"Now let's hurry back!" called Gabriel. Xavier smiled. "How about we race the way down. The one who reaches first gets a chance to challenge any one he wants. How does that sound?" he proposed. The others looked at each other for a while as a smirk escaped their lips. "Now that's not bad~" Kenzo sneered, "My nerves have been aching to challenge a certain someone."
"Sounds good to me." Poseidon agreed. "Yay! I will challenge Ryan!!" Adam leaped in the air. "Alright then it's settled." Xavier declared. "Hey, hey, don't think that if you were the first one climbing up, you will certainly win running down as well." warned Seraph eyeing him keenly.
"Yeah, Xavier. Don't be so sure~" Heber smirked. "Xavier nodded smiling. "It's fine with me as well until we reach the training base on time… well then, on the count of three! When I say go!" Cassiel said adjusting his glasses. Soon everyone took their positions. "On your marks, Get set!" Cassiel stated. The others positioned themselves as Ryan smiled. "One! Two! Three! Go!!" he exclaimed.
At that moment the fourteen of them rushed like wild lions freed on a grassland from caves. "Haha! I will be first!" Adam jumped on trees one after another. "Little boy… don't be so full of yourself. I will be first!" Helios sled down the mountain on a wooden sledge.
"Huh?! What is with that way?!" questioned Adam slightly surprised. "Why? Do you think we can't win?" asked Azazel and Heber as they ran down full speed ahead. "Haha! I will be the one to win you fools!!" Feng called out loud as he hopped from one rock to another, "I was amongst the last ones when I climbed up! There's no way I want to be the one last again!"
"Fools thing aside Guys… don't the boxes feel heavy?" asked Seraph as he juggled them one after another in mid air making his way down empty handed. Azazel and Heber stared with their mouths a gape, "Look who is even asking…?" they jinxed. "No… they aren't. It's you who is weak!" Ryan pointed again straightforwardly as he jumped up and down and sled right and left making his way below.
"Haha… as straightforwardly cruel as always…" Seraph remarked. "By the way where is Xavier? I was cautious of him a moment ago and now I can't find him again." he searched looking back and forth. "Don't tell me, he found a shortcut again?!" Kenzo assumed shocked. "I need to make haste!! Make way for the King!!" he rushed faster than before.
"I don't think he even ran with us." Gabriel presumed jumping forward while hanging on the trees. "Looks so… right? I can't even find Ezekiel." Poseidon too looked behind. Helios, Kenzo and Azazel gazed at him unbelievably, "Don't even think about him…"
"Geez, what a bunch of fools…" Cassiel sighed treading down the mountain leisurely, "What are they? A bunch of idiots?" "Hehe…" Xavier chuckled, "That was the only way to get them motivated onto making them reach the base back on time, since they were all so tired."
"Sometimes, your ingeniousness scares even me as well. Mr. Once in a millennium prodigy, even your title scares me." Cassiel shrugged while Xavier continued to smile. "Come on… wait for me you both~ my legs have died…" Ezekiel cried toddling behind them with four boxes wiggling in his arms. "So heavy…" he added.
"Easy there…" Xavier helped him. "Thanks, you know my head feels so light now when no one is pestering me around. I'll leave the winning part to captain Helios and Vice-captain Poseidon. So, for sending them all away, you have my gratitude, Xavier." Ezekiel thanked earnestly. Xavier shook his head, "It wasn't that much. Till they all reach in time. Everything will go as planned."
"So… you never really intended to challenge anyone right?" Ezekiel questioned. Xavier nodded his expression suddenly turning grim, his blue eyes shone a little dismally. "I don't feel like challenging anyone right now…" he whispered. Ezekiel wondering instantly stopped in his tracks.
"Hey…" he called. "Yes?" Xavier asked turning around. "Don't make a face like that. You know it doesn't suit you at all. Just smile! Like you always do. You feel a lot scarier when you are angry or expressionless or even a little bit sad. Do you get my point?" he expressed. Xavier chuckled, "Pft! Haha! Is that so? Moreover, I never got angry, sad or expressionless."
Ezekiel exhaled in relief, "Now that's more like you but, there's one more thing I don't understand." Xavier looked at him puzzled. "How is it that you are so frail, slender and small yet you can carry all this weight and help me as well at the same time without dropping a sweat?" he asked beyond belief.
Xavier blinked his eyes. "I wonder why as well…" he responded astonished himself thinking hard. Ezekiel sighed in disbelief, "I really can't believe that I lost to someone like you before. Captain is right I am a failure" he uttered dejected. Xavier smiled.
Suddenly Cassiel called, "Hey! Both of you! Hurry up! Or else we might be the ones to get a sleepless night today rather than those idiots!" Xavier and Ezekiel nodded rushing towards him. "Coming!" they replied.