Chapter 31

A strong hand

"No"

"No? What do you mean?"

"We won't gang up on him, it won't work" The group looked at Lukas with a mix of confusion and concern. Maybe the things Shade had said about Emil drove him mad somehow. Arthur sighed.

"He's right, it won't work that way"

"When he said he would recharge, did he really…"

"Yes, he did"

"What are you talking about?" Mathias had followed Arthur and Lukas conversation but couldn't make much sense of it.

"The thing he did to Lovino" Arthur shook his head "It makes him very dangerous"

"Then, what did he do?"

"Is this really the best time for explanations?"

"Yes!"

"He recharged" Lukas interrupted them. "It's a way for mages to steal energy from others, but it's forbidden and very dangerous" He stood up on unsteady legs while Arthur continued.

"Do you remember what I said about energy? We only have a certain amount and if we use too much, we can end up using our life force instead. If that happens, we might die" He frowned and pointed towards Lukas "It was a close call for him earlier"

"What Shade did was simply draining the energy from Lovinos body, if he would have continued…" Lukas didn't finish the sentence but they still understood.

"Well, I couldn't kill him now could I? He's the main key to make Antonio suffer after all" Shade shrugged, his confidence slowly returning. He was glad they didn't gang up on him, it would force him to use more energy and he might kill them by mistake. He didn't want that yet. That also meant that he could focus on healing. "Now then, surrender to me and-"

"I said we couldn't gang up on you" Now there was a force behind Lukas words "I didn't say we would lose" He stepped closer to where the voice came from "I'll fight you" Lukas felt his anger build up as Shade started laughing.

"You? You can barely stand not to mention the fact that you can't see! How could you possibly win?" His laughter faded into a chuckle "You'll be down in seconds"

"But I know the weaknesses of that spell. All I need is a bit of patience and you're done for." Lukas didn't even feel pleased as Shades laughter faded at his words. He was too angry.

"Weaknesses?"

"You don't know? The effect has a time limit and when that is reached…" Lukas took another step forward "…You'll tell me what really happened to Emil" He waited for a moment.

"I told you. He's gone. I dropped him off in the middle of the ocean, ask Antonio if you don't beli-"

"No!" Lukas finally snapped and launched forward.

.

"Hey Ludwig! Feli! You around here?"

"Lukas! Mathias! Anyone?" Emil walked around inside the lobby of the hotel but there was no one around. He even ran to their room but there wasn't any answer. "Where are they?"

"Probably out looking for you" Emil turned to Gilbert that was still sitting in his cart.

"Then we have to get out there" He took a few steps forward but stumbled and fell. The fatigue was finally catching up with him.

"Emil! Are you okay? You're bleeding"

"I'm okay" The wound on his head had reopened because of the fall and it felt like the room was spinning. "We have to keep going"

"You have to be treated first! It won't help if you suddenly pass out"

"Fine!" Emil had learned that Gilbert wouldn't give in when he had decided on something. It was easier and quicker to just go along with it.

"There should be a first aid kit around here somewhere. Do you think you can find it?"

"Sure" While Emil searched the room on unsteady legs, Gilbert managed to get to the sofa in the middle of the room. It did involve falling on his face out of the cart and then dragging himself across the room but, he got there. "Found it!"

"Good! Come sit here and I'll fix you up!" Gilbert grinned at him as he walked over and sat down but as he started working he got a more serious expression. "Do you think you're weak?"

"What?" Emil was completely unprepared for the question.

"Back on the beach, while you were unconscious, you mumbled some things. You were blaming yourself, said you were weak" He spoke while treating the wound and looked more serious than Emil had ever seen him. Emil frowned.

"If I was strong this wouldn't have happened" He thought back. If he only could've had the strength to fight back, this would all be over already.

"I agree" Emil looked up at Gilbert and noticed a small smile playing on his lips. "You were kidnapped, got hurt, almost drowned, travelled through the ocean, pushed me in a cart for half an hour and are still standing" Gilbert tightened the bandage that was now wrapped around Emils head. "So weak" The sarcasm was obvious to anyone and Emil blushed.

"B-But I could've done more! Even now I can't-" Gilbert interrupted with a pat on his back that almost threw Emil of the couch.

"You need to give yourself some more credit!"

"Let's just get going" Emil smiled a little at the praise but was still embarrassed. It took them a few minutes to get Gilbert back in the cart, Emil refused to leave him behind, but they were soon back outside.

"Were should we start, maybe…" Gilberts words trailed of as they saw a light coming from just outside of town. The light was unnatural, it seemed blue and was constantly shifting.

"I think we know where to go"

.

"This is pathetic, you can barely last 5 minutes how could you possibly outlast the time limit?"

"Lukas!" Lukas hit the ground for the fifth time but still stood up on unsteady legs. He didn't care if it hurt, he just had to do it over and over again. He would stand up as many times as it took for the spell to wear off. Again and again and again and…

"Lukas?" Lukas turned towards him as he heard Berwalds voice. He sounded strangely calm which was probably the reason Lukas had reacted in the first place. "That recharge thing. Can you do it too?" Lukas blinked.

"Yes, but I would never do it. It's too dangerous"

"Do it. Do it to me" Berwalds voice didn't waver for a second.

"I can't do it. I might kill you by mistake." Lukas felt how something grabbed onto his leg.

"I trust you"

"You don't understand! It's like a drug that fills you with energy the more you take and it's hard to sto-"

"Please…" Now he only sounded pleading "If I can't fight, let me at least be useful" Finally, Lukas understood. In Berwalds current state there was no way for him to win. The cuteness that the spell created wouldn't have any effect on someone like Shade that only wanted destruction. Tino had gotten in a few hits. Mathias had as well. But Berwald was also angry, he also cared about Emil. He also wanted the truth.

"Okay" Lukas crouched down and felt his way to Berwald.

"As if I'd let you!" Lukas heard steps closing in on them as Shade charged forward but soon they stopped and were replaced by a thud as he was knocked back.

"Don't forget about us!"

"Lukas, you do your thing, we'll keep him away" Tinos and Mathias voices were comforting. He could now be certain the no one would interrupt so he could focus. He heard more footsteps as the rest of the nations gathered between them.

"Just hurry up, we can't hold up for too long" Arthurs words made Lukas focus again. While hearing the thuds, swearing and cries as the fight continued, Lukas took Berwalds face between his hands.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

"No!" Shade cried out just as Lukas pressed his lips to Berwalds forehead. The group turned as a blue light started glowing strongly from the two nations and they felt some force pushing them back. The light shifted and, instead of a chain, formed a thin thread between their wrists. It didn't take long before Berwalds eyes went blank and as his body turned limp Lukas caught him before he hit the ground. Lukas pulled back just as the light faded and looked down at him worryingly. He let out a relieved sigh as he saw the chest rise and fall.

"He'll be fine" Without looking at the group, Lukas stood up and walked over to Lovino. He laid Berwald down next to him and straightened up. Without turning around he spoke to Shade. "You said I could never defeat you, I was too weak, I couldn't even see" He turned around and walked towards Shade while the group moved to make him a path. Tino gasped.

"Lukas! You-"

"Then, how do you like me now?" He stopped right in front of Shade. "Now, I see you very clearly" Lukas eyes were clear again and it seemed like all his fatigue had somehow disappeared.

"You think I'm scared now? I'm stronger than you"

"Then, why are you trembling?" Lukas stared at him with an intensity that forced Shade to back away. He threw an angry glare down at Antonio that apparently had said something seemingly annoying. Shade reached out a hand towards Lukas.

"I'll show you just how bad I can be" He snapped his fingers and created a shockwave that forced everyone a couple of steps back.

"Arthur! Keep the others safe" Lukas didn't look away from Shade for even a second. "Let me fight without worry"

"Okay. Be careful" That was all Lukas needed to know. He could go all out.

"Well then" Lukas lifted his hand with his palm up. It stared glowing for a second and when it stopped they could see something similar to a deck of cards on it. He picked up the top five cards and placed the rest in his pocket. They spread out and stayed floating in front of him in the air with their backs up. "Shall we?"

"Fine" Shade crouched down a bit to get ready and lifted his hands in front of him. "Let's do this" Lukas took a deep breath and tapped one of the cards. It flipped over and shot towards Shade only to burst into flames shortly before it hit. In the last second, he ducked and rolled over so the ball of fire shot above his head. When it hit a tree behind them it exploded and sent flames flying everywhere.

"What was that?" Tino sounded shocked.

"Using cards is a very powerful tactic but it has its downsides" Arthur quickly drew a circle in the air to stop them from being hit by the fire. "For example, you don't know what attack will come out"

"Can't you just check the card first?"

"It won't activate if you do that. Look I'll explain later but I have to focus now…" Lukas barely heard them as he focused on his opponent. Shade stood up again and raised his hand towards the sky.

"I knew you were a worthy opponent and your brother would also have been if his powers would have been allowed to grow" The sky rumbled and they saw dark clouds gathering above their heads. Lukas was quickly down on the ground and started drawing in the dirt. He felt like he was boiling and it got worse every time Shade mentioned Emils name. He tried hard to not lose control. "Luckly, I made sure that wouldn't happen"

"You can't provoke me like that" Lukas was finished with the symbol just as the first lightning struck. It looked similar to a pointy R and as the bolts shot towards him, and only him, he stayed still. The symbol on the ground glowed and seemed to absorb the shock every bolt sent. Lukas tapped a second card and it shot forward. It headed for Shade and just before it hit it turned into a knife. It dug deeply into his arm and he cried out in pain. The lightning stopped and Lukas erased the symbol. To not give him another chance at recovering, Lukas tapped another card. It started spinning and rose above their heads. It rose higher and higher until it was too far away to be seen. Lukas just stared at it for a while before he once again focused on Shade that still stared after the card.

"That was the most useless card I've ever seen and I've lived longer than any of you" He looked back down at Lukas that only stared back at him. Shade lifted his hand towards Lukas and they saw that it was glowing. He was charging another beam but Lukas didn't move. "You think you can block it? It's stronger than the earlier ones. Lukas didn't answer but he didn't move either which made Shade chuckle. He fired the beam but instead of going towards Lukas it shot right up in the air and hit something high above them. "The card…"

"Don't look away" Before Shade could react, he was hit by the fourth card right in his chest. It turned into water and surrounded him until he was trapped inside a bubble. He tried to get out but no matter how much he struggled he couldn't get out. Suddenly, he went still and after a few moments his whole body started glowing. The water bubble burst and he fell down on the ground. Within seconds, Lukas stood next to him and pointed his last card at him. "I wouldn't move if I were you"

"Defeating me won't give you back Emil" He was panting slightly as he spoke "Even if you win you'll still have lost"

"Shut up! Where is he?"

"Gone"

"Lies! Where is he?"

"Gone"

"No!"

Lukas tapped the card.