Extra's Descent

After finishing dinner, Amelia sat on a log as she stared at the campfire.

Carl and Aurelia held sticks with marshmallows at the tip, pointing at the fire.

Amelia rested her chin on her palms as she pondered on the events a while ago.

Something about Brandon was off.

After dinner, he hadn't spoken a single word.

It was as if he was a completely different person.

His eyes were sunken deeper, and his tone became colder.

In fact, the way he looked at her was off.

For the past three months they had been traveling together, Brandon seemed fragile.

As if he was about to break any time.

It was for that reason that Amelia was careful with him, and kept a close eye on him.

This whole time, she saw him as nothing more but a younger—boy—she had to look out for.

But the way he spoke to her earlier….

Amelia truly felt off.

But despite how she felt…

'Why does it make him seem hot?!'

She shook her head at the thought.

Unconsciously, she touched her chin, recalling the way he held it earlier.

'What the hell am I thinking….?'

Then, she glanced at him, who was peering down on his phone. MVLeMpYr-only

But as she looked, she found herself stupefied.

He was looking at the lock screen.

The time…. perhaps?

How peculiar.

All of a sudden, Brandon stood up and tucked his phone inside his pocket.

He flicked his head and his cold eyes met her gaze.

"Let's go."

"Go where?"

"Belle's coming."

"Eh…?"

But as Amelia stared at his gloved hand, her eyes widened in shock.

There, she could see stains at the tip of glove on each finger.

The gloves were black. But as the stain grew even darker, something red dripped.

"...."

***

"So you fought someone?"

"Yeah."

Amelia asked and Brandon confirmed.

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Didn't have time to."

Brandon shrugged his shoulders.

Then, Amelia grabbed his hand.

"Show me your hands."

"Ah."

Brandon pulled away.

"It's fine."

"It's still dripping."

"It doesn't hurt."

"Don't be stubborn."

"...."

Amelia grabbed his hand again and slowly unveiled the gloves.

"Look away, Carl. You too, Aurelia."

Brandon nonchalantly turned his head slightly and warned.

"Uh."

Carl—who was taller than Aurelia—looked away and covered Aurelia's eyes.

After unveiling the gloves, Amelia's eyes widened in horror and she let out a gasp.

"....Your nails."

"Like I said, it doesn't hurt."

Amelia pulled away and seemed to be getting something from her inventory.

'Inventory, huh?'

It became apparent to him that his inventory was related to Jin's space affinity.

But for Amelia… he had no answers as to where her inventory was actually stored.

Brandon turned around again slightly. Carl and Aurelia were still covering their eyes.

"Keep your eyes closed."

".....Okay."

Then, Brandon turned around again as he felt something wrap around his index finger.

"...."

A bandage.

Amelia was wrapping bandages around his fingers.

"Why? I said it didn't hurt."

Brandon tilted his head, perplexed.

But Amelia didn't respond as she continued wrapping bandages on each of his fingers.

"...."

Nothing was gonna hurt him anymore.

The pain in his fingers was nothing compared to what he had seen from Brandon Locke's memories.

Then, Amelia's soft voice reached his ears.

"I don't know why you suddenly changed. Honestly, you were gone for thirty minutes…."

As Amelia finished bandaging the last finger, she looked at him and flashed him a warm smile.

"Since I'll be relying on you… Well… I know I've said this before, but I hope you rely on me as well."

"...."

Brandon stared intently at her deep blue gaze. The moonlight cast its glow on her beautiful features, and Brandon found himself speechless.

'Right, I'm not Brandon Locke.'

He thought to himself.

'Nor will I be Raven Blackheart.'

He wanted to be…

'I'm my own person. Bound by no identity.'

He had Brandon Locke's memories, sure.

But he didn't want to become Brandon Locke.

He was also Raven Blackheart. But that was when he began to ponder.

Was he actually Raven Blackheart?

He was an anomaly amongst the Raven Blackhearts.

A blank canvas.

And a blank canvas was yet to be filled.

Seeing Brandon Locke's memories, he knew that wasn't the way he should go about.

Everything he's done was a failure.

And all he did was pass the torch onto him.

Not just Brandon Locke. But Jin…. Raven Blackheart.

They were all failures.

And he didn't want to be identified as either of them.

"Thanks."

"Mhm."

The two nodded at each other. Brandon put the gloves back on.

Then, he pursed his lips.

Enough time has passed.

Belle was about to arrive in ten minutes with her subordinates.

With such thoughts, Brandon got up and led the group, trudging the forest.

***

"General…."

They had barely crossed the forest, and they had already stumbled upon a body.

One that was gruesomely killed.

They had conflicted reactions.

Scanning, the body undoubtedly belonged to the man they were sent to go after.

But…

He was dead.

"I don't know if I should be happy or scared…."

The other officers began mumbling to one another.

They could all tell the way the man was killed.

His body seemed deformed as his limbs were all distorted. In the center—where his heart was supposed to be—was a gaping hole, blood smeared all over the torso.

Blood seeped from the man's eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Whoever did this definitely held a deep grudge against the man.

Rustle… Rustle….

"....!"

All of a sudden, the bushes rustled and the entire group was alerted.

Mana started to gather around them, preparing for the foe they were about to face.

But as their silhouettes emerged from the bushes….

"Yo."

Belle's eyes widened as she took in the familiar sight of Brandon and Amelia.

"....General Constantine?"

One of the officers–who stood beside her, spoke.

"Yes, who are you?"

Amelia responded.

Realizing there was no threat, Belle instructed.

"Stand down everyone."

Since Amelia was well known throughout the Imperial Army, there was no hesitation as everyone lowered their hands.

Belle stared at Brandon—looking into his cold ice–blue eyes.

"Uh."

She was unsure of how to refer to him. After all, he was hiding his identity.

"It's fine."

At his words, Belle immediately rushed towards her younger brother and locked him in a tight embrace.

"General…?!"

Ray reached his hand out to Belle, perplexed by her impulsive action.

"Brandon, I was so worried. You weren't replying to my texts."

"Ah. Actually, I didn't receive it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the mana in this forest is thick. Our phones probably had no signal."

"...."

That….

It was a hazard.

If something were to happen to Amelia and Brandon, especially by the fact that the man was in the same forest as them, then Belle didn't know what to do.

Thankfully, the man was killed before Brandon and Amelia encountered him.

Ah, right.

Belle quickly pulled away as she recalled.

"This man…. A fight seemed to have occurred here. Did the two of you not hear anything?"

Brandon and Amelia exchanged looks at that moment.

Then, Brandon looked back at her with a serious expression on his face.

He pursed his lips.

"I was the one who fought him."