Archive of Our Own

Lyon isn’t sure what this place used to be. Ur said it was a city, but it looked like a junk pile. A massive junk pile. Lyon doesn’t know what kind of monster could make a whole city nothing more than splintered wood and cracked stone. 

Ur said they were here to look for survivors. As if anyone without magical training could survive a powerful monster capable of this . Maybe if the monster was weaker or if Ur had gotten here sooner the odds would be different. But those versions of events aren’t reality. 

Maybe if Ur wasn’t slowed down by Lyon’s presence, she could have saved these people. Maybe this city would still be standing or at least in a better position than a junk pile. Does that mean this is Lyon’s fault? Are their deaths on his hands?

Does Ur think he’s too weak to face this monster? Does she blame Lyon for holding her back?

How many children were killed here? How many families are buried beneath their home? How many bodies are hidden under the rubble? Maybe Ur was right, maybe Lyon wasn’t ready for this.

Why did he beg to tag along? Why did he beg and beg until Ur caved and agreed to let him help? Would she have been able to save some people if Lyon didn’t delay her. 

No! It’s not like Lyon summoned the monster! This isn’t his fault. It can’t be, Lyon was training with Ur when all this went down. The only person in need of blaming is whoever brought the monster here! And the people for not learning how to defend themselves. 

Lyon is training hard to surpass Ur as the strongest mage ever. He would never be defenseless against anything, let alone some monster! It’s their fault, not Lyon’s! They should have called for help sooner. They should have learned magic sooner.

Lyon can’t be blamed for taking up Ur’s time. He’s, her student. It’s only natural she would focus on his wellbeing and his training. 

“Ur!” Lyon whines. It’s only been about thirty minutes since they arrived here. 

Ur stops investigating a pile and turns to look at him. She’s covered in a gleam of sweat. Lyon has lost a drop yet. In fact, he’s barely moved deeper into the destruction. Not like Ur, who’s barely visible to Lyon. She makes a face- disappointment? In him?; and beckons him closer.

Like a faithful student, Lyon takes off after Ur. He’s careful not to trip over fallen wooden beams or randomly scattered rocks of various sizes. Ur has to realize by now that this isn’t productive to either of their time. 

Ur should be chasing after that monster, and Lyon should be learning a new spell. Or practicing one he’s already learned. This fool’s errand won’t make either of them stronger. 

“Well, find anything, my eager student?” Ur teases. She wipes her wrist across her sweaty forehead. 

“Ur, there’s nothing here worth our time!” Lyon pleads, not pouts. Only babies pout and Lyon isn’t some babbling little kid. He’s a mage now!

“Oh?” Ur turns to stare down at him. Lyon knows that look on her face. It’s the one she makes when she thinks there’s an important lesson Lyon hasn’t learned yet.

Is there a lesson here? One Lyon is missing? Lyon scans the nearby ruins in an attempt to find whatever Ur thinks he missed. It looks like they’re in the ruins of some sort of housing district. The rubble is spaced out like houses or stores usually are. There’s glass from shattered windows near some of the piles. 

But the biggest sign these piles used to be houses are the destroyed pieces of furniture scattered inside and around the piles. Lyon can see some torn up couches, broken chairs and tables. There’s a headless teddy bear on the ground nearby. 

Lyon’s original point still stands. There’s nothing here that can help Ur stop this monster. There are no living people here. The only chance of survival would either be through magic or fleeing. If they fled, obviously they wouldn’t be here for Ur and Lyon to find. 

And if they had magic strong enough to fight, the monster would be dead. 

“Do you think looking for survivors is a waste of our time?” Ur’s voice is in what Lyon likes to call teacher mode. There’s a nicety to it that makes Lyon feel like there’s no wrong answer but an authoritative tone that makes it clear Ur’s answer is final.

“I don’t think there are survivors.” Lyon states as confidently as he can. 

“Why.” Ur asks, still in teacher mode. 

Lyon takes one last look around the destruction all around them. “I don’t think anyone could survive that. Whatever did this, only someone with strong magic could hope to live. And the only way to live would be to kill the monster, right?”

Ur looks across the rubble, similarly to what Lyon just did. A sadness crosses over her face and Lyon knows he’s done the impossible. He’s convinced Ur that he’s right. There’s a small part of Lyon that feels the need to apologize. 

Ur lets out a sign. She moves away from the pile she was searching. “You might be right, but shouldn't we check some more just to be sure?”

“Why, there’s no one alive here. Checking is just a waste of time!” Lyon can feel his confidence dropping. 

Ur opens her mouth, but her words are lost as something pops out of a nearby pile. Ur rushes to it but Lyon can’t move at all. It shouldn’t be possible. No one could survive all this destruction, especially a powerless kid. It defies all logic; it beats all odds. 

Whoever this Gray Fullbuster is, Lyon won’t be upstaged by him. Lyon can’t be weaker than some magicless child. He’s trained too hard for this. How will he best Ur when this kid can survive the impossible.  

Lyon can feel it, Gray Fullbuster will take away Lyon’s only dream.