//violence and blood later in the chapter

5 ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ is the start and 3 ⚠ ⚠ ⚠ is the end of the potentially triggering content

I hope yall enjoy

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Rose Tea

Chapter Seven [Techno]

He could feel it, the bruising to his arms. He couldn't believe what he was doing. He was just supposed to be a simple farmer, nothing more. He didn't want to go on some grand adventure, and he didn't want to be some hero. But here he was, defending against some idiotic thugs while letting others get to safety. Since when was he a charity? Since when did he care that much about the lives of strangers he barely knew.

Techno grunted as another guy slammed into him, he was doing all he could to deflect the potentially harmful weapons like daggers and knives, as long as he could avoid losing blood, he would be fine. The bruising made his flesh feel tender and sore.

"Looks like your pals left you for dead, porky, guessin you feel pretty beat up, huh?" It was the same guy. The same loser who kept chiming in to taunt him. The one with the scars over his chest.

"Hey, Boss, why don't we just beat him down then go drag those brats back over here. Make him watch what happens when you mess with the Diamond Gang."

"Wait, hold on," Techno interjected and winced, "You guys call yourself the Diamond Gang? That's like the least intimidating gang name ever," Techno laughed in between pained breaths. He might as well be just as foolish, always looking to say a snarky retort. Now really wasn't the time, but he couldn't help it. The gang stopped attacking him for a moment, "At least name yourselves something scary like Cat Barf, or something."

"You think this is funny? You making fun of our gang?"

"What can I say, guys, I'm just not that scared of a group who calls themselves the Diamond Gang," Techno shrugged. He could see the angry glares of the other guys, but before they could jump back on him again, a hand was raised.

"Hold it, let's not get ahead of ourselves. He's alone now, let's off him nice and slow," the man snapped his fingers and the crowd dispersed to surround Techno. He wasn't sure if this was better or worse for him. The ring of people around him each pulled out a knife or a dagger and pointed their blades toward the center of the circle. Yeah...this was looking pretty bad for him. But there was no off switch for his mouth, he couldn't help his responses sometimes.

Their boss, if he could be described as such, entered the ring with a dagger in hand, "Enough playing around, pig. This is where we kill you."

"Heheheh, why don't we talk about this? You see, if we're being honest, I don't really have anything against you guys. So why don't we call it even–" Techno redirected the guy's stab by pushing the arm that attacked him in another direction, "No seriously let's talk–"

Techno jumped out of the way and nearly stumbled back into the ring around him with knives jutting out. He was doing everything he could to avoid getting stabbed; he feared the consequences.

"Tch," Techno clicked his tongue. He didn't know how he was gonna make it out of this one. He could handle all the beatings, but he had to avoid blood being drawn at all costs.

"Come 'ere you–" the man launched himself at Techno and Techno sidestepped. The fight was in full swing now. He ducked under a swipe and carefully rolled away. Someone from the crowd kicked him in the back, he gritted his teeth and pushed back the growing rage in his stomach. He was in control. He was fine.

It was getting harder to move as all his limbs ached and screamed against each of his sudden moves.

"Let me be real for a moment, you don't want me to get angry, so let's quit this while we're ahead," Techno stumbled to his feet and held out his hands cautiously. Every step was beginning to feel like fire. Look at what trying to be the good guy got him, a world of pain and no escape.

"Bah ha ha ha!" The man laughed at him loudly while clutching his stomach, "You really think yer in a position to negotiate?"

Techno didn't sense the swing coming. From behind, he felt the impact on his head. He fell forward and crashed to his knees, his head was pounding.

Drip.

Hot, red blood splattered to the ground.

No.

"Ha ha! Looks like you do bleed, don't ya porkchop!" All Techno could see was the man's feet as he slowly inched forward. But that was the least of his problems.

Techno curled further into the ground, his lips were drawn back into a strained snarl. Fight it, he pleaded with himself. The blood continued to drip down the side of his skull. A fire was beginning to burn within him.

Listeners, I warn you now. As touched on before, there are three main species that interact on this land. The humans, the beastfolk, and lastly the monsters. Deep within a monster's heart is an instinct, a hostile rage. Some monsters are always in a rage, always ready to attack, and some monsters grow fearsome under different conditions. But all monsters, no matter the kind, are bloodthirsty.

Listeners, what follows is not for the faint of heart. Our simple and pacifist farmer cannot control what lies deep within him. It is the part of him he has done much to carefully conceal and hide.

Where you see this sign again is where I mark for you, the end of poor Techno's rage. Read on if you are willing but should it ever be difficult, just skip ahead.

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"Whats say you, men? Shall I put the poor pig out of his misery?" The crowd was filled with chuckles and snickers, but they fell on deaf ears for poor Techno.

He couldn't see it as his head was still pressed to the ground, but no longer because he was in pain. Above him, the boss stopped just in front of Techno's head. He kicked Techno who immediately jumped up and launched himself at the man. The man cried out in surprise.

Techno could not hear. He could not see. To him, everything had grown red and hazy, like a bull on a rampage. The instincts that dwelled deep inside him grew to a ferocious roar inside his head and he was filled with only thoughts to retaliate. To bludgeon, to maim, to end all in his path.

His hands gripped tightly around the man's wrist. There was a snap and deep guttural screams ripped through the night air. His knife fell forgotten to the ground.

"Boss!" The men around them shouted and leaped into action. All with knives out, all aiming to bring the pig down.

There was no pain to Techno who let knives slash him as he turned to thrash his other attackers. With one swing of his arms, he slammed several heads to the ground with thuds heavier than thunder. His hands reached out and grabbed heads before knocking them together with loud cracks. What was once 12 men ganging up on one pig turned into what would look like a massacre to the rest of the world.

At the entrance to the alley, unbeknownst to Techno, was the winged man from earlier this morning. He stared dumbfounded by the scene in front of him. If Techno could see him as more than a red splotch in his vision, he would have seen the uncertainty and slight fear in his eyes. They were the eyes of a man not sure who he was sent here to rescue.

"T-Techno?" The winged man slowly stepped forward, one arm raised, the other still in his sling. Techno turned, teeth bared and hot steam shooting from his mouth. His eyes were red. He dropped from his hands the potentially dead or unconscious thugs, "H-Hi mate. We met earlier, remember? Your friend–" Techno charged. The man had no choice but to leap back, he glided unstably with one wing back to the ground several feet away.

"Hold on, look" The man raised his arm higher, he winced as he slowly drew out his other arm. The one in the sling. It was scarred and covered in burn tissue, at least from what could be seen without his sleeves covering, "See, I'm not here to fight. Your ghost friend, uh...Wilbur, he sent me here to help you." It was no use, the man's words fell on deaf ears. Techno picked up one of the bodies of the thugs and threw them in the man's direction. The man caught the person and fell back on his bottom. He winced in pain.

Techno charged.

The man pulled out his sword with his left hand and held the flat edge of the blade to his defense and Techno pushed back with ease. The man brought his injured arm out and used it to push back against Techno using the flat edge of his sword blade, but it would be clear to anyone who had the upper hand here. The towering 7-foot pig beast or the small winged half-ling with one good arm and wing.

The man was losing. Techno continued to push down the sword. The man strained with everything he had and with a great surge and a yell he pushed back, he swung his sword clumsily and blood was drawn as a deep gash sliced its way through Techno's hands.

"Look mate, I don't know what happened, but you need to come to your sense. I'm not here to fight you, I came to help you," The man slowly raised his sword. He held the hilt with two hands now, "If you keep at this, I will have no choice."

Techno seemed to pause. His head tilted. He peered down at his hands and only saw red. He looked back at the man and saw red. His vision was painted entirely red. The only thoughts in his head were to annihilate all living enemies.

"Techno!" His ears heard a voice, but he saw nothing in the area had changed, "Stop this! I thought you were a pacifist!" Techno stared at the winged man who hadn't moved. In the background he saw two more figures approaching, they looked...familiar?

⚠ ⚠ ⚠

Techno took a step forward, but he felt an invisible force. A small pounding on his chest, but there was nothing–no one there, "You stupid, stupid idiot! If you're going to act like an apathetic asshole the whole time, don't suddenly gain a change of heart and sacrifice yourself like this. Look what it's lead you to!" Techno stepped forward, but still, that force was there. What was it? He couldn't see it or smell it, but he could hear it as plain as day. An enemy he couldn't vanquish?

The winged man just a few feet in front of him raised his sword higher in defense. The other two figures far in the background were huddled together, watching them as the events unfolded.

Techno took another step. He felt the invisible force pound hard and faster into his chest. Like tiny fists throwing a tantrum, "Listen to me! If you're just gonna act like a monster, then fine! But take it all back! You made me worried! I thought they were going to kill you!"

The whiny voice was irritating, Techno swiped at the air. He felt his hands make contact with something that fell to the ground with a thud. The pressure was gone from his chest. He marched forward and the man raised his sword, ready to swing, "Shit!"

Techno snarled as his head was pulled back by something grabbing his ears. He reached up to grab the thing.

"Pacifist my ass! Great big hypocrite. Stupid! Stupid pig!"

"Would you shut up you damn ghost! You whine too much!" Techno pulled the invisible figure off his head and held them in front of him. The red in his vision began to clear away and the once invisible figure slowly appeared in his view. The ghost had tears in his eyes as Techno grabbed them tightly, he frowned with displeasure, "Why did you come back, I thought I told you guys to run!"

Wilbur phased through Techno's grip as he loosened his hold on him, "How am I, in good conscience, supposed to leave you behind! You were about to kill the one here who came to save you too!"

"What?!" Techno snapped. That's when he noticed it. The area around him. The winged man, with his sword still raised and his body still tense and ready for action. The two brats in the background, scared and trembling. And the bodies on the ground, the faint cries of pain and agony around him. He even noticed the eyes of frightful folks in the windows above, quietly observing from their homes.

Techno's eyes widened and he stumbled back. He raised his hands to see his blood and wounds. No, no, no! Not again! He sucked in a shaky breath.

"I-I...I didn't mean to–I," Techno looked to Wilbur, his lips quivered and his eyes held a deep sadness and pain for him. Techno gulped as he squeezed his hands into a tight fist, the blood continued to drip the pain was stinging now.

"Stop that mate," The man sheathed his sword and ran up to Wilbur and Techno. He grabbed Techno's hands and pried them apart, "You'll make the wounds worse."

"I'm sorry, I–"

"It's alright, you were just defending yourself," The man spoke softly.

"N-no I–"

"It was self-defense. 12 against 1, that's not a fair fight." Techno stopped trying to argue.

Wilbur flew in and wrapped a tight hug around Techno's neck, "Stop trying to work alone. You're a snarky asshole, but we're in this together...remember?"

Techno quietly nodded. He drowned out the pained noises behind him as Wilbur calmly patted his back, and the winged man tightly held his hands. He looked up to the sky above. What a pretty moon, he thought.

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Word Count: 2356

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