Chapter 29: The Assault of the Village II

     "Big Sis, aren't we supposed to be eating together? Where's brother?"

     "Yeah, after he took a bath, he said he'd do something important and return right away."

     The two were at the table waiting for Cimmerian to return.

     (Seriously? Where are you, brother? Big Sister did her best cooking these, you know? You can't let this pass.)

     "For the mean time until Cimmerian returns, you said you wanted to tell me something, what is it?" Belle asked him.

     "Oh, yeah... It's my first month of training, right? I learned some new moves today. After eating today, I'm gonna practice some of them..." He sat down and started narrating his day. He even included those from Ferm and the two girls.

     "Is that so? I'm proud of you. Keep it up." Belle smiled sweetly and praised him.

     "Anyway, I promise I will catch up to brother. I'll be strong too." Again, with his usual enthusiastic behavior, he declared.

     "Do your best. By the way, Vaissien, isn't it strange? If Cimmy says he's gonna come home early, he's really gonna do it without fail. Did—." Belle began to feel worried, but Vaissien stopped her.

     "No. Perhaps, brother just went on some significant errands unexpectedly."

     "A-Ah, yes. That could be."

     Vaissien was also bothered by Cimmerian's tardiness, but, in his mind, it was just impossible for his brother to be in danger or something. After all, he was just too strong. So, while passing time, he stood and looked outside the window. A clear dark-blue sky can be seen with no traces of stray clouds. And when his gaze descended, he noticed something on his visual periphery. There were five figures walking closer. Since it was nighttime, he couldn't see their faces that much. Although a moment later, they showed to be cladded with loose black hoodie. They calmly walked, and then, they halted and locked their attention to him.

     "Big Sis, there are unknown people outside. Please, stay here." He decided to go outside the house and face them as a trace of malice they exuded really troubled him.

     "Who are they?" Belle wondered as she saw them from the windows. "Wait, let me come with you. Maybe they could be a group of friends of the neighboring villagers."

Her reaction was only natural especially when she hadn't studied arts. Those who were introduced to arts were only the ones who could detect traces or haki of danger.

     "That's impossible. They're too shady to qualify for that. Anyhow, come with me." The two went outside.

     (These couldn't be brother's friends as well since I don't expect him to have any anyway. I've got a bad feeling about these people)

     "Who are you people? I believe you're not some villagers pulling some weird pranks in the dark, right?" Vaissien asked courteously devoid of any malice or bad intention.

     The people in the loose black hoodie didn't say a word. A single one of them raised their hand and a yellow ball of fire emerged. It was very hot that a hit from it would surely burn one to death. Before Vaissien could ask any more questions, the fireball was sent on their direction. Luckily, though, it seemed like they didn't have a single bit of intention in hitting Belle, only him.

     "Hey, what are you doing?!" Vaissien asked as he barely dodged the attack.

     It had been his bad habit. He hated hurting other people, he always preferred warning his enemy first.

     Back when he and Cimmerian were still ten, some boys from the other village came over to visit some close relatives. Perhaps, due to immaturity, or other petty reasons, the parties had engaged into a slugfest. Cimmerian tried to slug the enemy as hard as he could. In spite of that, the boys were much bigger than he was, so it became a one-way beating. Vaissien, on the other hand, just kept on running and dodging. He didn't want to hurt them. Maybe it was because of his kind heart, or from pure ignorance. In the end, he wasn't able to help his brother.

     He never wanted to remember that situation again. He hated the fact that he couldn't do anything. He thought that if another similar situation would come again, he'd already act conversely. However, just a few months ago, the same boys pummeled his brother again. He never changed. Time and time again, he did the same thing.

     (This is stupid. If I'm not gonna fight here, I'm surely gonna die. If I fight, can I win? First, I have to make Big Sister Belle escape.)

     After throwing three fireballs successively, the enemy stopped, them. "You two, get that young lady out there. Ke-ke-ke. She looked hot, right? Don't kill her, though a few wounds would be fine." In a deep grave voice, he ordered his companions to get the lady.

     ""Yes. Sir.""

     The two, with the short sharp knives on their hands, ran towards Belle who was at a distance watching worriedly at Vaissien.

     When Belle saw the ominous figures of the two, she immediately crouched with her hands covering her head. She heard the sound of her skyrocketing heartbeat in her chest. Her tears fell on her cheeks.

     (Cimmy, Vaissien, sorry. I think I'm gonna leave you two behind first. Wait, no, no, please, save me. She was fidgeting while thinking of someone to save her.)

     She obviously thought she was a goner. This was how weak she was both in body and in spirit. Vaissien was in a distance fighting a magic artist. The two figures in a weird hoodie were very fast. While her eyes remained close, she heard a loud sound of a heavy slug, and then a crackling sound. When she opened her eyes, someone appeared before her. Eventually, one of the assailants rolled on the ground while the other one was strangled and then dashed violently to the ground.