A Wish
The Line Between the Twists of Fate

Risette suddenly felt guilty of her actions. She stared atthe air in utter surprise.

“Miss..?” Blind muttered.

“R-Risette! My name’s Risette..!” She dumbly said, “You weresaying..?”

Blind paused for a bit then shook his head, “It’snothing...”

Risette forced herself to get out of her internal stupor asshe pulled along Blind to replace an exit, “L-Let’s go..!”

~o0o0o~

“We’re almost there, Stein. Just a few more walks...” Lisasaid as she helped in assisting Stein. She had a worried look written all overher face. Stein was teetering here and there. Lisa had to help watch out forStein’s every steps to prevent further damages. Lisa scanned the woods then hereyes managed to catch one of her minions flying over. She let out ahigh-pitched whistle.

The minion flew over to their direction. The minion lay onone knee as though to heed the command.

“There should be angels and messengers nearby. Find them forme and request for assistance.” Lisa sternly commanded. She rolled her eyesthen let out a scornful gaze, “I believe they’ll take that request if you saidthat it was from the supervisor, all right?” She said as she nodded in synchwith her minion.

Lisa smirked, “Go.”

The minion flew away at its fastest speed.

She then looked back at Stein who was unconsciouslycollecting magic from the ground. She watched how the life of the plant decayedby Stein’s touch. Lisa felt a few sweat roll down her forehead. Stein wasgetting more and more critical by the minute. The longer Stein forces himself,the more unstable he gets.

The rate of absorption Lisa was seeing from Stein was a signthat she shouldn’t touch him so casually. Lisa looked around for something thatcould help her guide Stein through the woods and in to the designated area.Lisa suddenly felt like she fell into a pit when Stein almost fell if not forhim grabbing the tree trunk—that had its life sucked away the instant Steintouched it.

“S-Stein, can you still go?” Lisa carefully asked. Shewanted to help Stein steady himself but he was in critical mode, therefore shecannot help in assisting in any way possible. She tried to touch Stein only tohave a portion of her skin to dry up then replenish itself the moment sheremoved her hand. She clicked her tongue at the level of impossibility. Lisaheld out two fingers then had it in front of Stein, “Tell me. How many isthis?”

Stein opened his eyes as wide as possible in order to see,“I say that you raise two but in all actuality, I cannot see.”

Lisa clicked her tongue again then bit the edge of herfingernail. She snapped her head to the nearby piece of wood then grabbed it ina breath, “Stein, I need you to hold on..!” She instructed as she put the woodnear Stein’s personal space, “Listen, there’s a piece of wood I have for you tograb.” Lisa nodded accordingly as she saw Stein cooperate with her. Shebreathed carefully as though it was a very sensitive mission, “Now, I want youto be relaxed as possible...” She instructed. Stein nodded accordingly as hestarted to breath in and out.

Lisa saw Stein slowly grab for the wood then exhaled deeply.She gave a small sigh of relief when she saw the wood be devoured at a slowerpace, “Next, all you have to do is to follow where this wood is leading you...” Lisa started to lead Stein to theirdesignated area.

Lisa internally wanted to give Luke an earful for actuallyletting Stein move on his own even though he was fully aware of Stein’scondition. Luke told her not too long ago that Stein was going to forcehimself. Clearly, Luke knows what he was saying, but was he aware of his bluntactions? She shrugged off the idea then continued to assist.

They were moving at a slow pace, and if anything, it waswrecking. Two lives were on the line and none of them are in any goodsituation. Risette was trapped in a hidden location and to top it off, she wasbeing harassed in some way they couldn’t imagine. Stein on the other handwasn’t getting any better. He was suffering from too much magic loss and bodyfatigue. The two of them weren’t in any good condition, and that is a fact.

Lisa nearly fell after tripping from a rock. She let out aquiet curse—quiet enough for just her to hear. She looked at Stein who wasoddly being quiet all of a sudden. He was leaning towards dead, Lisa mentallysaid to herself. Although he’s not going to die, he’s probably experiencingdeath so to speak. She let out a worried look as she saw how Stein was sodetermined in replaceing the girl.

“Say...” Lisa started. Knowing that Stein was in nocondition to reply, she just continued, “Why are you obsessed with replaceing thegirl?”

Stein heavily breathed out then tried to muster strength tomove his lips, “H... heart...”

Lisa managed to catch Stein’s words, “Heart? What about theheart? Don’t tell me you were just after the heart!” She suddenly exclaimed.

Stein weakly shook his head in honest denial. He heavilybreathed out again, “That was at first....” He trudged his feet to keep onmoving, “.... but I keep falling..... When I see her smile......” His kneesfinally broke down as he fell to the ground.

Lisa immediately rushed to his aid, “That’s called being inlove!” She explained as she refrained herself from touching ay part of Stein,“That’s a sign!” She added. Lisa then hardened her hands until they becamemetal-like. She took a deep breath then helped manage Stein to stand on hisfeet. She hissed at the contact between her hands and Stein’s body.

She can feel her magic getting sucked out from her hands.

The moment Stein found a good foothold and stand then Lisa jerked her hands away fromhim. She watched how her metal hands get skinned-off then re-establish themetal quality. She scowled at the utter pain of getting her magic forcefullysucked away from her.

“Steeeeiiinn!!!”

Lisa looked up at the sky as she heard the familiar voice.She cupped her hands by her mouth, forming a make-shift megaphone, “OVERHERE!!!” She shouted.

The wind grew stronger as the other person approached at arapid speed. There was a blur of dirty white as the person landed just beforethem.

It was Luke who had a look of utter concern. He shook hishead as he approached the two, “He was gone the moment I went back..!” Heimmediately reasoned, since he knew that Lisa was a good friend of Stein’s. Helooked at Stein then back to Lisa, “I-I told him to stay in bed and wait whileI get some medicine... but when I cameback, he wasn’t there anymore..! Not even a single drop of blood helped melocate him..!”

Lisa just raised a hand to make Luke shut up, “It’s okay. Iunderstand.” She suddenly hissed when she finally realized that her hands werebleeding.

Luke held her hands then gave a questioning stare.

“My cells can’t recuperate that fast...” She answered as sheflicked her hand to remove the blood on her hand’s surface. She clicked hertongue upon seeing more bleeding, “I’m near my end if I continue this...”

Luke jerked up, “What?!” He exclaimed.

“I’ll grow old in an instant since I’m going to decay if Icontinue what I was doing...” She further explained then sighed, “Stein toldyou something about me, right?”

Luke hesitantly nodded his head, “You’re a succubus...”

“What else?”

Luke avoided eye contact as he stared at the ground asthough it was the most wonderful thing in the world. He opened his mouth onlyto close it as he looked to the side. He shut his eyes close, “He said you’re afailure of a succubus..!” He weakly shouted.

Lisa turned her head to Stein who weakly nodded to confirmLuke’s words. She returned her gaze to Luke, “That’s correct. That’s also whyStein wants me out of his shop every time I visit.” She pushed Luke to thenearest tree, “I collect bodies then have Stein extract their seeds for me toeat.”

Luke was self-conscious of the space between them,“W-Wouldn’t that affect y-y-your health?!” He stammered.

“I know!” Lisa sarcastically answered back, “That’s why I’mnot able to recuperate that fast!” She shook her head in dismay, “I know that!”She added then cursed at the side. She kicked the ground as she distancedherself from Luke, “Now I regret that I can’t help Stein!” She shouted.

The tree Stein was using to stand suddenly collapsed as ithad all of its power sucked out.

Luke shouted in surprise as he saw how something so big falljust like that. He saw that there is a weird light surrounding Stein. He lookedat Lisa for answers.

“Stein is gathering magic...” She said. Lisa looked at theopposite direction, “We need to get him there before sun down...” Lisa clickedher tongue, “But how?”

Luke gave Lisa a reassuring pat at her shoulder, “I’llhelp.” He said as he took off his upper clothes.

Lisa raised a brow at Luke’s actions.

“I used to be a warrior, not a messenger.” He said as herevealed a firm body covered with multiple scars of battle, “It’s funny becauseas someone who served for peace, I only received a lowly position that didn’tseem to fit me...” He darkly chuckled as he threw his upper clothes to theground. He gave an earnest smile, “I don’t need wings to soar the sky. I justneed someone to make me feel like I’m in the sky...” He said as he transferredthe tattoo shaped as wings to Stein.

The tattoo engraved on Stein’s skin.

Surprisingly enough, it didn’t get sucked in.

Luke saw Lisa’s bewildered look. He just tilted his head inconfusion before answering, “As long as I’m in control, the magic is stillmine. We’ve been taught how to do that in the military academy.” He snapped hisfingers then wings formed on Stein’s back. Stein was lifted into mid air. Lukegave Lisa a commanding look, “I’ll run but I need you to be with Stein while inthe sky. I can’t control when I can’t see him.”

Lisa just nodded as she spread her wings. She reformed herone hand back to a metal claw. She held Stein’s hand as she slowly started tomove forward.

Luke noticed how Lisa deeply hissed upon contact with Stein.As Lisa started to fly off at a gradually increasing speed, Luke also startedto run at the same pace as the two.

~o0o0o~

“We’ve walking for quite awhile now... Are there any signsof exits..?” Blind said.

Risette shook her head in dismay, “I don’t see anything thatlooks like one...” She looked around in hopes of replaceing one. She sighed again,“No luck...” She said.

A crooked chuckle resonated within the chambers of the cave,“I never would’ve thought that you’d manage to escape!!” The eerie chucklesgrew louder and louder.

Risette felt a menacing aura behind her. She took a sharp180 degrees to look at whatever was behind her.

Her eyes met with wide, crazy, deranged eyes, “He-he-he!!!Found you.” Gi took a big swing at Risette.

Blind took the blow.

“BLIND!!” Risette exclaimed. She received Blind’s body as hefell. She glared at the deranged necromancer, “WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING THIS?!”

Gi chuckled, “Bodies!!!” He shouted as he raised his handsin the air, “You have no idea how beautiful bodies are!!” He shouted. Heexposed his upper part of the body. It was filled with different patches ofskin. He darkly chuckled once more, “THESE are from different types of people!If I like them, I get them!!!!” He burst into a twisted laughing fit, “IT’SMAGNIFICENT!!”

Gi threw a rock by the walls of the cave then it turnedjelly. Risette shrieked in horror at the sight of decaying dead people. Sheheld back a hurl that was coming on then closed her eyes to keep herself fromseeing anymore.

Gi’s deranged laugher grew louder, “BEAUTIFUL AREN’TTHEY!???” He stalked over to Risette and Blind, “You two are next!”

Risette started to cry, “STEIN! Where are you?! Help me!!!”She shouted.

Gi watched in amusement, “Hmmm... No one can hear you littlegirl!” He said.

Risette just shook her head, “He will replace me!” She said.Tears rolled down endlessly as she continued to cried, “I’m sure..! Hewill..!!” She suddenly coughed out blood.

She stared at the air in surprise. The she rolled down hereyes to see her chest armor then up to meet Gi’s eyes.

Gi let out a content smile, “I’m so sorry little miss, did Isurprise you?” He knelt to Risette’s height, “What do you think of it?” Hechuckled once more as he snapped her head, rendering her unconscious.

~o0o0o~

“Hey look at that!” One of the people shouted as he pointedat the sky. He urged one of his men to grab some binoculars to get some visionin the sky.

A lanky guy got the binoculars, “It’s the succubus, sir!!”

“Shoot her down!”

“WAIT!” The lanky guy shouted, much to his commander’s mood.He checked the sky once more to confirm what he saw, “She’s with thesupervisor! They seem to be injured!”

Their commander immediately changed mood, “Prepare themedical kit!” He shouted. His ears picked up some distant shouting. He lookedbehind to see Luke running at an amazing speed, “WHY ARE YOU NAKED, SOLDIER?!”

Luke stopped on his tracks, bringing debris to the oppositedirection. He apologized for that action then explained the circumstances, “Theminion was telling the truth! Stein was with the succubus! I forgot to wear myclothes! Please release Lisa’s minion before she gets here!”

The commander raised a brow at the last statement, “How didyou know that we caught a minion..?” He carefully asked.

Luke spluttered at the first moment then, “I saw one headedhere while I was looking for Stein...”

The commander increased his suspicion, “You interactedwith the minion?”

Luke answered with mixed emotions, “Yes.”

The commander looked at the sky which urged Luke to look upas well.

Stein and Lisa were falling.

Luke retracted his wings from Stein then shot up to the sky.Luke saw how Lisa’s hand was burned and pruned as though time was taken awayfrom it. Stein on the other hand, he was profusely bleeding again.

Lisa’s wings dissolved into thin air as she completely losther consciousness. Luke first grabbed her by the abdomen. He tightened the fistof his free hand then formed a protective barrier from there up to hisshoulder. He used that free hand to grab Stein by the abdomen as well. Hehissed in pain upon contact with Stein and his arm.

He slowly landed to the ground while carefully holding onthe two people in his arms. He gently put the two on the ground then proceededto feeling the rest of the pain on his left arm.

The medics came on time and help tend to the injuries ofStein and Lisa.

“DON’T” Luke shouted, making the medics stop on theirtracks. He let out a deep breath, “You’ll get your magic sucked out if youtreat Stein’s injuries now.” He exclaimed. The medics then decided to treat thesuccubus instead, only to be stopped Luke again, “She’ll unconsciously attackyou if you even try to touch her!” He said.

With that, the medics shrugged then went away.

The commander went to Luke’s side, “YOU IDIOTS!” He shoutedat the medics, “YOU’RE NOT GOING TO TEND THE RESCUER?!” He exclaimed.

Luke awkwardly chuckled as he watched the medics scurry tohis direction. He closed his eyes in a comical manner, “You could’ve justtalked to them properly, Gale...”

The commander, Gale, just snapped his head to the side, “I’mnot so soft like the other guy.”

“Ha...ha... You hurt me.”

Gale just simply ignored.

The medics cringed at the sight of Luke’s horrendous injury.One of the medics poked him at the side, making Luke shriek at a not-so-manlymanner. Luke awkwardly looked at the imp who poked him at the side, “Yes?”

“S’pain huurtsss.”

Luke wasn’t so sure how to react, “Yeah... It hurts..!” Hesaid as he had his uninjured hand hover over the injury.

The imp followed the movement of Luke’s free hand thenslapped it down.

“AAHHHH WHHY?!” He shouted as he crunched into fetalposition. He glared at the imp which somehow reminded him of Stein’s slimes. Heshook his head in a disappointed manner as he stared at the imp, “Why would youdo that?!” He silently said.

The imp didn’t understand Luke’s actions, “Huuuurtssss.”

Luke suddenly looked sceptical, “YES! YES I AM!” He let out adevastated sigh then looked at Gale, “Who would be stupid enough to hire impsas medics?!”

Gale let out a dark grin, “I’m so sorry about that.”

Luke instantly paled as he knew what Gale’s reaction meant,“I am so sorry myself...” He slowly back pedalled away from Gale as he knewwhat was coming next, “Who knew right?!” He tried to reason.

Gale just grabbed the gauze tape from another imp’s handthen wrapped it around Luke’s wrists despite having an injury in that area.

“OW! OW! OW! OW!!!! STOP!!!” Luke cried.

Gale dropped the tape on the spot as he gave Luke a sadisticgrin, “You’re lucky that you’re a friend.”

“I’m grateful! I’m grateful! I’m grateful! NOW REMOVE THESETAPE AND GET OFF ME!” Luke shouted then paled upon noticing the fault in hiswords.

Gale slowly removed the tape around his wrists, savouringLuke’s cry for the slow removal. It wasthe longest slow removal of tape in Luke’s life as he knew that there werearound two more revolutions left until the tape was completely removed.

By the time the tape was completely removed, Luke wasalready half dead, “Thanks you bastard...”

“I know. I’m nice, don’t praise me.” Gale callously replied.

Luke just tiredly shook his head, “I’m not, so shut up..!”

The imp went to Luke’s side, “Huuurrttsssss.”

“I KNOW!” Luke shouted as-a-matter-of-fact.

The imp slapped the injury.

“AAAAHHHH!!!!” Luke shouted as he rolled at the ground insheer pain.

The imp looked at his hand that had Luke’s blood on it,“AHHHH!!!” He showed it to the other imps, “AAAHHH!!”

The remaining imps also shouted as the spread around thearea, “AAAAAHHHH!!”

“SHUT UP!!!”

For a moment it seemed as though the world shook even thoughit didn’t.

Lisa got up and saw the current situation. She glared at thethin air then looked at the poor state of her hand. She glanced around to knowwhere she was. Then her eyes landed on a pain-stricken Luke, “Hey.”

Luke instantly responded to Lisa’s voice, “Yeah?”

The moment Luke was in full view, Lisa finally saw the stateof Luke’s other arm, “How did you get that?”

“This?” Luke raised the injured arm. He gave a poor smile,“You two were falling from the sky and I was the only one who had wings in thevicinity, so I rescued both of you...” He said as he looked to the side with anunsure face. He looked around to replace the right words, “I... I almost got aheart attack when I saw you two fall right out of the sky...” He covered hisface with his free hand.

“Luke..?” Lisa slowly asked. She got up then slowly made herway to Luke. She wasn’t sure whether he was shivering in anger or whatever,“H-hey... Are you alright..?” She said as she touched Luke’s shoulder. Shementally hissed at Luke’s attained injury starting from his fingertip up to hisshoulder.

“Please go away!” Luke shouted.

“Why?”

“You might laugh at me so please go away..!” Luke pleaded.

“Choose. Me getting angry or me laughing.”

“Neither...” Luke weakly responded.

Lisa sighed, “None of us would die even if we did fell fromthe sky.” She reasoned as she tried to pry off Luke’s hand that was coveringhis face. She huffed, “Come on, sissy! Just show me your face already!” Afterthat one powerful yank, she saw that Luke was trying to contain his tears.

Luke shoved his free hand to cover Lisa’s face this time, “Ilook weird right?! So please don’t look!” He shouted as he hid his face theopposite direction, “I don’t know about you but I have a great fear for theloss of life! That’s why I quit right after extermination!” He added.

“LOOK AT ME!” Lisa shouted.

As commanded, Luke immediately responded. He felt like hehad sunk into the deepest part of the ocean, “L... Lisa..?” He slowly said.

Lisa was wrinkled all over and her overflowing golden hairwas slowly shifting to white. Her hand that was used to help guide Stein in thesky was all skin tight to the bones, “I already told you that I’m nearing myend.” She said then spared a glance at Stein who was probably taking the chanceto refresh himself. She played a stare down with Luke, “Which is better, a fewsacrifices or a billion casualties?”

Luke looked perplexed but answered nonetheless, “Fewsacrifices of course...”

A part of Lisa’s hair turned white, “Then we need to get tothe cave.”

Luke shook his head rather dejectedly then flustered overtheir circumstances, “We can’t possibly go inside injured!” He scratched hishead, “Stein’s on the verge of colossal destruction, you’re near your end, andI’m unable to be of any help with man power.” He shot a helpless look at Lisa,“What can we injured people do inside there?”

“The few sacrifices.” Lisa simply answered.

Luke shook his head in rejection of the idea, “N-No..!” Hefirmly held Lisa’s shoulder with her free hand, “That means losing you!”

“AND IT ALSO MEANS LOSING YOU!” She shot back. She gave looka helpless glare, “I don’t know about you but I have a great deal of debt withthat person over there!” She stepped forward, causing Luke to also take a stepback, “Why are you so selfish?!” She shouted as she took another step forward,which made Luke take a step back, “All you do is think of your happiness while Ithink about the future of the underlings I have!” She took another step,causing Luke to take a step back and falling over. Lisa straddled over Lukethen closed the proximity of their faces, “They may not be accepted in thisplace, but they’re the only family I’ve got!”

Luke flashed a sorry look, “I told Stein once that I go homebefore sundown so that my mom wouldn’t worry...” He gave a dark chuckle, “Didyou know that they live six feet under the ground?” He gently pushed off thedumbstruck Lisa, “They died during the extermination...” He gently pet Lisa’shead, “You may not be accepted in this place, but you’re the only world I’vegot...” He gently said. Luke chuckled in a good manner, “I have the fear oflosing life, remember..?”

Lisa just stood still as she let Luke caress her hair. Shedeeply sighed, “FINE!!” She blurted out as she charged for Luke’s lips.

“?!”

The spectators, Gale and the soldiers in particular, werelong gone since they obviously knew the turns of event.

Lisa’s glow gradually returned and her body formation slowlywent back to how it looked. Luke’s left part of the body also healed slowly butsurely. As they parted, both bodies were completely back to normal. Lisasmirked at Luke’s glowing red face, “Congrats! You’re my first kiss during my25 years of existence!”

“I’M YOU’RE FIRST?!” He spluttered. He looked at Lisa’sreformed body and his body. Then he looked back at Lisa for some answers.

“I’m the queen succubus—well, the new one since my mompassed away after giving birth to me...” Lisa started, “If you give mesomething, I’ll return something.” She looked up with a slight tint of pink onher features, “This time, I got a connection from to replenish myself. Inexchange, I fixed your body...”

“I-I see...” Luke dumbly replied.

The earth suddenly shook violently.

Lisa dashed for Stein then held his hand to prevent him fromfalling into the sinkhole Stein made. Lisa failed to convert her hand to metalclaw, which made her hiss in agony at the direct contact with Stein. Lukejumped into the sinkhole then grabbed Stein by the armpits. Luke swiftly flewback to the surface then lay down Stein back to the ground.

Both people hissed as they felt their skin get peeled off.Lisa’s injury faded away after awhile and Luke’s faded a tad bit slower thanLisa.

“We need to get Stein inside as fast as possible!” Lisashouted. She watched Luke transfer his wings back to Stein.

Luke bravely touched Stein so he could be up on his feet,“Listen, right infront of you is a mirage barrier!” He started, “The moment westart walking is also the start of an endless path!”

Stein forcefully looked up and shook his head to rejectLuke’s idea. He weakly pointed at the thin air, “Not... mirage...” He weaklydeclared as he heavily breathed out. By then, Luke had already let go of Steinsince the wings were helping him stand. Stein slowly walked a few stepsforward. He stopped infront of the dead space then placed his hand there.Cracks accumulated in that very space then grew larger and larger until itbroke off like a large piece of mirror. Another mirror broke just before them.

It turned out to be a teleporting barrier—which made themrealize that they were just walking the same path over and over.

Before them revealed a large cave that separated into threeways. Luke went in first, “I’ll fix it...” He said. He closed his hands to atight fist. The air pressure around him grew heavier. His vein became moreevident as he mustered his strength to his fists.

He punched the cave’s three separating walls with sheerpower and air pressure. It was supposed to crumble if not for the high-pitchedscreech that countered it. Luke fell down at the intensity of the volume. Hisears ringed in agony then he looked at Lisa and Stein.

Lisa was also agonized by the intense volume. Stein though,greatly responded to the screech.

“R-Risette...” Stein murmured.

The harsh screech appeared again, this time Luke wasn’t ableto guard it—which left him deaf for a few seconds. The ground shook violentlyagain.

Stein coughed out blood.

“STEIN!” Lisa and Luke shouted.

Stein just weakly shook his head then pointed at the middlepath.

It was ‘that’ way.