Usually when the redhead got into too much to handle, Ari was quick to run away as his looming and angry shadow was dragged along behind him. But this time, it was much more serious. The lanky teen was wheezing as he dashed through the foggy streets, clutching his arm tight as crimson blood leaked through his blue fabric gauntlets.

“S-shit!…”

Nothing had gone this wrong so fast before. Ari was lost and dumbfounded as to where in the world he was. If he was in his world, that is. His home was a vibrant place, everything was colourful; The people, the houses, the plants and wildlife. He’s never seen fog this thick and grey, not even in the little bustling machine town of Madril. And the creatures were different here too. Sure, there was monsters everywhere in his home realm, but none were ever so vicious to outright sink it’s teeth into his arm without letting him get a grasp on the situation. These… things were terrifying, hulking grotesque beasts; much unlike the cutesy toads and rabid bunnies back home. He definitely wasn’t home anymore.

But Ari didn’t have much time to think about these things right now; he had several huge beasts chasing him with the intent to kill him, and was bleeding enough to possibly be deadly if he didn’t get medical care soon. He had to keep running. There was no way he could cut them with his already worn sword, and they were too fast to cast a spell. He couldn’t even try using the weak healing spells he knew. He had to keep moving, or be killed. The boy was already starting to lose faith that he could make it.

It was then when he noticed the thick aand blinding fog slowly clear out. Could he still have a chance? Ari could see a large building ahead, seeming to be some kind of place of education judging by it’s structure. Could someone there help him? The redhead’s chest fluttered as he was starting to get close to losing consciousness from blood loss, and he could still hear the scraping of the creatures behind him. He wouldn’t make it. Soon, Ari felt himself hit the pavement just at the edge of the seemingly safe area, scraping himself up and injuring his already wounded arm further. No this couldn’t be happening…

“Rrrrgh! Useless slave, you can’t do anything on your own!”

Right after the boy collapsed, Ari’s huge shadow peeled up off the ground. It warped it’s paper thin form around to face the creatures. Stan, the shadow, hissed under his breath as he formed a huge demonic fireball, releasing it upon the monsters approaching him and his fainted servant. As the orb hit the ground, it burst into a huge hellfire that could nearly cut through the smog and incinerated the beasts hidden in it. Now that they were gone, Stan had nothing more he could do. Ari was passed out, and the shadow couldn’t move independently. Hopefully someone would come across him. And soon.