Martian Archer

Smoke still lingered in the air.

The battlefield was silent.

The Black Classes had finished their work.

The terrorists? Gone.

The price? Too high.

Leon staggered forward, his injured leg screaming in pain.

His heart pounded in his chest as his eyes searched the fallen.

Students. Teachers. Bodies everywhere.

His breath hitched.

He saw her.

Elise.

Her small body lay motionless on the ground.

Her eyes were empty.

An arrow was lodged in her chest.

Leon froze.

His chest tightened.

"No. Not her."

His fists shook.

She was the only one who had stayed by his side.

The only one who understood.

And now… she was gone.

A sharp pain shot through his leg.

His vision blurred.

Darkness closed in.

And then

Nothing.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Leon's eyes fluttered open.

A hospital ceiling.

His body felt heavy.

His leg was bandaged.

Pain throbbed in his side.

A voice snapped him back to reality.

"Took you long enough."

Leon turned his head.

Hugo sat next to him, smirking.

Leon blinked.

"You…?"

Hugo shrugged.

"You were out cold. Thought you'd never wake up."

Leon gritted his teeth.

"Elise…?"

Hugo's smirk faded.

Silence.

That was enough of an answer.

Leon closed his eyes.

His fingers clenched the hospital sheets.

Hugo leaned back, arms crossed.

"Y'know, you owe me one."

Leon's eyes snapped open.

"What?"

Hugo grinned.

"You were about to get shot. If I hadn't stepped in, you'd be dead."

Leon stared.

"You… saved me?"

Hugo spun a spear in his hand, lazily.

"Of course I did. Can't have my favorite loser dying on me."

Leon blinked.

The spear in Hugo's hand… wasn't normal.

It had marksman sights attached to it.

A mix of a spear and a firearm.

Leon's brain clicked.

"You're… a Spearman Marksman?"

Hugo's grin widened.

"The rarest class, baby."

Leon sighed, covering his face with his hand.

"I swear, if I die, it'll be because of you."

Hugo laughed.

Leon couldn't help but chuckle.

But deep down

He knew things weren't over.