As soon as the rune master succumbed to the darkness, chaos erupted in the mansion.
The mansion was supposed to be the safest place in the city which was why numerous people worked on highly restricted papers and tests.
Those tests varied from concept to concept, which was why even one subject had a dozen workers, all in different parts of the mansion in total concentration and silence.
That was until carved runes brittled down one by one, the open walls giving way to vicious smiling men and women, who within seconds rounded everyone up like sheep.
It didn't take long before destruction was brought upon the rooms they appeared in, everything was thrown and shredded. Most of the people couldn't do anything as they merely functioned on the technical side of things.
They didn't have an affinity to magic or fighting, the runes that always protected them and held their faith were now useless.
They had found out in a hard way, as the head engineer rushed to activate the protection rune yet was only met with a maze to his face.
Brain splattered all arounds as they turned white in horror, the intruders merely grinning at the first drops of blood.
Countless feets now mindlessly walked in the direction they were forced too, one by one hounded until all entered the room and the lock sounded behind them.
Walk filled with fear and dread as even the few warriors ,who had tried to give them a chance to run, found themselves hugely lacking in front of the rugged group.
It had been a slight surprise when they succumbed to the attacks of the robbers, causing the scientists to drag them along, even further and pulling them up to avoid the shattered pieces of the oaken door of the main dining room.
A dining room where a large shadow took up the main space, they couldn't see more before they got locked up in the room right next to it.
It was silent, peaceful even in the dining room unlike the hallways where people rushed in seeking shelter and safety.
A needless search as they landed in the not so trustable hands of a robber.
Which was exactly what happened with Adrian as he watched multiple robbers point in his direction, whispers affirming his looks and silver hair before dashing towards him.
Only to grasp air as he vanished, Dawn's pale complexion the first thing Adrian saw as he landed back on the ground. Black teleportation circle flickered away.
Dawn, shaken at the sudden commotion, still managed to question Adrian at the sudden use and capability of teleportation.
''It's a secret, so don't tell anyone.'' Softly grabbing the other's hand he whispered of the intruders in the mansion, carefully pulling him along as they left the confinements of the room.
No further words needed to be said as both anxiously watched for oncoming robbers, Dawn's hand clam in Adrian's as he tried to still his growing unease.
''Look out!"
With a harsh tug Dawn was pulled forward, an arrow piercing air where his shoulder had been just seconds ago. They rushed down the corner as arrows followed along, leaving a few cuts and bruises in their wake.
Adrian sighed as he kept pulling the other, hair loose and swishing with his movement.
Blood dripped down his cheek for mere seconds before healing up nicely.
That however could not be said about the strands of hair that had gotten cut off.
Any lower and his neck could have been pierced, it didn't look like Dawn was in his right mind either. Eyes desolate in the face of danger as his body trembled.
Apparently the other had magic but he had never seen it, even the scars etched along his white skin weren't healing.
''Ugh"
And now he couldn't do anything but stare in horror as a monstrous arm appeared, seemingly out of nowhere and grabbed the silver strands.
"What do we have here?
A few pesky cats?''
Blue orbs stared up but he wasn't able to see anything as the grip strengthened, leaving fangs visible as a groan filtered out his mouth.
"So this is the vampire fledgling huhh? Blue eyed, how odd."
Adrian hadn't felt them coming, a mistake as he tried to loosen the other's grip as he dangled over the ground, grimace on his forehead while he flickered over his system subspace.
Busily flicking over the items inside, he heard the new voice that spoke up. A softer voice compared to the gruff and deep sounding voice from before.
''It's the Elven sage's companion."
"Really now?
He will prove to be useful!
Huffing Adrian slumped in the hold, arms crashing back down as the grip stayed yet noticeably slackened as they looked over to Dawn, the soft voice speaking up once more.
''What about him?
Should we just kill him?"
It was spoken so softly, that it looked like he was talking about what meal he was going to eat right after. Dawn's pale figure faltered backwards, desperately looking between Adrian and the two opposing robbers.
''N-no''
His black dagger shimmered and as soon as he felt it appear in his hands he lashed out.
The figure was tall, while his lash was calculated he could only hope he would hit the other's heart.
There was a small flame of victory as he felt the blade hit but that was before he felt the dagger crumble. There was nothing to investigate as his wrist got roughly incased and twisted.
A pained cry leaving his mouth as the used to be dagger fell with a cling to the ground, his arm limply fell to his said, twisted in such an unnatural way that it took minutes before it was fully set back in place.
Cracks echoed in the hallway as they joined together with Adrian's whimpers of pain.
He didn't know what part of him that mouthed the words run to Dawn.
Was it the care or was it just the need to be seen in a good light when all this was over?
Because it will be over, they didn't intend to kill them that much was obvious.
Grips finally slacked from his hair and with a crash his body slumped to the ground yet Adrian knew by the way his hairs stood up right that he should prepare.
Just in time he stood up and formed a golden shield around him as a full closed, gorilla sized fist hit him with full force.
His arm had barely healed yet here he was already hyper aware of the new broken bones. Ans apparently the sound of broken bones was loud as his companion whimpered, eyes aghast in familiarity.
More joined after he hit the wall, blood dripping down his moonlight hair and down his sky light eyes, obstructing the view of his left.
The guy was obviously too much for him, much less Dawn, he didn't even seem to be wearing any armour.
He was...monstrous, Adrian could only watch as his body was getting placed back in order as buff legs approached him, leaving Dawn to whoever was behind him.
The closer he came the more threatening he became, Adrian's pitiful figure reflecting back from the mirror like eyes above him as he got picked up like a doll and was thrown on the robber's shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
The dagger, the only particent of the fight still on the floor, before a new figure appeared, silently picking up the dagger and carefully studying the way it had crumbled.
Before sharply looking up at the sound of enclosing footsteps, just before the person would appear he became one with the shadows.
A figure standing at a one seventy five centimeter, confidence shining in his eyes and demeanor as his hand wrapped around his sword. A sword positioned on his neck as he whistled, ragged clothes displaying he was a member of the merry bands of robbers.
He was walking peacefully and cheerfully, that was until he felt a presence behind him, his sword passed through air while he twirled looking for the person he felt.
He knew they were there, he could feel them hear them yet couldn't see them.
Silence disturbed by a melodic voice coming from everywhere yet nowhere.
"Who are you, where are you?!!"
He turned and turned, sword at the ready yet no one in sight.
''Show yourself!''
Fingers glimpsed around him, he watched things that weren't there, calling out more and more desperately for the owner of the voice to appear yet they never did.
Frustration seeped into his own voice as he started wiping harshly at his eyes.
"What is this!
What do you think you're doing? Don't you dare think you'll get away with this!!''
It didn't stop, the voices didn't stop. Instead they multiplied, coming from left and right until the robber's vision swayed. Figure swaying with him, dizzy from going back and forth through the hallway.
He didn't know what was happening, there was still no one in sight yet in a matter of five minutes he had gone from confident to crashing down on the floor.
His eyes now displaying nothingness as the last thing he saw was starling silver orbs before he was entrapped in a silvery cage deep inside himself.
There was no recognition anymore in the onces strong warrior as his body merely slouched in place.
Though with a snap the body came back alive, returning back to it's original state as focused on the owner of the silver orbs with soulless eyes.
* * *
"Psss, psst brat!"
''It's Adrian."
Avery rolled his eyes as he once again whispered. "Where is the elf?"
Adrian visibly pondered whether to tell the other or not, eyes flashing between their captors or not.
''Come on, child. Just tell, it can't get any worse.''
''Don't say that, that's bad luck."
"Pfft, you believe that?
A vampire believes that? Ridiculous.
Either way , don't you feel anything with your thingy thingy.''
Biting his lip for show, he contemplated before revealing in a hushed voice that he did feel a sudden pain through the bond but that that was about it.
"You're not lying right?''
Between him and Aethelstan they had decided that he would be the innocent but also the one quick to be emotional. All in all he would be a child.
"Why would I!
I can't even pinpoint him, it's like he simply vanished.''
Avery looked like he had more to say but was rudely interrupted by an appointed quard, who he immediately leveled with a glare causing said quard to come over, her spear seconds from the human's neck.
Luckily for the chained down Avery and Adrian, an approaching loudmouth proved to be a distraction as she returned back to her station.
As the voice came closer, gasps left the captees as someone familiar appeared through the destroyed hinges of the door.
Light blue hair swayed as the owner got pushed through the door, most of the captor's sparkled in glee at the chained elf.
Silence came upon everyone as they watched the elf with his perfectly fine clothes, not a shred or thorn on them. Same could not be said for the robber behind him, traces of a fight all over him.
Wounds caused by the elf and even a busted lip but all he got was a secondary look over before eyes quickly returned to the person of interest.
The robber simply vanished behind the elf's one eighty five centimeter, he made for an opposing sight with his gorgeous silver eyes glaring and taking in everything.
An angel, an angry and fierce looking angel.
''Bring him here."
The voice that spoke was the same that had captured Adrian, who watched with quarded eyes.
''Yes boss! Walk elf!!''
A disgruntled and annoyed grunt came from the captees, sitting at the sidelines but the cause was once more shut up with a spear to the neck.
A hand wrapped around Aethelstan's arm as he let himself be pulled to the boss, who sat in the chair previously occupied by the rune's master.
Who was now nowhere in sight.
"You kept us waiting, it's rude to keep quests waiting.''
He stared down at the boss, who leisurely sat in the chair, in recognition.
"Had you entered through the normal means I would have greeted you but sadly that didn't happen.''
There was a curl of approval in the boss's smile before he continued speaking. His next words are an assessment of the only elf present.
''So you're the Elven sage?
You are smaller than I expected, I could smash you if I wanted to.''
Eyes flickered to the gorilla sized fist as he swallowed.
"I would appreciate it, if you didn't.''
''Did you see something?
They told me you could see the future but seeing as you are here and captured, it doesn't look like it means much, now does it?''
''There's only so much you can see and do about it.''
"What a waste.
Wouldn't be better if I just take those piercing eyes of yours?''
''They would be useless.''
''They would make for some pretty ornaments.''
Aethelstan didn't react to the threat, not even when a bloodthirsty smile stretched wide and the gorilla sized hands twitched.
Voice steady and subject eyes on the guy, he repeated his words.
''They would still be useless.
Staring match continued until the gorilla turned his gaze to his subordinate.
''It seems you have gotten beaten."
Immediately standing at attention, the goon answered.
"He tried to finish the fight quickly but it didn't work.''
His manner of speech displayed how proud he was, gleaming as he once again pulled the elf closer to his leader.
''It didn't, why?''
''Think he's hurt sir.
He was grimacing and almost straight out fainted.
It didn't last long, just enough for me to put the magic restraining cuffs on him."
''Good, good, great that you were the one who came across him.
We only have so many of those chains.
Good job.''
''Thank you, boss.
I'll put him by the others.''
''Do that, while you're there go stand guard and keep an eye on them while I enjoy my meal.
''Yes, boss.''
With a grin almost as wide as the sea he dragged the elf away, putting him right next to the other's before going over to one of the other members of the gang and catching up.
Heartily accepting a potion that healed some of his more visible wounds.
While that was happening Avery had silently approached Aethelstan and struck up a conversation.
''Are you hurt?" Eyes readily scanned over the elf's body before bleeding into a light purple ring, noting the way mana lowered and lowered as seconds passed. Hissing he demanded more information.'' What are you doing? Why is your mana lowering so fast?!''
''I will leave the rest up to you, alright.''
''What do you mean?"
"You will see.''
No sooner had the sentence ended a quard was more silenced and separated the two, leading Avery back to his original position.
A position he had taken solely to at least somewhat protect his assigned mission.
A mission that had been captured and had left him with no choice but to surrender.
"Hey brat."
Adrian was annoyed but merely nodded as he displayed relief at having Avery back beside him and Aethelstan in sight. Ofcourse all was noted by Avery, on a softer way he added.
"Do you feel anything through your bond? Did he feel or say something through it?''
Shaking his head Adrian elaborated. ''No, it's like he shut me out."
With desolate eyes he stared at the Aethel's back, wondering slightly before returning to Dawn right next to him.
He hadn't said a word since Adrian had been knocked down, he just stayed beside him silently.
It was rather boring waiting for any more action, so he skimmed his system database, looking for something usefull, while more cooking personnel brought in meals after meals for the group of robbers.
It didn't escape anyone's notice how they rushed along, scared as they were accompanied away by half a dozen robbers. They returned quickly, after rapidly returning the cooks in the room next to theirs and locking it yet again.
They had fulfilled their purpose, a hearty meal now decorated the table.
There were hardly enough chairs but that wasn't a problem for the five dozen robbers, the comradeship between them let a few of them transport trays to the ones guarding the non fighting personnel.
And another few to the corner of the room, causing a total of fifteen quards to eat standing, five by the non fighting and ten by the fighting. The ones capable of fighting were watched more sternly, occasionally a threat forced down their throat as chicken pieces sprinkled upon whoever was closest.
It was disgusting and whoever spoke up got a kick to the stomach and another to the face. It went without saying that the captees didn't get anything as they watched in silence.
Until a figure stood up, the last one to accompany them was also the first to stand back up and made his way back to the boss, who was eating in leisure.
Spears blocked his way and he couldn't venture further to his target, clatter and joyfulness at the table ebbed away as the disturbance became clear. Causing all eyes ,once more, to be on Aethelstan as his mouth formed a single word and hands snapped.
The sound echoed around the room, it was as if a switch turned.
Joyful faces of the robbers turned in horror as a spear plunged into the heart of the robber that blocked Aethelstan's left side. When the spear got pulled out of the dead robber, fresh blood splattered all over Aethel's pale skin.
Not once did silver orbs close as he watched the chaos he created.
Everywhere around him robbers screeched as their former camerades didn't recognise their words and just slaughtered with soulless eyes. It had been mere seconds yet eight bodies already decorated the floor, defenceless as swords and daggers raised over their heads.
The once clean and sturdy table was now bloodied, instead of fresh meals there were now decapitated heads and chunks of flesh.
Blood seeped on the floor, seemingly circling at Aethelstan's feet as more blood flowed and more robbers fell, losing their lives to their deranged friends. Faces forever settled in surprise.
Even the boss had his hands full as four of his subordinates ganged up on him, eyes glaring holes in the elf as he stomped one's very own stomach, guts littered all over the floor as his eyes went out like a light.
The angel they had gazed upon was now nothing like before, light blue hair matted with blue.
Dangerous glints in his eyes grew the more blood fell around him, his once tailored clothes now drenched in blood.
Every robber that got close, became just another speck of blood upon him as the spear would pierce their head or heart,the robber protected him well as he stepped over the bodies as if they were nothing but bumps on the road.
He had gained control over quite a number of robbers in the time limit, no one could resist it.
From the moment he was 'dragged' inside he had planned this, the fight they had was merely to robber hurting himself on his command.
In fact he had been one of the easier ones to control, even now he had submitted faster as his sword swiftly embedded itself in the one that had so earnestly helped him with a potion.
An act that had led him to death.
His finger twitched by his side as he tried to suppress the blooming grin that slowly etched forward, he felt it in his heart, the way it lurched, ready to appear on his face.
His shining eyes were reflected in the small mirror in front of him, the person staring back engulfed in moonlight from above
''How did you like your meal?''