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Mino couldn't focus.
His mind felt like slush; muddled and hard to understand, even for himself. He couldn't move, his bones so tired from forced movement. His heart count ached, making him squint his eyes.
He hasn't eaten recently, the cell he shared with Dade empty and quiet, except for the few times Dade tried to comfort him.
He sat there on the floor.. waiting? What was he waiting for? Orders?
He didn't know Tingz could do this sort of thing.
The Citadel was tame compared to this place.
How could he not control himself?
Did Tingz use him?
Those black out sessions, the ones he had in the Citadel, did Tingz force him into more of those than he realized? Did Mino create a switch in his mind so he didn't have to deal with the emotional strain from killing in the arena?
Did Tingz create that switch..?
He moved his hands slowly to his face. He felt so lightheaded, dormant and waiting for something to happen, for something to get his body moving again.
Dade took a seat next to him, moving his hand from his face.
“You need sleep.”
Mino stayed silent.
“You look horrible.” Dade said quietly, feeling his forehead. “You're burning up.”
“I’m.. fine." Mino managed to say through his brain fog, clutching the last of the control he had as tightly as he could. His voice.
A knock on the door made Mino’s heart rate escalate.
A guard that looked awfully familiar walked in invisible.
Sophii.
Sophii.
Why did she agree to work with him?
“C'mon Mino.” The guard said, her eyes gone but he could hear the unsettledness in her voice.
“He can't move.” Dade snapped, gripping Mino’s hand.
Mino stood up without a word and walked forward, Dade stopping him halfway. “You are not okay enough to fight.” Dade tugged him back, Mino moving easily with the current. Dade stood in front of him when Sophii advanced.
“He wants you both. So.. get a move on.” She said, her voice full of regret.
“What did I say? He can't–”
Mino grabbed Dade’s hand with compelling strength.
The man was surprised; he'd just seen Mino weak and broken, and now he was standing as if perfectly fine. Dade would’ve believed him if his skin wasn't boiling hot.
“He needs help.” Dade asked–no pleaded. Sophii froze. “You did something to his hearts, didn't you? Is that why he's like this?” Dade wanted to grip his skin, but it was hot enough for it to be super uncomfortable to do so.
She walked forward, stopping behind Mino then pushed him forward.
The voidling hated this.
He? walked forward, watching his legs take steps as Dade followed next to him. They followed the guard thought the Vis Dei. Following the corridors, until the arena came into sight.
Mino continued to walk forwards, his head wanting him to stop.
Stop.
Moving.
He couldn't stop himself.
He stood in the middle, standing still, waiting again.
What was wrong with him?
Dade was pushed forward, rubbing the back of his shoulder, his eyes soon locking with Mino’s.
“Mino–I” he started, looking around the arena.
“Your next kill! Daderator!” he heard Tingz exclaim in his ears.
He had a new objec-
He forced himself to stay still; he wasn't going to kill his friend.
No.
His head twitched; he felt as if he was going against something hardwired into his brain. The spot where his hearts were ached.
“Why isn't he moving.”
His eyes blinked, keeping his eyes on Dade.
“Oh c'mon Prince. Go!”
“I don't want to–” Mino shut his eyes, his hands trembling. His head was light, but he refused to lose focus.
Losing focus means losing Dade.
He couldn't stomach that.
Hands pushed him forward.
It was difficult.
It was getting harder to resist the lightness.
“Mino–”
“I don't want to. I don't want to. I'm going to, but I don't want to.” he muttered, tightening his grip on his blade.
When had he received it?
His blood went cold.
He felt like curling up and leaving this place behind…
He was gone.
His body moved forward without him having control. He swung his sword, just skimming Dade’s face.
He tried to stop his movements but his head wasn't listening to him.
His body had other objectives it seemed.
“Mino stop.” Dade dodged another swing, Mino turning his head to focus on the purple-eyed man again.
“Cut it out Mino! What the hell are you doing?!” Dade parried one of Mino’s next swings. “Think! This isn't–”
“I can't.. stop.” Mino mustered out, swinging again, throwing Dade off balance.
The voidling willed himself to stop moving, his legs growing rigid with strain. He gasped, his hand tightening on his blade.
Tingz’s disappointed sigh made his body roar back to life. His vision blurred from the quick movements, but he would hear faint.. talking. Words being said to him.
The clang of blades constantly meeting made his ears ring, his movements swift and fast.
Minutes of exchanges went by until he felt something slice his arm, then his own blade hitting something.
It didn't feel like a wall.
Or the ground.
Or a shield.
It felt.. soft?
His blurriness began to fade, Dade’s eyes wide and staggering backwards. The man’s hand was on his side, red falling from his wound.
He wanted to move forward to help him, but he was worried about committing to a second fatal blow.
So Mino froze.
He watched Dade fall to his knees, his face laced with pain, his features distorted into multiple different emotions.
Hurt.
Worry.
Guilt.
Concern.
Ones all focused on Mino’s well-being, not Dade’s.
Mino couldn't just stand there anymore.
He forced his hand to let go of the sword, practically prying his fingers off, waiting to hear the metal hit the ground.
He slowly moved over, his body sore and slow. He coerced himself to fall down, his head swaying to the side. His skin still felt abnormally warm, his heart count aching, his stomach turning from lack of food.
He felt sick. More sick than he was previously.
“I'm.. sorry.” Mino stared at the crimson pouring from his side, choking on a small sob. His friend slumped forward, slowly nodding.
“I know.”