The two of them looked up at the ladder leading to the next floor. They knew that Tibul was up there and with at least a few others. Quietly Kyle gestured for Marisha to let him go first and make sure it was safe. The top of the ladder led to a small room with bare furnishing and nothing special about it aside from the passage downwards. A simple door remained closed and as Kyle peeked through to the other side he spotted a corridor that turned away. Confident that it was clear he returned to help Marisha up, pulling back the ladder and sealing the floor once more.
"Okay listen to me carefully," he leaned close to the girl with a seriousness he rarely used. "Whatever happens from here I need you to stay calm. We might get in a fight, someone might even die. I need you to stay clear of anything that happens."
Marisha nodded, "You really have changed."
Kyle let out a self-deprecating laugh, "Not as much as you think. I'm really pushing myself here." The thought of having to take someone else's life almost caused him to freeze up but thinking about Marisha who he had promised to protect and the children who waited for him, he couldn't stop now.
Slowly Kyle led Marisha down the corridor with the girl hanging a few steps behind. As they came to the corner the sound of turning pages caused them to stop. Just around the bend a single door was open letting out a steady golden light. The shadow of a figure spilled onto the floor as it stood preoccupied by whatever it read. Past the door the corridor led to a larger open room, one that would hopefully be their way out. The problem was getting past. Kyle moved forward alone taking a hesitant glance into the room. A single man wearing a rough set of clothes stood above a desk turning the pages of a book. From his waist a decently long sword hung waiting to be drawn. Just from appearance alone Kyle could tell he wasn't someone you'd ever want to meet.
Kyle held a knife in each hand and breathed deeply. There was the chance they could sneak past but there was no telling who was in the next room. Right now however he felt he had a chance to handle the situation.
"Marisha keep an eye out," he readied himself as the girl nodded.
After another calming breath Kyle acted as fast as he could. The everyday training Maila had put him through had strengthened his body and coordination far better than before. Whether it would be enough, he could only hope. By the time the man reacted Kyle was already in front of him. The man gasped too late as a knife swung towards his head. On instinct the man leaned back covering his face. That moment was all Kyle needed. The first move had been a feint. Surprised and eyes covered the man couldn't prepare himself and soon howled in pain as a second knife plunged into his leg. The shock was enough to cause him to crumble and Kyle wasn't going to let it end there. Hand against his head, Kyle thrust the already falling man into the stone floor releasing a solid thud and crack. The man didn't get up.
Marisha watched the act of violence stunned, her already paling skin shivered. Despite the shock she remained true to her role and hearing a sound signalled to Kyle from outside the room. Someone was coming. Quick as he could Kyle pulled the man's sword off and the set of keys he had with it. The sound of footsteps became heavier, clearly heading towards the small room. Kyle grit his teeth and stood waiting, hidden by the open door, the room's key ready in his hands.
"Hey Turner you okay in there? Don't tell me you stubbed your toe again-," the women stepped into the room. She was wearing matching clothes to the man now collapsed to the ground. "What the-." At that moment Kyle grabbed her and with all the might he could muster, magic and all, he threw her into the room. The women proved her skill and landed on her feet despite the surprise but before she could jump to return the favour the door slammed shut with Kyle gone. A click and the lock fell in place. A thud erupted against the metal framed door.
"Let me out of here you rats!" It was clear she didn't have the key as her fist continued to ram against the wood.
Kyle took Marisha's hand, "Quickly this way. We're not safe yet." He led her into the next room. A large table was placed against the wall and aside from a stack of boxes in the corner the rest was open space. With only one passage leading out it was clear where their goal lied. Kyle could even see the beginning of some stairs that would lead to their freedom but the fact remained there was still at least one person in their way and he'd be coming soon. His mind rushed into gear as he quickly formulated a plan. It was risky but better than anything else he could think of. With little time to spare and Marisha in agreement the pair waited in ambush. Not even half a minute passed before the sound of a trap door opened and closed.
Tibul entered the room clearly annoyed, "Hey stop making so much bloody racket! If I can hear you from up there then that means others can too you idiots." He frowned as he spotted the source of the noise. Thankfully the women's voice was muffled beyond the constant slamming as Tibul simply grunted, "Tch bloody locked themselves in again."
His confident nature dismissed the fact that anything could go wrong. Their underground lair was hidden from sight and magic, while their prisoners were chained with mana sealing cuffs. Then there was Karster who despite his looks was as skilled as he was. The chance that the two somehow managed to overpower him would mean that they'd have to break through the cuffs first and in Tibul's mind that was impossible. He had experience their effect before and knew that the pain only went up the stronger you were. It was for that very reason that he was caught so surprised at the noise behind him. The clatter of a fallen cup and as he turned and witnessed the blanched face of Marisha who had tried to sneak away.
"You! How?" he immediately rushed towards her. He was sure it must have been the girl. Somehow she was more than she pretended to be. The information they had gathered would never suggest Kyle was capable of an escape alone.
As he lunged forward however something snagged on his leg. A rope pulled taught suddenly caused him to trip forwards and onto the stone floor. Just as he tried to stand back up a weight fell upon his back pushing him back down.
"What?" Tibul tried to shake whoever it was off but soon felt their fingers begin to dance around his back. Through his thin shirt the sensation was clear and more concerning was the reaction from within him. Something was happening but he couldn't tell what. Then as he finally managed to right himself the girl came back and with a distressed grunt sent a box colliding against his head. The wooden pieces snapped around his scalp as he grunted more annoyed than pained.
"Get off!" he had enough and threw himself from the floor knocking Kyle who had jumped on top of him away. "Damned rats you are!" Back on his feet he sprang away and drew the dagger from his waist. He looked back on the two wide eyed and more than a little perplexed. "Where's Karster!? How did you get out?"
Kyle grimaced in reply drawing the sword he had stolen, "With a lot of effort."
"Tch," Tibul spat. "You think I can't beat you? I knocked you out once I'll do it again and this time I won't be so nice." A seeping anger lit his chest as Kyle didn't even flinch and instead stepped forward guarding Marisha. "Even if you lose an arm or two I'll still get paid!"
There was no doubt Tibul was confident. The young man before him was a pup. Hero's Guard? He laughed. He had wondered the edge of death dozens of times and made it out. Through the years he had learnt skills that even the Guards of all the states wouldn't teach, ones that would and had made him much stronger.
A grin split Tibul's lips as he pumped the mana through his body ready to crush the two youths in front of him. What came instead was a stabbing pain in his chest that quickly spun out of control burning through to his arms and legs.
"Argh!" he screamed in agony as he tried to control the rampant mana inside him. All the while Kyle looked at him balefully. "What did you do to me!?" No matter what he tried the magic wouldn't stop. Aghast he could do nothing as his hand suddenly caught fire and his legs became paralysed. A stretch of fear crossed his expression.
Kyle relaxed and stood straight, "When you know how, it's surprisingly easy to break someone's pathways. Right now the mana in your body is going haywire and looping uncontrollably." It was the same condition that Lillia had accumulated from using her magic but this time Kyle had forced it on the other. Even he was surprised by the outcome as Tibul writhed on the floor. Unable to take anymore the man's eyes rolled back into his head and suddenly his body went limp.
"D-did you kill him?" Marisha asked hesitantly.
"I don't know and I don't want to find out," he took her arm. "Let's get out of here."
Together the two rushed for the trap door above the stairs. The two pushed together summing all their combined strength to no avail.
"There's a key hole here," Marisha exclaimed.
"Of course there is," Kyle grunted and began to run through the multiple keys he had stolen. As the last one refused to click into place he frowned, "None of them work. Damn that Tibul guy must have it." They were wasting precious time, the sounds of the screaming women thudding on the door continuing to resound.
Heart thumping Kyle retreated to the room again only to freeze. Standing above Tibul's shaking body was Karster and in his hands a single silver key.
"You wouldn't be looking for this would you?" the thin man grinned. He twirled the key around his finger before placing it snuggly into the inner pocket of his jacket.
Kyle didn't even have time to think how he managed to escape the cellar and drew his sword ready for whatever came next.
"Now there's no need for that," Karster shook his head aloof. "Why don't we just make a trade? We'll let the girl go, she can take the key and run free," his smile turned even more sinister, "but you stay here with me."
"No!" it was Marisha who screamed from behind. "Don't do it Kyle. I'd rather die than let him get you."
"You're not part of this conversation wench," Karster glared at her causing the girl to flinch and step back. "What'll it be my dear Kyle?"
Kyle shook his head, "You heard her. As much as I'd like her to escape I really doubt that you'd actually let her."
"Oh," Karster clapped. "You're learning." He bent down and took Tibul's dagger from his body. "Then a fight to the death it is! To be honest with you, I always wanted to try this." He shivered. "As much as it would be fun to see you break from another, having a personnel touch is much more satisfying. Will you scream as my steel scraps against your skin? How many times will I have to cut you before you beg for mercy? Or will you never give in and die with that glorious look in your eyes?"
"Just shut up and fight me!" Kyle stopped the shudder that threatened to course through his body. "Marisha stay back."
"Wonderful," Karster licked his lips and in the next instant charged forward.
Kyle had barely any time to react as the dagger sent sparks across his sword. Marisha fell back in surprise crawling away as she hit the ground. Locked in place Kyle refused to let Karster past him for fear of what he may do if he reached Marisha. Slowly however he felt the thin man begin to overpower him. When it came down to it Kyle already had a smaller figure and even with the use of magic reinforcing his body, he barely had a month's worth of practice. He had to break their stalemate. Karster on the other hand was enjoying himself as he pushed closer towards him.
With a turn of his blade Kyle caused them both to steer to the side and away from Marisha. A simple step was all Karster needed to go back on the offensive as suddenly a continuous barrage of swings and stabs aimed Kyle's way. Forced into the open room there was not much he could do other than defend with all his might. The continuous clashes of steel on steel forced his brain to burn in thought as each small detail etched its way to turn the situation around. Compared to Kyle's haggard desperation Karster couldn't stop his wide grin from flowing out, matching his maddened eyes. Only seconds had passed and finally a slight slip flashed between them. A flick and swish, and suddenly blood lined the blade of Karster's dagger. The serrated edge dripped hungrily from the cut in Kyle's thigh.
"First blood goes to me," Karster smiled affectionately before licking the blood from the daggers tip. "Oh my, what a refined taste. I'll be sure to enjoy some more."
Kyle grit his teeth hard enough for his veins to bulge. The pain wasn't much but he could already feel his energy drain away from the slight wound. He needed to force a victory now.
"Ho?" Karster's eyes glinted as Kyle rushed forward for the first time throwing a single swing towards his head. The man leaned back easily dodging the attempt only for his eyes to widen as Kyle once more burst forward this time with a hidden knife aiming for his leg. The knife however never found its target as Karster deftly blocked the blow and in return stepped aside cutting into Kyle's arm as he passed.
"Argh!" undeterred Kyle didn't slow down and kicked off the wall coming straight back.
"Yes that's it!" Karster goaded him as the two collided again and again. "I love it! Show it to me! Your desperation! Your need! Your will to live! Let me see it all!" The man began to manically laugh as he fended Kyle's petty attempts like it was child's play. Again he began to switch to the offensive, pressuring Kyle, edging the young man towards the wall. The nicks and scratches against Kyle's skin were piling. None critical or deep, but causing a stinging pain to linger as his clothes were shredded.
Step by step Kyle was being pushed back. Although he tried not to show it, an edge of despair began to build behind his gaze. Inside he cursed himself for not being stronger. The fact his body was small, the fact he couldn't handle magic. If only he had trained more, if only he had started sooner. The thoughts clouded his actions and without warning his foot stepped back into the stone wall. The hesitation that followed was all Karster needed to drive the dagger past his guard and into Kyle's side. A sudden burst of energy flooded through him as the blade edged into his skin giving him just enough strength to push away and back to the centre of the room.
Karster stood relaxed and stared at the droplets of blood that now leaked to the floor, "And here I thought I'd hear you scream."
"In your dreams," the words barely made it out through clenched teeth. With one hand on his sword the other was pressed against his side. The wound was much deeper than all the others and continuously bled colouring his shirt a deep red.
"I don't need to dream for it. It'll happen soon enough and I'll even let the girly over there enjoy it as well." He stepped forward threateningly. "Now let's begin again. I wonder how many more minutes you can last?"
Kyle could only question that himself. He was channelling everything he had learnt. Maila's instruction, the children's help and even the advice Bethial had offered. All of it wasn't enough. What he needed was something more. Something that transcended what he had learnt already. A cold breath left his lungs. If only he was more like Estile. He could remember the way she fought in his dreams. Each step, each motion of her body and limbs were without waste. A graceful swordsmanship that hid a powerful strength within. The memories pooled into his mind. As the armies of demons swung at her from all directions, the ease of her body as she flowed and broke against them. That was the strength he needed.
Karster moved again, this time slowly and purposefully. He swung and stabbed his dagger methodically prying away Kyle's defence. His expertise and experience were showing as his smile grew wider and wider. Beads of sweat lined his brow and skin. He was thoroughly enjoying himself, surprised even at the challenge that Kyle brought him and the cruel desire to see more. Kyle had lived up to more than just his wildest dreams. From what seemed a petite girl to be toyed with evolved into something worth breaking and now was his chance. He'd sap away at Kyle's remaining strength and then meticulously stretch the pain until the boy couldn't keep conscious, but even then he wouldn't let him go.
Kyle however, despite his desperate expression, was calm. The wound on his side felt numb and though his body had slowed each of his movements managed to keep up with Karster's dagger. A strange ethereal state lingered in his mind. Down, up, left, left, right, thrust, parry. He had been swept into Karster's flow of battle as if completely controlled and it was exactly what he wanted. Even if he couldn't stop them all Kyle focused on fending off the dagger not letting a single one strike complete. Finally after what seemed like an eternity Karster thrust forward with far more strength then before. A strike to pin him down just like the last that had dug into his side. The flow of battle was torn apart but in that instant Kyle was ready and tore through it himself.
He roared a tenuous scream as he thrust the sword forward and spurred into a charge. There was no need for defence. No need to protect himself. This was the last chance and he'd take it by all means. Assured of his own victory Karster couldn't fathom what happened as suddenly the sword pierced through his chest, forcing a cough of blood to fly from his lungs but it didn't end there. Like a maddened bull Kyle continued to rush as his yell echoed around the room forcing the blade further and further into Karster's body. Even as the sword reached its hilt Kyle pushed on, springing off the floor and ramming the blade into the solid stone causing it to burry within the cracks.
With barely standing legs Kyle wobbled back and collapsed. A dagger pierced into the side of his stomach, suspended by the blade wedged far into his muscle. A wince and held back scream escaped his lips as he yanked the dagger free causing a heap of red to slap onto the floor. Gasping Kyle used the last of his energy to try seal the wound as a warm glow spread from his hands. He had been lucky. Any further across and the wound could have been fatal, though even now without assistance the chance of him fainting was high. Victory however was his as Karster held his hands in front of him in disbelief. Pinned to the wall he could do nothing but stare at the prize that had escaped his clutches
"I should have- tried a bit harder huh..," Karster coughed blood. That last step had caught him completely off guard as if Kyle himself had become a different person. Slowly he reached into his pocket and pulled the silver key tossing it to the floor by Kyle's feet. "Take it... you were... magnificent." A pained smile lingered as the crazed man's eyes began to fade and finally he drew his last breath.