Fray soared through the darkened sky, his piercing gaze scanned the battlefield, where groups of warriors lay injured and fatigued, their eyes turning upward to witness the sight above.
Descending, Fray's dark wings gracefully carried him towards the bridge where specific group of six warriors were standing.
(So we met them already.) Fray continued his descent, landing with a controlled grace that betrayed the power within those ominous wings. The rest of the group followed suit, forming a formidable presence beside him.
As Fray and his companions landed before the ancient bridge. The Guardians, an ensemble of six, moved towards them. Elisa, positioned behind Fray, observed the procession, her gaze fixated on a figure walking beside Luke – Aslin, with her deep, enigmatic eyes that bore the weight of untold stories.
In the recesses of her mind, Elisa's thoughts danced through the shadows of reminiscence. (Aslin!? I'm sure she's Fray's childhood friend,) she pondered, memories of the last time Elisa seen Aslin when Fray and Aslin left for the academy. (To think of it, I still don't know why Fray left her and abandoned the Academy.)
Meanwhile, Luke interrupted Elisa's musings with a voice that resonated like distant thunder, "Hi, we are the Guardians' team." His eyes, like polished obsidian, swept across the group, settling on Fray.
Adam, however, harbored a cynical skepticism as he eyed Luke, muttering under his breath, (The Guardians! Are these the puppet squad the three kingdoms established in the guise of peacekeepers?)
The Guardians squad operates as a collective force, eschewing individual dominance. On the surface, they profess a commitment to safeguarding the human continent from threats. Their formidable influence extends across the land, with even the offspring of the seven noble families enlisted among their ranks.
However, their strength is tethered by a set of rules aimed at maintaining transparency. Notably, one such rule dictates that they refrain from clandestine maneuvers, compelling them to publicly announce their every move. This commitment to openness is reflected in their choice to forgo masks even in the midst of perilous encounters.
Luke's inquiry, a flicker of curiosity in the dark tapestry, pierced the silence, "Can I know how you guys are?"
Fray, the focal point of attention, remained silent. His eyes, beneath the mask that concealed his emotions, lingered on the familiar faces of the Guardians. In the cauldron of his thoughts, he mused, (If we met a month ago, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to control myself. It seems that Yassine's memories have strengthened my emotions.)
But although Fray was proud by his calmness, as he cast a fleeting gaze at Aslin beside Luke, his eyes betrayed a subtle twitch, a hidden tempest within the calm façade.
The air hung heavy with an unsettling tension as Fray and his companions maintained their silence, their expressions concealed behind stoic masks. Elisa, keenly aware of the need to tread carefully with the Guardians, observed Luke's reaction. With measured words, she finally spoke, "We are the Merciless Clan."
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The revelation reverberated through the air, and the Guardians' eyes widened in shock. Elisa, realizing the futility of concealing their identity, acknowledged that the system would unveil their name once the Castle challenge concluded.
Luke's second in command, Mya, voiced the astonishment that gripped them all. "Do you mean the squad who were the first to enter the Old Continent?" Mya's eyes, wide with disbelief, scrutinized Fray and his masked companions.
Elisa's response was unwavering, "Yes."
Ron's expression twisted with disdain as he observed the group before him. (Are those the bastards responsible for us facing the second challenge directly?) His thoughts seethed with resentment.
Lisa, couldn't help but ponder the implications. (How is this possible? The Merciless Clan has already finished the challenge, unless...) Her voice trailed off as a question lingered in the air. "Is it possible to travel between paths ?"
Elisa, catching the implication, turned to Fray for confirmation. In that tense moment, Fray, although unwilling he recognized Elisa's intention to maintain a semblance of peace, nodded subtly.
Observing the exchange, Aslin, noticing the subtle node with a watchful gaze, couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity about Fray. (Is he the leader?) she wondered, studying the tall figure before her. Yet, she dismissed the notion, attributing it to mere overthinking.
Elisa, granted permission by Fray's nod, clarified, "We are not from another path. Just this path was divided, and it's possible to travel between them."
Lisa, with a newfound understanding, lit up with realization. (The path is divided! Why didn't I think of that?) she thought. (This group has a lot of information. We need to make them join us; their knowledge is invaluable.)
"Really? This was unexpected," Luke mumbled, still processing the revelation. With a thoughtful expression, he then asked, "So, guys, do you want to join us?"
(Why is Elisa talking to these people?) Casper, wearing a bored expression, sighed deeply with a wide yawn.
Ron, catching the exasperated sigh, felt his simmering rage reach a breaking point. The blatant disrespect towards them, fueled his frustration.
The Gaurdains' team is respect in the entire continent, but now none of them showed any signs of acknowledgment or respect, in the entire time they spook.
Unable to tolerate the perceived insolence any longer, Ron's voice, usually steady, turned cold and violent. He directed his gaze at Casper and demanded while stepping closer, "Are you bored of us?"
(Why is this man angry? Should I just end him?) Casper pondered stoically, but before he could act, Fray abruptly raised his hand. Casper halted, frozen, as Fray's gesture stayed his hand, preventing an immediate response.
"We are here to face the fortress. Sorry, but we can't accept your offer," Elisa spoke, her words an attempt to diffuse the escalating tension.
Ron, still consumed by anger, retorted, "What!? Do you think we'll let you conquer our fortress? We won't get any rewards for completing the challenge then?" His words dripped with defiance and possessiveness.
Behind Luke, Lucas expressed his worry in a whispered voice, "Ron is right. If we let them conquer, we won't be able to raise our level." The concern echoed through the shadowy realm, mingling with the tension that clung to the air.
Before Luke could respond to Lucas's complaints, the tall figure, Fray, finally spoke, "Let's move!" His voice, intentionally altered to avoid recognition, cut through the charged atmosphere as he turned towards the bridge.
Following Fray's order, Elisa moved abruptly, taking a step forward. The abrupt motion was accompanied by a metallic squicking sound, and suddenly, Ron's voice shattered the stillness, "Didn't you hear what I said? We won't let you fight the fortress." Elisa turned to find Ron with his sword drawn, pointed menacingly at Fray.
A frigid aura cloaked Elisa as she witnessed Ron's drawn sword, instantly transforming her demeanor into something chilling and intimidating. Her voice, now deep and cold, sent shivers down Luke's spine and instilled a sense of dread in the others.
"It seems you took my polite speech as a sign of weakness," she declared, her words cutting through the tension like a blade. Simultaneously, a dark sword materialized in her hand.
Luke, shocked by the abrupt change in Elisa's demeanor, tried to ease the situation while maintaining his ground. "We don't want to fight you guys, but we need to face the fortress to raise our power. We can't let you steal it from us."
Elisa's aura grew colder in response, but before the situation could escalate further, Fray spoke for the first time, directing his words at Luke. "We are not here to seek permission. This is an open challenge, and everyone can face it. Of course, if you want to use force to stop us, we are ready."
As Fray spoke, the group behind him exuded a violent aura, ready for confrontation. Fray, hesitant to resort to violence just yet, remembered the Guardians' perspective—they still considered themselves the heroes and main characters of this world, unwilling to accept the intrusion of others into their narrative.