Caleb staggered his way back up past the pews. He'd had some pretty intense training sessions before, but nothing ever like this. As he realized that things were over, his body began to react. His arms were trembling, shaking nearly too hard to keep a cautionary hand on his sword's hilt. His legs could barely hold him up and he staggered like Taylor the town drunk. Everything about his body ached.

Rainbow frowned at him. "Well, you did alright, for all that you nearly ruined."

Caleb didn't have the energy to answer. His reply came in a much more crude manner. His stomach rolled and he heaved.

Rainbow leapt back. "Ugh! Do you mind!?"

Caleb ignored him. His knees throbbed from hitting the floor so hard. He braced one hand against the ground, his other arm wrapped around his stomach. He heaved again. Ribbon whined and shoved her nose in his face. Slowly Caleb draped himself around her shoulders, his arms about her neck. She laid her chin upon his shoulder and whined again. Caleb buried his face against her soft fur to cry.

Rainbow's boot thumped into his ribs. "We don't have time for this. Get up before you get us killed."

Caleb dragged himself to his feet, tears still coursing down his cheeks. "I killed them." He'd killed animals before, of course, but it was nothing like this had been. Ribbon, significantly more sympathetic than Rainbow, shoved her head under Caleb's hand.

"Yes," Rainbow sounded exasperated. "And if you don't get moving, you're going to kill us."

"I took off her head, I stabbed them, I-I-"

"Brag later, let's move!" Rainbow reached up and grabbed the front of Caleb's shirt. As the little man moved forward, he dragged the boy along behind. "Alright, now remember, we're looking for the central crystal. Once we find that, we'll be able to initiate phase two!"