CHAPTER 4, DORADO AND THE SHADOW'S ORDER

As we set up camp at the shore line I told everyone what I knew, the fact taht the one who did the damge was Dorado the Swordfish Familiar but I told them I had no idea why it is here aor why it is attacking boats. As our firends returned from information gathering around town yhey told us what they gathered. Among them is a girl with green hair, golden eyes and white skin, she tells us what she found out. "Everyone, according to the information we have gathered the attacks started a few days ago right around the time the town's shrine shot out a mysterious light. After that, ships that went to sea where then attacked by an unknown entity." She says.

"What kind of shrine is it?" I ask her. "Um?"

"Oh, my name is Rosemary, Rose for short." She says kindly. "It's apparently part of their ancient beliefs or something..."

"Ancient belief?" Storm asked.

"Around fifty years ago, the boats that would try to go out to open sea would be destroyed by unknown beings. Not long after that, a gigantic fish was seen in the water, it was a swordfish and I would pierce the ships that would pass by the water. So a priest then built that shrine and trapped the monster that was destroying the ships inside."

"Did it work Rose?" Storm asks.

" Yes. But since the light shot out of the shrine the people think the monster is free again." She says. "What I'm wondering about is what connection it has with Dorado."

"I might have an idea." I say.

"Go on." A man says placing his hands behind me, he has dark brown hair, chestnut eyes and brown skin, he looks like he is in his thirties. "Name's Rogue."

"Doardo was probably mistaken for the monster and sealed in it's place, now taht he is free he got angry being sealed inside for fifty years and went on a rampage." I say.

"Then what should we do?" Neph asks.

"If we can knock him out of the water I can probably reason with him and if push comes to shove, we could probaboy attack him." I answered. "Master, can we take a small boat to go and see him?"

"Okay dearie, but go with someone." She says. "Aria, Storm and... Alexi, go with him."

"Understood." Storm says.

"Hey Aria, which one is Alexi?" I ask her seeing as how I still don't know everyone in the guild.

"That would be me." A girl with grass-green hair, red eyes and white skin says placing her hand on my head. She seems to have a gentle vibe and she looks the same age as us. "My name is Alexandrite Magnolia, looking forward to knowing you."

"I look forward to working with you too." I say. Just then my necklace glows a light blue. "What was that..." I suddenly feel weak and my legs give in.

"Haru, are you alright?" Aria says as she helps me up. "What was that?"

"I'm fine and as for the light blue light I don't know." I answer her.

"Master, what's that!" Rose says pointing to the light blue light shining in the water.

"Pisces, the twin fish." I say as the being in the distance comes closer, their like two giant eels. "Why are they here?"

"What is going on?" Aria asks.

"Come, My Lion Familiar, Leo." I say and wear Leo's jewelry.

"Master? What is the matter?" He asks casually.

"In the waters, is that Pisces?" I ask him.

"No. That is an illusion, Pisces hardly appears in fish form, they often take a human form." He says. "Who would make such an illusion?"

"That would be us." Some people say jumping from the roof, they're all wearing masks and cloaks so we can't see their faces. "Greetings, Hero. My name is Shade, I hope you will not interfere, we simply want Dorado, after we have it we will leave."

"Who are you?" Master asks her expression serious.

"Magicians' Guild, Shadow's Order." He says. "One more thing, little boy with the spirits, I recommend you had over all the spirits you have in your possession I'd rather not hurt a child."

"Master, this man is dangerous, please be on high alert." Leo says walking in front of me. "Shadow's Order, what are you after?"

"The power of the stars, the greatest spiritual magic, Etioles which is hidden in the Aerial Isles, we will use the Twelve Zodiacs to open a gate way there and take the Etioles and use it for our own desire."

"I won't let you, they aren't weapons." I say.

"Foolish child, anyone who gets in our way will be killed." Another man says pointing at me and fires an attack.

"I won't let you." Master says. "When you harm my guild member, you are asking for war."

"That's right!" Neph says as everyone takes arms. "We won't let you harm Haru."

"Everyone..." I say and Storm taps my shoulder with a nod. "Leo, go find Dorado, we'll fight with them."

"Understood." Leo says and heads for the waters towards Dorado.

"Haru, stay behind me." Storm says.

"No. I'll protect myself." I say taking out my shield. "These people, they see spirits like weapons, they don't have a heart. Unforgivable, spirits have emotions as well, they aren'ttool for your own gain!"

STORM'S POV

Damn it I was separated from Aria and Haru, their fighting by the bay. I was dragged into the rooftops with Alexi and Rogue. Hope Haru's fine, he can't fight without his spirits, I just hope he's with Neph and the rest. "Hey, what do you have planned?" I ask the two beside me.

"Each take one." Rogue says with a smile. "Wild!"

"There he goes." Alexi says with a frown as Rogue goes charging at the enemy. "Might as well. With my power I command you, encase the one I will in ice. I order you. Crystalize."

"Well that's some attack." The enemy says as they become encased in crystals, exactly what you'd expect from our guilds best magician.

"Gathering of the Clouds." I say and hold my hand up high as small puffs of clouds gather in my hand. I send them to the enemy's direction."Cloud Circle."

"Bend the law of this world and bring forth illusions, Pure Illusion." The enemy says and before me more people appear. Illusionary Magic.

"Gather, Blades of wind that roar and howl, Wind Howl." I say and charge at him with a strong gust of wind. Wind Magic isn't the best opponent for Illusionary Magic. "Guys, regroup, we need to protect Haru."

"Why?" Rogue says and just then ge realizes.

"They're trying to separate so they can get to Haru." Alexi says ditching her enemy and running towards Haru's group. "What they're after is his spirits."

I broadcast the message to the rest of the guild as we rush to the area where Haru, Aria and Neph are currently being circled. "Oh wind, roar with my will. Will of the Wind." I say and send a strong gust of wind to stop the ones who try to get near them. As I'm about to jump down to help them my enemy from earlier blocks my way.

"Stay out of the way please." He says and raises his hands and stops me from moving. "We will achieve our goal."

"Can anyone get there?" I contact the rest of the guild, unfortunately everyone is busy and we're at a dead end. Just then I see a light strike Haru and he falls on the ground. "Haru!"

"I-I'm fine." I hear him answer via the communicators. "Sorry... I can't fight while Leo is trying to keep the enemy busy."

"I'll beat the Illusion user and then you can have a chance to fight back." I say and attack the man in front of me. He's fast and nimble, too nimble and fast for me to catch him.

As we fight I'm forced into a corner when his attacks go wilder, even my wind magic is pushed back. If I could get an opening I might be able to pull something out but in this conditions I doubt I can. He has barely any scratches while here I am covered in wounds. They may be illusions but they can deal damage. I try my best to fight back but my body gives out and I fall on the ground.

HARU'S POV

I hear explosion after explosion in all directions, the others are fighting so hard but I can barely use my magical power. Aria and Neph are protecting me while I wait for Leo to find Dorado. "Hey, kiddo, just admit defeat and we won't kill you." The man says as he steps on Neph's back.

"Neph!" Aria says and is caught off balance by her opponent.

"You don't have time or energy to spare on others girly." Her opponent says, she stabs Aria's hand and Aria cries out in pain. I can't take this anymore.

"Stop it, please." I say as I watch them torture our friends.

"Haru... run." Neph says as a man is about to stab him.

"No!" I say as the man drives a sword into Neph's stomach, but then the knife is deflected by a shield. The shield that I got at the shop. "That's... my shield."

"Damn it, I'll destroy you!" The man says charging at me.

"Please, Lyra!" I exclaim and wear Lyra's jewelry when the man is about to stab me but he's deflected by the shield that came in front of me. "This shield, by any chance is it a..."

"My name is Scutum, The Shield Familiar. You are worthy of being my master." The shield says and just then a bright light shines and a man with black hair, amber eyes and brown skin says, he's wearing a knights' breastplate, kneepads and boots. All that's lacking is the helmet. "First, I shall remove the enemy. So please, do not cry, my Master."