The first slash should have killed Saran. In fact, the second and third should have sliced his feet up into nice little chunks.

He ducked behind a half-sliced sofa as another one of Ajax’s wind currents came. The soft cushions blocked the slash and only a minor wound appeared on Saran’s hand.

“How long will you hide, brother?” Ajax cackled. “You’ll run out of places soon!”

“Shut up!” Saran yelled as he jumped out from behind the furniture and kicked Ajax, putting all his powers into the kick. Unfortunately, like all the attacks previous to it, Ajax sidestepped easily. Saran didn’t relent. He followed it with a punch. Less effective than a kick.

The punch connected and sent Ajax into a stagger. This gave Kaiser enough time to throw the revolver like a boomerang. It hit Ajax straight on the forehead, which should have knocked him out. However, Ajax kept standing even as a steady stream of blood slid down his face. A few drops fell off his face and hit the stone floor with a splash.

“You’re one hell of an annoying sibling.” He said, wiping his hands over his forehead. The bleeding immediately stopped.

“Great,” Kaiser mumbled. “He can also heal his wounds.”

“Not heal.” Saran said almost immediately, “He can just compress the air around the cut the pause the bleeding.”

“What do you suppose we do, then?”

“Run away,” Saran said.

They both practically flew out of the apartment. It took a few seconds before Ajax started chasing them.

“Where are we going to run anyway?!” Kaiser asked, “There is no other way that this alley branches off to!”

“Live in Shareen long enough and you’ll find any nook and cranny.”

Saran led them into a branch that Kaiser didn’t even know existed until a few moments ago. They ran as a very angry and very powerful Hunter flew towards them at top speed.

“Where are we going?” Kaiser asked.

“Into the crowd, of course.”

“What?” Kaiser said, “Then he’ll just kill us and a bunch of innocent citizens.”

“He won’t be able to do that.”

“Why not?”

“The Hunters aren’t allowed to kill innocents.”

Kaiser looked at him, confused. “That’s great and all, but Ajax already did that.”

Saran shook his head. “Ajax killed one person. If he wants, he can just claim that one person was a spy. All he has to do is put a few Amberian coins in his pockets and suddenly it makes sense why Ajax would kill that particular person. It would be borderline impossible to explain why he killed an entire army of innocents.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

They entered the crowd of civilians rather easily. The panic died down, and the police managed to calm everyone down. Still, a wave of uneasiness rolled over them and they all shuffled towards their homes.

“I’m surprised you don’t hate me right now.” Saran chuckled.

Kaiser shrugged. “Anger is overrated anyway. Plus, you did it so that Nahida would trust me.”

“Nahida wouldn’t trust anyone even if they laid down their life for her.” Saran scoffed, “She is only ready to help you.”

“Are we going back to Shelby?” Kaiser asked, changing the conversation.

Saran shook his head. “No, I don’t want Ajax to track me there. We’re going back to Varun’s bar.”

“But I haven’t gotten a gun back for her yet.”

Saran looked at him. “Once she finds out you were attacked by Ajax, she’ll definitely agree to help.”

“Great,” Kaiser mumbled, “Let’s see if your great detective ability works.”

It had started raining not five minutes after they started walking to the bar. Saran led him down the narrow and wide canals. The rain didn’t bother the people either. Boats were running as usual. The two of them even passed by a dumpling stall, and the smell of hot momos contrasting the muddy stench of the streets made Saran’s mouth water.

Shareen wasn’t all great, though. He could see just about every type of rodent known to mankind, and some unknown as well. As the both of them passed by on a particular street, a decaying carcass of a rat king was being eaten by hundreds of roaches. And a pair of crows stalking from above, ready to dive when the time is right. The sight made him want to vomit right into the canal.

The capital of Sango looked majestic, and beautiful from afar, but now? It was just like any other highly populated city, with rats, sewages, and people loitering and sitting right next to rats without a care in the world.

Kaiser caught up to Saran. “Why are all of them Sangoian?” Kaiser asked.

“When Capria took Shareen over, they all moved locals to the slums while they got the higher houses. Most of the locals were forced into the streets.” He scoffed and added. “They even passed a law that if the Caprian was wealthy enough to buy the land, the Sangoian owner must give it over. Breaking that law would result in the best way Caprians solve problems. Murder.”

“You say ‘Caprians’ but isn’t Eri also one?” Kaiser said, remembering Eri’s dirty blond hair, almost a staple of every Caprian. “Eri,” Saran said, “Is different. She wouldn’t go around killing just for fun like the Hunters.”

“Okay,” Kaiser said, though he didn’t look convinced. He was probably thinking about Orion. Saran thought.

Saran stopped suddenly and Kaiser’s face drove straight into the back of his head, sputtering he said, “What the hell?!”

“We’re here, idiot. And watch where you’re going,” Saran growled.

They both stood before an extravagant 3-storeys tall liquor shop that looked luxurious compared to the filth surrounding it. It was old but in excellent shape.

Saran opened the rustic bar’s door and the familiar smell of lavender and old wood immediately hit his nostrils. “Look what the cat dragged in.” Said a voice behind the counter.

“Hello to you too, Varun,” Saran said as they both walked in. Kaiser closed the door behind him. The inside looked like a mix between a café and a bar.

A shelving unit sat behind Varun with a vast display of various liquors. A wooden counter sat before him, and four tables were dotted the bar. Saran walked to the bartender and sat on a stool next to Nahida. Kaiser closely followed. He walked a bit slower and was more careful with his surroundings.

“What’s with the unease?” Saran asked him casually, “You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, but are you sure that Ajax won’t follow us here?” He asked nervously.

Varun chuckled. “I’d like to see him try.”

Nahida rolled her eyes playfully. “Anyway, by the gloomy looks on your face, I suspect you ran into Ajax and didn’t find a new gun for me?”

“Nope,” Kaiser said. “I was too busy being hunted down by a bloodthirsty hound to look for a new toy for you.” He said sarcastically.

“Haha!” Nahida laughed, “I like your sense of humor, Kaiser!”

Saran sighed. This was Nahida. Always getting off-topic. “Our agreement?” Saran reminded.

“Look at you. Taking the fun out of everything.” Nahida said. She turned to Kaiser. “From now onwards, me and Varun are teaching you fighting.”