The Ruler's Stone

Unexpected Death

All the beasts released their Zavan energy at the same time, in one place. It was not a normal release. It was a high-level Zavan. The energy was dark, heavy, and huge. It rose into the sky like a black storm cloud. The clouds above them turned dark red. The air became so heavy that even breathing felt hard.

Afe felt it on his skin. His eyes went wide. He had never felt this much Zavan in one place before. This was not an attack for a group. This was focused. This was planned.

He turned his head fast. He followed where that huge energy was going.

And then his heart stopped for a second.

Their target was not him.

This time, their target was that kid.

Marki was still standing behind, his hands still glowing from his last attack, his mana already low, his breath fast. He did not even realize that the whole storm of Zavan was now coming straight at him.

Afe shouted, "MARKI! MOVE!"

Afe looked at Marki. The huge ray of black and red Zavan energy was coming straight at him, fast like a bullet train.

Afe's brain said one thing, "You can't make it."

His legs were too far. His body was too slow. The ray was too fast.

"Damn it!" Afe shouted. He bit his teeth hard. He stomped his foot on the ground so hard that the ground cracked under his shoe.

He used his full power. All of it. No holding back. A blue light exploded from his body. His veins glowed. His speed became double, triple. The wind around him screamed.

And he made it. Just in time.

He pushed Marki with all his strength. "Siddddddde!"

Marki flew away and fell on the soft dirt. He was safe.

But Afe was not.

The blast ray hit him directly. No time to dodge. It hit his chest straight in the middle. _BZZT!_ A hole of light went through him. It went in from his chest and came out from his back. No blood at first. Just light. Just smoke coming out from his clothes.

Marki opened his eyes on the ground. His glasses were crooked. His face was full of dirt. He looked down. "Huh? I'm alive?"

Then he looked up.

And his smile froze.

Afe was standing there. His body was not moving. A big hole of light was in his chest. Then slowly, blood started coming out. With pressure. _Drip... drip..._

Marki's eyes became huge. "AFE?

Afe looked down at his own chest. He touched it. He saw his own blood on his hand.

He looked at Marki with a confused face and smile ."

Even while bleeding, he was trying to be funny so the kid wouldn't cry.

Then voices came. "BACKUP IS HERE! MOVE FAST!" A group of fighters were running toward them. Their boots made loud sounds on the ground.

The beasts heard the sound. They looked back. They got scared. "Grrr... retreat!" They started running away with their tails between their legs like scared dogs.

Afe saw them running and he laughed, a small painful laugh. "See... even monsters run when exams come..."

Then his legs started shaking. He could not stand anymore. He looked at Marki one last time.

And again, he saw it. That same face. The photo from his memory. The loved one he had lost long ago. Marki had the exact same face. The exact same eyes.

Marki ran toward him with tears. "Sir! DON'T ! PLEASE!"

But Afe was already slowly laying down on the ground. His eyes were becoming heavy. He was becoming unconscious.

In his last second, he did not see the battlefield. He saw a dream. He saw a sunny day with friends again. He saw he was a little kid . He was sitting with his friends. His family was laughing. He was with his little brother and he ruffling his hair. Everyone was there. No beasts. No fighting. Just warm sunlight.

Marki came close and held his hand. "Afe! Afe!"

But Afe was already gone. He died without any hatred in his heart. He died with a small, peaceful smile on his face, while looking at the sky with open eyes.

The evening falls over the same empty ground near the railway station. The air is heavy and cold. A group of fighters moves through the shadows, their eyes sharp, their weapons ready. They are searching for the beast to kill it.

At the same time, not far from there in a quiet garden, the day is ending. The sun is going down slowly. The sky is full of dark black clouds, but a few soft rays of sunlight still break through the clouds and fall on the garden. The light looks beautiful, but sad.

In that garden, they are doing Afe's funeral. The wind is silent. Flowers are shaking slightly. We see some new faces standing around, people we haven't seen before. But all of them have the same expression on their faces — pain, shock, and sadness. No one wants to see him like that. No one can believe he is gone.

And there, we slowly get to know the truth. Afe clan is known as the most powerful clan in the whole country. And today, all of them are here together, standing in one place. Not for a celebration, but for his funeral. Because he was the chosen one. He was going to become the next clan leader in just a few months.