Chapter 32

I erased my presence and basked under the glory of the moon. I was quite fond of the moon, it shone brightly at times. While other times it only showed a portion of itself. It illuminated the night sky along with the stars, but unlike the stars. It never shone of its own volition or ability, it's light was merely the reflection of another star.

It reminded me of the pawns who I had used over the years. I had made them shine, only to have someone snuff out their light. They never chose to shine, and they never chose to die. All of it was under my control.

I felt a presence behind me, I turned around and made eye contact with Iris. Her long silver hair flowed with the wind, I felt the Mana in her body converge in her eyes. She was using her ability, the high Elves' bloodline ability.

Their power was related to 'Fate.' The power to see and alter Fate. That was their power, it wasn't an omnipotent control over Fate. Rather it was an insight into the future, and they could also alter the probability of things.

It wasn't an ability that had absolute destructive power like my own, but rather with meticulous control and sustained effort. It wouldn't be impossible for someone to take over a country, or multi countries, without shedding a drop of blood.

She was using 'The Eyes Of Fate.' She could see the Fate of something or someone, but the amount she could see often varied. Iris was the smartest of the main heroines, but it was often said that she was rash and impulsive as a child but something changed her.

I released my presence concealment and prepared myself for a battle.

Iris Aegis POV:

I willed Mana into my eyes and looked at the masked child infront of me. His long white hair frolicked underneath the moonlit sky and his cloak gently fluttered like a butterfly due to the breeze.

He turned around and looked at me, no, his eyes. Those eyes that seemed to look beyond me, beyond this world. He was... ignoring me.

I tried using 'The Eyes Of Fate' on him, but I couldn't see anything. I used more and more Mana but it was to no avail.

I could not see his Fate.

'How dare he. Not only did he steal my position as elder sister Claire's disciple, but he's ignoring me?'

I flowed Mana through my body, I drew my rapier. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and felt the air currents around me, I opened my eyes and saw the masked boy infront of me. His playing card at my neck.

I thrust my rapier at him, he dodged and aimed a kick at my solar plexus. I coated my solar plexus in Mana and had it act like armour, he immediately stopped his kick. I then felt a heavy blow land on my liver, I doubled over and took a few steps back.

'I couldn't sense it? I could sense the rest of his body, but I couldn't sense that blow?.'

I looked at him again, focusing everything on my eyes. Yet again, I could not see his Fate. He released a barrage of attacks, each of them hitting close to a vital spot, but always narrowly missing.

He was telling me something, he was telling me that my life was in his hands.

I had learned something about this 'Joker', there weren't many words to describe him. He was mysterious but most of all, more than anything he was...

Overwhelming.

He formed a sword in his hands, it's blade was similar to a katana. I used that interval to form a spell in my left hand, I condensed a blast of wind in my hand. I stabbed him in his shoulder to hold him in place, I then thrust my hand forward, and released the built up Mana.

As I released the spell, I felt an overwhelming presence.

'Death.'

That was the only thing I could feel, an overwhelming pressure that made death seem like the only option. In that instant, I focused my mind and perfected the spell, forcing my body to its upper limits and creating an even larger blast. This would wipe his body out of existence itself if it landed, I had to kill this man, before it was too late.

Click!

I saw a hand roll on the floor as a clicking sound was made. I saw Elder sister Claire put away her sword. I looked towards Joker, his hand was missing, I connected the dots and realised that his hand had been cut off by Claire.

'Ha, she must've done it to stop us, but why would she cut his hand and not mine? Not that I want to lose my hand. Still, its impressive that his hand is still holding on to the sword.'

"What do you think a life is worth?"

Claire spoke in a voice filled with malice, that monotonous woman spoke in a voice filled with rage. But why was she angry at him? Wasn't he the one who had nearly died?

"Since you're asking me a question, I shall ask you a question in return. Is a life truly worth anything?"

I clenched my fists so tightly that blood came out, what kind of question was that? Life is an irreplaceable thing in this world. I released a surge of killing intent. The value of a life cannot be measured, any other belief is other foolishness.

Claire looked at Joker in the eyes, they widened a bit before relaxing, as if she had finally understood something.

"Iris, leave it be, I know that you're angry. But my disciple, he seems to have done all this because he wanted to fight you. I think he's been planning this since he had his first conversation with you."

'Wait?- So, he wanted to fight me? Is he a battle whore- I MEAN, a battle addict?'

I thought to myself as he went to his fallen hand and simply reattached it, he probably had some sort of healing magic. Or maybe he ingested a potion when I wasn't looking?

I looked at him with The Eyes Of Fate once more, but I couldn't see anything. It was like he was a being who was beyond Fate itself.

I turned on my heel and left, heading to my room. Many of the guests also did the same, however Claire and Joker were each escorted to the guest rooms as they were staying for the night.