Zodiac Circle

Chapter 9: Back to the Order Mansion

"Leo Style, Battler Art, Raider Mode - Demon Lion Fist!" Erik roared and hit a fire fist to Aries guy's flame shield, cutting through it and punching him right in the face, burning his cheek and throwing some of his gold teeth out, sending him flying into a pillar nearby. The Aries Trio leader yelled in pain and fell to the ground, not able to budge anymore.

Tamie's eyes widened as she witnessed Erik's tremendous power - he brought this guy down in a single punch when Tiger and Astra had such a hard time!

There's no less to expect from the Sun Lord, but... why did he unlock only Raider Mode? Is he only Rank Four of Battler Class? As the Sun Lord, he should be the final rank of his respective Class, thus an Emperor!

As the three Aries criminals were already knocked out thus the job was done, Erik approached Tamie, knelt beside collapsed Tiger and grabbed her in his arms. Instantly, Blizzard yelped and Christo meowed, expressing their concern for a stranger taking their owner up. However, Tamie smiled at the two pets and caressed them, trying to calm them down. Then she picked up injured Astra and glanced up at Erik with gratitude:

"Thank you, Erik..."

Knut Goldreich, who had just left his hiding-place, made it rain down on the square and put out all the flames. After this, he approached the Zodiac Masters and handed Tamie five hundred Yans.

"Eh?" Tamie raised an eyebrow.

"Your reward... It was my fault for driving you all into this, so I am sincerely sorry. I wish I could give more, but..."

"It is fine. But please, never do such a thing again. We cannot always rely on our stronger friends, so when the job rank is identified, it should be accurate".

"I am truly sorry".

The friends left the place, while the Town Guards came and apprehended the three criminals. Erik accompanied Tamie to her Order building, carrying Tiger in his hands, as the girl was unconscious from her injuries. Tamie carried Astra, while the two other pets walked after them by themselves.

"Ugh, I feel hopeless..." Tamie muttered, "I was unable to do anything! It is so annoying!"

She heard Erik's slight chuckle as if he was listening to a child's complaints. 

"It is fine... Don't push yourself too hard over that. However, I'd advise you to first climb some ranks and then take jobs. Of course, there exist jobs for Rankless Masters too, but the higher rank you have, the better you do even those Rankless jobs and stay safer... Especially you, since you're a Libra".

"But... It is not that I'm frustrated I was weak. More like - I was unable to protect my friend, and she suffered because of that..."

"I understand. It is the hardest thing to watch your comrades get injured before your eyes... But that is why we train harder to get stronger - to protect our friends better".

"So... this feeling is familiar to you?"

Erik got silent for some minutes, gloomily looking down at the ground.

"I guess, that feeling is familiar to every normal person... There are hard times for every one of us..."

Tamie could notice tears slowly gather in the young man's eyes.

Is he... crying?!

However, Erik made them disappear really quickly, and then a bitter smile covered his face:

"Anyway, when you face Fire sign enemies, you'd better call for your brother instead, because if he finds out you prioritized my help over his, he might get upset".

Tamie giggled.

"I know, but I needed to act fast and the first signal that popped up was yours as we had talked to each other yesterday evening, so I quickly called for you".

"Yeah, I understand..."

Silence fell for some minutes, but then Tamie broke it again:

"So, um, Erik, why did you use Raider Mode back there against that Aries guy? Aren't you of a higher rank? As the Sun Lord..."

"I am," Erik smiled proudly, "I'm the Battler Class, Emperor rank, the highest one. But you see, I don't really enjoy bullying smaller ranks, so I unlock the mode of the same rank my opponent has. That is if I don't have someone important to protect so I am obliged to go all out, and since I knew Edgar Ramstone was a weakling, I used his rank mode against him".

"Edgar Ramstone? That's the guy's name?" Tamie guessed, "I understand now... You are quite an honourable opponent, then".

"Well, I am a Leo, after all," Erik grinned brightly. Tamie giggled.

Soon, they arrived at Rose Cruce Order building. Tamie put her ring to the door, and it announced:

"Rankless Tamie Wingfield. Identified. Welcome home, Tamie".

"Well, you are home," Erik faintly smiled. "It is every order's policy not to let strangers in, so I won't walk further. Call some guy of your order to carry your friend in, and I'll be on my way. I don't want to break your order's rules".

"Oh... Thanks a lot, Erik," Tamie smiled back at him.

When the door opened, Nick and some five girls, among whom there was Riza, met them at the entrance, all of them with troubled faces.

"Ah, Tiger!" the girls exclaimed when saw a strange tall guy holding injured Tiger, and Tamie carrying wounded Astra.

Blizzard and Christo instantly ran into the hall and began caressing the five girls. Meanwhile, Nick's and Erik's gazes met each other. The boys exchanged a hostile look. Nick furrowed his brow, took Tiger from Erik's hands, and called out into the hall:

"Shiba!" Instantly, a tall, long-white-haired, red-eyed guy ran up to them. He gasped when saw Tiger injured. "Shiba, please help the girls carry Tiger to her room," Nick handed him the injured maid. He immediately clutched her in his arms, bowed slightly to Nick and ran back into the hall, followed by the four girls and the two pets - Blizzard and Christo, while Riza took Astra from Tamie's arms and ran after her friends too. When they remained alone at the threshold, Nick frowningly eyed Erik: "How come you know my sister?"

Before Erik would answer, Tamie replied:

"We met on the train when I was on my way here. We are friends".

"On the train? You mean from yesterday?" Nick raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And he's already a friend?"

Tamie wanted to argue, but now Erik cut in:

"I am glad Tamie perceives me as a friend, and I can admit I perceive her the same way". 

"Erik von Drachen," Nick's frown deepened as he turned to him, "I don't know what you're up to, but I warn you, stay away from my sister, or else..." water gathered around his clenched fist.

"W... What is wrong with us being friends?" Tamie couldn't understand Nick's hostility. "Is it because he's your rival?"

Nick still eyed Erik frowningly. Erik shrugged and chuckled.

"I guess I'll get going. I don't want siblings to argue because of me," he shook his hand at them and vanished in a bolt of light.

"Tamie, come in please".

Tamie blinked at Nick, who had turned concerned. She walked into the mansion and the doors closed. Nick quietly led her to the stairs and then turned to her:

"We'll talk in my room, okay?"

"Um, fine..." she shrugged and followed him to the second floor.