We proceed towards the aura, which appears unstable, and powerful. I... I think I know who that is. An old friend of mine...

"Hey guys," he greets, wearing his grey cloak that blows in the wind of the hollowed eve, "how you been?"

"Good," I reply, smiling at M.S., but knowing better, "where's your wife? You didn't come together?"

"I got caught in here by accident," The Mistake sighs, sinking deeper into his cloak, embarrassed, "we were walking home to spend the evening enjoying the festivities after all this, but then the barrier came down and... I can't use my power to get out, and she can't really use her power to destroy it without ruining the festival so we decided I should just try my damn hardest to win. Are... you guys ready?"

"First," I reply, "have you considered my offer?"

"We aren't joining you Reaper," The Mistake sounds agitated, "the next arc will come, but we will stay on our farm outside the city. We don't want that life man. You're welcome to visit as a friend, but NOT as an Author Slayer. We won't help you 'Break the Pen' OK?"

"OK man," I sigh, "no hard feelings?"

"Nah dude," he chuckles, "let's start."

He glows with an unstable power, one of space-time, but not writing, yet it bends reality nonetheless.

"/Speed_Overcharge_Mana-30%." He speaks an incantation, and he begins to move with intense speed, and speaks quickly as M.S. turns metal and takes a defensive stance. He speaks, "/Strength_Overcharge_Mana-70%."

His muscles explode in volume and he strikes me in the head, before I can raise my scythe to block. Everything goes dark...

"Reaper!" I exclaim, as he falls over. I duck under a punch from The Mistake and rush to his side as he lies on the ground. I check his pulse and sigh with relief as I feel his heart beat. It seems to beat with a deep passion, a desire to protect. I feel my own heart beat with my own desire, and everyone else's to protect him from himself.

The Mistake leaps at me with a downward punch I counter with an uppercut, both of us are push back by the impact, myself to my knees, but The Mistake upwards, loosing his footing, and flipping twice in the air, landing on, and snapping his neck. Killing him on impact, blood appears from his mouth, a slow drizzle around his head. I approach him, looking into his still, lifeless eyes, and shudder. 

I hate this. I hate reckless killing. It's so unnecessary. I get down on one knees and close his eyes. "I'm sorry," I whisper, "but I need to help Reaper right now."

I walk over to him. He seems to be in a state of unease in his slumber, as if having a nightmare.

"No," he speaks with fear in his voice, "no! I'll stop you! You can't be here! I don't care if you're a writer or not! You're a threat I.T.! You stay away from them!"

He seems to stir. I wanna wake him, but it seems best to learn more about the pain he's in. To help him.

"A deal?" he asks, "here's mine you son of a bitch! Think about this position. You have me in a headlock, but I have Antihero's sword. I can erase us both! You think I'm bluffing!?! Boy! I'll-"

"Reaper!" I exclaim, shaking him, "wake up! You're dreaming!"

I open my eyes, bolting up. M.S., she faced him alone...

I hug her, crying. "I'm sorry," I apologize, "I wasn't strong enough for you. I wasn't strong enough..."

"What?" I ask, "Reaper, no. Please, not again. Listen to me. You're strong enough. I promise you, you're strong enough."

I kiss him. "Please," I touch his face, "I need you to be strong in different way."

"How?" he asks, "anything you need."

"Stop thinking you're weak," she smiles so, so sweetly, "at least, think about this. If you need a place to stay... you can stay with me."

I can't. I know now I must keep training, but... I can't ruin that beautiful, beautiful smile, the sun in this void.

"I'll think about it," I lie.

I kiss her cheek and she helps me up. We begin towards another aura, not letting go of each other's hands as, if only for today, I enjoy the shine of my precious metal...