31 First Attack (3)

"Hurry! Find that guy!"

"He is the source of all evil!"

Shouts of anguish and sorrows could be heard all around Peng Hu. The villagers were angry and panicked. Some were expressing rage, others were lamenting their fate. Children and pets were dragged along the charade of the rage bandwagon. Running behind Kai, Peng Hu's heart was feeling heavier and guiltier. It was a blessing that both of them were running in an invisibility cloak. If it were not for the current circumstance, Peng Hu would have exclaimed curiosity and happiness for the wonder of the invisibility cloak, and all the potential it had in making the weirdest dreams of mankind a reality.

"... Why... did you help me?" said Peng Hu.

"? What are you saying? Why shouldn't I help you, Pen? said Kai.

"Because... they are saying that I am the culprit behind all of these attacks..." said Peng Hu.

The villagers could hear the voices but couldn't pinpoint the source thanks to the invisibility cloak. Additionally, they weren't sure of who were the owners of the voices so they didn't want act rash about it. Who knows which important character they would offend by doing so?

Kai stopped his tracks without warning. In his momentum, Peng Hu crashed into Kai accidentally and both of them fell down. It was a very awkward moment because Kai fell on top of Peng Hu... the invisibility cloak got tangled up during the fall, making both of them see each other with an invisibility cloak covering them. The invisibility cloak was like a bed sheet. They could both feel each other's breath. Their eyes met each other. Peng Hu was starting to feel nervous.

[This... this... ok ok... calm yourself down Peng Hu. Let's do a quick checklist like how people from the school do. Our eyes are meeting each other... that's bad. We can both feel each other's breath and heat... but my heart hasn't skipped a beat! Aw yeah! I am safe. I am still straight. Whew, I am safe, I am safe.] thought Peng Hu.

"Do you believe that you are the culprit Pen?" asked Kai softly.

[Oh my gosh... don't make this any weirder Kai!!!] thought Peng Hu.

"The people have been saying that-" before Peng Hu could finish his sentence, Kai interrupted him.

"That's what people are saying. What about you Pen? Do you truly believe in what they said?" said Kai.

Not able to hold back his feelings, Peng Hu averted his eyes to the right, not being able to face a serious Kai.

"... No..." said Peng Hu.

"Then you are innocent, Pen." said Kai.

"But-"

"I believe in you, Pen." said Kai.

A moment of silence prevailed between the two of them. Kai closed his eyes and stood up slowly while being very careful that both of them were still under the effects of the invisibility cloaks. Peng Hu didn't have much of a choice and followed Kai's action, standing up slowly. Without wasting any more time, Kai proceeded to move forward and take advantage of the confusion among the villagers while it lasted. Who knows when the villagers would calm themselves and be smarter in the way they were searching for Peng Hu.

Off into the distance, sounds of heated battle could be heard. Magic swords clashing with each other. Enchantments being detonated. Magic chants falling on deaf ears. In summary, neither side were backing down on the intensity. It was a wonder that the villagers were looking for Peng Hu instead of looking for safety. Their confusion has led them all astray.

"Let's keep going, Pen!" said Kai.

"... Thank you, Kai." said Peng Hu.

Not long after moving three steps forward, a magic chant could be heard.

"Oooooorhaaa!" a hooded figure condensed a fire ball in the right arm and threw it in the direction of Kai and Peng Hu. Luckily, the shot missed Kai and Peng Hu, but it blasted off the ground near them, creating a ricochet of debris. Since it was a surprise attack, both Kai and Peng Hu absorbed all the indirect damage caused by the fire ball, blowing them off.

[Ugh...]

Peng Hu slowly opened his eyes and saw that the attacker came from the roof. Assessing his own situation, his invisibility cloak was still equipped so the attacker would still have track him down.

[What about Kai?] thought Peng Hu.

Looking around, Peng Hu finally found an unconscious Kai laying in the ground without the invisibility cloak on. The cloak must have slipped off during the explosion and its whereabouts must be in the vicinity.

[This is not good! I got to make it to Kai's position as swift as possible!] thought Peng Hu.

The one who made the attack was on the roof engaging with the villagers that spotted him. Another hooded person quickly approached Kai and lifted him up in a rough way. Casually glancing around, the hooded person spoke.

"I have your friend here. Why don't you come out of your hiding? Staying in here will just bring you nothing but pain."

Flashbacks of the meeting Peng Hu had with Mr. Bastard started to flood in again.

[Get out of my head...]

After waiting for a few minutes, the hooded person was making sure that he still hadn't attracted the villager's attention and spoke again.

"You... won't appear even when your friend is about to be kidnapped? You won't come save your friend? What a scum you are. You have no honor." said the hooded person.

"I... I have to save Kai... I have to..." said Peng Hu.