In the world simple words can be detrimental to a single individual. That simple act of placing a label on an issue under the pretense of care or wanting a quick address to it , diminishes the complexity the issue carries into a single cramped up meaning that even the author or fabricators of the name can't even be summoned to clarify. In this world there exists two words that by far carry a staggering weight on a person's future and life. They are the very same words that caused the current devastation clouding Lozo's home. In the world of the Harmatia you are either a sinner or a saint.
Two worlds Lozo had always hated since the first day he heard them.
***
The blade in the saint's hand shimmered a gleam of grey and silver. It hummed and vibrate as though celebrating to what was to come next. Guided by the man's condescending eyes the blade sliced down towards Lozo. It rejoiced to seal their fate in red.
The slash's devastation was greater than the last. The earth crumbled under its wake in complete shred. It was a slash that was meant to dice all in its path be it rock, wood, fire or in the saint's hope, flesh. Its devastation travelled across what remained of the charred orphanage, silencing the flames and erupting the ground beneath. In a matter of seconds half of the Dream Well orphanage was nothing but dark wood floating over muddy water that sprung from the ground below.
"Hmm. " the saint sounded as he lowered his blade. His eyes gazed at the small patch that gradually extended back into a muddy crater, something seemed off.
There was no blood.
Lozo's eyes were aching terribly by now. The smoke, the tension and lastly the impending death he had so very much prepared in his little reminisce of the past, they were taking quite the toll on his body. His heart raced tirelessly making the blood vessels in eyes bulge with a striking red hue. His pupils shrank and his body had grown cold, and so had Hinari's.
'Wait…? ' he thought.
' My heart is still beating… I'm not dead yet. ' the thought recurred again as he raised his head to meet that of his assailant.
" How do you keep on doing that? " the man asked as he walked towards Lozo.
Lozo's eyes quickly shifted to him as his figure stepped out of the clearing dust.
" Three times you've escaped Joyeuse's attacks and by the look in your eyes you have nothing to do with it. "
"So tell me… How? "the man asked stepping out of the dust his loose coat fluttering in the breeze. His voice was oddly calm.
The sight behind the saint was a clear display of the latent power wielded by a Saint. In his memories, Lozo remember two-story buildings that cascaded behind one another and stretched out towards the river-stone walls of the Orphanage. But currently only a scar of what used to be remained. The building that had acted as sleeping dorms for the children had been completely flattened out into a muddy plain. Smoke from the former cinders slowly faded into the night thanks to the water that sprung from what used to be the well. Decades of the Dream well orphanage cut down by the might of a single person.
Lozo had always known the world to be a scary and cruel place but now he had seen it with his eyes, he could feel it in his throbbing chest… there was nothing he could do…
His head dropped down as looked at Hinari. Her soft face, her silky hair… all scar from her former jovial self. The restrained tears in his eyes couldn't take it anymore. The piercing and sinking feeling that was currently weighing on his heart dragged down the wall shielding his inner emotion from showing. His mind went black as he pulled Hinari closer to him.
"I'm sorry. "he cried in a quite murmur.
"Tsk!" a disappointed click sounded.
"Is this all? Is this all you have?" he asked.
"What happened to that look earlier, huh!? You charged in carelessly and with no fear and made away with your sister. Tell me was that all for nothing? "he said his voice at the borderline of anger.
"Was all that so you could die with her in your arms, a pitiful death!? And what of the old man's efforts to save you? Are you just going to throw them away? "
"What do you care? You're here to rid this land of Sinners. You're here to kill me so get on with it." Lozo said not even raising his head towards the man.
"Tsk!" he clicked again. "If you've already accepted that, at least don't take the fun out it." The saint said as he readied his sword.
The world is a scary place, that's what his throbbing heart was telling him. His mind had far gone into despair not even daring to speak. Lozo could see an escape from this scary world. A world where a person's status as an Harmatia was more important that whether they were human. The escape came a humming blade and with a quick thrust it would all be over.
"Come down Lozo…" A sudden, internal voice cut through the despair in his mind. It was rough and familiar almost like it was struggling to stay alive yet already dead.
"Face the enemy in front of you… "
' The enemy in front of me, huh? 'There was only one person who could ever say this to Lozo given his current circumstance.
"Facing him would be stupid, I'll die if I even raise my head." Lozo answered, his voice void of any hope.
"So you've already made up your mind on everybody's behalf huh?"
"Yes."
"And what about Hinari. Has she made up her mind or did you do it for her?"
Lozo remained quiet.
"It seems you've already forgotten your promise to her, haven't you Lozo!" the old man's voice came in a boom.
"You've forgotten all your promises, even the one you made to me…"
Lozo had always doubted the old man's chain of judgment given his already evident old age and more so the annoying expectation he had in his eyes every time the old man told him. But even so it's always nice to have someone believe in you, even for the slightest things in life.
" One day I'll be gone from this world Lozo. And on that day, you'll have to take my seat and protect the orphanage while I'm gone. "
"Protect it from what. Nothing big ever happens around here. "
"There are many types of misfortunes in the world, Lozo. And one day you'll be forced to meet one that is far from what you are able to comprehend or predict. On that day I want you to do one thing Lozo…" the old man's voice rang in his head.
"Face the enemy in front of you and defend what they challenge to take away. "
Those words always came doused in a warm feeling that had always gotten to Lozo. Whether an old crooked smile or a jolly laughter to cut the tension in his dense mind. Old man Ji always seemed to know exactly what to do, no matter the situation.
This time it came as a warm touch on his shoulder. It firm and gentle at the same time. Reassuring that someone had his back no matter the choice he made. Lozo couldn't help but smile. He snuffled pulling back the tears that were threatening to stream down his face. His stance staggered, fear was still a far stronger than he had imagined it would be. But in his hands, he had all the courage he could need to do the next set of actions.
"I'm sorry Hinari, I zoned out a little there." he apologized still stumbling on his way up. Hinari's voice had shrank into only groans at this point.
"Don't worry I'm right here." Lozo said as his eyes rose and eyed the Saint wielding a blade in front of them.
The old man always told him to keep a cool head in dire situations. But what if he couldn't. But what if no matter how much resolve he could muster his head could seem to clear of certain death no matter his actions. But what his heart raced and throbbed so fast that he could hear every thud in his ears threatening to break all this blood vessels. What then.
Then Lozo felt some movement. They were fragile and hesitant yet they kept going. Every motion she took he could see the pain in her half-closed eyes as she struggled through it. Her charred hand rose, dark as can be, landing warm and softly on his face. Her voice grew past the groans into a final exhale of Lozo's name.
"Big brother… Let's… run away." She spoke. Her hand gave out and slowly descended from his face. Lozo caught it mid drop, feeling the latent strive to live in Hinari.
Who was he to refuse?