MORDRED

The healer had been sent on thousands of missions. He had been sent to kill five soldiers at the border so he could free warlocks. Ordered to steal weapons from the wagons of the train that was on its way to Olympus, even if it was guarded by dozens of soldiers.

Therefore, why was he now praying for that Trickster not to be the girl who was singing to the audience of the FOURTH CIRCLE?

She was a vomit. That was how Mordred could describe her with her heavy colorful fabrics that did not match one another. A vomit of colors. Her singing was not better either. Her helm made few of her words escape to the microphone as her voice was harsh and wild, and for a strange reason she did not miss any turns and the crowd loved her. Maybe they did not have any good music in the area of forsaken because the guitarist and the drums had no sync either while their half empty bottles of liquor down to their feet. Mordred could not understand the song clearly but as the words came out from the girl was about a woman whose husband cheated her on and the husband's friend killed her son and daughter.

''This is bad''Mordred crossed their arms and faced the mechanic who was staring at the crowd and the white haired girl that was walking towards the trickster.

''It's different?''The guard replied with a question trying to sync his head with the music.

''Well, this is bad different''Mordred shrugged and studied the white girl who was fidgeting numbers to the Trickster while she was singing and raising her voice.

Her eyes looked around and stopped when she saw all three of them staring at her near the bar.

And Mordrec could now listen clearly to what words were said next.

''Let the game start.'' And she raised her hands for applause. When she bowed and the crowd stood up, thick red smoke emerged from the stage.

They could see the crowd still cheering and Mordred started rushing to the smoke. When he jumped to the stage. he could smell the mana, the thick scent of the dry plants, and yet another rusty scent. When he could see clearly, it was too late to realize that the girl and the band were long gone and the white haired girl was giggling as she was now far from their reach too.

''There she is,'' The mechanic shouted, pointing to the colorful vomit near the few empty tables and the crowd cheered for her once more.

''Thank you''She said with a laughter. ''Thank you, Thank you''

Mordred gritted his teeth and started running to her while she was running far too.

''Wait'' Ukko and Hephaestus shouted after her, as fast as they could, pushing people away, ruining the tables.

Mordred looked at them confused before he followed them too to one of the now open door of the FOURTH CIRCLE, letting a heavy smell of food explode his nostrils.

Inside the kitchen, they watched the girl throw pots filled with soup and bread at them. The cook shouted as he tried to stop her from her actions. But the girl threw a loaf of bread at him too.

''Just listen to us'' Hephaestus told her, dodging a loaf of bread. The girl threw one more, smacking their face with it.

''I am not dealing with the army, royalty...'' The girl said and glared at Mordred, her eyes scanning him from head to toe. ''Or priests''

His eyes rose with shock. How did she know?

''But you'' Hephaestus wiped their nose and tried to speak once more. But the girl showed the bread in her hands with a threatening stare moving it front and back. Hephaestus did not let another sound. Then she ran away again outside the door.

When they got out, there was a crowd of people-mostly children-, covering their vision to see where the girl ended up.

Mordred's head started spinning around with all the noise and people staring at him.

''There she is '' Hephaestus pointed to the girl running to the left, far away from the crowd.

They all followed her to the marketplace, where she was now pushing the people towards them or throwing objects such as old fabric, broken glasses and copper mugs, and pieces of silver as she was also trying to steal from others' pockets.

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''You again?'' Someone yelled at her. It seemed that she was stealing from others except for newcomers.

''We will catch her'' Ukko said to him without stopping to look at him.

''Do not worry''Hephaestus assured the man as Mordred gave the man two Eke'el.

The girl stepped into a wooden tall box and started jumping around, trying to get higher and higher. She let out a loud whistle, causing more people to appear.

Mordred aimed his pistol at her, or at least close to her. Hephaestus grabbed his hand before he even pulled the trigger.

''Don't''They said with fire in their eyes. He tried to move his hand, but everyone stared at him. His stomach was tied up into a million knots with his eyes moving up and down.

I must not cause panic He said and he returned to the girl who was now standing in a box, looking at all three of them like they were her audience. Her eyes drew attention to Mordred’s pistols as well as Hephaestus. Then, she slid down and blended in with the panicked crowd.

Hephaestus pointed the way they could see that she was heading.

A few minutes later, they were inside an alley with a dead end wall. There was a drop of sweat around Mordred's jaw while his eyes returned to Hephaestus furious. Why did he think, trusting someone like them to make a plan was a good idea? He should have done what Hermes told him from the beginning. Maybe the child would have been a nice way of dying.

''I swear I saw her'' They stuttered.

''You made a mistake''Mordred pointed out. From the minute they stepped in the area there was nothing more than chaos and violence. He would fail to bring the artifact back to Hermes and Nephthys would cut the strings.

This was a mistake.

''The blacksmith wasn't wrong '' A voice whispered from behind, making Hephaestus and Ukko squeal from shock.

Mordred turned back and saw the girl now pointing at them with her pistol.

Hephaestus took a deep breath and took the first step.

‘’Where is she?’’ The guard growled at the girl. ''Where is Lucifer?''

‘’Pleasure to meet you again’’She arched her brow.

Hephaestus pulled Ukko back by his arm as they could see clearly that he was ready to do something he would regret.

‘’Aku’’Hephaestus spoke in the dialect.

''Stop'' The girl ordered them with no hesitation.

''We just need to talk,'' Hephaestus said. ''We can explain''

The girl undressed her face, exposing her long hideous scar. A smile spread across her face as she interrupted them"You are warlocks and you need to find the royal."

Hephaestus took another breath and hummed. ''Actually yes'' They admitted. Ukko agreed with them by shaking his head.

''How do you know ?'' Mordred asked her.

''I have talents''She replied and faced her gaze at him. ''Do I know you?''

''What?'' He squeezed his eyes.

''Just'' Hephaestus stretched their wrists. ''Take us to her and''

The girl now looked at Hephaestus''And then what?''. She shouted''You will help me get out?''She asked, pointing at the collar around her neck.

''You know you can't''Her voice was eager, hoping one of them would disagree. But she was right. None of them could help her get out. Especially Mordred.

Whenever she went out, she would always be hunted. Mordred could find another way for her to cooperate. But it would cause panic right at that moment. They all had to be quiet.

''Watch out'' Hephaestus yelled to her as a pair of thick arms wrapped around her curvy body.

''Let go of me'' She said, struggling by kicking her legs in the air.

''Mammon told me to take care of you if you think of running away again'' The man growled and clenched his arms tighter, making her let go ''I am not'' She said with a tired tone.

Hephaestus took a pistol out of their bag and Ukko's left hand had the spark of lightning moving around his fingers.

''Wait'' Mordred said.

''Shoot''The girl commanded, whispering. Mordred narrowed surprised.

''I will help you out if you shoot'' She said now panicked, flexing her hands left and right as the hairpin fell from her dark locks.

Mordred waited for two seconds. And then the bullet he fired from his left pistol hit The man's leg. He took a step back letting the girl fall to her knees. He then fired another one, which landed right on the man's head and he fell like a building.

Mordred muttered a prayer before he moved his weapons back to their pockets.

''Thank you'' The girl tied up her fabrics near her lieggins as she stood up with the pin still on the ground. Her eyes were focused on the rest of them.

Mordred held his surprise. Unlike the others.

''You are a warlock?'' Ukko asked, shocked. Mordred did not blame him for believing that she was. The entire surface of her eye was stained with crimson color, like blood. Her ears were sharp like broken glass and her expression was colorful and free. She had the characteristics of a demon. But her eyes were not filled with red color to be any kind of demon. Her irises remained dark like coal exposing her emotions. Mordred took a deep breath as the girl was gazing at them with a sort of frightened look. She was hiding something more than being a warlock or demon.

And when Mordred realized, they wished it wouldn’t be true.

''A Hybrid'' His fingers clicked around the grips of both of his guns.

The girl noticed it and shook her head.

''Well it was a pleasure to meet all of you'' She kneeled and picked up her pin back, covering her face with her helm once more. As she held it her wild features returned to normal.

''But I have other things to do, except being hunted by people who hate me'' She arched her brow, bowing her eyes at Mordred's hands.

''Here'' She said and her hand reached inside her bag, taking out a red bottle and throwing it at Hephaestus. Surprisingly, they caught it in the middle of the air and tried to look at it.

The girl returned to Mordred.

''That's what you're after, right?''She asked, looking at him, trying to study him.

Hephaestus gave it to Ukko and shook his head as he looked back at Mordred.

''What about Lucifer?'' As Ukko asked, confused, the girl had disappeared into the crowd.

Mordred's eyes fell to the red liquid inside the crystal glass. A whisper of wind echoed into his ears.

DON'T. A voice screamed in his head.

And then, a scream broke outside his mind. A dead body was found with three people on top of it.