As everyone recovered from the strange sound which had caused disorientation to our senses, they began to run. The calm and fun festival atmosphere was now complete chaos.

The one who had caused this chaos was locked with their blade against mine, they had yet to answer who they were and why they had done this, and I very much doubted I would even get an answer from them.

As I stared them in the eyes I felt a chill go down my spine, something wasn’t quite right about them; was it in relation with the dark aura which seemed to grow around them since coming into contact with me.

My ear twitched as I heard Tigra moving behind me. I could feel the atmosphere change a little more as I picked up the emotions of anger coming from her if she didn’t stay calm I would not be able to protect her effectively.

Tigra dashed from behind me slashing at the masked stranger, who I couldn’t make up my mind if they were a Feles or Lupus as most of their key features were covered over, ear shape, tail half covered over.

The masked stranger jumped back away from us, holding his weapon posed to retaliate. I doubt he expected the princess to attack.

“How dare you disturb this beautiful festival!” shouted Tigra, her whole body sparking with lightning energy. “Who the hell do you think you are?” Her eyes gleamed with only one emotion and that was anger. I’d seen her get angry a few times and I can tell you it was never a good thing as it always ended up going wrong, Tigra suffering some sort of consequence.

“Tigra.” I reached my hand forward hoping to stop her.

“Who are you?!” There was a low snarl in her voice, but like me she got no response. “You’ll pay for this!” Tigra ran at him, the lightning forming around her body flowing straight down into her short sword, she had really mastered the transfer of her power into the crystal sword mum had made for her.

“Help them Brendan,” ordered Athena.

“I can’t while my weapon is negating that disorienting sound,” responded Brendan.

Tigra attacked without a second’s hesitation, she wanted him gone. Her speed was amazing, reaching the masked stranger within the blink of an eye, swiping at him as bigger sparks almost like lightning bolts shot out across the place.

I went to step forward, but hesitated, in her anger she would not be able to adequately control the direction her power was going in. Lightning was one of the most unpredictable elements, if I were hit by one I wouldn’t be able to help Tigra.

“Calm down!” I raised my voice. My words were wasted as she was not listening to anyone, she could not hear me while blinded by her anger.

Tigra thrusted time and time again at the masked stranger but they simply stepped back or to the side, avoiding each one, she didn’t stand a chance in this frame of mind.

“You need to make a move now master.” I heard Larana. “I cannot tell who his target is, but if it is Tigra, he will capture her quickly if you do not intervene.”

“But her lightning,” I hesitated.

“Trust in your instincts and your abilities they will never let you down,” encouraged Larana.

“Alright,” I nodded, breaking out into a run.

As I got closer Tigra had just tried to strike again, this time while avoiding her attempts to harm them, the masked stranger, knocked her sword flying in my direction, then he slipped around Tigra like a slippery snake and grabbed hold of her.

“Agh!” Tigra let out a cry as the masked stranger held his blade to her throat.

“Let her go!” I shouted abruptly stopping a few meters away from them.

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They said nothing in response just held on to her tighter, as her power was disrupted no signs of the lightning now.

“The princess,” they whispered. “A great prize.”

“I’m nobodies prize,” hissed Tigra with a quiver in her voice.

“Step away from her and I’ll let you leave,” I said.

“Oh, I won’t be leaving without this prize,” they whispered.

I glanced down seeing Tigra’s sword, still flashing with her lightning energy, if I could use her power to shock him through Tigra, she would come out just fine. I held my left hand out, using Larana’s wind to blow it up into my left hand.

I felt a shock pulse through my body as this power was not my own. I fought back the pain that came with it, pointing the sword towards him.

“Only a fool tries to use another’s power,” they remarked.

“This is the power of my best friend; it cannot harm me.” I raised my sword, ready to fight. “I won’t ask you again release her.”

“Alex,” cried Tigra as they moved their blade even closer to her neck.

“One slip and I could harm her,” they responded.

“Not on my watch.” I swiped Tigra’s sword sending out a bolt of lightning that struck down by his feet. A surge was sent up through his entire body, straight up to the metal weapon in his hand.

They cried out dropping their sword and stumbling backwards. Tigra dashed towards me.

“No!” he reached out to try and grab her again.

I ran forward, jumping in the way, slashing both swords in unison, forcing them to jump back. Tigra’s power continued to be harsh on my body, but I didn’t care.

“Now then.” I stepped forward. “Let’s see how you managed to do things without your hostage.”

“You are no threat to me or my master.” After those words he went silent, saying not another word, instead he spoke with his actions.

Retrieving his sword, he attacked first swiping left, then right, a jab here and there, I saw it all. I dodged most of them, defending against the others until I got the perfect position. At that moment I slashed the sword imbued with Tigra’s lightning.

The masked stranger’s eyes widened as I zapped him with the power of the one he threatened, then I raised my right hand, summoning walls of water all around him.

“Wow.” I heard Brendan comment.

“A single move while inflicted with Tigra’s lightning will kill you if you touch the water,” I mentioned. “Tell me who you are and who sent you?” I wanted answers to who would wanted to cause such chaos within a time of peace.

“The darkness grows in strength every day, not even you can stop it.” He began laughing as he stepped forward. “You will be the last one to carry the legacy of Fang.”

“No don’t!” I cried as the masked stranger stepped into the water, instantly getting shocked. I quickly receded the water, but it was too late.

I walked closer feeling a sense of sadness, why did it have to end this way? Why did he choose death?

“You did the right thing Alex,” said Tigra softly.

“Yeah.” I handed Tigra’s sword back to her, barely holding any feeling in my hand, I lied when I said her power could not hurt me, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.

“Let’s go home now,” said Tigra.

Brendan retrieved his claymore, knowing the sound would be no more with the destruction of the one who had caused it. “That was insane.” Athena nodded in agreement.

Just before we could head off for home, the place came alive with knights, they dealt with the injured and disorientated. One even came over to me, knowing who I was he questioned about what happened and I gave him a full report seeing as he was a higher rank than I was.

“I see.” He looked around his eyes catching a glimpse of Tigra trying to duck behind Brendan.

“Princess Tigra?” He was almost alarmed to see her, which gave me this bad feeling she had been lying to me about this whole event thing.

“Hi.” She smiled nervously.

“What are you doing here, outside the safety of Cathopia?” he questioned.

“Well, I came for some fun,” was Tigra’s response.

The knight looked down at me. “Is this your doing Fang?”

“No,” I shook my head.

“Well, I think it is, considering the rest of your friends are here too,” he looked over at Athena and Brendan. I noticed a small amount of dark mist on him, this was not going to end well for me.

“I insist you all return to the castle with me at once!” He demanded and obviously we had no choice as three other knights came over to join us. “Now this way.”

With the place crawling with knights, I couldn’t get out of this one, and wondered what kind of trouble I would be in once we returned to the city.