The masked man ran through the streets attempting to blend in with the people rushing to the safety of their homes, however, Symond, the knight, was right on his heels.
He left the crowd once he realized it would not provide an escape and made his way towards the lesser crowded areas of the city.
“Only makes you easier to catch.” Symond breathed as he took after him.
He was fast and it seemed like Symond would lose him. But as they entered an open place with more options of escape, Symond spread his tendrils around blocking off the left and right paths. He kept up the constant use to force one path.
The assailant busted through the door of a merchant guild warehouse. The few stray workers inside whom had yet to run to their homes looked on in surprise. Symond wasted no time.
“Leave,” He said, “This man is dangerous!”
Recognizing him as a knight, the workers obeyed. The masked man did nothing to stop them from leaving. He simply stood and faced the knight.
“Not going to take a hostage?” he asked. “How honorable.”
Symond quietly observed the cloaked figure for any openings to take advantage of. Slowly, the man reached into his pocket. The knight immediately fell into a fully defensive stance, ready to react at any moment.
“Who gave you this?” The masked man asked, holding up the merchant guild scroll.
“It’s none of your business. Surrender now and there won’t have to be any bloodshed.” He warned. “You may have fared well before but now I know what you’re capable of. I won’t hesitate to end your life this time either.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“No.” he responded. “I won’t tell you.”
The assailant crumpled up the paper and threw it on the floor. In that moment, Symond closed the gap in a step and swung upwards with his sword.
The man stepped back and released a lightning bolt.
He parried with his sword and howled, “[Blessing of Wind]!” with a burst of speed fast enough to match any teleportation he slashed, grazing the man’s side as he turned around.
“[Twin Lightning]!”
The connected surge of electrical energy spread out in a wave before him. The knight dodged with ease.
Spotting another opening, Symond struck at him. The man ducked under the blade and accurately shot a lightning bolt straight into his chest.
“Not enough!” Symond cried in pain. “[Holy Crescent Slash]!”
The masked man’s eyes widened and he threw up a barrier. He kicked the knight once the spell was cleared.
“Nice barrier. Didn’t think you were fond of those considering you didn’t use them during our last battle.” Symond mocked. “Or perhaps that holy attack scared you into fighting a bit more seriously?”
His two eyes narrowed, “Tell me who sent you and where the girl you’re looking for is.”
Symond shook his head and attacked with the previous spell. Like he predicted, the masked man protected himself with a barrier. A weakness.
“[Holy Judgement]!”
The man jumped out of the circle at his feet before it completed. He stared harshly at the light that rose from it.
Symond continued with his onslaught of holy and light magic, pushing the man ever slowly into a corner. Holy and light magic were decently strong on their own but when used against a demonic, unholy, or undead enemies, it’s effects were heightened to unimaginable levels.
Every now and then, a stray bolt of lightning would be shot in retaliation but the man was too occupied with defense to put up a sufficient counterattack. Once the man’s back was pressed against the wall of the warehouse, Symond knew he had won.
“[Iron Flesh]!”
Momentarily enhancing his defensive capabilities, Symond covered the ground with his tendrils. With nowhere left to go, it would be impossible for the man to dodge the spells.
“[Holy Judgement]!”
The circle appeared under the man’s feet but he couldn’t move without tripping or getting himself entangled. He grit his teeth and erected a barrier that also protected from the ground.
The spell failed to pierce the defense of the mana shield but Symond kept trying. “[Holy Judgement]!” He screamed again. The circle formed and as the light was about to rise, he shouted, “[Frost Arrow]!”
It shattered the constitution of the barrier and light seeped through.
“AAAAAAARRRRRGGG!”
The man’s whole being shook and as the spell ended, he collapsed.
Symond erased the existence of his tendrils, picked up the crumpled scroll stolen from them, and approached the masked man. He laid stiller than a corpse.
Symond reached down.
“GUH!”
A fist charged with mana and surging with electricity suddenly lodged in his gut, utterly crushing the armor. All air was knocked out of him and his vision blurred. As his eyes scrambled to refocus, a powerful blow landed on the back of his head.
This time, it was he who laid on the ground.
He was picked up by the collar of his armor and thrown against the wall. His head swiveled nauseatingly. The man lifted him by the throat.
“Tell me,” he said, “Who sent you here?”
Unable to conjure any strength and fully aware of the very real possibility of death, a part of his mind begged him to speak the name.
“Where is the girl!” The masked man shouted.
“Which do you want to know about more?” Symond managed to ask.
“The girl.” He spoke evenly.
“Why?”
“So I can do your job for you.” The man answered.
“Heh.” he laughed. “Ask the two nobles who ran.” Symond glanced at the hand pinning him against the wall. The masked man’s free hand was resting at his side, doing absolutely nothing.
“Then who gave you those orders?” He pressed harder against his throat, “Tell me.”
“A-Athen…” Symond choked out. As soon as the man’s hand relieved some of the pressure to allow the rest of the name, he attacked.
Pulling out a small dagger attached to his belt, he aimed at the man’s neck.
“Fuck…” he cursed. The masked man had caught arm and stopped the blade just inches away from his neck.
The man muttered, “If only you had cooperated.”
Symond’s eyes widened as hundreds of electrical shocks went through his body. He shook violently just like the man had done but this time, he wasn’t faking it. The endless stream of shocks continued until the light left his eyes.
He was dropped onto the ground where he twitched twice more before remaining still.
-----------------------------------------
I wave goodbye to the Twelfth and start my way back to the dorm. Unconsciously, I follow the path I took to reach Henry. I’m not on that side of the city but some of the buildings are here.
I leap across each one with increasing pace. The chilly Winter wind brushes against my face as I hop from rooftop to rooftop. The tiles are sturdy and never fail to hold my weight. The snow doesn’t slow me down.
And again, like I hoped, I see it. Two large chunks of the roof are missing. It’s as if someone had swung a hammer down in an attempt to open up a hole to let snow through. However, there are no signs of destroyed pieces, muchless that of any actual “crushing.” Rather, it looks like a clean diamond shaped cut.
Nearing my dorm room, I scan for any sharp-eyed strangers before using my ability. I’m not able to climb through my window but if I can see through the opening I leave, I can teleport into my room.
I focus my eyes and I jump.
“Huh?”
Instead of being inside my room, I’m looking through a pane of cold, foggy, glass. My balance falters and my legs have no ground to support them. The cool wind playfully presses itself against my back. The stars are shining brightly tonight.
I’m falling.
I twist my body and land safely on the ground. Before a child can point their finger at me, I use my ability and reappear atop a nearby building. I pinch my forehead and sit down. I left the window open, I know I did. There would be no other way for me to have left if I didn’t.
Someone entered my room.
--------------------------------------------
“So you didn’t go into my room?” I say loud enough for the entire classroom to hear. I flick my attention across all the present faces. No reactions.
He scrunches his nose and looks at me, “No Rai. I’m not someone who’d barge into another’s room without permission ya know.”
“Then what about my sister’s room?” I offhandedly mention. “You barged into her’s didn’t you?”
“H-hey!” he scrambles to respond. “Y-you entered her room too!”
Finger pointing, finger pointing my dear Axel. “I am her brother, of course I have the right to enter and go as I please. She didn’t say that I couldn’t.”
“W-what? That’s flawed logic Rainen.” Axel waves the idea away. “You’re just as guilty as I am. But back on topic. I didn’t break into your room.” I follow him as he takes his seat and rests his head on his fist. “I called out to you yesterday but when I got there, and of course knocked, you weren’t inside. So I did what any normal person would do and left.”
“Ah, Rai. You should sit down. Miss Ein’s here.”
I pretend to pay attention to Miss Ein’s lecture. While my brain’s busy working through my thoughts.
I trust that Axel didn’t enter my room. I know he wouldn’t. But if it wasn’t him, then who was it? There are definitely people here who don’t enjoy my company and would rather see me in another class but none seemed to have any reactions when I mentioned it. I had expected to at least see a twitch.
I checked the door and everything seemed fine. The person didn’t force their way in. Either they had an ability to phase through objects, they picked the lock, or they had a key. I’m sure we would’ve had some sort of incident with someone who could pass through walls by now so I’ll rule that out.
Lock picking can be ignored as well. They most likely would’ve been caught by someone. Also, most of these students are nobles who haven’t had to lift a finger in their lives to do something that dirty. I could imagine someone like Iris doing it. She certainly should know a few shady techniques if she has that big of a thirst for information. But girls aren’t allowed in the boys’ dorms so she’s out. Not that I suspected her.
Unconsciously, my eyes wander over to where Blue Hair sits. They switch seats sometimes. I’m sure Miss Ein knows but doesn’t care. It’s not like these seats are actually assigned to us. If I wanted to, I could take the seat next to Axel but that would only cause conflict.
Blue Hair listens to the lecture attentively.
She sure is diligent. I wonder if she prefers reading over hearing a story told to her.
A sneeze brings my mind back on track.
The door. There wasn’t anything wrong with it so the person most likely used a key. The question is, how could someone even get a key? I used mine to get in yesterday so it wasn’t mine. And the receptionist wouldn’t give a key to just anyone. Unless…
“Let’s go to the gym now.” Miss Ein ushers everyone out the door.
They were a teacher. Just like how those two teachers were able to enter my room back when Krestfall attacked the school and guard barracks. The school was in a state of emergency and was looking for all the students but I’ll have to assume that a teacher is the most likely culprit.
I can ask around more after school.
-----------------------------------------
“Look,” a fellow student says to me, “There aren’t many of us here who like you but we wouldn’t break into your room unless you did something to us.”
Axel, who’s standing next to me, shrugs. “Well, Rai. They’re clean, let’s leave.”
Before my cowardly friend can leave, I grab his shoulder and twirl him around. He sighs and pleads with me through the silent communication highways that are the eyes. I already told him that he didn’t have to come with me if he didn’t want to. So no. Now that he’s here, he has to stay until I finish.
“Alright, thanks.” I tell them. “But did you see anyone out of place yesterday at the dorms?”
They all shake their heads. Even if we’re around the same area, I can’t expect them to all be at the dorm during that time. I did leave a little early yesterday.
I give them a little nod of the head as we leave.
“Rainen,” Axel says.
“What is it?” I’m busy pondering the possible people I can ask.
“What did they even do when they were in your room anyways? How did you know someone went in?” I don’t answer and Axel blocks off my path. “What does it matter that someone was in your room? Did they steal anything?”
Steal anything? Yeah, that’s an issue. Why didn’t they steal anything? How come almost everything was still there when I came back? What were they looking for? Anything in particular? My problem is with what they could’ve seen. How would it play out of someone knew I was the Thirteenth or affiliated with the Twelve?
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Rainen,” Axel says, bringing my attention back. “Was anything important stolen?”
“No,” I say, “Nothing was stolen.” The sword was still there when I checked. Did they not check the closet? Were they too afraid to touch it? Shouldn’t it have called to them? So many questions, so many “What ifs.”
And suddenly, it hits me. Maybe it’s been lingering in the back of my head all this time. “What would you do if you were going into someone’s room?”
I just need him to confirm it.
“Well, wouldn’t it be to steal something, to look for something?”
“What would you be looking for?” I place walls, I place roadblocks to guide his thinking. There are multiple reasons to break into someone’s room but not so many that the possibilities are endless.
“I don’t know Rainen.” He answers.
“Try thinking about it again.”
He opens his mouth, exasperated. Clearly he’s thinking too much about it.
“What would you be looking for?” I need to push him a little bit. The faster the answers, the less time to think.
“I, umm… I’d be looking for s-something about the person. I-Information.”
Ding. “Thanks for the cooperation Axel.” He knits his brows. “Just like with Aisha, that’s exactly what the person was looking for. Around here, I’m definitely an oddball wouldn’t you say?”
As realization dawns on his face, he blows air through his lips. “You’re more like a duck surrounded by swans. Yeah, I’d say you stick out like a sore thumb.”
I snap my fingers and point towards the door.
“Where are we going now?” he asks.
“To ask the receptionist if she’s seen anyone.”
“Seen anyone?” a much more frail voice asks.
I turn around only to be greeted by an unpleasant sight. The headmaster casually stops and smiles. His cane hovers slightly above the ground to give the appearance that he uses it to walk. Hector accompanies him and inclines his head in greeting.
“Leaving so early?” I ask him. Axel sends me a wary look but I ignore it.
“Now now Rainen. No need to be hostile. I can promise you I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything of the sort. So, I may have overheard something about rooms and… stealing.”
I shake him off, “Personal business.” I don’t want someone like him to get involved in this. It’ll only cause more trouble for me.
“It’s not personal business if it involves any part of this school. If there are issues in the dorms, then it is something I must look into,” he says.
Hector looks at me as if hoping I’d comply.
“It’s nothing.” I answer. What’s he going to do if I deny it all?
The Headmaster purses his lips but says nothing more.
“Where are you headed Headmaster?” Axel asks.
“I’m leaving for the capital.” before Axel can ask another question, the Headmaster silences him with a hand. “I don’t know for what reason in particular I am leaving, however, if this will suffice, I am going to attend a meeting.”
Axel glances through the glass doors, no doubt wondering why he chose to leave after school when the sun is already dying. “Is Hector going with you?”
“Yes. As my attendant, and guard, his presence is needed.” his smile hides it but I know he’d prefer to leave Hector at the school. Hector’s strong. If he’s here then the Headmaster could go to the meeting without much worry.
“They wanted me to bring two guards claiming that it was for my safety, however, I argued it would be far more dangerous to leave the school with less personnel.”
“Two guards?” I wonder aloud. If the old man is stronger than my master then the ones who need protection would be the guys who attack him.
“Yes, two.” he taps his finger on his cane impatiently. “The convoy holding two of the attackers from three weeks ago was attacked.”
“W-” My voice almost escapes me. I need to stay calm. This isn’t the time to be losing it, it isn’t the time to be losing anything. However, I can’t help but listen to the loud pounding of my heart. I blink several times.
“Did they-”
“They escaped,” he cuts me off. “Everyone was killed.”
I failed… No. I wasn’t there. I couldn’t have done anything about it. Stay focused on what’s happening here.
I glance up to find the Headmaster staring at me. Our eyes meet and he smiles.
“Let’s leave Hector.” he gestures for Hector to leave with him.
I wait for them to exit the building. “Let’s go pay the receptionist a visit Axel.”
-------------------------------------
The door flew open and in came the masked man who claimed to be Yeran. Garret immediately pushed the two down behind a booth and hushed them. Why was the man chasing after the nobles? Garret had no idea. He thought it odd when the masked person suddenly broke chase but now he was back again.
“Where are they?” the man questioned.
“Who?” the man with his daughter asked. He seemed to be decently built. Perhaps he was part of a construction team within the city.
For a moment, the masked man stayed silent, but only for a moment.
“I know a man came in here with two other people. Those two were nobles and had red hair. A woman and her teenaged child. Where are they?”
Garret could only spare to turn his head. He had a feeling that if he peeked over any area of his hiding space, he’d be spotted. Wous, who had returned from the back, gazed at the dine and ditch patron.
It seemed to Garret that he had heard who the man was looking for.
“I haven’t seen no random man enter, other than you. And I most definitely haven’t seen no mom and son with red ‘air,” he said in Garret’s defense.
“I’m not looking to play any games.” his voice was dangerously low. “If you’re not going to tell me, then I’ll have to ransack the place to find them.”
Enraged by the masked man, Wous leapt over the counter and landed with a loud thud. His muscles rippled and his upper lip twitched as he “calmly” walked towards the intruder. Garret still feared being caught so he stayed pinned against the booth.
“I remember you,” Wous said, “The dine and dash guy. You have some balls comin’ back here after you did somethin’ like that.”
“You have three seconds to give me their hiding spot in this bar.”
“Three seconds?” Wous was furious. Garret spotted many of the other people who had come there for shelter back up. Each one of them knew better than to send a glance his way. The man with the child placed her down. She seemed eager to stay close to him but he gently patted her away to someone else.
“On-”
“Yeran” had no chance to finish before Wous’ booming voice shattered his single word sentence.
“Get out of my store!”
“Or what?” the man responded.
“Or I’ll break your legs and toss your arse out of here.”
Garret felt a sense of immense gratitude towards the old man. He wasn’t all that old, but Garret knew him for a very long time. Knowing that he had his back was enough for Garret to pledge buying out Wous’ stock of beer for a day.
“Two,” he said.
Wous lost it. With a warcry loud enough to make the rushing of feet outside sound like nothing more than the dull pitter patter of rain, Wous swung.
Yet, instead of feeling relieved, an urge to rush out almost overtook him. In the next moment, his fears were confirmed. Wous flew across the room and he collided with the wall. The chairs and tables, glasses and plates with leftover food, were scattered across the floor.
Wous held his stomach as he began to cough violently. The sheer volume of his hacks and coughs filled Garret with unspeakable rage and concern. Would the old man die? Would it be all Garret’s fault because he didn’t step out as soon as the man came in asking for him? He already found out what he needed to know so why protect the two nobles any longer?
“Wous!” The man who had a daughter yelled.
“Wous?” The perpetrator seemed to be taken aback by the old man’s name.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the father screamed. “We already told you that the people you’re looking for aren’t here!”
Garret looked over to the two nobles. Millicent’s brow leaked a single bead of sweat while her son clutched his hands as if readying himself to break out of cover and challenge the man. Garret’s attention switched between the two and Wous.
“Don’t.” he whispered to Dylan. Knowing that the boy would say something, Garret cut him off, “I know. I know that you don’t want someone else getting hurt because of you but for now, we have to keep hiding.”
A sudden voice boomed from the entrance.
“Don’t touch me!” it was the masked man.
The father fell to the ground and his daughter rushed to his side.
“Stay back Alice!”
“Don’t hurt mwy daddy!” she screamed, throwing her arms around him.
“Someone take her away, quick,” Alice’s father said.
A woman came to grab her but she stopped holding onto her father and ran closer to the masked man.
“Dey’re not here!” she proclaimed. “Get out you mhonster!”
Her father’s eyes widened in horror at what his child had just said. He knew, everyone in the room knew, what a danger the masked man was.
Garret closed his fists and silently apologized in his head to everyone in the room. He’d have to step in now and stop the madman before the girl or anyone else got hurt.
But, to his and everyone else’s surprise, the door suddenly closed.
“He left,” the woman who had attempted to take Alice back said.
Garret and the two nobles lifted their heads up from behind the booth and saw no one at the front door. They breathed their sighs of relief and watched as the man scooped his daughter into his arms.
“Don’t do that ever again!” he scolded her while hugging her tightly. “Daddy can take care of himself okay?”
Two men went to address Wous’ wound. Alice pat her father’s back while she held back tears. Children cry so easily, Garret thought. What a nice scene.
And like dreams shattered upon awakening, the scene before him, and his relief, crumbled. The wood wall broke into thousands of little splinters.
Garret craned his neck but a heel kick placed perfectly on his skull rattled his ability to act. He laid on the floor, vision blurry, as the masked man paralyzed Dylan and held his blade near Millicent’s throat.
“Where is the girl.” he questioned.
With a defiant face, she spat at him.
Her face was met with the back of his hand and she fell to the ground alongside her son.
Still dazed and confused, Garret could not move a single muscle in their defense. However, the slightest hint of feeling started coming back to him.
“You-you won’t get anything out of me,” Millicent said, holding the side of her cheek.
“Quite sure of yourself aren’t you miss?” the man grabbed Dylan’s arm and pulled his paralyzed body up, pushing him against the wall. “But everyone’s quite sure of themselves until something like this happens.”
A single droplet of blood trickled down the boy’s neck as the masked man’s blade found a spot to rest itself.
Millicent faltered, “She’s in Aurora City.”
His seeable features twisted in anger. “Don’t lie to me!”
Garret had enough energy to move his hand, enough to summon the power of his ability, but the boy’s life would be at risk. So, Garret used all of his strength to move his mouth.
“It’s the truth,” he said, “They’re telling the truth.”
He didn’t expect it to work. He had placed everything on blind faith, on the hope that the man before him, the man who had claimed to be Yeran, would listen to him.
Despite having no reason to, the man believed Garret and dropped Dylan. He merely glanced at Garret before leaving.
Garret burned the image of the man’s back into his mind.
---------------------------------------------
Author’s Note: Sorry for the super duper late chapter guys. I won’t and can’t claim that a lot of things have been happening lately since it takes me a few hours to write these chapters. If I wanted to those past two weeks, I probably could’ve posted something.
Heck, I even chose not to post an update. I bet some of you guys didn’t even know that I was gone or that this story existed. For those who are happy to see an update, sorry again. Writing just takes up a lot of time and concentration nowadays.
There’s a lot of things I can do here, but if you’d like to help me out, go ahead and comment or write an advanced review about your thoughts and feelings.
Well, thanks for reading and I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.