They Lee and the 3 rogue wizards squared off against each other. Lee couldn't feel their power 100% accurately from this distance but he had a good idea of what he was facing. They all felt like they were somewhere in the B range. Not as strong as him or The Shame but strong none the less.

He felt confident if it was just him alone vs such wizards he would be able to eventually defeat all of them only suffering minor injuries. The 3 wizards from the Sun house may be a problem more than a help. He remembered when The Shame drew him into an attack using his friends. If one of them got caught it may happen again. He would be to be careful about that possibility, but not to the extent that he would get himself killed.

He knew the 2 guards were decent wizards but not a strong as any of the ones in front of him. As for Victoria he sensed very little magic ability. Maybe E rank or so which he found a bit odd. Every other instinct he had about her said she should be stronger than that. Perhaps it was just the way she carried herself? Either way he should regard her as the weakest for now and focus the mot on keeping an eye on her.

He circled the wizards going to the left. Part of him wanted to stand between the 3 rogue wizards and those from the Sun house. But he knew putting himself in a position where all 3 could attack him at once would be too dangerous. It was better if he could face them 1 on 1. He hoped the guards would be enough of a deterrent and make them charge at him first.

Once he had all 3 of them spaced in a line one behind the other from his position he ran towards the man who stood closest to him. The rogue wizard ran towards Lee with another right behind him. Lee created 2 wind spells in his hand and released both in his direction.

The spells missed the wizard to the right and left. The rogue wizard prepared a fire spell. Lee used wind magic to move backwards. The rogue wizard watching his prey retreat doubled his effort to close the distance.

He launched his fire ball at Lee from a close distance. Lee gathering wind magic in his hand used the same defense he did against Peter. He'd improved his ability to use the spell since then. The wind gusted upward in front of him and launched the attack uselessly into the the air. The rogue wizard looked behind him to see if a comrade was getting ready to follow up his attack.

No one was behind him. When he looked back they saw both of them were a good distance away. He was sure at least one of them followed after him when he started to run towards Lee.

“Wondering where your friend is?” Lee gathered wind in both hands. “You really thought I was aiming for you and missed with those spells? I was using them to push your backup away. It was so thoughtful of you to pursue me so fiercely and get us away from your friends. Now it can be just the 2 of us without any inference.”

The wizard tried to gather a spell but it was too late. Lee used wind to push himself towards the enemy and let loose with the other at close range before his opponent could react. It was a very sharp wind spell meant to cut. Lee wanted to strike his throat but instead got him along the chest. It wasn't a lethal but it didn't matter.

The spell the rogue wizard formed in his hand fizzled out as he instinctively focus on the injury. Blood flowed down his chest. He brought his hands to the deep gash instinctive to try to stop the bleeding. He only noticed River again when he was right in front of him. He tried to lunge and grab him. Lee slipped easy to the side. He grabbed the extended arm of his opponent, positioning his weight against him and then with a quick spin and tug dislocated it the arm.

With now only one arm his opponent could use Lee easily managed to put him in a headlock. There was a quick snap and the body fell to the ground. Lee turned to the other 2 men who stood some distance away but were looking on. They were shocked by what they had just seen. The ruthless efficiency of it all. Those of the Sun house were even more shocked. He seemed so meek and polite just a while ago.

One man yelled to the other “Grab the girl! Let's get out of here as soon as possible!” They leaped towards Victoria Sun. She took a pose as if she was about to act and then seemed as if she decided against it. Lee's plan had worked too well. He had lead the first wizard away from the others but he was now too far away himself.

He was about to use wind magic to close the distance when he felt magic coming from his left from inside the forest. A spell of lightning rushed towards him. He barely felt it coming in time to dodge. Where he would have been a second earlier there was a black smoking spot of earth. “So there was one more rat hidden in the woods. You were farther away than the others. I didn't sense your magic at all.”

The man stepped out from behind the tree line in which he'd hidden himself. “Someone has to make sure the gateway route in clear. I would have come here earlier had I known we had a troublesome punk like you here”

“Well come an attack me already. I have a place to be soon so let's not waste any time.”

“Don't think it'll be that easy brat. The only reason you beat my comrade is he underestimated you cause you. I won't make that mistake.”

“That's indeed a comforting thought. By all means, believe what you like.”

*****

The guards saw the pair of rogue wizards quickly approaching. The kid seemed to be doing alright and they couldn't afford to worry about him at the moment. These 2 were not opponents they could take their eyes off of. The guards were fairly confident in their skills. They were at the pinnacle of C rank and would soon both be B rank. Rogue trash were rarely any higher than low C.

The one the boy fought earlier appeared to be somewhere in B rank but surely they can not all be that strong. B ranked wizards don't just grow on trees! What these guards didn't know is this lately rogue wizards had found the pickers to be rather slim. Kidnapping was right now the best way to make money but that didn't pay all that well either unless you got someone truly important.

Those people were often guarded by fairly strong wizards and so usually it would be impossible for a typical band of rogue wizards to have much of a chance. That is unless some of the stronger rogue wizards decided, out of desperation, to band together to achieve such a goal. This was such a group. They even tried to recruit the Shame of the House of Sun before he died to be their ace in the hole in case something weird happened.

Sadly he died before they could get in contact with him. Still, their group of B ranked wizards should be able to handle such a task as stealing a main house children from some 2nd rate guards if they waited for the right chance. They'd waited for nearly a month until such a chance appeared. They would not let these trash guards and some uppity kid get in their way.

One of the rogues used a large fire spell. A guard countered with a large earth wall which the other guard and Victoria got behind. After the fire was stopped a guard used water magic in an attempt to push the attacks back. The rogue 2nd rogue wizard responded with even more powerful water magic.

It was becoming clear the guards were being pushed into a corner by the pair of rogues. They started to feel desperate. “Young Miss, we'll hold them off. You should get out of here as soon as possible.”

Before she could respond they ran out from behind the earth wall and towards the rogues. Victoria was shocked but their reckless actions. If these fools were going to get themselves killed then there no longer any choice. She had to act.

She stood behind the earth wall and gathered mana. She felt it flow throughout her body as it went around every muscles and bone. It ran over her skin like a thin coat and then she began to inject that very mana into he muscles. She knew if she made a mistake she could gravely injure herself but she couldn't stand back and watch his guards get killed.

*****

Lee stood over the body of his 2nd opponent. This one didn't fall for any cheap tricks or baits. Lee felt a slight burn on his right arm where the opponent's attack grazed. He knew it was minor and could be ignored for now. He turned his attention to the fight taking place with the guards and the other 2 rogues. They had just run out from behind an earth wall and were doing an attack of pure desperation.

Lee figured they were probably hoping to buy time for Victoria to escape. Lee used wind magic to run towards them. One guard attempted a suicide attack against the rogue wizard. Both were struck by the spell of the other. The guard appeared to be bleeding badly but as long as he was healed within the next few minutes Lee was sure he could saved. The rogue took a nasty attack to inflict that damage. They laid on the ground unconscious together.

The 2nd guard tried to do the same but his opponent dodged the attempt. With the attempt successfully dodged the guard was left exposed. The rogue wizard took the opportunity to use a quickly made earth spell to try to knock his head clear off. It was too rushed and lacked power. The rogue determine not to let the opening be missed couldn't put even half the needed mana into the spell to make it have the effect he wanted.

The guard fell limply on the ground knocked out from the impact. Before the rogue could finish the job Lee had closed the distance. The rogue wizard was too caught up in what he was doing and didn't notice Lee's till it was too late. He tried to block the wind spell Lee fired but couldn't gather the needed mana before it connected. He was knocked on his back.

Lee saw to it the rogue would never stood up again. In a few more moments the fight was over. Lee felt eyes on him and turned. Victoria eyes were locked on him with and odd expression on her face. Part impressed and part suspicious.

“I could tell you were strong, but this is beyond what I thought.” She walked out from behind the wall and towards him. Lee hated having to show his power here. He wanted to keep it concealed as much as possible until there was no choice.

Before Lee could respond he heard a rustle and the rogue next to the bleeding guard stood up. Looking around he saw all his comrades dead and feeling his own internal injuries he knew there was no escape. A decision came to his mind instantly as he looked down to the bleeding guard beneath his feet.

“You bastards.... I'll at least take one of you with me!” His palm faced the guard on the ground while he creating a deadly lightning spell.

Lee used his wind magic to this maximum ability. Holding nothing back rushed towards the rogue. He moved like an eagle falling towards the water the catch a fish. Moving at his maximum speed he believed he would just barely make it in time to save the guard. Right before he got there Victoria appeared in front of the rogue. She held her fingers straight out and brought her hand down towards his arm in a chopping motion.

The rogue's hand and part of his arm which had just finished preparing the spell flow into the air and landed 10 feet from his body. He looked at his arm as if not understanding why it was no longer there. Victoria's hand swept across his neck and a moment later the rogue's head fell on the ground. The body soon followed.

Lee wasn't shocked by the brutality or the blood. He was shocked by her movements. They started from about equal distance; perhaps she was even a bit further away than him. Yet she managed to get to this man 3 steps faster than he would have. Lee was highly confident in his speed with the use of wind magic. But this young women no older than he was perhaps just a bit faster.

She looked towards Lee now with concerned eyes. “Do you know healing magic? My guard is bleeding very badly.” Lee shook his head to clear the cobwebs out. He quickly knelt down next to the man and started to heal his wounds.

“That was body enhancement magic was it not? I've never seen it used before but I heard of it.” Lee continued to heal. By now the bleeding had all but stopped.

“Yes, it's very dangerous and so I try not to use it but I felt I had no choice in this situation. I was about to take care of these two pieces of rogue filth but then you showed up and did it for me.”

“Why didn't you help me earlier?”

“I could tell you were strong. Once you stepped in front of me I was able to get a read on your power. I figured you were at least high B rank. I wanted to see if you could handle the situation with my guards so I wouldn't need to jump in. As it turns out you're probably closer to A rank now that I’ve gotten to see you in action.”

Lee didn't know of other wizards other than him or the old man who could read power at a distance. This sun house seemed to be something to be feared indeed. “So you let me do all the work? Why hide your power? I felt you were around E rank or so before. Clearly that's not the case.”

“You were hiding yours too. We all have our reasons. I don't plan to give mine unless you give yours. In any case, didn't you want the chance to pay me back? I gave it to you.” Lee said nothing to that. He certainly didn't plan to share his reasons for hiding his power. The man below him was now healed but still unconscious. He gave Victoria Sun an appraising look.

She stood about 5'7 and was lean but firmly built looking slender but athletic. Her raven hair and pale skin with blue eyes would've given her an almost haunting look had her face not looked so innocent. He tried to read her magic level again but with the enhancement magic deactivated he only sensed around E rank. She was hiding it from him again. That's a skill that be good for him to learn as well.

He thought of grabbing her hand to feel her magic directly. He doubted she would be able to hide it with direct bodily contract. However, that would be far too rude. Not to mention she would be able to feel his exactly level.

Lee and Victoria silently walked over and knelt down to check on the other guard. He was knocked out but otherwise fine.

Right as Lee was standing up Victoria spoke. “Do not worry any further. I'll be sure to see to it both get back safely. You have done more than enough.”

Lee looked at the sun in the sky. It was past noon and he really needed to start heading back with the black roses. He felt kind of odd leaving Victoria all of the sudden. He felt there was much more to her but sadly there was no time to look into it further. He felt this uncertainty in the back of his head like there was something he should learn about her that was important.

“Are you going to be competing in the continent wide tournament? If so I might be able to see you there as I'll be competing in it.” Lee positioned the pouch containing the black roses to his side.

“Yes, I'm 16 and I'll be competing, but I doubt I'll be showing the power there that I showed here. The older members of my Sun house will want the attention and I don't plan to get in their way. Speaking of which, I'd appreciate you not spreading rumors about what you saw. If you promise me that I promise to do the same with you.”

Lee smiled and shook his head. It was a very polite way to say you were blackmailing someone. Not that he didn't plan to do the same to here if she didn't say it first. “I was thinking the same thing. In any case I need to get going. Hopefully we meet again at the continent level!”

With that Lee left with the pouch full of half a dozen black roses. He still felt in the back of his mind that there was something he wasn't seeing that he should have.

*****

Night came and Victoria Sun was sitting in her room at the Sun estate. She had helped her guards come to and helped get them back the Sun estate. They made it half way before a Sun patrol found them and gave assistance. Along the way Victoria ordered them to say it was them who defeated the 4 wizards. She promised no one would ever contradict the story.

They hated lying to the head of the sun house but they had never known her to not keep a promise and the reward for their great deed of 100 gold coins each which eased their conscious.

Victoria waited until everyone else was in bed and snuck out of her room. She slipped out of the estate and into the nearby town that sat below it. After this turn and that turn she finally arrived at a very typical looking house. She carefully placed 3 knocks on the door..

The lights turned on and the door was answered by a women in her mid 30s. She looked down at Victoria with a yawn. “Kind of late for a house visit don't you think?”

“I'm sorry master. I thought you would want to hear this tonight.”

The women sighed and waved her inside. Victoria quickly walked in. “I'll put on some tea. Since you came all the way here and woke me up I suppose it must be important.”

After the tea was made they both sat down across each other at a wooden table. Victoria told her the events of the entire day The women listened carefully sipping her tea. After Victoria finished the women leaned back in her chair going over what she had just heard.

“I'm surprised a boy your age is so strong. Very curious. I'm glad you were able to use the magic I've taught you so well. It's unfortunate you needed to show it in front of someone else though...”

“I know you said not to show my skills till I'm older but there was no choice. I thought a man was about to die.”

“I didn't say I was mad at you. You did the right thing. In any case, I doubt this boy will be telling anyone else about what he saw if he doesn't want rumors of himself being spread. What noble house did he come from anyway?”

“He said he was a commoner.”

“Commoner huh? Very odd. He must be a fairly rich one to find such good teachers. In any case I doubt you have anything to be worried about.”

Victoria let out a relaxed huff. She didn't think she had to be worried but it was nice to hear someone she trusted say the same. She got up and decided it was about time to got back to her room. Before she was at the door the women asked her one more question.

“Oh by the way. What flower was he so fixated on picking?”

“The Black Rose.”

“The Black Rose?” She stood from her seat. “Why?”

“He said he needed it to make medicine. A friend of his was having problems with his mana system and he said an old man knew how to fix it but he needed the black rose to do it.”

The women walked quickly toward Victoria in a rush. “An old man wanted the black rose for that? Was he tall? Did he have a beard? Did he say what he looked like?”

Victoria tried to think. “No. Just that he was old.”

The women paced around. Could it be him? She hadn't heard anything for years. Frankly she thought he might be dead at this point. Could her old master really be alive? It was probably all just a coincidence. But for the first time in 20 years maybe she had a chance to see him again. The last time she saw him he looked so broken and defeated. Promising never to teach again. She never saw anyone is so much pain.

“Did this boy say where he and this old man lived exactly or where he'd be tonight? I'd like to talk to him myself if possible”

“No, I'm sorry. He did say he was joining the great tournament though. If he makes it far enough you may be able to speak to him yourself.”

She paced back and forth in her thoughts.. “If his master is who I think it may be and what you told me is accurate then I suspect he'll make it that far. As long as his team isn't too bad that is. I hate to leave it up to that though.”

She knew she needed to talk to her master if he was still alive. The sooner the better. This barrier would be coming down eventually if they didn't act. She needed to be sure that didn't happen. If anyone could do anything about it, then it was him. She thanked Victoria for coming to her with this news and then encouraged her to get back to her room before someone found her missing. The door closed and the women was left alone with her thoughts.

“Lee River is it? I think we have much to discuss.”