The battlefield was chaos - smoke rising, spirit energy clashing, voices echoing through the broken trees. You barely saw it happen. One second, the attack was aimed at you; the next, Ren had stepped in front of it. The explosion hit, dust clouding the air.

When it cleared, he stood there, slightly hunched, his weapon still glowing faintly. Blood trickled down his arm, but his eyes didn't waver. He turned his head just enough to glance at you, a small, pained smirk tugging at his lips.

"You're reckless," he muttered, his tone sharp even through the weakness. "Stop making me clean up after you." Yet his stance never shifted - always between you and danger, like it was