[The frothing of blood begins to drip from Egan's maw]
Each blow of the knife was digging deeper into his gut, twitching what little muscle remained. All Egan did was stare forth, looking at nothing: his expression was one of anguish, hate, and malevolence. Gazing upon the lifeless body of the orphan in front of him, he couldn't help but shed a single tear.
A tear hit the orphan's head, combining with his. The little boy was still wailing at Egan, the blows coming relentlessly.
How much longer will he stand there and take these strikes?
Egan accepts these blows as punishment. Each pierce of his sternum was an apology to those he couldn't save.
And the blood which now stains the little boy red is a mark of his guilt.
The orphanage around him began to crumble further. All manner of beams, wood, and falling char crashed around the pair. Egan wasn't thinking straight. His headspace is empty. He only wanted one thing, and that was to kill them all.
Every single one.
After what felt like an eternity, Egan looks down at the boy, who's beginning to tire from the constant swings. His figure was completely drenched in Egan's blood. The only spot where his blood didn't reach was the lines of tears that continued to flow from his eyes. The boy didn't want to hurt this man, and he never wanted to kill his friend. Each time the knife sinks into Egan's flesh, the two link, not just physically, but emotionally. The blows pass the strong emotions of each other back and forth. Intertwined by both hate and sorrow, constantly being burned away by steam, for his injuries continue to regenerate. Over and over again, the pain persists for as long as the boy continues his onslaught.
The boy looks up, noticing Egan staring down at him. A look of horror washed over his face. After god knows how many blows to the chest, belly, sternum, and pelvis, this man still stands. His fear stops him from swinging, now aiming the knife at Egan's face.
The boy stops himself from stabbing him, but as a result, the boy's body begins to shake, and he follows through anyway, as though the collar is controlling him. A slave can never disobey their master. As tears dance through the sky, the boy lunges at Egan, his eyes closed. Egan didn't move, didn't blink, only stared. Slowly and silently, Egan wraps his arms around the young orphan, the boy's blade piercing his ear. The hug was warm and strong. Not one that would be used to restrain, but one of sadness and empathy. Egan was lost, and the only person he thought understood him was this boy. But for the boy, this hug was one of acceptance. That he had been forgiven for his crimes, and his sins be laid to rest.
The embrace persisted, despite the attempts from the boy to break free. Each struggle quickly stopped by Egan's intense pull.
Gently and strongly, Egan squeezed the boy tighter, restraining his breath. The boy squirmed more. Was this a punishment? Or was it an act of mercy?
The boy's breath grew thin, his face pale. All the blood began to rush to his head.
Limp
The boy's body lay limp.
Egan had stopped the flow of oxygen to his lungs, knocking him out cold. Killing him would do no one any good. For as much as Egan viewed himself as a monster. Such a fate for a child would be too much to bear. This was the least he could do for all the things a flaw like him was unable to do.
Lying him on the ground, he looks up at the slave collar wrapping around his neck. It was a disgusting abomination of a tool. For it was this thing's fault for the pain both the boy and Egan had gone through. Egan reached out, placing his finger on the gem center of the slave collar.
[The coalescence of essence charges into the fingertips]
A radiant glow of orange flame wraps around Egan's finger, slowing branching off and surrounding the young boy. The surge of essence causing the air to glisten with a light crimson, shining like tiny stars. The wind lifts Egan's cloak and shifts the boy's clothes, dancing along with the light.
A shatter of power splits the collar off, along with its effects.
The boy is free from his curse.
No longer will he hurt those he loves, and no longer will he need to blame himself.
***
[The crumbling of the orphanage begins expanding]
[Fire consumes the inside, leveling the building.]
From within the burning ash and ruins of wood, out walks a silhouette. Masked by a hood and carrying a little boy, they emerge from the rubble. Walking through the fire, the nun and children watch as their friend gets saved. The other kids begin to rush towards the pair upon noticing their friend unburdened by the collar. Egan gently placed him next to the nun, who was sobbing uncontrollably. Her eyes red from tears, she drops to her knees, hugging the unconscious boy before her.
'Thank you…" She mumbled, looking up at the towering figure before her, whose stomach was still smoking.
Egan just looked at her. He doesn't believe his actions are worthy of any praise, they were simply atonement for those he could not save. In reply to her thanks, he gives her a weak smile. His eyes closed, but his mouth still radiated some warmth. A smile of comfort.
"But… Sir… They still took her…"
Egan looks down, eyes pinpoint.
The shift in expression scared the nun, as though a chill went down her spine.
"Who?" Egan replied sternly.
"We called her… Norn…she was taken…"
"Why her?"
"I… Don't know… The only answer I can give…
Are her horns…"
[A loud explosion rings out from behind them]
[Sparks of deep flame rain in from a short distance away]
This explosion startled the nun. The kids huddled in for safety.
[Light footsteps emanate from behind Egan]
"Egan!" Shouts a familiar voice.
The voice was a lift of his shoulders. One he needed to hear. He turns around to see Sarah running at him, her staff materialized, and her hand waved.
"What are you doing?!"
Sarah ran up to him, looking up at his face, panting.
"I'm fine now, I was just lightheaded. They had a local shaman give me a boost to my endurance for a bit."
"…"
"Do what you must," Egan replied, coldly.
The reply shocked Sarah, for this was the first time she had seen him like this. It was disheartening. His body, drenched in blood, was also an unpleasant sight.
"Is that… your blood?"
"…"
Egan just looked at her, and then back towards the nun.
"Get them to safety. Please be careful." Egan said to Sarah, calmly.
"R-Right…"
[A familiar presence grows stronger nearby]
In the same direction as the previous explosion, an ominous presence is felt. With a quick turn of his head, he spots a shrouded figure dashing across his peripheral vision.
He reacted instantly.
With a leap that shook the earth he once stood on, he dashed across the crater and towards the explosion. He was focused. She was the only other humanoid being that had been mentioned to have horns since arriving here. It compelled Egan to help more than he already was.
Selfish or not, he needed to find her.
And bring her back safely.
***
Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, soaring through the air at breakneck speeds, he notices that the figure is getting away from him. With some concentration, Egan uses 'Increase' on his legs, shattering the house beneath him with a massive leap. Dashing from house to house, between buildings, and over streets, he began to gain on the figure.
It was fast, the fastest cloaked member he had ever come across. He was close enough now to make out the Emblem. The Emblem he hated to death. It infuriated him, his body releasing more and more essence through 'Increase'.
Faster
Faster
Egan was gaining speed, watching his footing as he destroyed roof after roof. The Fire Emblem kept switching directions, trying his best to through off Egan's trail.
Egan could have easily rammed into both of them by now, but he didn't want the girl to become a casualty of his anger. So, he played it safe and continued his subtle advance gradually.
The pupils of his draconic eyes focus on the figure, examining every part of its being.
And he spots her.
She is bound by something.
This young girl, with dark skin and flowing white hair in a nun outfit, was completely chained up. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the defining feature that the head nun was talking about.
Her horns. Though he only saw one from his angle, it was grand, even bigger in width than Egans, but shorter and less curved. It was beautiful. For a dragon, someone's horns are a staple of their nobility. So even if the reasons were personal, he felt as though she needed his protection more than ever. For in Egan's mind, her sign of nobility was on the line.
***
[A tiny explosion blinds Egan's view for a split second]
The smoke shrouded his vision. Unable to locate the girl, he stopped on a rooftop. He used his 'Innate talent' of essence location to try and find the girl.
'There!'
Before he could react, through the smoke, the pair dashed through faster than Egan could react.
Whoever this disgusting cloaked figure was, he was good.
Because of them zooming by, Egan got a closer look at the girl. Her arms, legs, and mouth were all bound by a massive chain, forcibly shut by the same gems that the slave collars bear. It was despicable. But what sent Egan into further rage was the tiny glance he got at the pair as they whizzed by,
Was that the girl's left horn.
Had been completely shattered off.