Outside the barrier, two magical power reactions surged simultaneously.
"—They’re coming!"
Almost at the same moment the instructor shouted, a section of the barrier was forcibly gouged away. The defense that everyone present had placed their absolute faith in was effortlessly shattered.
Two shadows slid into the training ground.
"Everyone, get back!!"
The instructor surged forward immediately. He required no incantation; several magic circles deployed around him instantly. Fire and water erupted in a twin torrent.
"…!"
The two intruders scattered at once, but they didn't stop.
"Tch, two at once…!"
The instructor took them on, moving to suppress them completely. Even for an academy teacher, fighting multiple opponents at once was a tall order.
Behind him, someone’s attendant shouted, "Attendants, over here!"
The attendants accompanying the students stepped forward with visible hesitation. They drew swords, cast support magic, and erected defensive barriers. They likely weren't very skilled—none of the magical power I felt from them could compare to the teacher or the attackers.
But they didn't run.
"Protect the masters!"
"Get them to the back!"
Spells flew through the air. This was bad; it was hard enough just trying not to get caught in the crossfire. At the very least, I decided I would put my body on the line for the people closest to me.
It was then that another silhouette appeared in the breach in the barrier.
"…Tch, a third one!?"
The moment the teacher turned his head, the new shadow slipped through as if the barrier didn't even exist. His target was clear—he was heading straight for us.
"Stop!!"
The instructor fired a spell, but it was intercepted and shot down by the water magic of the intruder he was already engaged with. The third attacker didn't even look back; he just kept closing in.
He was fast.
"—This is bad!"
The other attendants stood in his path. Fire, earth, and light—magic of various colors and forms lashed out at the intruder. However, the gap in power was staggering.
Still, I thought it might at least buy some time. Or so I hoped.
"…"
"Huh?"
A dagger emerged from beneath the intruder's cloak. He pointed it toward the incoming spells, and in an instant, every bit of magic the attendants had released dispersed into mist.
Are you kidding me? What kind of bullshit cheat-code is that...?
He closed the distance with the attendants in a single breath. One was knocked aside. Another was sent flying. By the time my mind caught up with the situation, no one was left to protect us.
"…!"
Before I could move, someone stepped out in front of me—Yuka.
"…Please step back, Lord Luka."
Her voice was low and steady. She wasn't trembling.
"I will protect you."
Flame blazed fiercely around her right hand. She fired spheres of fire that vanished just as quickly. She intercepted the attacker’s stone arrows with walls of flame. Closing the distance, she lashed out with fire from both hands or struck him directly. It was incredible.
Could Yuka really fight like this?
"She’s amazing. At this rate..."
A flicker of hope ignited in the room.
"—Tch."
The enemy stopped in his tracks. "Not bad, for a mere attendant."
Shut up, you cheating little prick! Drop the dagger! Weapons aren't allowed here!
Yuka didn't retreat an inch. Watching her, I started to harbor a faint hope. Maybe we could do this. Maybe Yuka could actually win. But deep down, everyone knew the truth—reality wasn't that kind.
The intruder was strong, but that dagger was the real problem. Yuka hadn't taken a hit yet, but it was only a matter of time before she took damage. Even if they were currently at a stalemate, there was no telling how long her concentration and magical power would hold out. It would be best if the teacher could provide backup, but he was clearly pushed to his limit.
It was frustrating. No, it was pathetic...! If I had even a shred of talent for magic... I could be standing there beside her...
Yuka’s movements were slowing. Just a little, bit by bit, her reactions to the opponent's magic were lagging. Even so, she refused to back down. She stood her ground because her master was behind her. Right now, she was being driven by sheer tenacity.
"…Not yet…!"
Her magical power was near its end. She had to block the next spell.
"My goal was this one from the start."
The intruder's magic ignored Yuka entirely, shooting straight toward her back.
"Yuka…!"
It was Luka’s voice. In a split-second reaction, the flames Yuka produced protected her master from the wind blade.
Her gaze wavered for a fraction of a second.
That single instant became a fatal opening. The enemy's wind blade swung through the air.
"—!"
She wouldn't make it. The blade was going to hit Yuka—
"—Like hell it is."
Just before the wind blade was released, Luka had already started running. He charged forward, bursting through the curtain of flames Yuka had created.
I could see it—the blade of wind flying straight at me.
...Does this make me a hero too, I wonder?
"…Ugh."
I felt a sharp wind slice diagonally through my body. My vision bloomed crimson as blood sprayed into the air.
...Ah, this is the worst...
"—What!?"
The enemy’s posture crumbled in surprise. No one understood what had happened. Luka was simply standing there, blocking the path to Yuka.
"…Ah—…"
I tried to smile, but I failed.
"…I guess it’s impossible after all…"
Blood dripped onto the floor, making a wet, heavy sound.
...Haha, this is bad. This is seriously bad. It hurts so much...!!!
What is this? I’m starting to not even care about anyone else...
Yuka screamed. "Lord Luka!!"
Elicia’s voice broke into a hysterical shriek. "Why… why…!"
Caiel held her back. "Don't look!"
Allen was paralyzed. "…No way…"
Serena remained frozen, biting her lip so hard it bled.
Staggering, Luka turned around to look at Yuka.
"…Yuka,"
His voice was raspy. I couldn't get the words out right. My lung was definitely punctured; I could feel the air I drew in leaking out of my chest.
Well, I wasn't the type to just end here. As an apology for my earlier selfish thoughts, I was going to look cool until the very end before I checked out. Though, honestly, I didn't want to die.
"…Yo. You’ve really done it now, you piece of shit."
"…Are you in your right mind?"
Of course I’m not in my right mind, you moron. I was standing there, enduring an idiotic amount of pain. Even though I was on the verge of death, my hatred for him wouldn't stop. Thanks to that, the adrenaline was surging. It hurt—god, it hurt. Just thinking about it made the pain flare. It hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt!
Why was I even still alive!?
It was all his fault. I would never forgive him. For now, I just had to buy some time... and then...
"…Look, hurry up… and—"
With a heavy thud, the world tilted.
...Ah, I thought I could hold on a bit longer. I guess it was impossible with a wound this deep.
As Luka collapsed, falling helplessly into a pool of his own blood, the room plummeted back into despair.
"Lord Luka!!" Yuka screamed.
Sorry, Yuka. Even though I haven't... fulfilled my responsibility yet.
Her voice, for the first time, was stripped of all restraint—it was her raw, emotional self.
"…Lord Luka…?"
He lay face down on the ground, his chest barely moving. His eyes were closed, and there was no sign he would respond to her call.
The surrounding clamor continued—screams of people wanting to run, people not wanting to die, people begging for help.
"…No! Lord Luka! Lord Luka!"
"Elicia! Stop, don't go!"
"Let go of me! Please! Lord Luka is…!"
Nothing reached Yuka’s ears. She stared at him as if time had stopped. Only the boy named Luka was reflected in her eyes—the one who had overwritten everything in her past and present.
"…S—"
"So noisy… this is why I hate brats."
"…I will kill you."
"Huh?"
A flame ignited in Yuka’s eyes. It was as if everything until now had existed only for this moment.
Yuka Noctear.
What color would her flames be dyed? What was she thinking, and of whom was she thinking, as she stoked that fire?
Alphyria... Gladio,
She remembered everything. She believed, and she saw.
Let us return once more.
In the name of... Gladio.