“Oh shit, sorry!” A familiar voice shouts, a voice that comes from a silhouette hanging upside down in a tree. A bloom of smoke covers my face, and the pain from Envy’s attacks fades quickly. I feel the cracked bones in my face reforming into their old shape and size; the talisman on my neck lights up a bright red, a red that symbolizes blood magic. I stumble to my feet, blood pouring from every single hole on my face. It’s rejuvenating, I feel stronger, better than I have ever been. Cole and Envy continue their back-and-forth punches, both of them taking barely any damage from attacks that completely shattered my bones before. Blow after blow, they csh like titans. Envy strikes Cole’s jaw. In retaliation, Cole hits Envy straight in the right eye. One strong jab from Envy knocks Cole out of focus. He stumbles back, and one more good shot from Envy causes Cole to fall onto his back. On top of the arrow in Envy’s head and the one in his arm, another arrow flies through the air, hitting his torn, mangled chest. Envy looms over me; his tall stature and blood-covered body have the power to intimidate anyone. His green hair flows in the small amount of wind, back and forth, his eyes stare down at me, or past me, really. A look of guilt over his face, or judgment, judgment for how weak we truly are compared to him, a sin. “Your blood is powerful, Caleb... I wish to taste it, I want you to show me what your blood truly tastes like!” Envy excims. My sword swings up, slicing Envy’s jaw. He takes a step back before the flesh reforms, reframing his perfect face. His hands rip the arrows from his head and arms before flying out to the side, posing like a cross. “Gods of old, hear my chant. Grant me the true power of one’s true image, let me feel the magic you used long ago... Tyrants Will!” Envy shouts, his aura, one I cannot see but rather feel, grows, encasing me in his innate magic, “You feel it, don’t you, Caleb! The power of a true aura!” Desires fill my mind, everything I want, everything I’ve ever wanted, I can see it all... I want it all, I need it, and at the middle of these desires is everything Envy is, everything he stands for. I want to be him; I need to be him. “These emotions consume you, don’t they?” Envy chuckles, “A true aura is one's self pushed onto others, what I feel... You feel too.” I ssh at Envy’s stomach, slicing his body open; his st meal, a meal of old monster meat we fed him, pours from him. Cole wraps his arms around Envy’s body, holding him in pce. I bring my sword up to his neck, but Envy bends down and chomps on Cole’s arm before I can cut him. I fling my sword down onto Envy’s head, the cut doesn’t go all the way through, blood sptters on my face and sword, but even still, I continue adding force. The cut gets harder and harder to complete the deeper I go into it. His skull is easy to cut; it’s his flesh that’s stiff, that doesn’t move, like it’s been hardened. The three of us stay in the same position for what feels like hours until Envy stops moving and goes limp. Cole slumps over, Envy still in his arms, his hot, heavy breath practically burning through Envy’s skull. In between breaths, Cole stutters and chokes on air. His eyes are glossy, tears flowing from his face, his teeth clenched, and his grip around Envy tightens, holding onto what little life he has. The one shooting the arrows slowly approaches, their steps light and quiet. “Shit...” He says, the bandit holds a rge bow, one for long and powerful shots. The final of the three talismans hung around his chest, the talisman that grants perfect bow accuracy. Cole’s hold on Envy’s body finally loosens as he lies on his back, the tears leaving streaks on the side of his head. His hands move up towards his face, wiping the tears away, as he attempts to speak. “Why... Why didn’t you just talk to him? We didn’t need to fight...” Cole mutters. “Cole-” I say. “No!” Cole shouts, cutting me off as he jolts into a sitting position, “You don’t get to say anything! You wanted this, oh, why were you begging to kill Envy?” “I never wanted to fight, let alone kill Envy. I just... Just...” I say, not even able to finish my sentence.