Victoria Tiger
"What a creep," the fat man grimaced.
Killian moved closer to me, never turning his back to his enemies—even when surrounded. I could tell everyone was cautious despite their confident facades. As he reached me, he gave me a serious look, the kind that always meant, "Get ready."
"Formless Technique:Apocalypse of the King's Rage."
The air trembled.
Killian's pale blue glow erupted into the sky. Hidden enemies rushed from the shadows, but the intensity of his light blinded them. I felt my body lift—he was carrying me, again moving at a speed that defied nature. I heard the clash of metal and the screams of our enemies, but all I could do was hold on.
Then, suddenly, we stopped.
He placed me on the ground—roughly. I opened my eyes to see him coughing violently, blood splattering the snow.
I moved toward him, but he raised a hand to stop me.
Of course he would. I stabbed him. I betrayed him. This is my fault.
I sank to the ground, clutching my ears, trying to shut out the world. I looked around. We were deep in the forest, halfway up the mountain.
"Victoria..."
No. He shouldn't have saved me. He should've left me behind. He's going to die.
"Victoria."
I was shaken violently. His voice pulled me back. I turned toward him.
Blood streaked his face. His left hand gripped my shoulder tightly. My eyes shifted—and froze.
His right arm was gone.
Just like mine once was.
I covered my mouth, tears pouring again.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm—"
SMACK.
Pain shot through my cheek. I blinked in shock.
Killian's eyes weren't blank. They were alive—full of worry, full of that cold fire that meant he wasn't done.
"Victoria, listen. You need to go down the mountain and follow the road."
"But... sniff... you're going to die," I choked out.
Under the moonlight, I could see all of his wounds—stab wounds, deep gashes, his missing arm. But one wound made my blood run cold.
The stab wound through his heart.
He was still bleeding from it. Still standing.
"This won't kill me," he said. "You need to go. Now."
"No. No, no, no, no, no," I wailed.
"Victoria, do you want to die here?" he asked suddenly. His tone was cold.
I froze.
"If you stay, you die. You will be a burden in battle. And I don't like burdens. I'd rather kill you now than let our enemies waste the effort."
I swallowed hard.
"So let me ask you again—do you wish to die here?"
"N-no."
"What was the first rule I taught you?"
"Never disobey you."
"You stabbed me in the back. Accept that."
My heart clenched.
"Accept what you did. Move on. Never turn away from reality."
I stayed silent, tears welling again.
"Only fools look away from reality," he said, gently patting my head. "But if reality is too much, change it into something you can bear. Not fantasy—but something close enough to survive."
"I'm not going to die here, Victoria. I have no right to fall here, we'll meet again. Until then, live. Live in a way that'll make me and you proud. Never look down on yourself. Never give up. Be yourself—my Blood Tiger."
His tone warmed—genuinely—for the first time.
He handed me a pouch of gold and a black marble.
"The road leads to the Empire. When you reach the border, insert your Hashi into this."
Voices echoed in the distance.
I looked at him one last time.
Despite his wounds, he smiled—faintly. His face, scarred and bloodied, was still ethereal.
I turned and ran—down the mountain, away from the voices. I used every ounce of strength to suppress my presence. I never looked back.
Two hours later, I reached a dirt road.
No one followed.
Panting, heart racing, I walked along it for who knows how long until I heard wheels—the sound of a carriage. I stepped in front, held out a gold coin. The driver paused.
I wanted to cry, to scream, to curse everything.
But I remembered his words:
"I'm not going to die here. We'll meet again."
He never lied to me.
Until then... I will never look down on myself. I will never give up. I will be myself. I am the Blood Tiger.