Mason

Cain and I were having a great time chilling out, typical since he showed up that something would go wrong. Poor guy just can’t catch a break.

It’s odd I’ve only known him for a few weeks but he’s probably my only true friend. Not trying to use me to get in the good graces of my Aunt and Uncle.

I heard the screaming first, not many others nearby in the park seemed to notice. I knew what my duty was, I couldn’t worry about other people right now, I HAD to protect Cain.

“We have to go!” I told him.

He tried to pull away as I grabbed him off the ground, not knowing why I was worried, I could see the moment when he heard them for himself.

“Mason, we need to check it out.” he argued.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that he was just too weak to help anyone. He couldn’t use his magic properly which meant in an emergency situation he was just dead weight.

What I said instead as,

“No, there are people for that. My first priority right now is to make sure you’re safe. You are my friend but I have an obligation to my aunt who requested I protect you.”

The look of defeat and sadness that I saw roll across his face hurt somewhere deep inside, I pushed it down with other memories I couldn’t afford to deal with.

We were South East of the Palace, near Vauxhall Bridge, in an area that used to be built up. We had two options, go North to the Church and hide there, the Archbishop wouldn’t let anything happen to us, or go through the streets straight back to the Palace. I deliberated as we ran, unable to make a decision. I knew I had to make the decision quickly.

Which will it be?

Palace or Church..Palace was more secure.

Palace it is then.

I angled towards the Bridge Road, hoping to get into the open so I can see around us better, the trees were making it hard to see around. I felt Cain’s muscles move under my hand and knew he had increased his strength so I let go.

We were so close when I felt a movement in the shadows near us. They had been masking their movement but the shadows see all.

I stopped running, stopping Cain with me.

“Well well, just the kinda trouble I was looking for Brother Keys.” a voice said from behind me.

I needed to think of how to get away from here.

“I don’t know, the black haired one looks kinda rude Brother Flame.” a different voice said to the side.

Just if I was strong enough to take Cain through the shadows. I could still only take myself and my gear.

“Enough games, we have a job to do.” a third voice rang out from above us.

I analysed the three assailants, all stronger than me in magical strength. I could feel the pressure of Page level from two, not much stronger than me but the third was Knight level. He was the leader above, but he also didn’t give off an aura of a fighter.

I looked at Cain, he looked scared. The three were wearing black cloaks that completely covered them, that meant they could be from any group, I would need to see them properly to get more clues.

“You’re no fun Brother Moss.” Brother Flame answered as he advanced towards us.

I knew that doing nothing would be worse than anything else, they looked like they wanted to hurt us, just for fun. I knew Cain needed to get out of here.

I pushed him in the direction of the Palace and yelled for him to run.

I didn’t let the element of surprise get away from me and reached into my shadow and grabbed my shortsword.

Cain, please be safe.

Not wanting to have a death match, only delay them, I thrust straight at Brother Flame’s face.

That will get his attention.

Just after I yelled at Cain I heard the leader mention Cain by name. Shit, they really are after him.

My target raised his arm and a loud clang rang out. It turned out he was wearing a strong armguard.

I heard a scream behind me, I directed a vicious grin at my opponent, Clin had struck. He may be small but his venom sure wasn't.

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So one enemy down, I needed to get more information from this one before going after the leader.

I struck again, I was still learning and didn't have a style yet. Simple hacks, slashes and thrust were what I had to work with.

I tried to be random but I quickly fell into a pattern, as soon as I noticed I changed.

Left, right, down, up and then thrust.

His arm was annoyingly always in the way. It looks like he was faster than me.

After my many attacks, I still hadn't cut the bastards. I had damaged his cloak though, I could see what I was attacking. He wore a plate sleeve with blades on the fingers.

Flame was clearly got tired of playing with me. His whole arm burst into flames and moved so fast he was suddenly next to me, thrusting with his flaming glove at my side.

I controlled the shadows beneath me and dropped through it, my enemy clearly forgets flickering Flames create shadows.

I came out of the shadows a few metres away, behind a tree.

I needed to attack indirectly, I cast shadow spear to rise from beneath his legs.

The grunt of pain I heard from the other side of the tree made me assume my attack hit.

A flood of heat hit me even around the tree, by using magic I opened up for him to retaliate.

I risked a quick look around the tree.

Waves of heat were constantly radiating from his body, the trees were starting to Wilt in the heat. I fear he is a sole elemental user, making him more powerful in Fire.

I’m screwed…I definitely wasn’t going to win this fight.

I needed to get away, I had to come up with a plan.

A couple of months training was not enough to go up against someone like this. I circled around through the trees, using my shadows to cover any sounds I make.

“Where are you little shadow. Come out and die!” he yelled.

Brother Flame let loose a burst of fire, catching the trees around him on fire. I was near the body of his friend, purple veins had covered his body by now, Clin was a lot more dangerous than I had ever given him credit for.

I checked for a pulse, it was still barely there, only incapacitated not dead. I decided to take a risk.

“Your friend is dying, if you want him to live you need to get him help!’ I yelled before shadow stepping fifteen feet further around him.

Instead of stopping and helping him, Brother Flame snorted and threw a fireball towards where my voice had come from. It hit the man on the ground, scorching him and finishing him off.

“He died for our masters.” Brother Flame said.

Fortunately, I spent quite a bit of time trying to extend the range of my shadow manipulation. I used his distraction to create another shadow spike beneath him, spearing him through the leg and running, I looked back for barely a moment as I ran, I didn’t know what it meant but a saw a small wisp of blue mist stream out of his leg.

Using shadowstep as fast as I could it was barely minutes before I managed to arrive at the Palace. The guards at the entrance were alert but were surprised to see me by myself.

“Please tell me that Cain got back before me?!” I asked them.

“You’re the only person to arrive through this gate since earlier this afternoon Prince Mason.” one of them answered.

“Shit, send a runner, check every gate into the palace grounds. I NEED to know if Cain has returned. I also need Captain Smith to meet me in my Uncles study.” I ordered.

Neither of them moved, not hearing the urgency in my voice. Technically I was outside of their chain of command but I didn’t have time to squabble with them about it.

“I SAID NOW!” I yelled, prompting one of them to run off personally.

I started jogging through the grounds and into the palace.

I saw a servant I recognised and yelled out,

“Where are the King and Queen?”

“They are in their suite Prince Mason.” she answered respectfully.

I started running now, I was scared for Cain.

I turned a corner and saw my destination, my Aunt and Uncles personal guards flanking the doors.

Rather than stop to speak to them I burst through the door, spotting them on the couch I ran over.

“Mason! It’s very rude to burst in here like that.” Aunt Essie started before I interrupted her.

“There was a disturbance at the Celebration in the Park area south of Big Ben, I can’t remember what the actual park is called. Cain and I ran, we got split up by a group of three assailants. One is dead, one is crippled by a shadowspike and the third chased Cain. I didn’t even sense him, and I have no idea where they went. I have sent the guard at the south gate to get Captain Smith to meet us at your study.” I blurted out, semi report style.

A look of panic crossed my Aunt’s face and a look of anger crossed my Uncles.

“Let’s go then.” his voice rumbled out.

We walked through the Palace, the royal personal guards behind us. It was minutes later we arrived at my uncle's study, we found Captain Smith had beaten us there.

He bowed at the King and Queen,

"My Liege, I see my former squire is still in the middle of the trouble." He said with a straight face.

"In my defence, this time it's only partially my fault. They already knew who Cain was, as soon as I mentioned his name they were entirely focused on him." I said.

My Aunt and Uncle shared a look before entering the study. Captain Smith and I followed.

I knew that Captain Smith would want me to report properly, he was the one who taught me after all, but I never did follow his orders well.

My Uncle truly became the King as soon he say in his chair. A palatable aura of power and authority radiated off him, it was a daunting experience every time I witnessed it.

He nodded at me and I retold the story of what had happened. I felt a sense of urgency to save and protect my friend but I knew I wasn't even close to being powerful enough to contend with these people.

Captain Smith glazed over for a moment, using some form of communication I didn't recognise before turning to the King.

"I have my best trackers running down his aura signature. They have been studying it since you told me he might be in danger." He reported.

"Good, now we wait." The King answered.

*

It wasn't long later when Captain Smith glazed again,

"They found his familiar, it was fleeing this way as fast as it could move. I will bring in our best Beastmaster in the hopes it will let her communicate with it. Do you wish to witness?" He said after a few moments pause.

The King nodded and we swept out of the office.

We were halfway to the barracks near the gatehouse when Captain Smith received another call.

“Your Majesty, it would appear that noone can approach the familiar. It snaps at anyone who gets too close.” he relayed.

“Is it still headed this way?” the King asked.

“Yes sir, it is quite close now. It would appear that the serpent is quite fast when..” Captain Smith started before I interrupted.

“Let me go get it! I’m the one who spends the most time around both Cain and Clin.”

My uncle and Captain Smith looked at each other for a moment before my Aunt interrupted.

“Under no circumstances are you to endanger yourself in that way, with Cain captured it is basically a wild beast again.”

“Even you mentioned that Clin was remarkably intelligent.” I challenged.

“That was before the last member of my family was trying to kill himself running towards a violent familiar that can kill with a single bite.” she whispered back, the pain in her voice hurt but I was determined.

“I’m sorry Aunt Essie but I truly believe that Clin won’t hurt me.” I answered, resolute.

I could see that my determination to walk into the danger scared her, but the obligation of her position as Cain’s protector was overriding some of her fear for me. After a short standoff the King chose to end it.

“Captain Smith, have one of your men escort the Prince to the familiar.” he ordered.

“Yes sir! Collins escort the prince.” Captain Smith answered.

One of the guards that had crowded near as we were having our discussion approached and waved me towards him. As I started to move, my Aunt grabbed my shoulder and hugged me. I went to leave before I had a thought.

“Captain Smith, should you send the strike team and Beastmaster with us? I assume we will be attempting to trace the familiar bond back to where Cain is?” I asked.

“Oh my, we didn’t even think of that. Normally such a new bond wouldn’t be strong enough to track over large distance but with his high affinity, their bond is incredibly strong. Captain, can it be done?” the King answered.

“If the bond is as strong as you say it is, it should be possible. Perkins, Hernandes, Truman and Miller, you’re with me. The rest of you protect the royal family, this may have been a distraction for an attack on the Palace.” Captain Smith ordered and started forwards.

"Oh Captain, I just remembered something. I saw a blue mist in the blood of the guy who attacked me." I remembered as we started moving.

The captain paused for a fraction of a second then started moving faster without answering me, I followed quickly.

I looked to the side to see that Collins was still moving next to me. I read his rank tab to see he was a Corporal.

It only took us a couple minutes to reach where Clin was rapidly making his way towards the Palace. As I hoped, as soon as he saw me he slithered straight to me and climbed my body to rest on my shoulder.

Clin started hissing in my ear, clearly trying to communicate with me. I looked around for the Beastmaster, hoping to get the information from Clin, Corporal Collins was the one with his head tilted to the side like he could understand everything being said.

It was only a small motion at his own neck that let me know he also had a snake wrapped around his neck.

That must have been why he was the one escorting me.

Suddenly a look of shock passed across Corporal Collins face,

"Oh shit, He can lead us but we need to go NOW!"