He had been filled with the necessary motivation required to correct everything. It was as if the world had turned clearer. Everything made sense. That power of his, the power of his brother, the fate of them living in that village, the fact that they had witnessed how their maternal figure tried to kill them… It was destiny playing its cards, showing them the way. They had to correct the wrong in the world; the Witches… that included themselves, too. And that was the hardest part of all… What would their fates be once they finished them all?

Suddenly, that motivation he had turned into suffering, great pain. He cursed that future of his… There was no turning back, he couldn’t allow for everything to continue as it was. It was all or nothing. Using those words as pillars, he ran back to his brother, agitated and afflicted. Ikaros raised his glance towards him and with great pain wrote.

“Did you see?”

“I did and… that was all I needed to understand. You were right. Always, since the very start everything has been like this. And… only you and I can correct it.”

“And there’s… no other choice than… destroying it all, right?”

“No. We only have that choice. Witches… we’re the ones carrying that infection, that horrible sickness. I… do not know how to detect it, but… if even Ariadne got infected, then all of us are at risk.”

“You say it as if it were hard for Ariadne to turn into a heartless killing machine. She wasn’t so far from it.”

Tier let out a small chuckle. Right, he remembered that those two barely spent time together. “Well, you get what I’m trying to say… That infection does not take into account ranks or any formality, just… if you’re a Witch. And… if we allow for it to continue, it’ll only cause the end of the world. Actually, the end of the other species to leave only Witches… and they themselves will eliminate each other, too.”

Ikaros nodded immediately as he had also reached that conclusion.

It was sad, of course, but… both of them knew what this all meant. Staring at each other directly to their eyes, they understood. Both had to make sure that even they would be eliminated. Every single Witch, the ones that had existed before, now and the ones that would, they had to be eliminated by their hands.

At that very moment, they decided to device a plan. A surprise attack that would orchestrate the outcome they needed.

“I will protect you… Surely, you’ll need a lot of time to eliminate everything. I will give you that time… I will be your sword and shield.”

“But what if they hurt you?” Tier asked, serious and worried, he didn’t want his brother to end up the victim of those infected Witches. “They could… end up infecting you. I wouldn’t want you to run that risk… I would want you to be you until the end.”

Ikaros smiled and shook his head. “I won’t let them touch me. The rays of the sun will protect me… they will be the ones to attack the Witches.” As he said that, his eyes rested upon his brother’s frame with caution. His brother, of soft factions and an attitude just as lukewarm, now carried a duty much bigger than the two of them. Anyone could say that this was just destiny, but… was it necessary that, even after losing his home, he were to lose his life, too? It was unjust. It wasn’t right that all his life disappeared in a fleeting spark, without warning.

“You’ve grown. I think you’re even taller than me now, right?”

“Just some inches.”

“Ah… some days ago, you were smaller than me by some inches, too.”

“Oh… I did not remember that. Does it bother you that I’m taller now?”

“No… Of course not. I just wanted to let you know. But yes… I will be your sword and shield. Just dedicate yourself to manifesting your power. I know it must be a lot, but I promise you I’ll be there with you until the end. When you feel tired, look at your front… I will be there fighting for you until you eliminate us completely… I will be there with you during all of it, as you’ve been with me during all of this.”

Tier’s gaze went to the floor. Hearing how his brother was ready to sacrifice himself and allow that everything ended… it was something that hurt and at the same time, it filled him with so much valor that he felt as if they could never lose. Strength, he had to gain more strength to be able to do it

“I need to rest well tonight. Tomorrow… We will do it tomorrow. The sooner we can protect the human species, the better. Tonight, I will save all of the necessary energy and… I promise I will accomplish it.”

“We will accomplish it. You won’t be alone. Come. Let’s rest.” Gently, the sun lights got close to Tier, pushing him gently to one of the beds. It wasn’t his, it was his brother’s. Tier glanced at Ikaros confused for some seconds. “I will give you energies… and I will make sure you won’t feel alone tonight. That you rest with no worries. I will keep you safe in my arms.”

He couldn’t say he deserved such treatment. What he was about to do the next day, even if it saved other species, was still genocide. It was still some kind of treason towards what he was and his lifestyle… It was treason towards the person that had taken him to that Village… to the circumstances that brought him there, towards the company and love he could enjoy there, especially of his brother. Everything… he was betraying everything. And he would still do it. Even so, his brother was offering him warmth and affection. His brother was still on and by his side. He didn’t deserve such treatment… and that’s why tears started to stream down.

Ikaros observed as Tier, sobbing, was led to lay on that bed before he was wrapped up in his arms. He protected him, even from that suffering, he was to keep him safe.

Meanwhile, even though he was laying down with his brother, the thoughts of Ikaros raced towards something that seemed out of the ordinary to him. He tried to think on it, but his mind felt like an unbearable light. He knew that light. It was the horrible light of the sun. The light that no one should bear staring at directly. The light that he kept inside, that grew along with him, the very one that had been his enemy ever since he tried to control it. Now, it seemed like the light was convinced that it could defeat him. No, it seemed as if the very sun was the one looking to destroy him. As if it hadn’t been enough with frying his vocal cords, now it wanted to fry him completely and, who knows? Maybe it would return to the universe… or look for another host. To be truthful, Ikaros himself didn’t know and didn’t care as much. What he wanted… was to shut the voice manifested by that light, to find peace. He wanted to return to thinking about… What was it? He didn’t even remember anymore.

He decided then, that night he would pay attention to his brother, take care of him and ponder upon the plan they would conduct… The different ways in which he could protect him… and try to control that knot that was forming deep in his heart.