A/N: Back Again! Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I didn't want it to run on too long. Also sorry for the delay.

Of course, the wave is coming. And with us nearing the second to last peak of the arc, there's about to be a whole load of drama. Angsty, fluffy, character developmenty goodness. And obviously, a little more drip-fed backstory for our first-time readers.

I swear there will be fluff soon. Eventually.

On with the fic!

I cradled Raphtalia in my arms, her short, rapid breaths and scrunched up face practically screaming at me to find a doctor.

If I could, I would.

Slowly, little thoughts bubbled to the surface of my flooded mind.

You're supposed to protect her.

You're pretty much her older sister.

You failed.

As these thoughts pinged around my head, I heard a yell.

"Ariete! Get out your dagger and help!" His knees started to buckle as the dog forced him down. I looked between him and Raphtalia. She seemed at peace in my arms, even if her blood was filling up my cloak like a leather flask. I couldn't bring myself to disturb her.

"Why should I help?! If you're the Shield Hero, then why the hell should I protect you when you can't even protect Raphtalia!" I screamed at him, tears pricking at my eyes.

The flame of kindness inside his eyes seemed to flicker, then vanish.

"Ariete…" He ground out. "I order you to fight this dog." His voice came out in a disturbingly flat tone, even with the jaw of a dog clamped on his shoulder, his voice didn't waver a single inch.

I hissed as a jolt of pain fired through my chest. I once again looked between Raphtalia and Master. His knees buckled further.

A little thought in the back of my mind told me to help him, it prodded me further. At least he's trying, somewhat. I looked at the blood spilling forth from his shoulder, then made my decision.

"I'll be back in just a mo' Raphtalia."

I laid her onto the stone and stood.

"Faust Fire." I summoned a small flame on my finger, while my hand pulled Raphtalia's knife from it's sheath.

With a spurt from my legs, I darted forward, sliding underneath the dog and through it's forelegs. I stabbed my knife into the exposed belly and used my arms to wrench it across the fur. Blood spilled onto my arms, and covered my face. I slipped the knife out of the now roaring cerberus.

It whipped around and the head missing an eye tried to chomp on me, but I ducked left and slit the throat. The flame I summoned earlier intensified as I poured some Mana into it, then held it to the fur. It ignited, but the dog shook and it went out quickly.

The other head turned and sunk its teeth into my leg. I didn't let the pain shock me, and returned the favor by stabbing it through the bottom of the maw. The tip poked out of the top of the head, and I couldn't wrench the knife out. I left it and ran, removing the teeth from my leg.

The mangled, barely still alive dog monster stumbled back, it was bleeding from everywhere and it's guts had spilled onto the ground.

Master seemed too shocked at the gore to respond, so I walked up to the body. It hurt her. It killed my parents. So, then why not end it?

I stomped on the head which still had a knife embedded in it, driving the knife straight through and letting me grab it once more, now covered in blood and gore. I shoved my hand into the slit in its belly, and felt a faint pulsing. I took aim, then pushed my knife in. It sank like it was going through softened butter.

The pulsing was replaced with a dull flow, and then nothing.

I withdrew my knife and my arm, and walked back over to Raphtalia, where Naofumi was cradling her. I looked at him.

For once, his stoic demeanor broke, and a tear left his eye. He picked her up, and then faced me, silently telling me she was going to be okay, at all costs.

I rushed over and took her back into my arms. Our master absorbed a bit of the dog into his shield and then came back.

He pried a plank off of a support for the mineshaft, and then used it to bridge the ravine.

I walked over it and sped-walked to the exit, but then my right leg buckled. Off instinct, I twisted myself so Raphtalia landed on top of me. I groaned as the wound in my leg fried my nerves.

Our master ran over to us, and first picked Raphtalia up off me. He too k a look at my swollen red, bleeding calf. It was a wonder i was able to walk.

I gritted my teeth and tried to lift myself back up. I have to get Raphtalia back out of here. I have to.

I tried again, but the sting hurt too much. I started dragging myself along the ground.

"I'll get.. you… home!" I reached out my hand and-

Blood.

Crimson stained my fingers, my hand and my whole arm. Globs of flesh stuck to my skin and there was a trail of red where my arms had slid across the stone.

Memories of blood in the sand flooded my mind, the metallic smell, the wet feeling as I carved through opponents. People I used to know, people I didn't know, all children in the same boat as me.

My mind floated back to one specific day. The sixth. I'd already understood, fight or die, fight and you'll survive. I wanted to survive all right, otherwise Raphtalia would be left alone. As alone as I was right then.

I walked out into the sun, adults cheering as the newly named "champion" of the arena entered their view. I looked towards the person who would be my first opponent.

It was a child even younger than me, no more than 5 years. He held his knife awkwardly and trembled so hard you'd think he was naked in a blizzard.

The horn sounded and he ran forward, letting out a high pitched war cry. The move was pathetically under-skilled. He was too young, too innocent for this. To be fair, so was I, but at least I knew how to add and subtract!

I dodged it and twisted the knife out of his hands. It flew, landing in the sand. He looked me in the eye, his face in complete terror, begging me for mercy.

I glanced at my master in the booth. His bony fingers ran against his neck.

I understood.

The boy slumped to the ground, a dagger in his chest. The life in his eyes fled.

He fell backwards, the dagger going with him. Cheers came from the crowd and the referee came down and raised my hand in victory.

Victory never tastes more bitter than when it floats atop a raft of others.

Faces went by my eyes, each and every one begging me, screaming at me for mercy. And one by one, I saw their lives end. At my hands. At the hands I looked at now, stained in not only a monster's blood, but also the blood of so, so many.

It dripped off my fingers, and stained my clothes. I tried to pry my gaze off them, but it stayed stuck on the vision of crimson dripping from my palms.

And the last face…

I couldn't bring myself to even open my eyes to look at it. I blocked it out. I refused to even acknowledge she ever existed. Seventeen. Seventeen different shades of blood on my hands.

When I snapped out of it, I found myself slung over our Master's shoulder. The slamming of his shoes against the cave floor echoed along the walls. The pickaxe he had was loosely tied to his belt.

We exited the cave, and he continued making a mad dash for the town. Raphtalia was in his arms, my cloak still there, soaked in blood.

When we got into town, he let out a deafening shout.

"Please! Anyone! A doctor! Help!"

I'd never heard such a pleading tone from him, or such a tremble in his voice. He was completely in panic.

Then, the pain in my leg returned, and I whimpered. He looked over at me.

A few villagers exited their homes to look in horror at our two injured bodies.

The merchant who had lent our master a pickaxe came out pushing two carts. He laid Raphtalia on one, and eased me onto the other. He told our master to push me and follow him.

Weakly, I reached out, trying to get to Raphtalia. I have to get to her.

The world went black at that moment, and I faded away.

A faint laughing came from behind me. I turned to look over my shoulder.

Raphtalia was there, laughing and playing. Isn't that adorable?

I grinned myself, and began to walk towards her. As i paced forwards, I noticed the ground between us widening. I sped up, and the ground widened even further.

"Ariete! C'mon! Don't be late!"

She turned and started to scamper away. I ran towards her, but her form became smaller and smaller.

"Raphtalia!" I called out. "Wait up!"

She started to fade away.

"Raphtalia!"

"Don't leave me behind!"

And when she disappeared, I curled up to weep.

Oof, that was a bit sadder than I thought. I hope this and the chapter coming on Monday will make up for the delay. It's been too long. Happy thanksgiving to those of ya who celebrate it!

P.S. that magic system? You'll get a better glance at that next chapter, as well as backstory for those of you who haven't read the original.

With such a delay, and a super short chapter, I owe y'all an extra omake too.

This one is set before the first wave.

Omake: I am not adorable!

I hummed to myself, weaving the grass, lilies and flowers together. The little crown I held forced a bit of warmth into my cheeks. I wasn't usually that into what the other little girls did, but something was soothing about weaving the thin, fragile stalks into a tiara.

I continued my work methodically. This secluded corner of the village never got visitors, usually.

I heard the crunching of a branch. My eyes darted to behind me, where I heard the noise. Setting the crown on the ground, I tuned my ears. There. The soft noise of shoe on dirt. I picked up a pebble and tossed it.

It hit its mark. A yelp came from the bush, and a cloaked figure fell out from the brush. A little femine whimper told me who it was.

"Really, Raphtalia?" I said.

She rubbed a reddened spot on her forehead and gave me a pout. "You didn't have to throw things at me!" she yelled.

"Ah, but it's entertaining, isn't it? After all, no harm done!"

She glared at me. "What do take me for? Some sort of clown?"

I gave her a blank stare. "Maybe."

She let out a little grunt and walked up to me. "What were you doing out here anyway? This is really deep into the forest. Mama might get angry."

"N-Nothing!" I used the side of my foot to slide the flower crown beneath a bush. Raphtalia raised an eyebrow.

"What're you hiding here?"

She started reaching for the flower crown. No, my dignity cannot allow this transgression to occur! I tackled her, and began attacking.

She burst out into a fit of giggles as I tickled her. She tried to squirm away from my grasp, but I clamped on tight.

"Haha- Ariete! Wait! Haha! Stop!" She kept trying to speak in between fits of laughter.

Eventually, she broke free and retreated behind the bush which contained my contraband.

"What's being hidden here?" She crouched down. As a final attempt, I dove at her. She dodged to the side and I landed in a roll. When I got up, she held the flower crown.

Nine seconds have passed.

I broke into a sprint, reaching for the offending item. Raphtalia ducked away, mad with laughter. I made another leap, but she once again dodged.

"Who knew you were so cute?!" She teased, breaking into another fit of giggles.

"I AM NOT CUTE!" I roared and leapt again. It would be a long day...