The Emblems of Justice

Chapter 3 - A Raven's Reminiscence

 "Marty! MARTY!"

I hurriedly ran through the houses, beams of fire engulfing my surroundings. To my left my eyes noticed rubble raining over, dodging them as I ran to the front lines.

"Marty! Please, you better be still there!"

After what felt like an eternity, my legs led me to an empty field. Two men were standing still in the middle of it. One of them in particular was painted in blood.

My heart sank as I realized who it was.

"You'll... never get the emblem." A familiar voice croaked out as he fell to his knees and rolled helplessly on the ground.

I don't exactly remember what I felt when I saw him on the floor. Rage, confusion, fear, it could be a mix of all of them. My closest comrade in arms, his sun-kissed skin fading into a pale color. Sprawled on the floor like a broken puppet. Helpless should be the last thing to describe him. Rivulets of blood came out of him, the earth devouring it without hesitance. He shouldn't be in this state. It's...

Without thinking, I screamed, rushing to the other man's chest with my sword, blood spilling out as he gasped in surprise.

Or at least, that was supposed to be the reaction I expected, but the man just maniacally laughed, not a single wound on his body. His posture was relaxed and imposing. Laughter seemed to overshadow the roaring flames around the field.

"Hah! That's it? I expected more from the people who caused me so much trouble." He said in a mocking tone.

The man looked in peace, as if the noises were nothing to him. That this was a casual feast instead of a bloody warzone.

Everything in me screamed to not engage with him. I've been fighting for hours, and my Core was about to break. Yet I willed myself, my hands and sword starting to be engulfed in ebony light.

Maybe my Core knew. Maybe it told me to stop, it had changed color but... it understood.

It had glowed the brightest I've ever seen as I rushed to this monster of a man, but he only continued to laugh as he effortlessly parried my sword with just his bare hands.

It was nothing for him. No move of his had a single opening. Every hit he landed was undeniably clean and perfect.

Each successive swing felt more and more impossible to achieve. The man looked in boredom as he continued on with his flawless parries. With a mighty heave, I braced myself as I brought down a vertical slash.

CRACK! My mind raced, flashing to Martin's face. Maybe I'm going to follow him soon. I could only stare at both my broken hilt and at the ground, where the fragments of my broken Core had landed.

The booming laughs contrasted with his serene face. "What an admirable attempt for your friend. But it's too late. Shouldn't you be paying respects to the dead?"

I gritted my teeth in disbelief, "N-NO! He's not dying on me!"

"...You know what, I'm a benevolent man, so I'll let you see him for the last time." He lowered his hand. I looked at him in suspicion, only to receive his confirmation. "What are you waiting for? This is the least I can give." He said as he stepped aside.

Even with the bitter sting of defeat at the hand of this man lingered in my mind, only one thought mattered to me as of now. I rushed to my friend as I kneeled to see his face. His amber eyes losing focus, his normally sunny orange hair now highlighted with blood, my hands feeling less and less warmth from his dying body, "Marty! Marty, stay with me!" I cried out as I saw a gaping wound through his chest. "W-Where's your Core? I'm gonna heal you with it, so hang in there!"