Eifion seeing red, tries to take the life of the man who robbed him, of someone important to him.

Eifion was frozen, eyes are drawn to the scene playing out before him. Luca had just had his neck been slit, by the person he failed to protect the other from. He had everything under control, Luca knew, he could teleport short distances without the need of the Nen Sigil.

The Nen Sigil protecting the school from hostile enemies, allowed him to not only extend his ability to affect others, to teleport others short distances but also, allowed him to boot them from the school without hesitation.

He hadn't lost his ability to teleport short distances. LUCA, knew this… he always has…

But seeing him come to his defence, to take the hit for him…

It had awoken something dangerous inside him. He has always been passive, dealing with the situation in a calm, rational matter. No matter how difficult, or who they were personally; their prestige or money, it didn't work on swaying his ideals.

Now, knowing that Luca had feelings for him, the nights they spent together cuddling… the dinners and lunches… the person he learned to cherish was about to disappear.

Calmness turned to anger, one he never thought he had it in him…

Seeing his best friend clutching his neck, choking on his blood, all he could feel was bloodlust, not, concern. The man had hurt his best friend… the one he cares about… the one he was slowly falling in love with.

Standing up, he spoke with a dangerously calm tone, "Get the FUCK… out of MY SCHOOL!"

Victor turned to the man, feeling no danger whatsoever from the weak, shaking man "Not until you give me Daniel…"

Eifion took a step forward, only to stop once he saw someone else next to Luca, pressing his hands into his best friend's neck. It was the young boy he had demanded to stay in his room alongside Daniel, "What are you doing here, Killua?!"

"~"

Killua saw the scene transpire before him, Victor slicing through Luca's neck. Eifion wasn't reacting, he wasn't going to the man's side, to try to save him. But what he truly didn't understand, is why didn't Luca allow him to save Eifion.

He saw him shove the deacon out of the way, to take the hit for him.

Killua could've pushed him out of the way without any issues, he was getting ready to move during mid-swing, but Luca charging into battle made him believe the man was going to counter-attack Victor.

He should've run, ran to Eifion's aid… to shove him out of the way. He should've trusted his gut instinct here. Next time he won't make this mistake… He'll need to learn from this. When he turned to his partner, he saw the boy wasn't reacting as well.

He was panicking, on the verge of tears. He's possibly thinking Luca may have gotten killed trying to protecting him, or more importantly Eifion, who was trying to protect them.

Killua reached for his partner's hand, drawing his partner's attention to him. Once he had the boy's attention, he spoke carefully "Stay here… do not come out for any reason."

"But-"

"I'll be okay. He's after you. If he sees you, he'll ignore everyone else… we can't have that. Promise me, that you'll stay here."

Daniel gave a weak nod.

Killua ran his fingers through his partner's hair, smiling warmly. He loved him, whether he was scared or brave… he loved him. He would've blushed from the thought, but now wasn't the time.

If Eifion wasn't going to save Luca, he will. Even if it wasn't for the man's sake, he'll make sure it won't leave Daniel feeling like he needed to sacrifice his life to protect the others.

Victor was only after Daniel, they knew that… Eifion and Luca will not be collateral damage, not while he was here.

The boy let go of his partner to deal with the situation. He ran to Luca's side, checking the man given the circumstances. he observed the wounds, it was deep. He was clinging to life, but barely. Pressing his hands against Luca's throat, he applied more pressure, trying to stop the man from bleeding out.

It wasn't helping… He needed a hospital.

"What are you doing here, Killua?!"

Ignoring the man's words, he turned to the man, "He needs a hospital! Where's the nearest one?!" He was met with silence. His eyes turned to the older man, calling out to him once more, "WHERE'S THE NEAREST HOSPITAL?!"

Eifion grit his teeth, "I'll deal with Victor first! He'll only go after you if I tell you."

"No! He won't… he's after Daniel, not me."

"But YOU, know where he is…"

Victor smiled at the news. Killua knowing where Daniel is, meant he can be done with this little game of cat and mouse. The sooner he's out of here, the sooner he could get his son to return to him, "You, boy… where is your little travel friend? Where is he?"

Killua grit his teeth, frowning from Eifion's accusation and Victor's pursuit of his boyfriend "It's none of your business, asshole! Eifion, I can outrun this bitch anyways! But Luca… he might not survive long enough for you to deal with Victor, he needs a hospital, now…"

Luca's eyes met Killua's, eyes pleading for the boy to stop his best friend. Without words, he knew what the man wanted him to do. But saving Luca was more important. It was clear that Eifion had the advantage, the aura now surging around the man, meant he was about to get serious.

But it still won't be enough to deal with the monster before him…

Once he felt blood pool between his fingers, he pressed down harder. He's not going to let Luca die. He doesn't want the man's death to leave an impact on Daniel's mentality "Eifion, please…" His pleas were met with silence.

When he looked up, trying to gauge Eifion's expression, the man had already lunged forward, charging Victor.

Killua cursed under his breath, feeling sorry for Luca. He'd have to do something reckless, just to buy the man time. Electricity sparked between his fingertips. He's going to need to cauterise the wound. Hopefully, there wasn't any internal bleeding "I'm sorry…"

Bringing his fingers to the wound, he began to burn away at the wounds, trying to stop the bleeding as Luca's body violently seized in pain. The man's finger dug into the ground, unable to scream as he latched onto something physical. Not me Killua, save Eifion… protect him…

"~"

Eifion ignored everything going on around him, focusing only on the man before him. When he lunged.

Victor prepared himself to defend and counter the person, what he hadn't expected, was having zero openings to come from the fight ahead.

The first block was merely a feint, the palm gliding along his chest to instead grab his head. He felt his body collide with the man's knee, stunning him. Before he could defend himself, he was punched twice in the face, harder than the first time.

Eifion next followed the attack with an open palm strike to his chest, causing him to cough up blood. However, he drew his arm back, once more slamming it into the man's chest, knocking the air out of him.

When Victor felt the air leave his chest, he felt the wave of aura that followed, like tendrils, it dug underneath his skin, ricocheting along his nerves in different directions.

He vomited blood and worms, the creatures wiggling on the ground. they seized from the new environment. Gritting his teeth, he screamed out of fury, only to have his face kicked in.

He brought up his arms, protecting his face, only to Eifion use his chest as a punching bag. He couldn't use aura to defend himself, and no matter what body part he tried to defend, the deacon only aimed for the places he left wide open.

Throwing away his defences, he went on the attack, nails sharpening. He threw the first attack, fingers slipping through the air. He felt a swift kick to his back, followed by a punch to the back of his head.

He was seeing stars, but that didn't stop him from swinging his hand backwards, trying to hit the man behind him. He saw someone appear in front of him, kicking him in the knee. He fell to the ground, kneeling on the floor, just like he had done to his son.

When he tried to defend his face, a swift kick had him seeing stars. He was losing to someone inferior, someone weaker than him because of his Nen restriction. If it wasn't like this, he could've dealt with the man instantaneously, "You won't win-" His expression froze once he saw the second person standing behind the man.

Vastorie shouldn't be back so soon. He put him to sleep, he made sure he wouldn't wake up too soon… so why was he up again? What stopped him from putting the man into a rem sleep state "Wh-" A shoe slammed into his face, the force sending him bouncing across the ground, like a stone skipping across water.

Eifion turned to see who was stopping him from getting his revenge, but before he could see who it was, he felt was a slap across his face, "What the-" He felt another slap across his face.

"Get rid of Victor… NOW!"

The man's eyes widened in surprise, knowing exactly who was demanding him to do something. Yet, he hadn't expected his old teacher to sound so cold, demanding… even hostile towards him.

"But-"

"NOW! I won't ask twice."

"How-"

"Shut the fuck up, old man!" He pulled out his phone, tapping away at the keys as he continued, "the next time we meet, I'll rip your body asunder." When he looked up, he saw his father still there. Eifion hadn't done what he asked. He turned to his student, now more furious at the younger man for not completing his task, "What did I just tell you to do…?"

Eifion scrambled to his senses. Drawing upon the power of the Sigil built into the school his eyes furrowed, eyes focused on Victor "Never return this school!" Within the blink of his eyes, the man was gone, just like Vastorie predicted, "How did you-" It suddenly clicked to him. The earlier slaps acted like a wake-up call, a reminder that he's not the only one involved in this mess…

There was also Killua… and Luca. Shifting his gaze, he drew his attention back to the man who saved him, now panicking because he just realised the man had been wounded during the battle "Luca… LUCA! I-"

Vastorie grabbed the man by the collar, slamming him against the ground. With one foot pressed into the man's back, he addressed the underlying issues "I'm not done with you, yet!" he then turned to Killua, whose eyes were drawn to him, "You did good kid… I'll give you that. The hospital is twenty, point-five-two kilometres to the east. I suggest you run… NOW!"

"Daniel-"

Letting a growl, he let the boy know now wasn't the time for talking, they had to act. Not just to save Luca, but he also had to deal with Victor still. The strength of the Sigil wouldn't have kicked the man far, maybe to an alleyway nearby "I said… NOW!" When Killua left, he turned in the direction where he could feel his son.

Not wanting to talk to the boy just yet, he picked up Eifion by the collar, bringing the man up to meet his gaze "Now…" He could see the man was on the verge of tears, but none of that mattered. They have things to do "You and I are going to have, a talk."

"But-"

"You made a mistake… now you get to suffer the consequences. Starting from now, this school will go on break. At least, for the remainder of this week. I want all teachers to meet at the end of this month, alongside Killua and Daniel… you're going to tell them everything that transpired today, then those same people are going to be put to a vote. The choice will be whether Daniel Darkscryer and Killua Zoldyck, will get to remain on school grounds. You, Luca and myself, will not be able to vote… do I make myself clear?"

The defeated man looked down at the ground, fear settling in the pit of his stomach. He hated the idea, the idea that will ultimately lead to the boys being kicked from the school "Yes…"

"Good…" He dropped the man onto his feet. He didn't chastise Eifion out of malice, the possibility of losing his best friend was still on the horizon. At least, that's if Killua doesn't make it in time. He'll feel sorry for the deacon, only up to a certain degree. If he were able to resist Victor's sleeping ability, none of this would've had to happen.

But then again, if Eifion had been calm and rational, maybe Luca wouldn't have gotten hurt. The moment Luca got hurt, he should've sent Killua on his way with the man to the hospital… then again, he may have sent the boy to the closest one, not the one he got Knov to prep in advance.

The other problem was why was Killua and Daniel here, near Eifion. He believes he told the deacon to make sure that those two were far from danger. He sighed in frustration, annoyed at how messy the situation had become. But no matter how annoyed he was, he still needed to complete one final task "While you do that, I have to make a call. Once everything is done, I'll take temporary command of the school as acting Deacon. Dismissed…" You should know why I'm doing this… you look like shit, and Luca being in the hospital won't help you. Your mind will be fractured in its thoughts…

Vastorie walked away, heading in the direction where Annex will most likely be found. He cycled through his numbers, calling the man for some information "Annex, I need you to trace one of the phones infected by that program."

"~"

Victor slammed his fist into the ground. He was so close, so close to saving his son from one of the many things holding him back. He had no clue where he was, but he'll be able to find his way back to the school.

He did not doubt that. Given the design of the buildings, it looks like he was still in the same city. So, even if Ercole was still there, his son was no threat to him. Finding Daniel was his biggest concern, not dealing with his son, Ercole.

The buzzing of his phone made him forced him to pick it up, but the unknown ID number made him pause from answering it. It could be one of his contacts calling him from a burner phone. But the question was who'd be calling him…?

He wasted no more time thinking about the situation. If it wasn't important, he could always tell them to call back later "Who is it?"

"Hello, father…"

"How-"

"You're going to get your ass out of this continent. AND… if I ever ping your radar within the same continent as ANY of my family members, I'll rip off your head, as well as those who are backing you up and use them as cannonballs to feed animals that regurgitate stomach acid before eating its food…"

Victor hung up the phone, throwing it to the ground. He brought his foot down, shattering what remained of it. The fact his son got his new number means he can be traced. Moments later, he heard another phone ring within his vicinity. His eyes turned to the payphone.

It was an unsettling sound…

It refused to stop while he stared at it. He took his time answering the phone, unsure if this was something he should be doing. But the fact that it rang after he broke his phone, could mean trouble for him. Ever since he had been teleported, he had felt eyes on him… yet there was no one in his vicinity. Hand reaching for the receiver, he brought it to his ears.

His body froze from the voice of the person on the other side of the speaker.

"You can't run… You can't hide… No matter where you go, I'll always be watching you, father. Do I make myself clear…?" The anger almost brought a tear to his eyes. But the threat stopped him from arguing. He lost the battle, the war and his one chance at saving his son. Whatever was allowing his son to keep eyes on him, he needed to get a Nen exorcist to remove it. Out of rage, he threw the receiver to the ground, frustrated at the situation. No matter where he goes, his next move will always be tracked.

He needed to find a way to disappear without a trace because if Vastorie could now trace him, everyone in the Hunter's Association would be able to find him too.

"~"

Daniel's heart was beating rapidly in his chest, he knew his father could tell he was there. He was being glared at by his father, someone who was supposed to love him unconditionally…

But all he could feel was seething rage; the man's eyes showed only signs of hatred. He didn't know if it was being directed at him… it couldn't have been. He had done nothing, to deserve that ire.

Yet, as his father walked away after talking, or more like, manhandling Eifion, he had walked away without a second glance in his direction. His eyes shifted to the older man, the one Vastorie slapped multiple times.

He was not okay… but revealing himself, talking to Eifion would show signs that he not only went against the man's wishes, but he was also close to danger.

Then again… the deacon's actions may have caused Luca to get killed. Seeing him cry out, calling Luca's name, the one Killua was trying to save earlier, while it made him feel sorry for Eifion… the man's actions served as a painful reminder. He mustn't repeat the same action, to instead save Killua rather than get revenge.

The man's blind rage had made him lose sight of who was important to him… his best friend.

Eifion should've just told Killua, where to take the man before dealing with Victor…

But then again, there was a chance, that at the far back of the man's mind, he could see Victor going after Killua… but given Vastorie's reaction, that may have not been possible. His father may have not seen that as a possibility… or maybe he felt like Eifion could've held off Victor, while Killua saved Luca…

He couldn't understand out what his father was thinking…

He saw the world like a web, with different ways to reach the same outcome.

Whichever outcome his father wanted; he didn't know what he was seeking.

Daniel stepped out of his hiding place, carefully approaching Eifion, "Eifion…?"

The deacon's frame stilled, head slowly turning in the direction of the voice, "Wh- What are you doing here…?"

"Killua and I were watching from a safe distance, and-"

The older man's features dropped, looking down at the floor. The whole time the boys were there, and he hadn't noticed. Vastorie was angry at him for a myriad of issues, that had to be one of them… the other had to be him failing to prioritise Luca's safety over Victor's destruction…

But the biggest problem of them all… he fell for the sweet taste of revenge. He wanted to bring Victor suffering… Vastorie took that chance from him, hopefully, for the right reasons.

However, the anger the dripped from his mentor felt unnatural…

"Daniel, I told you to stay in your room, while we dealt with the situation." His voice felt cold, unnatural to even his own, ears. But he needed to hear from the boy why he was here. He needed to know the truth.

"We're here…" Daniel swallowed thickly, feeling a tense aura radiating from the man, "It didn't feel right staying locked up in that room."

"I had everything under control…"

Daniel tilted his head slightly, looking in the direction his father left, "I believe my father thinks otherwise…"

Eifion shook his head with a chuckle, "That's bold of you to say that. I guess a small part of me was glad Killua was here, there's a chance Luca will be ok. Provided your partner was able to get him to the hospital in time… that still doesn't answer why you're here…"

At least that explains where Killua had gone with Eifion, not that the man having his neck slit open was enough proof to help him gauge where his lover had gone "Killua felt he could protect me, while I'm here…"

The man turned to face the boy, "That's his reasoning… what's yours?"

The boy fell silent, taking in the question completely. He took a deep breath before speaking, "because I wanted to be the lure that drew the man's attention away. I didn't want anyone to get hurt, just to protect me…"

"Then why didn't you show yourself when Luca got hurt. Wait, don't tell me…" He looked the younger boy in the eyes, "Killua told you to stay put… am I right?"

"Partially… I got scared, too scared to come out. But Killua did say I should stay put. How… how do you deal with the fear?"

Chuckling, Eifion spoke calmly, "You don't… you learn to live with it. I fucked up… I'm afraid my actions will lead to Luca's death, but considering Vastorie sent Killua to the hospital that was further away, means that he may have set something up in advance. I hope Killua can make it… I want to be able to apologise to Luca in person." He was filled with sorrow, especially with what he was about to say, "Vastorie… He asked me… I don't think you'll be welcomed at this school any longer. Luca and I will have no sway over the other teachers' opinion."

Daniel bit his lip. Of course, his father would come up with a ridiculous plan. Killua and himself didn't care about themselves being kicked from the school… but they won't be the only ones. Alluka will be kicked too. She'll be kicked because of her connection to her brother, especially if Vastorie tells the other teachers who they are.

It wasn't fair on Alluka… she didn't deserve to have this semblance of freedom be taken away from her so soon. At least two years… what about their students, they were supposed to be teaching Clarisa about Nen soon, which would be taken away from her "There are so many things wrong with this situation…"

Vastorie is only doing what he feels is right… Could he even say that to the man's son? It wouldn't be fair on the boy, especially, when he felt it was wrong to do so. The school was about protecting the students while they learn…

Then again… he had just failed to protect one that was near and dear to him. Letting out a sigh, Eifion spoke calmly to the boy, "I suggest Killua when he gets back of course, and yourself… should lay down to rest. You'll have a long month ahead of you, to prepare for the inevitable."