"Have you gotten taller?" Mana asked as he measured my height against himself. The fact that he'd noticed my nightly growth spurts caused a sprinkle of pink to come across my cheeks.
I roughly shoved Mana's arm down and muttered, "Nah you're probably just shrinking with age." At my words the man brought a hand to his chin as if he was seriously considering that lie. "Anyways let's get going."
"Hm!" Mana nodded in agreement taking ahold of my hand. I huffed sticking out my lip and facing the other way so my expression was sure not to be seen. Even though I acted sour at times like this I quite enjoyed having someone's hand to hold as I walked. I found comfort in another's warmth beside me during my journey.
It was around midday and we were passing through a small town. Somehow Mana knew the whereabouts of another village that'd be holding a winter festival. We'd be able to reach it by nightfall if we didn't stop. As we continued on through the town, I subconsciously pulled my gloved arm closer to my chest. There wasn't many people on the streets, but for some reason I thought I sensed the feeling of a lingering cold gaze directed at my back. I peeked over my shoulder and only saw the figures of people as they hurried through the snow. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stiffly faced back forward.
"Allen?" Beside me Mana suddenly bent down to eye level and stared at me. Apparently my discomfort was obvious.
I sighed. Of course he would notice I haven't been too picky about hiding my arm lately. "It's nothing." I waved it off. "Come on it looks like it's gonna snow."
Mana paused, his eyes flickering up to the gray sky. A faint smile graced his lips and he mumbled. "Ah, yes. Snow."
I watched as he stood there like an idiot head turned towards the sky for a good five minutes. I made an irritated noise-one I couldn't quite describe for it was plain gibberish-and stomped forward tugging at his sleeve. "Come on! I don't want to get sick from this damned cold so let's get going!"
Finally Mana's attention drew back and we met eyes. He grinned at me as an idea suddenly filled his head. "I spotted some candy at that store back there. Maybe they have some hot chocolate~. I'll be back!"
"Mana wai-" My call fell short and I put the outstretched hand back down. The man was already gone. I puffed blowing a piece of hair that'd fell in front of my eyes. He can't listen to me can he? Deciding it'd be a long wait, I settled leaning against a gate my arms wrapped tightly around my chest to preserve warmth.
Now that I think about it….maybe I should've chased after the old man. It's probably warmer inside the shop anyways.
I exhaled heavily moving my eyes to across the street. What was taking him so long? Almost as if the universe had heard my thoughts, a quiet jingling of a bell made my eyes to move to a small shop on the street corner. Mana came out bearing a large grin and holding a medium sized paper bag. I brighten slightly when I imagined what could be inside but dulled when I thought that idiot could've spent our entire savings on sweets. I couldn't tell if he did it on purpose or not but when Mana set foot on the street his foot slid on a patch of ice and he fell on his ass. I watched unamused while on the other hand Mana was laughing so hard tears came to his eyes. He held the sweets in the air above so when he'd fell they received no damage.
I was about to say something snarky but stopped when I heard clamouring down the street. Both of us turned our heads to see what was going on but by then it was too late. A rogue carriage came barreling down the street, the horses had been spooked by something unknown. The ruckus they'd heard before were people shouting at them to get out of the way. The horses hooves beat down on the man in their way, the bump of a human body didn't even throw the wheels off balance as the carriage rolled over the figure. Whinney's echoed in the distance as the coachman tried to calm his animals.
I blinked. Did that just happen? To be sure I gave myself a pinch. Still awake. I gave myself a slap. The impact stung my cheek but I remained in this dream. Now I curled a hand into a fist. I stared at it as I pulled it back before swinging it forward. With the force given my head snapped sideways. A quiet gasp escaped my lips as I felt my jaw painfully crack. I was still...here. So was this reality?
Reality. At the thought of the word I felt like I was drowning and dropped to my knees. The scenes from earlier replayed back in my mind like a broken record; Mana trapped under the horses stampede, his body breaking under the force, blood staining the horses white legs. I let out a choked sound and forced myself to look at him. Mana lay in the same spot; his dark hair was clotted with dirt and blood, his limbs pounded in at awkward angles.
"Mana…" I whispered. My gaze then picked up something that almost made my heart stop; the rising and falling of a chest. "Mana!" I shouted, scrambling over to the man's side. When I got there a miracle happened and Mana's orbs flickered opened meeting mine.
His warm gaze never faltered even in this state. Mana brought a weak hand to rest against my cheek and I gripped it afraid of it disappearing. "You have grown…" He chuckled causing him to cough up blood.
My eyes widened in alarm and I leaned forward. "D-Don't speak! I gotta go find a doctor or somet-"
"Allen." Mana's quiet voice ceased my panicky rambling. "When I leave, be a good boy."
My mouth drifted open when I got what he was saying. "Don't say that you old fool!" I said sharply.
I only recieved a smile. Mana then turned his head forward so that he could stare up at the sky. A distant look had started to form in his eyes along with a twisting feeling of misery in my own stomach as I started to wonder about the near future. "Allen be wary...tragedy attracts the Earl."
"What do you mean?" I questioned. Did his head get hit one too many times? "Mana?" The hand on my cheek slowly slid off and landed on the earth with a thud that resonated throughout me. Denial slipped through me and I shooked the motionless corpse. "Mana! Old man! Oi...wake up-" Words stuck in my throat and I couldn't think of what else to do. My mind had rage and wanted revenge, my heart needed to let it out and scream. I drew in a hoarse breath and let my emotions run wild. A pained scream pierced the air. Hot tears trailed down my cheeks and I gripped at my heart, the thing that was making me feel all this. My fingers began to claw at my chest, trying to get to the source of the pain and rip it out. When all my energy was exhausted I let my numb hands fall to my side. The pain was still there, an endless throb.
"Excuse me...I'm terribly sorry about what happened. But I can help give your father a proper burial." A both extremely nervous and apologetic voice spoke from behind me. I didn't give any sign that I'd heard him, they didn't wait for consent anyways as two more men came up and took ahold of Mana carrying him away. Anger didn't even flare at the sight of the strangers taking him away, now I was but an empty shell. The world appeared grey again. My sun was gone.
Proper burial my ass. I'd found Mana's grave thanks to some sympathetic nun, she'd informed me of it's whereabouts on a hill. After the short trek I'd found the small cross marking Mana Walker's tomb. Once again I felt the ache. I tsked, my eyes scanned the earth for a sharp rock before finding one suited to my liking. Then I proceeded to inscribe Mana's name into the marker. When I was done I sat back on my butt observing my work. It was messy but legible.
Mana Walker.
I still couldn't believe he was gone. The time we'd spent together was a blur. Happiness highlighted it with some ups and downs. But after those downs Mana was always there, he never abandoned me like everyone else in my life. He didn't discriminate me because of my mangled arm. He treated me like his son. A sob racked my ribs and before I knew it I was once again crying. Crying wouldn't be the word to describe it, I was full-out bawling. I hiccuped trying to get ahold of myself. It didn't work and my blubbering only went on. During my moment, I wasn't aware of the temperature dropping a few degrees. The moon became covered by thick clouds darkening the already black night.
A figure appeared in the sky. It held an umbrella that it twisted around as it descended. It bore an inhumanly image with a toothy grin that was frozen at its fullest. It landed gently on the ground and slumped over the gravestone.
"You want me to revive, Mana Walker~?"
(A/n Hey guys! So next chapter will be the last, I might do an epilogue of either older Allen with Cross or Allen at the Black Order. Does that sound like a good idea? I'll see you next update!)
