Curse of the Stigma

My name is Kiro. I bear the Alpha Stigma. I lead twenty-one other magic eye bearers, including my best friend, Sakura. She is an Alpha Stigma bearer, much like myself. She was the first child that I saved.

Now that war is upon the world, we’ve been dragged into it. I am fully on Ryner’s side. However, we are merely allies. I refuse his leadership. I have more faith in my own ability to protect my friends.

At this very moment, we are in the midst of battle. I’m having Sakura lead the rest of our friends. I want to find the God’s Eye group. There are things that I need to know, things only they can answer.

I finally see two of them. Ryner is also there. However, there’s a more sinister presence nearby. It’s Lucile Eris. He’s right behind the God’s Eye leader. I don’t bother trying to shout out a warning. I know there’s not enough time, anyway. Using whatever speed I possess, I leap in between Lucile and the leader. A knife is plunged through my stomach. I gasp loudly at the cool sensation of the blade. I look up into Lucile’s cold, dead eyes. I see the fires of hatred in his eyes at having failed to execute the correct target. He pulls the knife back out and in the next second, disappears.

Gasping from both shock and pain, I turn around to face Ryner, Tiir, and the God’s Eye leader. I see shock expressed on their faces, as well as horror. I give a slight chuckle. “Don’t look at me like I’m already dead…” I let the word ‘dead’ trail off as the pain and weakness intensify. I sway on my feet a bit before I collapse. Tiir catches me before my head can hit the ground. I cough on blood that is filling my mouth, before I look up at Tiir. “P…please… protect my friends… If I die… I want them to be safe…” I start vomiting blood, cutting off anything I might’ve said otherwise.

Tiir brushes my hair from my eyes. “You won’t die. You saved Ene. She’d be dead if you hadn’t come along. You don’t have to worry about anything, now. We’ll help you.”

Tears pool in my eyes and start streaming down my cheeks. “Why would you help me? I just did what anyone would do.” I clench my eyes shut tight to try to stop crying.

Tiir pulls me closer. “Because you are worth saving.” He strokes my back with one gentle hand.

Ene steps closer to us and kneels beside me. “Tiir is right, child. You are a true hero.” She gives me a soft smile.

I shake my head slowly. “I’m no hero. I’ve let too many of my friends die. I’m just trying harder for the sake of redemption if not for anything else.” I gasp suddenly and clutch the wound on my stomach. I look back at Ene. “Not saying I regret it, because I don’t but this hurts like Hell,” I hiss out the words through clenched teeth.

“Not sure you should use words like…” Tiir begins.

“This is NOT the time to correct me for swearing! Besides, considering that the level of pain I’m in is unreal at best, I’d say I get a pass for swearing!” I huff.

“Well, we need to get you out of here,” Ryner speaks for the first time.

“Right,” Tiir nods his head. He picks me up into his arms.

“Wait! My friends!” I yell out, struggling to get out of Tiir’s arms.

“I’ll stay behind to help them. You’re injured. Let Tiir take you,” Ryner responds.

I stop struggling and relax more in Tiir’s arms. I lay my head on his chest, exhausted from the pain and crying. Though I fight with all my might, I can’t keep my eyes open. They slide shut as I slip into unconsciousness.