33 Chapter 10: The Change (7)

I went charging to one of the men head on and a punch arrived at his face even before he knew it. He was sent flying off few meters away before sliding on the ground and then barrel rolled into a stop.

Shocked, the two other men looked at me.

"I believe you have my friends there!" I pointed at the sack. One man tags at his hoods down, covering his eyes in a shade. But I saw it glowed green as he did. The other puts the sack down slowly as he kept silent. I peeled my eyes open, bracing myself for any sudden movements.

One took his arms out and the ground shakes momentarily. A green flame bursted out, while his eyes remained glowing green, and then all of a suddenly, a spear crawls out from the ground, just by his feet. It reaches his height as he grabs hold of it.

He spun it out around a couple of times while his weapon blazes in a green fire samely like his eyes.

I looked at the other one who I punch earlier and realized he's up.

Darn it!

I wished he just stayed down instead.

He glides to us in a matter if fleeting seconds and a suddenly changes in a form of light. It rushes to the other guy who just placed the sack down; the man grabs hold of the light that stops in front of him and pulls at it —as a huge crystalline black mallet forms out with one rounded blunt head on one side while the other side stretches to a pointy end.

'A fellow Meister and his weapon!' I thought to myself.

I really wanted to see another Meister but I was rather not hoping for it to be in a situation like this.

I gasped at the sight of them, one using magic and the other two in Meistership.

These men has nobleblood in them.

"I'll fight the other one" says Levi while a gold circle emitted out on the ground where he stood, as he suddenly disappears behind me... and so is the man with blazing green spear.

"Hey no fair!!! Why did you left me with the Meister guy!?" I shouted in dismay.

I can't summon out Eriol now, Aerra would be alone and also be worried. I suppose I'll just fight this alone.

Sounds interesting enough.

I crunch my fist and made some cracking sounds from my knuckles. "This is an unfair fight. Two against one kid?" I chuckled. The man didn't even replied.

I spread my feet apart and planted them on the ground. I focused my eyes at his but carefully kept an eye out for any movement.

His feet drew one step and went charging at me with one attack, smashing down with his weapon in one powerful blow, which I quickly evaded with one quick side-step. Without taking a breath, I quickly charged my lightning towards my right hand and feet, getting ready to counter.

As expected, he pulls his mallet up from the ground and swings it wide. I pulled one elbow aback and then abruptly shoves it out to claw at the mallet as it hurled towards me.

Blue sparks bursted out, dancing wildly from the ground up to my hand like an uncontrollable form of energy; a sound of thunder roared as the mallet hit but halted before my palm.

The man's eye widened when he realized I manage to stop his attack with just one hand.

"My friend's punches are way more powerful than this." I said in a sneer, as I bend my knees down, dashed off and in a speed faster than plain sight can see, I appeared behind the man and planted a punch to his spine, releasing some of my lightning along as I go.

The jolt of electricity dazed him for a bit as he was down on one knee.

I leaped few steps aback and carefully watched him once again.

I need to be vigilant. Never underestimate any opponent even if you land the first hit on them, was what Eriol told me. Watch for a pattern and learn how his mind work thru his battles.

Always look for an opening and hit hard. But remember not to waste too much magic on the first minutes.

I can hear these words as if Eriol is right here right now telling it to me.

The man took a deep breath for a second and then suddenly rushes towards me one more time.

His speed is coping up, I noted, as I went on evading one hit from another. I stomp my feet on one side and slid down. I spun around with one leg out, hooking at his knees and watched as the man fell down.

Immediately, I leaped toward him to punch even before he hits the ground but he parried with his weapon and tossed me in the air with one push.

I spun overhead, planning to land on the ground soon but with one blink of an eye, I was stunned to see his eyes close with mine, only but an inch away.

Since when did he—?!

He grabs on my collar and instantly kicked me squarely on my stomach, snagging my breath, as I was violently thrown towards a bricked wall across the harbor. I gasped as I felt the impact jolting through my entire body like a wave of pain, vibrating thoroughly inside me, clouding my senses.

I wasn't able to react from that surprise attack despite my heightened senses.

Too slow, Aeron! I told myself, disappointed.

As I hit the grounds, I quickly sprung to my feet and pressed a hand on to my stomach to where the pain was greatly pounding from. I look at the man and he's just standing there, waiting patiently, his cloak dances against the wind from the harbor.

He knows the difference of strength between us.

And I know it as well.

I'm sorry Eriol. Your teachings are not applicable for all circumstances.

I need to go all out.

I then summoned electricity to the tip of my fingers, to my feet, to my center. Summoning it up from the ground,

Focus it.

Mold it.

And release it out.

It surges out violently and forms to gather on my arms, surrounding me.

I let out a battle cry—

and charged it out, blasting towards him in one intense horizontal beam of electromagnetic light. He jumps put of the way and manage to evade easily. The beam hits few crates behind him instead and exploded on impact.

Seeing this, I blasted at him few more times in rapid succession.

Same result ensues.

I paused. Obviously feeling a bit drained.

In utter frustration, I plunged head on and thrusted a fist at him but he swerves in one swift motion as his eyes aligned with mine for a moment.

There was lethality on the way he looked back at me that sent chills down my back.

I quickly leaped aback and summon several orbs of lightning around me. I sent it scattered around the battlegrounds as a trap for him.

I then casted a circle to where he stood and was about to smite an attack down when all of a sudden he impeded it by plummeting his mallet down, sending shockwave toward my direction.

I scampered off with my feet and manage to roll out of the way.

I went on attacking him aggressively for few more minutes but he only evades them as if it's the easiest thing to do.

Finally, I closed in on him spun around for a kick and manages to land a blow at him but unexpectedly he was on defence after all. He took my ankle and hurls me to the ground in a thud.

He then raises his mallet up with the pointy side this time. Alerted, I reacted quickly; just as it lands a hit down at me, I rolled to my side. The ground beside me burst open asunder. The impact sent me flying like a rag doll, tossed aimlessly.

My eyes widened seeing this.

If I didn't dodge that, my bones might have shattered to dust inside me.

He's attacking more seriously now.

"...!"

I can't manage to get hit.

I clenched my teeth and planted my feet apart just as I landed on the ground.

I summoned more lighting around me and casted a rain of bolts, pelting it all towards him. I released all the orbs that I created awhile ago at the same time! But with a speed I only seen from Eriol, he manages to evade all the bolts and closes in on me in a blink of an eye.

He swings at me but I leaped up over head and narrowly miss it. He swings it out consecutively again and again; hacking and smiting around as if he's wielding only a toy hammer.

Suddenly he held a stance for a second, unmoving.

My senses piqued.

His eyes sent me chills of cold bloodlust.

I flinched at his glare.

There's this uneasy feeling that he's about to release a devastating attack that can get me killed.

No! I mustn't let him build his momentum.

I rushed at him to break his stance and pelted more bolts of lighting. I dashed around him and tried to land a hit from an opening but he suddenly disappeared in a split second.

I paused to look for him but then a twitching sensation emanated. I leaped up just in the nick of time where another shockwave cuts through the air and pass me.

I looked to where it came from.

This time I peeled my eyes wider to see where he is. I scanned my eyes around and around but to my surprise he was nowhere in sight.

A shadow casted above me.

I gasped.

When I turned—

All I saw next was the pointy side of his mallet about to jab directly at me.

No!

With just a very thin hairline distance from my face, I abruptly released all lightning I could, to protect myself against it just at the exact same time he plummets the deathblow.

An energy surges out from two compelling forces that sent both of us flying towards separate directions.

I skidded and landed on my feet immediately and he did the same.

But I fell on my knees soon after I stood up.

Blood drips out from my nose.

My eyesight wavers unsteadily for a moment while I wiped the blood off.

I kept my focus at him as he only pulled his back straight up in silence. He's not even breaking a sweat nor is he out of breath.

He just stood there calm and steady.

A huge distance separated us.

So for now, I'm safe to collect myself and have a moment to breath and rest.

I can hear the beat of my heart racing to my ears, ringing it like a drum against the brush of the wild harbor winds. I can feel the rush of my blood crawling fast through my veins, emanating heat all thorough out my body, yet making me tremble as well. No it's not because of that. I really am shaking out of fear.

I'm not calm at all.

If anything else, I'm terrified.

Exhausted and terrified.

Terrified with how strong he is.

I grind my teeth together in a tight clench.

His attacks are too powerful even for me, as if he's aiming now to kill me.

I watch him from afar as he just stood there, eyeing me back like a seasoned killer.

A hunter sharply studying his prey.

Oh wait. That's right—

He really is planning to kill me.

I just realized that now.

But I can't barely land a hit on him.

So how am I going to win against an experienced fighter?

Is this how a real fight is?

This rush.

This fear.

This exhilarating sensation.

I closed my eyes.

"It's surprisingly fun..."

I'm sorry, Aerra.

Let me borrow him for awhile.

"ERIOL—! I summon you!!!

Come to me!!!"

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

A light came dashing in from one point of the city and into the harbor,

Shining in purple and black as it hits down the ground before me while blinding everything in sight.

I grab hold on and into the light, reaching at it as I felt a shaft and pulled it out to my side.

I spun it around like a baton and aimed the blade at my opponent as the light vanishes.

'Ooookay. You will need to fill me in with the details later, kiddo!'

I can hear Eriol's voice inside my head.

"We need to win first!" I chuckled. "But just a heads up... I think we're fighting someone from an unknown syndicate. And he's very adept in fighting!"

'Wait. What—?! How did it come to this?!? Were you targeted for kidnapping again? And where is Levi?'

"Like you said, details will be later! Any pointers?"

'Don't get yourself killed.'

"Right! Thanks, that was astoundingly helpful!"

I rolled my eyes hearing him and then focused my attention at the man.

The man seemed amuse now, as he tilts his head at me with a subtle smirk on his face.

'A Mallet Meister huh? A Mallet Transmuters are usuallycapable of increasing its Wielder's strength and speed attributes. But how about his Meister—any element???'

Ah.

Now that I think about it. He never used any magic on me. He just used the mallet blindly.

"None!" I replied at Eriol.

'Well in that case, the Transmuter is of a nobleblood and the Wielder isn't. It is possible for commoners to use Transmuters after all. That makes things easier then. Aim to attack at the mallet not the one who wields it. If we separate them, be able to knock the lights out of that Transmuter, the Meister will be easier to defeat without his weapon.'

"What—?! It's that easy? Why does that sound so easy just now?"

'Because we use our wits for battles too, Aeron. Not just our muscles and magics.'

"Right. Thanks for the indirect compliment there! But I'm glad you didn't elect to have me kill them."

'Kill—? Why would I ask you to do that?'

"Nevermind. Let's go!"

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

I made the first move and dashed towards the man, this time, aiming to have the weapon separated from him.

We exchanged a series of clashing attacks, parrying and evading as we go.

Ah. My body feels so light this time.

I can go on and on with this!

'Do I need to remind you that you have two elements at the moment?'

At Eriol's remark, I leaped several steps aback and away from the man and summoned wind around me.

"You just did. Thanks! I almost forgot!" I snickered.

'Don't get carried away, kiddo!'

"Carried away? Perfect! That's just what that man needs!"

'Huh?'

I pointed at the man and whirling wind emerged out from the ground where he stood, I casted lightning along as slowly he was taken off from his feet and got sucked inside the hurricane that I summoned.

From that, I jumped him and attacked him from the inside since the wind doesn't affect me. I landed a hit at him, slashing pass his arm. The cut made him let go of the weapon and quickly I directed the wind to blast it further away from him.

Leaving him inside the hurricane, I stepped out of that and landed on my feet. I then walked towards to where the mallet drops to. It turns back into his human form and even before he could make another move, I summoned one bolt of lightning.

Strike my opponent! I prayed.

But I miscalculated the uncontrollable power that surges within me from the pairing I currently have with Eriol.

Hence, I unknowingly manage to summon a lightning from above.

The clouds above us grew dark very fast and then all of a sudden, one ginormous and tremendous amount of light flashes from the heavens above and rushes down the ground in one perilous energy; the raging high voltage dances wildly and echoed the sound of a loud and deep crisp roar of a thunder, reverberating around the vicinity of the harbors.

Stunned from what just happened, I was left stupor for a couple of second.

I wasn't hurt with my own element and so is Eriol so we're okay but...

Holy sons of the the four seas!!!

What the blazes—!?!

Did I actually do that?!

Eriol suddenly switches back to his human form and looks around at the two unconscious bodies.

"A-are they alive?!" I gasped in a shudder.

"Hold on!" Eriol rushed to the nearest one and checks. Without saying a word, he glides to the other one and then checks for pulses again.

"Well?" I murmured in bated breath.

Eriol stood up and calmly hovers towards me. "Miraculously, they're both alive. Just cold out unconscious."

A hauled a sigh of relief.

"They might even have a slight head concussion from that though. I wouldn't be surprised if they lost their memory at some point." Eriol added, landing gently down to his feet.

"Thank the heavens! I'm so glad to hear that!" I looked at my hands and sighed, "That was horrifyingly unexpected. I wouldn't know what to do if they didn't survive that."

"Horrifyingly unexpected? That was amazing Aeron!!! That was a huge feat! Only a high tier lightning user can do that, meaning— years of experience! And you did that with just one fleeting moment."

"I surmise it's because we teamed up. Without you, I wouldn't have done such!" I replied, rubbing my nape.

Eriol chuckles. "Okay. Setting that aside, mind to share why you're covered in mud?"

I groped at my face and realized the mud has hardened somehow. At least it didn't peeled off while I was fighting.

"Oh! The children!!!" I gasped, sprinting to the egress of the bazaar to where the sacks were placed.

The sack moves restlessly as we walked towards it. "It's okay now." I said as we untied the sack open.

The little girl and Maru crawls out from it. "Yes, it is!" she nods, beaming at me. "We saw everything. I mean, it is only but a cloth. We can peer through it. So— umm!! Thank you very much for rescuing us, Mister!" says the girl, bowing her head down deeply. Maru does the same.

A golden light flashed behind us with minute ancient inscriptions hovering around as well before it all vanishes in thin air.

"Did I miss anything?"

We turned to look at it and saw Levi standing behind us. An unmoving body is seen close to his feet.

"Don't tell me he's—!" I pointed with wide eyes.

Levi looked down to his feet and kicked it. The body groaned. Curling in response but his eyes kept shut, obtunded.

I sighed in relief. Whew, he didn't kill him.

"It seems like we both won" I stated as I beamed at Levi. "And the children is saved!"

Levi just nodded and shrugged as if the result was expected.

"So why are you two covered in mud exactly?" Eriol snickered.

The two children stood up and dusted theirselves off, moving away from the sack.

"Long story." I replied.

Suddenly, deep from the directions of the bazaar where growing crowds of people gather to check what was happening, Aerra emerges out, running towards us in a hurry.

"Hey!!" she hollered, as she reaches us. "I saw the lightning so I came rushing here. I figured it's you." she says to me, panting to catch her breath. "Is everything okay?" she added, frowning. She then paused for a brief moment and studied me and Levi tentatively. The looks on her face says it all. Wondering why we were both covered in mud. "Why—?" She began, but I interrupted her even before she could finish. "I'll spare you all the details later!"

"Anyway!" The little girl cuts in. "My name is Ifrit. This is my brother, Maru. He's actually mute."

Maru just grinned at us.

"I'm sorry for stealing from you. We don't really normally do that but we just really wanted to try out what we learned from the streets." she says, subtly swaying side to side timidly as she looks down the ground. "I kinda sold your pocketwatch. I'm really sorry!"

"Um. That's alright! It's just a pocketwatch." I replied.

She shook her head and reaches to her pocket and held something out at me. "No, you can have mine instead! I insist!"

A golden pocketwatch dangles from her hand, bearing the royal crest of Ak'hilheim.

We all gaped seeing this.

"Actually, we are—!"

Suddenly, royal guards shows up and rounded us up from all directions. They pointed their weapons at us so we had no choice but to succumb. We see no point in resisting anyway.

"Your Highnesses!!!" The soldiers declared, bowing down at the sight of Ifrit and Maru.

Highnesses.... So that means.

"Ease down, soldiers. They are our friends! They saved us!" She says in a clear and loud voice that all the soldiers that heard it brings their weapons down, releasing us.

One soldier that clearly seems like he outrank the rest, steps in and conversed with Ifrit.

So the men before really were accurate on aiming to kidnap these two after all. They weren't blindly kidnapping out on the streets, they were really both a target.... just like us before.

"Where were we? Oh yeah. My pocketwatch. Here, please take it!" She insisted, shoving it at me.

I refused politely.

"I haven't got your name though." she says, conceding.

I bowed down at her, "I am Aeron of House Leingod, your Highness, Son of the Duke of Greenrun. Forgive me for being unsightly at the moment. Ah... oh and these are—!" I gestured at my friends but she cuts me off. "Lord Aeron," she says slowly, as if savoring the word, "It's a pleasure to meet you!" she curtsied. "You save my life and my brother's. Can you join me to our palace so we can express our gratitude better?"

I looked around and realized the men we fought earlier were being taken away by the royal guards already.

I eased down.

I guess all the troubles are over.

"I appreciate your kind gesture, Princess. But we can't stay long. We are in search for someone. A store, rather."

"Oh." she sighs. "Let me help you. We do have a Royal Consolidator. He has a list of all the stores and vendors here in the city and where they live."

We all exchanged glances in delight, hearing her.

"What's the store name?" she asks.

"Geníse Store." I replied.

She looked at me wide eyes. "I know that place!" She then turns to Maru, "right?"

Maru nodded vigorously.

"That's where the person who thought us how to 'borrow items from people' lives! Well... not actually live. She just visits few times a month. That's why we sneaked out from the palace today, so we can meet up with her! We figured we should bring her a gift but we didn't bring any money with us! And I remembered she loves the bread from the bazaar. So— uhh. Cut story short, that's what we bought... using your pocketwatch..."

Never mind the pocketwatch! I thought to myself.

Oh wow. Now who would have thought this type of coincidence is possible?

Eriol chuckled. "Is her name Hysmin, by any chance?"

Maru clapped and cheered. Seeing him do so, Ifrit giggled. "Yes, that's her name alright! So you know her too? She's a good friend to us!"

"Something like that." Eriol answered.

"Well come on! I'll lead you to her!" She gestured at us as she begun to walk further to the bazaar. Few royal soldiers stayed and escorted us along as she led the way.

I grabbed the shirt from where we left them and handed Levi his, as we went and followed her a little from behind.