28 Chapter 16: The Tournament of Beginners - Part V - An Unexpacted Reunion (1/2)

I finally came close to the center of the stage, only minutes away, I arrived at the foot of a battle. One that was fought with several others. Unable to make out who was fighting who I kept my distance...

When suddenly a girl was launched into the air.

I tried to catch her as she fell towards me when it dawned on me who the girl was. Her ice blue hair and burning yellow eyes made this crystal clear.

It was Aqua!! Quickly I rushed to her aid tripping over a vacant tree branch, making us both fall on the ground. ”A-a-are y-you okay?” I asked as Anxiety began to slowly build. Worried who could have done such a thing I stood my ground and helped her to stand up.

”It was one of the summoned ones, one of us...”

Aqua said as she had barely enough strength to stand, struggling to move, she grabbed hold of me for support.

”W-we h-have to g-go... I-its, not s-save h-here...”

”I know of a place were we should he save, lean on me, I will lead the way.”

As we started to make our way towards the center something... or someone closed in on us. I felt killing intent towards us and threw Aqua away in the last effort to save her from harm.

”It seems we have more in common than I thought...”

A hooded person with a familiar voice said as he slowly lowered his hood.

”No one said we couldn't attack our own, right? Hahaha, isn't it thrilling? Fighting one another in this so-called tournament? Now... Michael... show me what you”ve learned these past few days!!”

The one under the hood revealed himself as terror slowly crept towards my inner core... it was Draven...

That bastard who already tried to kill me when we first got summoned, looking at Aqua her wounds it became clear as sheer dread rushed over me...

This was all a game to him. Doesn't he know this is all for real?!

”Thrilling isn't it? Fighting till the bitter end. I know I can't hold back my excitement for this event!!

Come... let me hunt you too!!”

Draven said with a twisted smile as a black flame completely took over his being.

With a twisted and deformed voice, he spoke.

”The void has claimed his rightful owner... come and let yourself be sacrificed for the nothingness inside our hearts... let it be filled with the void of darkness!!”

The sheer dread made me freeze in place but I knew I had to do something to keep Aqua save.

Draven jumped towards Aqua with an evil laugh that could turn anyone's stomach upside down. Frustrated I punched myself in the face which broke me free of the terror that immobilized me. Rushing towards Aqua I barely made it in time to block Draven's attack when it all became clear...

He too had a demon inside him, the only difference was that the demon had full control over Draven.

Now summoning flames started bombarding us from afar. I quickly resorted to the same kind of attacks trying to preserve as much energy as possible.

His flames were proven to be stronger than mine, unable to hold him back I jumped in front of Aqua making the flames hit me instead. The flames burning on my skin gave off an excruciating sensation which put me into shock. I didn't know what happened after that as I awoke to three unfamiliar faces...

Yet there was one extremely worried...

One who seemed familiar, that one was Yami.

”Master! Master!! What happened, Master?!

Yami is worried sick about you.”

One of the unfamiliar ones closed in on us.

As she began to speak seriously.

”You have a worthy familiar, if she hadn't picked up your scent you would have been done for.”

A burning sensation filled the entirety of my right arms and shoulder.

”Aahh!! What is happening to me?”

”Draven has cursed you with the flames of the void, they will consume anyone or anything in their path.

Please... try to remain calm as I perform my surgery to stop it from spreading.”

The woman summoned snakes from the ground and her arms as they slid towards me.

”Before we begin... Let me introduce myself, I am June, nice to meet you, Michael! We heard all about you from Yami here.”

June said with a smirk on her face.

The snakes now were right next to my arm and shoulder as they opened their mouth inserting their fangs inside. The burning sensation began more intense as the pain began to increase.

”Aaaahhh!!! I can't take much more of this!! Please... I can't take it anymore!!”

The woman all held me down as this was a necessary step to take. June even pressed her chest against my face in the hopes that it would distract from the pain. When the snakes were done it looked like I was full of holes, yet the burn marked hadn't vanished. Instead, a huge flame tattoo was visible. From my shoulder to my wrist.

But... the pain... the pain had vanished, but how?

Yami helped me sit upright as I still needed to regain my strength. During this time, the other two ladies introduced themselves.

One of the ladies had long dark blond hair and green eyes, she was wearing a bow, brown leather armor and green undergarments. She introduced herself as Sheila. The other... looked away, the woman had long red hair which covered her eyes, as she turned away, scars revealed themselves on her back, together with two long strands of hair. She must have chosen to do her hair like this because it allowed her to move without hindrance.

June walked towards the lady with scars and pulled away her hair revealing two mesmerizing purple eyes.

I didn't realize she was blind and before I knew it I spoke my mind.

”Such beauty...”

The woman got startled and as her face turned red she covered her eyes.

”Please... don't look at my face... I am hideous...”

She wanted to walk away, but just when she stood up I grabbed her hand. Wanting to confront her I stood in front of her.

”Sorry... if I made you uncomfortable,

what I meant to say was that you have such beautiful eyes. No need to worry just wanted to give a compliment. I'm Michael, nice to meet you. May I be so bold and ask your name?”

Startled that someone didn't think she was hideously ugly she curled up in a ball of shyness as a warm feeling of acceptance came over her.

”Don't mind her, she isn't used to attention, usually she spends a short amount of time with her targets as they all end up dead... haha.”

June couldn't hold in her laugh ad she found teasing her just priceless. Mockingly she began introducing her? Friend.

”Her name is Ragnar. She is one of the most talented from our guild, The Assassination Association. The event today is to try and find promising new talents to join the ways of the rogue, would you be interested in yourself?”

Quickly it became clear she was proud to be with her friends. But... could they be trusted?

I didn't care... A warm and longing feeling came over me as I wanted to know more about Ragnee. Why did she have all those scars? Why was she so scared to be seen? As I closed in on her I got the yearning to protect her, knowing she was so defenseless. I lowered myself, sitting down on one knee as I held my hand up to assist her.

”Don't be afraid... I don't mean you any harm. I am Michael nice to meet you Ragnee. Here, take my hand.”

Ragnee looked up as tears fell from her eyes.

She moved towards me grabbing not just my hand but embracing my upper body.

”Words can't express how I feel right now, to be told I am beautiful... that's something I never heard before, please excuse my behavior I tend to be jumpy with strangers.”

She slowly let go as she stood up knowing I too was okay.

”You see... I may be blind, but my elemental magic allows me to witness the world through sound and shockwaves. The sonarlike waves ricochet against objects, people, animals and everything of the like.

Creating realistic images inside my brain,