Chapter 01 Part 3
Border between Albion and Jade Empire 7th January 2013 – 21:00
*heavy breaths
Two individuals were running in the dead of the night, wet in the cold rain. With their speed and worried look, it was evident that they were being chased. The young man was holding the hands of a certain young lady as they sped through corners of the seemingly empty alleys.
These two individuals were on their way to the border overlaying Albion and the Jade Empire’s. To reach there they had to cut their way across alleyways that could undermine the description narrow.
The young lady had clasped for air as she has spent most of her stamina and was about to give up, but the male took grab her hands and urge her to push forward.
“No, I can’t take it anymore… Kyle”
“We’re almost there… we’re almost there, Eliza”
After a few slips from the wet ground, bumps from the almost invincible signage, the two with vigor and resilience finally stepped in their goal. But that was their only luck, as the border guards that were supposed to confront them upon entering someone else’s territory did not appear.
The young lady, named Eliza was out of breath and fell to her knees; they had been running in this weather for quite some time now. They have succeeded on their destination but failed to flee their pursuers, the time to run was no longer an option, the time to defend was now necessary. Kyle took a defensive stance as he closed his fist.
“You made us go through all this trouble!” the men who have been chasing these two had finally caught up.
“Kyle…”
“Don’t worry Eliza; I won’t let them do anything to you.”
“Are you trying to be cool, Mr. Knight.” Kyle could not in any way retort with their mockery; he knows well that with his present condition he won’t be able to last; out of breath, fatigued body, it was a miracle that he was still able to stand in that condition.
The men mocked an evil laugh as they approached the two; the three pursuers have SLATES with them, judging from their arrogance they must be unable to summon… as for magic… it still useless… even if they just swing those weapons they were still at an advantage. Kyle thought of any means to escape their current predicament. If he fails, Eliza will be taken, memory erased… or worst she would be…
“I won let you...”
With his remaining energy Kyle went on a preemptive strike against his opponents. The only way for him to win was not to go on defensive but strike on an offensive this might send the enemy on a confusion, and he was right on this strategy.
Kyle’s weapon were pair of knuckled gloves and his combat boots, although they were mere SLATES, he was at least confident with his martial art.
BLANK SLATES or more commonly known as SLATES are the terms the inhabitants of the Midnight Congregation use to call the lower class weapons created through the DDS, they are ordinary weapons made of illusion that can be bought in the shops of any Kingdom or forged by blacksmith system using the DEVICE… the durability of the SLATES are a bit low (depending on the skills of the blacksmiths) compared to that of an HEIRLOOM which is created directly from the DDS.
However, since these SLATES are blank from the start and nothing is written on them, they have the potential to grow together with its’ wielder to become HEIRLOOMs. Only those who are designated as officers of their kingdoms can wield HEIRLOOMS, these HEIRLOOMS are named and branded with the CRESTs of their kingdom and are only given to worthy individuals who have mastered their weapons.
A battle ensued between Kyle and their pursuers. Kyle directed the assault and turned the three into confusion, although there were three of them, they were not really attacking as a team. When one falls the other two would just shout at the other how useless they were.
Divide and conquer that was the name of Kyle’s strategy, with the enemy’s overconfidence in number they had failed to see that they have been overwhelmed by a greater skill (Quality over Quantity). Clearly he was able to turn the table because compared to the three, Kyle’s martial arts was above and of course he had a reason not to be defeated, now If he could only withstand until then…
“…Just a little more and…”
*whoosh
“Wha…”
There was an intense pain that stroked Kyle’s left leg, as he looked at it, an arrow was stock deeply onto it.
“Argh!” the pain could not be denied… a 1 meter long, with a diameter of 2 inches arrow was stock on his leg… blood oozed rapidly at the wound.
“Kyle!!” Eliza, the girl who was immobile until that moment went rushing to his side and clasped as she saw blood seeping from the wound. How can there be a wound this is just an illusion. “Kyle said this is just an illusion… is the wound also an illusion…?” As if to confirm her disbelief, she examined the wound, she could feel it, the blood was thick and smelled like rusted iron… no this was not an illusion, Kyle was shot, and was now bleeding… she needed to do something… but what…
The time was up for both Kyle and Eliza…
“Hahahaha” voices heard around an alley. It was enemy reinforcement that was probably sent to recover both of them one was holding a arbalest and would seem that was the SLATE that shot Kyle; it was over… with a wounded leg added to his already fatigued body he was unable to fight even if he wanted to.
“Come here!” the man who held the arbalest earlier violently grabbed Eliza’s hair forcing her to stand up… not even anger would permit Kyle’s body to stand up… it was over… ‘Eliza will be… Eliza will be…’
Just when all hope was lost…
“…woman’s enemy!”
“Aghh!”
With what seem like a hit from a strong kick, the man who was violating Eliza a moment ago was sent to the next building and instantly became a wall decoration. A young girl was tending to the now unconscious Eliza. She had short bobbed hair, knuckled gloves worn on both her hands and an evil smirk on her face.
“What are you doing, this place is not our territory!” Kyle could hear a second voice came rushing behind the girl.
“What are you talking about, are you saying to leave them be!” the girl who came to their rescue was all hyped and didn’t bother to hear the rest of his companions rebukes.
“I did not know you were that heartless…” the girl imitated a damsel about to cry as she continues to mock her companion.
“Stop that… you idiot” her male companion was clear on one thing, there was no way to reason with her.
And with the argument done, the battle continued with an overwhelming victory to the new comers.
