The ruckus outside woke Aerex who had fallen asleep working on one of his projects. Aerex' ran over to one of the windows to see what was going on. His heart started to race as soon as he saw bandits on the streets and fighting in the alleys. The town was being attacked. Quickly, Aerex grabbed anything important from the second floor and ran downstairs. There, under the front desk was a hidden safe. Opening it, he tossed his journal, and a few other items of sentimental value including a mantle his mother had made him long ago into the safe. Closing it, he ran out onto the street. Now, what was on his mind was getting to Juliana who lived only a block away from his store. When the bandits became distracted in a fight with one of the residents, he bolted down an alley toward the residential district. Somehow, he managed to avoid the bandits walking around the streets looting. All he could hope for now was that she was safe. He planned to help her escape toward the inn or temple, perhaps there hey could find some of the town's guard or even some of the visitors. 

When he arrived, he stopped in his tracks as soon as he saw a group of bandits in front of Julian's home. His heart was now beating faster and a knot formed in his throat. Every scenario ran through his head, he hoped that somehow she had made it out. However, to his horror the bandits pulled her out of the house. She was kicking and screaming, begging for someone to help her. Seeing that, Aerex froze. He remembered all the people he had lost in his life. First his parents, and then his beloved. Dead or dissapeared. No. This couldn't happen again… Something then snapped inside of Aerex. Without thinking about it, he ran toward the street right at the bandits. Before they could react, Aerex raised his hand over his head creating a brief flash that lit up the entire street. A spear made of light appeared in his hand. 

"Let her go!" He shouted, tossing the weapon at the bandit holding Juliana captive. The spear struck the bandit in the face, going through the eye socket and right through his head. This also removed the concealment he wore to hide his identity. His hair became a bright red and his eyes a glowing green. Caught off guard, the bandit fell dead on the floor along with Juliana who was now covered in the bandit's blood. The spear vanished in another flash as soon as it went through the man's skull. That was enough to break the bandits from staring at Aerex. One of them went in for the attack, but was blinded as Aerex materialized a sword into his hand and penetrated the man's armor stabbing him in the stomach. In his rage, Aerex took out another bandit as he tried to avenge his comrade. However, their leader soon stepped up and began to duel Aerex who was soon overpowered by reinforcements from a nearby street. The group managed to subdue Aerex. Once he was on the ground, the angry bandits began to kick and punch him. It was enough to make Aerex return to his senses. All he could feel now was sharp and dull pain all over his body as was repeatedly kicked by the bandits. Eventually, the bandits stopped and tied his hands behind his back with a piece of rope and forced Aerex to his knees. 

Their leader picked up Juliana, who was still on the floor. She was crying uncontrollably and screamed when the bandit leader grabbed her by the hair placed a dagger to her throat. The bandits holding Aerex held his head up, forcing him to look in Julian's direction. Aerex' face was now covered in blood and tears. His nose wouldn't stop bleeding and he had an ugly gash across the head that was bleeding into his face. At that moment, Aerex could barely feel anything. He could barely breathe and felt a hollow pain on his shoulder, which was most likely dislocated. Even when Juliana called out to him and begged for her life, he could barely recognize her. His ears were ringing and he could barely see by the blood flowing down his head. 

"I'll kill her just like you did my men, you bastard!" Said the bandit leader, pressing the dagger against Juliana's neck. Aerex tried to shout, beg him to kill him instead but nothing would come out. Instead he whimpered and gasped. He was going to see the last person that mattered to him be killed in front of him.