As I finished washing my hands at the pan, I heard shouts coming from behind me.
"Hey! Hey!" Barked the angry person approaching. I ignored because it could never be me they were addressing.
My heart pounded in my chest as small bursts of fire and water erupted towards me, their lethal intent clear. Swiftly, I evaded the attacks with a series of graceful jumps and flips, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
When I glanced up, I found myself facing a group of five formidable figures. The one who seemed to be their leader stepped forward, his voice dripping with authority and possessiveness. "He's good," he grumbled, eyes narrowing with a mixture of admiration and anger.
"Don't dance with my girl again!" He barked. It was the same guy who had been eyeing me like a predator eyeing its prey, and finally, I understood the source of his intense gaze. Tensions simmered, and despite my instinct to defend myself, I knew it was best to remain calm and avoid escalating the situation. With my silence, I attempted to retreat, but my departure only fueled their aggression further.
"He thinks we're weak, so he turned his back on us!" One of the other guys called out, his voice brimming with irritation. The anger was palpable in the air, and it was evident they were itching for a confrontation. I had no weapons at my disposal and I didn't want to hurt them. But If it came to the test, I'd have to stop dodging and defend myself.
As they closed in, preparing another onslaught of attacks, I focused on my evasive maneuvers, sidestepping their powerful magic. My restraint seemed to enrage their apparent leader, who conjured a massive fire attack, its intensity more formidable than before.
This was no longer a mere disagreement; it was a full-fledged battle for dominance. The four others encircled me, each charging their own intermediate-level water and earth spells. I knew that it was time to take control of the situation before it spiraled into chaos. In one swift motion, I leapt high into the air, a cascade of magic hurtling towards me.
My agile movements allowed their attacks to collide, creating a thunderous explosion that echoed through the surroundings. Amidst the billowing smoke and crackling energy, I landed gracefully on the ground, now facing the consequences of my actions.
The tension between us had escalated into a relentless showdown, and I was determined to navigate this perilous situation without compromising my principles. As the dust settled, I steadied my breathing, prepared for whatever came next, hoping that my actions had conveyed my commitment to peace rather than violence.
A crowd had gathered, their faces twisted with shock and horror. The last attack was barreling towards me, but I couldn't dodge without sacrificing the young child behind me.
When and why was she here. I didn't even sense her nearby.
I knew I had to act fast. With a fierce determination, I held onto the child and turned my back to the attack. If only I had seen her earlier, we both could have avoided it.
A deafening explosion filled the air as the attack hit me, scorching my back with intense pain. I could feel myself losing consciousness, but I forced myself to stay awake to make sure the girl was safe. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and nodded her head, confirming she was okay.
"What the hell is going on?!" roared Mr. Raymond, as my party members finally arrived on the scene. "Rome, are you okay?!" they asked frantically, concern etched on their faces. "Who did this?" demanded John and Sarah, scanning the area for the group of men I had been fighting.
Sarah and John charged furiously after the culprits, who retaliated by using Earth magic to shoot small rocks at them. However, the pair dodged the attack with remarkable agility. Sarah, an adept water magician, countered by blasting two of the assailants with an intermediate water spell, which sent them flying backwards. The third culprit attempted to flee, but John quickly froze the ground beneath their feet, trapping them in place.
"You guys are going to pay for that!!" Sarah barked, her anger palpable.
In close proximity to the culprits, Sarah charged her water magic once more and summoned the power of the elements. "Water blast!" she cried, unleashing a powerful torrent of water that exploded with incredible force, sending water and steam everywhere.
As the steam cleared, Sarah and John were surprised to see the culprits standing unharmed, with no visible damage. The ice had melted beneath their feet, and the third culprit seemed to have escaped unscathed. However, their surprise turned to shock as a man stepped forward from behind the culprits. He was Mr. Allen, the other village chief. He was the one that stopped Sarah's attack.
"Daddy!" shouted a little girl, who ran towards him from where Rome was. "That man saved me. I was looking for Aiden because I was nearby and hear some noise." Said the little girl.
""Boy!" Mr. Allen bellowed, his voice stern and commanding. "Explain yourself."
Aiden stuttered as he tried to explain, claiming that it was all a misunderstanding and that they were merely protecting themselves from the 'protagonist.' I mean, five intermediate level magicians against me. I was strong and could fight, but I didn't think I could beat them all easily. I must be the protagonist indeed, being a threat to them all.
"So five against one," interjected Kero, disbelief etched on his face.
Mr. Raymond shook his head. "Yes, that's ridiculous," he agreed. "You guys are lucky," added Mr. Swayden, his tone laced with warning.
"What do you mean we were lucky?!" demanded Aiden, his temper flaring.
"Well, let's just say that I think this guy could have taken all five of you if he was serious, and maybe even win," replied Mr. Johnson the mysterious guy who had sat in the corner of the pub, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Aiden and his friends laughed, taunting the protagonist with insults. "Well, it seems like we're the ones who won, you weakling," jeered Aiden.
"Aiden! Don't you see? He saved your sister from your attack. Apologize now!!" thundered Aiden's dad, Mr. Allen, the leader of the Red rose village.
Just then, Analu arrived on the scene, looking shocked and furious. "Aiden, you idiot! What did you do??" she screamed as she ran over to the 'protagonist,' her concern palpable.
The 'protagonist' couldn't take it anymore and collapsed, exhausted from the battle.