Screams filled the square as destruction rained from above, with panic spreading wildly.
Debris fell from the roofs, crushing the festivalgoers instantly.
Adam watched in horror as the people he had sworn to protect as a servant of the city of Sea Fallen cried out in agony, begging for help.
To his side, Olivia was petrified with tears flowing down her face as she grabbed her brother's sleeve, trying to hide behind him.
She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it, completely at a loss for words to describe the situation.
Adam calmed himself, sighing before leaning down to pick up the top hat that lay on the hard pavement ahead of him.
Olivia looked at him in shock, confused as to why he was focused on the hat in a situation like this.
"W-What's happening?"
She stammered out a sentence as a large explosion rang out and a building came crashing in front of them, blocking their path.
"W-We need to run!"
The crimson-haired girl tried to pull her big brother towards the nearest exit from the square; however, he didn't move an inch.
He stood still as a statue, staring at the worn top hat that seemed to mock him.
"We should stay here."
His words were cold and heartless, and he did not even bother to look at his terrified sister, who was shaking intensely.
Olivia stopped suddenly before turning to face him.
"What do you mean? We'll die if we stay!"
Her shouts struck him deep within, causing him to wince; however, he continued to stare into the darkness of the sea, waiting.
"So this is who you wish to save?"
He whipped around, standing face to face with the silver-haired woman from earlier.
"I-It's you."
Adam stuttered while the woman stared at his sister.
"W-Who are you…?"
Olivia spoke in a frightened tone as she looked at the silver-haired beauty in front of her.
The woman merely chuckled before responding to her question.
"He didn't tell you? Well, this should be interesting. How about you ask your dear brother why this is all happening?"
She smirked, glancing between Olivia and Adam.
"B-Big brother, what does she mean…?"
Adam began to stammer out a response, but he stopped short before sighing.
Should I tell her everything? She's my sister, so she'll find out sooner or later, and ever since mom died, she's been more down…
Finally, he decided to speak in a calm, collected tone as he knelt to talk to Olivia at eye level.
"I got us a way out of this place. We just need to follow this lady and we'll be safe."
As she listened to Adam's words, her eyes widened before she began to step backward, trembling.
"W-What about everyone else?"
Her voice was as quiet as a mouse; however, he heard her more clearly than ever, causing him to tip his hat slightly to cover his eyes.
"There is nothing we can do for them, Olivia."
Tears formed in her eyes as she listened to her brother's response, not wanting to believe his words.
Thinking for a moment, she suddenly regained composure and looked at the two figures that watched her.
"If you won't help them, I will!"
Adam's eyes widened in surprise as he realized what was about to happen.
"NO, OLIVIA, DON'T!"
As the words left his mouth, Olivia bolted from his grasp towards the pile of rubble that was crushing the citizens.
He attempted to run after her, but a sturdy hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.
"Tsk, quite the fool she is. It's good that you are much more intelligent."
Her voice rang out behind him, and the woman spoke in a taunting manner that irritated him; however, all he could do was collapse to the ground and watch his sister disappear into the darkness.
"Y-You said you'd save her!"
Droplets fell from his face towards the ground as he screamed out in despair.
Behind him, the crimson-eyed woman merely sighed and spoke in an annoyed tone.
"Save? She doesn't need to be saved. She threw you away just to save some strangers. That should tell you all you need to know."
Finishing her sentence, she spat on the crumbling ground before returning her gaze to the burning city in front of them.
"We must go now before the real war begins."
Her words struck Adam in his core as he turned around in shock.
"W-War?"
The woman raised her brow and placed a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"You mean you didn't know? Maybe you truly are as foolish as the sister you love so much."
Listening to her, he slowly shifted his focus from her to the black ring that lay on his right hand.
"T-This is your fault!"
In a rage, he slammed his hand against the pavement again and again until flesh and blood soaked the concrete.
Even with such harsh treatment, the black ring stuck firmly to his hand.
"It's a blessing and a curse. You'll learn in time."
She spoke in a quiet tone, and for the first time, he felt a hint of understanding from this woman who had come to usher in a new era of his life.
I'll find Olivia after… Yes… She'll be fine…
Trying to convince himself, he gradually stood up and ran his hand through his red hair that glowed with the burning terrain around him.
"Come now, 'he' is waiting."
She began to walk without waiting for him to follow; yet, deep down, she wished he would defy her expectations and run to his sister.
As he started to follow behind her, he heard a whisper come from the woman.
"Disappointing."
…
"So, who are you?"
Adam asked the woman ahead of him, finally deciding it was time for him to get some answers.
She sighed before responding in a murmur.
"Arianna."
…
After walking through the old roads of Sea Fallen, they approached a small boat that lay docked in the Northern Harbor.
It overlooked the open ocean that reflected the burning city in its waves, with screams audible in the distance.
Standing on the dock was the man who had single-handedly changed Adam's fate and impacted the city of Sea Fallen the most out of anyone in recent history.
His horns glowed with a dark red hue as if they were bathed with the blood of those he had killed; however, his expression was that of utter glee.
"Ah! Adam, my boy! You've done excellent work."
The horned man smiled at Adam like they were old friends who hadn't spoken in a while, yet the intimidating aura that radiated from him prevented the red-haired man from moving closer.
Arianna walked past Adam towards the boat behind the horned man, not phased by his presence at all.
"W-Why did you do this…"
He stuttered out his thoughts to the man before him, hoping for an answer that could comfort him when he needed it most.
"Why do you ask? Well, you should know this since you've asked this before. It's because I'm a monster!"
The horned man laughed, watching Adam's eyes widen in surprise at his simple response.
Arianna scoffed from the boat in obvious disapproval at her master's answer.
"If you tell him that, he will truly lose it. We still need him, don't we?"
His expression hardened after hearing his subordinate's words as he pondered them carefully.
"Quite the smart thinking you have, Arianna."
He turned to Adam, walking closer to him before stopping less than half a meter away.
"You have completed your task excellently, so now I shall reward you."
He raised his right hand, summoning black fire that sucked all the air out of the surroundings.
Adam gasped for breath as he watched the man throw the all-consuming fire directly at him.
The crimson-haired man braced for the agonizing pain of the flame; however, a comforting glow enveloped his body.
"What the…?"
His entire body tingled with protrusions appearing on his back, his skin darkening into a shade of bronze that reflected the moonlight.
Arianna watched his transformation as if she were mesmerized, then spoke in an unamused tone.
"You've gotten lucky. Someone as pathetic as you becoming a Dark Angel is unheard of."
The horned master laughed before patting the confused Adam on the back and speaking in a playful tone.
"Quite the unusual boy you are… Be prepared for the side effects that will show themselves soon; however, for now, let us set sail for the homeland. We have work to do."
His body phased with a dark glow as he vanished and reappeared on the boat next to Arianna.
Adam stood still, unsure of what to do while still studying the changes that had occurred throughout his body.
The hand that he had smashed against the concrete had begun to bubble with the flesh reforming into a perfect and unscarred form.
He looked at the two figures on the ship before he was struck with a sudden headache.
Voices rushed through his mind, distorting his memory, changing them ever so slightly while amplifying the ones he wished to keep hidden.
Memories of Olivia flashed past, burning into nothingness, only to be replaced with times he felt anger and hatred.
Adam began to walk instinctively towards the vessel that floated on the waves as a single tear fell from his face.
To his surprise, when he tried to recall why he was crying, only memories of disappointment and shame clouded his mind.