“You were amazing luka” said Ariana as she rushed towards.

“Thanks Ari…wait hold o…”

She jumped on me, hugging me tightly. I lost balance and we fell on the ground with her on top of me.

I patted her with a smile of gratitude “Thanks for the cheers Ari”.

Her innocent look and genuine laugh was too much for me to handle.. Ahahah

My parents, accompanied by El, followed a moment after.

“I saw what you have done there Luka. That was splendid”

“All thanks to your advice. Master Eleanor.”

Ahahah I could see he blushed a little. I guess he liked being called master.

“Congrats for becoming apprentice three my little lu.” said my mother as she pinched my cheeks lightly, then hugged the two of us.”I’m proud of you”

“You did well in the fights, Lu. You didn’t let my teaching go to waste” said Gav as he laughed out loud. “You still have a long way to go though, before you can become strong enough to beat me”

“I won multiple against you already”

“You cheeky boy, Wait till you see me with my full strength. I’ll make you wet your tiny pants”

“I’d like to see you try dad”

“Stop it Gav, Lu is tired. Let’s give him time to rest” scolded mom as she helped me to get up.

“Won’t we celebrate?” exclaimed Ariana

“Ofcourse we will, I heard there will be a festival tonight to celebrate the end of the exam. But right now, Lu needs to rest a little”

We headed back to the inn. And as we entered, the innkeeper jumped off his desk and rushed towards me.

“Absolutely Amazing, Ai! you put on an awesome show today kiddo!”

I answered him with a smile while rubbing my hand on the back of my head.

“You lot! Dinner is on the house, Ai! Eat to your hearts’ content!”

The evening was quite enjoyable. We ate, chatted, and laughed. I recounted the fights and my tactics with a proud vibe. All the people at the inn gathered around us, praising me and offering me meals.

Some hot women were leaning on me caressing my body with their hands. Their boobs, squeezing against my shoulders.

“Hmm..those muscles..” they said

“Don’t forget us when you grow up little knight”

..If they keep doing that, my little knight won’t be able to hold it.

Suddenly I felt a death stare from across the table. Ariana was gazing at me with an angry look. I quickly tensed up and chased the women away and started eating like crazy.

*Glup” AAAAAAAA a piece of bread stuck inside my throat. I tried to grab a glass of water but it fell down.

AAAA Help me ….

Everyone laughed hysterically as my mom offered me another glass.

That was a close call not gonna lie.

Night came along, and the town lightened up. The festival illuminated the night with colors. Flamed lanterns of all shapes and sizes hung from every corner, casting a warm glow over the streets. Musicians filled the air with lively melodies, while dancers twirled to the beat.

Food stalls lined the streets, offering grilled meats, fresh bread, and exotic veggies.

Gav was drinking like crazy while trying to persuade El to drink more. And mom was just laughing at the way he was acting.

The music had a traditional vibe to it. Well more like a battle vibe, A mix of choir and ..How do I describe this. Samba music with mixed choir. Quite the weird combination but it was so good.

The dancers on the other hand were divided into two groups. Women with bikinis and colored silky bands swirling all around them as they were doing slow but fluid moves and dances.

The movement of their bodies was so…How do I say this.. MAJESTIC !

“Hehehhehe… “ My mouth was drooling…

The other dancers were cosplaying wild magical beasts doing steady and firm dance moves.

It seemed like these people really liked magical monsters. Not in a weird way, but every way I went I found statues, paintings and engravings of them.

“Look luka, look, look I’m a grumpy beast” said Ari as she was imitating gorilla moves with a weird face.

“Ahahahah You don’t have to change your face like that, your normal face can do the job.

As matter of fact, are you sure you’re not a magical beast yourself?” I said while laughing.

I understand now why they used to tell me these kinds of jokes in my past life. It’s kinda funny not gonna lie.

She stopped. and looked down.

“What’s wrong?”

“Lu you’re mean” said Ari with teary eyes.

“If you are lucky, maybe a lizard will accept you as his wife!”

..ouh Maybe I went too far with that one.

“I hate you..” she said as she turned around and stormed off.

..huh?????? I was just joking. “Wait.. don’t run” I yelled as I followed.

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“Come on Ari, I’m sorry”

“Why do you have to be mean, I just wanted to have fun”

..I guess she didn’t understand my sarcasm. Fuck me I should learn how to talk to girls properly.

We slowed down a bit. I looked around and I didn’t recognise the dark alley we were in.

We went too far away I guessed.

“Okay, forgive me, let’s go back and I’ll get you candy !”

“Really?” she turned around.

“Hey, this is the kid right?” a strange voice came from the shadows

..huh?

“Yeh no doubt” said an other from the top

I tensed up, my instincts urged me to take Ari and flee. I quickly grabbed her hand.

“We have to go now!”

“You ain’t going nowhere” a dark hooded silhouette dropped in front of me. He was faster than the blink of an eye.

Three others followed and cornered us.

Chills went down my spine, as I took a glimpse at Ari who was trembling with fear.

“Sorry kid but you have to die. Orders from the higher ups” said the hooded man in front of me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked with a trembling voice

He quickly unsheathed a dagger from the back of his waist and slashed it at me. With a quick step I dodged.

My instincts saved me from that one.

“Oi oi oi, captain. this ant has moves” said one of the hooded assassins.

The leader started walking to wards and in a flash he skipped the distance and punched me in my gut.

It hurts like shit.

I tried to regain my senses and as I clenched my fist to hit him back, he struck me in my chin with his knee.

I felt dizzy, I tried to turn around to check on Ari.

My eyes widened up as I saw the other three ganging up on her.

One of them grabbed her hand and forcefully uncovered her hood. “What the fuck?” he said “AI boss, she’s an elf”

“Ahahah what a catch!” said another.

She was yelling, crying and struggling to free herself.

The leader strode toward me, his expression twisted with malice as he leaned in close. "Didn't know you were hiding an elf kid. Don't you know that's a crime?" With a menacing glare, he then turned his attention to Ada.

I quickly pushed myself up with my legs and head butted his back, throwing him off balance. As I tried to follow with another attack, one of the assailants lunged at me and grabbed me by the neck, holding his dagger dangerously close to my face.

"Take care of him," commanded the leader, gesturing towards me as he rose himself up. "I’ll deal with the elf myself."

"Running away?" I mocked him.

"Know your place, kid," he growled, his gaze filled with bloodthirsty intent.

As their blows rained down upon me, my body bent in agony, each strike accompanied by their sickening laughs. As they were toying with my body, blood sprayed from my mouth. Yet all I could see was his grip on her delicate cheeks, his fingers intensely digging into her skin. Tears streamed down her face, mirroring the anguish in her eyes as she pleaded silently for mercy.

I have to save her…

A fist crashed into my stomach..

I have to free her…

A knife sliced my arm.. it hurts…

I have to get to her…She’s crying…

“YOU BASTARD, LEAVE HER” I screamed

He smiled back at me as he grabbed her silver hair up, making her scream. “Finish him and follow up, I’ll take this elf to sir Randolph”

“Randolph??” I thought to myself as punches hammered down on me “Randolph Vermont??”

I was losing force to resist. My eyes started shutting down.. Everything blurred as I saw her teary eyes looking at me..Asking me to help her..

I have to get up..I have to…

My eyes shut down.

Is this all I'm capable of? Standing here, paralyzed while he takes her away?

A blurry image of her smile flashed through my mind. "Good job, Lu," her soft, innocent voice echoed in my thoughts. "Look, I'm a grumpy magical beast," an image of her playfully imitating a beast with her adorable chubby face shimmered in my mind.

It's my fault... Those words I said to her… Why do I keep pushing people away? Am I destined to be alone forever?

NO!

Yeah, I don’t deserve to be with her…

NO!

I didn’t deserve this second chance..

NO! IF I DIE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HER?

Maybe, If I had more power.. If I was just a bit stronger..

ahhhh *Sigh*

If..If..If.. always with the damn Ifs.

When will I learn.. When will I stop bei..

「 Do you seek power ? 」

.. huh?

「 Do you seek power ? 」

..what is this voice

「 Do you seek power ? 」

Yes

「 Why ? 」

..What do you mean why

I want to save Ari

「 That’s it ? 」

What more do you..

「 What will happen when you save her ? 」

What are you talking about.. She would survive..

「 And then what ? 」

Then.. I can see her smile again..

「 Are you going to forgive them ? 」

Who are you talking about.. The assassins? of course not. Not after they..

Suddenly, Countless thoughts scrolled through my brain..

I recalled how they grabbed her tiny hand and dropped down her hood.

..They hurt her

I recalled how he grabbed her cheeks and forced himself on her.

..THEY HURT ARI

I recalled he grabbed her hair and made her scream.

..THEY MADE HER SCREAM

I recalled the look on her face as my vision blurred. A tear dropping down from her innocent eyes.

..THEY..MADE..HER..CRY

Rage filled my heart. Wrath wrapped my heart. Fury boiled my blood.

「 Are you going to forgive them ? 」

..no

「 Then what ? 」

..I will kill them.

..I will massacre them.

..I will erase them from this world.

「 Good 」

Suddenly, brightness flooded my thoughts. Golden rays of light erupted from every pore of my body, streaming out from my eyes, mouth, and even my nose and ears.

The beams shined through the entire alley, extending upward reaching the sky.

A moment later, I slowly opened my eyes. My body trembled with fear, as I observed the scene before me.

The three assassins that were ganging up on me vanished with traces of burn on the ground.

“Were..they..vaporized?” I thought to myself.

Suddenly I heard Ari screaming. I turned to my right to see their leader with his left arm burned to ashes as he stood there looking at me with open surprised eyes.

He loosened his right arm and let go of Ari. “You bastard you can..”

“LUKAAAAAAA” I heard Gav yelling from far away.

The leader quickly escaped in a flash as he saw Gav running towards us.