/Author's Note

Yay, I managed to get past my writer's block somewhat! Anyway, sorry that the chapter is a fairly short one, I wanted to get it out today. If things go well, I should be able to release the next one in the next couple of days.

Please comment your thoughts, and enjoy!

Chapter 13:

Alric, Catherine, and Meredith arrived back at the town of Berrik as the sun rose on the second day.

Finally released from the endless torment of riding, Catherine stretched and complained, “Aghh, it was so much faster riding on those other horses.”

“I agree, someone else must have rented them while we were in the slums,” Alric said as the trio dismounted and led the horses to the stables.

After arriving at the stables they quickly became surprised.

There were the three horses that they rode to the city standing in the stables.

“That’s a crazy coincidence, whoever rented those horses must have been headed to Berrik too.” Catherine said.

Alric felt that it was too coincidental. “I have a bad feeling about this…” he mumbled to himself.

Motioning for Alric and Catherine to follow her Meredith said, “Come on lets head back to my shop, I’ll make us something to eat after a long journey.”

Unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong Alric followed after the others.

When the alchemy shop came into view they began to notice that something was wrong.

Where the door should be there was instead an empty doorframe.

Meredith frantically ran toward the shop.

Alric and Catherine chased after her.

“I knew something was up.” Alric thought to himself.

Reaching the entryway they were met with an extremely pungent odor.

The floor of the shop was covered in broken glass and the former contents of the shattered flasks and vials.

Alric knew the noxious fumes coming off the various chemicals and substances were likely toxic, so he quickly pulled the other two away.

Meredith was distraught and was crying over the destruction of her shop saying, “Not my shop! Who did this?!?”

“Meredith, now’s not the time, we have to get somewhere safe!” Alric exclaimed, snapping Meredith out of her grief “Do you know anywhere safe we could go?”

Still calming herself, Meredith managed to speak up, “I have a cabin outside of town for when I refine my ingredients. We can go there.”

“Hoho, a cabin outside town eh? We didn’t know about that one. You might have been safe if you went there. Too bad for you that you’ll never make it there.” The sudden voice came from behind us.

Standing there were three large men.

Two of the men were ugly, heavily scarred, and wielding large knives; they looked like they emerged from a pirate movie.

But the third man was different he was over two meters tall with bulging muscles.

On his back was a massive sheath and from it he had drawn a large bastard sword.

“ARE YOU THE FUCKERS WHO DESTROYED MY SHOP?!?” Meredith yelled at them.

“HAHAHA, you have quite the mouth on you miss! Aye, it was us.” The meat tower man responded.

“You were sent by an Eben noble, weren’t you?” Alric questioned.

“You’re a sharp one lad. We’re here to teach you a lesson for your meddling.” Meat tower man replied.

Making a split-second decision to get rid of the two pirate-goons first Alric quickly activated his body strengthening and leapt to the first one.

Alric covered the distance in a fraction of a second plowing his strengthened fist into the face of pirate-goon number one.

The goon went flying instantly knocked unconscious by Alric’s punch.

Goon number two had time to ready his knife and take a swing, but Alric quickly shifted his attention and kicked him in the abdomen.

Having dealt with the goons he turned to face the meat tower man who was casually leaning on his sword watching the short fight.

“You sure are full of surprises boy. Not only are you a great mage and sharper than razor but you’re also a strong fighter. We couldn’t find any info on you, tell me what is your name?” The meat tower man asked.

“My name is Alric.” He spat out as he glared at meat tower.

“That is a strong name boy, I am Fels, allow me to be your opponent.”

Fels, the meat tower man, lifted his bastard sword to the ready position and Alric equipped his gauntlet blades.

For a second that seemed to stretch on for minutes the two fighters stared each other down daring their opponent to make a move.

The first to move was Alric.

He concentrated his body strengthening into his legs crouched down and sprang forward at a speed greatly surpassing his movements as he fought the goons earlier.

Fels quickly brought up his bastard sword, moving it as if it was as light as a feather.

The bastard sword and the gauntlet blades met with a loud metallic clang.

Alric began to punch with his gauntlet blades in rapid succession attempting to penetrate Fels’ defense.

All of his blows were easily deflected by the bastard sword moving deftly in the hands of the massive man.

In terms of power Alric far surpassed Fels, but his blows were somehow rendered useless by the large sword.

Switching strategies Alric jumped over Fels attempting to attack from behind, but Fels yelled out, “Too predictable!” and swung the bastard sword with all his might hitting Alric with the flat of the blade and sending him sprawling on the ground.

Alric tried to get up, but Fels had already positioned the bastard sword at his neck.

Alric waited for the end.

“Boy, you are really strong, but you fight like a wild animal. Even a beginner in swordsmanship could see through movements like those. That’s why you lost.” Fels said as he lifted his blade.

Alric was frozen.

He was completely at the mercy of this man.

He regretted how he had become conceited about his strength.

“I should have trained properly, then I could have won.”

The massive sword descended.

And buried itself in the dirt next to his head.

“Now you know boy. I can kill you at any time, so don’t try anything again.” Fels said as he sheathed the sword. “Anyway, my employer needs you alive.”

“Alric!” Meredith yelled as she ran over to check on him.

“The boy is unharmed, the one you should be worrying about is your apprentice.” Fels said to Meredith.

“Did you do something to Christy?!?” Meredith cried out.

“She’s safe for now. If you do what my employer wants, he’ll let her go.”

“You bastard! What would you have us do?” Meredith yelled in outrage.

“This is what my employer says, ‘If you want to save your apprentice then have the boy-mage use his magic to destroy the Eben slums.’” (Fels) “Oh, and you have three days.”