I've learned throughout all of my experiences so far to not underestimate people, after all, that is never going to work out in your favor. You don't know what your opponent is capable of and what tricks they have up their sleeves. Well, I underestimated this demon.

This creature is fast, quick on its feet and with my compromised condition, I am not. It is causing me to be on the defensive more than the offensive and with this demon's ability to break my barriers, which I don't appreciate and find rude, I don't want to take a hit from this thing. I don't know how hard this thing hits and I rather not find out.

"Seto!" a voice shouted, my attention splitting to the owner. I saw Chimney, he started to run towards Matthew and me. "Look out!" My barrier broke and luckily I had fast enough reflexes to grab the demon's sword-shaped arm and redirect it to just graze my right side instead of going into my gut. I yelped at the sting of pain that hit me. But it punched me right in the face quickly after, dazing me. My vision flashes white, turning blurry around the edges as I stumble back a step. It then decided to punch me in the gut, causing my already dazed self to lose the air in my lungs for a moment. My knees buckled and gave as I held my pained gut, feeling like I just got kicked by a horse.

Chimney had drawn his sword, using its whip form and flung it forward to have the tip of it wrap around the demon's sword arm before the demon could strike me. Chimney yanked it away as I tried to recover from the hits. I was right to avoid getting hit by this thing, it hits hard. I spit out blood, I know that I'm going to have at least a black eye from that hit in the face. I pick up my head, looking to see how the prince is doing. He's defending and he is very fast on his feet. I remember him saying about how he is known for his swiftness on the battlefield, guess it was no joke. I pull out my sword, almost dropping it from the weight, I dig the tip into the ground to use it as leverage to pull myself up to my feet. I need to help Chimney. But once I tried to walk, I felt a sudden surge of numbness hit my body and I stumbled against the wall as an involuntary groan slipped through my lips. My sword falls from my hand as I tried to reorient myself.

Matt looked at me from his spot against the wall, he can't get up, all he can do is watch. "S-Seto? Are you okay?" he asked me. I shake my head. No, no I'm not. But I don't understand, the potions are still affecting me and working, so why is my body reacting this way?

Have I pushed myself too far and this is the repercussions?

It doesn't matter, I need to help Chimney, who is struggling against the demon. I opened my hand towards my sword, the weapon floating up from the floor and into my hand. But Matt had something to say. "S-Seto, you need to stop. You are--"

"I'm fine!" I told him as I pushed myself off the wall. I surged forward, watching the demon attack the prince and I came in from the right. I slashed my sword in front of Chimney, cutting the demon's arm clean off. The demon shrieked before stumbling back. I held my sword in both hands, not trusting my ability to hold it in just one.

But as I stood there, I felt my stomach turn accompanied by a brief dizzy spell that caused me to lose my footing for a moment. Chimney grabbed my arm. "Seto, you've gone three shades paler than normal. You need to step back and let me--"

"What's the plan?" I asked him since my mind is so jumbled that I cannot think straight. The prince stared at me before he just sighed. But before he could respond, a laugh echoed down the hallway. I gripped my sword as my eyes looked around, trying to find the source until I felt this spike of magical energy nearby. "W-Wait...that feels like..."

"My, my, how disappointing. Alex and my Lord Herobrine were right, you aren't anything that you use to be, Guardian Harvey Azdel," a very familiar and chilling feminine voice spoke. I know this voice, I can feel hatred swelling inside me from just her voice.

"Chaos Enforcer...." I mumbled.

"You mean those servants of Herobrine you once spoke of? Damn, this isn't good," Chimney responded to me. But what are they doing here in Vienna? I guess Herobrine must have sent one here. This one did not feel as strong as Alexander or Evelynn, but she is still a danger. She is stronger than Riley, Reed, and Shiro. "What is a Chaos Enforcer doing here? I thought you said that only Lord Notch holds the power and authority to send people to other worlds, Seto."

She appeared and stood beside the calm demon. She was of average height, wearing a black cloak that reached her ankles and her face shadowed. But I could see her orange eyes through the darkness of the hood and her wide grin as well. "Officially yes, but there is always a way around things. Lord Herobrine sent me here to ensure that you would die here, Harvey. Your little interference you did in instilling hope back into the Prince of Solace and his armies cannot happen again--"

I stepped towards her. "I love to see you try to kill me, enforcer! Even your god couldn't do it!" I shouted before I pulled Nicholas's staff from my back and fired a spell at her. She flicked her hand up, using a shield to block the blast.

Chimney stood in shock before he pushed the staff down. "What is wrong with you?! Use your head! In the state you are in, she could easily kill you!" he exclaimed. Alright so he has a point but for some reason, I can feel my energy coming back and the pain and numbness slipping away.

"Since Alexander probably told you about my memory problem, how about you tell me your name? You look so familiar," I requested as I ignored Chimney.

She smiled a bit. "Of course, I forgot about your lack of memories. I'm Makayla, Chaos Enforcer No. 8 The Fire Queen."

"Fire? I guess that means you are an expert in fire magic."

"Correct I'm the best at it in all of Estir, save Lord Herobrine of course. He's the best there is at all things destructive," she commented. Fire magic, huh? The only real experience I've had with that, that I can remember at least, would be Matt given he is the best fire wizard in Vienna. I wonder what a wizard from Estir is capable of with the element, especially an enforcer. But there is something about this woman that I...hate. I don't know why, but I just despise her, the mere sight of her makes my skin crawl. I loathe her for reasons I cannot explain.

"If you think I'm j-just going to give in because of my condition, you have another thing coming," I told her and she laughed.

"Oh I would never guess you would, after all...we have a score to settle," she said before her mouth curved into a smirk. "You have that same look of disdain that you always give me! I've always loved that out of the enforcers, I'm the only one who can get a rise out of you--"

"Shut up!" I shouted.

"You may not remember what started it, but I do!" she laughed and I had enough of her. I rose the staff at her again but Chimney grabbed my arm, begging me to not engage her. But I had enough of her voice, I don't know what she did but I hate her enough to want to kill her.

"Arkana Ventoklingo!" I chanted before the wind picked up and a slice of air launched at her like a blade.

But Makayla dodged the attack, smiling. "Too bad water magic was never your thing, Harvey. It would make fighting me very easy."

"I don't need water magic to kill you!" I shouted before I fired another wind spell at her.

"Seto, you need to stop, let us handle her!" Chimney exclaimed as he tried to stop me but couldn't. I went after Makayla, the two of us attacking each other with spells with her laughing almost the entire time like she is having the time of her life. I can tell she is just toying with me, I'm in bad shape and that is making it that basic spells are the only options that I trust myself to be able to cast without falling over. I cannot afford to cast higher-level spells in my state.

We both went through the hallway, going from one side of the building to the complete other side with a carnage of damage left behind. Chimney ran after me, trying to stop me but also helping me. When we made it outside, I could see that we won the fight, the line was pushed back and it seems like the dark mages retreated since a lot of soldiers are coming back but the damage to the campus is everywhere. It will take a long time to repair everything. And I guess the battle between Makayla and I is not helping either since we are being quite destructive.

It wasn't until we made it outside, nearby to where the others are that I started to have trouble. After firing a spell at Makayla, my knees buckle and gave forcing me on my knees, out of breath.

"Seto! Stop!" I heard Riley shout at me.

Makayla laughed. "Looks like you have finally reached your limit, what a shame, I was hoping for at least a fight from you!" she exclaimed before she lunged at me. I flinched when I felt something in me just snap and a burst of rage flowed through me. I dodged her attack, quickly getting to my feet. She looked at me with a smile on her face. "Oh?"

I rose Nicholas's staff towards her, chanting a spell but for some reason, the spell didn't take. The staff didn't activate like normal, I look at it, confused and frustrated. There is plenty of magic in it, it isn't out. "Whatever," I mumbled before I tossed the staff aside and decided to stop depending on it for my magic use. I've been using the staff this whole time, but for some reason, it has decided to stop working for me. I just have to use my own, a decision I know I will surely regret later. But I can't help it, I need to see her end. "Arcana fulmo!" I chanted making a mage circle appear in front of me accompanied by the sound of thunder in the clouded sky above.

"About time you used your specialty magic! But you are a fool, using lightning magic in your condition is tantamount to suicide!" Makayla shouted.

"I don't care, as long as it kills you!" I shouted back before two lightning bolts shot out of the mage circle and zeroed in right on her. It hit her directly, flinging her backward and into a building. I smirked, that was a direct hit, there is no way she survived that.

But I'm proven wrong when she exited the building, her cloak gone and holes in her clothing. Her long black hair is out to see. "I'm impressed that you are still standing after that high-level spell! But I guess I shouldn't be, Nicholas' staff rejected you meaning that you are no longer working within Lord Notch's morals!" she commented before she attacked me again. Her fire magic is much like what Matthew does, but unlike Matthew, she works up close and personal. Matthew is a range wizard, and Makayla is both ranged and close. I can deal with the ranged attacks, it is the close-up attacks that I struggle with. With my compromised condition, I cannot dodge well which leaves me to get hit a lot. I have various burns from her magic on me but for some reason, they are not hindering me like I thought they would, nor is the cut on my right side from earlier.

It was also at this point that I was beginning to hear my friends yelling at me to stop. "Seto, what are you doing?!" "You are in no condition to be doing this, stop!"

I stepped towards her, about to launch another attack but when I stepped forward I felt a twinge of both calmness and pain shock through me which caused me to gasp in shock. "Harvey..." I heard a voice speak as my vision suddenly darkened for a moment.

"W-What..." I mumbled as I suddenly felt all of my strength and energy drain. What is going on? I'm so dizzy and...I stepped back to try to keep my balance but my knees give causing me to crumple to the ground.

"SETO!"

"NO!"

......

I wake up with darkness all around me, forcing myself to sit up and feeling no pain or restriction.  There was nothing around, just darkness. "W-What is this..." I mumbled until I heard a chuckle behind me.

"I always knew your stubbornness would be a problem in the long run," a voice said before my eyes widen. I look over my shoulder, seeing Nicholas standing there with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.

"Nicholas," I said as I get to my feet, facing the man.

"Hey, kid, well...I guess kid isn't exactly appropriate for you now. You are older than I am now," he said.

"What happened? What is this?" I asked him.

Nicholas loses his smile. "Your body shut down, that's what happened. Your body forced itself to completely shut down, no potion or magic can help when your body reaches that point. You pushed yourself so far that your own body decided enough was enough."

I looked away from him in shame. I suspected that might have been the case, I was in really bad shape. "What is this place?"

This is when I saw Nicholas' face flicker with indifference. "I may be dead, but as long as my staff holds my power and spirit, I can still cast spells. Once such spell would be one where your mind is pushed deep within your subconscious, which is what I've done to you," he said.

I looked at him. "Wait, you did this to me?! Lift the spell now! My friends need my help!"

Nicholas rose an eyebrow at me, almost like he is amused. "Why would I release you, Harvey? Your physical body is so weak that it needs to be in a comatose state to survive. Even if I did release you, you would still be old cold and learn nothing from this experience."

"How do you know I wouldn't learn anything?" I asked him.

"Because I know you wouldn't," a voice spoke that made my eyes widen in shock.

Nicholas smiled at me.  "We are deep in your subconscious, I'm not the only one who is here," he said before a woman appeared beside Nicholas.

I smiled once I saw who it was. "Anna!"

She smiles at me. "I would hug you if I could, but you'll just go straight through me I'm afraid," she clarified. She loses her smile. "If you are anything, Harvey, it is stubborn. You've always been like that, you have to learn most things the hard way and I hate that about you. And your amnesia has made you worse."

I looked away from her. "Well, I--"

"Harvey, the Guardians of Estir are not invincible," she pointed out.

I look back at her, my hands balling into fists. "I know that."

Her arms cross at me. "Oh? Then why are you playing death roulette in Vienna?"

"I know the guardians aren't invincible but are you sure that I'm not?" I asked her and I saw her facade fade for a moment which was all that I needed. "You know what I am, what Notch made me into--"

Nicholas stepped toward me. "You're a half-god, I know. But you shouldn't look at it as a curse."

"Then what should I look at it as?!" I exclaimed. "I've been alive since before the War of Chaos, Nicholas! That's not natural! I should be dead, but no, Notch instead gave me the outliving everyone I care about over and over and over again!" The two looked shocked by my outburst, but I just turned away from them. My eyes looked around the darkness for a few moments as I tried to calm myself down. "You two don't understand what it is like to be in my shoes, so don't you dare try to act like you have any authority to tell me how I can live my life."

"As someone who cares about what happens to you...I don't care if I don't have your permission," Anna snapped at me.

"You're dead, your so-called help is not meaningful," I snapped back at her.

I heard Anna let out a deep breath. "I know you are mad, believe me, I know. I remember how I found out about you being a half-god, but I'm going to tell you the same exact thing that I told you back then...Just because you're one of the immortals doesn't mean you can't have a life."

I turned to her, staring at her as I tried to process that nonsense. "Why am I even talking to you two, you are both dead..." I mumbled as I looked away from them.

"Would you rather talk to the living?"

"Yes, I would," I snapped.

"Well that's not currently possible" --Nicholas pointed out-- "as you forced your own body into a comatose state by pushing it till the point that it broke." I looked away from the two, ashamed. Despite how I'm acting, I'm not proud of that.

"I thought I had more time."

"You shouldn't be fighting in the first place," Nicholas stated.

"Nicholas, you could--"

"No, Anna, don't cover for him. He needs to hear this or he might do something like this again," Nicholas told her before he got to me. "You wanna know why Notch trusted me with that staff?"

"Because you had a condition that made your body generate more magic than it could handle," I told him.

"That's why I was given it...but not why I was trusted with it," he said which got my attention.

"What does that mean?"

He smiled slightly at me. "I needed the staff to survive, yes, but Notch trusted me with such a powerful magical artifact because he knew I was pure of heart."

I stared at him, still confused. "What does that mean?"

"It means that any guardian can use the staff...but only if their intentions are pure of heart," he said. I stared at him again but then it clicked.

"So that's why the staff rejected me when I went after Makayla."

Nicholas nodded. "You went after an enforcer which is part of the job of a guardian, but your intention and aim were not pure of heart. The only way for you to be able to use the staff is if you are using it for good," he pointed out. Well, that makes sense I suppose. The Guardians of Estir are supposed to be pure of heart through and through. They are supposed to be the line between chaos and order so naturally, they cannot fall into depravity.

I looked away from the two, not wanting to speak with them anymore. Granted, I know they are just trying to teach me a lesson...but speaking to the dead just hurts. I know that Vienna needs me and so does Estir, but... "Why can't the third generation just take over? Why do I need to be involved?"

"Because they need you to guide them," Anna said walking up to me. I felt her try to touch me but her hand went right through me. "Catherine, Rean, and Jasper are a good bunch of kids and they did handle themselves well after you vanished from Estir. But they need you much like how I and the rest of the second generation needed you."

I stare at her, wondering why she said it like that. I don't remember anything about the other second-generation except for Anna. "What do you mean by that?"

She smiles at me. "Samuel, Vivian, Ingrid, Danny, William, Ralph, Charles, Susan, and I looked up to you for more than just a leader, we also saw you as a role model. You were always there for us, you were there for the mistakes that we would make and all the achievements. You taught us magic and how to live, you protected us and taught us right from wrong," she answered before her smile was lost. "But you tend to go off and do things on your own when you have people that will help you at just the say of a word. You got better when you met Prince Brice and them, but you are reverting to your old ways and no one likes it."

Harsh but something that is probably true. I'm not going to act like my actions are fully justified. I know there are a lot of things that I have done that I had no reason to do alone but I did since I didn't feel like letting others in. "Letting people in...is difficult for me."

"I know it is," Anna said as a small smile formed across her lips. "But you need to start doing it again. It took me months to finally break your shell, though I do believe I was able to get you to open up so fast because of our history."

"What history is that?" I asked her. I'm curious to know what the relationship between Anna and I was. Were we nothing more than master and student or was it something more than that?

"You'll have to figure that out for yourself, for now...we need to stop talking so your mind and body can heal," she answered but I wasn't satisfied. I know I said I didn't want to talk to them since they are dead but...I have so many questions and no answers.

Nicholas nodded in agreeance. "You're going to be in the world of your memories for quite a while, remember that. You will wake up when your body has exited the panicked state that you have forced it in."

I looked away from them, not speaking. I didn't want to leave and face the real world. Anna moved in front of my gaze, my eyes flickered up to see her with a smile on her lips, and for some reason, I felt my heart flutter at that. "Think about what has been said. Your life is precious...cherish it because it is the only one that you have."

I felt my emotions flood at the thought of her leaving. "N-No, no, you can't go. I have so many questions that you--"

"Your memory will come back in time," Anna said. "I promise you that you will have your memory fully restored in the future. You won't be like this forever." Her words, while they offered some comfort, I didn't exactly feel satisfied. I wanted my memories back now not later. The two disappeared and I just felt empty.

My knees gave as I stared hard at the floor, struggling to keep my emotions in check. "W-Why did this have to happen to me. I wish Herobrine killed me..."