contains cringe scenes;
if it's not in your expectations
then don't read it darlin'.

c.4 // (y/n)'s point of view
part one with 4,496 words

Like any normal day, the guild was filled with laughters and smiles. For its former glory roused once more when Sting Eucliffe became the guild master and with Rogue Cheney as his right hand. No one questioned it, as all view the twins with respect and honor—except me.

Not that I hate-hate them to the bone or had a difficulty adjusting to the guild—it isn't even personal. They did not knew who I was and same was I before I joined the guild and no matter how I try to put my shoes to those who support them, I never had the reason why I must like them. Although, we both have the same goal. To be stronger.

I silently ate my proportion of breakfast at the farthest rouse of happiness, chatter and bickering. I focused on my plate where only the clank of my spoon was visibly heard, grimly held in the spoonful of meatloaf and greens in front of me before forcefully shoving it to my mouth.

"Why do everyone love this?" I expressed in muffled frustration as I set down the spoon to finally push out the plate to the other side of the table. Fully famished from my breakfast, I cocked my head to the side and saw the same picture of laughter and smiles from the minute I entered the guild. Where I sat surely made me stand out from other guild members but being alone has it's perks.

'They sure love to chat,' I thought while looking at the blue haired woman which I remember that everyone calls her Yukino. I then look at her other companions who I vaguely remember, as not even the names resurfaced at the back of my head. Hopeless with my thoughts, I heaved a sigh before beckoning myself to do something for the day, I could do a quest that will help me for a couple of months or maybe—just maybe lounge and don't give a damn with my rent. I'll surely end up homeless at that point.

I gave in to a snicker before flicking my fingers to teleport near the quest board. My fangs popped out while I rummaged with every piece of paper, and  just like any other member, I need to live by completing this damn quest. "If only I was born rich," I mumbled once more before debating between two quest that were easy enough to finish for a day and alas, after finally setting down to what I want to do, I gripped on the paper, dismantling it on the board.

I looked up with a smile on my face, only to cease when I saw a pair of eyes that were looking intensely at me from the second floor of the guild. It was our guild master.

"I always wonder why you rummage through the lower quest board than look at the better ones in this floor (y/n) (l/n)," Sting mused while he leaned in to the terrace. His clothes were neatly cleaned and his muscles were much more defined from the day I first saw him. I look back with a creased in my forehead, his hands were both on his cheeks as if he was looking sweetly at a child.

I scoffed. "It's none of your business," it never was. I turned away, not wanting to stray with this conversation longer but I halted when he said something else. "As the guild master, it is my business,"

My blood started to boil and thoughts about how to kill him had emerged in my imagination yet it quickly disperses when I lightly slap my cheek. 'Not now (y/n) (l/n),' without any other words to say, I flicked both of my fingers before I disappeared in his view, teleporting far away from him and the guild.

//

Months had passed after my encounter with Eucliffe and I tried to avoid him as much as possible but the longer I tried, the closer he gets.

"What is your deal? Don't you have any other friends?" I asked with no intention to hide my annoyance, for this is how my weeks now started, Sting Eucliffe that pesters me nonstop and even to the point that he joins me in every quest I take.

However, this time was new, he held a quest in front of me that surely does not belong to where I used to pick out my missions. I quickly scanned the paper, only to freeze on spot and "No," was the only thing that pursed my lips after knowing that it takes a month to finish. I quickly popped out behind him by my magic to teleport to find more suitable quests that fits my taste and can also finish for a day.

"Ehhh, have you seen the reward? It's 1,000,000 Jewels! We could split in half and not even worry about rent for months!" He exasperated, who also now blocks my viewpoint from the board as he nudge the paper in my face. At that point, I wanted to scream and wish a wyvern would kill him alive but instead, I remained silent and pushed it away from me.

Navigating the board, I then saw Sting Eucliffe pout who I presumed that he could not think of anything else to would change my mind. I gave him a snicker, a snicker of mockery and deceit. However, he saw more than just that as he instantly yelp in surprise. "Never knew you could smile (y/n) (l/n)!" I instantly frown and flickered his forehead.

Beautiful boys, sure are made an idiot after all.

"Ow!" Sting rubbed his forehead that made me sigh in defeat, for not only that he is completely ruining my day but nothing on the board is also better than what he had suggested to do. I gave him a quick glance before I snatch the paper from his hands and without saying anything, I turned around and went to the door with the paper on hand.

"Yaaa, (y/n)!" "(y/nnnnn)!" Only now, Sting was screaming my name and was demanding to plan ahead of time but I completely ignored Eucliffe's calls behind me. Although, what did stuck to my head was not the time and meeting place that he declared proudly nor a mental preparation to finish the quest but the way he does the effort to waste my time.

and I end up genuinely smiling about it.

//

I stroll towards the train station with my luggage on hand and it's wheels rolled normally than it should be. For starters, it looks brand new and the stickers and keychains seemed as if it did not encountered dust in the first place. Sadly, it was not the case since I bought this after I joined the guild, I just did not have the chance to use it.

I then reminded myself that I am about to ride a train which quickly made me nauseous by the thought of it.

"(y/n), over here!" I hear a voice that was too familiar to ignore. As much as I want to deny his presence, his voice is too loud and passerbys were also looking intently at me. 'It's always been like this' I thought before I frowned and trotter towards him who instantly lit up.

"I was having thoughts that you might had left without me!" then you should have left first.

Although, I only replied a sigh and once again, ignored him as I used to. He then continued to talk about how his day went and even to the point, such as complimenting my 'new' luggage. It was as if I was listening to him but my thoughts were surely most on how to deal with my motion sickness, mustering the courage as the train grew closer to the station.

Eucliffe continued to chatter even when the train is finally stationed in front of us. I instantly heaved a groan when I noticed that he won't stop talking until we board the train since we both knew that it is going to be a hellish nightmare. "Might as talk whatever leaves our lips, aight?" He expressed before we finally faced the cruelty of this train, marching towards it as if our life depends on it.

My legs jellied when I stood inside the train and my stomach even started churning, I then look at my hands that now trembles in fear and when the train is slowly filling up with passengers, I began to stagger towards our assigned seats. Eucliffe was behind me and I could sense he was trying to stop gagging.

"(y/n). . ." I hear him moan in frustration, pain resurfaced in his voice and I couldn't help it but glance back at him with sympathy. After a couple of minutes, we finally sat near the window with our luggage on top.

I gave in a satisfied sigh, only to start gagging when I felt the train motioning onwards our destination. With Sting right across me, I instantly saw him turn green.

"If only—L-lector was here," Right, Lector, his exceed which is surprising that I haven't saw him since yesterday, I wonder where that brat went. I sighed once more but it quickly turns into a gag. I suppress the urge to vomit and it continued to be like that until we both realized that we had arrived at our destination. However, we did eventually vomit what we had in breakfast.

As I stood on hard ground, I instantly felt relieved and all the churning in my stomach had stopped. Although, next to me was Sting who couldn't stop muttering hatred words about the ride, "Fuck the train, let's go walking next time,"

I nudge him and flickered his head, who screamed in pain and dropped his luggage behind as he rubbed his forehead. "(y/n) that was not cool, you hear me?! NOT COOL!" He pressed, grabbing his luggage near him. I notice that he still haven't recovered from all the pain that we both went through and with this, I couldn't help it but laugh.

It always makes me laugh.
Seeing him in pain sure is amusing.

"It's scary that you always find this funny," He walk beside me while I laugh my lungs out, also dragging my luggage with my other hand and the other was pressing my stomach, waiting for it to cease. I then turned grim after a sudden realization, that even Sting notices it. Omg, this is why it's going to take a month.

"What's wrong?" He asked, I did not respond to his question yet I pointed towards the ship as our next transportation.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!"

//

After three rides that took a week, a day for the first train, three days for the ship and lastly, two days for an another train, we finally arrived at our destination. It was a secluded town that both me and Eucliffe agree that it was not worth for all the ride we've been through, not even for sightseeing.

"Atleast, we will have lots of jewels?" Sting tried to sound passionate about the quest but I only gave him a glare that instantly made him shut his mouth. Walking towards the main office, I notice the dark aura surrounding the town, Sting also seemed to sense it as he is now serious as I was.

"It is sure, alarmingly quiet," I mumbled as we stride towards the main office door, beside me, Eucliffe did not mutter a word until we got to talk to their chief.

//

"Thank God, it is you who accepted the quest!" The chief had a plastered smile in his face, as if their problem could be mask away and with that, I did not smile back. People who pretends that everything is alright, are the worst.

When he motions for us to sit down, we never obliged since one, I wanted this to get this over with; two, we came all the way here, sitting our butts out while we try to avoid puking all over the place; and three, Sting also has no intention of sitting down.

The chief give in a frustrated frown and looked away, I could tell that he was trying to be nice but too bad, I'm serious when it comes—

"Details," Sting's voice echoed in the room, and that's when I realize that this is not a simple quest since once he demanded should always be complied. I sighed and just found myself, looking on the frames which painted faces of children.

"The children. They all went missing and we never knew where they all went." This time the chief sounded more sincere, his voice showed remorse that even I, could not shake off a familiar feeling.

And that's when my brain flared, flashing different flashbacks of scenes that I had wanted to forget.

"Run (y/n) and dont look back!"
"Just run!"

I staggered backwards and I cursed between breaths that Sting Eucliffe gave me a look of worry, I pushed myself on ground and shrug it off.

"The lacrima chooses you (y/n), never forget that," A voice echoed in my ears which I pinched myself to maintain my focus on the situation at hand. 'not this time, (y/n),' I thought and looked straight ahead where I could see that the chief and my partner were still intently talking about the details of the quest.

"Lab and children." That's the only thing that was clear to me until I did not notice that both me and Eucliffe were walking towards our assigned rooms. Tho the town was quiet and give that eerie feeling, we stride with more darkness between ourselves.

and I knew why,
for not only that Eucliffe had a past,
I had one too.

When I finally lay down on bed, I thought of the scenes that flashed through my head, all of which portrayed death and sacrifice. It made me wept as I stride closer to my duvet and held my pillow next to me. It had been haunting me, it always has.

//

We spent weeks on polishing a perfect plan, Sting at first argued about it but eventually accepted my idea that a plan was much better than having to march down to the lab, unattended and clueless.

However, it was half the truth since I wanted to avoid that type of place as much as possible, yet I knew that running away from it won't solve anything. I clasped on the map with that lingering feeling of haunt but I forcefully shrug it off and continued sharing on how we infiltrate the lab.

Then when the day came, I was shivering till my legs seems to jellified. My recent flashbacks were much more stronger and too much that I could bare, fortunately, Sting never seemed to noticed my odd actions but I'm sure somewhere, he had the idea that I may not emitting the same vibe as before.

Speaking of Eucliffe, I never saw him this serious. For there was no perfect time that we can both share a laugh, those weeks were just grim and bland; enough reason why I hate all of those days.

I finally let out a sigh as I grab the materials that I needed before I bolted to the door to meet him, but when I did, I dropped all the things that I had in my hand.

That bastard, Sting Eucliffe left me!

//

"When I see that asshole, I will fucking kill him in my own hands!" I was flaring everywhere while I dashed towards the lab's destination. With the hot scorching sun, I wish I could just teleport but I am too hesitant to do so, we never knew if they can detect magic—

I hear a loud explosion as I drew closer to the lab and I knew it was Eucliffe's doing. So this time I ran, more than my legs could handle, until I finally had the courage to teleport straight in the vicinity of the laboratory.

When my feet landed on hard ground, I was about to shout Sting's name but hard binds surrounded my body as if it was planned all along.

I squirmed in horror, my lips were tightly sealed and my hands and my feet were bounded. 'Think (y/n), think!'

That's it, when I have to save Eucliffe, it doesn't matter if he knew who I truly am since I also know for sure that he has an idea that I am no ordinary Spatial Magician.

A dark blue hue surrounded me, quickly making the binds disperse all at once, I smiled menacingly. However, before I joyously enjoy the freedom, I felt a hard stab in my back and I drop into unconsciousness.

//

"Give me that child or I will kill this precious woman in front of you," I rouse in my sleep and groaned, when my eyes roam in the scene in front of me, I firstly, saw Eucliffe in a defensively stance towards the man beside me and behind him, was a child who was crying so intently that it rose up more than the voices of two adults.

I squirmed, I felt binds again in all over my body, but this time it restricts me to use magic. I huffed and quickly look at Sting with a hint of worry in my face, just then I felt the edge of the knife in my neck. "Try no to breathe, it makes the process less painful" The scientist muttered, it had no indications of remorse which surely made me shudder in fear.

"Don't you fucking dare," I hear Sting mustered, the child's cry continues as he entered to his famous pace of white drive. For sure, he'd be able to beat up this man—for he was not just entitled as guild master as a title but also because of his immense strength and power.

The odds were clear between him and the man beside me, yet the scientist only laughed manically. I gulped, enough to feel the sharp knife in my neck. "Although, now that I think about it, this girl is much more valuable than that failure child behind you," He roared and I could feel Sting ready to gnaw at him in any minute.

The scientist then, suddenly pulled back the knife in my neck and with that, I was able to breathe properly and began to feel at ease yet it quickly settle into fear again when I see him raising the knife. I shouted Eucliffe's name and he finally took this chance to pounce at him but he was a millisecond late that the knife flew towards my chest.

I coughed, I knew for sure that this was no ordinary knife. My vision began to blur and my ears began to ring that I couldn't even hear the anguish of Eucliffe beside me.

I started to gag, I found my powers resurfacing in my veins and this made me shake in fear. I forcefully look up and see my guild master's face with worry, he had already beaten up the scientist but he instantly look behind him to see more and more mages that is ready to fight him.

My head began to throb in pain and I couldn't hear his last words to me as he started to cut off all the binds, "N-no, don't. . ." I muttered but he doesn't seem to hear me, he finally cut off all the binds, leaving the child beside me before he totter back to our enemies.

My body instantly went rigid as a surge of dark hue surrounded me. The child whom was beside me, look at me with dread and cried once more. I quickly mustered all my strength and push the child away from me, I then, look at Sting who was busy dealing with other magicians.

"N-no. . ." I stuttered between breaths, scales began appearing in my skin which I had feared the most. I screamed on top of my lungs and everyone seemed to stop with that they were doing.

This time, my vision went black. I had entered my mind once again—just like years ago. "No, no! Not this time, please!" I was shouting in an empty space. I couldn't control my body but I could clearly see the it was starting to do rampage unconsciously.

[WARNING :: you have entered
the defense mechanism.]

[WARNING :: you have entered
the defense mechanism.]

"Stop this!" I banged the text in front of me and screamed. "(y/n), are you okay?" I hear Eucliffe, it was vague but I could sense the worry in his voice. I took a breath and tried to calm myself down. "This only happens if you don't focus (y/n)! Focus!" I ranted and started slapping both of my cheeks.

Memories came crashing again and I shook them all away, "it's either you do the same mistake or man up, (y/n)," I held firmly to the darkness and concentrated once more. "They need you more than you could ever know," I whispered before closing my eyes with hands both clenched to the side as I face the memories that haunted me the most.

science lab //
third person's point of view

The dark hue engulfed (y/n) (l/n) like a burning flame, scales appeared in her skin—darker than any dragon slayer or mages have ever seen. The space dragon slayer was out of control like years ago, yet she was not as weak as she used to be.

(y/n) mindlessly stood up, her head was facing downwards and everybody in the area stopped and looked at her. Eucliffe was also swept by his own worries that his white drive wither away, his eyes are darting back and forth to the child and to her.

He called her out and asked if she was okay, "(y/n), are you okay?" and took a step forward to reassure that he was no threat to her, but the defense mechanism, find it alarming to begin with. A strong gust of wind whipped in the room like a storm that it sent all mages flying away from her vicinity.

Eucliffe tackled the child to refrain him from darting away and both were laying on the ground while fighting off the strength of the dark hue wind. When it stopped, Eucliffe, secured the child on the safe place and came rushing towards (y/n) who was still standing firmly on the ground, emotionless.

"(y/n), stop this," Sting called her out once more and this made her look directly at him. (y/n) did not reply and heeded no advise from her guild master. Both of her fist was then lighten by a more brighter surge of magic, pouncing at Sting with a scream—"Space dragon's claw!" Fortunately for him, he was able to dodge it.

The blondé began to get worried, "(y/n), whatever you are doing right now, stop it!" He shouted but he was only greeted by attacks that gnash his left arm. He hissed in pain and jumped defensively backwards, but before he landed on the ground, (y/n) teleported behind him.

"Space dragon's roar!" A monotonous shout was heard, Sting went flying to the metal wall, crushing it. "Why are you not fighting back?" (y/n)'s question reached in his ears and he couldn't help but smile.

Sting coughed out the debris from his mouth and muttered the disinterest from it's taste, he then, looked at (y/n) who was slowly walking back towards him. "It is obvious that I like you, (y/n)," he replied and gave (y/n) a small grin.

However, the worries continue to anchor in his chest that ever after he push forward both of his shoulders, binding away from the metallic wall to hopped down firmly to the ground, he was still resistant to fight back.

He then tried to strained her away with words, masking up the worries from his face by replacing it with an ease one. "I was always doubting myself, you know? I mean, it's hard to think that you're a dragon slayer—" He saw (y/n) teleport beside him, but this time, he was able to dodge her attack.

"Phew, that was close—as I was telling, I really thought, at first, you were only a special spatial magician—I guess, noses do not lie," Eucliffe whistled, ignoring the anguish and screams of (y/n) as she continued to teleport back and forth, doing the same tactic.

Sting Eucliffe sighed. "(y/n), please, snap this out." He roused and he felt the fatigue, slowly consuming him away. He began to get tired, even with the same tactic, (y/n) seemed to be improving every millisecond. As she attacked him with a dragon claw, he continue what he did which was to dodge it. However, the same tactic improved that the time he jumped back, (y/n) began to get hold of his speed.

"This would be a nuisance if you'd start controlling time," He muttered to himself, debating with his inner self if he should fight back or think of a newer defense plan yet neither of the two options were good enough to avoid each one of them from getting hurt.

Sting began to become serious while he questioned himself of how he could make (y/n) sane again, and that's when he stopped in place. For he would rather get hurt than to hurt her in return.

"You've been my companion while Rogue was busy with paper work," He state and opened his arms to receive (y/n)'s blow of attacks. "I could never hurt you in return," He staggered backwards and coughed after each impact. (y/n)'s face continued to show no emotions.

"and you're m-more than my companion," Sting coughed once more as he dropped on the ground in one knee, holding unto his stomach that was covered with bruises. "so please, come back and be with your usual self, (y/n) (l/n)," His body spat on the ground after (y/n) gave him a dragon punch on the stomach but he was able to stood up even after the impact.

"I miss you already, so come back to me," His voice was still so clear that (y/n) finally stopped attacking him. This made his emotions come at peace and after what seemed eternity for both of them had finally made the dark hue disperse in place.

With that, (y/n) dropped on the ground and Eucliffe staggered towards her. He gave the unconscious (y/n) a tight hug before he, himself lost consciousness too.