Chapter 4

The sun was shining down behind them as they stood by one another in silence. Sweat trickling down their backs as they got farther away from the carnage. Meanwhile, the breeze blowing through the trees carried a sweet pleasant taste that made the day worth enjoying. Unfortunately, this day had become anything but unenjoyable for her because the silence had become unbearable.

"So-So what can tell me about yourself?" She fiddled with the hem of her skirt as she slowly faced him.

"…"

He ignored her question as he kept walking. He didn't spare her a single glance and instead kept a strong frown on his face. Clearing her throat Alissa tried again.

"W-What's your name?"

"Radyn," he kept his gaze focused forward.

"Ah! It's a pleasure to meet you Radyn," Alissa said as she twirled her hair between her fingers. "W-Where are you from? I'm from Lororen, h-have you ever been there?"

"..."

"You're really strong you know? I've never seen anyone fight…like that," Alissa glanced back at him.

"…"

"My dad—"

Suddenly, in a split second Alissa's entire body was rammed away from the road. Her body aching as she was flicked forward at an impossible speed; her mind couldn't process what had happened. All she could see was the man she trusted lock eyes with her—his glare turning cold.

A streak of golden light roared past the two, barely missing as Radyn kicked Alissa away. A foot off the ground, Radyn turned to look at their attacker. He was a handsome young man outfitted in white and gold. His hair, gold, shimmered under the sun like jewels on a queen. He opened his mouth.

"Dude, that's insane, she flew," the man tilted his head as he chucked. "I thought for sure you didn't see me."

Radyn's piercing gaze grew even more narrow as he said, "Who are you?"

"Me? I'm the clean up guy here to take care of the trash over there." The man turned his gaze towards where Alissa landed. "I just need to zap here real quick, so bro to bro—don't get in my way again."

"Or what?"

The man sighed. "You know, I don't really feel like killing two…" The man began, "Forget it. What's one more pile of trash." The man shook his head and turned to look at Radyn, his smile long gone.

"You…kill me?" Radyn's smirk grew deeper, "Try it." Radyn cracked his neck a few times before charging.

"Moron." The hooded man grinned as he fired another stretch of lightning, hitting Radyn square in the chest sending him flying. "Where in the hell did Alissa find a rat like that."

The hooded man turned to see Alissa struggling to get up.

"Aiden?!" Alissa recognized the hooded man as her professors assistant. "P-Please don't do this. I-I didn't tell anyone, I swear. Please Aiden don't kill me, I'll never go back to the Academy."

"Umm no, please don't go begging its really really pathetic," he said as he made his way towards her. "If it makes you feel better the Professor did say you were one of the good ones."

He gripped Alissa's head, she tried but couldn't break free.

"But what a shame, I always liked you."

Alissa in a last ditch effort started swinging her fists against him. Aiden laughed it off before increasing the pressure ready to kill her.

"Any last words?"

"You bastard!" Alissa grit her teeth as she continued swinging at him. "You bastard!" She kept hitting.

"Those are some funny last words—" He wasn't able to finish.

Aiden found it hard to breathe. Behind him, Radyn wrapped his hand against Aiden's neck, and started dragging him away. Aiden tried to scream, but Radyn did not let up.

Aiden tried to move. It was a last ditch effort made once he realized he was at deaths door. He shifted his hands to move towards Radyn. Knowing this was his only chance he tried shooting another bolt.

"…You…bastard…" he groaned.

Sparks of lighting began flying everywhere, some shaking the trees. The rest missing their target.

Aiden wriggled in his arms like a cockroach as Rahl slowly put pressure, snapping his neck.

"Pathetic," muttered Radyn emotionlessly.

Aiden's body slumped to the ground.

Alissa gasped. She saw where Aiden's attack hit him. What should have been a major injury was seamlessly minor. The scorch marks around his shirt remained, but she saw the open wounds already closing.

"I despise the weak, they let others run them over. Any thoughts or aspirations they have get trampled just for being weak. You are weak." Radyn loomed over her, "This is the second time I saved—you. "

"I—"

"You're pathetic."

Covered in dirt with her tattered and stained dress, Alissa clenched her teeth and groaned. "I know that! You have no idea what I've been through! I don't want to be with you! I didn't want any of this! I-I didn't want him!" Alissa began to cry, "I wanna go home…! And forget everything!"

"I may not know what happened to you…but you're not the only one who's had it rough." He clenched his teeth as he picked her up. "If you have a problem deal with it. If you get knocked down get the hell up. Take your revenge."

He stared deep into her eyes, "if you can't even do that…then you don't have the right to cry. So, get the hell up!" Radyn roared as he slammed her against a tree, "otherwise I might as well kill you here myself."

He dropped her.

Radyn turned his back to the trembling girl as he walked away.

...

Radyn, now wearing Aidens hood was quiet as the two began walking. He didn't say anything, and Alissa was the first to speak.

"I…was a student at the Academy…my professor…he…did things to me."

"…" Radyn kept his expression indifferent.

"I couldn't stay anymore…so he sent me back home…those were his guards." She gulped as she turned to Radyn, "I didn't care what would happen to me. I wanted the pain to go away…I still do."

"…"

She held back her sobs.

"What would you have done?" She asked.

Radyn stopped to look at Alissa, his eyes shining with that same madness he had when she first met him. "I'd rip out his throat."

"… Yes. Maybe that's what I should have done to him." Alissa gave a self-deprecating smile as she tilted her head. "I'm not that strong."

Radyn stayed quiet.

"You said it yourself, I'm weak. I'm a coward. But…I'm done crying." She looked at him as she wiped her eyes. "I want to be… different."

The air between them grew tense as the two continued walking without saying another word. Maybe it was her imagination, but Alissa thought she saw his lip go up—but he never said anything.