Their challenge brought them out to the front yard.
"You look surprised," Seyin said in between his rugged breathing. "Were you underestimating me all these years?"
It hurts to admit but yes. As far as Ryder knows, Seyin just loved to play. He would do tricks that would embarrass his opponent. He would tickle, strip clothes, put on really scary masks, threaten to spill out funny secrets and many others.
But now with Ryder holding on to the fence for support, he couldn't believe that he was having a decent challenge with the same happy-go-lucky guy. His friend's weakness was hand to hand combat but the pain in his gut proved that Seyin was still training.
Ryder straightened himself with a silent grunt and flexed his wrists. What would Fhae say to him if he was wincing over a little kick?
"Yeah. You've never been this fired up."
Ryder clenched his fists, adrenaline rushing in his veins.
"But I hope you don't forget–my title is not just for show."
Ryder ran towards him and let out a barrage of fists but Seyin blocked them all with his wrist--a technique Seyin learned through street fighting with cats and criminals.
The two were careful not to let their right hand show out of their pockets.
"Huh, don't worry," Seyin said as he was pushed backward with Ryder's punches but never really being hit. "I never thought of your title as decoration."
Ryder then pounded hard at his wrist but Seyin just bit back the pain. "Which is why I have a surprise for you."
Seyin head-butted him.Ryder shouted and blinked his eyes as the world suddenly became two. The pain came later and it flared in his head.
With that distraction, Seyin launched his own punches.
But all missed. He, too, was a little disoriented.
"You are not from the warrior clans---just a small town boy like me." Seyin continued to fight the sluggish Ryder. "That's why I know that your bones are normal as an ordinary teenager, unlike the Rigiddins who have really tough bodies."
A sudden lock of their left arms made Seyin grunt.
"Golden Rule number one: bite more, bark less" Ryder seethed.
Both of them struggled for control with a lot of pushing and kneeing.
Seyin managed to trip him and used the momentum to throw him to the ground. Ryder let out a harsh cough. Along with the pain in his head, now he had to bear the pain in his gut.
"I've learned two things from you today. First, you're really a pain." Seyin said as he let himself rest for a second.
Ryder was on his knees. Both of them had sweat dripping on the sides of their faces.
Ryder's clothes were dirty with all him being thrown around. Even if it was Seyin who had difficulty catching his breath, Ryder was struggling to stand but his knees won’t let him.
"And second, you lose this time, Ryder."
Seyin charged with all his strength and was about to tackle him down when Ryder suddenly stood---his brown eyes glinting dangerously.
This time, Seyin was not sharp enough to react.
Ryder grabbed Seyin's golden hair and lifted him up like he was some trophy.
Seyin screamed so loud and fought to free himself, making it more painful than Ryder intended to.
"Golden Rule number two: Never fall for fakes. I told you, didn't I?" Ryder lifted him higher, producing more screams. "That my title is not just for show."
Ryder swung him from left to right and finally whipped him on the ground.
Seyin coughed blood. The effort killed his insides. Even if he was not moving, pain throbbed all over his body with every heartbeat. Seyin bit back his anger.
Ryder grabbed Seyin's right arm and was about to pull it out when the front door opened and Raeya stepped outside.
"Guys, there's a call---Oh. Are you finished?"
Ryder couldn't move.
Raeya was standing and still looking beautiful even in her bandages. She was now okay! Ryder was about to speak when the whole gang appeared from around the corner of the house where they had been watching secretly though anyone would have noticed them.
And from the looks on their faces, they were half-surprised and half-satisfied.
"Seyin wins!" The small Aura announced much to the shock of everyone else, especially Ryder.
"What? But Ryder successfully immobilized Seyin." But Aura shook her head at Rhed.
"Ryder had broken one rule: Don't let your opponent bleed."
"Oh." Everyone's reaction was summed up in those two letters. Ryder felt Seyin chuckle faintly as he tried to sit---meditating style. Seyin would have laughed his heart out but Ryder didn't really care any longer. All that was in his head was the stake of the challenge.
Raeya...
"I admit defeat." Seyin's voice boomed throughout the yard. "I can't accept the decision that I won just because of one petty rule. I was beaten up bad. Ryder wins."
Now that really shifted the mood of the others but Ryder suddenly grabbed Seyin's neckerchief, the way Seyin did to Ryder last night, but Ryder was aggressively tighter.
"Don't joke with me, Seyin. The decision has been made. You win. I'm not taking victory by pity."
Seyin neared his mouth to Ryder's ears.
"Take it. Or it just shows that you're not willing to swallow your pride for the sake of Raeya. I was serious when I said that Raeya will be mine if you will lose. If you still insist, I will require you to break your contract."
Ryder's face flushed with anger and thought of punching him hard right then and there if Aura hadn't spoken.
"Both sides admit defeat. It's a draw, then!" Aura clapped her hands. "Okay, people, it's settled. Raeya, you were about to say something?"
Raeya was the only one who was clueless on why everyone was so heated up after a normal challenge.
"Maybe it's best if we discuss it inside."
Raeya gave Ryder a meaningful look.
***
Everyone met at Leison's room.
"This is indeed troubling. It’s like they are saying that Fhae is alive."
Even if he was covered in bandages, Leison's voice still made it clear that he was their tough trainor. Nique and Aura immediately shook their heads.
"We were there when...when she was killed. I held her body," Aura defiantly protested. "That hunter must either be lying or crazy." Keyanne immediately hugged her. She was always the one to know when someone was about to cry.
"It's okay, Aura." Nique looked at everybody. "I was there, too. This is just a hoax."
Raeya shuddered at the memory of Fhae being slipped into the body bag. At that time, she was stationed at Veynstown and in-charge of the evacuation. So when the call came to break the bad news, she immediately left her post, leaving the evacuating people panicking. But at that time, she didn't care. All she wanted was to see with her very eyes that the one who was like a mother to Aegis was killed in action.
"Then we'll leave it at that until HQ says otherwise. We'll discuss these matters when we get there,” Leison said.
"Whoa, there. You're coming with us? With all your injuries? You can't even stand!"
Leison ignored the playful tone in Seyin's voice.
"If someone who was beaten to a pulp can still go to report, why not me?"
Oh, joy. Sarcasm at its best, Raeya chuckled.
Leison noticed that everybody was trying to hold their laugh.
"Wipe those snickers off your faces and get dressed, people of Aegis. Out, all of you."
And everyone laughed. It had been a long time since they were able to laugh like this. When they were out in the hallway, Raeya cleared her voice and Ryder heard it. They deliberately let the others go on until there were only two of them.
Ryder was the first to talk.
"Those Shadows...I'm really proud that you were able to defeat all of them," he said while scratching the back of his head, feeling awkward.
"Yeah. It's been a year and we still haven't located the remaining conjurers. More and more are showing up," she replied in a boring tone to make him realize that it was not the topic that she wanted.
Ryder sighed."Look, Raeya, I'm sorry if I hadn't been checking on you lately but I'm really glad you're now okay. I know it's my fault because I was supposed to be there but---"
"Woah, hang on, mister." Raeya made a time-out signal. "Let's go there later but first, I want stories and explanations."
"Of what?"
Raeya eyed him.
"Of what you've been up to these past few months, duh. You're starting to worry me with all your absences."
At that, Ryder sighed. This is it, Raeya thought. Whatever he says next is the root of this all.
"I-I've been wanting to tell you but...I thought it would be better if I could solve this on my own because it's personal.
That took Raeya by surprise. Something pricked her heart---just a needle, small but enough to cause pain. Personal, huh? There was supposed to be no such word in his vocabulary. They have literally been through fire and storm. Why would he hesitate to tell her something that was bothering him?
"Okay, it’s okay. I understand." It's not like they were husband and wife. Raeya has her own life and so does he.
"So, how about telling me where you've been going, then,” she said.
Ryder tore away from her eyes.
At that, Raeya's expression darkened.
"Don't tell me...You've been visiting the old house, again."
"Let me explain. I was just---"
"You said you were improving! You said you were doing your best to break free. Why?!" Raeya could no longer stop her emotions. This was supposed to be a soft talk---their usual style of catching up. She was supposed to be calm and all ears but hearing that revisiting the past was all he did while being away from her and from his leadership, it was more than what she can bear.
He had been ditching missions just so he could return to that forsaken place again and again. He had been ignoring her and Aegis just because he was stuck to what happened last year, as if he was the only one affected.
But upon hearing Ryder's next words, she immediately regretted raising her voice.
"Don't shout at me like it's easy, Raeya." The warmth radiated by his coffee-brown eyes was gone. "Losing more than half of your members in a single day is not something that I could erase in one year, much less ten. So don't you dare blame me because you're not the one shouldering the responsibility."
Shouldering the responsibility?
Did Ryder think that Raeya and the others had no emotions that they don’t feel the same way? When did the death of their friends pitched at just Ryder? When did Aegis become a one-man company?
Ryder’s aura radiated a dark vibe, to the point that the power of the Shore seeped out of his body but it was not green and blue, the good colors. Ryder was enveloped by a dark purple atmosphere. In his anger, he had tapped on the dark doors of the Shore.
Raeya could only stand there. Never before had he shown this much anger to her and it made her step backward.She was so frightened she couldn’t move. It was like Ryder could hurt her at that moment.
After a few seconds, a tear from her cheek splattered on the wooden floor.
And Ryder suddenly went back to the caring Ryder. The purple air around him also dissipated.
"Raeya, I... I didn't..."
"Yes, you did." Raeya furiously tried to wipe her tears away, as if to keep them from falling. She hated it when her anger just turned to tears. She wanted to say a lot---to pour out her own anger too but it's really frustrating when the words just melt into tears.
Why was Ryder acting like this?
"Fine, then. I wish you luck in solving Aegis' problem on your own."
And with that, she turned her back, ignoring her conscience telling her that nothing good comes out of walking away. But she was tired of putting up the I-always-care face.
She headed upstairs and for the first time in a long while, it was Raeya who left Ryder.
The way to headquarters was a short one. The government officials made it sure that Aegis was just near them so they could just summon them for convenience. Not that Aegis was complaining because it was what they vowed but the closer they are to the headquarters, the farther they are from the people--their number one client. They passed through the rocky mountain trail that led to around the borders of Veynstown and not a minute passed that the van didn't shudder because of the bumpy road. After exiting the town, finally, they hit the smoothly paved road towards the headquarters. It was the place where the politicians and the leaders from the different Companies met. They hold meetings on the first days of the week. Zed would also be there, in respect of his position and along with the fact that he was just brainwashed by Hearth, as well as the rest of the demanding government officials. ...unlike yours who protects the corrupt officials but can't even save a friend! Ryder clenche
Raeya was able to catch Ryder at the last minute. He had just ignited the engine. When he sensed her, he got off the bike. The symbol of the Triad imprinted on the bike's steel glinted in bronze with the setting rays of the sun. He wouldn't even try to go home first to get his own bike. Why was he in such a hurry? Ryder turned to face her. "How clever of you to use the ghost of Fhae as a reason for you to go away. Why? Because we fought and you want some space? Again?" Raeya held his stare as he approached closer. His eyes stole the color of the sun and they glowed in a deep orange hue. The afternoon wind passed through the space between them and Ryder's light cloak ballooned, revealing his bonesteel knife and the small vials of bitter herb strapped on his belt. He was ready. "Raeya, you might not believe me right now but I'm really doing my best. And I'm sorry for everything. I won't deny that I'm running away. I'll try to clear my mind." Ryder was a very reliable man. People al
Ryder saw the flier about the Moon Festival. He was visiting the local hunter who reported that he saw Fhae in the woods. As they sat and talked over tea, Ryder saw the invitation on the table. 300 years of celebrating the Shore's warriors under the moonlight, it said. "Are you going, young man? Your partner is a Rigiddin, right? She's sure to be there," the hunter had asked. Ryder shook his head and explained that he was putting the mission first. The man just stared at him, maybe wondering what's so important in chasing a ghost rather than spending time with the living. His look made him remember what happened in their meeting earlier. "Are you mocking me, Ryder Radstille?" Sir Vance had risen in his seat when Ryder mentioned about Fhae's ghost being one of the Shore's ways to communicate. "We have the priests that serve as messengers of the Shore. What kind of speculation is this?" "Let me explain. The Shore is where our souls return when we die, as it's the source of everythi
The dancing was still the best part for Raeya, even if she was not good at it. Where are they? She scanned the crowd for any signs of Aegis. The parade was over. Aren't they supposed to be here already? "Can I hold your hand?" The soft voice of a child's request made her reach out her hand automatically but quickly withdrew it when she saw she was not the one being asked. She was used to it that it was always her attention that people sought after when it comes to events such as these. "You okay?"Jin asked beside her. Raeya just nodded. She searched the surroundings and her eyes rested on a lady resting in front of a nearby stall. A girl of about eight was offering her a plate of sweets. The lady was dressed in a pure black satin dress which highlighted her white skin. Her hair was tied in a ponytail but it was also braided tightly. Her dress reached past her toes but it almost exposed all of her upper part, showing the tattoo of the Rigiddin's vulture in black ink--a Rokohorta d
Raeya just realized that she was weaponless. Her sword--the only thing that made her survive countless battles was resting in her room back at the cabin. How could she not have anticipated this? Already, she sighted four gigantic Shadows howling and stomping their way through the festival. They were not the normal size. They towered over the buildings of Veynstown. A lump gathered into her throat and threatened to spill out of her eyes. Her weapon was not here, so was her protector. What could she do? "Raeya." Jin looked at her in the eye while placing a dagger in her hand. "I know it's scary." He had that deep warrior tone in his voice as his blue eyes were burning in orange because of the flames. "But you are in the right place. Why do you think this is happening right now where you are standing?" He put his hand on top of hers. "You were meant for this. The Shore is on your side. Our ancestors are rooting for you. And I believe in you." Raeya snapped back to reality. She s
Ryder thought he was lost, not until he saw the flickering light down the road. It was the Nysou's house. He had to leave his bike as there was a river to cross and the bridge looked like it would crumble at any time. Ryder walked through the bridge and it creaked heavily. It made him wonder if where did all the riches of the Nysou go that they couldn't even fix a decent road towards their house. The Nysou were a family of professional graveyard diggers who were in service to the Triad for decades already. They should have no problem with the money. A horrible thought entered his mind--the thought of the Triad not actually paying them. The government keeps their promises, right?, Ryder countered. But then, a voice entered his mind. Again. 'Unlike yours who protects corrupt officials but can't even save a friend!' He knew that the government had its own flaws. Corruption was evident though from time to time, they would blame it on one official, force him to step down, and the peopl
Ryder could still remember it all. The memory hit him like the hurricanes that frequent the Khafouni Sea. They splashed in his mind in an uninviting way and the feelings of the war resurfaced to try to sink him once again in pain. Drones, missiles, and debri fell around them. Ryder was taking the lead in breaking through Hearth’s main facility for them to shut down and the lab where the Shadows were created, capture the scientists, and finally end the war. Who would have thought that Hearth, the City of Healing, was actually the creator of the Shadows? At that time, the scientists were armed themselves, though they have already lost their titles from being honorable scientists to mere conjurers. They had broken the Scientists’ Code. Their judgment was 300 years late. No more shall they be called professionals. Ryder could remember that he was calling them out to surrender. But he received a wave of bullets as a reply. He had no choice. Ryder gave the command and everyone went in.
Of course, Ryder would be giving chase. Not only chasing Grey, but Fhae, as well. For if he is able to wring the information out of the conjurer, he surely will find her. Fhae's death was a mystery to him. To the others, she was just killed in action. But for Ryder, it was hard to accept that his mentor suddenly died like that in the hands of ordinary conjurers. So when a slight opportunity of revelation approached him, a little bit kind of a hidden story, a small ray of hope, revealed itself to him, he grabbed it. If the Triad was asking on why he was so bent on finding Fhae, the answer was simple. He had received instruction one fateful day. Droplets of rain drizzled down. Ryder had come back from visiting their old house. He had been hiding his remorse for almost a year and he had been dealing it alone to the point that when someone offers help, he would turn it away, even if it was from his sigil partner. He suddenly didn’t know what was worse—his dilemma or the fact that he w
''Tomorrow?'' Chief Raius couldn't help but laugh. ''Who do you think you are? Some savior who could turn the world upside-down with a snap of a finger? How do you expect to bring down Hearth, an enemy that even the Triad is having a hard time with? Could you erase a three hundred year-old company tomorrow? Could you?''Believe it or not.'' Ryder was offended. Earlier, his face held high reverence for the chief. Now, Ryder's voice was plain and he was looking at the chief at eye level without bowing or nodding, unlike earlier. But with the chief's words, it was bound to come to this point. ''I have been in touch with Sir Vance. he said that the preparations are complete. All that's left is for your consent.''Ryder wasn't even addressing him as chief anymore. Jin discerned it then at the moment. The Roar didn't come to be pitied, nor to ask for pity or forgiveness. He didn't come to grovel and take the blame for what happened to Raeya. That was just the surface. That was what he want
''You can't kill me'', Raeya blurted amidst their wrestling.His strength was overwhelming her and her muscles were becoming sore and overpowered by him. She had to do something. She had to find a good spot that she could use to break free.''Oh? How sure are you? Don't tell me its because you believe that I still love you.''No, she didn't believe that. Seyin was the second to confess his love to her after Jin. She was the one in-charge of handling new applicants to Aegis when Seyin entered the hall where they would be taking the Shore test. She was assisting Fhae in conducting the tests that would determine if the applicants had the potential to harness the power of the Shore.Instead of asking about anything significant about the test at that time, Seyin stood and boldly asked her out, embarrassing both of them at that moment. After that, she kindly but firmly said her no. Seyin cried in front of her but in the end, she offered what she could–friendship. Until now, she didn’t know
''Tomorrow?'' Chief Raius couldn't help but laugh. ''Who do you think you are? Some savior who could turn the world upside-down with a snap of a finger? How do you expect to bring down Hearth, an enemy that even the Triad is having a hard time with? Could you erase a three hundred year-old company tomorrow? Could you?''Believe it or not.'' Ryder was offended. Earlier, his face held high reverence for the chief. Now, Ryder's voice was plain and he was looking at the chief at eye level without bowing or nodding, unlike earlier. But with the chief's words, it was bound to come to this point. ''I have been in touch with Sir Vance. he said that the preparations are complete. All that's left is for your consent.''Ryder wasn't even addressing him as chief anymore. Jin discerned it then at the moment. The Roar didn't come to be pitied, nor to ask for pity or forgiveness. He didn't come to grovel and take the blame for what happened to Raeya. That was just the surface. That was what he want
''You can't kill me'', Raeya blurted amidst their wrestling. His strength was overwhelming her and her muscles were becoming sore and overpowered by him. She had to do something. She had to find a good spot that she could use to break free. ''Oh? How sure are you? Don't tell me its because you believe that I still love you.'' No, she didn't believe that. Seyin was the second to confess his love to her after Jin. She was the one in-charge of handling new applicants to Aegis when Seyin entered the hall where they would be taking the Shore test. She was assisting Fhae in conducting the tests that would determine if the applicants had the potential to harness the power of the Shore. Instead of asking about anything significant about the test at that time, Seyin stood and boldly asked her out, embarrassing both of them at that moment. After that, she kindly but firmly said her no. Seyin cried in front of her but in the end, she offered what she could–friendship. Until now, she didn’t kn
Jin had a feeling his discussion with Fahazi about leaders going at the forefront jinxed the night.“Go!” He commanded as he pulled Fahazi to his feet and pushed him to get him running. As they ran, Jin looked behind. He could make out nothing because of the darkness but he felt shadows following them. He grabbed Fahazi’s hand and sped across the tunnels. They only had one flashlight. Fahazi must have lost his own light during the explosion.Jin felt something was about to fall on them. He felt dust and debris fall upon his face as they ran. “Fall back, Fahazi!” Both of them were able to stop just in time before the ceiling gave way. If they had advanced one second further, they would have already been buried in a pile of huge blocks of cement and dirt.It didn’t stop there. A slight tremor was felt from above.“This way,” Fahazi suggested as he pointed to one of the tunnels which didn’t seem to be shaking. Jin nodded and they entered the tunnel to their left.“Do you think we can st
Grey wasn't someone who was easily intimidated. Even with Ryder and Leison had him on gunpoint and swordpoint, he still wore the same smug expression.''You're pretty confident this time, Aegis.'' He wasn't fazed at all with the pressure around him. ''Have you finally moved on from your humiliation in our last war?''This position was familiar with the battle at Hearth. Ryder had also cornered Grey in their laboratory. Grey wasn't yet a fighter or a conjurer back then, just a normal scientist who only knew how to wield science and technology. That was why Ryder decided that he wouldn't kill him. He diverted his focus on the Shadows that Hearth released. However, Grey took advantage of Ryder's soft heart back then. He summoned Absinthe and the rest was history.''You're provoking the wrong people. You should be telling that to your bosses,'' Leison answered.''I wouldn't call that a word of provocation. It's just called a taunt.'' Grey was feeling extra powerful now. Was there some rea
If Raeya could recall properly, the men said they were going to answer her questions after they had tied her up but now she was the one tying all of six of them up. It was a good thing she found a rope in one of the toolboxes of the saleslady or else she would have to knock them unconscious every five minutes that they woke up.Raeya pressed the switch and a single dim bulb was brought back to life. Its light was yellowish but it would serve its purpose just for the room to do away with the darkness. She tried calling her friends but she was stumped after realizing that there was no signal. Raeya hoped that Aegis was doing well and that nothing bad happened. Raeya didn’t know why but she was feeling ominous like something big happened. Or was that her overthinking? After securing their hands, she dragged them into the corner and made their backs lean on the wall, away from any object that they could grab and free themselves. She was waiting for the leader, the one with a red turban,
''So? Where did you come from? How did you meet with Jaiyo?''Infiltrating the camp was hard enough but questions like these were harder. ''My family of guerillas received your notice. I simply answered your call. Fortunately, the man with a purple headband who led me here and your attendant recommended you to me,'' Lidon answered as they walked the mountain trail.''I see.''She was not to be underestimated, unlike her hired soldiers.Jin and the chief already knew the basic structure of their camp because they flew over them once. He was pretty confident that he could get inside without doing anything not until he saw the entrance.The ones going in and out had some sort of special tattoos on their skin which they were showing to the guards. Jin was at a loss not until he spotted a group. They didn't show any part of their skin but they were accompanied by some sort of leader with a purple headband.It was that leader who let them in. Jin waited for a few nights at most before spot
Lidon was still wary of the guerilla army.He had wrapped his dagger to make them think that he had lowered his guard. But since no one was still attacking them, then it is safe to assume that they are safe for now. They led them through the forest until they reached a hanging bridge. In this time, it was unusual to see a wooden bridge when they were living in the age of development. The bridge was just a collection of blocks of wood bound together by rubber ties and twigs. A river with sharp rocks twenty feet spread below.“Let’s go two at a time or else the bridge will break,” the woman with the golden tooth said. That goes without saying. It was as if the bridge was designed to not welcome visitors.As ancient and old-looking the bridge was, the new guerilla army seemed to have no problem with it. Wayl and the woman went ahead first. It was only the two of them but the bridge swayed so much.“That seems scary,” Maryan whispered beside him.“We can’t do anything about it, can’t we