Chapter 23: Teamwork

Sian's men are spread all over the forest in search of Karl and Zena.

Meanwhile, Karl grabs Zena's head. "Stop. Just answer me in yes and no." Zena stops yapping.

"Can you defeat those other people in armour?"

"Yes, if I catch them off guard."

"Can you restrain Sian for few seconds?"

"Yes."

"Do you still love Martin?"

This catches Zena off guard. "No. I don't."

"Good. I will create a opening, try to follow me." Karl suddenly jumps down and disappears from Zena's sight.

Two men in armour are walking side by side, checking every corner. One says "How did that kid disappeared that fast?"

"I think this is a trap made by the chief of federation. He probably sent him here."

"I heard that Sian and him are not on good terms lately." Karl jumps on one of them and stabs his eye with a rock. The man screams as blood drips from his eye.

"Talking about me?" Karl says in a sly tone.

"You!" The other knight draws his sword and runs at Karl. He reaches him and performs a side slash. Karl uses levitating steps and appears behind him. Before he could do anything the injured guy punches Karl in the back. Karl slowly stands up.

"Finally caught, you rat."

"You dead now." Both the knights have a furious expression on their faces.

"Dead? Me?" Karl smiles as he uses levitating steps.

Suddenly a bright light flashes.

BOOM!

Karl appears near Zena. "You were late." He complains.

Zena is on her knees panting as if she ran a marathon. "And don't use such flashy spell as they can pinpoint our location with this." Zena nods.

Karl waits for few minutes. "Let's move."

On the other side. "Sir. We have lost contact with 2 of our knights in east direction." Martin is sitting under a tree while drinking a potion.

"Are there any other knights in that vicinity?" Sian asks.

"Yes, Joshua is leading a group of 4 knights near that area."

"Good. Tell all the other knights to surround Joshua's group."

'Come on. Take this bait.'

Karl is standing on large tree looking at a group of 4 knights. Zena is beside him.

"Should I create a distraction? So, you can move in?"

Karl observes the knights. "No. Something feels fishy here."

Zena looks at the knights again. "Well, they are just standing there doing nothing."

"Exactly. If they were moving it wouldn't be so odd. This feels like a bait." Karl thinks for a second.

"Zena, how far can your fireball reach in a straight line?"

"Um. Around 700 meters if no obstacles." Karl smiles and picks Zena up like a princess.

On the ground, the atmosphere is very tense. Every knight in guard for any possible attacks. 15 minutes passes since Sian's order yet nothing happens. Joshua lets his guard down for second to contact Sian, a fireball strikes. It hits Joshua straight in the face. His head blasted to pieces.

Everybody panics.

"What happened?"

"Where did that come from?"

Karl suddenly appears behind a knight and stabs a pointy stone into his nape.

"Watch out!"

A knight charges at Karl with a spear. He tries to stab the spear into Karl's gut, but he fails as Karl just redirects the path of the spear with his bare hands.

'I need a weapon ASAP.'

He takes a step closer to the knight and punches him in the jaw, he falls on the ground. One remaining knight is trying to stop the bleeding of the injured knight. Just then, a bright light flashes and Karl disappears. 

A big explosion is heard by Sian and his men. "Sir, Joshua's entire group was wiped out."

"What? What were the other knights doing?"

"Sir, the squad was wiped out before they could reach there." Sian makes a furious expression.

"What do I pay you peasants for?"

"S-sir, don't worry our knights are currently trailing behind that kid."

"Bring that brat to me!" Sian yells.

Karl is currently jumping from trees to trees moving towards Zena. Suddenly a small ball of water hits a branch just beside Karl. He glances back and sees 5 knights chasing him on the ground.

'Should I use levitating steps?' Karl wonders for a second but decides not to use it as his wound on his leg is reopened. It stings very badly at every step he takes.

Karl tries to breath in some mana and experiences some difficulties. 'I cannot use my spells too recklessly now.' He clicks on his watch and calls Zena.

"Where are they now?" Sian asks.

"They are heading towards that plateau in a distance." The knight points in a distance.

"Then let us go." Sian hops on the wagon and kicks the men who are pulling it. They start to run. Sian grabs their leash. The knight is running behind them and Martin is sitting silently beside Sian. The road is not the most optimal for the wagon. It is shaking too much.

"Sir, the package might be damaged if we keep going." Sian ignores it and increases the speed.

Karl jumps down as he reaches the plateau. A ball of fire grazes Karl's shoulder but he keeps on running. In a distance the knight sees a figure standing near the edge. Karl sees it too and quickly uses levitating steps. Knights notices Zena standing on the edge with Karl besides her. Both look extremely exhausted. Karl's face has some dirt on it.

The knight slowly moves towards them in a half circle, trying to surround them. Among the 5 knights, one reports back.

"Sir, we have surrounded them on the plateau."

"Excellent. Tell the knights to capture them and wait for me." The knight nods.

On the plateau, the knights have surrounded Karl and Zena successfully. "Surrender yourself. Kneel down with hands up in the air." 

'How nostalgic.' Karl thinks.

Karl smiles and puts his hand up in the air, but doesn't kneel.

"Tell that lady to do the same." Currently, Zena's hands are behind her back.

"She says that she will only listen to Martin's wishes." Karl yells. The knights come closer to them. Karl glances back and sees the beautiful purple forest. One step back and he will fall to his death.

Just when, Knights are few meters away from Karl and Zena. Karl puts his hands down. The knights all immediately takes a stance. But it is too late. Zena reveals a pair of pure white knuckles and her both hands catches fire.

She looks unfazed.

Then, Zena smashes the ground below, shaking the entire plateau.

CRACK! CRACK!

A huge crack is formed on the edge, where everyone is standing. "RUNNN!"

One knight screams in fear as a bigger portion of the plateau proceeds to fall. Karl picks Zena up and disappears. All the knights try run towards the crack but they couldn't outrun the gravity. Hence, falling to their death.

Karl appears near a tree with Zena in hand. He puts her down. The fall of the plateau makes a lot of noise.

Zena hits Karl in the head. "Ouch!"

"What do you mean by She will listen to only Martin's wishes?"

"Uh. I said that because I wanted to trick them thinking that we surrendered."

Zena pinches Karl's cheek. "Say that again. I dare you."

Before Karl could say anything, Sian appears on a wagon with Martin beside him.

"Don't worry. We can take him down if we work with a team." Karl whispers.

Zena smiles at Karl as she nods.

Back in the academy.

"La-"

SMASH!

Someone smashes the door open.

"Hey, what are you doing? There is an interrogation going here." The agent warns.

Andressa looks at the door and sees Ian. He is sweating too much and looks exhausted.

Ian just looks at Andressa for a second. 'Looks like I was a little late.'

"This is my friend and I need her back."

"You can't be here. This is a matter of federation." The agent tries to push Ian out.

"My name is Ian Desouza Phirsecot and I need my friend back." The agent takes a step back as he hears the name of Phirsecot.

"Hello, there Ian. You came at a good timing. We were going to see you anyway." The chief says with a smile.

"You can't question a knight without a proper permit." Chief's expression does not change.

"Well, I can arrest you for interfering in a federation investigation." Sweats of drop appears on Ian's forehead. Ian tries to maintain a poker face but fails to do so.

"Please have a seat Heir of the Phirsecots."

Ian obeys, for now. He sits down beside Andressa and gives her his handkerchief.

"So, you were saying something. Miss, Andressa." Ian notices her stressed face and teary eyes.

'Did she spill the beans yet?'

Before Andressa says anything, Ian asks "What are you doing here in the first place? Did my friend troubled you with anything?"

"No, no. We were here to investigate about the infirmary incident and I remembered that Leonard studies in this school. So, I asked his friend. Miss Andressa about his whereabouts and you came."

"If you are looking for Karl, he is currently out of this city."

"Yeah, he went to see his brother and sister, right?" The agent from behind answers.

Chief's expression turns into an annoyed expression as he glares at the agent.

'That's what Andressa told them?'