Chapter 4: Who is Your Master?

Familiar surroundings and no sight of Darkseal made Trace feel safe. When he ran away from Darkseal he went towards areas of Central Holdinberg he had not explored before. It was difficult to find the correct path to North Holdinberg but now he was finally in an area that was familiar. The cobbled street he was crossing right now reminded him of the first time he got lost after using the hinderance spell to lose the trio in the past.

He made his way towards North Holdinberg thinking about his master. Finding the right path in the jungle like streets of Holdinberg was no joke. Surviving in this world was none either. Would he return to this dangerous place to look for his master again tomorrow?

At the end of this street was a much more familiar place. The aura of North Holdinberg was eerie and suffocating said the rumours but it felt like home to countless. Trace was almost at the border now, he felt relief.

However, just as Trace stepped into the familiar aura his eyes squinted as he vaguely heard a person shouting. When he looked at, he saw someone dashing towards him at an absurd speed. The familiar grin sent a chill down his spine. Trace could not look away, he clenched his fist after seeing Darkseal with a hostage.

Trace gulped, he wanted to run away from this man but how could he leave when the other party had a hostage. How could he leave the old bun maker with such an evil looking person? The bun maker and Trace and could not be called acquaintances. They knew little about each other but Trace had been buying buns for a few days now. Visiting Central Holdinberg left him cold but visiting the bun stand gave him warmth.

Darkseal stopped before the Rentention Line, he knew it was worthless to even try to cross it. Everything beyond the Retention Line was foggy to Darkseal. He was hope that the Trace, a young man in full swing of youth, takes the bait. Suddenly, a figure burst out of the fog but wierdly Darkseal saw no ripples.

"Courage".

What a person needs to run away from the right is absoultely nothing. Their weak self is enough. Taking a step to overcome weakness is courage. As the saying goes, to start a journey towards your paradise, paved with no regrets, all you need is a tsp of courage.

The same black aura leaked from Trace's eyes as he got closer to Darkseal. But strangely enough Darkseal could not see the aura. Before Trace could get close, Darkseal took a step forward, as the distance lessened Trace clenched his fists and threw a punch.

Darkeal's grin did not lessen, he was running out of mana. Under the current cicumstances he could only hope for the best. Hoping was the one thing Darkseal never did, he was always calculative and precise but this time he was willing to bet because this was his best bet. I knocked him out once, I can do it again.

The reason he moved forward was to control the tempo of the battle. He was willing to bet that the agility Trace showed earlier today was only a spell that could be used for running away. Pushing the battle to close combat was the only fight he could put up right now. Coincidently enough, that was the best he was at. Factually, that was the only way of fighting he knew.

As Trace's punch closed in, Darkseal redirected the force of the punch and sent Trace crashing into a nearby building. Rather than dodging and hiting back this was more optimal. However, Darkseal was surprised by the power of the punch as his hands were numb now. For the last nine years he spent most of this training hours enhanching his body. But today he realized how worthless it was compared to a Level 3 Sorcerer.

Trace on the other hand could now tell what happened rigth now. He only saw the Darkseal grabbing his hand and then he suddenly crashed. His body was aching but he managed to get up. A green aura surrounded him. Trace could tell that the aura was healing him but he had not activated any healing spell. Hit with a sudden realization he looked towards his right hand. But before he could lift his sleeves. Darkseal was already closing in.

If possible, Trace did not wished to hurt the man running towards him very badly. It was complicated because Trace only knew one attack spell. He chose to use it now since he was getting impatient. Casting complex spells need a clear mind, without courage there is only chaos.

Trace pointed his open palm with fingers wide towards the incoming man.

'Maybe this battle is winnable. He did not use a shieling spell before he crashed. I am sure this guy is an amateur. I, Darkseal, can defeat a Level 3 Sorcerer and take back my fate'.

The bracelt was very important to Darkseal. This was his last opporunity to get out of Central Holdinberg. A last chance before his dream to be free would die. Last time before his mind gave in to fate. He was fatigued, door to Level 3 did not budge, the sisters' fraction was also surpressed.

'Last chance. 5% mana will do! These numb hands will make it work. As long as I get the treasure everything will be fine....'

The last thing Darkseal saw before he passed out of Trace's open palm. It was dusk when he opened his eyes. The chase began early in the morning, and this was the end. The first thing Darkseal saw when he opened his eyes was the gray cloudy sky. Without releasing he looked closely and saw the cloud was moving slowly, very slowly. It was escaping, slowly but surely towards North Holdinberg. Darkseal tried to raise his hands to wipe away the tears but they did not move.

"Where is the old bun maker?", asked Trace impatiently.

"There was no bun maker", grinned Darksea. "It was an illuion magic".

"You are lying"

Darkseal did not knew whether to laugh or to cry. He immediately recogined where the problem was.

"Just because I am smiling you think I am lying?"

No, it was not a smile. It was clearly an evil grin.

"I swear on my magic rings that I am telling the truth".

"What are you looking for in Central Holdinberg? I know this place very well. I can help you". Darkseal added when he did not get a reply.

"Really?" Trace's mood lightened up as he saw some hope.

"I can swear a magic oath if you want".

"What's that?". confused now.

"I can promise you that I will help you without any ill intentions", Darkseal said solemnly, "but in turn you will fulfill my one request.

"Promise! I want you to help me find my master." Trace agreed without a second thought.

Darkseal felt like he was cheating a kid. Only from hearing Trace's voice he could tell the lunatic was relieved and happy now. He felt stupid for doing it though. If he could not find the lunatic's master in the next few days the Yuushine family might find him. No, a few days was too much time. It all depended on when the sisters reported him and how fast the units would be dispatched.

"Who's your master?"

"The Greatest Magician of the Century!"

"..."