There's a demon that lives within the church. It was common knowledge within the small village located in a remote area of Fiore.

"I said no, Mirajane." Archer's eyes narrowed on his sister. "You're not coming with me and that's final."

"Not this time Shirou; I don't care what you say- I'm coming with you."

"It's Archer." Archer said. "And there's no way I'd be willing to put you in that kind of danger."

"Dad trained us in hunting." Mirajane argued. "I'm plenty good."

"With standard animals, I know. Dad never did get around to taking you hunting for magical beasts like he did with me."

"You were older!"

"I was simply more experienced like mom and dad."

Mirajane shut her mouth. Archer was right after all. Ever since she could remember, Archer was always her dad's favourite hunting partner. "He soaks up knowledge like a sponge, fact is I think he's better than me in a few areas." Their father had acknowledged. But-but still! "You're not anything like mom and dad!" The words escaped her mouth before she could understand what she had said.

Archer's eyes darkened. "...No, I suppose not."

"W-Wait no," Mirajane fumbled with her words as Archer left the room. "I-I didn't..."

"Mira-nee!" Tears were glistening down Lisanna's eyes. "How could you!?"

The topic of the Strauss's parents was a complicated matter. Archer could try to hide it as best as he could, but deep down the other Strauss siblings knew that he blamed himself for their deaths. The subtle ways in which he would distance himself from them was enough of an indication.

"Archer just left?" Elfman said confused as he walked into the living room. "What..." Elfman paused as he noticed that Lisanna was crying. His sights fell on Mirajane who couldn't meet his gaze. She was rubbing at her arm, her bangs shadowing her face.

"Not now, Elfman...Just not now." Mirajane muttered as she quickly left the room.

"How could you!" Her fists were clenched. She was such a fool. Towards the brother who tried so hard for the family, all she gave in return was...damn it all! Where did he go?! Her eyes scanned the forest outside her house before turning towards the open field. He wasn't there. She fell on her knees, her hands digging into the ground.

It was then that a sudden thought came to her.

The church, he must have went to the church. Mirajane convinced herself as she pulled herself onto her feet. She hesitated, Shirou didn't want her to go to the church; it was the whole point of their argument.

Mirajane shook her head; she would just go to apologize. She didn't like the face her brother had made when he left, and her guilt was eating away at her.

Briskly, she began walking before being stopped by Elfman.

"Where are you going, Mira-nee?" He asked meekly. He was never one for confrontation.

"...The church." Mirajane pushed past Elfman.

"B-But Shirou sa-"

The look on Mirajane's face was enough to stop Elfman from speaking. Her eyes were watery and her lips were quivering.

"S-Stay here and protect Lisanna." Mirajane stuttered out. "I-I'm going to look for Shirou."

Elfman did nothing as Mirajane disappeared behind a hill.

Archer had his head laid gently against his hands as he stared off across the sky. He was atop a stone ridge looking out into the valley of the small village he lived in. It wasn't the best of places to live, but all the same, it was where he grew up. He sighed as he tiredly sat up and ran a hand through his white hair. He had to return to make dinner, luckily he had discovered a few fruit trees around a kilometer away from his home.

Now to go back...

Archer hesitated, he didn't leave on the most positive of notes, rather, he probably messed up. It was just that...He had failed to save them. Failed to save his parents and doomed his siblings to a harsh life. Could a Wrought Iron Hero like him truly deserve a new chance at life? After all, it served as a better alternative than ending his own existence. However, the chains that bound him to Alaya were no longer present.

A wry smile escaped Archer's lips. Somehow, some way, fate had a different answer to his problem. He shook his head; he really should get going. Questioning himself any further could only lead to doubt. After all, he had decided ever since the day he watched his siblings play across the field of their parent's house that he would protect them.

He stood up, reinforcing his body. For a counter guardian like him, it was embarrassing that it took him so long to utillize his magic. Then again, he is, and will always be a Third Rate Magus.

He jumped, falling so fast down the ridge that he cratered the ground upon landing. Bracing himself, he loosed his muscles and began his sprint back home.

Arriving just a short moment later, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong Elfman, Lisanna?" He asked.

Elfman didn't answer. In fact the longer time went on, the paler his face got. He was trembling by the door as Lisanna went wide eyed.

"Y-You didn't go," Elfman stuttered. "T-Then Mira-nee..."

Archer's gaze moved away from Elfman before he pushed past him and made his way to Mirajane's room. She wasn't there. His eyes hardened. "Where is she?" He asked as he returned to the door.

Lisanna tugged on Archer's shirt, prompting him to look down at her face. Like Elfman, she was pale and trembling. "T-The church!"

Tentatively, Mirajane pushed open the church doors wide enough such that she could slip through. She shivered at the cold breeze that enveloped her, but proceeded in. It was dark, the only light filtering in from a small window opposite to the church alter. If it wasn't for her own courage, she felt as if the darkness within would take her over. She couldn't really describe the feeling, just that it felt different without Shirou with her. He was always there to rely on and to protect her; not that she needed the protection, but she was always comfortable with it. Thinking about it now, she loved her brother... which was all the more reason she had to find him. He had to be in here somewhere. Even now as she quietly maneuvered around the room, her guilt was constantly eating away at her. She-

"-..."

Mirajane's eyes darted back and forth, she heard something. In the silence of the day, the shadows within the church seemed to dance as if alive. "S-Shirou?" She asked.

"..."

Goosebumps traveled up her arms and down her body. She got no answer. Pulling in her courage, she sucked in a breath and puffed up her chest. "Come out, I know you're there!" She yelled. Again, nothing but the sound that she vaguely realized was breathing; more closely related to rasping really. All to soon it dawned on her that perhaps Shirou didn't actually go to the church which meant...

"They say a demon lives within the Church."

What had she done? What was she thinking going into the church alone? The clatter of her steps echoed out across the church's hall. With Shirou, she was confident that she and him could defeat anything, demons included. She was strong. Shirou was stronger. Elfman and Lisanna weren't the fighting types, but that was how she liked it. She didn't want to imagine a situation in which they were forced to fight.

-SLAM

The church doors were pushed closed. Perhaps it was just the wind? Yet she knew the probability was less than zero. She turned around, round eyes widening at the demon that stood before the church doors. Its eyes were a frightening red, its extended maw dripping drool against the floor. Its claws scraped against the ground as it slowly made its way towards her. This was no where near close to hunting for animals. Shirou had been right; of course he had been right.

Mirajane backpedaled till her back pressed up against a cold wall. Fumbling with her hands till she grabbed hold of a book along the floor. She tossed it at the demon, but it didn't even flinch. In fact, it seemed to enjoy her struggling. It continued forward until it stood directly in front of her. She was trembling now, her complexion paling. Just as the demon thrust its arm forward, she too did the same.

It was in that moment that the unexpected happened. Rather than pain flooding through her system, instead it was the demon who shrieked. Foam was coming out of its mouth as it stared bewildered at its stump of an arm. Yet now it was Mirajane's turn to scream. One of hopelessness, grief, and utter disbelief. Her arm was gone, replaced by the arm of the demon's. Oh nononon! She panicked, punching out at the demon with her new arm.

With unexpected strength, the demon was blown back across the church walls as Mirajane pressed her knees against her chest and began sobbing. It was then that the church became flooded with light, the doors bursting open. She lifted her head, and could only once again burst out into tears as she saw the confused, yet frightened face of her older brother.

Archer was afraid that he may have failed to once again protect those he held dear. A fear re-established upon noting the change in Mirajane's right arm. Anger soon flowed through him upon spotting the form of a demon sprawled beside the church's walls.

"Trace On." Without warning he dashed out towards the dazed demon and struck it down with a well placed blow from Kanshou. He dispersed his blades, now wasn't the time for fighting. He turned his attention on his trembling sister. "Mirajane-"

"-Stay back!"

Archer's features hardened and he began waking forward.

"I-I said s-stay back!"

Archer didn't care for what she said and stopped right in front of her. Tears were still dripping down her eyes and her body shied away from his touch.

"P-Please, don't look at me..." Mirajane turned her face away, no signs of the head strong sister Archer knew. Archer was beyond frustrated at himself, he was livid. But he would never let his anger show, not in front of anyone.

Uncaring of her protests, Archer wrapped his arms around her and let her cry on his shoulder. He drew circles on her back in the same way their mother had always done when they were sad.

"...I-I'm so sorry." Mirajane muttered, her face pressed against him. "I-I..."

"Enough." Archer said as he picked her up. "We're going home."

"A-A demon!" Archer's neck snapped towards the entrance. A group of villagers was standing there, hands pointed towards Mirajane. Before he could even try to stop them, they ran off. A sinking feeling took over Archer's gut. He quickly made his way home, glaring at anyone who so much as whispered about his sister.

By the time he got home, he kicked open his front door and placed Mirajane on the only couch they had in the room. Elfman and Lisanna gasped as they saw Mirajane's condition.

"O-Oh no..." Lisanna muttered.

"Mira-nee, y-you're arm?"

"Enough, Elman, Lisanna." Archer unconsciously glared at them. His mind racing as he structurally grasped Mirajane's right arm. "I need to concentrate."

It was a demon's arm. No matter how much Archer stared at it, all he could attain from his structural grasping was that it was a demon's arm. Nothing made sense, but perhaps, no; it must be!

"I am the bone of my sword." It took considerably more magical power to trace any noble phantasm, but he would spare no expense for his sister.

A jagged dagger appeared in his hands, Rule Breaker, the Dagger of the Witch of Betrayal, Medea of Colchis.

Lianna and Elfman's eyes widened when Archer stabbed Mirajane with a dagger. No one was more shocked at the event than Mirajane herself. And yet the unthinkable happened, her arm returned to normal. Archer pulled the dagger out of Mirajane and inspected her right arm. He sighed in relief.

Mirajane just stared at her arm. It was the same as it always was, but she could now feel a dark sensation within her. Despite everything, Shirou had cured her with his magic. He was always secretive of his magic, but at this moment she didn't care. She hugged Shirou with tears of relief in her eyes. Elfman and Lisanna were quick to join. They were family after all.

It was when a rock shattered through their window that the moment broke.

"Come out you demon!" Villagers stood stood outside, pitchforks and torches in their hands.

Archer knew things weren't going to turn out well, he just didn't expect it to be so soon. He urged Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna to remain in doors as he stepped out of the house and into the line of fire. Things would change from here on out.

Elsewhere

"...We left him." Erza muttered for the sixth time.

Sho stared off at Jellal's hunched form. He hadn't spoken ever since the tower disappeared. Despite being free from the tower, Sho felt as if his troubles had only doubled. His friend had sacrificed himself for him, and the weight of that sacrifice was too much of a burden to bare. It just wasn't fair. As if to reflect his inner musings, the other escaped prisoners sat around quietly, occasionally glancing back at the direction of the missing tower.

No matter how much they hoped, Shirou wasn't there.

The one who had saved everyone, was the one who was the most deserving to escape. Tears escaped Sho's eyes; the happiness of being set free conflicting with his morality. When the light had enveloped the tower, it felt as if all the pain inflicted within the tower was just a nightmare- all the hardships and hatred fading away with the light. For that, he and all the others would be forever grateful. And yet, they would forever know that it was because of them that Shirou was no longer with them.

"Everyone," Rob's voice pierced through the calm. "Look at yourselves, then ask yourself if your acting in a way that would make that boy happy."

Rob was right. Shirou was a friend who took content with the happiness of others. It was why he was liked so much by everyone within the tower.

"He was special, that child. Like the rest of you, he was not meant to spend his days enslaved within the tower." Rob sat tiredly against the ship's guard rail. "However, if it's that child, he would have liked nothing more than to see you all smile. If you truly wish to honour the boy, strive forward with hearts held high and live on!"

"G-Gramps..." Millianna stuttered as she held back her tears.

"...Gramps is right." Jellal suddenly spoke. "That's the kind of person Shirou was."

The rest of the voyage was spent in silence; even as they docked and made their way through a forest to Magnolia, everyone's thoughts lingered on the boy with red hair.

P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious