27. Evil

The night sky unfolded above the world and silvery light fell from the atmosphere to illuminate the world below, giving everything that light touched a magical glow.

And truly there was magic in the air. For beyond what could be normally felt, lay a spectacular substance permeating the whole world, filling it with a vibrancy that even Tristan started to notice.

"Old?" Lax furrowed his brows, taken aback by Tristan's angry words. He remained in his stance, however, even if now that he reconsidered his words they sounded foolish. 'What had gotten over me?' He wondered inwardly.

"I didn't expect that… but my words are true. Everyone here understands exactly what I mean. There are many things in this world I cannot give a chance." Lax explained, his confidence promoted by the silent cheers of his group members.

'Wimps,' he snorted inwardly.

"In that case, I'll like to beg you to please leave," Lax arrived at his point and Tristan's annoyance dwindled until it reached a state of almost non-existence.

"You're asking me to leave?" He asked, slightly stunned, his ears perked up and his nose quivered. The sensation of the wind softly blowing upon his bare body had started to reach him.

He desired the comfort of clothes and didn't like it when gazes momentarily landed on his part. They didn't look in any weird way, but shame had started to set in. He was in a town meaning females could be right up a corner staring at his butt-naked figure.

Tristan's multicolored eyes scanned those men, he noticed how they usually stole glances of his face, he had no idea why and desired to see his reflection, but not now.

"Yes. Please leave. There's already too much trouble… I don't want to add yours to it," Lax felt high and mighty again even if only a little. The fact that his greatest rival now lay dead had started to settle in. He essentially could take control of that part of town. But to do that he needed to eradicate the strongest person available.

In truth, Lax remained far from a good person. Heck, he would be considered no less than the leader of a violent gang. Their operations were mostly out of the town, but they could be traced down to that doomed settlement.

Assault, stealing, and even murder. His group did these things and somehow managed to scale through. Fortunately for him, the people of the town had not seen him in such ways, for this reason, they could allow him to claim to be their protector.

He was no less bad than the Killer whale gang, maybe even worse.

'When we're done the rest of the killer whales will join us… my reputation will grow and I might finally get my hands on some useful resources…' Desire to further his ambition swelled in Lax's heart, but Tristan made the joy of Russ's death sour. At least for now.

"I don't have anywhere to go… I also need help in finding out where Medrial is." Tristan explained, suddenly somber. He had not spent up to an hour in that place and they were already kicking him out. He felt lost.

"Sorry kid, but I cannot help you," Lax shook his head completely believing Tristan truly didn't know anything. After all, in their world, a lower-powered person could do anything he wanted to those weaker.

Especially in a backwater location like that town where gang fights and deaths were the order of the day. At least, during the days it existed.

"I refuse to leave then. Not until I understand my situation," Tristan announced, shattering whatever hope Lax had of quickly getting rid of the human boy.

Finding that his expression flickered, Lax nodded his head before sheathing his sword. He glanced at his group members of 15 in total, including him, and gave them hand signs which were orders.

Immediately, the second In command took a small group of those men who moved to uncover Russ's body.

Lax approached the tall young man as a plan of sorts formed in his head. He knew Tristan would not kill him, at least he hoped so.

In truth, he wondered why he himself had not tried to take the boy's life.

Strange things were happening that night.

"I do not know what has befallen you, but the least I can do for helping this town get rid of that man is to give you a place to sleep. Maybe even food… if that's possible," Lax explained, standing beside Tristan's figure. He saw ways he could utilize the powerful young man.

Uncertain and un-trusting, Tristan eyed the man's figure, he made a mental note not to fall into his palms.

Somehow, even though he had no memories he could sense certain things and immediately feel suspicious of the man. As though he had been in such a situation before.

'Who am I?' He wondered inwardly, in the meantime, Lax took him on a walk around that place. Minutes passed and Tristan was given a cloth to cover his nakedness. He wrapped that brown, mostly dusty piece of clothing around his shoulder and it covered him to his knees.

He and Lax waited till those men were done with recovering Russ's body and Tristan felt utter disgust swell in his chest when a grin he termed nothing short of evil unfolded on Lax's features. He would not mention it but become even more careful of the man.

After that excavation, the other bodies were cleaned up and by this time dawn was approaching. Tristan found out from Lax that there was a base where the members of the Killer whale gang stayed,

Their total number was about 20 men. Lax enjoined him to escort them to the base promising that all they needed to see was his presence and the others would surrender, which they did.

Tristan did not fully understand why that was so, but he acted along anyway.

By the time Lax's group was done rounding up the remainder of the Killer Whales, the break of dawn arrived. Tristan happened to be in a position where he could witness that nigh-magical event.

Unfortunately, his chest tightened and his breathing grew rough, he fell to his right knee holding onto his chest area.

Tristan coughed violently, alerting those men even if they did nothing to help. Or could do nothing to help. A strange force they knew kept them from approaching him in that state.

'Why is this?' He wondered inwardly, whilst pain ravaged his mind and body, or so he thought. In truth all he felt remained in the realm of the phantom.

Tristan ended up blacking out, but not without the vision of strange grotesque-looking figures roaming a dark environment getting imprinted on his mind. Until he forgot.