Humanity's Hero Of Despair

My head is throbbing as I wake up.

I place my hand on my forehead. Having a slight headache on a day like today isn't good. It doesn't help that I have this heavy weight on my chest either. There is nothing I can do except pray all of us will be okay. My feet feel cold against the cold bedroom floor.

My hair looks like a bigger mess than usual. I do my best to fix it while brushing my teeth.

After brushing my teeth and fixing my hair, I go into my closet and put on my enchanted protective cloak. I check myself in the mirror as usual. Hopefully, this won't be the last time. I straighten my collar and walk out my bedroom door.

My magic knights stationed outside of my door follow next to me on either side while we walk to the dining hall. They are fully equipped in battle armor, surveying the environment to make sure no surprise attacks happen to me.

I sigh as we all continue walking toward the dining hall. It's hard to be excited for breakfast under these conditions. I know all of us are going to try to act like the day is normal until they attack. The feeling of being on edge, though, is eating at my mind.

We make it to the dining hall, where the tension is very obvious.

My friends wave me on over, and I sit with them. A knowing understanding passes between our thoughts of the day to come. We do our best to eat and make small talk. It is times like this that remind me how grateful I am for everyone and everything that I have.

I look at Ivy when she isn't looking at me. The beautiful glint in her eyes sparkles against the sunshine coming through the windows. Her silky smooth hair flows against her shoulders. Ivy's laugh makes me so happy.

If anything were to happen to her or any of my friends, I don't know what I would do, to be honest.

We do our best to make our usual jokes, but they aren't hitting the same. It feels like forever, but eventually, we all finish our meals. We discuss what we are all thinking of doing for the day. Estes says he wants to read in the library. Zephyr says he probably is going to go work out.

Matteo says he might as well get some extra sleep since the Imperial Training Grounds are closed for security purposes.

"Everyone!"

An imperial guard limps into the dining hall, blood-stained all across his armor.

Well, it looks like none of us are doing any of those things.

"They are here! They have already killed several of the perimeter guards!"

The imperial guard shouts to everyone in the room as he falls to the ground with healing mages rushing over to heal him. Everyone immediately springs into action. Imperial guards form a circle around us, and the guests hurry out of the dining hall into secure zones. The Emperor, Captain Daelon, and Grand Duke Lancaster urge us to follow them.

My friends and I immediately run toward the Emperor.

Once we are all gathered together, we start heading toward the imperial hidden bunker—the last resort to make sure all of us are completely safe. The earth rattles under me as we all run down the halls of the palace. We hear distant screams echo through the halls. The heavy sound of footsteps never ceases, even for one second.

I pass by a window and see flashes of red and green magic. The smell of burnt wood fills my nostrils for a moment. They are burning the Imperial Palace? I think to myself as an imperial guard protects me from some falling debris.

My teeth grind together as all of us continue running down the halls and going through secret passageways toward the bunker.

Soon enough, we arrive far enough underground. The door to the bunker is wide open with imperial guards stationed right outside of it to protect us in case the mercenaries make it down to the bunker.

"Let's go, everyone! Everybody inside!"

I say as I take both my wands out, ready for battle. My friends all enter the bunker just fine. The Emperor, Grand Duke, and the Captain enter as well. My magic knights also enter to protect me from inside. Once all of them are in, I close the bunker door shut, sealing us inside unless we wanted to go back out.

The bunker shakes suddenly several times within the past few minutes. They must be using heavy explosives, I think to myself as I hold onto a railing to stop myself from falling to the ground. The noises start to get louder and louder. The bunker, sadly, isn't soundproof.

The sounds of hell draw closer, which makes all of us more worried.

"I am going out there before they reach here. All of you stay put."

The Grand Duke takes out his wand and opens the bunker door.

"I am coming with you. I lead the magic knights. I shouldn't be in here while they are dying out there."

Captain Daelon follows the Grand Duke outside, prepared for battle. Looks of acceptance cover their faces.

We protest, but they wouldn't listen. The bunker door closes again on us this time. I take out my wands and place my hands on my head. Why can't I be out there? If I am the strongest mage, shouldn't I be the one fighting them, even if it shouldn't be head-on? Surely I wouldn't mess up enough for them to kill me.

"Nico, please, don't think about it."

Ivy says to me as she probably can guess what I am thinking. I look back at her and shake my head. I know why I shouldn't, as I am too valuable as an asset to humanity, but at the same time, I want to use my power now to help others. If anything, my body just feels powerless.

We hear as the mercenaries make it down to the tunnel to the bunker. We hear spells being cast as the bunker rattles more intensely now. There are definitely mages outside these walls who can destroy them with enough tenth-affinity level spells.

Only a few people can stand up to them. I don't care if they are the most dangerous mage mercenary alive.

I throw open the bunker door just in time for me to see Grand Duke Lancaster be struck by an advanced ice spell. One that targets his heart. He falls over, and Captain Daelon catches him. Filled with rage, I shout while pointing my origin wand at the mercenary, "Tenth affinity level magic: Fist of Fury!"

A gigantic fire hand erupts from my wand and slams the mercenary into the wall of the tunnel, knocking him out cold and causing his clothes to burn. Quickly, I run over to Grand Duke Lancaster as the color from his face starts to fade away.

"Stay with me, Lancaster!"

Even if he is a bit of a jerk, he doesn't deserve to die. Nobody does. He at least tried to protect all of us. The blood on his fancy robes is very noticeable as he struggles to speak.

"Duke Lotus... please take care of the Dukedom for me, will you?"

"You aren't going anywhere!"

I summon healing light magic from both of my wands, even though I am unfamiliar with it. Several other healing mages attempt to stop the bleeding and damage to him.

Please. Not another person.