Sévir Is A Pariah!

Pressed against Minerva's back was Nell, his fists as clenched as Minerva's.

"..Don't use your magic, Rio. We'll get more attention than needed." he whispered to her, their eyes glued to the fuming men encircling them.

"Oi, that little missy of yours messed up my face!" one of the men pointed to his face, a black eye on his left and swelling on his right cheek. He cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "You know me, don't you? You know I, nor any of my men should be touched."

"Who are you guys?" asked Minerva who had not a single knowledge of who they are.

"They're part of the Brawnies." Nell replied, leaving a smile on the man's face.

"At least he knows.. But even so, your ignorance won't be forgiven," he chuckled maliciously, "it's two against eight, what are you guys going to do?"

The two observed their surroundings; several round tables scattered and from the right, a long counter that gave the impression of a bar, there watched several people who minded their own business until the ruckus occurred.

Fine, I won't use my magic, but that doesn't stop me from using my cutlass. she drew her cutlass, poising it forward with intent to fight.

The man's smile remained, he raised his right arm and snapped his fingers. Everyone in the bar stood up, drawing their fists and weapons.

Minerva's brows furrowed, her grip with her hilt tightening. "So everyone here are your pals, huh?"

The man nodded. "Nevermind two versus eight, it's two versus twenty six!"

"Make it three." a man's husky voice echoed as light akin to a firefly flew inside the place. They all turned to the light, shutting their eyes as it greatly emanated.

The door banged open, quick taps of boots, thumps and grunts of men filling the place for the whole time they had their eyes shut.

Minerva and everyone else opened their eyes, presented the sight of five of the men already down within two seconds.

The perpetrator was a dark lavender-hooded man, his movement as smooth and intent like an assassin's. He jumped at them with force like a cannonball be it from the floor or the table. Yet it wasn't his agility that left them agape but his blows, sending even their biggest men to the floor.

Minerva and Nell braced themselves, joining in on the fray as they dashed forwards. Minerva with her cutlass expertise and agility close to but no greater than the mysterious hooded man, sliced down the men in front of her who appeared just mere obstacles.

Nell with his unmatched strength, sending what remained of their strongest flying to the wall with just one hand, battered the men who dared face him.

The man who spoke earlier froze in the middle of the battlefield, watching his men fall within mere seconds. ..What is happening..? he couldn't stay to learn the answer as a chop to his nape limped him to the ground.

Within twenty seconds, the bar was filled with silence as each and every one of the men were limp, the only ones standing were Minerva, Nell, and the mysterious man.

The two faced him, but Minerva stepped forward. "You, who are you?" her commanding voice threw off the silence, reviving the tension that lived before the fight.

Nothing came out of the mysterious man's voice, he stood within a reasonable distance, yet that was all. He raised his arm and snapped his fingers, shining blinding light.

As if she anticipated it, she shut her eyes before he could snap and opened it to see him dashing out of the bar. "HEY!" she dashed out as well to chase him.

"RIO!" Nell followed suit.

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They bumped through a myriad of people before the mysterious man jumped off a ledge that led to the low elevated district of The Forbidden, the difference being as tall as a ten-story building.

Minerva's eyes dilated as she could only sprint and watch from a distance. WHAT IS HE DOING!? Doesn't he know that's a high drop!?

As he lifted over the ledge, a huge floating spike of ice grew beneath and gave him stable ground. The shard accelerated forward, widening the already widened gap.

I see how it is.. I remember using a similar spell to race Sanguinex. Two can play that game! she gripped the hilt of her sheathed cutlass as she dived down, narrow and instantaneous pillars of water rising to form an ice spike like his in time.

She landed on her two feet, accelerating with the intent to catch up. To have no water build up and form ice.. Only mages above my level could do that! her heart raced in a mix of thrill and desperation, she bent lower and picked up the speed, gaining on the man inch by inch.

He dived dangerously low, just above the heads of the people, much to Minerva's surprise. What the–does he want to kill!? she dived lower as well, though not as much as him.

The opposing air howled as much as her hair and coat flapped backwards, her breaths deepened as she attempted to maintain composure. We're going fast, alright! she gritted her teeth as the tunnel vision kicked in.

The pursuit went on, he still flew very low, so much that it grabbed more than needed attention to the two.

This guy's suicidal.. Just when will he stop!?

At last, he flew up ever so slightly, suddenly tilting backwards sideways to the left at the same time in an effort to decelerate from the sheer speed.

Is he going to make a turn? she wondered as she decelerated as well, mimicking his every move. They reached an appropriate speed and discovered a narrow alleyway, the man went for it and accelerated, still tailed by Minerva.

Much to their relief, there were no dead ends, at least yet. This is dangerous, but if I go up then I'll have a higher chance of losing him! hesitation grew within her, evident by her late deceleration that nearly sent her to the wall. Dammit, I'm getting distracted! Make your choice; tail him like this, or from above!?

She drew her cutlass, her body relaxing as if she made up her mind. I'll probably only be here once, I came here to investigate what's going on, but I might as well enjoy it, even for a brief moment! she extended her arm forward, her cutlass gushing out water like a leash that tied to a farther pole.

She pulled herself with as much strength she could muster in hopes of getting much closer. I know to myself that I'm getting out of character–usually I'm smarter than this. the seeds she planted grew–she got much closer to the man who didn't bother to glance back. But what's life without some fun, right!? I could've just water leashed him, yet I decided to proceed this way.

They bursted out the suffocating alleyway. He bent down and tapped the shard, yellow light glowing within and at the same time, it got faster.

Minerva caught on, a smile dancing at her lips. You're giving your ice shard some light properties to make it faster, huh? Not bad. her shard sped up accordingly. Amidst the chase, her expression neutralized. Wait.. There's only less than 39 people who possess multi-magic, right? But then again, there has to be more of them in the dark.

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Nell pressed on his thighs, panting and sweating. "Damn, I'm not catching up anytime!" he peeked over the ledge they leaped off, he sighed while his heart tugged with hopelessness. "I should've listened to magic class."

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The gap widened down to the milliseconds. Try as she might, her spike couldn't go any faster. She attempted pulling herself with the water leash repeatedly, yet she lost her gains the moment she got them. ..He's so fast.

She heard nothing but the opposing wind as turbulent as a violent storm that urged her to halt the pursuit, alas her ears were closed. If I decelerate later, then I can definitely catch up!

His spike decelerated upon leaning backward while hers went on, catching up to him a big deal. Yes! they closed the distance as she decelerated as well, her arms finally reaching him.

She grabbed his back and gripped it as tight as she can, only then when she looked down did she realize they closed on the wall too close for comfort.

As wide-eyed as she got, she grabbed her hilt with her free hand, her right still on the man.

A water sphere shielded them upon impact, nullifying any potential injuries. It disappeared as they dropped to the ground, a grunt escaping their mouths. Their spikes shattered as well, their luck enabling as the pieces fell mere inches from them.

They rose in similar fashion, wiping the dust off their pants–they gazed at each other, only then did they remember why they were playing cat and mouse in the first place.

"So.. Just who are you..?" her voice gave out her dizziness from the sheer speed and stopping force they experienced, At last, she collected herself and returned to normal, surprised that the man even waited for her to collect herself.

"I'm nobody." said the man, his unassuming voice muffled.

Her brows perked up. "Oh really? You're nobody? That's surprising." she clasped her hands behind, stepping closer. "I've never heard of a nobody as good as you."

He folded his arms, shaking his head. "There's a lot more better than me–all nobodies. Say, why don't you reveal yourself? I'm sure you're a handsome bunch~" her voice, honeyed and playful, while her right arm reached out to his chin.

Much to her surprise, he slapped her arm away. "I know what you're doing, it's insulting if you think it could work on all guys." an edge formed in his voice.

"Ooh, did I strike a chord?" she tapped her chin playfully.

"Listen, I've killed women like you, and I won't hesitate to repeat it." he turned heels, ready to walk away. "..My name starts with an L." with nothing else to say, he walked away, blending with the growing crowd.

He's much like Sévir.. Is he Sévir? she puffed. I'm sure Sévir isn't like him, he has air and fire, this one has water and light.

She perked up once more. Ah! I forgot about Nell! she walked away, already able to imagine his reaction.