The Magician of Miracles

I watched the battle unfolding in front of me, unable to intervene. The pain in my head was unbearable. I couldn't even take a single step forward; I could barely stand on my feet.

Before my eyes, Diana was dodging the brute's attacks with agile movements. Behind her, the cook surrounded by blue flames was fighting Grivus and his second in command, Morc, all on his own.

With every attack Diana dodged, the brute's expression grew more irritated. He stopped his assault and stepped back before saying:

"You've got good skill. But do you really think you can keep this up?"

"I can… but the real question is, can you?"

I noticed what she seemed to have noticed. His stone like skin was gradually losing its hardness. Clearly, his ability could only last for a limited time. Like most ability users, the longer it was used, the worse the side effects afterward. I knew that from personal experience.

The brute rubbed his head in annoyance and said:

"Listen, if I don't finish off a member of the Bloody Fang today, the boss will really get mad at me. So why don't you just get out of my way? I promise I won't hurt you. I have to end this before the boss finishes his fight with that cook."

"And what about me? I'm also a member of the Bloody Fang. Do you think your boss will just ignore me?"

He answered while cleaning his ear with his pinky finger:

"The boss promised to grant me one request anything I wanted. That man never breaks his word. I'll ask him to spare you… maybe even let you join us. Just step aside."

Her expression hardened before she said:

"I refuse."

He sighed impatiently.

"You're really stubborn. Do you think you can beat me alone?"

"No. I'm certain I'll lose."

"Then why insist on fighting?"

She smiled.

"Because I don't want to be a puppet in anyone's hands."

At her answer, he smiled strangely apparently misunderstanding her words.

"What determination. Interesting. Fine, I won't hold back anymore. Get ready."

He charged at her, his fist aimed at her legs. She jumped at the last moment, barely avoiding the hit. She didn't even get a chance to catch her breath before he attacked again, stronger and faster than before. She kept retreating, leaping through the air each time narrowly avoiding his strikes.

He attacked once more, his fist grazing her face, but she jumped back, dodging it again. With each blow, his hardened skin grew weaker, almost back to its normal state. Diana noticed it too. She drew a small dagger from the leather strap around her ankle, spun quickly, and tried to stab him in the side.

But before her blade could touch him, he struck her stomach hard with his fist. The impact sent her flying backward, crashing into the wall. Her body left a dent before she fell to the floor.

He looked at her from afar and said, clapping his hands together:

"That was a good fight. If you had assimilated your Authority more deeply, maybe you'd have had a small chance of winning."

He turned and started walking toward me. I looked at him from afar, then at Diana lying on the ground, and finally at the cook still fighting in the back. As the brute got closer to me, I merged into the wall's shadow and vanished from his sight.

He froze, his eyes widening as he looked around nervously.

When he couldn't find me, he ruffled his hair and shouted:

"Where the hell did that bastard go?!"

He started pacing between the broken tables, grumbling under his breath:

"Now the boss is going to blame me for this. Why'd you run away, you coward?!"

On the other side of the restaurant, the cook was still surrounded by blue fire, facing Grivus and Morc alone. Every time Grivus raised his hand, the cook countered with a fireball. And every time Morc lifted his hand, those fireballs vanished before reaching them. But Morc looked more and more exhausted each time, though the grin never left his face.

Grivus, on the other hand, was perfectly composed. His eyes didn't blink; his face was void of emotion. He looked around the room, and when he saw the corpses scattered and blood covering the floor, he gestured to Morc to stop.

Morc froze where he stood as Grivus stepped forward. The cook raised his flaming hand defensively but didn't move from his spot.

Grivus stopped directly in front of Roland and said:

"The battle's over. You've lost."

The cook lifted his head toward him with difficulty, his eyes half closed. He looked around the restaurant. There was nothing left but bodies and fragments. When he saw the scene, the blue flames surrounding him faded, and he dropped to his knees.

He drew a sharp breath. His body was covered in burns, his skin cracked and charred. He tried to raise his head toward Grivus but failed, mumbling a few words I couldn't make out.

Grivus pulled a small leather pouch from his coat, bent down, and placed it beside the cook. A few silver coins spilled out, rolling across the floor.

Then Grivus said:

"Forget about the gangs. Forget about the Lower District."

The cook didn't respond. His head fell, then slowly lifted again, as if he were fighting to stay conscious but soon after, he lost the struggle and collapsed.

Grivus turned and walked toward the brute standing amid the wreckage.

"Did you finish them all?"

The brute quickly turned toward him, his voice tense:

"Yes, sir. I eliminated everyone."

Grivus gestured toward the other side of the restaurant, where Diana lay on the ground.

"Then why didn't you finish her?"

At that moment, the air around the brute thickened with pressure. The ground beneath his feet cracked as he struggled to remain standing.

He swallowed hard.

"Boss… didn't you promise to grant me one request? My request is… to keep her alive."

Grivus sighed, rubbing his temple before speaking in a cold tone:

"Is that truly what you want? You're willing to waste your one request on her? I can give you anything else just don't spend it on something so worthless."

The brute shook his head firmly.

"No. That's my request."

Grivus stopped rubbing his temple and said:

"Bring her with us."

"But you said you'd grant my request, whatever it was!"

Grivus turned, hands clasped behind his back, and began to walk away. He spoke without looking back:

"And I am. I'll let her live. But don't expect me to let her roam free. She's a prisoner now."

"Boss, can I change my request?"

Grivus kept walking, not looking back.

"No. That's not possible."

The brute stood still for a moment, staring at the ground. Then he exhaled and walked over to Diana, crouched down, and carefully lifted her onto his shoulder. He then approached Grivus and Morc. The three of them stood side by side in the center of the ruined restaurant. Morc raised his hand and they all vanished.