Chapter 41

  Storm’s Approach

  Journeys in the Drakmor Mountains do not resolve in mere days. Rather than being a range of mountains, the place is a massive cluster of peaks. Even with the detour of staying at the secret Aeronemar village, now open to the world, a week is not enough to cross the mountains in the path the party chose. Michael and the others travelled to the eastern peaks of the Drakmor Mountain cluster, peaks that were wider apart and filled with more lush natural valleys than their western counterparts. Where once the horizon was filled with grey peaks and cliffsides, Michael spent his days gazing upon darker stone cliffs covered in grasses and brush. The sheer green of the mountains reminded him of Yan’s village.

  Each day at the end of their trek Michael would spar against Wolf. He grew more competent with each match, though had not yet managed to defeat Wolf even once. After three days of travelling by day and sparring before night, Michael felt well rested and confident as they neared the edge of the mountains. “We should make it out of the mountains by noon.” Sebastian said. “There is a village at the edge of the pass in the foothills, near the Ranear Plains.”

  With a skip in his step, Michael wove around ahead of the party, “Out of the mountains, here we come.” Michael said in a sing-song voice.

  “Nothing wrong with the mountains.” Yan said.

  “Well, we have been trekking through them for a long time.” Wolf said. “It will be nice for a change of scenery.”

  “What were you doing in the mountains in the first place, Wolf?” Yan asked.

  “Seeking out adventure.” Wolf said. “I considered trying to fight an Annoph, but don’t know where any are, and I heard the mountains were full of tough foes.”

  “Well you certainly found adventure.” Sebastian said, “Being kidnapped by Bandits.”

  “And rescued!” Wolf said. “Besides, they only captured me because I was starving. Turns out it’s hard to find food in the mountains.” Wolf laughed, while the others looked concerned.

  “Well, it’s nice having you along with us.” Yan said.

  “It’s no effort for me.” Wolf said, “I saw what that spirit you are hunting did to those Bandits. I wanna fight it.”

  “Spirit or Soul.” Sebastian said, “We still aren’t sure what the Revenant really is.”

  “We know that it has some connection to this.” Michael said, drawing his black crystalline sword, “And Velicio said something about the Shards of the Sky. I am hoping to learn something there.”

  “Should we be taking the word of an enemy?” Yan asked. “I’m not sure we can trust that Velicio guy. It could be a trap.”

  Hyato opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and kept silent. Michael wondered about that for a moment, “Well,” Michael said, “It’s not like we have any other leads.”

  “If it’s a trap, we can prepare for it.” Wolf said, “The trap only works if we are caught unaware.”

  “In war, if you want to spring a trap then set a bigger trap.” Sebastian said, “Trap them with the smaller one, or set one earlier than they expect. We should be wary of traps going forward. They could strike at any time.”

  “Leave the trapfinding to me.” Yan said, looking ahead along the road. “As long as I am paying attention, we won’t trip one.”

  “Good.” Sebastian said, “Now, we should make a plan in case the enemy-”

  “Wait!” Yan snapped, throwing her arms to the side and halting everyone’s progress.

  “What? What is it?” Michael asked, looking around.

  “You aren’t going to believe this...” Yan said, and pointed ahead of her. A small silvery spiderweb was stretched across the path a few feet in front of her.

  “Spiders?” Wolf said, “What’s the problem?”

  “There aren’t spiders this far up the mountain.” Yan said. She moved her gaze across the nearby cliffsides, eyes glowing with green energy. Traces of footsteps stood out to her, and Yan swept her gaze to the tripwire. It connected through a stone along a small wheel. Too small to be a trap, “This is designed to alert people that we passed by.” Yan announced.

  “So we’re being watched.” Hyato said, drawing his sword.

  Sparkling stars fell from Sebastian’s hand, “Then if we continue, we’ll be walking into a trap.” The spell he cast swirled about the air around the party, small glittering motes of light that danced in place. “Be alert, let’s continue at a slow pace.”

  “What about the alarm?” Yan asked. For an answer, Sebastian walked through it. He held one finger to his lips to indicate silence. The others nodded and began following.

  They made it just a few paces when three darts struck the ground at their feet, missing hitting people by inches. Someone cursed from a cliff, and cried out. “Plan C!”

  Michael turned to face the new foe, but Sebastian grabbed his arm, “Stop.” He whispered, “This way.” Sebastian urged the party up a small slope to a landing above the road. Moments later someone in ebony armor crashed onto the road from around the corner.

  “Where did they go!?” The ebony armored man roared. He looked up at an outcrop of rocks on the other side of the road.

  Someone in leathers and a cowl stood up. “Over there, you idiot!” Pointing out Michael’s party. The ebony armored man turned and saw them, hefting a greatsword with both hands. Sebastian moved first, casting a wall of ice into existence between them.

  “Why are you here, Rex?” Sebastian asked, yelling to make himself heard.

  The man in ebony armor gave pause, “You know me?”

  “Naturally.” Sebastian said, “Your reputation precedes you. You were trained by Dark Knight, after all.” Michael and Yan glanced at each other, but neither knew what Sebastian was talking about.

  Rex chuckled, “That is true.”

  Sebastian looked at Yan then pointed at the cliff behind them. “And you’ve accomplished many other things since then. I heard you killed a Dragon.” Sebastian said. Yan slipped up the cliff behind them, still trailed by that dancing light.

  “It was an incredible match.” Rex said.

  “Haven’t you taken on a Demon as well?” Sebastian said. “You’re well on your way to becoming an official Myrrhmidon.” Michael tensed up. Sebastian was warning them of the enemies abilities, he was sure of that.

  “Well, not to brag,” Rex gloated, puffing up a bit.

  “Rex! He’s stalling!” a female voice warned. Sebastian frowned a bit.

  “Right! Hey, I’m just here for the bounty. I’ll spare the rest of you lot.” Rex said. Sebastian’s frown deepened for a moment, then he had an idea.

  “Don’t you want to catch up? It’s been so long since we saw one another.” Sebastian asked. The ice wall and glittering sprites were shielding them from view, but the ice was melting. Sebastian glanced back and saw Yan had reached another landing. He pointed at the others, then up at Yan.

  “Who are you?” Rex asked.

  “You don’t remember?” Sebastian said, acting hurt. Hyato scaled the cliffside, followed by Michael and Wolf. Then Sebastian followed.

  “No, I can’t place your voice. Why don’t you lower that ice?” Rex said. There was a moment with no response.

  “They’re getting away!” The cowled man said, having moved around to a new position. Rex ground his teeth and built up energy in his sword. He lifted it over his head and roared, drowning out the cries of alarm from his allies.

  Rex brought his sword down against the mountain, a terrible crashing echoing up the side of the cliff. Energy poured into the rock from where he struck, sending a cascade of tears up the cliff. Michael’s grip faltered as the rocks around him shook and broke.

  One falling rock became another and another as the side of the mountain crumbled. Everyone jumped for safety as the shell of the mountain began to crumble beneath them. The rockslide built up terrible momentum and the tumbling noise of tons of stone drowned out all sound. Michael leapt from the cliff to a stone, then another, attempting to find safety in the chaos. Everything crashed all around, and something heavy impacted the back of his head. The world went black.

  The rockslide had ravaged the valley between the peaks, sending boulders tumbling along for nearly half a mile in two directions. As the rocks bounded along, it was all Yan could do to navigate them. She was starting to keep up well when she saw Sebastian struggling to balance on a rock that was sliding down a hill. Gritting her teeth, she rushed in.

  As Yan reached him, so too did Hyato. Through the din of noise their gazes met and they nodded, lifting Sebastian and jumping away to safety. One moment their lives were just about forfeit, and the next they found themselves on a rocky slope away from the danger.

  Yan crouched down with her arms on her knees. “Thanks, Hyato.”

  “Of course.” The swordsman said, sounding stoic as always. Sebastian lay on his back, panting and covering his eyes to recover.

  “You two stay here, I’ll go scout out the area and find the others.” Yan said. Hyato nodded, and Sebastian groaned in acknowledgment.

  Up the hill a little ways, Yan perched to get a view of the surrounding area. The rockslide changed the landscape around quite a bit, but Yan saw the path they were headed for in the first place. It was undamaged, so they were on the far side of the damage.

  That bounty hunter group had appeared out of nowhere. How did they find them in the mountains? And they had come after them with traps, just how long had they been following the party? Frowning, Yan moved back down from her spot to search closer to the valley where the rockslide had taken place.

  As she neared a cliff overlooking the valley a goat came bounding over the side and past her, making Yan have to dodge to the side. The goat continued past in a rush to flee. Most other animals had already evacuated, it looked like.

  A cry of alarm drew Yan’s attention, “Damn goat!” someone hissed from around the bend. Yan snuck closer to peer around a tree. Slumped against a stone was the man who wore the cowl, the scout that shot at them earlier. He was clutching his left side, which was covered in blood. His entire left arm and leg seemed soaked with it, but his grimace was just annoyance.

  Next to the man was a short woman Yan had not seen before, a Sennish gal wearing similar leathers. She was applying bandages to the man, but her hands glowed with a pale pink light. Wherever she touched, blood seemed to fade away. A healer? Yan wondered, Sebastian said those were rare.

  The man in the cowl winced as the woman touched his forearm. “Hold still, Evan!” She said. Her voice was familiar, Yan had heard it before the rockslide.

  “It hurts!” Evan complained, “There’s a rock in there, or something.”

  “My spell will pull out anything foreign to your body.” the Senne said, “Just keep still.”

  Evan stewed in silence for a few long moments as the Sennish healer worked on his arm. He seemed to be itching to talk, and didn’t take long to break. “This job isn’t worth it, Fara.” Evan said. “We should just pull back before Rex gets us lost in the mountains somewhere.”

  “We aren’t going to get lost.” Fara said, “We have the map remember? You still have your copy?” She continued to use her healing, letting out a brief yawn. Yan stifled a contagious yawn from watching, but Evan seemed to not notice either.

  He pulled something from his bag, a parchment, and looked it over. “It’s pretty crude, but I guess I should memorize it just in case Rex pulls something like that again.” Evan said. Yan wondered about that map, so started to move.

  Leaving behind an energy double to watch, Yan snuck back a little ways and made her way in a wide arc around where the two companions or Rex were. She took extra caution to avoid making noise, though it didn’t seem to matter. With Fara focused on the healing, and Evan studying the map, neither had much situational awareness.

  Yan snuck behind the stone that Evan was leaning against, inching closer to get a look at what he was looking at. For a minute her position didn’t have the right angle, but Evan adjusted the parchment to get a better view. On it, Yan saw a very familiar drawing. The sketch was crude, but recognizable. A clear copy of the map they were using. Did they visit my village? I don’t think Father would have let anyone else have a copy, but then how did they get it? The map showed the paths that had been marked out for Yan and her party to make a hasty exit through the mountains. A few extra markings had been added, blocked passes?

  The mountain passes never used to change that much. Yan thought, rubbing her chin in an imitation of Sebastian. The motion of her arm caused her elbow to knock a pebble loose, which bounced and clacked and fell on Evan’s head.

  “Ow!” Evan hissed, looking up while rubbing the top of his cowl. Yan slunk back away, just out of sight.

  “What happened?” Fara asked.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Something just fell on my ears. A rock or something.” He said.

  “A rock.” Fara said, pausing in her healing. She pulled out a small knife that looked sharp enough to cut a needle down the length. Her eyes narrowed and she approached the rock, moving around it.

  There was nowhere Yan could go without being seen. The scout with the bow might be unable to move, but that healer had the same grace and deadly motion as Rex and Evan. Her Sennish tail swayed back and forth as she neared Yan’s hiding spot. Yan just wanted to get out of there, to sink into the ground or...

  Fara rounded the corner, ready to strike. She swung with her knife, stopping at the last second before she hit the goat that was loitering there. Fara’s shock slipped into exasperation, then she went back to Evan. “It was just the goat.” She said, continuing her healing. “Let’s get you patched up.”

  Once safe out of sight, Yan slipped away from the site. How had she almost forgotten to switch places with the energy double? Either way, there was something to discuss with the others. Now they just had to meet up again.

  Michael’s eyes snapped open. He expected a jolt of pain, but there wasn’t one. Sitting up, he assessed his surroundings.

  Water trickled through a small gap in a pile of fallen stone. The ground was solid and damp, but very little water flowed across it. It was a creek before the rockslide. Only one path looked walkable in and out of this pit he had fallen into. As Michael’s gaze swept the area he saw legs sticking out of a pile of rocks. Legs wearing dark pants with yellow trim. Wolf.

  Rushing over, Michael cried out, “Wolf! Wolf, are you okay?”

  “Michael?” came a muffled voice. “Mm fine.” His legs flailed about, unable to find purchase. “Can’t move.”

  “Give me a moment.” Michael moved some rocks, but more slid into place. He moved a few others, digging at them with one hand as he concentrated. He extended his control over the elements to the rocks above Wolf, stopping a few in place as he helped dig Wolf free. Once Wolf had an arm free, the task became much simpler.

  “Thanks.” Wolf said, his upper body coated in dark brown dust once he had been dug out.

  “No problem.” Michael said.

  “I thought you got crushed by a rock back there.” Wolf said, shaking dust out of his hair. “Glad you weren’t.”

  “Was I?” Michael looked at himself, but didn’t find any wounds. “Must have been your imagination.”

  “Either way, thanks again for not just leaving me.” Wolf said, patting Michael on the shoulder. Wolf winced a bit afterwards, checking his hands. Small abrasions had filled with dust.

  “Like I could do that.” Michael said, looking around while trying to think of what to do.

  “You should have left him.” The voice sounded out just as a heavy impact struck the ground. The man in ebony armor, Rex, had dropped into the creekbed at the bottom of the valley. Standing guard before the only way out. He held his greatsword aloft. “You both look like the bounty target." Rex said, his heavy voice sounding annoyed, "So, it’s one of you empty eyed freaks!”

  Michael flinched, and Wolf scowled. The taller Phanokai clenched his fists, “You won’t live to find out.” He said, as lightning lashed twin clubs into existence. Rex changed stance from rooted to agile.

  Wolf swung in a wide arc, sending a bolt of lightning at Rex from afar. Rex twisted out of the way just in time and dropped into a charge. Wolf readied a counterattack, but underestimated Rex’s speed. The armored man slammed into Wolf, knocking him back several yards.

  Michael leapt aside, taking a few steps towards the slope leading out. Wolf recovered from the charge and raised his weapons to clash with Rex. Michael locked eyes with Wolf for a moment, and then struck the ground with his sword.

  Cracks of energy appeared beneath the clashing warriors’ feet, then launched up into the air. Rex tumbled through the air as Wolf rode the current and landed near Michael. “Let’s go!” Michael said.

  “Let’s take care of this guy first.” Wolf said.

  “We need to regroup. There’s no reason to fight.” Michael said, taking a few steps towards the slope. Wolf frowned and then followed after.

  “You can’t run!” Rex shouted, swinging his greatsword with another monstrous surge of energy. The attack forced Michael and Wolf to dodge to either side, and crumbled part of the path leading up.

  Michael checked the path, then the enemy. He could still jump up that high, and so could Wolf. Before he could make a choice, Rex rushed at him, moving with incredible speed! Michael tried to block, but was only able to take the impacts on his arms instead of his chest. The sheer mass and weight behind Rex’s shoulder bash felt harder than the rocks he’d been hit by earlier. Michael was thrown back by the attack, tumbling once and skipping along the ground.

  Wolf rose to his feet, brandishing his clubs. “Don’t get full of yourself, Rex.” He taunted. Rex’s attention turned back to the large Phanokai, and he wasted no time in moving in for the attack. Wolf swung forth to clash once more, blocking Rex’s greatsword with his crossed elemental weapons.

  “Elemade cannot match a physical weapon.” Rex said, leaning his weight into the clash of the sword.

  “Who said it could?” Wolf released his grip on the clubs, slipping past Rex’s falling weapon to grapple him on the chest. Amber lightning exploded from Wolf’s fingers, causing Rex to flinch and fall back in pain. Wolf hissed in pain as well, stumbling back and shaking his head. His hands were blackened from the backlash of his own attack.

  “Lightning bastard...” Rex groaned, pulsing energy around his body.

  Wolf recreated the lightning clubs, “Save the complaining.” Wolf jumped towards Rex and began to bring down his clubs in heavy swings, fast attacks that did not take advantage of a clubs typical motion. Rex brought up his left arm to block the attacks, letting only one or two shallow strikes through his guard as he recovered. Wolf’s ferocity went from eager to determined as he noticed the ineffectiveness of his attacks.

  Aching from the attack, Michael tried to stand. His head stung, like a heavy weight pressed in on the sides of his eyes. He was having trouble standing. As he fell to the ground once more, he saw Rex knock Wolf away with a sweeping wave of energy.

  “Your brutal attacks, it’s clear now.” Rex said. He swung his sword with a sudden upwards motion, clipping Wolf in the leg. “You were the one who destroyed Liniva.”

  Wolf hissed and hopped back on his unharmed leg. The wound bleeding from his leg emitted a deep yellow flame, the blood of a Phanokai caught flame when exposed to air, “Who’s Liniva?” Wolf asked.

  Rex tilted his head, frowning. “Don’t play dumb.”

  “He was never in Liniva.” Michael said, rising to his feet, “You must be thinking of me.” Michael held his sword at his side, the tip resting on the ground next to him.

  Rex faced Michael with an incredulous look, “You? How could a weakling like you destroy anything? Let alone an entire village.”

  “You have your facts messed up there.” Michael said, “But it’s clear you aren’t here to listen. So I’ll just have to show you.”

  Rex lifted his sword into an aggressive stance, “As long as I get my bounty, I don’t care who it is.” Rex charged at Michael with that amazing acceleration again, but was too far.

  “Predictable.” Michael said, unleashing Dark Blade beneath his own feet. Michael launched himself, moving his feet to sail high above the battlefield and spin his sword in a quick flourish. Michael stabbed downwards, cracking the air and unleashing a blast of Dark Wind down on Rex from only a meter above him. Energy tore from translucent cracks in the air and spun into a wild gale of black wind that slammed down onto the ebony armored man.

  The ebony armored man was slammed into the ground by Michael’s attack, while the violet eyed man touched down on the creek bed with a dancer’s grace. Without giving Rex a moment to recover, Michael whipped up a zephyr of elemental wind and channeled it at Rex to hold him down. Wolf pivoted forth and let loose a furious pillar of fire to join in, the two elements amplifying one another.

  Wolf and Michael maintained the combined attack for several long moments, until a sudden wave of energy broke their focus. Seething with fury, the would-be Myrrhmidon had risen to his feet. Thick brown crystals had grown from the elbows and knees of Rex’s armor, and his stony face was screwed up in rage. “I’ll end you!” Rex roared, looking no more harmed than before their combined attack.

  “Use Dark Wind.” Wolf said, a note of desperation in his voice as he lunged forth. Rex moved at the same moment, slashing down at Wolf with violent rage. Wolf was unable to block the attack, dropping his elemental weapons to dodge instead. Rex’s eyes tracked to Michael.

  Without a moment to spare, Michael brought up his sword and cracked the air in front of him again. Dark Wind poured forth into the air, a chaotic gale that ripped apart the air with shadowy black winds. Rex charged through that attack, his rage reducing his voice to a growl. The winds didn’t seem to be slowing him at all.

  Wolf reached Michael first, standing at his side. Both arms aloft, he poured flames into the swirling gale. “Use flames!” Wolf said. Michael acquiesced. Elemental fire from them both poured into the area. Michael used his flames to the best he could, but Wolf’s fire was exploding forth at an unbelievable rate. Every moment that passed Wolf created as much flame as his entire body, stopping Rex with a veritable inferno.

  “You can’t use that much!” Michael said, unable to comprehend the sheer volume of fire. Wolf seemed to be struggling as well, his face contorted with pain, focus, willpower, and anxiety in a haphazard loop. Cracks formed on Wolf’s skin, opening rivulets of blood that ignited upon contact with the air.

  “Just, a little... more.” Wolf said, face red with heat.

  Michael looked at Wolf, then their foe. The dark figure of the ebony armor was looming closer, Rex was pushing through Wolf’s desperation gambit. Yet Wolf seemed determined to crush him. Michael closed his eyes for a moment.

  “No.” Michael said. He thrust his sword into the ground, unleashing it’s signature move. With his right hand Michael grabbed the back of Wolf’s shirt as Dark Blade launched them into the air. Michael focused this time, concentrating on channeling the energy flow.

  The empty eyed pair were launched up into the air, then further. They soared skyward, higher than Dark Blade had reached before as Michael poured yet more energy out of the black crystalline sword. Keeping the tip near his feet, Michael focused on his intent without thinking too hard. A quick scan of the nearby mountains showed a landmark he’d seen on the map before. Michael honed his thoughts on that spot, and the energy launched him towards it.

  After a minute of unstable motion, while wrestling to keep his grip on Wolf from slipping, Michael seemed to gain control of this new Technique of his. His throat felt dry as he used it, and Wolf had already fallen unconscious, but Michael reached the stack of stones that had been marked on the map. He landed and collapsed to catch his breath, dropping Wolf onto the soil nearby.

  “Dark... Flight.” Michael said, musing over a new name.

  “Ahh. There you are.” Someone said from beyond Michael’s sight. He craned his neck to see Yan step out from a hiding spot.

  “Hi Yan.” Michael said, giving her a weak smile.

  “What are you doing laying on the ground?” Yan asked.

  “Just resting for a moment.” Michael said.

  “There will be time enough for that later.” Yan said. “We need to get moving.” Her eyes tracked to Wolf, “Will he be okay?”

  Wolf looked weak, panting as he lay there. “I don’t know.” Michael admitted. He pushed up from the ground with some difficulty, but managed to stand. “Are you okay? Where are the others?”

  “Sebastian is almost unconscious, Hyato is looking after him.” Yan said. “We should find someplace to hide before those guys show up again.” She glanced around as she spoke. The worried look on her face made Michael frown.

  “Okay, I’ll carry Wolf.” Michael said, picking up the huge Phanokai. He was pretty heavy, it took extra effort for Michael to stand back up with the unconscious man. Tiny raindrops hit Michael on the lips as he stood up.

  “This way,” Yan led Michael past the stack of stones. Just around the corner Hyato was kneeling next to a woozy looking Sebastian. The two looked over, but Sebastian did so at a much slower rate.

  “Michael...” Sebastian said, “All of us. We should go.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for you to recover?” Yan asked.

  Sebastian shook his head, eyes fluttering close for a moment. “No... escape Rex. Haven’t.”

  Hyato picked Sebastian up over his back. “He’s the strategist, let’s get out of here while we can.” The rain was picking up, and the wind started to howl. “We can lose them in the storm.”

  Yan nodded, “Okay.” She said, “He’s never led me astray before.” She stepped ahead of the two carrying others and led the way. “Right this way. Sebastian already told me which paths to take.”

  The party stepped back onto the road and started to leave the area. A distant boom of thunder promised lightning in the near future, and Michael glanced back at the flash on instinct. From the edge of the cliff behind them, the ones overlooking the valley, Michael saw Rex rise into view with two compatriots. The howl of the wind disguised their approach, until Rex made himself known.

  “RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Rex roared, screaming louder than the wind and rain, “YOU CANNOT ESCAPE ME!”

  Michael dashed a few steps forth to the others. “Hyato, give Sebastian to Yan and take Wolf.” Hyato complied without hesitation, dumping Sebastian into Yan’s arms as she sputtered in confusion. Hyato took Wolf with no difficulty, making Michael frown in embarrassment for a moment.

  “Don’t stay too long.” Hyato said.

  “Wait, what are you doing?” Yan asked, as Michael turned back to face the oncoming Rex.

  “Go!” Michael said, making sure Yan and Hyato left. Once they turned to leave, Michael gave his full attention to the bounty hunter.

  Rex had been approaching through the wind, and drew near. His greatsword was at his side in a risky stance. “You’ve got balls on you.” Rex said, “You’ll regret that.”

  The wind that assailed Rex never bothered Michael. He’d already exerted control over it with the psychic dominance of elemancy. An idea struck Michael as he approached his enemy, and he spoke, “Do you really think you can defeat me?” He asked. Rex paused as the voice hit him, enhanced by the winds of the storm. “Mien couldn’t stop me, and he tried twice.”

  Rex’s eyes widened and he dropped into a low defensive stance, holding his sword before him. “You’re bluffing.” He said, despite his sudden caution.

  So Mien is strong after all. Michael thought. “Oh you think so?” Michael flipped his sword in his hand like he did before using Dark Wind. He’d seen Mien do that same action back in Nita and at the Bandit King’s fortress. Rex seemed to recognize the action as well, hardening his stance. His two allies had stopped several yards behind him, and shifted where they stood.

  “I’ve only gotten stronger since then.” Michael said, holding his sword at his side in the risky stance Rex was using just earlier. “Let’s see how you compare.” Michael swung his sword forth and launched a surge at Rex. The man deflected it, though it wouldn’t have been strong enough to even ding his armor. Michael sent a few more surge slashes, then thrust his right hand palm first to hit Rex with a blast of wind.

  Rex didn’t see the last attack and was struck by the force of storm level winds. His rooted stance and heavy armor kept him from moving, but the face full of water from the rain made him flinch back. Michael knew Rex would realize soon that Michael was weaker than him, he just needed one more attack.

  Michael flipped his sword in his hand and stabbed the air, unleashing Dark Wind. He made the energy waves spread out to head towards all three of his foes. The winds were magnified by the storm. The wall of black winds slammed into Rex and past him, while Michael turned around and started sprinting away.

  By the time Rex recovered from the assault, which didn’t so much as sting, Michael was gone. “No! Dammit! He tricked me! MICHAAAAEL!” Rex roared.

  The fleeing Michael ran with the wind, controlling it around himself to move at full speed. In just a few minutes he caught up to the others. They were struggling to continue against the intensifying storm. Michael landed among them. “Okay, I got us some distance.”

  “Michael!” Yan said, “You’re back.” She beamed at him.

  “Yep.” Michael said, scratching the back of his head.

  “Let’s keep going.” Hyato said, “They could still pursue.”

  “Alright. I’ll control the wind so we aren’t slowed as much.” Michael said, “Which way are we going?”

  “I’ll show you the way.” Yan said, taking the lead once again.” The storm had already darkened the sky. Night seemed to have already arrived, but there was no way to tell. Yan led the others along as they continued to flee through the mountains.

  Rex slammed his sword against the ground, drooling with anger as he panted. “I’ll kill him!”

  “Not without finding him first.” Fara said. “We need to figure out which way they went.”

  Rex picked up his sword and slammed it down again. “Rex!” Evan said, “At least come help us brainstorm.” With another roar, Rex slammed his greatsword into the stack of stones, toppling them over with a satisfying crunch.

  “Fine.” Rex said, after his tantrum. He sheathed his sword and stepped back to the others. “Who was that guy that knew us?”

  “Sebastian.” Fara said. “He graduated from the Tactician course.”

  “So? Lots of people take that course.” Rex said.

  “With black trim on his coat.” Fara finished. Rex fell to one knee, shaking his head.

  “How could I be so stupid?!” He chided himself. “Of course! I forgot his name, that skinny little twink.”

  “Pretty sure he’s straight.” Fara said.

  “Wait,” Evan said, “What’s the black trim on a MAW coat again?”

  “Black trim is awarded only to someone who has advanced the knowledge of their course beyond all expectation.” Fara said.

  “So, what does that actually mean?” Evan said.

  “It means.” Rex said, “That he’s the greatest tactician that MAW ever had. He could outwit an army with a bunch of peasants.” Rex flexed his hands. “If he is leading them, then he has already deduced that we have a map. They were heading east, so if they are going to escape they’ll be heading north instead.”

  “Why?” Evan asked.

  “You didn’t take the tactician course.” Rex said, “So just follow my lead on this one. Let’s go. I’ve wasted enough time here.” Rex started walking and waved the others into following him. “Nothing stands in our way.”

  Lightning struck with a flash of light, showing the arrival of a person in full plate armor. They stood taller than Rex and the others, holding a greataxe at the ready. A peal of thunder rang out around them. “Who are you?!” Rex asked, drawing his sword.

  The figure in armor responded with the swing of an axe, forcing Rex and the others into battle.