6 Another Fateful Encounter

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The incessant sound of Harper's spirited bouncing through the woods exasperated the hell out of Gusion's remaining sanity. It was terrible enough sustaining an injury from a group of deadly assassins, but he'd trade it anytime for being with a loud company.

He stopped abruptly in their course and sighed aloud, capturing the attention of his companion ahead.

"What's the matter?" It asked excitedly, "Did you finally remember the path to the Twilight Orb?"

"No." He deadpanned.

It's just that no matter how hard he tried to think of it, Gusion still couldn't comprehend how his guardian believe that he knows the way to that magical sphere.

The object was supposed to bring balance to the entirety of the Land of Dawn. At least that's what his guardian had been telling him since they've met in the sacred grounds.

Harper says he was chosen by the Lady of the Light to fulfill a prophecy of being the herald of that balance. Funny, how that's gonna end up though. Especially when he himself can't even bring a new age for his prestigious household.

He'd been so confident of himself before. So sure of everything he'd been doing. To the point where he got cocky and underestimated the rigid beliefs of his family.

How will he have the power to undertake this serious endeavor? He had no idea. All he had was to hang on a strange creature's words.

"Then what is it, Gusion?" Harper pressed on.

He was about to answer when he heard the evident rustling behind the brush. Gusion instantly heightened his senses. It was obvious they were not alone in the woods anymore.

"Heyyyy" his partner whined. Completely oblivious of the lurking danger.

He was so occupied by his thoughts earlier that he didn't even noticed they were being followed.

"Shh!" He cautioned for the blue blob in front of him and kept him close, securing him in a protective stance.

The rustling halted. The wind whistled. It was eerily quite now. He scanned the surroundings and gestured for Harper to shut his mouth.

Four figures - all in pitch-black robes, appeared from the brush. Four more emerged from behind the trees. And another four materialized out of nowhere, completely surrounding them.

It's obvious that they were from the same group last night. Damn. They were fast.

"I told you they were coming." Harper chimed in.

"Shut up."

He slowly removed the bandage from his right arm. Completely ignoring the throbbing sensation on his injury. He needs both his hands to fight back.

Despite the difficulty, Gusion willed his mana to conjure some of his remaining power fusing it with his daggers. He prepared for the strike.

The twelve assassins slowly approached them like cornered prey.

Electricity charged the atmosphere...

Twelve blades simultaneously unsheathed... Five daggers sparked, being imbued with enchantment...

Gusion readied himself for the onslaught. His attackers came at him all at once. This time, not giving him a chance to break away from their attacks.

He had no choice but to hurl Harper out of the way from the strike. "KYAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! GUSSSSSIOOON!!!! WHAT THE HEEEEEE----" He flew away from the assault, the cloaked figures completely disregarding his presence.

It was again, one versus the twelve of them. He was skilled, yes. But he was also injured. Gusion dashed and threw a barrage of magical daggers at his opponents. As fast as they were, he was still as nimble as if his incapacitated state didn't affect his speed and agility. The adrenaline helping him fight off his attackers.

Blades clanged in the air. The fight was a whirlwind of weapons and magic. His assassins also wield the dark side of sorcery.

He managed to disintegrate half of them before one of the shadowmen casted a rune in front of him. It immediately spread a pitch-black poison to a gash he obtained in his torso from one of their blades.

He buckled and lost his bearings from the instantaneous pain. It quickly seeped from his torso up to his extremeties. The remaining assassins surrounding him while chanting an unfamiliar spell, binding him to the ground.

They walked closer while he continued on thrashing from the unbearable poison...

Suddenly... Gunshots echoed out of nowhere.

Almost instantly, the six men dissolved into piles of dust in front of Gusion. The poison and the magical binds disappeared along with the conjurers while he struggled to get back to his senses.

"Do I have to save you everytime we meet?" He looked up to the familiar face of a stunning girl having a rifle on her back.

She cocked her head while offering her hand for him to get up. He reached for it and felt an electric sensation when they came in contact.

She smirked, and with arms akimbo, leaned in closing the gap between them. "The name's Lesley Vance. Now you owe me your life, for saving you twice."