I stalk toward Constance while his back is turned. The fight has shifted, and he’s crashing his sword against Darian’s in brutal strikes, sending her stumbling back. All at once, her sword snaps, and the metal flings away. Empty handed, she retreats, glancing toward her allies. Earnest and Xamireb have finished tending to Liz, though they’re in no state to help their captain either, each of them bleeding profusely.


    The air smells delicious.


    The Aegis rejoices as it senses my conviction. Finally! Now we will be working together properly, as one.


    It’s right. I can feel our minds falling in sync with one another. And not because the shield is impressing its wants on me, not because of the Bloodlust, but because we both want the same thing. This mental resonance makes me feel stronger. The shield feels stronger. And we’re both just starving.


    I lift the Aegis like it’s made of balsa wood. Constance throws a glance over his shoulder at the last second. I crash the Aegis into the ground as he springs away, the stone shattering beneath the shield and sending chips flying in every direction. I grin as Constance spins around to raise his blade before him. Now he sees us as a threat.


    “Looks like you’ve finally decided to get serious,” Constance observes. “Excellent. Maybe you’ll do my job for me.” He gestures to Liz and the others, desperately attempting to address wounds.


    The smell of their blood is so strong. My mouth waters. He’s right, I want them, badly. The Aegis is itching for more blood, too. And it’s right there, waiting for us to take it.


    Darian takes a half step in their direction, holding out the broken hilt of her sword so it points between Constance and me. She’s breathing heavily. Blood is trickling down her face.


    She’d promised she’d stop us if we went out of control. We doubt she could stop anything right now.


    “Well?” Constance asks. “Please, don’t mind me. I’m more than happy to continue our fight after you’ve had your fill.”


    I laugh. It’s too funny. It’s all so ridiculously funny.


    “Nye,” Quell calls, worried. “Don’t—”


    I leap into action mid word, tearing toward Darian. She doesn’t even have a chance to react. I grab the stump of her sword by its rotted blade, and it bites into my skin. I activate Hematic Hardening next, and the blood that pools from my hand becomes cement. I kick Darian in the gut, ripping the sword from her grip and sending her stumbling back toward the others. Then I pivot, release the hold of my blood, and throw the jagged stump of metal at Constance.


    It all happens in less than three seconds.


    Constance flinches to the side and the hilt sails over his shoulder, crashing into the wall. I’m half a step behind, already closing in on the prince. I smear my bloody palm across the Aegis, which the shield devours, vanishing the streak of red as soon as it’s left my hand.


    I crash into Constance, and he blocks with the Scimitar, but my momentum pushes him back. He tries to dig in his feet, fighting against my rush, but his boots drag across the ground, then catch on a stone and send him stumbling. I don’t let up, advancing on him until his back is pressed to the wall, the Aegis and the Scimitar between us. I grin up at him, and he glowers back down, hate burning in his eyes.


    Between us, I can feel the weapons battling, too. Like before they’re trying to Devour each other, pitting will against will, magic against magic, might against might. But the Aegis is stronger, now. And it has my blood. Which means I can also feel myself in the Aegis. I extend my will into the Attuned blood, and we bear down on the Scimitar together, putting everything we have into the attack.


    The weapons spark and hiss. Magic crackles over the surface of both weapons. Then, I feel the Scimitar give.


    Constance roars, pushing us away in a surge of strength as he squeezes out from between us and the wall, backing defensively away.


    I laugh, stomping after him. “What’s the matter, Prince? I thought you wanted to fight!”


    [Blood Ward activated.]


    Blood whips out of the Crimson Aegis, stabbing toward Constance. He slashes through the lines, its own limbs of bloody magic cutting away the Aegis’s attack and sending my blood splattering to the ground. I use Hematic Hardening and launch the fallen blood back at him in the form of dozens of tiny needles.


    His sword is a blur. He meets everything we throw at him. But his expression is getting more angry, and more desperate, as we continue to force him back.


    “You are nothing,” he snarls. “You haven’t even had that shield for a month! You can’t beat me. We are undefeatable!”


    The Aegis is saying much the same in my own head. It’s a comforting, empowering mantra. But it’s not real: it’s just arrogance. Anyone can lose.


    Anyone can die.


    What does strength even mean if you can’t use it to save the ones you love?


    Constance retreats another pace, and I notice too late where he’s heading. I’d kicked Darian back over to the others to protect them, but Quell is backed into a different corner, alone.


    Helpless.


    [Role Requirement,] Echo urges.


    Constance sneers as he holds his sword in Quell’s direction. He’s still not within arm’s reach, but he can launch a spear of blood at Quell before I can close the gap. “If you want to preserve his life, I suggest you stop there.”


    I growl. “Don’t touch him.”


    “He’s bluffing,” Quell calls, trying to back away even as Constance aims the sword at his throat. “He wouldn’t. You wouldn’t! Constance, please. I’m your little brother.”


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Something inside me cracks. Aegis’s whips of blood spiral into the shape of a spear, then stab toward Constance. He instinctively blocks the attack, drawing the Scimitar away from Quell. I use the opportunity to rush forward, attempting to put myself between the two princes. Constance notices at the same moment, and slices the Scimitar back toward Quell.


    The Aegis slams into Constance edge-on. He twists the sword back toward my gut. We both crash into the wall feet from Quell, and crumple to the ground.


    Pain erupts from my side, and my vision goes white. Someone screams. My mind spins, blood rushing through my body in a reactive and defensive wave. I pull in a ragged breath. I guess I’m not the one screaming then.


    It’s Constance. I try to sit back, and my ribs erupt in a second wave of agony before a worrying numbness takes its place. I activate Coagulate, hoping to patch up whatever’s happening at my side. I yank the Aegis from where it stuck to the wall, pain lancing through me, and fall back. My vision is clearing.


    [Bloodlust ended.]


    Quell grabs my shoulder, squeezing painfully. I think he’s trying to pull me back, but the effort is futile. Even if he could pull me, the Aegis weighs just as much. But I’m not paying him much mind, because I’m focused on Constance.


    He’s curled up on the ground, screaming, free hand clutching at his bleeding arm. Or, what’s left of it.


    Constance’s hand is still wrapped around the hilt of the Crimson Scimitar, but neither are anywhere near his body. It was severed when the Aegis crushed it against the wall.


    The Scimitar, meanwhile, is stuck in my side. My vision swims.


    The Aegis has wrapped tendrils of blood around the blade. I can distantly hear its thoughts above the rush of blood in my ears: The nerve! Only the Aegis gets to drink my blood. No, no, this won’t do—


    The ribbons of blood yank the blade from my side, and I scream. The pain is unimaginable. Static hisses through my ears and vision, and a rush of numb darkness consumes me. The pain fades. Everything fades.


    Silence.


    Black.


    Nothing.


    Then,


    [EXP threshold met,] Echo says. [Level up! Class evolution unlocked]


    [Name: Nye]


    [Species: Dhampyr]


    [Class: Guardian


    ]


    [Level: 20]


    [HP: 175/175]


    [Mana: 90/90]


    [Role: The Knight]


    I gasp as a healing warmth floods through me, sight and sound returning. I’m on the floor. I don’t remember falling.


    “Nye!” Quell’s fingers are painfully digging into my shoulder, desperation cracking his voice. “Nye, please, no—”


    “I’m fine,” I say, grabbing the hand that’s grabbing me and pulling his clawed grip out of my skin. “Your brother—”


    “You’re not fine,” Quell cries, terrified. “Your side—”


    “It’s healed.” I push myself upright, partially restricted by the Aegis. “It’s okay. I’m fine. But Constance is going to bleed out.”


    The Aegis cheers at our victory. It knew we could not be beat. Especially not by some foul, arrogant sword!


    I snort. Birds of a feather, those two. I need both of my arms right now, I tell the Aegis. Can you let go?


    The Aegis hesitates, doubt returning to temper its victory.


    I won’t leave you, I promise. I just need to help my friends. Please.


    It must feel the truth behind my words, as even though I can still sense its reluctance, the Aegis agrees.


    The bands of light dissolve from around my arm, and the Aegis rocks as it settles back against the ground, rather undignified by its position. This is no sort of dramatic pose worthy of post-battle victory!


    I stand, taking in the scene. Constance’s screams have died down to whines and gasps. A sheen of sweat covers his forehead, and his eyes are going glossy. I kick the Crimson Scimitar away from him first, then kneel by his side.


    He jerks away from me, fear flickering over his face.


    “Stay still,” I say. “I’m going to help.”


    “My arm,” he moans.


    I glance back at his severed hand, which the sword is still clinging to with the last vestiges of its magic.


    “Okay, so, I’m going to help, but not how you want,” I say. “Hold on.”


    I put my hand on the stump of his arm. Blood is still pouring from the wound, coating both of our hands. Aw, crap, I should have put my mask on. Too late now. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the smell, and focus on my magic.


    [Healing spell activated.]


    Warmth blooms from my hand, and Constance tenses up. Then he lets out a relieved sigh, and I can feel the flow of blood slow to a trickle. I keep going until it’s stopped completely. When the spell ends, I remove my hand, and a giant, ugly, horrifying and still-wet scab covers the entire end of his arm. I grimace at my handiwork, but I’m no healer. That’s as good as I can get it.


    Constance slumps against the wall, and I sit heavily back as well.


    “It’s over,” I say. I’m not even sure who I’m talking to.


    “Not quite,” Darian says.


    I look over to her and the others; her face is grim. Earnest and Xamireb have propped Liz upright, and she’s blinking and mumbling, but otherwise doesn’t seem coherent.


    “Liz has a concussion. She needs a healer,” Darian says. “And probably so does Prince Constance—not that I am convinced he deserves one at the moment. But we also have a battle to stop. His troops are likely attacking the West Gate as we speak.”


    “But how can we stop it?” Quell wonders. “If we expose ourselves, they’ll certainly apprehend us on-sight and only question us once the fight is over. By then, the damage will be done.”


    Darian nods. “We need to end this from the outside—from our side. Take control of Constance’s troops and call them off.”


    “We’ll never make it back in time,” Quell says. “We walked here.”


    “Maybe,” I say, thinking. “Xamireb. Can you get us a steed?”


    Earnest starts to object, but Xamireb pats his shoulder. Neither have attempted to get up, and both are covered in still-bleeding cuts.


    Xamireb tips their head, weary but thoughtful. “I think I can manage that. Give me a moment to search.” They close their eyes, frowning slightly, and go silent.


    I look to Quell. “We need to get you back to your troops.”


    “Me?” he asks. “But Constance—”


    “Betrayed all of you,” I say. “And Liz is in no state to explain things. You’ll have to be the one to call them off.”


    “They won’t listen to me,” he objects.


    “They will.” I stand up, grabbing the Crimson Aegis as I do. Relieved that I did come back for it, the Aegis forms two new straps of magic, and I sling it over my back, where it happily rests. I head over to the Crimson Scimitar next, nudging it with my boot. “They’ll listen to you if you’re carrying this.”


    Quell looks horrified by the suggestion. But Darian wearily nods.


    “They’re right,” she says. “It carries authority. And also the implication that Prince Constance is dead.” She narrows her eyes at him. “I’ll stay here and watch over everyone. Prince Quell, you’re the only one with the authority to do this.” She looks at me, next. “Keep him safe.”


    My mouth twitches in a smile. “That’s what I do.”


    Quell looks more terrified by this proposal than the fact that his own brother just tried to kill him. Hesitantly, he joins me beside the Scimitar anyway.


    “Should I…” He bends down to grab it.


    “No!” I pull him back. “Don’t touch it. I don’t know if that would initiate a pact with you, but better safe than sorry.” I pull off my shade cloak and throw it over the sword (along with Constance’s hand that’s still attached to it). “We’ll keep it wrapped up for now.”


    Quell nervously tucks his hand back. “Good call.”


    Xamireb opens his eyes. “I’ve found a footbird. Not as roomy as a star drake, but it will have to do. It’s waiting outside.”


    Carefully nudging the cloak around the sword, I pick the bundle up; no mind voices, so that’s a good start. I look to Quell. “Ready?”


    He swallows. “I guess I’ll have to be.”


    “We’ll be back,” I tell the others. “Hang in there.”


    “Godspeed,” Darian says.


    As wary as I am of the gods, this is one blessing I’m willing to accept. Quell and I head out of the temple—which has since become a dilapidated storage shed, now that Constance’s illusion has crumbled. Sun prickles painfully against my skin, without my cloak, and I have to squint against the too-bright light.


    But I can live with the discomfort. Everyone’s alive.


    Now, we just need to keep them that way.