A Lurking Man

Days and days and days passed. Louis had been asking in specific places through town for information about the guy named 'Faust' but nobody had any clue who that was. Louis was at a loss and his investigation was pretty much at a dead end. He had even asked Stella if she knew of any other way to get a hold of him but, even she had no idea how to find Faust.

The best idea Louis could come up with was somehow find that devious 'Jack The ripper' as he had some sort of a connection to 'Faust'

But running into jack at that village was a chance encounter, highly unlikely to happen again.

Louis twirled his thumbs and he thought heavily but, there were just no ideas. He decided to put everything on hold and focus on the upcoming threat. It was only three days until a threat would arrive at the Vangray mansion. Louis had already put up many safety measures by increased patrols and having Diane increase the barrier effectiveness. Now, the only option was to wait and see what happens.

Leo came into the mansion, carrying his heavy sword as usual. He had just got back from patrol.

"Nothing suspicious so far. We'll keep our guard up."

"Good. There's no telling what the threat actually is. All I know is that it's something dangerous enough that my ability told me to consider running." Louis replied.

Diane came in, taking a seat on the couch, holding a cup of water. She, too, had been out on patrol.

"I also didn't see too out of the ordinary, besides the fact that animals seem to have fled the area."

It was common for animals to have some sort of sixth sense for predicting danger ahead of time. Considering that the threat would arrive in only 3 days from now, the animal's reactions were expected.

Louis asked, "What about Indigo? Has she reported anything?"

"No. She's still on lookout." Diane replied.

Indigo's job was to use her scouting skills to watch from atop the mansion. With her thermal vision, spotting anyone would be easy, not to mention how it goes well with her [Bird's Eye View] , an ability allowing her to see from the sky's perspective as well as granting true sight. Even an invisible man can't hide from it.

On top of that, she planted motion sensors around the mansion, in case the barrier failed to pick up on anything. It truly was hard to believe that nothing out of the ordinary had happened. As for Master Antares and young master Ansel, they were instructed to stay indoors until everything was settled.

"I just don't know what to do. I'm anxious just sitting around. I feel like there's something I have to do, but I don't know what." said Louis.

Leo spun his giant blade, expressing his own emotions.

"Yeahh. I get you. I'm the same way right now. I'm eager for an enemy to show up so I can slice em down."

But, him and Louis weren't quite on the same page.

Diane put in a word too, "Don't worry. I'm sure something will happen soon enough. Not sure if that's a good thing, but it's a fact. We just need to be patient and wait."

It was the only thing anyone could do.

Day turned into night, all the while everyone has been cautiously keeping their eyes out. Still, nothing had come up.

Louis wasn't much of a drinker or smoker but, even he felt the urge to do so in order to ease his tenseness.

His posture was relaxed as he leaned over the rail of the balcony. The gentle breeze gracefully made his hair sway while his eyes studied the full moon. It was a surprise nothing was happening, it's a proven fact that spells are at least 2x effective on the night of a full moon. It was relatively strange how any wicked eyes would pass up an opportunity like this.

"??!!!"

Louis had spoken too soon as he had a sudden gut wrenching feeling. A hunch that something was off caused his eyes to glance at a darker portion of the forest.

'There.'

A pair of luminous green eyes, belonging to a shadowy figure, which was watching from a distance. None of it's features were really visible due to the darkness.

Normally, this would be a simple "Oh, a bad guy. "type of deal but Louis's sense of danger was sharp enough to pick up on the aura surrounding the figure. As the figure noticed Louis was aware of it, it's shadowy presence sped off at speeds that didn't belong to any ordinary person.

"Oh no you don't." Louis mumurmed and he took a leap of the balcony.

After casting a spell to speed himself up, Louis was already catching up to this suspicious being, still, it's features weren't all that visible.

"As a Royal Knight, I order you to stop." Louis shouted.

The shadowy figure paid no mind to the word's and only got faster at running.

"So you won't listen, huh. Guess we'll handle things differently from the textbook ways. Devastating Pull."

A giant wave of wind lifted the figure of its feet before they were thrown back towards Louis.

"And here's this!"

Louis swung his fist at the suspect while they were mid-air but, their body twisted and dodged before kicking off of Loui's chest, landing a good distance away.

Tmp.

Their feet gently touched down on the ground, skillfully. Whoever this person was, it looked like they gave up running and decided to face their opponent head on. Right away, the shadowy figure pulled out a slim sword and dashed forward, slashing at Louis who lost a strand of hair as he evaded.

Slash!

Louis took a couple steps back, to prepare. Now, he was close enough to see the figure's features.

It was a slim man with very long platinum hair and green eyes. His dresswear of choice was black, assassin-like clothes. By the way he wielded his sword and by the way he previously swung it at Louis, it was clear that this person was skilled.

"So, Are you going to tell me who you are?" Louis asked.

The man smiled, holstering his blade before brushing his hair aside.

"I suppose it is common courtesy to introduce yourself before a duel. Have my name, I am Asher Abner Frowler."

"And what exactly is your reason for spying on the mansion?" Louis asked, ready to fight in case this 'Asher' person pulled something.

"I am just a vigilante swordsman. I know of your position in guarding the Vangray family, so I see your reason for being cautious. Still, I will say this: I am not an enemy."

Tilting his head, Louis clearly wasn't buying it.

"Really? You still didn't answer why you were spying on the mansion."

"Honestly, I'm just a humble vigilante that got some news from the grapevine. Apparently, there have been some devious plans for an attack here. Being myself, I can't allow such a thing to happen."

Though it was one of Louis's abilities to tell if someone was lying, Asher was a hard person to read. Honestly, it wasn't obvious if he was a bad guy or if he was telling the truth. Louis weighed down the possibilities and considered how the lives at the mansion were at stake so he assumed that the man was indeed a threat.

"Sorry but, I choose not to believe you. So if that's all you have to say, I'll be bringing you in for some more questioning."

Asher drew his sword once more, cutting the air before pointing it at Louis.

"It's an unfortunate misunderstanding, but I respect your decision. However, even I won't let you take me in that easily. Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Let's get started. Traveling Shock!"

Louis quickly kneeled down and let his finger tips touch the ground, sending a current of electricity through the ground ahead.

Any opponent hit by it would surely feel paralyzing pain.

Asher jumpe do to the branch of a tree and leaped at Louis. His movement speed was unordinary fast but Louis moved in time to dodge a slash that cleanly cut a tree in half.

Slash!

Seeing his insane speed, Louis knew this wasn't a foe to hold back against.

'I wouldn't want to be cut by his blade.'

['Auto Dodge' Has Been Set Active]

Asher went on rapidly thrusting his sword, which Louis gently stepped away from each time.

"Using abilities, are we?" Asher commented.

"What? How did you know?" Louis asked.

It wasn't normal for someone to see when another person activates an ability. Who exactly was this guy.

Asher sent his blade to thrusting forward one more time. As Louis dodged that attack as well, Asher replied, "One of my abilities allow me to see when a person activates an ability. It also allows me to see the workings of the ability in play."

"You make it sound like you have more than one ability."

Asher nodded as that was the case, "I have quite a few. But, I don't necessarily use them unless the threat is worthy enough."

"Are you saying I'm not worthy of that much effort?"

Asher shook his head, "Do not misunderstand my words. You have already forced me to use an ability. That is the ability of triple damage. However, it's not really useful if I can't hit you. As luck has it, your ability should be running to about now."

['Auto Dodge' has reached its limit. On cooldown.]

"Crap." Louis mumbled.

"I am not entirely without mercy. I'll give you time to summon a weapon. That's if you can use material summoning."

"Sure I can, but you might live to regret letting me do so. Summon: Blade of Light, come forth."

A bright magic circle appeared into the air, as a glowing sword slowly floated out. Louis was quick to clench it, before holding it straight with both hands.

"Are you prepared now?"

"I am. Let's do this."

They sprinted at each other and within seconds, sparks flew from their colliding blades.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

The way both of them skillfully jumped and danced around showed that neither of them were in the lead of winning.

As their blades only failed to land against one another's flesh, they grew inpatient and decided to increase their stats.

Asher's and Louis's body became lit by hazes of magical light. Both their speeds and attack power greatend. Faster than before, they side-stepped around the forest all while swinging their swords. But now, each time their blades coldied, major shockwaves boomed through the air.

"Not..bad!" Louis shouted.

"I'll say the same for you."

Their sword play became careless but more powerful as they accidentally started to cut down nearby trees.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

From either of their perspectives, the outcome was unclear.

Asher pulled his blade away, swiftly backing away.

"I was aware that you were one of the hundred Royal Knight's. Still, I did not realize you were him until now."

"Him? What do you mean?"

Asher touched his heart, explaining.

"You are none other than The Royal Killer. I suppose it must mean something if I can keep up with you. Here I thought my swordplay was nothing special."

"Yeah, yeah. You're good, I'll give you that. But, I noticed how you don't know much magic other than enhancements. That's where I outshine you. Crushing Orb!"

A large glowing sphere appeared around Ahser, trapping inside.

"Ah. so this is what you meant. I regret to bring this up, but-"

TheSphere tightened, slowly growing smaller around Ahser. It was only seconds till he was crushed up, compressed into blood matter.

Louis tightly clenched the air above, "That should do it."

His confidence only lasted moments, until the orb ripped apart and Asher stood unharmed.

"As I was saying before you tried to compress me, any magic that I touch will be dispelled. I apologize for the inconvenience but, I won't fall for your spells. Here, let me show you something up my sleeve. Don't worry, I won't be fatal. Amplifier, My beloved blade!"

Ahser's sword was filled by a glowing light, before he finally leaped forward, faster than Louis could track. Louis stood, watching the blade slowly come closer and closer, until an unexpected person interfered.

"Not today, freak!", Leo jumped in the way of the attack, Lifting his great sword to block Asher mid-air.

Clink!

"Reflect Impact!" Leo parried his blade forward, tossing Asher into the air.

Falling down, the swordsman twirled his body and lightly landed on his heels."

Tmp.

Leo looked back at Louis with excitement.

"Looks like I came just in time, man. Let's do this."

"Yeah." Louis nodded.

Asher was about to lunge forward, but came to realize two other opponents sneak up from behind.

Two women swung from jabs at his jaw, simultaneously. Asher was caught uneplectly and he nearly fell back, before he recovered his balance.

"It appears if I am outnumbered. This is not a good position for me."

"Well, get ready for an ass-kicking." Louis shouted.

Asher lifted his arms into the air in a non-hostile manor.

"Halt. I yield. It wouldn't be smart of me to keep fighting at this point." He kneeled down, placing his blade on the dirt, before taking a few steps away from it.

Leo, Diane, Indigo and even Louis were hesitant to approach him. By how quickly and calmly Ahser had surrendered, it made it seem like he had something up his slip. Seeing everyone's reactions, Asher pretty much read their mind.

"Don't be so hesitant. I really don't have anything up my sleeves. I just found it to be a smarter decision if I just surrendered."

"Well then, that means i can do this!"

Louis stepped up, striking his fist against Asher's face.

Slam!