87 Where they come from

The city was surrounded by huge monsters.

To the onlookers, it was true witchcraft. In the town that was peaceful and quiet until a while ago, large and small monsters began emerging from thin air. Where did they come from? How were they formed? Why would such creatures even exist? A question that was left unanswered for millennials. 

Like any other phenomena, a lot of theories circled around the creation of these creatures as well, though none were proven right. Some said they were creatures of corruption, some called them evil-borns, and some referred to them as children of mana. 

'Severe lack of Aether...'

Ian too, had a theory regarding the creation of these monsters. A theory that came from his years of experience and investigations. A lot of things in this world were linked to Aether. Not just holy power the people controlled, but a lot more and deeper aspects than one could imagine.

Life was deeply engrossed with this power and they couldn't be separated. And, if a force, by any means, separated Aether, Mana, or other energies from the natural flow of life, unimaginable consequences would occur. Events that could bring the downfall of nations, outcomes so heavy that even the whole world could be in danger. 

One of the consequences of the lack of Aether was the creation of corruption, which could spread illness and even more corruption, just like what happened to the elementals of the jungle. The other consequence was the creation of monsters, a form of life that was much more common in ancient times but got less the more humans lived. 

'Church of The Sun...' 

The church that claimed to be protecting the land from evil by the power of the sun, the holy power, the blessing of the light, was now doing the complete opposite of that.

'Haaah... Again...'

This city, this event, these people, the same child screaming the same way as ever, the same wall crumbling in the distance... How boring, really. 

'Well, there is no other choice.'

But to live the same thing once again. 

"You guys take care of the monsters."

Ian turned to Rosalyn and her men who had already drawn their weapons, ready to battle. 

"You speak as if you're not going to help?"

"Not in taking care of the monsters." Ian pulled the hems of his cloak closer, covering his whole body in the cloth. The early winter weather was quite chilly. "Why? Aren't you guys enough to take care of these monsters by yourselves?"

At the mocking tone, the warriors' faces grimaced into ugly expressions. Ian chuckled, not caring about the threatening glares he was receiving. Instead of him, it was Kieran who grabbed the hilt of his sword, stepping forward to stand in between him and the warriors. 

"And what will you do while we take care of the monsters?"

Rosalyn wasn't a kid, neither was she inexperienced when it came to dealing with different types of people. She could guess by the way Ian talked that he meant to emphasize something. 

"You've brought unwelcomed guests with yourselves." 

That instant, the sound of hooves trampling the ground resounded through the chaotic city. At the far end of one's line of sight, a group of soldiers could be seen approaching. 

"They..." 

Rosalyn's face crumbled to an unsightly grimace. The hand grabbing her sword tightened its grip.

"The crown prince..."

That army that the prince led to battle the monsters and defend the borders.

"We've encountered them a few times in our way but... I thought they lost us."

"Seems like they haven't." Ian shot a sideways glance at the swordmaster, his smirk never left his face. "Let me take care of them for you."

Without waiting for a response, Ian took a step towards the other side of the road, where the imperial army was approaching at a high speed. 

"Wait, how are you planning on facing them?"

It didn't need a genius mind to understand it was impossible to take on that huge army with a few people. That was also why Rosalyn was unable to get rid of them and resorted to running away and hiding; because the numbers couldn't even rival each other. 

"Plan?" Ian didn't even look back. "There is none."

Not waiting for Rosalyn to say more, he continued to walk down the road with steady steps. The others behind him didn't know what to do. Wasn't it clear suicide to try to fight that army? Plus, Ian told them that he wasn't going to make an enemy of the Empire... But now he was going to fight their crown prince? 

"Take care of the children."

Walking past Zal, Ian mumbled. 

"Without them, you won't stand a chance."

"Do I stand a chance with them?" 

As the word suggested, they were just children. He strode past the mage.

Despite his words, one shadow kept following him as he walked. 

"Stay back, Kieran."

"No." 

It was obvious. When has this stubborn brat even listened to such orders? 

"Just create a path for me, without killing anyone."

Ian couldn't see the boy, but he was probably nodding his head in silence. The grip over his sword loosened and the half-drawn blade was sheathed back. Kieran pulled out a dagger bound around his thigh. 

Ian pulled his hood a bit closer before pressing his feet on the ground, dashing forward, towards the army. Reacting almost at the same time, Kieran ran alongside him at a speed matching his. 

"You're not gonna ask what I want to do?"

"I trust your decisions."

Ian raised his head a bit. Cold driblets of water slammed across his face. 

"That's not a healthy mindset."

Exessive loyalty was dangerous, for both sides. Still, it felt good to have someone to always have your back.

By then, the knights of the Empire had noticed the two people approaching. It wasn't a rare sight to see people rushing at them in a hurry in a monster breakout. Their lives were in danger and it was natural to seek the soldiers who were the symbols of safety and protection. They were already busy fighting with the monsters, so there was no time to waste on some citizens. 

"They are here as well!"

Tap. The young prince jumped down his horse. His long cape fluttered behind him, his boots drilling marks on the mud. He took out his sword, eyes fixed on an individual on the other side of the road. A woman in tight warrior clothes was darting around the city. Monsters fell down wherever she passed. 

Eliot gritted his teeth and raised his sword. 

"Create a path for the first unit to pass."

The monsters weren't too many, neither were they high in number. Taking care of them wouldn't be a problem. The most important thing was to capture that woman; that woman who kept slipping out of their grasp no matter what method they used.

"Yes, Your Highness."

It then happened. 

A slight commotion rose from the front of the troop. Casting his gaze toward the voice, Eliot noticed two people rushing at them through the battlefield, not caring about the monsters or the soldiers. 

'Citizens? No!'

It wasn't possible to spot it at first, but he could see a small dagger in one of their hands. Were they also a part of the resistance?

'They must've lost their minds to rush at us like this.'

What could a single man with a dagger do in front of all these knights?

In an instant, the black-haired boy's path was blocked by three soldiers, each high-ranked knight. Swords raised. The blade of the dagger flashed under the slight sunlight. The clanging of metal echoed. Water splattered everywhere. Three figures in knight attire fell down on their knees one by one. 

The swordsman kicked the middle one in the stomach, pushing him aside; opening a way to pass. One other knight on the way got sent flying by a punch and another's sword was snatched away. Someone fell after a kick and one's head got smashed to the ground. 

Just noticing the bizarre situation, the nearby soldiers let go of their struggles with the monsters and rushed at him. Dancing among the crowd, the black-haired man didn't even blink an eye. The dagger swirled around his fingers as a pen would in an artist's grasp. His figure flashed about, leaving only a dark shade behind. Punch harder than a kick, a kick strong enough to send a knight meters away. Small cuts appeared all over the soldiers' bodies, not deep to harm but enough to distract them for brief seconds, enough for the black-clad warrior to take them down. Blood spattered across the rain, the mixture spraying down on the battlefield. 

"What in the world?"

"Stop that man! Stop them!"

"Protect the prince."

The highest-ranking knights marched forward, and formed a wall against the prince, while two imperial guards jumped down from their horses to each side of the youth. Passing through this defensive wall must be impossible for anyone, but the black-haired warrior didn't stop a bit. 

Running alongside him was a gray-cloaked individual. His movements were clumsy and his pace slow, it was evident that he was never ever trained as a fighter, yet he was running alongside the black-clad young man to the center of the knights.

"He's protecting that cloaked individual. Rhys, take down that person."

At the knight captain's call, one of the prince's bodyguards dashed forward. He kicked the ground, flying over the wall of the soldiers like a swift cat. His sword was drawn in an instant, aimed at the throat of the cloaked individual. 

CLANG

Sparks flew up. The thick blade of the sword was blocked by a tiny dagger. Swiftly moving to the side, the cloaked individual ran past Rhys towards the prince, yet the guard wasn't allowed the leisure to react. A much more dangerous individual was right before his face. 

BOOMM

The warrior's fist moved faster than eyes could follow. A fist clad in a black aura landed on his abdomen, the impact huge enough to send him back at the wall of knights. Rhys hit the soldiers standing guard, causing the wall to crumble down. 

'A hand clad in black aura? A swordmaster?'

Just as the thought crossed everyone's minds, the cloaked individual fearlessly jumped over the fallen knights, dashing right at the crown prince. His cloak slipped away a bit, his stretched-out hand emerging from under it. 

"You damn rat!"

Eliot's sword was faster than the cloaked individual's movements. Before he could land on the ground, they cut through the rain, aimed at nothing but his neck.