A sudden sound forced Abell out of his thoughts but when he turned around he was immediately met with something else that angered him

"Face me, Abell!" Misha shouted, a mischievous grin on his face.

Get down from the stall, Misha!" exclaimed a girl nearby. "Sorry, Abell. He's like this whenever you're around. He means no harm; he just admires you is all." Clearly embarrassed by the attention Misha garnered, he said in a muffled voice, "Don't worry, Astrid.

Abell sighed, glancing over at Misha, who had jumped down from a nearby stall. "Not now, Misha." He muttered, trying to avoid the challenge.

But Misha wouldn't back down, charging at him with a wooden sword. Abell, irritated but unwilling to entertain the fight, easily flicked Misha's nose, sending him tumbling backward.

"No fair!" Misha protested from the ground. "You're supposed to show me your light sword, not just use your hand!"

Abell smirked, "It's not a toy, Misha. Besides, you're not worth the effort." His tone was teasing, though the laughter of onlookers made him uneasy. A few people frowned, muttering, and some of them even shook their heads in disapproval.

Astrid, seeing the situation escalate, grabbed Abell's arm. "Come on, Abell, let's go find your mom before this turns into more trouble." Her grip was firm, and she tugged him away from the crowd.

As they made their way through the market, the whispers continued. Abell's face flushed, knowing his reputation always seemed to precede him. He'd spent most of his life fighting his own image, always a step away from being the town's troublemaker.

They found Keeko in the middle of a conversation with a tall man, his presence commanding despite the casual way he was dressed. Abell eyed him, noting the battle-worn look of his tunic, the faint scar under his eye, and the broad grin on his face that contrasted his rugged appearance.

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"Keeko!" the man greeted cheerfully, as if nothing had changed. "Still as youthful as ever!"

Keeko quickly became frustrated at the remark about her age, prompting her to deliver a swift strike at the jolly man. He dodged with ease, a smug grin plastered across his face, which only deepened her displeasure.

Her smile tightened. "Why are you here, Hugo?" she asked, clearly frustrated. "I thought I had hid my location well from the Luminaries."

"We were bound to find it," Hugo replied, his voice playful but with a hint of seriousness. "This is one of the safest spots in Western Eudora. Someone with power had to be here." His eyes flickered toward Abell. "So, this is what you've been hiding."

Before Keeko could respond, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, silencing the chatter of the marketplace. Panic spread through the crowd in an instant, as villagers ran in every direction.

Abell's heart raced. Adrenaline surged through his veins as his focus shifted entirely to the chaos unfolding around them. "What's going on?" he asked, scanning the crowd.

His answer came swiftly—a group of Malignants, grotesque and unnatural, surged into view, their hollow eyes filled with a primal hunger.

Abell motioned for Astrid to take Misha and run. "Get out of here," he ordered, his voice steady. Astrid nodded and grabbed Misha, pulling him away, her expression a mix of fear and resolve as she grasped Misha's arm. He followed reluctantly, glancing back at Abell with wide, terrified eyes.

As the Malignants drew closer, their malevolent energy became palpable; terrified screams flooded the market as chaos erupted. Villagers ran in all directions, desperately trying to escape the imminent danger.

With the market gradually emptying, Abell felt a confident smirk tugging at his lips. He opened his palm, channeling the energy within him. Harnessing his Ability, Lumination, he turned luminous energy into solid objects. In an instant, a brilliant sword, shining with a glimmer of golden light, materialized in his left hand.

"Finally, some action," he said with a smirk, feeling the thrill of the fight stir within him. "I was starting to get annoyed."

Hugo's expression shifted to one of surprise. "Interesting…" he murmured, eyeing the sword with awe.

Abell stepped forward, ready to face the chaos. He wasn't backing down this time.