Aftermath

As Fae punched Einhart a giant flash of light was released. As the light faded the sight was shocking. Einhart was limp on the ground with a burn mark on his back, and Fae was on his knees with his entire right arm missing. "Guess that backlash was something serious." Fae said as he fell to the ground. Before his vision faded he heard the sound of footsteps along with Tessa screaming "MOTHER!"

***

As Fae woke up he was pleased to see he was in sunlight. "I'm alive" Fae voiced as he began to stand up from the grassy surface and look around.

"Of course you are, thanks to me that is." Fae heard a voice behind him call. The voice sent chills down his spine as he heard it, the gentle but firm tone, the arrogant but calm aura, there was only one person that voice matched. "M- Ms. Phantom?" Fae asked as he turned around.

Ms. Phantom was a very tall woman. Like her daughter Tess she had long black hair, the likes of which felt like staring at it too long would pull your soul out. She had long and skinny fingers, with a youthful and scarless face. One word could describe her. Beautiful, but those who knew her would use another word, terrifying.

As Fae stared into the eyes of the woman responsible for his death he didn't know how to feel, this had been the lady who raised him and the other kids in the orphanage, although she may have been cruel and mean; she would always provide for him and the other kids. Was that enough to excuse orchestrating his murder? Was the woman who raised him and gave him a life to live, allowed to just take that life away?

"Don't Fret child, the bandits are gone now, it's just us. Now tell me, how are you here? We thought that the beast attack had killed you." Ms. Phantom said with a sad expression on her face.

'Quite the actor aren't you.' Fae thought to himself as he watched her act innocent. He looked to the side and shot Tessa a glare, Tessa knew exactly what it meant. "Don't tell her that we know it was her fault I died."

"I don't know Ms. Phantom, after the attack everything went black; suddenly I was woken up to this huge explosion. I tried to fight the beast, but I just couldn't. I wasn't strong enough." Fae said as he tried his best to look defeated.

Ms. Phantom and Fae had the exact same thought in their mind 'You're full of sh*t.'

"Well everything here has been cleared up, I'm so sorry that you were attacked in these bandits attempt to take Tessa. Thankfully both of you are safe." Ms. Phantom said as she began to walk closer to Fae and Tessa. "Now take my hand lets go back home."

As soon as Tessa's mother said this Tessa began to think, she knew the truth, she knew Fae had been murdered for being too close to her, for slowing down her training. She couldn't put Fae in danger again, she had put him in danger so much in his life. Maybe Fae's life would've been so much easier if they never had met, maybe he never would've experienced the pain and torture of death. She couldn't risk him being hurt again, she felt like suddenly her mother was a stranger that she couldn't predict. She knew what she needed to do.

As Fae reached his hand out to grab Ms. Phantoms hand Tessa pushed him to the ground. "You're deadweight Fae. Congratulations on gaining some sort of second life, but I can't let you keep holding me back. Protecting you every second is so exhausting, I need to train, I have a destiny, I can be strong. YOU CANT FAE! Some people were meant to soar, and I can't stay on the ground just to protect you. You're not coming with us Fae, have a good life." Tessa screamed at Fae as she took her mothers hand and a shadow began to envelope them, before the shadow consumed them completely Fae saw as a single tear dripped down the side of Tessa's face. Once the shadow surrounded them they vanished along with it. This was Ms. Phantoms movement ability 'Shadow Transport.'

Fae stared at where the two used to be as his mind ran wild. Tessa was his only friend, she was there for him when no one else was, she protected him, she cared for him, Tessa was the closest thing Fae had to family, and she was gone just like that. "I'm sorry for being weak Tessa, I never meant to hold you back. Fae whispered to the air as he began to break down into tears.

His cries were met with a system notification. {Host has completed quest :Protect Tessa} {Host has leveled up (level 6)} {Host has gained new skill: Devour}

{Devour: The eater of worlds, conqueror of kings, ruler of the realms, with the power, TO DEVOUR!}

{Skill Description: Host can absorb the essence of a defeated enemy, absorbing the bloodline of the target.}

As Fae read this only one word could leave his mouth "WHAT!" The system still wasn't finished surprising him as the system messages continued to ring. {Host defeated stage 6 Spirit realm Mythic: 1500 xp

{Host has leveled up (Level 7)}

{Host has leveled up (Level 8)}

{Host has leveled up (Level 9)}

{Host has leveled up (Level 10)}

{Host has reached current level cap, would Host like to use remaining 1000 XP to increase the level of the system?}