- You can run, but you can hide never...

"W-where are you going, Fate? W-what are you doing?"

Noirel tightly grasped Fate's shoulder and stopped him from walking away. Fate immediately turned his head to Noirel and an awkward silence followed.

Noirel's eyes were filled with nothing but pure fear and dread and gazed deep into Fate's eyes as though he was indirectly telling Fate not to go away.

"I'm going to do the right thing, Noirel" he then exhaled deeply, "I'm gonna do the right thing you should've done the moment you came from the meeting!"

It has already been said, and Fate cannot be stopped now. He had decided to return to the meeting while he still can. He has still plenty of time to do it for the sun has not yet set.

"I... I'm sorry... Fate." Tears came down Noirel's eyes as he sobbed. He eventually fell to his knees and cried out loud. Fate cannot help but stop walking away. "I know I should've done that... b-but I can't, an-and I'm sorry! I'm such a coward..."

Fate clenched his fists and immediately went for Noirel. Out of Fate's anger, he suddenly punched Noirel straight into his face. Noirel has been knocked down to the ground due to the strength Fate exerted.

"Do you have any fucking idea what you have just done, Noirel?!" Fate shouted, throwing his tantrums at his best friend. "This... this right here... this could've provided the government the justice the victims deserve! But... but what?! What the fuck did you do, Noirel?! Instead of telling this in front of His majesty, you kept it instead! Do you in any way have an idea what you have just done?!"

Noirel immediately stood up and clasped the collar of Fate's suit. "Don't you dare throw your fits on me! D-do you think- do you think I like this?! Do you?!"

Noirel immediately let go of Fate and calmed himself down. He let go of the frustrations he got from Fate and calmed down. "We should be working together, Fate, not fighting here like kids."

"Wow, Noirel, wow!" Fate then sarcastically clapped to Noirel, "Now you're saying that I am acting like a kid?! Well, I guess I might say fuck you for that! You're the one who kept this from everyone and told it to me instead. If you think doing the right thing is childish from your sorry perspective, then I think we have to cut our friendship right here and right now!"

Noirel became speechless, lost for words after what Fate had told him just now. It overwhelmed his feelings to the point that he don't even know what should he feel. He became emotionless the moment Fate told him that he would cut their friendship at the very instant they met.

Over time, the dome that covered a radius - where Fate and Noirel faded. The distorted background of where they are also returned to normal as well along with the rusty scent of the air. The atmosphere seems to return to normal after the dome slowly vanished.

It was at that moment when Fate knew he should leave already. He could hear distant shouting coming from the direction of Eurik Town and he assumed that the meeting is not yet done.

"I am sorry, Noirel. You're true, yes you are," Fate said as he slowly walks away.

"What do you mean, Fate?" Noirel asked while he wipes down the tears on his cheeks.

"That I still have a long way to fight for myself. You said that earlier, right?"

"Yes, but- but I didn't mean to..."

Fate stopped walking when he heard what Noirel replied. "That's okay, I understand. After all, all you saw in me is my failures, right?"

"N-no, Fate! You're totally wron-"

"Oh shut up Noirel, will you?! Have you already forgotten? We are childhood friends. I can see through you, I really do. You still see me as a failure, and you still doubt my strength until today."

"..."

"I see. So all this time, I am right. That explains everything."

The conversation between Fate and Noirel ended when Fate walked away from the ruined house. Fate could still hear the distant commotion and slowly run. He ran as fast as he can to reach the public meeting before it ends, but Fate noticed something.

Fate noticed that he never moves in his place. It was as though he was running through an endless row of trees. He could see the Town Gate at a distance, but it feels like he's never covering any distance at all.

"Fate, how long are you here?"

Fate heard Noirel's voice and it immediately gave him chills. Fate looked behind him and saw the same ruined house. He also saw Noirel standing in front of the ruined house and it questioned Fate's sanity.

"Wait, I am running away from here... why am I still here?" Fate asked himself out loud. He immediately panicked after finding out that he never covered even a mere centimeter away from Noirel.

"You don't know? You've been standing still in front of me, so how in any possible way you are running away from here?"

"Are you making this on purpose?!" Fate shortly assumed that Noirel is using some sort of magic that stops Fate from returning to the public hearing.

"W-what?!" Noirel exclaimed, "How could you make such assumptions?"

"I'm sorry. My overthinking ass kicked in and assumed you're the one making it."

"Well, I am not making it! That kind of magic you're assuming that I am doing is out of my bounds. Though I am a Level S, my magical skills are still raw."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

After that, another awkward silence followed. Fate and Noirel made an awkward stare and never broke their exchanging gazes.

It was until their surroundings became dark. The atmosphere emitted an ominous and sinister feeling as it gradually became heavy as time passed. Although bound by his skills, Fate felt a tremendous surge of magical aura. Noirel did as well. The aura was so strong that Fate felt sick just by feeling it. Fate immediately looked at Noirel.

"Fate, I don't know if what I am thinking is right," Noirel then slowly turned his head towards Fate, "but he's already coming. He's coming here soon..."

"W-what are you talking about?!" Fate exclaimed, "Who's 'he' you're talking about?!"

Out of his fear, Noirel did not speak after telling Fate someone who will come probably for them. His eyes were once again filled with fear and dread, but this time, stronger and much more powerful than what he did earlier.

Eventually, both Noirel and Fate heard footsteps coming from their southwest. The footsteps they heard were slow, but it was enough for them to feel uneasy and concerned about their surroundings. They have to be vigilant starting from this point.

Over time, it was not just the footsteps Fate and Noirel heard, but they also heard the breaths of that 'someone' Noirel talked about.

"Poor, poor kids. You are supposed to be the future servants of this Kingdom, but... heh heh... I am afraid both of you will be a part of my collection. Hah hah! HAH HAH! HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!"

It was a voice of a man who spoke. The voice Fate has heard had a sarcastic and insane voice. It was something he feels like he had heard before. A chilling sense of familiarity trickled down his spine after hearing the man's voice.

"Oh, Fate. It was me who was doing it." The mysterious man once again spoke. "Your friend here is still too much of a weakling to execute such damage. Nevertheless, it is remarkable since he cannot stop me from doing what I am about to do to both of you!"

"W-who are you?!" Fate immediately shouted. He looked around him, trying to find the mysterious man who had just spoken. His voice almost stutters, but he managed to eliminate the fear and dread he's feeling right now. "S-show yourself in front of us!"

"F-Fate! Wh-what are you doing?!" Noirel, on the other hand, could barely hide his panic, "Y-you do-don't know who y-you're facing..."

The footsteps got closer and closer as the time passed. The footsteps also became faster. Fate and Noirel are unsure of where the footsteps are coming from, but it doesn't matter in the meantime. The footsteps are surely coming for them, and they only have a matter of time to defend themselves.

"Ooohhh, what a pity little boy you are, Noirel!" The man sarcastically said. "What is that I am witnessing? Is a Level S afraid to fend off the incoming threat? Ooohhh, that is not a great job. Tsk tsk tsk. What about your friend Fate here? He is just a civilian without any rankings. Just a defenseless human like everyone is! Hah hah hah!"

"S-sh-shut up!" Fate immediately drew out his sickles from his backpack. "Don't be such a chicken and fight us like a man!"

"Ooohhh, such bravery you have shown me, Fate! HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH! Your friend should be ashamed of himself right now! He- he can't even stand on his own legs. His whole body is shaking just because he heard my voice. Sigh, why does that happen so often? I am not even that scary. I am just a friendly man seeking someone to hug me, really I am!"

Fate looked behind him and he saw Noirel catching his breath as he sat on the ground. As Noirel inhaled, he sobbed, and as he exhaled, he wept. Noirel could barely wipe his tears off his face. His eyes instantly became a waterfall flowing full of tears.

Fate gave his hand to Noirel. "Friends, am I right?" he looked at Noirel's teary face, "Come on now, Noirel. This is not who you are. If I remember correctly, you always stood for yourself and defend me from those bullies in our hometown, right? You and Kismet always did that. This time, we are going to do it. I can't let my friend sit on the ground defenseless. So, shall we?"

Noirel eventually gazed into Fate's eyes. He inhaled for one last time and deeply exhaled before grasping Fate's reaching hands. "Y-yes. We shall do it...!"

Noirel finally stood up. His eyes were once filled with fear and anxiety, but now it is filled with a strong will of fighting. Together with Fate, he will surely fight until death.

Shortly after, the same man clapped his hands and laughed hysterically. They couldn't hear anything from their surroundings but the laughter of the same man. Hearing the insane laughter made Fate and Noirel insecure about their surroundings.

"You gotta be kidding me! HAH HAH HAH!" The man once again laughed hysterically. "What is this? Is this some kind of show? Is this a comedy show or am I just mistaken? HAH HAH HAH!"

The footsteps finally stopped. The silence has followed. It was the calm before the catastrophe. Beyond Fate and Noirel's thoughts, an impending and inevitable danger is waiting for them.

"Alright, enough of chit chats" the man finally revealed himself in front of Fate and Noirel, "let us get into the main show!"

Before Fate and Noirel's eyes, there appeared a man slightly taller than them. The man wore a hooded robe; from the top of his head to the tip of his toes, his body was cloaked by the said robe.

"It was nice meeting you, folks. Let us enjoy the show!" The man removed the hood from his head and finally revealed his identity. His smile extends from as far as he could do. It was but a terrifying feeling to see. His eyes were so red that it looks like his eyes were covered in blood. The man looked crazy and insane as though his sanity ceased to exist. It was none other than...

"Inzary... Inzary Azumaora... t-that was you?" Fate's voice was filled with dread and horror after finding out the man's identity. Despite what he felt, the will of fighting in his eyes never faded away.

"Oh come on!" Inzary shouted. "You ruined my entrance scene! I was about to say my name out loud but you ruined it!" Out of the blue, Inzary started to cry.

"Fate, on my count, we will charge him, okay?" Noirel then clenched his fists as he looked at Inzary with his eyes full of mixed emotions of horror and anger. "W-we should give everything we have got. This is our only chance as he looks distracted in the meantime."

Fate immediately nodded, agreeing to Noirel's plan. He then tightly grasped the pairs of sickles. At this moment, Fate is already dedicated to what should they do to deal with Inzary, may it be planned or ambush.

"One..."

Noirel started counting down. At this point, Fate started to release every fear and everything that could be in his way while he fights.

"Two..."

Fate tightly grasped the pairs of sickles. He put every willpower he has into his sickles. Any kind of mistrust was thrown away. At that instant, Fate finally learned how to trust himself.

"Three!"

Course set, intent clear. Fate and Noirel screamed at the top of their lungs and charged toward the weeping Inzary. Inzary seems unaware of what both of them are about to do, and they took that very chance to do a charge.

"Fate, attack Inzary with every bit of strength and power you have!" Noirel immediately stopped charging and stood still. "I will use my magic to greatly enhance your physical defense and your attack. This is the only thing I could do for now..."

Fate again nodded his head and charged toward Inzary.

"I know this won't do any scratch, but this is a life and death situation. I will do anything for that life..."

Fate leaped into the air. He has put all of his strength into both of his arms to slash Inzary.

Fate is about to reach Inzary. Noirel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He then extended his arms in front of him and chanted a magic spell.

"Enischysi Tis Apergias!"

A seeming force field enveloped Fate in a radius. It pulsates every second. Fate's body also glowed. A red glow can be noticed around Fate. The sickles look as though it was set on fire as they also looked glowing red hot.

"Eh? W-what are you doing, Fate?"

Inzary immediately stopped weeping and looked above. There, he saw Fate with his sickles about to slash him from the air.

"S-shit, he noticed me," Fate thought to himself. "I-I'm doomed!"

Without any further ado, Inzary generated a portal above him. Fate, unfortunately, fell inside the portal and the attack he was supposed to do became useless. The spell Noirel did became a waste.

Fate was transported away from Noirel and Inzary, but fortunately enough, it was just at a distance where he could see both of them. He was lying on his stomach.

Fate saw Noirel casting magical attacks on Inzary. He saw a beam of blue fire coming from Noirel's hand, searing Inzary at a point-blank distance. When Noirel thought it was futile, he cast another magical attack. There, Fate saw Noirel backing away from Inzary as a swarm of lightning bombarded Inzary from above. But just like the previous attack, it was futile.

"You are pissing me off already, Noirel! You don't know how much effort I had exerted just to look this good! You ruined my look!"

Inzary immediately vanished out of Fate's sight. A few moments later, he saw Inzary behind Noirel, restraining Noirel between his elbows.

The moment Fate saw Noirel struggling from Inzary, he immediately leaped from where they are.

"You too, Fate?!" Inzary's anger immediately broke loose. "I saw a potential inside you, but you were just like this useless insolent kid?! What a waste!"

Before Fate had the chance to touch the ground, Inzary was already grasping him along with Noirel before he could even realize it.

Fate struggled, but it was no use. Inzary lets go of him and Noirel, but it seems like they are still restrained as if they were under a magic spell.

"Now, I finally caught the two naughty mice," Inzary said. "Now, now I am confused! It would be a waste if you both will die. At least I should spare one of you."

Inzary went in front of Fate and Noirel. He put both of his hands behind him and looked at them. He then smiled. It was a smile with evil intentions.

"Now, which one of you should I add to my collections?"