"Thank the gods," Gayle breathed out, feeling the tightness in her chest ease up.

She couldn't bear the thought of Tuck and his mom being killed because she failed to save them. If that had happened, what right would she have to continue to Akademos? Truly, what would be the point of having these abilities if I couldn't even protect them? Gayle knew the answer: she'd have given up and returned to Corath to live out the rest of her days in sad obscurity.

But fortunately, it seemed someone had been there to prevent that bleak future.

Up in the tree, the newcomer gesticulated wildly, miming questions Gayle couldn't quite make out. He gestured towards the ogre, then at the mother and son he had rescued. Gayle imagined he was asking "What is that thing, and why is it after them?"

Gayle got back on her feet. "How? How did he...?" she stammered, trying to process the situation.

"Ha! I knew something was up," Ayran said with a satisfied smile.

The woman seemed to say something and the shaggy-haired boy stopped his flailing motions. He nodded then gracefully dropped from the tree, before helping Tuck and his mom down. The woman hugged her son tightly, terror still etched on her face. She bowed gratefully to the shaggy-haired boy, then to Gayle and Ayran before running off in the direction the others had vanished. The shaggy-haired boy sprinted over to them. He made sure to give the still chortling ogre a wide berth.

"How did you save them?" Gayle asked, staring at the shaggy-haired boy as he approached.

"I snatched them up before they got squished," he replied nonchalantly.

"Yeah, but how?" she pressed. "Could it be...are you a--"

"Not important right now," Ayran interrupted. "There's still a rampaging beast on the loose, in case you forgot. Everyone is safely away, so can we please leave before the ogre decides to smash something else?"

"Right. Yeah, let's go," Gayle agreed.

Ayran had already taken off before she had finished speaking, running as fast as he could in the direction opposite the ogre. Soon, she and the shaggy-haired boy joined him.

It wasn't long before the ogre roared again, suddenly disgruntled. Its roar seemed to echo Ayran's earlier question: where was the blood? It scanned the area and spotted the fleeing trio. Then, with another roar, it lunged into a frenzied pursuit, its colossal feet pounding the earth behind them. Gayle had the feeling that it would love nothing more than to acquaint them with its club.

"So that's an ogre? Neat," the shaggy-haired boy said, running beside Gayle.

"Neat? Yeah that lovely creature about to flatten us is really neat," Ayran said. He gestured frantically behind them. "Nothing beats its foul mood, rancid smell or its irrepressible desire to turn people into a nice meaty pulp."

Gayle rolled her eyes at Ayran's comment. Her brother had always been a tad overdramatic. "Don't mind him. He's just exaggerating," she reassured their new companion.

"So, is that creature really strong?" the shaggy-haired boy asked, a mix of curiosity and excitement in his eyes.

Ayran let out a dry chuckle. "You saw it yourself. The crater? The big boom?"

"Sure did," the shaggy-haired boy replied, grinning. He seemed impressed.

Ayran scowled. "I don't think you get it. If what I've heard is true, that thing can wipe out an entire village single-handedly. Gayle and I wouldn't stand a chance against it."

Gayle knew he was right, but that didn't stop the twinge of irritation she felt at his remark. "We could take it down if I weren't out of Aether," she snapped.

Ayran gave her a knowing glance. "And whose fault is that?"

The shaggy-haired boy suddenly slowed, then came to a stop.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

After a moment, Gayle did as well. "Why did you stop?" she asked.

"Yeah, the ogre is still behind us," Ayran said from several feet in front of them.

"I want to confirm something. I'll be right back," the boy said, smiling as he tossed his knapsack to a nearby tree. "Blitz," he muttered before vanishing in a gust of wind. Moments later, he reappeared right in front of the ogre.

"So that's what he did before," Ayran noted. "Looks like he's a wind mage."

"Seems so," Gayle agreed. "And I'm guessing he's an enhancer?"

The ogre was startled by the shaggy-haired boy's sudden appearance but quickly recovered and let out a deafening roar.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you," the shaggy-haired boy said. "I heard you're strong, so I have to ask. Why were you attacking those defenseless people?"

The ogre responded by lifting its massive club and swinging. The boy ducked behind the club, then turned in time to sidestep another swing. Nimbly and effortlessly, he evaded all the creature's attacks, seemingly enjoying himself.

"Can't hit me, can you?" the boy taunted. "Even Tyre and Niko would have done better. Come on, try harder."

Gayle watched as he toyed with the ogre, dumbfounded by what she was witnessing. Sure, she was quite daring when using her powers, but she never would've dreamt of using them so recklessly in a life-or-death scenario.

"Looks like he's crazier than you," Ayran remarked as they watched the harrowing scene unfold. "Why does it look like he's trying to provoke it?"

Ayran was right. It appeared that the boy was deliberately trying to incite the ogre.

"I don't know, but we can't just leave him behind," Gayle resolved.

The ogre roared. It seemed the creature had also caught on to the shaggy-haired boy's scheme, and it was not amused. It slammed the ground, forcing him into the air. Then faster than any of them could react, it leaped up and knocked the surprised boy back to the ground. Upon landing, the ogre raised its club and delivered a final crushing blow. The weapon descended with immense force, cracking the earth beneath it as dust, dirt, and wind shot out in every direction.

"Not again," Gayle cursed, rushing to the boy's aid. "Wind Emission: Gale Burst," she cast as she thrust out her hand, but her wind fizzled out with a pathetic whisper. Still? she thought. It didn't usually take this long for her Aether to regenerate.

Ayran followed her warily. "I hate to say I told you so to a dead guy, but-"

The shaggy-haired boy's laughter cut him off.

"Ah, right," Ayran mumbled. "No blood."

"I knew it!" the boy exclaimed gleefully as the dust cleared. He was on his back, his right hand raised, and the ogre's club balanced on his fist. Abruptly, the filthy wood fractured with a resounding crack, splintering into countless shards. The boy sprang up and brushed off the debris with a flourish. "Thanks for the confirmation," he said, grinning. "You're much stronger and smarter than I gave you credit for. But now, it's my turn to be serious."

A chill went down Gayle's spine as the boy approached the ogre. His previous jovial expression had vanished, replaced by a severe, intense look. She and Ayran involuntarily retreated, sensing the impending danger.

The ogre roared in challenge, hurling its broken club hilt at the boy. The boy responded with a punch, and a gust of wind knocked the hilt away. Then, with another punch, the creature was sent crashing into a nearby tree. The boy strode forward confidently, and the ogre seemed to cower at his approach.

"You never did answer my question," the boy stated, closing the gap within seconds. He loomed over the ogre as he repeated his question, his right fist clenched. "Why were you picking on the weak if you're so strong?"

Gayle tensed, bracing alongside the ogre as the boy raised his hand to deliver another blow. Though she'd been prepared to battle the creature herself only moments ago, Gayle couldn't help but feel sympathy for it. But then the boy did something that stunned her, Ayran, and the ogre alike.

The shaggy-haired boy tapped the ogre's wart-covered cheek and shouted, "Tag, you're it!" before running into the forest with a stupid grin.

For a moment, the ogre just stared at the laughing boy running between the trees. Then its face contorted into something beyond fury. Gayle could have sworn she heard something snap inside the creature. It unleashed a deafening, bone-chilling roar, as if swearing vengeance upon the boy. The ogre scrambled to its feet and charged after him, its massive form barreling through the forest.

"That was...interesting," Ayran said with a confused frown. "A strange guy with a powerful Art. But I guess that's to be expected this close to Akademos. And it seems you were right; he is an enhancer."

Gayle, still processing, merely nodded as she watched the boy sprint through the forest. She could see the ogre gaining on him, its newfound fury propelling it forward with terrifying speed. Yet the boy seemed unfazed, nimbly weaving through the underbrush with a carefree grin.

"I've never seen anyone use an Art like that. Did he even say a cast?" she asked.

"I think I heard him say "blitz" once or twice. Maybe that was it?" Ayran shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you. He's in trouble now after successfully riling up the monster. If he's not a mage, that ogre will tear him apart."

With a burst of adrenaline and determination, Gayle took off after the boy and the ogre.

"Oh, come on," Ayran's voice trailed after her, exasperated. "This isn't our problem, Gayle."

"We have to make sure he doesn't die, just in case he isn't a mage," Gayle shouted back over her shoulder.

"Why? He looks more than capable of handling himself. He doesn't need us."

Gayle ignored him and continued to charge forward. That may well have been true, but she couldn't bring herself to abandon the boy.

"Oh Ayran, why don't we go to Akademos. It'll be so much fun," Ayran said mockingly as he reluctantly chased behind her. "Well, this isn't fun, Gayle. Now we're all going to die before we even reach that insane school, and just know it's your fault!"