Chapter 101 YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO STAYS

Chapter 101 YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO STAYS
Xyra and Darren quickly snapped out of their wonder, remembering the task at hand. Raising their swords, they finished off the hybrids still dazed by Magnus's spell. The monsters slumped lifelessly to the ground, no longer a threat to the city. Then again, there wasn't much of a city left to save. All of Drester had burned. Now that the rain was washing the flames away, the true extent of the ruin became clear.

Everything was in shambles. Buildings were reduced to charred wood or piles of smoldering debris. Not a single structure had escaped the fire; even the stone buildings had crumbled under the heat. Yet, the saddest part was the hollow emptiness of the streets. Not a single person was in sight. The world had gone dead silent, save for the soft, steady patter of the rain from the water spell. It showed no signs of stopping — a perfect match for the heavy mood settling over them.

Darren and Xyra sheathed their weapons and turned to Magnus. The young sorcerer was looking down at Gareth. The old man was alive, but there was no telling how long he could hold on. Despite the severity of Gareth's wounds, Magnus wasn't making any move to heal him.

"Do something," Darren said softly. "You can heal him, right?"

Magnus shook his head, his expression grim. "My magic won't work on him. It was part of his sacrifice. He was a sorcerer before he gave up his powers. Because magic is in our blood, he will always be one, but his body can no longer accept it. It rejects his own power, and it rejects mine."

"Then we have to try something else," Xyra said, a hint of panic creeping into her voice. "We'll carry him to the inn. It should still be standing. There has to be a way to help him... we didn't buy all those medical supplies for nothing."

"Alright," Magnus murmured, bending down to lift his friend. Darren quickly stepped in to help from the other side. Together, they carried the old man down the ruined street. Xyra followed close behind, her eyes fixed on Magnus. She could read him perfectly. Underneath his calm mask, he was terrified. His tense posture and distant gaze gave it away, even if he was trying to hide it. She knew him too well to be fooled.

Magnus walked in silence, lost in thought. He had too many burdens weighing on his mind to speak. Gareth's life was his main priority, but another unsettling thought troubled him. During the chaos, his pendant had reacted... not to the hybrids, but to something else. It glowed a deep, pitch black. He hadn't mentioned it to the others to avoid scaring them further, but he knew exactly what that dark glow meant. The pendant only reacted that way to one person in the world. I should have known, Magnus thought bitterly. It's him.

Late into the night, the rainfall continued. Such was the nature of the Igneaqua, the ultimate water spell and the only counter to the devastating Egnarious fire spell. It would likely rain until morning, but no one minded. The water washed away the remaining embers and cleared the heavy smoke from the air.

Xyra stood in the lobby of the inn, looking out the window as a few residents began to trickle back into the ruins. There were so few of them. Her heart ached as she watched people fall to their knees in despair, their tears blending with the rain. It felt as though the world itself was weeping for Drester. Now I understand how Magnus felt, Xyra realized. Watching his home burn, seeing the aftermath... I never thought something this horrible could happen here.

With a heavy heart, she turned away from the window and headed upstairs. Darren had moved their belongings because most of their original rooms were ruined. They had given the only sturdy, intact room to Gareth. Fortunately, Xyra had kept bandages and healing ointment with her. She always insisted on carrying medical supplies for emergencies, and now she is glad she did. The rest of their stuff was trapped in Magnus's old room, which was completely blocked by fallen, charred timber.

Walking down the dim hallway, she stopped in front of Magnus's temporary room. The innkeeper was nowhere to be found; they could only hope she had escaped the fire safely. So far, they hadn't seen any bodies in the streets, which was a relief. Still, it was disheartening to realize how quickly everyone had fled without warning others. Then again, fear makes people do desperate things. She just hoped the survivors had found safety.

Xyra reached for the doorknob but hesitated. She knew Magnus wouldn't be asleep after everything they had been through. But now that she was here, she didn't know what to say. No words could ease his pain, and no magic could fix this. What comfort could she really offer?

Taking a deep breath, she turned the knob and slipped inside.

The room was bathed in pale moonlight. Magnus was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring blankly out the window at the ruined city. He didn't look up when she entered. Xyra took a few quiet steps into the room and stopped, watching him. He looked completely broken. It wasn't just his torn clothing; it was the lifeless look in his eyes, as if he were holding back a flood of emotion. It hurt her to see him this way, so devoid of the smile she loved so much.

"Magnus?" she called out softly, afraid a sudden noise might startle him.

He didn't move at first, then slowly turned his head to look at her. The profound sadness in his eyes almost brought her to tears, but she forced herself to stay strong. She was here to comfort him. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them as Xyra tried to gather her thoughts. Now that she had his attention, she needed to speak. She couldn't just stand there.

"What's wrong?" she asked gently, desperate for an answer. She wanted him to open up for once instead of keeping everything locked inside.

"It's nothing," he whispered, turning back to the window. "Go get some rest, Xyra."

"It's not nothing," she insisted, her voice firmer than intended. She softened her tone, stepping closer. "Why won't you talk to me? I'm right here. You can tell me anything. I'll listen." She was practically begging him. She stopped just a few feet away, waiting. After a long pause, Magnus let out a low, weary sigh.

"That old man," Magnus began, his voice trembling. "Gareth gave up everything for me. He spent years searching for those talismans, wasting his life on them. And when he finally gathered them all... he had to use them to bring me back from the dead. It was my own fault I died. Raheem spared me, but I foolishly went after him anyway. Look where that got us."

He looked up at her, his eyes raw with grief, shame, and self-blame.

"When I died, Gareth didn't hesitate. He was ready to give his life to save mine. I took everything from him — his pride as a sorcerer, his entire future — and I’ve given him nothing in return. Now, when he needs me most, my magic is useless. He could die, and I can't do a damn thing to stop it!"

Magnus hung his head, his shoulders shaking as he fought back tears. He was too stubborn to let himself cry, but the pain was written all over him.

"It isn't fair," he whispered. "Everyone I care about ends up hurt or killed. Sometimes I think I'm cursed. I tried so hard to keep my distance from people, but then you and Darren had to go and get involved. I hate this."

He fell silent again, staring at the floor. Xyra waited, hoping he might say more, but he remained quiet. Realizing he needed space to process his grief, she decided it was best to leave. She turned slowly and walked toward the door. Halfway across the room, Xyra paused. She couldn't bring herself to walk out that door. Every instinct told her to run back to him and pull him into a hug. He didn't deserve to suffer like that. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn't hear him get up from bed.

Suddenly, two arms wrapped around her from behind. Xyra froze, her heart skipping a beat. Magnus was pressed against her back, one arm draped over her shoulder and the other secured around her waist. He rested his head in the crook of her neck, his body trembling slightly against hers. The embrace was gentle, yet filled with a desperate need for comfort.

Xyra's mind raced, and she was unable to grasp this. Magnus Coleman... Albus, known to many as the Devil's Upholder, was clinging to her as if she were his only lifeline. He let out a shaky breath that warmed her skin, but it was a chilly feeling. He was still so broken.

"M-Magnust?" she stammered, her face flushing crimson. He always managed to make her nervous whenever he got this close.

"Thank you," he whispered into her shoulder, his voice was still so pained. "No one has ever offered to just listen to me like that. No one pushes me to explain myself. It means a lot to me. Thank you."

"You're welcome," she replied softly. When she tried to gently pull away, his grip tightened.

"Please, Xyra," he murmured, burying his face deeper against her neck. "Don't go. Stay with me tonight. I promise I'll be fine by morning... I just really need you right now. You're the only one who stays."

Hearing the vulnerability in his voice, she couldn't possibly say no. It was an awkward situation, but she didn't want to leave him alone either. Truth be told, after the horrors of the day, she didn't want to be alone either.

"Okay," she whispered.

Magnus released his hold, and she walked over to the bed, slipping under the covers. She was shivering, partly from the drafts in the room and partly from nerves. But if this helped him heal, she would gladly stay. I'll do whatever you need, she thought, as long as you promise to smile again tomorrow.

Magnus climbed in beside her and rolled onto his side to face her. The heavy burden on his face had eased slightly, though his eyes were still bright with unshed tears. Slowly, he reached out and gathered her into his arms, pulling her small frame against his chest. Xyra rested her head over his heart, instantly comforted by his warmth. As his hands settled against her back, her anxiety began to melt away, replaced by a deep, overwhelming exhaustion. Her eyelids grew heavy.

Magnus rested his chin on top of her head, holding her securely. Xyra snuggled closer, letting out a contented sigh as she finally relaxed. Within minutes, she fell into a deep sleep in his arms.

The young sorcerer looked down at the sleeping woman, a faint ghost of a smile touching his lips. This wasn't like him at all; he rarely showed vulnerability or shared his secrets with anyone, not even Gareth. Yet with Xyra, keeping walls up felt impossible. He didn't want to think about the dark future or the secrets he still carried. Right now, he just wanted to cherish her company.

With a quiet sigh, he closed his eyes and let her warmth seep into his chilled skin. The rain always brought a biting cold, but he preferred it over the alternative. Fire destroyed everything he loved. He hated it with a passion.

As sleep finally began to take hold, Magnus made a silent vow to himself. He would protect his companions at all costs. This time, the people he cared about would stay safe. He would ensure Gareth received proper medical treatment, and he would keep Darren and Xyra close. They were his true friends — Xyra especially. No matter where his path led, she was always by his side.

I don't know what I would do if I lost you, he thought. With that final realization, he drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.