Chapter 54: Fated Encounter

Arthur was at a restaurant with a girl who looked younger than him, the girl had short hair, was wearing a shirt, shorts and what looks like to be young sister, He asked,

"Umm.. Where are you from?."

....

"Do you have a name?."

..... *munch* *munch* *sip* *sip*

No reply from the girl he encountered, before this happened Arthur went out to get some fresh air while Dorothy was busy playing with Anna, he tried asking out Saya to go with him but later changed his mind upon seeing Saya all worn out from watching over Anna for the past couple of days now.

So he decided to go by himself, he asked permission to go out to Dorothy as she requests something in return,

Dorothy: Arthur, can you bring us some ice cream?

Anna's eyes lit up from hearing the word "Ice cream" she was basically drooling, craving for the cold treat in the middle of the heat of day, Arthur replies,

"Alright, I'll make sure to bring some."

He shot them both a thumbs up, his face shows confidence but his mind was clearly saying something else, concerning about their money for the month, He couldn't say No to Anna but he could say No towards Dorothy anyday,

But to the girl he calls her daughter, he can't say no to her so he plans on trying to get them the best ice cream, that he could still afford.

Arthur got back his confidence, went outside to get some fresh air and later buy the ice cream they'd want, but a few minutes later he notices a girl crying on the bench.

He walks towards her and asks,

"Are you okay?."

The girl takes a look and becomes shy, she hides her face and asks timidly,

"W-Who are you?."

Arthur: I'm Arthur, Arthur Ackerman nice to meet you ummm.

Wondering what her name was, he was right about to ask her name as he hears her stomach growls, embarrassed even more she touches her stomach, with her face seen, it was as red as an apple Arthur then thought to himself,

"[Hmmm does she have someone looking for her? I don't see anyone around here.]"

Decided, He stretched out his hand and asked the girl,

"Let's go get some food."

Accepting the kind offer He thought he could get some answers from her about how she got there at the first place but he didn't and right now he's still concerned about how much he's going to pay for this.

Arthur tries to ask her again,

Arthur: Do you have a name?

She stopped eating as she heard his question, she placed down the spoon that she was right about to put in her mouth and said,

"The name's A---!."

The glass window breaks as it was shot from a sniper from across the building, Arthur grabs the girl as they were on the floor climbing their way towards the safety exit,

The Sniper now who cannot see his target, tries shooting the floor hoping to get his objective completed.

Arthur was thinking while the chaos was occurring [This is bad! Why did I leave my sword back at the room!.] The civilians around them were panicking as the restaurant's security protocol activates the doors locks.

Now trap from the inside The chefs yell out,

"Everyone! come over here!."

All the customers went towards the exit, they were shoving and pushing just to get out safely Arthur was trying to peek at the window to see their attacker, but because of everyone in the area causing a racket, causing plates to fall over on the floor, glass shattered to pieces, He couldn't concentrate.

Another occurred but it was far from where they were hiding, with the panicking people in the restaurant and Arthur with a girl he just met who was barely holding her tears, He could see it from his eyes that she wants to go home, she wants to reach that home.

He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, he took a peek at the window but not to look for their attacker, but simply to check if there are any heroes around the area to catch the sniper.

But sadly there weren't as of now, and almost everyone was out, They were simply waiting for everyone to be out so they could rush through the exit without anyone blocking their way.

Arthur was still thinking about the Attackers objective right now, and who's his target he thought,

Arthur: [This doesn't make sense, the attacker tried shooting at us or perhaps it did, his second shot was somewhat two paces in front of us, maybe he thought we'd crawl towards the exit, if he fires another shot and it's right next to his second one, that's when..]

The third shot occurred where Arthur thought and has made a conclusion,

Arthur: [He is aiming for one of us, but it's probably after me anyway I need to get her to safety, I can't just leave her to anyone right now they might be working together with the sniper, so I'll have to save her without my sword for now.]

As all the civilians in the restaurant managed to get outside, Arthur took the advantage and grabbed the girl's arm and made a run for the exit.

They ran as fast as they can, as the shots landed right behind them Arthur then thought about it [He is after us!.] They managed to get out of the restaurant and for now safe from the Marksman's range as they were at the back of the establishment.

Meanwhile at the room the Marksman was, He clucked his tongue filled with rage as behind him a knock on the door occurred, his brows furrowed as the other members would knock three times to ensure it's them but the knocks made by this someone was five.

He asked pointing his sniper at the door and thought to himself [As soon as that door opens I'll deal with you for sure.] He heard a voice coming from the other side, he lowers his weapon and tries to listen to what he's saying,

"I can't keep doing this."

He busts open the door with his feet, as the door was sent flying to the Marksman he was knocked out cold.

The person who kicked the door and knocked out the Attacker of the restaurant was a hero named "Max Thorns, A Tamer class Hero, Personal pets his ten dogs he loves so much, he has classes of dogs for different reasons so he could borrow the powers of the ten dogs he has and switch them from time to time, but mostly he'd use his main pet's strength for times like this, and he is the best Hero for tracking criminals or lost items."

The Hero contacts the authorities about the Sniper he took down and ended the call as he tied up the Marksman to the wall, and went back outside saying,

Max: Oh yeah, I still need to feed em today, geez I'm gonna get devoured by them if I don't make it back soon.

Dorothy and Anna were outside looking for Arthur, Anna was carrying Arthur's sword hoping they could give it to him just in case, Dorothy who was exhausted from the heat says,

"UHHHH Where is he!? It's very hot!."

Anna: Don't worry Mama, I'm sure Papa has our Ice cream already.

Dorothy: If we could find him I'll be so happy, If not I'll surely melt from the heat.

Anna: *Scared* That can happen!?.

They noticed two people arguing in front of them...

"Why did you leave!?."

"I didn't leave her, I told her to wait for me I went to the bathroom okay!."

"I can't believe you! If our Boss figures out about this, cleaning the bathroom is the worst of your worries."

"Just help me find her quick!."

It looked like they were looking for someone, Anna who was sad and tugged Dorothy's short, she looked downwards and saw her own reflection on her eyes, she lets out a sigh as they walk towards the panicking pair,

Dorothy: Excuse me, you both alright?

The pair turned around and thought it was one of their seniors at their squad they took a good look at the person behind them and was thankful it wasn't who they thought it was.

They were both silent at first, Hesitant to tell Dorothy who was a stranger on what's going on, but as they were running out of time, one of them says,

"We're looking for a friend of ours who *stares at his pair intensely* got lost!."

Dorothy: We can help you look for her, if you'd like.

Anna: We wanna help you, and we're also looking for Papa.

Dorothy: Yeah, he left his sword back at our dorm, and we may think he's got himself into some trouble so we thought we'd bring this to him just in case.

One of them grabs the other and whispers something,

"I remembered something, this girl and kid, we've passed by them at the park before!."

"What? Are you sure?."

"I'm certain that was them!."

As the two pair faced Dorothy and Anna again, They accepted their offer to help.

Meanwhile, Arthur and the girl were still running away as far as they can, they reached at the park which was already far from the restaurant they were in Arthur then says,

"I'm sorry you got caught up by my problems."

She was fidgeting her fingers and said,

"They were probably after m--!."

Scorching Scorpion thug: There you are!.

Arthur turned behind him and there were three thugs and two at the front and five on each sides, they were surrounded, Arthur then lets out a cry,

"What the hell are the Heroes doing!?."

as each second passes the thugs who were surrounding them get closer and closer, until one grabbed the girl's shoulder as he tries to pull her away from Arthur's range, she screamed as Arthur who was weaponless just went in and punched the thug who was grabbing her,

The thug was now knocked cold on the floor, the other thugs that were surrounding them started to get rougher as they ganged up on Arthur,

He dodged their punches and counters them on the face with his own fists, and he would often use kicks to block their punches, One managed to land a hit behind him, the pain he felt wasn't that much but he felt it, He was protecting himself and the girl until help would arrive.

He didn't care who would come, be it a Hero or someone as long as they could be saved from this situation, He sidesteps and trips the thug's legs and punched his head, and he blocked an incoming punch right on time.

Arthur was slowly thinking [I can't hold out for long, not while I'm protecting myself and the girl.] He feints with his right and punches the thug with his left on the stomach,

believing he could still manage to turn the tables, the thugs reinforcements arrived and Arthur then says to himself,

"You gotta be kidding me."

Until one of the thugs behind them explodes, as three people got out of the smoke, both Arthur and the girl lets out a huge smile of relief to see the people they know arrive at the most crucial time,

Dorothy throws Arthur his sword as he grabs it, he pulls the sword out of his sheathe and says,

"It's payback time!."

The pair focused on the other group of thugs while Dorothy and Arthur were busy with the other group, Dorothy launched multiple fireballs knocking some out, in the dust the fireballs produced, Arthur used the smoke as a cover for him to knock some of the thugs that survived the attack with the end of the hilt.

The pair was doing their own combo as one of them shoots off the thugs from a far while one of them deals close range with his spear.

The girl notices Anna doing a hand gesture to come and hide behind the bench with her, she ducks and tries to head there as fast as she can.

The battle lasted for a couple of minutes, but in the end all the remaining thugs scattered out of fear and some were still trying their best to fight.

The pair were done dealing with their group of thugs while Arthur knocked the last one with his hilt, Dorothy then says,

"Alright you two can come out now!."

Anna and the girl Arthur found today peeked their heads slowly at the bench hoping to see if what Dorothy said was true that they could come out now.

A few minutes later.. the pair introduced themselves..

"Thank you very much for protecting her for us, we don't know how to repay you."

They were both bowing their heads showing their appreciation for what Arthur did for their friend today,

Arthur: It's no problem really, I'm just glad she's okay and to know that she's finally found her family.

Emilia: The name's Emilia, and this is Cameron, he's the one who lost sight of Ava today so I'm sorry if she's caused you trouble.

Arthur chuckles and says,

Arthur: Like I said, It's no problem.

Dorothy then says while hugging Anna,

Dorothy: Boys huh? they can forget a lot of things but we girls would never forget.

Emilia: I know right! I hate how sometimes when we girls would ask a question they'd bounce it right back at us, It's just frustrating like I asked you!..

Arthur and Cameron stood next to each other trying to understand what's happening,

Arthur: What did we ever do...

Cameron: To deserve this ...

Moments later Dorothy and Emilia exchanged numbers so they could get into contact again sometime, Arthur and Cameron did too but they were too concerned about the girls who were still talking about them.

Anna and Ava were simply watching them but were enjoying themselves too by playing in the flower bed.

And soon it was time for them to go back home,

Emilia: Contact me anytime, alright Dorothy!!

Dorothy: Same to you Emilia!!

with smile on their faces a new friendship was made today, and probably a terrifying one for the boys, but they got well together as well.

Cameron: Thank you again for protecting Ava for us Arthur I appreciate it.

Arthur: It's fine no need to thank me, I'd do what any other person would, help others in need [Well if other people actually do this.]

Anna: Ava can we play again next time?

Ava: *Nods*

Anna: Yehey!!

As they all said their goodbyes Cameron, Emilia and Ava were heading back to their base while Arthur, Dorothy and Anna were heading back to the dorms, and out of nowhere Anna says,

"Mama ! Papa !."

Arthur and Dorothy stopped at their tracks and turned at Anna who had something to say,

"We forgot the ice cream."

Arthur's body shakes in fear as he was already positive they've forgotten about the ice cream already but it seems as they didn't and once they got home, Arthur was already broke..

With the money gone, Arthur asks for help..

Ackerman residence...

*Rings

*Rings

*Rings

A girl with short hair, with a flower hair pin picks up the phone and says,

"Yes?."

End of Chapter 54: Fated Encounter