Rafe stood in front of Twilight, holding his Dao sword tightly.
The stranger before him had red hair, which he suspected was caused by his fire ability. His eyes gleamed with malice as he lifted his sword, ready to strike.
Rafe had no idea who this person was, but he knew that he was a threat. He glanced over at Twilight, who was still on her knees, panting heavily from using her ability. He knew that he had to protect her, no matter what.
The stranger, whom Rafe nicknamed "Flower boy" due to his pretty looks, lunged forward, his blade igniting with flames. Rafe quickly dodged to the side, feeling the heat from the sword as it missed him by inches.
He swung his own sword in retaliation, the metal ringing out as it clashed against Flower's blade. The two of them battled fiercely, their swords clashing against each other again and again.
Rafe had never encountered someone as skilled as Flower, and he knew that he had to be careful if he wanted to survive this fight. Flower moved quickly, his movements graceful and precise.
He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing Rafe to jump back to avoid being hit. The impact of the sword against the stone wall sent cracks spider-webbing through the surface. Rafe gritted his teeth, his heart pounding with adrenaline.
He knew that he had to be careful not to let his emotions get the better of him. He had to stay focused if he wanted to win.
Flower lunged forward again, his sword aimed for Rafe's heart. Rafe blocked the attack with his own sword, the metal ringing out as the two blades collided. The force of the impact was so great that Rafe was thrown back, his back hitting the wall behind him.
He winced in pain, but quickly regained his footing. He glared at Flower, his eyes blazing with determination. He wasn't going to let this guy beat him. He couldn't. Rafe attacked with renewed ferocity, his sword swinging back and forth as he tried to find an opening in Flower's defenses.
Flower moved quickly, his sword flashing in the dim light of the castle. Rafe could feel the sweat dripping down his face as he fought. He was getting tired, but he couldn't give up. Not now.
Flower suddenly stepped back, a look of surprise on his face. Rafe took the opportunity to strike, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade cut through the air, slicing through Flower's arm and severing it cleanly from his body. Flower screamed in pain, his sword falling to the ground with a clatter.
Rafe pointed his sword at Flower's neck, ready to deliver the killing blow. But before he could, Flower's head suddenly exploded in a burst of flames. Rafe stepped back, his eyes widening in shock. He looked over at Twilight, who was lying on the ground, her hand outstretched towards Flower.
Her eyes were closed, and she looked completely drained. Rafe quickly sheathed his sword and ran over to her, lifting her up in his arms. He could feel her heartbeat pounding against his chest, but he could also feel her breathing slowly starting to stabilize. He carried her to the library, which was surprisingly intact.
The shelves were lined with books, many of them old and dusty. Cobwebs covered the corners of the room, and the musty smell of old paper filled the air. Rafe gently laid Twilight down on a nearby couch, then sat down next to her. He couldn't help but stare at her, admiring her beauty even as she slept.
After some rest, Twilight wakes up, her eyes fluttering open to see Rafe's concerned expression. He asks her, "So what were you looking for?" and she replies, "A map."
Rafe nods and looks around the library, wondering where they could find one. The room is massive, with towering bookshelves that seem to touch the ceiling, and cobwebs hang from the corners.
The walls are adorned with strange patterns and symbols, and the musty smell of old books fills the air. Rafe notices a ladder propped against one of the bookshelves, leading to a higher level. Perhaps they could find what they're looking for up there.
"I found something" Rafe shouted.
Quickly, Twilight came running, her stunning looks leaving Rafe startled for a moment.
'Pure thoughts. Pure thoughts'
It seemed his time on the Land of the Stranded had made him weak to temptation.
When was the last time he saw a girl his age? Especially one as stunning as this.
"A ladder?"
Twilight looked with confusion.
"Could be up here. We can check this, since it's likely smaller than the library. If it isn't fruitful, back to painfully searching this hell"
Rafe grimaced at the thought. The library was way too big to find some crumpled up map. However, if they had a map, that would be a game-changer.
'Well...that was if they stuck together after all this'
He sighed.
Soon, Rafe and the beautiful Twilight would soon split up.
'Good riddance. She's a rude bastard'
Still, after this, he'd return to being a lone wolf. How sad.
Sure, it wasn't the worst thing in the world, but it was certainly harder. Not only in fights, but on the mind. Years of no human contact was detrimental to one's psyche.
He'll that that battle when he gets to it. For now, the map.
Soon, they were rummaging through dusty items, looking for anything that could resemble a map. Basically, they were praying because if it wasn't here, they'd have to search the whole damn library.
Suddenly, Twilight gasped.
"What is it?" Rafe was curious.
"I found something"
'Is she going to elaborate? Great. So she wants me to ask, hey? How full of herself. Bet it's the map. Well, that's good news, at least'
"What is it, princess?"
Rafe wasn't amused.
"A map"
'Really? Wow. What a shocker'
Yet now, they had concluded their search. Now, they were ready to move on.
It was time to study the map.