“Your brother... he gave a crown to a boy.”

  “You mean he gave the crown to its rightful owner. Yeah, well, I think you know what happens if you try to kill the boy,” Julien replied.

  “‘Rightful owner’ is an overstatement, but that’s why we have you here. You will do it,” the other man said, the others nodding in agreement.

  “No, I’m not doing that. Got no reason to.”

  “We are your reason, Julien,” the woman said, subtly shifting her body.

  Julien thought with a smile, ‘As you say, I’ll head there.’ “Okay,” he said aloud.

  ..........

  “Right then. Ryke and Veryn, you will go back. Ryke, I believe you can handle yourself,” Leon said, looking toward Ryke.

  “Yeah, I can do that. Though I was—uh—it’s fine. I mean, Veryn can fight; he can protect us too, right?” Ryke said, placing a hand on Veryn’s shoulder.

  “You can count on me,” Veryn added, while Azeya watched silently.

  Veryn and Ryke started off, leaving Azeya and Leon alone on the open plain. “Seems like things are becoming tight.”

  “Should I follow them? Just in case?” Azeya asked.

  “No. If they can’t look after themselves, then it’s of no use. Regardless of how much you try, one or two people can only do so much without self-contribution,” Leon said.

  “Except if you...”

  “Yes, except. But hey, we’ve got some catching up to do with the elders,” Leon said, starting to walk.

  “What about a you and me? First punch to land wins.”

  “Loser does what the winner wants.”

  “Mmmmmm...”

  “Backing out? The limit of mastery is backing out,” Leon teased.

  “Oh, no,” Azeya said, dropping into her stance.

  “Two can play that game,” Leon replied, mirroring her.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  ..........

  “Sky, where were you?”

  “Just went out to check on something. Are we going?”

  “No. Dakota suddenly went down. She told me what she needed, though; she’s not that bad anymore,” Ben replied.

  “Something happened.”

  “Nothing big, just—”

  Ben reached out and touched her, passing right through all the defenses Sky had been planning. She had done what she could to ensure the bruises and swollen areas weren't visible, but they couldn't withstand a focused look. Ben took a deep breath before sighing, but before he could move, Sky was already holding him.

  “I’m fine. Listen, I’m fine, Ben. I’m here, aren’t I? Talk to me,” Sky said, holding him with all her might. “Okay, listen. Will you listen if—”

  But Ben had already given up, down for the count.

  “Always been a silent sleeper,” Sky whispered. ‘Huh,’ she added in her mind. “You are not the best at hiding,” Sky said, turning toward the corner just before the door.

  “I would like to talk to you,” Dakota replied, looking at Sky, who was supporting Ben’s weight on her shoulders.

  “That’s fine, but only if you help. Seems he has been eating more than usual,” Sky replied.

  ...........

  “Guild Master, we need you down there! It’s urgent!” the receptionist cried, running back down the stairs.

  “What’s—” the Guild Master started, but he stopped when he noticed the man. “What happened?” He asked, seeing cuts deep enough to cause tears.

  “There was word that people were getting lost, so we decided to go undercover. One of my friend's siblings was there,” the man said, taking a huge gasp, the strain clear on his face. “We thought maybe it was bandits, but it was adventurers. It wasn't normal. They were stabbed, and yet...”

  “Rest. You will communicate later,” the Guild Master said. Addressing everyone on the scene, he added, “Say, who’s up for a hunt? This job feels less than nice.” The Guild Master began putting his rings on as a roar rose from the gathered adventurers. Word went out soon; it was already getting dark, and tomorrow was going to be a big day.

  .......

  “This journey is long.”

  “Yeah, well, we are fast. If not, we would still be far away,” Ryke replied, walking along the graveled road.

  “Hey!” Ryke shouted as Veryn suddenly bolted into the forest, sprinting. Ryke kept up, but the emergency was painted clearly on Veryn’s face.

  ‘A gem,’ Ryke thought, looking at Veryn’s hand. It was blue with a small red center.

  As they ran further, Veryn veered left while Ryke found himself in a free fall—not a long drop, but dangerous if not careful. Mid-air, Ryke saw what Veryn was chasing: a group of ten or eleven people dragging others, hitting some of them. The victims hadn't even been counted yet.

  “Ahh, should have said something. My legs,” Ryke murmured, checking himself over. The landing would have been harder if not for the roll at the end. “It’s getting darker,” Ryke said, noticing the eleven men's pupils glowing green.

  “Let them go, and we will let you go without any harm!” Veryn shouted. He held two gems in his hand, the second one marked with black and white stripes.

  Three of the eleven moved to the front, unarmed, while the others began to carry the victims—eight people in total. The moon was out, acting as the sunlight. ‘A full moon,’ Veryn thought. He threw one of the gems up, and what landed on Veryn’s shoulder surprised Ryke.

  “An obsidian harrier? Wait—”

  “I’ll answer later. Let’s just serve these guys first,” Veryn replied.

  “You will answer, alright,” Ryke said.

  The harrier was as large as the one that had almost taken Ryke out. When he heard the thunderclap, Ryke used the opportunity to join in, swinging Hollow through the windpipes of his enemies. Three were down. The others were forced to place the victims down, most of their gazes fixed on Ryke.

  Ryke’s body tingled, almost like an electric shock. “Must be dead. Don’t ask how, but they have blood, yet... uh, I don’t know what.” Ryke said, before feeling something else from behind.

  “Relax, brother. I’m just here to help you—a request from a very pissed-off spirit. Get the rest back, and don’t blink,” an Asian man said, removing his hand from Ryke’s shoulder.

  Ryke watched as the man walked toward the others. Four of them ignited there whole body, most of the rest wielded fire swords, while one frozen his own hands.

  “What are you doing here?” Ryke heard the man say, pointing at the guy with the ice hands. Ryke steeled himself as much as he could but blinked. Then it was over. There was no evidence left as the fire consumed their bodies.

  “I’m Kaein,” the man said, whispering to Veryn. In a state of panic, Veryn blinked, and Kaein was gone.

  “Word is already out. People are coming,” Veryn said, his heart still thumping hard.

  .........

  “I’m sorry, friend, but I had to do it. I hope you understand,” a woman said, entering District 80.

  Before she could walk further, she was yanked against the wall near the gate, almost to the top. The force was enough to kill, but before it could become a spectacle, her heart was grabbed out. The lady panted hard, almost choking on the blood. The body fell but just as it made it to the ground, it disappeared. Though some people saw the murder , others only saw blood on the wall and a trail on the road heading toward Veilwood.

  Panic was already there, the knights forced to intervene into for them, the unknown but through the panic, more people entered the city, their eyes growing wide.

  ....

  “You don’t sell your friends. Not like that,” Kaein said, placing the woman’s body into a hole.