Chapter 276 - A Notation on Naivety (1/2)

Despite what one might think, it was not Aegin's sudden appearance that alerted Devina to her mistake. To Issa and Kel, that was certainly the moment that they realised they were not a match for him, but Devina? She had realised it the moment she'd seen him sitting still on the roof of the bridge.

No human sat that still.

And the way he'd moved as the icicles Issa shot landed one after another with rapid thuds where he'd been sitting. She could sense his utter disappointment before he even laid eyes on her.

”Stupid Girl”.

Those words, she knew in an instant that Issa and Kel would not survive.

Kel was the first to react upon Aegin's disappearance, on the water, he was not as strong as he was on land, but the ship was made from items that all originated from the earth, it only took a powerful enough Magician to draw upon such things. Kel was, luckily, a Saint Class Magician.

The wooden slats of the upper most deck rattled before they rose from their fixed position, torn away as Kel splintered them and built a guard around himself.

Using their knowledge of the Mist, they were able to tell which direction Aegin was, but his speed meant they had to react quickly. Issa drew on the ocean below and a stream of water rose up in a gush towards the space beside Kel's growing guard.

Aegin appeared there for a split second before he side-stepped then drew a dagger, his violet eyes bleeding to red as he dove forward towards Issa.

Kel reacted by splitting the deck just in front of Issa. Aegin appeared again for the briefest instant as he pulled up short, and Issa solidified the water now on the deck to two points of ice that narrowly missed Aegin before he moved once more.

”They are both skilled and powerful Magicians,” Aegin admitted, ”I'll admit you know how to find your allies. But this? You really should have been more level-headed about this. If I can take care of seven Light Magicians, two is barely a challenge”.

”Three,” Issa growled as he looked at Devina.

But Devina did not move.

Aegin chuckled, ”No, just two, she can't attack me whilst she is bound to me. After all, she made a contract to provide for me what I d.e.s.i.r.e. Though I admit she has fought the bond well to be able to spill her story to the two of you. Perhaps it is the Order in her beginning to win out, we are just a little over half-way through our contract”.

”A monster of Chaos shall not be allowed to taint this world,” stated Kel.

Aegin chuckled, ”It already has, and will continue for years to come, even if I die”.

Issa looked ready to protest.