Nier shut his eyes so the sunlight wouldn't burn them.
The ground beneath him was hot... but he lay stretched out on it anyway, resting his head on his hands, soaking in the silence of the southern edge of Bial city—where the back gate stood.
Droplets of water fell on his face. He wiped them off, annoyed, and sat up, yelling:
"Elir, you filthy mutt! Don't train right above me—your sweat's dripping on my face!"
Elir didn't look at him. He continued punching the air, his long black hair stuck to his sweat-drenched face as he said:
"Then don't lie beneath me while I train."
Nier stared at Elir's face with concern. The beads of sweat were stinging the fresh scar carved across it.
Elir's face was always scarred... but this one—whoever gave it to him had been furious. The depth, the closeness to his eye...
Elir said, "Why are you staring at me, you weirdo?"
Flustered, Nier shouted back, "I wasn't staring, you idiot! You're the one who asked me to come here!"
"That was a long time ago, when you actually used to train," Elir replied. "Now all you do is sleep."
Nier turned his head away and muttered, "I don't need training anymore. I'm strong enough as it is."
Elir scoffed, but Nier kept going:
"Can't you stop going to Azar already? Recruitment starts next week…"
Elir kept punching the air. "I've got an important fight today."
Nier stood up and shouted, slamming his fist into Elir's shoulder. "Important?! What's so important about beating someone's face in, you bastard?!"
Elir groaned and rolled his eyes. "Shut up, you annoying pest! Why are you always following me when I train and then complain?!"
Nier headbutted him. "You shut up! I follow you so you don't get into trouble—like you always do!"
Grinding his teeth, Elir snapped, "Me?! You're the one who always drags yourself into trouble!!"
Before Nier could yell back, the two of them heard a scream nearby. Elir reached out to stop him, but Nier had already broken free and dashed toward the sound.
"Damn it, Nier! Wait!" Elir called, running after him.
Nier reached the source of the commotion and saw four men dragging a woman toward them, reaching the back gate.
She screamed and thrashed as each man held a limb, laughing as they pulled her along.
There were a few townspeople around, but none of them moved. Their faces were tight with fear. That was enough to tell Nier who these men were—
They were humans.
He was about to step forward when Elir grabbed his arm. "Don't interfere."
But Nier yanked free and charged.
Before Elir could even process what was happening, Nier's scream rang out across the street, followed by the thud of his foot slamming into one man's face.
The man let go of the woman's leg, clutching his jaw as he stumbled back.
Silence swept over the street. All eyes were on Nier… and the man, now bleeding from the mouth.
A cocky smile tugged at Nier's lips. "What? Just four of you? Stay right there. I'll take all of you at once—make this feel like an actual fight."
The other three stared at him, then burst out laughing. One of them sneered, "What's this shorty saying? One lucky kick and you think you're tough? Don't make us laugh, blondie!"
The man Nier had kicked stood tall again, grinning wide despite the blood. "I like you, kid. Are all Lightspawn kids this feisty?"
He let out a foul laugh and added, "Fine! You'll come with me instead of that fat woman!"
"What?! Boss!" one of the men barked. "We already paid that cow off to her husband—we're not leaving her now!"
Still smiling at Nier, the man replied calmly, "It's fine. The boy will come willingly if we let the woman go. Right?"
The woman was gasping, terrified, glancing at Nier, the men holding her, and her free leg on the ground.
Nier smiled. "Deal."
One of the men growled, "What're we supposed to do with this scrawny brat?!"
Another elbowed him. "Shut up! That's the boss's type! Especially the blond ones."
The leader gave a twisted chuckle to Nier. "Really now?"
Clutching his heart with mock drama, he said, "You're really coming with me?!"
Still smiling innocently, Nier said, "Let the woman go first."
The man's eyes gleamed with malice. "But my men already paid her husband for her. He reeked of cheap Bial booze—bet he's already spent the money once we gave it to him."
Nier's tone stayed light. "Then I'll make sure I'm a worthy replacement."
Behind him, he could feel Elir's heart pounding—fast, furious.
But he hoped Elir would wait... just a little longer.
The man laughed again. "Gods, I like you."
He turned to his men. "Let her go."
Grudgingly, they released her. She collapsed to the ground, wincing.
The man stepped slowly toward Nier, arms outstretched. "Come on then... I'll be your new daddy."
He looked back at his men. "If he runs, I'll kill every last one of you."
They stood tense and ready.
Nier held his ground, still smiling.
Just as the man's hand was about to touch Nier's shoulder—
A sharp crack split the air.
The sound of bones breaking.
Nier glanced down. The man's arm… was in two. Elir stood there, still holding it.
Then Nier turned to the woman. "Don't you think it's time you left?"
She scrambled to her feet and fled, as the man behind her screamed in agony.
Elir stood like a phantom, looming over the man. In a blink, he had snapped both arms barehanded.
"Don't touch Nier," he said coldly.
Then he hurled the man across the street, where he landed in a heap, shrieking and clutching his mangled limbs.
The leader gasped to his men, "Kill him! Kill that damned Lightspawn!"
The three men began moving, rage written all over their faces.
"But don't kill the blond one—I want him alive!"
The leader's eyes blazed with hatred—but Nier just stood behind Elir, still smiling.
The men spread out, encircling them.
One shouted, "You two grab the blond! I'll handle the skinny one!"
He pulled a knife from his belt, aiming it at Elir.
"You shouldn't have done that, you filthy half-blood!"
But before he could swing the blade, his arm twisted. Snapped upward. His own knife was waved in front of his face.
In disbelief, he dropped the knife, screaming, clutching his now-broken arm.
"When—When did he—?" he stammered. "Is this… the speed of Lightspawn…?"
The other two stared, frozen. Their companion writhed on the ground.
The leader shrieked at them, "What are you doing just standing there?! I said kill him!!"
But Elir moved faster than thought, striking both men square in the face, sending them crashing to the dirt.
He dropped down, straddled them, and began punching. Again. And again. Without pause. His eyes were fixed on their leader the whole time.
The leader trembled.
He had never seen anything like this.
Not in all his years guarding Bial's gates.
Not once.
Then—Nier's voice cut through.
"Elir! That's enough!"
Elir stopped. The two men beneath him looked like pulp.
He got up and walked to Nier.
The leader shook with rage.
That blond brat… was mocking him.
He rose, sword in hand, face twitching with fury.
"Don't mock me, damn Lightspawn!!"
He charged, weapon raised.
But before he could reach Nier—
A kick to the chest sent him flying.
He hit the ground, gasping, heart skipping a beat.
Just before blacking out, he heard one last thing:
"Don't. Touch. Nier."
Elir stood next to Nier, scanning him with his eyes to make sure he was okay, as they heard whispers, " these kids are dead, they laid hands on humans." "Isn't that Azar's boy? He is going to hide hi.m"
Elir ignored all the whispers around him and told Nier angrily, "What did I say, Nier?!"
Nier smiled and started walking, saying, "What you always say Elir"