Your and Clay's situation was getting worse by the day. Yours muscles began to get weaker and weaker, and you both felt as if you were just learning to walk. Not to mention those sudden thrills that would pass through your bodies at any moment.

You tried to ignore it and get on with your lives, but it was starting to become unbearable. However, the two of you began to be frightened by one fact....

----

You yawned and rubbed your eyes, ridding yourself of sleep. For the past couple of days, you've been more and more sleepy, you usually weren't but now somehow feeling tired all the time.

You brushed it off with the thought that it was just your body requiring more hours of sleep than is established in the Knight Code, with the rest of knights getting an average amount of sleep anyway. You and Clay worrying whether you would accidentally be consumed by that Monstrox spell at night.

You tried to get up, but your attempt failed and you were hit by a wave of pain in your muscles. You sighed and tried again and with difficulty you succeeded. You got out of bed and had to grab onto the nightstand to keep from falling.

-... What's going on?... AAAHH! - you screamed in horror when you saw your left hand, it was.... covered with stone!

You gasped and quickly rolled up your sleeve, panic possessed you even more. - No, no, no, no, no! I... I'm turning into stone! Damn, what am I going to do!? I'm....!

You froze in shock as you looked at your feet. You start breathing harder as your toes are covered in blue frost before turn totally to stone.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

You screamed, falling on the floor. In doing so, you made a loud bang, which was probably heard by all of Fortrex. You looked around in a wild panic as you heard the frantic sound of running, which grew louder and louder. The other knights, quickly awaked when they heard your scream.

You literally had a second to close the door on the password, so in sheer panic, you quickly shot up from your position on the floor like a spring and closed the door, leaning against it with your back.

- (Y/N) are you all right!? We heard a scream! - rang out Macy's worried shout right from behind your door.

- Monsters broke into your room!? - cried Axl and someone hit hard, probably with a fist on the door.

You swallowed hard and leaned your back harder against the armored door. You couldn't tell them that you were turning to stone, it was still too early for that! You and Clay haven't chosen a another leader!

- (Y/N) open that door! - Aaron's voice rang out and he banged on the door again. - Speak up at least if you're there, or we'll break down that door!

Shaking with fear, frantically thinking how to fool the knights, you looked around the room in search of some solution. You looked at the table by the TV and a light went on in your head.

- I'm fine guys! I... I just hit the table with all my strength with my foot! - You answered and now you were praying that your friends would believe you.

- AND THAT'S WHY YOU SCREAMED AT FULL VOLUME!? BY STUPID HITTING THE TABLE!? - roared Lance's disbelieving voice. - GIRL IT'S SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING!!

Your eyes darted to the alarm clock, the time of which indeed indicated six o'clock in the morning. You laughed nervously. - It hurt a lot, you know! I... it was a reaction! I'm sorry to wake you up, but.... we have training in fifteen minutes anyway!

You heard groans of exasperation  and breathed a quiet sigh of relief that they decided to buy your lie.

- Well next time control your ,,reactions" when people are still in sleep! You interrupted such an amazing dream about me and I probably won't return to it! - Lance complained and you heard footsteps moving away from your door.

- That's right, it's not like you. Are you sure you're okay? - Macy asked with concern.

You nodded vigorously. - Yeah, yeah! You can go to bed! Good night!

You didn't see how Aaron, Macy and Axl exchange worried looks outside the door, before the girl and the giant began to walk away from your door. Aaron stayed and looked at your door, as if he was trying to burn a big hole in it.

He gently knocked on the door and pressed his forehead against it. - (N/N), I know something is wrong. Will you let me in?

He heard your quiet sigh and the access code being typed in. Aaron stepped back and smiled slightly as you opened the door and looked at him. You lifted the corners of your mouth slightly in a smile before your eyes darted to the floor.

- If you want to...then come in. - You muttered turning your back on him and walked deeper into the room. Aaron entered the room and closed the door behind him, he sent you a curious look as you silently sat down on your bed.

- Are you all right? I guess those screams of yours weren't just you banging your finger on the table, right? - He asked with a smile and put his arm around your waist.

You smiled slightly, looking at your hands. Your feet, which were as cold as ice, you slightly hid under the bed so that Aaron wouldn't notice your stone-covered fingers. You also covered your hand with your pajama sleeve.

Aaron looked at you from top to bottom until his gaze stopped on your left hand. The boy furrowed and his smile disappeared as a red light went on in his head.

"No... She doesn't.... would she....?"'

- (Y/N)... Why are you covering your hand?

The boy immediately felt your body tense up at his question which only increased his suspicion. He looked at you completely serious, when you smiled nervously.

- It's nothing! I just.... My hand is cold, you know? It's generally cold in this room, can you feel it? - You asked, pretending to shiver with coldness. - It's freezing.

Aaron smiled slightly, humorless. - Seriously?

You nodded in response, feeling Aaron's embrace tighten around your waist. You nervously lifted your gaze to his face and.... it was the wrong move.

- Show me your hand.

You swallowed and vigorously shook your head in refuse. - No need for that! Seriously! I told you I was cold!

- I'll change the temperature right away, but first show me your hand.

You shook your head and tried to escape from his grasp, but Aaron only strengthened his grip until it began to hurt you. - Ouch! It hurts, let me go!

- I'll let you go if you show me your hand. Tell me honestly, are you cutting yourself?

You choked on your own saliva and looked in shock at your boyfriend, who tried to find the answer in your eyes. - No, why the hell...!? That's not the point! Let me go, I beg you! 

- You don't admit it, then I'll check it myself. I'm not going to yell at you, darling. - He sighed quietly and sent you a gentle look. - Please, (N/N).... Let me see your hand.

You sighed heavily and nodded, extending your hand to the boy. Aaron gently took your hand in his hands and pulled up your sleeve. You closed your eyes, when you heard him take a quick shocked breath.

- Shit... (Y/N), what happened to you? - he whispered. You sighed tremblingly and looked down, feeling tears coming to your eyes.

- Can't you see? Monstrox did this to me.... Aaron, I... I turn into stone. - You whispered and after that the tears began to fall. You took your hand away and hid your face in your hands, quietly sobbing.

Aaron sighed in shock and slid his hands into his red hair, staring dazedly into space. - When did this happen? Why didn't you say anything!?

- It was right after I came back from the tour, that fight in Armorville. We wanted to surprise Monstrox with an attack from behind, but Jestro hit us and... we hit the statue, which the cloud then revived and.... We were hit by lightning, which was infused with a spell which turns people into stone.

- We? What do you mean by we? Someone else was hit!? - Aaron quickly got up from the bed and knelt in front of you.

You sighed and hid your face in your hand. - Me... And Clay. We were both hit by that lightning.

Aaron felt his jaw hit the floor in shock. Clay, the best knight on the team out of them all got the hit from Monstrox!?

- Why didn't you say anything!?

You swallowed and with your healthy hand combed his hair, looking at him sadly. - Merlok forbade us. We couldn't say anything to you, so as not to unleash a panic.... I'm sorry, Aaron.

Aaron groaned quietly and leaned his forehead against your knees resignedly. - Why didn't I notice anything? How could I have been so blind!

- It's not your fault, it was Merlok and Clay who wanted to keep it a secret and I.... I was scared to tell you.

Aaron looked at you and got up from the floor. - You had nothing to be scared of, I'm your boyfriend and you should have told me about it. After all, I wouldn't have hit you or yelled at you for it. Monstrox was at fault here, you couldn't do anything about it.

Your eyes were once again streaked with tears and you shook your head silently. - I will turn to stone.... I will be practically dead! I... I'm afraid of what will happen to me. And if I don't come back at all, what then!?

Aaron took a deep breath and sat down next to you, putting his arm around you and kissed your cheek. - Nothing will happen to you, you will not die. Neither you nor Clay. I'll make sure of it, I promise.

You moaned desperately, breaking into tears, and put your arms around Aaron, burying your face in his chest. The boy embraced you more tightly and rested his chin against your head.

- What are we going to do now? - you asked still having your face hidden in his chest.

Aaron patted you lightly on the back and thought about it. - We have to tell the others about it. 

You sighed and nodded. Then the realization hit your head, that Aaron would be the one to be the leader. He is perfect for this, only Clay has to agree and most importantly.... start training him to be a leader.