Ethan's eyes drooped as soon as he glanced up and over to her sister, whose her coat at hair fluttered midair as she let out her magical spell.
In a timely and destructive manner, he stopped the monster's onslaught— in the middle of the air at that.
Blood trickled on Damian's forehead towards his eye, acting like a tear, then which he wiped it off. He smiled as his eyes drawn heavy and wheezing out of blood.
'Brother was right. Sister Ar really awakened, a powerful— magician—' His vision became blurry as soon as his train of thoughts went to a stop. 'I want to rest— even for a while.'
Arlene stood and now unfazed as she leered at the monster.
The crisp embers drifted their nose, and had them cough out to seek some fresher air.
Damian had to move, or they might really die from suffocation.
Not even ash or bones dropped, and for the second time they peered at the area with not even it dropped to the ground about a couple of bones— even a speck of ash, no less, present in it.
Eleanor covered her mouth as her tears dried up.
Quivering lips parted on Oscar, which seemed but not a single word come at his will. He held tight on his wheelchair with a tremble.
For what seemed forever Arlene stared midair without breaking her stance.
"Sister! Sister! Can you hear me?!" Eleanor reached out to Arlene but she could never hold on for so long as her skin remained hot
Oscar, whose forehead also started forming beads of sweat, tugged his sister with force. "Sis! Snap out of it! Help—"
Perhaps Damian might be endanger, for what bore in front of them was nothing but pile of smoke.
Before he could continue, Arlene blinked her eyes and dropped her arms. Her chest rose and dropped faster as she gasped for air. Without Oscar and Eleanor to catch her, she might fall off the ground.
"I'm okay, I'm okay." She gave them a hug, rubbing their shoulders. "Damian! Ethan! Where are they—"
In a distance, Damian emerged from the smoke, and trudged close to them, with Ethan— in solemn rest— curled in his arms. "Than's alright." He cut her off before her quivering lips parted.
"You aren't, though." She waved her hand for him to turn around. "Let me see your wounds! We need to—"
Compared to Eleanor earlier, his was deep. Everyone was nauseous to look at as the bright red bloomed and crept his fair skin. The claw marks etched quite deep, yet it was surreal that he respond and even carry a person.
Perhaps awakeners are changed to a different level no ordinary human could understand.
Still, it was their oldest brother.
Regardless...
Damian chuckled from their worries. "Now that sis has her powers. You can help me easier and faster."
"If you mean killing monsters—"
"No, like heal my wound— No, cauterize my wound." His breath now had a slight hint— almost out of breath.
"...I'll do my best." Arlene crossed her arms with burrows furrowed further to a line. One thing was for certain, she began to hesitate. "Do you want to leave scars on your back?"
"There won't be as long as I do meditation. It eases my fatigue and rejuvenates my body to the fullest." His smile, crooked, had the lips thinned before letting out a grin. "It may take time though."
"Right. Shall we do it in here?"
His eyes glowed for another round, scouring around. "We should be safe for now; let's head inside first. There won't be tremors any time soon."
Back in the hallway, they rushed and Damian barged one of the rooms with a single kick at the door knob.
The suite was had about three beds and large living space for them to stay for the meantime.
Without delay, to the nearest bed he propped Ethan and hacked out some air. He then moved out of the room, rushing towards the kitchen sink. Much blood came from doing so, he spat and wiped off his mouth.
His palms supported his weight as he heaved for more air.
"There's no time. Hurry, take off your shirt. Tell me what should I do?"
He glanced a little behind him to notice her sister's voice. Behind her was Oscar and Eleanor.
Seeing Arlene went closer and tied up her hair as it became disheveled a while ago, he stripped off in a jiffy and mumbled, "Check your SYSTEM; I'm pretty sure you under [Fire Manipulation] obtained skill called... [... Immolation...] I want you to use that—"
"Huh? This? This can't be!"
All of her attention was now on Damian, together with his instructions— word for word— for she had no time to check her information blessed by SYSTEM.
As always, her priority was always about her family.
Alas, her eyes widened when she looked at the brief information, then towards Eleanor, who was now behind Oscar.
She eyed at them. "It will be dangerous, please take the other rooms." Then shifted back at her brother, she hushed, "I can't control it—"
"I can protect us—" He spat another round of blood. "—Hurry—!" He then crossed his legs to prepare for a meditation.
It was a leap of faith.
With a raise on her hands, she hovered over about four large claw strikes. Raging flames came right out, almost eating the entirety of his back and earned a groan from him.
Noticing her flames trailing off, Damian's outline gleamed about a blue hue. With each glow pulsed, the still air began to circle around him. "I told you. Keep at it, and try to make your flames less stronger but precise."
Damian's groan took time as she found her balance; but as patient as he was, it was worth the risk. Soon enough, then turned to hiss then heavy breathing, which then started his meditation.
Coagulation vanished, leaving pool of blood to boil; her eyes and mouth went agape. Determined, she tried her palms steady, and the large open wound began to show signs of closing.
Later on, Arlene stopped.
It was but a fresh, red mark.
Ultimately sealing nigh-impossible wound.
Which she achieved it.
Her palms trembled. "I— I did it!" Then to a clasp.
Oscar and Eleanor, in a distance, checked them out. Knowing success, they smiled at each other and went back to the room.