He lifted his head slowly..Reed was developing mild arrthymia .The woman standing in front of him was a little taller than the average woman but nonetheless still shorter that Reed.He was getting anxious just standing Infront of her but something was driving him him crazy with anticipation.He wanted to see the woman of the mysterious man more especially because of the colour of her hair.She must be very appealing.The strands must compliment her eyes and skin.. Gosh can she just raise her head already.

Adrian kept his eyes closed as he took his time raising his face.He was feeling really uncomfortable, of course he wanted to stare into Reed s perfectly shaped orbs but he was not quite sure how Reed would react.This would the first time he would see his real face.Even though there is nothing special about it, Adrian feels this should be a private moment.He could think of so many ways that this situation could be changed but it doesn't look like he has much of a choice.

He raised his head slowly and his chin started to emerge.His jaw bone was so soft also like a pure emerald green nephrite.The jaw seemed as if a small white feather fell on it ,the feather would simply slide down.The skin was so pale but the colour was hidden under dirt smudges.It seemed as if the skin of his face were to be cleaned ,it would resemble cotton in its silky consistency.His lips were the one thing that were about to come into display however that moment was short-lived.

Adrian was snatched away by the cloaked figure and headed towards the four way intersection.As if by impulse Reed stormed after the figure.There was something about that woman that had captivated Reed so much so bad that he didn't even realize that he had stormed off after the figure..He was so focused on unovering the mystious lady behind the hat. .The figure then proceeded to jump on the roof with the woman on its embrace..Reed followed after the figure as it lept from roof to roof.Reed mimicked its motion tirelessly.. Something was pushing him to get that woman out of that thing s hands.. That something was different from that of the valiancy in him.Something greater than curiosity. Propably something close to...

The figure lept until it was facing the dense forest ,that Reed was trapped in for days. The figure jumped off the formally arranged rooftops and landed on the ground and burst of into the green blanket of trees. It was broad daylight but one can tell that these woods must host more than what meets the eye..The figure allowed for Reed to emerge on the roof top and that's when it shot into the woods.It ran harpazadly at such high speed that Reed could not keep up.The leaves where all on the ground however the figure never rumbled any leaf,it was just hovering over the leaves..It swiveled through the trees which made Reed confused and he just ended up just staring at the trees his head was spinning so much .He was stranded.

He heard movements south of where he was standing.He summoned the sword from his saberscath and shoot it towards the motion.He raced towards the knife direction. After running a few feet he found his knife and was starstruck. The knife was through the left shoulder of the figure.It appeared as if the knife was floating through smoke.Te figure didn't seem do be bothered by the metal through its body..The figure raised its hooded head to face Reed.And then the figure flinched its shoulder.This made Reed alert and he charged towards the figure.The figure shoot tentacles from its hand towards Reed.The smoky tentacles branched into fifty black icy spikes..Reed managed to doge most of them , while some he crushed with his saberscath.

Reed turned around and instantly drew a glowing circle on the ground with his leg.As he did that the same circle appeared around the figure , enclosed the figure and the same spikes formed within the shiled and trapped the figure.He then drew a spell on the air making a large window to which he pushed it with both hands.He exrted so much force but the figure inside the encirclement didn't seem to get crushed by the spikes .It just retained its composure.Suddenly the emerald encirclement glowed red.(this happens when two opposite forces collided)..

Reed arched his eyebrows proceeding to cross his hands over his head.This formed a protective barrier around him .The moment he did this the figure s cage exploded sending bits of shattered glass everywhere..This was accompanied by a raging fire that consumed nearly fifty miles of land and the figure s cloak was obliterated..The blast was so huge that the villagers felt it as well as the guards at the palace.. Reed s sword was blasted into a tree trunk faraway from this scene.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Adrian opened his eyes slowly as he heard a sound like an overboiling pot or a volcano about to explode...He raised his eyes and they immediately landed on the cloaked figure that had hit his acupoint after jumping though the rooftops with him.The figure was in some sort of cage .His confusion was thawed by seeing Reed pushing on a spell..He tried to focus but the next thing he saw was a humongous earpiercing explosion.

The explosion sent Reed flying into the air but he didn't see where he landed.He closed his eyes and and turned his head.He was certain that the glass would stab him but he didn't even feel anything,infact he could not even hear anything..He was confused as to why he could not hear or feel anything.He opened his eye and turned his head towards Reed and the figure but that was not what he sees now.The whole forest was cleared of trees and it seemed like a desert . However that was not what got his attention.

There was a man standing infront off him.The man appeared to be crossing his arms.He seemed so prideful like a lion on its throne.The man had made a power shield infront of both Adrian and himself..All the seismic waves emitted by the explosion could be absorbed by this formation.He knows this because of the lettering that was running alone the circumference of the shield.

No one in the guardians palce can cultivatevthis technique.So whoever this person is they must not belong to the palace.The explosion died down while Adrian stared at the figure standing in front of him in disbelief.He msot likely didn't notice the explosion stop..The lettering cleared up but the shield was still there.The man lowered his hands slowly.

Adrain was getting torn up.All he did was just stare at this figure.Memories of about three weeks came flooding into his mind.He remembered that there was a man in his room and that man had peeled off his face and that man is now standing right now here.He recalls that he felt throttled but it was because of the air that was running into his lungs instead of someone else s doing.But most importantly that the man is someone he knows and someone who used mean to him more than the heaven and earth combined .That he used to be someone he knew a long time ago. Someone he thought he would never see again and here he is standing right Infront of him.

The tear were falling frantically and it was obvious that his heart was breaking all over again as it did a really long time ago..How much he wished he could jump up and hug him .. How much he wished he could turn back the time to that day so that he never left..But he didn't have a choice back then but will he understand?

"Who are you",asked the man.Valian never once turned his head his voice quivered so clearly, it was quite undoubtable that he was trying to swallow back the tears but was failing tremendously.

As soon as Adrian heard that question, he felt his heart leep out of his chest and fall to the ground.The pain ignited a fire on his chest such that Adrian dropped his mouth open . 'How could he not recognize me',this question danced with Adrian s brain cells.

He wanted to utter something but nothing came out of his mouth.He shook his head and dropped it downwards.He was inhaling hot air and that somehow feel like it was burning his throat..His mind was going blank at the speed of light.The floods of tears were continuously falling erratically

Valian wanted to turn around to see Adrian but he couldn't comprehend the emotions surging through him as he sees this man.All the while he had been watching him for three days in that inn he felt nothing but complete sorrow.He had no intention to save him today but he couldn't just let him die.Even though he just consumed half his strength saving him right now,that was not what made him weak..What is it about this man in the mask that has him feeling like he as swallowed charcoal.He wants to turn and threaten this man but he doesn't feel like he would succeed.

The internal chaos in his soul was irrevocable.He gave up fighting the invisible enemy and just walked away lazily.Valian stepped through the shield and it collapsed behind him.He took slow steps and each was accompanied by a tear drop.He turned to the right afew steps ahead and disappeared into the damaged trees.He leaped into the air and he flew away..

Valian 's tears trickled into the air as he flew.He landed onto the tree branch and sat on it with his legs hanging.As he laid his head against the tree stem ,he stared into space but he was not seeing anything.At this point the tears fell uncontrollably..Why is he so sad?He cried so wholeheartedly and he looked so pitiful.

Adrian raised his head and noticed that Valian had left.He stood up from where he sat.He felt so drained but he can't do anything about it now.He carried himself deep into the forest.Half way into the forest after leaving the warzone ,he took off the hat and hanged it loosely in his hand .Simultaneously his snow kissed hair danced in the breeze and proceeded to land on his face..His perfect face was dressed in tears but still he looked very picturesque..He moved two steps and heard an angular voice

"You were so close!"