Chapter 13: Battle Intensifies

With an intense glare in his eyes, a sword being gasped by his hand Isaac looked at Saturos. The fire behind the fire adept crackled, filling the air with a slight veil of smoke. Taking deep breathes of the crisp air, as dawn was approaching, Isaac was trying to recover strength from the night before. A smirk was all Saturos responded with, and brushed a wisp of his hair off of his forehead. Menardi stood by Saturos' side, her long strands of blonde hair framing her complexion, a set of crimson eyes throwing a death look.

In a complete shock, breaking through Saturos and Menardi so he can have direct eye contact with Isaac, Garet and Ivan stood. No emotions were on their facers, only a look like they were mindless drones; the emotions which once captured them now gone like they were struck with death. Grayish colored bags under their eyes indicating they had yet to sleep. Stringy greasy strands of hair ruffled up in a mess, unlike usual, where they had maintained it in a specific style. Clothes were plastered to their skin, showing their distinctive body frames, showing they had worked long throughout the night. Weapons were wielded at their hands, a staff in the young Wind Adept, a long blade in Garet's. All the happiness they once had in their life, now taken away, due to Isaac's actions.

Walking to Garet's side, Saturos had the same look on his face, which Isaac wanted to remove so badly. Hands were clenched into a fist, teeth gritted, blood boiling, fury was filling up Isaac's body.

"Isaac, tell me, how does it feel to have your friends glaring at you like they want to kill you?" With a sly tone Saturos spoke, walking closer to Isaac. Every step Saturos took closer to the teenager, he walked back, "How does it feel that your actions jeopardize their life? How does it feel to be such a bad person their lives remain in a balance? Tell me, how does it feel to be a murderer?" Emotions perplexed Isaac's thoughts as he had thought deeply about all that Saturos said, wondering what the answers were to them., His words were like poison, seeping into Isaac's skin, infesting his thoughts with lies.

"I do not think that one should lvie with having the burden of killing his own friends on his shoulders. Now, due to me being such a good person, actually trying to save all of Weyward than rather to destroy it, I have a proposal. It is a simple one indeed, what you do determines what happens to your friends. You should take that into account before you take any rash actions." Crimson oculars narrowed at Isaac's hand gripping onto the hilt of his sword. With a growl, Isaac released his sweaty hand from the blade.

"What do you want? Trying to involve my friends is not going to do you no good. I know you want me…" Isaac sputtered, knowing that Saturos was a smart guy and coulkd easily manipulate his words to use against him. He had to be precise and short with what he had to say.

'I cannot let my friends die. I let so many people down already, I let my mom down and all of Vale. If I was stronger, if I had the strength, I could of saved Felix from all of this, I could of saved my dad, I could of saved Jenna's parents. I was given a journey to save the world from Alchemy, and now two of my friends are at the brink of their own death, because of me. I cannot have all of this to deal with. Why am I so cursed?' Isaac thought to himself, the emotional scars within him growing and spewing out more pain, sorrow, and despair. Trying to be strong, Isaac held back the tears and his thoughts from Saturos. He could not break down so easily, could not let him win.

"I think you know what I want."

'Why is everyone dependant on me? I am just as weak as they are, probably weaker. I don't have anything special about me, I carry death with me, whoever knows me, dies. I am like the Grim Reaper. At least Mia is safe; I warded her away I cannot let my friends die. Maybe I should just sacrifice myself for their well being. It will bring an end to all of the suffering that everyone had to endure…' Continuing to think to himself, Isaac remained confused of how he should take action.

"You are mistaken my child. I do not want you, and I do not want your friends. You have an object that I desire, but you four are following me to stop me from helping everyone. You are a mere hassle. You're a hassle to everyone Isaac. You know this, now give me what I want."

'What happiness have I brought upon anyone? None. I look at my friends and see that they are so helpless and it is because I dragged them on to help me. I shouldn't have been so selfish. I couldn't have gotten here alone though. They are my friends…'

"My patience is growing thin. Give it, or give me your life."

"No!" Isaac exclaimed, snapping out of his thoughts. The thoughts that were clouding his mind from the truth disappeared. Realizing that they are his friends or they wouldn't have been by him so long had finally struck him. 'It was just Saturos' sick game. He is no good, I am the one helping; my friends are the ones helping me. They join me because they want too I have never forced them. The tone Isaac had said that one word echoed throughout the city. It was said with a remarkable amount of confidence, courage, and strength, which he did not show before.

A grunt escaped from Saturos' lips being disgusted by Isaac's courage to oppose him. "So you would rather let your friends die so you can accomplish a task that was given before you by the Wise one."

"No, we fight."

"Fight in your condition? You're not even healthy." Head was slightly turned upwards his crimson eyes looking up at the sky, many pastel colors mixing in with one another to make the scenery of the sunset. A laugh was bellowed as he looked up at the school. Isaac only resented this and released a growl, "last time I checked you were blown out of a window and barely had any sleep. But if that is what you want. The Mars Star for your life."

"Let the fight begin." Unsheathing his sword from its holster, Isaac revealed the long Silver Blade. He held up the blade to his face and turned it sideways making it seem much thinner. A look of determination was in his eyes as he was ready for battle.

(Authors Note: Nothing I really need to say except please review. I hope my writing is improving, I think it is. Who knows though, aww this is almost over but I'm already planning out my next fiction.)