Deciding to ignore the group of men glad in black uniform, Xicor rested on the backrest. The doors of the restaurant were opened widely and a man walked in majestically. He looked around as if searching for someone or something.
Everybody in the restaurant weren't only silent, they were also shaken by the strong and imposing aura emanating from him.
But his eyes fell on the young carefree -seemingly- boy sitting by the window. The young man's eyes were fixed outside, on his men.
The boy turned and raised his hand signaling Bianca to come. Then turned to look at the man who looked like a high ranking official, a general or captain perhaps. Well it doesn't matter.
"Isn't that the lieutenant of the third force..." a man whispered but....
"Shhhhhhh, you should be quiet before you get into trouble," the one close to him interrupted.
They locked eyes for what seemed like forever before Bianca walked past the lieutenant to Xicor. She quickly cleared his table and turned to leave, but Xicor held her wrist.
"Can I borrow any books you've got on Necromacs and history?". She only nodded and turned to leave when the lieutenant blocked her path. She took a few steps back and hit the wall with her back.
"I... I'm sorry sir. Would you mind if I may pass?" Bianca spoke without looking at the man in question in the face.
Scoffing, Ryuga thought to himself, 'it's either she's very stupid or she's just too naive'.
Even though the lieutenant was wearing a hat that kept Xicor from seeing his face, Ryuga could just imagine the look on his face.
"Uhm.... Sir?" Bianca spoke again. Fear and hesitation etched on her face even though she spoke with a straight voice.
"Now this is pathetic" Ryuga said without batting an eye.
The lieutenant ignored Ryuga and instead looked at Bianca. "It would be in your best interests to show respect to a ranked member of the Nexus Empire little girl ", he responded.
"But if you were to make it worth my while, I wouldn't mind letting this slide" he spoke Slowly brushing his fingers along her cheekbone.
Truth be told he wasn't doing that to Bianca bcoz he really found her interesting, he didn't even have a desire like that for her. He was simply provoking Xicor, to make him get aggressive.
The reason was simple, the orders given to him were simple, *He was to return with clear report or evidence of whatever escaped from the confines of NETHERWORLD.*
Of course Ryuga saw right through him and being the kind of person he was he did as expected.
He reached for the lieutenant and for moment he touched him but in the next second, he was thrown out through the window like a ragdoll.
He toppled on the ground before he hit a stone pillar and it crumbled to debris which covered him.
"Looks like you really like to be a knight in a shining armour, but don't let me get in your way. Anyway, let me introduce myself properly then," The lieutenant said as he walked out the hole he made in the wall throwing Ryuga out the window.
"My name is lieutenant Rahlen Dirhoid of the imperial third force under the command of Captain Ryukka Senji." He said taking off his hat.
His short brown hair was in good contrast to his dark eyes. There was battle hunger in his eyes and a mischievous smile stretched on his face.
Xicor got up from the debris and dusted himself, but when he paid attention to his surroundings he noticed that the men he saw waiting outside when Rahlen went it were now surrounding him with their swords unsheathed.
The people of the village stood around perplexed at the evens that were taking place, everyone knew better than to interfere in imperial after all.
The lieutenant looked at him from behind his men with the look of superiority on his face. One could say he had the world in his grasp.
He wasn't surprised at all as to what their orders were, but he was puzzled by one thing. How did they know where to find him.
He was sure they might have noticed that something came out of NETHERWORLD, but he couldn't figure out how they followed him here. And without wasting time as if he can hear Ryuga 's thoughts, Rahlen answered his question.
"In case you still didn't notice, an eagle was bonded to the defense mechanism of Netherworld, it has been following you and reporting directly to us for your whereabouts. Now I'm sure you won't make this hard for either of us, RIGHT??" He asked fixing his eyes on Ryuga more. One of his soldiers came out holding Bianca with her hands behind.
"Bianca, are you okay?" Ryuga spoke to Bianca who was standing behind the lieutenant with that other soldier.
"Yes.." she answered and slightly nodded. There wasn't much she could do after all since her movements were restricted.
Rahlen walked behind her and held her by the shoulder, clenched tight as he looked at Ryuga with a smile. Xicor clenched his fists tight.
"What's the meaning of this? Aren't you men supposed to protect the people..?" Xicor was asking, not anyone direct. But wait, why is he even reacting like this. He doesn't even know that girl, yet he's... NO. He will not entertain any thoughts like this.
"Lieutenant, this is the man. The energy we've been following and the eagle lead to him." The soldier that was holding Bianca spoke to Rahlen.
"Even though the dark energy from the Netherworld seems to have dissipated, I'm sure it's him. So why aren't you reporting it?" He added.
Silence reigned supreme for moment but was broken by a girl's whimpered bcoz of the pain in her shoulder. She fell to her knees with little tears in her eyes, just about to fall out.
Lieutenant Rahlen released a short mocking chuckle as he fought her by the neck and lifted her up with her feet dangling in the air.
He looked at the soldier that reported to him and nodded slightly as if a silent conversation just had a conclusion between them.
He shifted his gaze to Bianca and, "oh and Alen, be quick about it". With that the man called Alen disappeared from the scene.
"Put her down now." Xicor finally spoke, loud enough for everyone around to hear. He was hardly concealing his evident anger.
His face grim and the aura around him was becoming terrifying and stronger. Everyone could just feel the tension in the atmosphere.
"I said let go of her." He repeated with a stern voice and without any haste movement and a short silence followed. Without leaving room for any more response, like bullet speed, he was holding Rahlen by the neck.
There were two of him in different spots. That's what it looked like for a moment, but a realisation struck.
An afterimage....
.
.
.
.
.