was my fault I killed him.