" So Jason, how's your hand " Narla asked.
" Fine " Jason replied briefly. He began to massage the arm on which he had fallen twice on. " This armour is uncomfortable " he moaned trying to adjust himself.
" When your life depends on it, you won't say so " Narla replied him." Yours is cosy " Jason retorted.
Mouthing a laugh, Narla spoke " We're girls and remember that we're supposed to be comfortable "
" And boys aren't? "
" It's duty Jason, chill " Elsa who has been listening to their conversation chipped in.
" But you know how uncomfortable I'll be, and it's till dawn " Jason complained further.
" Take it off " Narla said.
" You don't mean it, if the killer arrives, I'm meat." Jason said.
" Then leave it on " the two girls shouted at the same time.
" Okay, I get your point " Jason murmured.
Jason held his dual blades by the side of his pants. When filling in his application for scout, he had been asked to include choice of weapon, and the dual blades was what he chose. He had never used them before then, but he practiced with wooden dual blades the day he included them and his brother was good at teaching him. Speaking of that, he missed his parents. He had only spent two days away from them and it felt like eternity.
He slowly drew out his dual blades and he was annoyed seeing the name bishop on it. The blades were smoothly forged, sleek in nature and surprisingly light. It had no curves whatsoever but was completely straight. The top of the sword if pointed sharp that Jason could swear he sawn it light up. The sides blades, Jason instinctively knew that it was a perfect slicer.
" Let's test this sword out " Jason thought. He held the dual blades and began to swing them in arcs and went next into an attacking swing at the invisible enemy. He continued swinging and swinging till Narla's voice jolted him back to reality.
" It seems that there is a fight going on outside " Narla yelled.
" Maintain positions " Jason said, " We have to wait "
The hooded man in black walked towards the street and we four scouts in uniform. " He even hired protection " he scoffed. " I am Maxmus, the killer you are looking for. Allow me in and I'll spare your lives " Maxmus said to the scouts.
The scouts at the street end like robots immediately squared up to Maxmus. " Okay, the hard way then " Maxmus said she flashed out two daggers and ran towards the scouts. The first scout swung his sword the the others activated their armour. Surprisingly, Maxmus's dagger was able to stop the scouts sword. He pushed back and at the same time the other scouts attacked.
Maxmus rolled to dodge a scouts sword lash and threw his dagger at the other's arm. He ran speedily and with his bottom put the stabbed scouts head to the ground. Another sword swing came from behind, but the sword stopped mere inches before his face because Maxmus leg was at his belly. Maxmus turned in the air and kicked the hell out of the scouts face.
Another scout attacked him from behind, but he grabbed the arm of the scout and threw him over his shoulders. " Told you to let me in " Maxmus said. The first scout that fought thrust out his two hands and a red beam if purely core energy shot out if it. Maxmus shielded himself with his daggers crossed. The force of the energy beam was pushing him back, but didn't affect him.
Maxmus eyes at that moment caught the movement of a blade by the side. The immediately parried the sword, but the energy veN shot into his shoulder blade sending him to the ground.
" I got him " the scout that fired the bean shouted. By the time the four scouts got to where he had fallen, Maxmus was gone.
" Where is he? " the first scout asked.
" I don't know " another replied.
" But I fired him, and it connected. He couldn't have escaped. " It seems like he did " the last scout said.
" We need to call for reinforcements just in case he made his way to Nican's house "
The four scouts fired a beam each into the skies. This would alert nearby scouts to their aid.
" We'll take it from here " a voice sounded. It was a man dressed in a tier 2 armour identical to theirs only that it was white and red instead of black and red. He was a SS ( SENIOR SCOUT ).
" We hit him with an energy beam, he couldn't have gotten far if he entered the street " the first scout said.
" Okay " the SS known as Alexander the great nodded. He signalled with his hands and fellow SS came out out of the woods, twenty in number. " Maxmus Riverdale is on the loose and is very close to this location. First division, search the perimeter, second division follow me " Alexander the great said.
Ten SS followed him into the street. He turned to the scouts on black " Good work. Just stay here, the SS will help you in case he returns ".
Maxmus was already close to the house. Not underestimating the scouts anymore, he tried his best to avoid the scouts at the house gate which he did successfully because he entered in through the sewers. The main house was far from the gate so even if he fought anyone, it would still take them time to reach him. He was holding his shoulders, a deep gash could be seen clearly on his shoulders. The bean would have removed his arm if not for the fact that it was running low on energy.
He was about to head into the house when an energy beam shot at him. He dodged and the beam kept on following him.
" Shussy, don't waste your fire energy " Jason said. He jammed his hands together, and his armour lit up. His dual blades were
already in his arms and at the same time their rims became red. " Energized blades huh? " Jason thought.
He ran towards Maxmus and flung his first blade. As usual, Maxmus blocked with his dagger and pushed back. Jason balanced himself and shot out the beam from his blades. Maxmus blocked the beam, punched Elsa on her helmet then kicking her away when she came to attack him. She flew and crashed into the ground.
" Cat!!! " Jason shouted. He ran again towards Maxmus and began to swing his sword wildly. Maxmus blocked all of them, grabbed Jason's arm and swiftly broke it through his elbow. This left Jason screaming in pain.
At that moment, a sword touched Maxmus's back and a sizzling sound was heard. Narla had her own sword energized and hacked it on Maxmus's back.
" Argh " Maxmus screamed. The sword had burnt his back. He threw his dagger at Narla's arm which got Narla unprepared. She got pierced and let go of her sword in pain.
Maxmus looked at the window if the house. Jason followed his eyes and saw a girl sitting by the window. Maxmus readied his dagger and positioned to throw bit regarding the pain he felt. " No " Jason shouted. He bolted towards Maxmus and rammed into him with extreme difficulty. Although Maxmus did not fall, the dagger's aim missed and struck the window frame.
" Damn you stupid scout " Maxmus cursed. He turned to Jason and looked at his face. Jason stumbled for his helmet that had come off in the process of hitting Maxmus. " Shit " Jason cursed. Maxmus grabbed his neck and threw him across the field.
Suddenly the door to the house opened and the scout inside the house and drew out a rapier. Maxmus threw two daggers at the scout and ran towards him. The scout hit the daggers away with his rapier and thrust towards Maxmus.
Maxmus tilted at the right time and the sword missed him by a hair breadth. He struck the arm of the scout and lashed out a kick. The scout destabilized by the strike did a forward roll and made a voice on Maxmus's leg successfully. He stood up, and jabbed at Maxmus's chest then put Maxmus down with an uppercut to his chin.
Maxmus desperate, threw a dagger at the scout who blocked and calmly went for a clean beam blast.
" Argh " Maxmus shouted. The beam blast had struck his arm and separated it completely from his shoulders. Maxmus rolled and dodged the second blast to his other room. He began to run towards the house when two arrows whizzed past his head.
" The SS are here Maxmus. Give it up and we'll take you in easily. If you don't, then we take you in the hard way ".
Jason groaned as an SS helped him to his feet." What a broken arm " the SS said.
Maxmus realizing that he could not kill the people he came to kill bolted towards the end of the house. The SS followed in hot pursuit firing beams and arrows at Maxmus. Some touched, some didn't but Maxmus didn't care. He made a leap for the fence and entered into the woods.
The SS followed him into the woods too, but Alexander the great just shook his head and came back. " Good work here. At least you got to protect the family " he said to the scout with a rapier.
" He would have killed the girl if not for him " the scout with the rapier said pointing to Jason. The SS walked to Jason and shook him. " Bishop, you did a brave thing. But I see you've got a broke arm " he said. " Scout duty for you all is over, head back to the guild and change " he added. As he made to leave, he suddenly turned back as if he just realized something " Where's your helmet? "
" It fell off while trying to push Maxmus " Jason said bring careful not to exert his arm. " He saw my face ".
" Saw your face? " the SS asked worried. " That's dangerous and you are not safe till Maxmus is caught. You'll be added to our security list and be more careful next time "
" Okay sir " Jason said. He went back to Narla and Elsa and told them the tale. Narla's hand was already bandaged by one of the SS unfortunately, nobody could do anything about a broken arm.
" You're doomed " Elsa said. " Of all the people whose faces were seen in the scout duty, nine of them lived. They were all killed by the criminals that that saw their faces ".
" Thanks Elsa " Jason said, worry plastered on his face. " Just trying to tell you to be more careful " Elsa defended herself.
" Leave it Elsa " Narla shunned.
" Where are you going to Jason? " Elsa asked when she saw heading into a different direction than that of his house. Jason stopped slowly " Um.... I live with Narla for now " he said sheepishly.
" Oh...... " Elsa's face became red.
" It's just that I......
" I understand, good night Jason " Elsa said before storming off leaving Jason wondering. " Is it because I am with Narla, dies she think something is going on between Narla and I? ". But his thoughts were quickly replaced with what Elsa said about criminals seeing a Scout's face. " Good thing he couldn't tell I'm a Jaliel, it's even better I'm staying at Narla's house. I don't want any harm to come to my parents. I just hope he forgets " Jason thought.
They got to Narla's house a few minutes later, and Jason ran up to his room to have a goodnight rest, well not so restful with a broken arm. He may down to sleep his mind torn between thinking of Elsa and Maxmus.