Fleeting Shadows

Now James' mind was also in an overload trying to understand what the masked man had said, but he couldn't find anything special about his surname and family which they had taken from their father they had never seen.

"Well let's just get over it then maybe I can enjoy myself with your sister a little bit" said the masked man in a teasing tone.

Now both brothers' thoughts were matching again 'KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL' which was to be expected since only because of Clara they were able to survive in that harsh world and she acted more like a mother than sister.

But Leor was remembering something else, something that had happened today, which was so real but Leor chose to believe that it was a nightmare. He saw his brother dead, his sister also dead but she died after losing herself and was completely broken. In that nightmare that masked man had left Clara alive just to let Leor see her in such a helpless and miserable state.

"Don't worry, you also realize that there's still hope" Cyrus' voice sounded like the most beautiful melody in the ears of Leor. Indeed he saw her completely normal, it also means his brother is still alive and there is also this guy (referring to Cyrus). At this moment Leor's eyes were firm and the revenge thoughts which have been suppressed by him were resurfacing again 'But I can't be this selfish, my first priority is to protect them' And a thousand plans were forming in his mind.

In this instant James was as calm as a rock in complete contrast of his earlier behavior "Even I can tell that you're not an ordinary thief, What do you want? I can give you anything you want from us" after realizing his powerlessness James was probably trying to strike a deal with the masked man.

"Now you're acting like a good dog but unfortunately fate is not with you because what I want is your body" With a maniacal grin, the masked man aimed his revolver, its barrel adorned with crimson circles etched with strange symbols, radiating a malevolent aura, a beam of dark red light penetrated the center of James's chest slightly near the heart in a speed much faster than sound.

Instantaneously James' body seemed to emit an aura filled with dread and darkness which made even the masked man surprised. 

"So this is the real you which was hiding behind such an innocent face" said the masked man in a complimenting tone like he was speaking to an ally in complete contrast of how he was treating him just a few seconds ago.

"But looking at your lineage it's not that surprising", saying this masked man pulled out some kind of small butter knife of pure silver colour and chanted something in Aristan language by pulling that knife near his mouth and covering his mouth with his other hand.

At this point it felt like James was squeezed out from his soul, his body looked like it lacked blood and his flesh was rotting and there were no eyes in his skull just two holes from which some kind of dark liquid was flowing out while he was starting to float in air and his arms were spreading like he was welcoming something. 

Masked man was finished with his chanting now and pushed that silver knife inside James's skull and it just went inside like ice cubes in water without any resistance.

Now his body was sewing itself with its own flesh and that dark liquid which was covering the entire floor now started repairing James's body and Leor saw James' eyes slowly and steadily healing in real time at fragmented levels from inside out.

At once james' body completely healed, now he was standing with a dominant posture like elites of royal armies which was shocking for Leor since he knew his brother has never fought once and he was the one who was always forced to step up and fight back for his brother in every bad situations, James was of a gentle nature from the beginning and this posture looked like he had killed a 1000 men and was some renowned veteran.

"Praise be to lord Malakar" said James with a fiery look in his eyes while his expression was eerily stoic.

Masked man just looked at him, observed him for a second and then gently nodded while smiling. 

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