Aadish and His Group

Under the evening sun, Dareon stood, his back against a tree, surrounded by a group of men amounting to five people. One of the men grabbed Dareon by his collar as the others watched with arms crossed and a smile carved on their faces.

Hubert watched from afar, hiding himself within the treeline.

Dareon's cheeks bruised with every punch the man launched at him.

Bam

Dareon lifted his left arm this time.

The man's fist was blocked by it.

Dareon looked at him, fear in his eyes, his body trembled and his breathing irregular.

"You… dare!" the man said, his voice raged and agitated.

Then he pushed Dareon to the ground.

Thud

Crack

A low thud could be heard as he fell to the ground, breaking the sticks that laid dormant on it.

"Henter, Cobman, beat him up," the man said.

Two of the four men that were watching from the side grinned ear to ear. They cracked their fists and stepped forward, ready for their share of fun.

"Of course, Aadish, it would be my pleasure," Henter said with amusement in his voice. Henter's brown hair gleamed under the sunlight as his brown eyes blazed with excitement.

Step

Step

Step

"Not that fast," Hubert said, revealing himself to the group. He stood between them and the lying Dareon.

Henter and Cobman stopped in their tracks, hesitating on obeying Aadish's commands upon seeing Hubert.

"Oooh, who're you?" Aadish said with curiosity, slightly challenging. His southern accent was obvious, and his words were slightly slurred.

It was only then revealed Aadish's appearance. Dark brown skin and black silky short hair, with yellow bright eyes, resembling that of topaz.

"I'm-" Hubert responded, but his words were cut off before he could even finish his sentence.

"I remember you, the genius of our class, wasn't it? Hubert," Aadish said, interrupting and arrogantly.

Hubert clenched his fist, agitated by the snobbish nature of Aadish.

Aadish noticed Hubert's gloved fist being gritted.

"Oh, are you getting mad? The genius of our class doesn't have much self control, I see… Well, I guess it was something you would gain from hanging out with peasants!" Aadish mocked.

Laughter broke out within the vicinity as the group laughed and mocked Dareon's background, a mercenary.

"Haa… Dareon, get up, don't be afraid," Hubert muttered, readying himself for the inevitable fight. His gaze sharpened like a spearhead and his hand turned into a hardened fist.

"A-ah, yes," Dareon supported himself and quickly got up, his fist clenched and his eyes determined. Though his body and face were bruised, and his mouth quivered, a small amount of determination blazed in his eyes.

"Ay, ay, don't get that serious. We were just joking and playing with Dareon, our good friend!" Aadish said.

"If so, get out of here," Hubert said, his tone pressed, demanding and commanding.

"Ha, guys, let's go," Aadish signaled, the rest followed.

"Dareon, let's play again next time," Aadish murmured as he left the place with his group.

"Haa…" Hubert sighed, slightly relieved.

The situation was solved, the mess quieted down, but he knew, this won't be the last of their confrontation.

"Dareon, let's go to our place," Hubert said.

"Ye-yes," Dareon responded.

As the sun was still up, though setting, and the clock hadn't rung, signaling dinner, they made their way to their usual place.

"So, it was them?" Hubert asked.

"Ye-yes," Dareon answered, still shaky from the previous beating.

They sat on the log, watching into the horizon as the sun gave its last light.

"How long has this been going on?" Hubert asked.

"It was some petty acts like disturbing and poking before… This was the first time," Dareon confessed.

"Ha… you were a mercenary before, why didn't you continue defending yourself. I know you could based on that block before," Hubert mentioned, knowingly, as he had observed Dareon before he stepped up.

Dareon clenched his fist, roughed from the time he was a mercenary.

"I know, but it was only for one year. I haven't really learned that much…" Dareon said, his tone low and depressed.

Hubert looked at him, his eyes glancing up and down, suspicious of Dareon's statement. 

Dareon's body was fit and hardened, his palm coarse and his muscles toned.

"You're lying, tell me the exact reason. A mercenary isn't that weak," Hubert exclaimed.

"..." Dareon was silent, almost surprised. Yet he kept his fist clenched and his face downward.

"Mercenary… in the eyes of people, we're soldiers, professionals, capable of fighting, killing and protecting… In the eyes of nobles, we're clowns, mere playthings and toys," Dareon said.

Hubert stared at the sky, listening wholeheartedly to Dareon's words.

"My mercenary group leader, a kind guy, righteous and powerful… then the noblemen would say that we, mercenaries, stole their glory and their fame by completing requests from the people or from the guild." Dareon continued. 

"The only thing they could direct their rage to, the leader. They beat him, cursed at him, threw cups, and some even had knights beat him up. And yet, why didn't we fight back? Ha, if only we could, we would," Dareon said.

Though his eyes calmly enjoyed the scenery, his fist was gritted and his ear agitated from such a tale.

"And I'm not much different… you see, Hubert, in the eyes of nobles like yourself, I'm someone that can be trampled and beaten upon, a source of amusement, so that's why, I thank you for protecting me…" Dareon said, his voice grateful. 

Though his words slightly hinted at Hubert's protection.

"But I'm not a noble," Hubert said, his tone calm and reserved.

Dareon's eyes widened.

"Wh-what?! Bu-but, you have talent and even your own servant! An-and, you could stop Aadish, a baron's son, from beating me," Dareon said, his voice slightly high-pitched.

"Of course I have talent, everyone here does. That guy over there, Ron, I think that's what he's called, is a servant of the academy. Coincidentally, I shared a room with him," Hubert said, as he pointed at Ron in the distance, cleaning up leaves with a broom.

"But, how could you explain picking a fight with Aadish? Won't it be like seeking your own doom?" Dareon asked, disbelieving Hubert's sudden revelation.

"Eh… Uhm… Won't we be protected by the academy? I mean, we could always fight them," Hubert said.

"N-no way… I placed my trust in the wrong person…" Dareon muttered, his eyes blank and his back slouched.

"Don't worry about it that much, Dareon. Believe in yourself!" Hubert convinced.

Teng!

Then the bell rang in the distance, signaling dinner time for the students.

—

"Damn it!" Aadish cursed. His hand moved.

Shatter

A novelty, a cup made of glass, was launched from his hand into the nearby wall. Its content, wine, defiled the painting of a scenery of plains and trees.

"How dare he?!" Aadish continued in his rampage, his voice shaky and raged. His body trembling in hatred.

Henter and Cobman, along with the other two friends, stood silently, a bead of sweat trickling down their foreheads. Though one differed among them.

"Aa-Aadish, what should we do?" Henter asked, stepping forward. His hand opened wide, and his voice trembled, frightened.

"Gather all his information! I want his father, his mother, his age, background, history, everything! E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G!" he shouted at Henter.

Henter looked at the other, then gulped his saliva, then he nodded.

"Okay…" he said, before leaving the room. Two men followed him, and another, a part of their friend group, did so too.

The room was empty, except for Aadish and one other guy.

"Gunther…" Aadish called, his rage seemingly disappearing into thin air.

Gunther stepped forward, revealing his sharp jaws and honed stare. His blond hair, pulled back, gleamed from the lights of the glass chandelier above him. His red eyes, like those of a predator, gazed at Aadish.

Aadish gazed at the floor, fearing Gunther's pressuring gaze.

"You did good, Aadish. It is not the time for us to confront Hubert… yet," Gunther said, his tone relaxed.

"Ye-yes, Gunther, so what is our plan?" Aadish asked.

"There is no plan, just do as you wish," Gunther said.

"Wh-what?" he raised his gaze, only to be greeted by the empty room.

Gunther was nowhere to be seen.

—

"Imagine this, the four elements, fire, water, air, and earth. Imagine them coexisting in your mind. But they're not harmonious, they're primal, wild, and beastful. Each of them, capable of killing and even annihilating cities," Hubert whispered into Dareon's ears.

Dareon sat on the ground cross legged, sweat drenched his cloth, while his muscles let out steam. His eyes closed and his hands were placed on his knees as he meditated.

"Then, the magic circle, a star. Guess and learn of what each point was, focus your mind on it. Turn all the knowledge in class and imagine it existing in your mind," Hubert continued.

Dareon's eyelids remained closed, though it was clear he was struggling as his body shook and his face muscles twitched.