Klepton

"I'll do it myself. Women look good in red don't they?"

I beg to disagree. They look better when they get trampled by the rubble of their dream, after pushing people off of dragons and shooting someone at the ankle for no good reason.

I would like to set someone as an example; but I give my respect to those who were no longer with us. Then again, they wouldn't be able to do anything since they were already deceased, weren't they?

Squawkey turned to its left and lifted its wings to fly again. I was contemplating if I should follow the odd bird; but I was persuaded that perhaps Squawkey wanted to show me more of the connecting events. I crouched and kept glancing in Klepton's and Rui's direction to see if they were noticing my movements. Once I was far enough, I ran to catch up with Squawkey, who was kind enough to wait for me.

Squawkey led me to a tiny and scruffy cottage where two well-built women were. Their tanned skin glistened with sweat and their unique hairstyle stood out the most.

The back part of their hair was tied into a ponytail while the front blond locks gently draped over half of their faces. One of the women had the side of her head shaved into an intricate design of the sun, while the other had a star on hers. They were tall, muscular, and looked strong overall.

Were they perhaps Gloom's daughters? They must have taken after their mother. Gloom was scrawny, pale-looking, and was about to die at any moment if he was to cough even once. These women were well-developed, had the healthy color of the sun, and looked like they would kill you with just a handshake.

So far I have had a marvelous experience with each woman I meet. Perhaps this time they'll strangle me and play innocent once more.

'Oh my love, it wasn't our fault! He put his hands on his neck and began to choke himself. We tried to stop him but he persisted! Please forgive us!'

Snickers sounded inside my head. I couldn't help but cough to stop the curl of my lips from furthering. I walked towards the women who were busy chopping wood and Squawkey soared down and landed on my head.

I must confess...that ax they were holding could sever my head at any given surprise.

I stood farther away and proceeded.

"Domo," I greeted them.

Gloom's daughters froze, their muscles tensing.

The both of them cautiously turned around. Their vicious glares were met with my blank ones. They glanced at each other before squealing in a high-pitched tone. I was crushed into their womanly stone-like chest. Squawkey had to save himself from the death of their embrace.

"How adorable!"

"What's your name, little one? Are you lost? Where are your parents?" one of them asked.

"My name is Lucian. I am most probably not lost. My parents are more or less four weeks away on foot. No, I don't need to go back to them. If I do happen to be lost, please help me find a werewolf named Caleb or an ancient named Lucius," I answered.

The two women smiled at me, indicating a warm welcome.

"My name is Ushet and my sister is named Ufuk," the woman with the sun tattoo under her eye introduced. "We live with our stepfather. He hasn't come back but we can still spare what little food we have with you," they offered.

I swayed my head in calm rejection, glancing at them sternly in the eye.

"I have to decline. I came here to warn you. A ruffian will come here at any given moment to avenge what has been stolen from him. I have no relation to him, your father, or to whoever is involved in this. I just happened to pass by and decided to relay the message."

As I talked, the joyful faces they had were replaced with a look of hostility.

"It's Klepton isn't it?" Ufuk asked.

"What has he done to our father?!" Ushet shouted.

"The same thing he shall do to you if you do not heed my words," I warned.

Ufuk grabbed Ushet's arm and jerked her forward.

"Let's go Ushet. We don't stand a chance against him. Father has told us never to clash with that monster," Ufuk reminded her.

The more enraged sister snatched her arm away from Ufuk's grasp. "But he killed our father!"

"And he'll kill us too if we don't leave!" Ufuk reasoned out.

Her voice was raised in an attempt to get her point across, but she was still in a calm composure.

A hurl of sand swirled in a great multitude from where Squawkey and I came from. We glanced at its direction with the two sisters bearing a troubled expression.

"Leave this place," I told them.

Ufuk and Ushet turned around and began to escape; however, they immediately noticed that I wasn't coming with them.

"Why are you just standing there?!" Ushet asked.

I gave them a bow of parting.

"Someone is waiting for me. I cannot go with you. Farewell."

The two were hesitant to leave me, but their fear got the best of them. Squawkey reclaimed his place on top of my head. I shielded my eyes from the swirl of sand impeding my vision.

How troublesome.

I moved my hand to my side, shutting my eyes. I must return before Caleb awakens. I would surely get an earful of whines once he discovers that I left without his knowledge right after being recovered from my kidnappers.

"Out of my way..." I spoke softly.

A circle of zephyr rounded my place and blew the sands, daring to be threatening. The grains of pestilence returned and filled the form of the man being feared by the many.

"Hello, I have never seen you before. Are you an acquaintance of this family?" Klepton asked politely.

"I'm just a mere passerby," I answered. "And you were in my way of returning."

Klepton scratched the back of his head.

"Ah, I see. Mi dispiace (I'm sorry). Then you are in luck. You are one less person to wipe off this world," he laughed cordially.

I tilted my head at him. "What a considerate murderer," I praised. "It's too bad you met a considerate eavesdropper. I can't seem to mind my own business at all," I added, causing his smile to minimize a bit.

Indeed, I could have just left after warning them but surprisingly, I wasn't sleepy yet. I'll kill a little bit of time before joining Caleb. Klepton smirked at me.

"Trying to stall, I see. You must be the one watching us earlier."

Ah, my stealth skills needed more improvement.

"It's hard to miss an aura like yours. Do not mistake me for a fortune-teller. I simply have a talent to see the power of souls within a person," he explained.

What an interesting individual. He was a worthy opponent to test my carrots on.

"It must be an honor for a smattering fraction of people to be recognized by your eyes," I deadpanned.

There was a surge of water beneath me. I turned my palms upwards. The pressure beneath the ground rose, causing a burst of the reservoir to form into a wall behind me to cover the retreating sisters.

Klepton maintained his cool as he glanced at me. He cupped his chin with his three fingers and nodded in approval.

"Your value is high," he commented.

"My value is not for you to establish," I retorted and shaped the wall of water into a man-eating dragon.

The dragon charged towards Klepton in an attempt to devour him, but once my creation clashed against his form, it dried out. A sizzling sound remained for a few seconds as steam was released.

"More..." he urged me.

I gathered fire into my hands, releasing it into a powerful spinning cyclone that engulfed his entire form. His silhouette emerged. He came out of the twister unscathed.

"Give me more," he encouraged.

I extracted a gigantic piece of a boulder from the ground, lifting it above his head. The boulder crashed on his form and as expected from him, he caught the boulder with his index finger and grinned at me. The ground cracked; his body fell in with the boulder covering the fissure. I clapped my hands together to shut the crevice firmly. The earth became silent for a split second before another tremble occurred. An unharmed Klepton burst through the ground.

"My turn!" he eagerly declared, licking his lips excitedly.

Perverse hands of different elements pierced out from his back in an arch of undeniable malevolence. There was fire, there was darkness, and there was sand.

The hands elongated and lashed out to grab me. Zephyrs blew me upwards. While I avoided the endless length of the limbs, I hardened the leaves of the trees and made it rain sideways to attack the bearer of my current adversaries.

Darkness withdrew and enveloped his form in protection while fire and sand continued to pursue me in midair.

I hurled water to the grainy limb which caused it to be less efficient and less agile. The fire became more feral and was increasingly harder to avoid. I soared down and twirled most of the water above us before freezing it. The steeled leaves continued to hit the dark sphere while fire and sand teamed to break the frigid barrier.

The dark sphere faded down, revealing the absence of Klepton. He left a huge hole that contributed a great idea to my great genius.

I manipulated the steeled leaves to enter the hole, flooding it with the remaining water. I froze the water and sat by a branch to wait if I managed to subdue him.

I used a lot of mana there. Perhaps that did the trick?

The earth trembled, answering my question.

I should prepare myself for the best ways to console an angry and distressed werewolf later.

Magma blasted from the ground. Klepton's body thrived through with much elegance as if he was coming out from a hot spring. He sauntered towards me with amusement lacing his eyes.

"You've piqued my interest. Join me."

"Please do not humor me. I have much to do," I sighed.

I had much sleeping, much eating, and much wandering to achieve. I should have left when I got the chance. My sense of altruism must have improved.

"I am sleepy. I have managed to fulfill my prime purpose. I shall take my leave now," I told him.

Klepton wasn't at all bothered or amused. The back of my head was struck. I was brought helplessly into my adversary's arms.

"Nicely done, Rui. Let's head back to base."

I should expect Caleb to chain me to his side by the time I get back. I learned my lesson. From now on, if by some luck I escape this event of kidnapping once again, I will do no more wandering.

I promise.

Yes.

Or perhaps I'll bring an escort if I remember.