My master was a wandering witch. And I, Mara, was her apprentice.
My Master was an absolute powerhouse of magic. But there was one time she told me about an old encounter—about a person she has once faced;
"Mage hunter."
"The absolute anti-mage."
"Mage Killer."
"He was called by a lot of names. But the most infamous tittle he got was 'The Child of Death.' That was him. Feared by all adventurers and revered by many mercenaries. Gier."
Who would have thought that we'll meet here? My master always told me to stray away from his path—as the path he walks leads to the route of blood and destruction. What luck I have. And to make it worse, I was wearing my witch garb…
I was wearing my robe and the pointed hat that was a gift from my master after hearing I was chosen as a magic scholar at the Artemis academy…
"Oh, what should I do?!"
I was panicking inwardly and sweating profusely from the inside.
"What if he saw me?! What will he do to me?! If he saw me, I will certainly die! Why did I never realized that the 'Mage hunter' the master spoke of was that young! He looks even younger than me!"
"Oh, Rebecca, Mother of magic… save me…"
I was busy pleading for my dear life and I was not even thinking straight anymore. Oh, right, he had some conflict with the troublesome bunch from the Serpent Assassins Guild. Huh? They went outside?
My curiosity called me and I peeked out the window… Only to witness the third level flame magic roaring—yet it never did anything to him… and he killed the mage that easily…
So that's the Mana Skin I always hear about… how ruthless. But even so,
"It's so pretty…" my voice escaped me without realizing it.
"Are you a mage?"
"Huhee?!" I squealed. I was so entranced with the mana skin that I did not even notice this girl creeping on to me. If I remember correctly, she was that woman whom he said his boss? Does that mean she was his contractor?
"Oh, sorry. I did not mean to surprise you." She wiped her mouth with a tissue which was coated in butter delicately. "You so look the part with your clothing. Also, you seem so interested with my little mercenary, so I came to ask."
"I—ye,yes… I am mage. Bu-but I don't mean any harm and I don't have any interest with your mercenary as well so please, don't tell him about me! Please!" I bowed to her.
Oh, Rebecca Mother of Magic, why must you test me this much! I don't want to die young!
"Please I don't want to die yet! I haven't even entered the academy yet!" I beseeched.
"Oh? Is that so? Same goes for me. I am still to enter the academy this year."
"O-oh…" Is she a noble in disguise? She looks so pretty but the clothes she wears is pretty simple… No! I can't think like that! Maybe she likes these types of clothes more? That must be it!
"I-is that so?" I replied. My voice won't stop trembling!
"My name is Andrea. We should get to know each other, so that when we enter the academy, acquaintances we can become." She smiled oh-so brightly.
"Yes… My thanks. I go by the name of Mara. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Ah, you don't have to worry about anything though. I don't know what you're scared about; but my little mercenary will not pay you mind as long as you don't provoke him. He's a knave but he does know some limit." she said with an innocent smile…
"Re-really?" I turned towards the window. Then I gave her a skeptical look. I don't think so!
Just look at him going wild outside! He was laughing evilly even!
"What? Kekekek! Is this all you can do?! Is this all?!" He was facing a battle axe head on with his thin-long blade and he didn't even bulge. Sparks flew all over the place. As he kicks back the man handling the axe, he caught an arrow with his bare hand then spun to parry the blade from a perfect angle. From this distance, it was as if he was performing some sort of art.
"…" I was speechlessly watching how he fight while my mouth half agape. The rumors about him did him no justice. How can one handle the blade as beautiful as that?
"Oh, if we'd had our first son, will he also be as good-looking as his dad? Ehehe. Ufufu." the girl beside me mumbled… her delusions sure were wild.
"…" …she is the other reason why I was left utterly speechless…
But I guess, I'll live for today? I wish I would!
***
How?! How is it that all my attack won't hit him?! Does he have eyes behind his head?!
"Don't mess with me!" I swung my blade from above and just like my other attempt, it meets his blade perfectly that my sword seemed to bounce off!
"I am Rico of the First Adventurer-Assassin Squad of the Serpents guild! I am the leader of the best squad of the Serpents! I am Rico!" I roared as I swung my blade at all directions. But what the hell is happening? All I see are sparks flying of my sword. Nothing hits him.
"Fancy name of someone at this level. Just so you know, announcing your name won't make any difference. It only makes you look even more comedic." The boy said, a bored tone he bared.
"You bastard!" From the distance was our thief and from the mid-range was the rouge but no matter where and what angle we target him, our attacks wont land! He caught the arrow with his hand, magic was ineffective on him—and worse our magician was down. What should we do?!
"Kek! You seemed distress for someone who wants to cut me into pieces."
Was it actually the wrong idea to get involve with this guy?!
"Shut your mouth! Kill him!!!" No matter how loud I shout, how strong I give my command, nothing really change.
We tried to gang him up in an all-out attack and that's when it happened. I know we have no choice, but how did it come to this?! The axe swung from the side was caught by him barehandedly, and the poisoned arrow was dodged by a hair's breadth, while my blade met his. He did not even bulge, nor wound has found its mark.
And with his mocking gaze, he said in a low tone. "Playtime's over."
The axe which was made out of the strongest iron—which cost more than 300 gold coins was shattered as though fragile glass. My mouth hanged open as I watched him took the piece of iron fragments flying off the broken axe and stab it straight to the throat of our rouge. Death had found him. Easily.
"Guhughh!!!" the rouge chokes his last breath. Blood dripped out his mouth.
"Mike!!!" I tried to pull back, but then he turned to me, eyes lit as if of a demon's. It was as if I was staring at the endless void. The bottom of hell.
I raised my sword to shield myself from his slash, but what a mistake I made. I finally realized his intention. He cut off the tip of my blade, caught it midair and then throw it towards the thief hiding a distance away. It's buried clean on his head. That's what it all take to kill, Hazor, the reigning thief of the Serpents.
"You monster!!!" I yelled. My voice trailed with anxiety, fear, uncertainty—and as it seemed, my voice contained the will of death.
"I am not a monster. I am Gier." his glaring eyes was the last I saw before I finally lost my sight by his slit. I cannot hear myself anymore, but I guess the pain is what I sound.
"Son. If you play with death; death will come play with you."
Why did I have to remember it now? The words of my father. I guess this is what he meant?
We played around with lives of innocent people. We've done what we'd like without any regards of what's right or wrong. I guess this is it? Our Karma? The consequence of our action?
"I guess death finally has caught up to us?" I murmured under my heavy breath.
"Freaking right. And how about we start off by cutting you into pieces?"
I lived a lawless life. I never know what gods were like. But there is one thing I realize that I should have known much earlier…
That death looks just like a child.
***
It was satisfying dealing with guys messing with you, but it was never refreshing cutting a person into pieces. But what could I do? A promise is a promise.
I look around at the people watching us, they were terrified, but none of them seems to care about the five. Oh, what about the big guy? Huh? He died already? Just from that? How pathetic. As I strolled back towards the inn, I heard them talking;
"Ha! They got what they deserve."
"Yes. Actually, those guys have been messing around with lots of people. They even threaten a small business like this one."
"Oh, I've heard of that one. The owner of that inn apparently committed suicide after losing all his profit."
"How awful. Just because they were a member of a huge guild does not mean they can do whatever they want!"
Huh… so killing them off paid off then. I don't really care about other guilds and stuff, but hearing that idle talk made me feel a little lighter.
"Serpent guild, eh. I'll look onto them later with Grizaldo."
"Uh, uhm. Excuse me. Would you mind leaving the clean-up to us?" A man who's seemed to be a little bit older than I came to me. He looked like he'd just passed twenty. He was holding a wand so I'm guessing he's a mage.
A mage, eh. How nostalgic.
"I don't mind." I nodded, "but wouldn't it be bad for you getting involve with this?"
"No…" he shook his head. "Actually, I have a little business with them. This was actually a little confidential, but since I am asking you something, I'll tell you about it."
"…" I stared at him.
"We were actually hired to hunt these people down. You heard those people talking about a man committing a suicide, no? We were hired by that person before finally ending his own life." So, there was a story like that, huh.
"I don't really care. Do as you like." As I said that, I proceed to leave for my table. I was hungry as hell.
"Thank you very much!" He called bowing his head before going out gathering the corpses. I sat on my table and watch the guy by the window.
"Oh, unending flame, the fire of hell! Devour these souls with your eternal heat! {Hell's Course}!" He chanted. As he did, a humanoid flame appeared from the ground. The sinister appearance of the fire made everyone watching turn to pale. The flame had no face, but its mouth curved into crescent as it curled down to the corpses.
"Take them with you and make them experience hell," said the man to the flame, "this will be the punishment for their sins."
"The contract was made." the flame replied in an ominous voice before finally engulfing the corpses. I dunno where it came from but there were agonizing voices in the process, screams and groans. As the flame dispersed there was nothing left. Not a corpse nor ashes.
"Hell's curse, eh…" I mumbled to myself. A high-level magic. It seemed that man was not just some wandering mage.
"Those people will suffer for eternity. That's what it means to be cursed." Said a female voice across my seat. Huh? Who's this chick?
"Well, they certainly deserve that much." Said the princess, her face resting lazily in her palms.
"Hey, who's that girl?" I asked pointing at the girl in robe—and why's it felt like there's something I was forgetting?
"This lady here is Mara! She's a nice girl who will be attending the academy just like me this year. She's a mage, so be nice to her, okay?!" She said haughtily, pointing a finger at me.
"Oh, I see?"
"Yep!" She replied brightly while the other girl was shying, hiding her face from me.
Ah! I remembered.
"By the way, lass…" I finally uttered,
"Hmm? What is it, my little mercenary?"
"Where's the food?"
"…" She stared at me, then after a moment she averted her sight, face traced by a beading sweat.
"I uh… hehe."
"You what?" I peered my eyes at her. A bad feeling scaring my chest.
"I ate it all…"
"…" With blue streaks on my face, I saw hell by the presence of this girl…
"Give me back my food!!!" I screamed as I reached for her face, pinching her smooth cheeks into plump.
"Aww, aww, ouch!!! My cheeks! They'll tear off! Sorry, sorry, sorry!!! Forgive me!!!"
"My food!!!" I cried while holding the cheeks of the gluttonous princess.
Later by that time, another portion of food was served to me. I never expected it, but since it was given for free and I was hella hungry, I ate it all with gratitude.
"You saved us from those guys, so please take this as our thanks!" the poster girl said to me with a wide angelic smile. Oh, if angels exist, they'll look exactly like her. With plates in hands of course!
We spent the rest of the night at the inn. The lass in the bed and I at the bench. We stayed in the same room for safety purpose. She was so restless before we entered, and she was acting strange after we did, but when I asked her if she needs to go to the toilet, she hurled me a pillow and forced me to stay away from her…
"I don't really get this princess." I sighed.
By the way, why did she introduce that witch to me? What's her name again? Maria? Her appearance seemed familiar but I don't really remember where I met her? Well, whatever.
I spent the night without sleep guarding the princess and it went on without any incident (except for her sleep talking) …
"She really is beautiful if she just keeps her mouth shut." I said with a long face.
She was mumbling things like, "ehehe. Stop that, it tickles… oh, you ehehe. ufufu. Here my little mwehehe… I can't eat anymore."
scary…
"But, man… it really was cold tonight."
As I glanced at the window, the moon glared back at me. The night went on.
At the first light of the dawn, where the silence still reigned, we left the inn.