Chapter 6: The Great Escape

Skysin Rillem-

"And where do you kids think you're going?" A woman's deep voice chimed in my ear; her tone coated in malice.

Promptly, Crim and I turned around, viewing the tall lady before us. Bronze-like skin, brown eyes and short black hair, tied into a ponytail that fell onto the side of her neck. Wearing leather gauntlets and chausses, a black cloak with a slight V-like opening, revealing those large mounts on her chest.

I gazed at those peaks, only having one thing in my mind…

BIG.

The group of five in total – including the woman, encircled us, completely surrounded. I noticed the abundant aura shrouding all of their bodies, it seemed to be denser – or hardened. They're probably two phases above me and Crim, the third phase of the crystal; calcite.

Furthermore, the situation just became graver…it's obvious these people aren't going to allow Crim and I to just waltz away without a care. However, if I can run as fast as I did earlier today, we can escape and get to our parents, so they can handle these people.

I was about to act, extending my arm to Crim's shoulder, until a thin line of rock sprouted from the ground. Quickly blocking me from Crim and wrapped around my wrist, pulling me to the rugged floor.

"Sin!" Crim yelled, bursting into vehement white flames.

He waved his arm, releasing a billow of blazes at our enemies. They all leapt into the air, and as they did, the woman created a ball of wind on her palm, firing it onto Crim's stomach and smashing him through the log behind us.

"CRIM!!" I shouted, trying to elude from the thick bracelet of rock holding me down. When they landed, manacles of earth enfolded my legs, holding me still, and seized my arms. Doing the same to Crim right after me.

The tall woman lifted me from the ground as I tried to squirm and shake from her clutches, "grab the ginger."

"Yes ma'am!" A burly man with short black hair, heaved Crim and followed the woman as she walked over to where the birds are.

When we got to them, they held us both in air. "Make a hole in the ground so they can't escape," the woman demanded.

Two holes had burrowed into the ground, and they placed us inside, side-by-side, directly in front of the giant silver birds. When they sat us in, I could feel the dirt under gradually grow tighter, holding us hostage.

The group of five stood before us, all examining me and Crim. A short man with daggers turned to the tall woman, inquiring her, "ma'am…what should we do with these kids?"

She crossed her arms, holding them under her prideful chest, "hmm…we'll kill the birds first. Then kill the boy…and I guess the girl afterwards too, no witnesses."

My eyebrow twitched from her words, "um-excuse me, tall lady…I'm not a girl."

They all blankly stared at me for a moment, then the woman spoke once more, shaking her head with a sigh, "…listen kid. I know some little girls have it hard and wanna be a boy. But you shouldn't lie about your gender."

Crim responded to her, "he's not lying though."

The man with a hooded cloak clicked his tongue, "...oh yeah? Prove it."

I looked at the ground firmly ceasing our movement, then gazed at the man with an innocent smile, "you'll have to let us out first mister. I can't exactly…move."

The man lifted his arms, and just as he was about to commence – the woman smacked the back of his head, "you weird idiot!! He's obviously trying to trick you!"

I silently groaned in disappointment, but this proves that these people are pretty slow in the head. Undoubtably stupid, I suppose.

The tall woman released a chasmic huff in frustration, "...let's get the tools so we can do this already."—She turned to the burly fellow on my right— "Keep watch of these kids and the birds…" She ordered pivoting on her heel, making way to the large white tents far on the left of me.

The large man gave a firm nod, sitting on a singular rock in the ground.

I lifted my head, staring at the afternoon sky. The hue of azure steadily fusing with a tinge of orange. It won't be long until dusk emerges. Also, I'm sure our parents are starting to get worried. Although, I'm not sure if they'd be able to find us in time before these weirdos start executing their machinations.

Minutes started to fly by, then something caught my eye.

The fat man fell sleep, snoring like a pig while he sat on the rock. Additionally, I wasn't the only one who noticed this. Crim and I stared at each other, which he cautiously whispered first, "I think it's about time we bust out of here and get our parents. We shouldn't wait any longer…"

"Right…" I nodded. "But what about the birdies? I don't think we should leave them to die…" I remarked in concern, turning my head to look at the three giant beasts. They shouldn't die like this, it's not fair.

Crim's brows furrowed, making a questionable expression, "you're not wrong…but how can we get them out? By the time we'd break out, chubby over there will alarm the others."

I noted his words, staying silent for a moment. My eyes sweeping across the area around me, musing about of any possible resources I could use. A way to cause a distraction and take these people's attention off us, even for a split second. That's all we need to escape and help the birds. Observing my surroundings, something clicked in my head. I looked up once more, descrying the towering cliff and rocky slopes coated in masses of snow.

The fluffy frost looks like it's on the brink of tumbling down any moment. Plus, with mom teaching me how to control gravity – although I'm not as good as her – I can cause a small avalanche to transpire. Including Crim, with his abilities basically being an epitome of chaos…

I couldn't help but grin, already devising a worthy scheme that'll assist us.

Crim noticed this, letting out a discreet chuckle, "so…what's the plan?"

"I'll try to make the snow on that cliff fall, which should cause a small avalanche with more falling behind it. When I do that, I need you to burn both of our holes – fast. After that, while I sneak attack the fat guy, I need you to create an explosion with your flames, so we can make an even bigger avalanche…" I explained.

Crim smirked, completing my plan, "then we can free the birds and escape before more snow falls."

"Yep…just look at the cliff. When you notice the snow falling, we'll start."

Crim nodded, "right."

I looked at the cliff above our heads and began. Furthering my concentration, I imagined gravity to be like a force of wind. As I did, the snow started to vaguely budge and shift, until the first patch timbered down to the ground. Just as it collided onto the rocky floor, Crim activated his Sun-Dragon flames, instantly searing through his hole, and to mine at efficient speed.

The man's eyes flickered open as he groaned, then when he focused onto us leaping out of our holes, I aimed my hand at him, firing a large block of crystal ice at his face.

"WHAT THE-" The man exclaimed just before the ice had smitten his face, propelling him off the rock and into the forest.

Crim lifted his arms into the air, creating a white disk of flames to materialize over his palms, unleashing a humongous pillar of fire. Causing an earth-shattering eruption, making the entire area around us rumble fiercely. The snow on the mountain began to shuffle and shake, ultimately sweeping over mounds of rock.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!!" The woman's deep, disembodied voice shouted in vexation.

However, this is our chance to act!

Hastily, Crim and I approached the three captive birds. While I molded an ice dagger, Crim followed suit, creating a knife of phoenix flames. As the snow grew closer, we cut the rope, allowing the birds to escape.

"Kooo," the bird sounded rubbing its large head on me, it looked happy.

I chuckled rubbing its head, "go…get out of here-"

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" The woman interrupted me, shooting through the tent with her men trailing behind.

Their eyes widened, noticing the avalanche roaring as it rolled towards us. Her brown eyes shifted onto us, gritting her teeth as she clutched her sheathed sword, "KILL THEM!!"

They all charged to us, yelling as they brandished a diversity of weapons.

"Fart baskets…" I muttered. Raising my arms, I formed a giant ice wall blocking them off. Despite that, it won't hold long against them…

"KOO!!" The bird eagerly cawed, shaking its large silver body, gesturing for Crim and I to hop on its back.

Without much thought, Crim and I hopped on its back, grasping its soft feathers. All three of the towering beasts lifted their four broad wings, and dropped them to the ground, making the air frantically shift. When the birds hoisted their wings once more, the group of four broke through the ice, stampeding to us with a murderous glint in their eyes.

Abruptly, the avalanche made its move, swooping over them and swallowing the group whole. The birds dropped their wings with immense power, shooting to the beautiful orange sky above. The wind striking my face as I tightened my grip, screaming like a maniac at high speeds.

As we soared in the sky, looking down at the wonderous terrain of greenery and mountains, I glanced back at Crim. The two of us grown a beaming smile as we shot our arms into the air, laughing hysterically from our victory.

"WE DID IT!!" We cheered at the top of our lungs, giving each other a crisp high-five.

"KOOO!" The three birds cawed once more in unison, just as happy as we are.

"Thanks for helping us birdy," I remarked rubbing its head with a smile, digesting the astonishing colors of the sky, flying over fluffy white clouds, watching more birds slowly take flight into the sky with us.

"Koo – Koo!"

With that, I directed the birds on where to go, heading back home…

*****

Rellgis Rillem-

Sitting on a cushioned chair on Savitra's balcony, with her and Valentine near the bar she owned, I gazed at the mountains in the background.

The two pretty ladies sat on separate chairs, both having a glass of sake in hand. I looked at my wife – Valentine – staring into her celestial lavender eyes with suspicion, "Val…are you sure that you should be drinking?"

Valentine pulled the glass to her side, turning her short body along with it, as if I was preparing to snatch it from her clutches. "I promise I won't do anything...don't take it," she quickly hissed, drinking while she kept a cautious eye on me.

I simply sighed, praying to Malerenz that this woman doesn't pounce on me like last night…I barely have enough energy as it is…

Valentine swiveled her glass, "uh...Honey? About earlier, do you have any idea how Sin moved that fast?"

"Now that you say that…" Savitra added. "Do you, Rellgis? Sin moved at – or faster than sound. And he's only four…"

I recalled his speed earlier; it was very unpredictable. But I began reminiscing about what my old man told me when I was younger. Apparently, he could do the same when he was Sin's age…

Which could only mean…it's an inborn trait he obtained from my dad. It's odd that I couldn't do this when I was young, although I can exceed that speed without a problem now. But it's obvious that it slipped passed me, and Sin was the one who happened to acquire it.

I looked at the two, "I'm sure Sin got it from my dad. He told me that he could move faster than sound when he was four."

"Interesting…so its innate," Valentine mused.

Savitra commented after drinking the rest of her glass, "...well, that explains it. With his talent and speed, he'll probably move faster than light without spatial kinetics when he's a teenager."

Valentine and I nodded, what Savitra said isn't wrong. With Sin being so young, and can already move at such lengths, I can't deny that. There's no telling how fast he'll be, Sin may surpass mine, and Valentine's in the future.

Suddenly, I noticed a ginormous pillar of white flames, out in the distance at the mountains. The house began to shake wildly, like an earthquake was occurring.

We all stood and Savitra murmured in worry, "was that-"

"THE BOYS!" Valentine shouted in dismay, interrupting Savitra.

By the biggest coincidence, three giant silver birds with four wings appeared, soaring in the sky. My eyes caught sight of two small kids, one with crimson-colored hair, as for the other: gold, fluttering rapidly with the wind. Their childish voices laughing like mad men.

As the birds came swooping down to the porch, Sin and Crim poked their heads from behind the leading bird, having a smile of glee on their faces.

Skysin waved with an innocent chuckle, "hey mama!!!"

Valentine looked as if the world had crumbled down from this sight. Her hand slowly released the glass of alcohol, smashing onto the red rug – which is nonexistent for her to waste alcohol.

Her mouth gapped open, "oh...my malerenz…" She fainted, falling onto Savitra's arms.

When the large beasts landed on my right, and the boys jumped off. Skysin and Crim rubbed the bird with another chortle. The beast unleashed a massive caw, taking off with its two companions into the sky.

The two boys ran up to me, keeping a smile. All while I – absolutely had no words, utterly baffled, staring at Sin and Crim. I slowly blinked, then grasped their shoulders, inspecting their bodies since they had a few small bruises, "are you two ok??"

They simply nodded with a giggle, but Crim pointed at the mountain, "umm—we made an avalanche!"

"WHAT?!" Savitra and I exclaimed, turning our necks to look at the mountain, witnessing the snow grow closer to our location.

With haste, Savitra sat Valentine on a chair and made two, beautiful orange wings appear on her back, that of an elegant flaming bird.

She shot into the air and moved to the walls of the backyard in what seemed to be an instant. Savitra lifted her arms, aiming them at the mountain, causing dark-orange flames to escape from her palms and constructed a fiery blanket.

With a wave of her finger, the flames danced, wisping through the abundant trees and wildlife, coating the entire mountain. However, the snow was the only thing affected, quickly melting and evaporating. Flawless control of her power, not damaging anything else, it still amazes me to this day. You could say it's nearly impossible for nothing else to be burned.

After she finished and returned to the balcony, Valentine had awoken from the chair Savitra had place her in. Hurdling over to the boys, she wrapped her arms around them, "my goodness, don't ever do that again! What were you two thinking?!"

The boys briefed us about the entire ordeal. Helping birds from people who weren't only trying to kill the beasts, but them as well. Although it was reckless, they did what they had to for survival, which made me proud. Knowing they can at least handle situations like this to a degree, especially at their age.

As for those people, I doubt they survived, and I can't sense any other vital, excluding the beasts and such. More than likely, Savitra probably disintegrated them with the snow. But I should check to be sure, just in case.

While they all sat down, Savitra chuckled rubbing their heads, "you two are definitely trouble together…"

*****

A new day had arrived, and we're finally about to head back home. Instead of taking a carriage and making that prolonged trip back to the Raven region. We decided to take the rift, since it's substantially faster. Furthermore, I checked the mountain last night as well. But just as I thought, I couldn't find any corpses of the people the boys had come across.

Currently standing outside Savitra's threshold, she and Val shared a hug, then she wrapped her arms around Sin, lifting him into the air, giving him multiple kisses. "Oh, your sooo adorable! And already a troublemaker, I hope you don't break too many girls' hearts," Savitra chuckled.

Me and Valentine laughed from her jest, and after Val gave Crim a hug as well, we said our goodbyes, entering the carriage to head home.

While we road in the carriage, Sin fell asleep on Valentine's lap – and she was slumbering too. It's funny to me though, all three of them look exactly alike. Valentine, Skysin, and her father, he's basically Skysin's twin, pretty much.

But it seems my son has a lot going for his life. It's more of a prediction, but he's a talented child, who simply enjoys a fun adventure. It makes me wonder what he'll come across in this life of his…

All in all, I can't wait to witness what he'll become.

I showed a gentle smile, looking at Skysin while he slept, "my son..."