Felmer stared at Efkil, paralysed.
“Why? Why did you do that?” Anderson asked, scared. “What did she do to you?”
“I…I…” Efkil walked back, tripped, and fell. “M-my father…” He spoke in a trembling voice. “H-He told me…” Tears ran down his face.
Clap, clap, clap.
One of the gunmen clapped, laughing.
“Well done, boy…Don’t be scared. You will be rewarded well for this. But the real target is that boy with those odd eyes…” Marco said, pointing his rifle at Felmer.
‘How? What is happening? This was a team battle…’ Felmer stood still, panicking. ‘Are we going to die? No…There must be something I can do. No, I must do something. But…’ He slowly turned his head towards the gunmen. ‘…They have guns…The two of us are totally unmatched…’
Efkil looked here and there, cold sweat running down his face. He stood up and ran into the forest.
“Felmer…” Anderson whispered his name, sweating badly. “I know there is no chance, but we must run. Right now…”
‘Yes, he is right…But I won’t have time to pick up my sword…’ Felmer thought.
“This might be very bold of me. But we must calm down…” Anderson said softly.
“Yes, you are right…Getting angry won’t solve anything…” Felmer answered, eyes fixed on the gunmen.
‘Relax, Felmer…Think…’ Felmer said to himself, breathing deeply.
“You are good at plans. So I would leave the escape to you. My art isn’t that good, but I can use it to slow their reaction time…” Anderson lowered his voice.
“Hahahaha…What are you chatting about? I would like to know…” Jack smiled, slowly taking a step.
‘Their rifles aren’t pointed at us. It would take a few seconds for them to steadily aim, and more time if Anderson’s Art is successful. This means our escape window is very small.’ Felmer analysed the situation. ‘But this is the only solution…’
“Anderson…When I count down to one. Do it…” He whispered.
“Hm…” Anderson nodded.
“C’mon, speak up…” Jack said, walking closer.
“3…” Felmer slowly crouched. “…2”
Felmer felt the yellow wave in his mind again, and he looked far behind the gunmen, into the dense forest.
A figure, covered in gold, with two white wings protruding from its back, stood hovering in the air. Its eyes were sewn shut.
As Felmer gazed, the entity smiled and moved its mouth, as if it said, ‘go…’
Felmer didn’t waste time and ended the countdown.
“…1!” He said aloud.
Anderson wasted no time and cast his Art.
“Wind Art, Air Bolts!”
He waved his hand, and multiple faint bolts rushed at Jack. He drew his knife and stopped all the bolts. But by the time he had blocked the attack, the two kids had already run off.
“RUN, ANDERSON, RUN!!!!” Felmer shouted with all his might, his sword in his hands now.
Anderson followed Felmer, looking back.
“Damn it, those bastards…” Jack cursed the kids and turned to his colleagues. “What the heck are you waiting for? Kill them!” He signalled.
The three masked soldiers ran a few meters and stopped, aiming their rifles at Felmer and Anderson.
The two kids ran in a straight line, becoming easy targets for the gunmen.
One of them set his aim at Felmer’s head and was just about to press the trigger when suddenly, a person appeared right in front of them.
“Sorry, but not today…” Walter said, expressionless.
“Earth Art, Rising Pillars…” He calmly cast his Art.
“What?” Jack shouted, confused.
The ground shook, and multiple pillars rose from within it. The three gunmen were caught off guard and taken out.
Jack imbued his sword with magic and shattered the stone pillar rising beneath him. He walked back, and more pillars rose, chasing him. He jumped, broke two more, and dodged the remaining with his smooth reflexes.
“Hah…Good tries…” Jack smirked, annoyed.
“I don’t have time for jokes. Why don’t we just…End this?”
…
At noon, near the western point.
Melfer, alongside Alice and two swordsmen, rushed towards the western point.
“We four are here, and two went to the other point. Then what about the remaining four?” Melfer asked, jumping over an overgrown root.
“To the northern point…” Alice replied, alert.
“And what about Irfika?”
“He will be alone…”
“Seriously? He doesn’t need any backup?” Melfer asked, surprised.
“Nah…” Alice smiled.
‘Quite confident he is…’ Melfer thought, still doubting the formation.
Running under the bright winter sun, they neared the western point.
Melfer looked here and there, ready for attack. Suddenly, he heard a whoosh, and from the corner of his left eye he caught an arrow coming at him. He grabbed his sword to counter it, but Alice acted faster, drew her dagger, and countered the arrow.
“Scatter! It’s an ambush! Eliminate them!” She shouted and ran deep into the forest.
The two swordsmen went in opposite directions, and Melfer ran to his left.
Melfer jumped over a bush and took cover behind a tree.
‘There’s an archer…That’s all I know. I need to be careful…’ Melfer thought, slightly nervous. ‘I still don’t know my Art. I am at a disadvantage.’
He peeked to his left and looked for enemies.
‘No one is here yet…’ Melfer peeked to his right. ‘Alice said to eliminate them. So I have to confront them…’ He thought, more nervous.
As he observed, two stone spears came at him. Melfer noticed and pulled his head, the spears barely missing him.
At some distance, two swordsmen emerged from the bushes. One of them wore a grey mask and the other one a black mask.
“No need to hide, kid. We know you are there…” One of them said aloud.
‘Damn it. They are two, and they both know magic. I can barely fight against one, and now I have to face two…’ Melfer cursed his situation. ‘But I can use magic…’
He took a deep breath, stepped out of his cover, and faced the enemy. He manifested his sword with his magic, a faint yellow light covering the blade, and took his stance.
‘Remember what Irfika taught you. Stay calm and focused. Don’t hesitate at all…’ Melfer said to himself.
“In the eclipse at an early age? You must be special…” The other said, smiling, and unsheathed his sword.
The two swordsmen wasted no time and rushed at Melfer.
“Cho-sen yo-u…” The voice returned with the throbbing pain.
‘Why now?’ Melfer groaned and fell to one knee.
He felt a twitch in his right eye and covered it with his right hand.
The swordsmen were about to jump at him when they stopped. One of the backup swordsmen arrived and stood between them.
“Sir Walter told us to keep an eye on you. Are you alright?
“Not much. Something weird has been happening with me since morning. Thanks for the help, by the way.” Melfer replied, still in pain.
“Don’t worry. All of us fight together…” The swordsman said, imbuing his sword with magic. “I forgot to tell you before, but my name is Albert…”
Slowly, the pain faded, and Melfer returned to normal.
‘What is that voice? Well, no need to worry now.’ He thought and took his stance again.
“Fight, well…” Albert said and rushed at the grey-masked man.
“Same to you…” Melfer nodded and lunged at the black-masked one.
Melfer placed his left foot ahead and attacked from his right. The man blocked and took back a step. Melfer gave him no chance to react, attacking from the left and the right.
The black-masked man firmed his grip and defended against Melfer. He pushed Melfer and cast an Art.
“Sword Art, Throwback.” The man said and attacked Melfer
Melfer retreated a few steps and moved his sword in front of him, trying to block the attack. Melfer tried to hold against the Art, but the pressure was overwhelming. He was thrown back and crashed hard against a tree.
The voice returned, still distorted, but without pain.
“Heav-ens…have…”
‘Huh? I don’t feel any pain…’
Melfer leaned on his sword, his back aching badly.
‘I have to stand up…I am in a battle…’
“Water Art, Violent Waves,” Albert said calmly, casting his Art.
He waved his sword, gushing waves emerging and rushing at the grey-masked man. The man used his fire Art and covered his sword with fire.
He countered the waves, but he failed to hold much longer and was pushed back.
Albert turned towards Melfer to help him, but the grey-masked man recovered fast and stopped him.
The black-masked man thrust his sword at Melfer. Melfer opened his eyes and tilted his head to the right, the attack grazing his left cheek. Melfer thought fast and kicked the man’s right knee. The man was startled. He held his knee and fell back.
Melfer took the opportunity and attacked the man. But before he could, the man used his left leg and kicked Melfer in the chest.
Melfer’s back hit the tree again.
He gathered some strength and stood straight to fight, still determined.
The man ignored the pain in his knee and stood up, leaning on his sword. He snarled at Melfer, eyes bloodshot.
“You brat…” He said under his breath.
The man lunged at him again, but Melfer rolled to the side and dodged the attack.
“Nasty one, aren’t you?” The man barked, annoyed.
He charged his sword with more magic and dashed at Melfer at breakneck speed.
Melfer, failing to judge his movements, got a heavy blow and crashed hard against a tree behind him.
“Agh…” He groaned.
“Melfer!” Albert said, trying to find an opportunity to help him.
Melfer tried to stand up, but his body gave out.
‘I think I might have broken a few bones…’
He looked above and saw the man walking towards him.
‘I…must not falter…’ He gathered the little strength he had and stood up, leaning against the tree.
‘Come on, Melfer…’ He pushed himself and stood straight. ‘I must fight…’
He held his sword firmly and once again took his attack stance. He lifted his head, and behind the man, far away into the forest, he saw a bizarre thing.
An entity covered in gold, having two white wings and eyes sewn shut.
‘What…is that thing?’ Melfer thought, his gaze stuck on it.
As he stared, changes began to occur in the entity. The threads began to come off, and soon its eyes were no longer sewn shut. Slowly, it opened its eyes and stared deep into the eyes of Melfer.
Melfer blinked, and suddenly he was in a faint yellow void, the entity right in front of him.
“Child…” The voice echoed in his mind, no longer distorted.
But it wasn’t an unknown voice; it was the entity speaking.
“That voice…So it was you. But…what are you?” Melfer asked, looking at it in awe.
“Child…” The entity repeated, ignoring Melfer’s question. “The heavens have chosen you. Its blessings have descended upon you…”
“Huh?” Melfer asked, dumbstruck.
He blinked, and he was back in his world. The entity had disappeared, and the man was still walking towards him. It was like time hadn’t passed at all.
A voice echoed in his mind, and he spoke what it said.
“Heaven’s Blessing…”
…
Near the northeastern region.
Williams and his five swordsmen remained hidden in the bushes, waiting.
“What’s the plan, sir?” One of the soldiers asked.
“Out of the four school teams, three should have been eliminated by now. So we will kill the one designated for this point.” Williams answered, staring into the forest.
“But…Aren’t the squads just fourteen-year-old kids?” The same soldier asked, confused.
“So? You aren’t hesitating to kill a noble’s kid, then why hesitate now?”
“That’s an order…But killing the rest isn’t…” The soldier fought back.
“Eliminate every obstacle. That’s the order…” Williams answered, agitated.
“No…You are just twisting orders to your own will!” The soldier’s voice rose. “I am not…” The soldier’s words stuck in his throat as a sword pierced through his stomach.
“An obstacle has been eliminated…” Williams said, unbothered. He looked at the remaining soldiers. “Any issues?”
The soldiers remained quiet, looking here and there.
“Good. Now focus on the mission…”
Williams waited longer, and after a few minutes, two kids appeared from within the forest.
“Targets are here…We are moving…”
Ten minutes ago
Four students of the combat school moved slowly through the forest, alert
“We haven’t found a single flag. Not even any other squad…” One of the kids said, scared.
“Yeah…We should find the flags as soon as possible.” Their leader asked. He had brown hair.
As they wandered, a tall person appeared in front of them, wearing clothes with elegant red patterns etched on them.
“W-Who are you?” The leader asked, nervous and scared.
“A trusted adult…” Irfika chuckled.
The kids looked at each other, then at Irfika, confused.
Irfika sighed, “I will tell you to do two things, and you will do them. No questions. Clear?” He demanded like a parent.
“Yes!” The kids responded, scared.
“First of all, you two…” Irfika said, pointing at the leader and a fat kid. “Come here…”
Without hesitation, they walked towards Irfika and stood near him. Irfika sat on one knee.
“Your index finger, any hand…”
They followed the order.
Irfika took a pin, stabbed their fingers slightly, and took one drop of blood from each kid.
“Well done…” Irfika said and patted their heads.
Irfika took out four candies from his pocket and gave one to each.
“Now go back where you came from and don’t think of returning…”
“So, we just leave?” The leader asked, surprised.
“Yes, get out…”
As the kids left, Irfika took two scrolls and laid them on the ground. He spread some powder on the scrolls and, after a few seconds, poured one drop of blood on each scroll. A magical reaction occurred, and two mechanical clones appeared, having the same faces as the fat kid and the leader.
“Heh…That’s good…”
…
Williams and his four swordsmen walked out of their hiding spot and walked towards the two kids. Williams grabbed the fat kid and sliced his throat. A soldier grabbed the kid with brown hair and raised his sword. He hesitated for a few seconds, but the fate of his colleague flashed in his mind. He gulped and stabbed the kid in the heart.
The kid fell, but no blood came from their wounds. The soldiers stood, shocked. Suddenly, their faces distorted and they vanished with a poof of smoke.
Clap, clap, clap.
“You know? There are two types of cowards.” Irfika said, walking towards Williams and his squad. “One is those who run away in the face of power. And the second are you, who find joy in killing children. Those are pathetic cowards.”
“Y-you…” Williams gritted his teeth. “Irfika Korloff. The Solaris of the Eclipse…”
‘Why does everyone say Solaris of the Eclipse whenever I meet them? I don’t have Alzheimer’s.’ Irfika thought, displeased.
“It’s an honour to fight you…” Williams smirked, taunting Irfika.
“I don’t feel anything…” Irfika said, summoning his sword.
Williams firmly grabbed his sword and stepped forward.
“Shall we start?”
“All five of you…Come at me…” Irfika’s smile vanished. “I love killing all mice together…”
Chapter discussion