CHAPTER SIX - EARTH REALM - DUEL

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Erwin walked up to Hazel as he held Lucan hostage. They both watch me trying my best to lift up my body from the ground and pretended as though I was not in agonizing pain. 

"I suggest you don't underestimate him. He may look shabby and weak but he's really tough"

Erwin advised watching me struggle to get up from the sand. Hazel didn't respond to Erwin's advise but took a brief moment to stare at me. He seemed to be wondering what to do with me now that the rest of the guards and the villagers nearby were waiting to see the next line of action from him as the head of the security guards which everybody are well aware of.

Then he turned  to face Erwin after much thought and glanced at the Avaron and the other guards behind him. His eyes roam around the spellbound faces of Avaron and the other guards till they fell on the thief who had actually stolen from the goldsmith's shop

"Relay this to Avaron...tell him to take the thief to the shop along with the others.."

"What about this peasant and his friend?"

Erwin questioned wondering what Hazel had in mind for him to give such an order. Hazel was silent for a while and did nothing when I sat on my knees to wipe the blood on my forehead.

"Hand him to Avaron and stay here with me...As for his friend....We'll find out if he really is a Shibori or not"

"And how will you do that?"

"I have a plan. You just have to stand and watch how I'll deal with him"

An eerie smirk appeared on Hazel's face after his response and Erwin felt a bit nervous about what Hazel was about to do but he shrugged at the thought of Hazel beating the living daylights out of me and decided to comply with Hazel's command. 

"Alright"

Erwin replied. Then he went back to Avaron and the other guards.

"What were you guys whispering about?"

Avaron was the first to ask Erwin the moment Erwin got to where they stood waiting for Hazel's instructions.

"Tell us. What did Hazel say we should do about this mess?"

Another guard from behind rejoined.

"He instructed you guys should return back to the shop with these two"

"I can't believe he said that"

"Me neither. You better get going right now before the boss finds out about this"

  On hearing the message, Avaron was disappointed he had leave with the other guards and frown at Hazel whose attention was fixed on me rather than the guards but he started to leave along with the other guards who were also despondent as he was. 

Upon seeing Erwin staying behind, Avaron stopped walking and turned around.

"Did he say you should stay with him?"

"Yes, what about it?"

Erwin asked and they both stared at each for long. 

"Nothing....Let's go"

Avaron said to the others following behind him and they left with the two hostages. Meanwhile, I was still on my knees choking by the time they were aloof from the next street fairly crowded with passersby and onlookers watching them as they head back to the shop.

From afar, I saw Lucan being dragged away by the Avaron and his armed compeers along with the thief and wanted to chase after them but I was still very weak from the first blow inflicted on me by Hazel and unable to get up let alone stop Lucan from being taken away wrongly.

Soon I found enough strength get up on one foot but Hazel blocked my path.

"Let me through"

I said wiping the blood that was still left on my right cheek with the back of my palm. Hazel didn't budge but advanced towards me. 

"I heard you are a Shibori..."

"A Shibori? I don't know what you mean"

I replied pretending not to know what he meant. 

"Erwin says you are a Shibori and everyone seems to believe that but I know different"

"Stop blabbering nonsense and get out of my way!"

I yelled and threw a punch at Hazel but he dodged it so quickly that I didn't see where he went. The next minute, he landed a painful kick on my stomach and blood came out of my mouth