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18 – Mystery

I poured mana onto sword. To my surprise instead of royal blue, dark red mana began to flow out of my body and merge into red crystals. I was told to forget about using fire affiliated mana for a while because my body was not capable to handle it yet, and that is why I have avoided doing so. But this time it was different. It was life-and-death situation; plus I didn’t have much time to go deep enough to know why red mana flowed out instead of royal blue which I intended to use.

All my muscles had tensed up, including face and stomach. Sounds of Lichen’s footsteps were pressuring me more into despair. There was an intense pain in my chest, followed by heart beats that made me feel powerless more and more. Speed of blood shooting through my veins because of fastened heart beats was anormal.

There was around 20 meters of distance between us when it stopped moving. Lichen raised its right arm a bit and black sword appeared in his hand. I met his gaze, and wish I hadn’t. Thinking about it, I had never seen his face. It was covered with a helmet which was part of his armored body. There was no spare room for nose or eyes. Although there was a blank space in place where his eyes were. I could distinguish that space because of fire torches lighting the temple which we were in. That part of his helmet was not matte colored, and there were two sinister eyes looking at me. Dignified eyes that were visible in darkness. There were no eye pupils or any other specific organ which normal eyes had. It was more like projection of energy. They were colored white with bluish tones that gave mysterious and evilish aura to them. Moreover, it felt very light as if I was holding a bird feather.

I felt unnatural heat raising in my right palm. Red crystal was absorbing dark red mana in fast pace. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t care anyway. “If I’m going to die today, even if the whole world comes to help me – I will die anyway. If I’m going to live though, then even if the whole world comes to kill me – I will live” I mused to myself. There was no way that I’ll submit to death just like this. Giving up was not an option to begin with.

I used my left hand to grab from katana’s hilt. Carvings on katana’s blade began to emit red lights. I moved few steps towards Lichen and stood still. Using both hands I moved my arms up and katana was raised above my head. My right foot was behind my body while left foot was standing a bit forward. I was going to use my left foot as support, while changing my direction using my right foot.

As if understanding my intentions, Lichen moved its left leg towards front while raising his sword to his right by bending his right arm. It was a stance which I hadn’t seen before. I breathed in and out for three times. Mana was flowing inside my body side by side with blood which gave me feeling of immortality. I felt invincible. My body was gushing out with power to be released. Third time when I breathed out, I took initiate and with a small force jumped forward for a meter. As soon as I landed I began to run towards Lichen.

It didn’t move at all. It was waiting for me, undermining my potential. Most probably thinking to devour me in one move. Half way through the distance, I went with vertical cut shouting “Dragon’s Wrath”. I poured so much fire affiliated mana into katana that for a moment I thought I’m going to lose consciousness. It was effective. A shock-wave of fire was pushed from katana towards Lichen. It reacted with a horizontal cut but I saw flame on his sword. Moreover his left leg was moved back to support his body.

I don’t know exactly what material was used to make katana in my hands, but it was capable of holding and transferring dark red mana.

Instantly I went for another vertical cut and shouted “Dragon’s Wrath”. Lichen dodged this time, rather than blocking my attack like last time. Shockwave of fire passed by him after Lichen dodged it and hit stone doors. Boom! Aftermath sounds of attack echoed within temple. Stone doors were crushed into dust. However it had not ended just like that. Shockwave had hit waterfall and had boiled water. Steam was flowing into temple.

I run towards Lichen for close combat. It roared and attacked me. My katana was hitting against Lichen’s sword. Sparks were emerging as a result of heated battle. Katana was overflowing with fire affiliated red mana while Lichen’s sword was emitting dark aura. After more than 5-6 slashes both of backed away. As a kid my body was getting exhausted much more faster than Lichen’s. I didn’t know if I can handle another round of sword fighting.

I changed to Ko Gasumi no Kamae stance. It was a defensive stance mainly focusing on protecting and counter-attacking. At least I planning to do so. Lichen’s eyes brightened up, emitting more light. As soon as it began to move it leg to run towards me, I began to concentrate both my manas and after he made his second step I shouted “Hurricane”.

Katana in my hand was emitting fire while a hurricane made out of wind affiliated mana was swirling around me. Lots of dark colored mana began to transmit from Lichen’s armor and turned into liquied, moving towards hurricane. I was able to see outside but I assume his vision was limited to where I was inside the hurricane. Nevertheless, black liquied flowed close to hurricane and visible clash of dark and royal blue mana occurred. For a time, royal blue overpowered dark mana while for some time it was vice verse. I felt depletion of my mana and exhaustion of my body. I was close to my limit and my body would take dangerous level of injury if I kept going on like this. Lichen stood motionless.

“Huuuuu-maaaan” I heard echoing in temple. “Huuuu-maaan” once more same word echoed within temple. “Weeee shaaaall meeeet agaaaaain!” Lichen said and left in hurry.

I stood still, watching entrance to temple for a few minutes. “Void, Hurricane” I said. Stopping flow of mana from my body, I felt fatigue and feebleness. I was too young for an adventure like this. I fall on my knees and dropped katana onto ground. If Lichen came back I would be vulnerable but I didn’t care much now. My body fall towards ground and at last second I used arms to support it.

I can’t remember how long I stayed like that but as soon as I came to my senses I left temple taking katana with me. “Vurm! Vurm! Vurm!” I shouted. Even if he called out to me, I couldn’t hear him because of noise of waterfall.

Lumps of rock fall and I turned to face the place from where sound was coming. Beside waterfall, around 10 meters away, Vurm was lying on ground. He had used his hands to move rock to catch my attention. I run towards him. His skin was as white as snow flake. I removed glass bottles from his backpack and said “I’ll tell you colors and you use your finger to show me which one I should use”. “Blue!” I said and his hand was motionless as before. “Red” I said and same result. “Green!” I said and index finger of his right hand move. I opened bottle and put its head to Vurm’s lips. Green liquid flowed into his mouth and he gulped down all of contents of small bottle in one go. I opened second and last green colored glass bottle and repeated the process.

Vurm came back to his sense. His foot began to regrow as a result but it was a slow process. “W-w-wee live” he said. “Yea, but your legs!” I replied. “Blue” he mused. I opened both blue bottles and slipped its content into his mouth. Blue mana began to dissipate from his body and his foot began to regenerate faster. In less than half an hour he was like nothing had happened to him.

P.S: I want to thank you all who have been supporting me by reading Red Eyes regularly! You guys do not how much it means to me, and I can not write into words my feelings! Thank you all for your kind attention!!!!

P.P.S: If there is someone with enough time to write a review and P.M to me I would be honored. Especially about strength and weaknesses of "Red Eyes", main and side character evaluation and so on

Next: 19 - Bibliotheca