Chapter 65: Fox Rebellion

Kashiro walked his circle, for the twentieth time. Turning every which way hoping for some movement, but nothing happened.

Kashiro: “Almighty Xana, please for the sake of my family, let her show.”

Kashiro was a nervous wreck, taking Gideon’s offer to free his family, by helping to capture the Lycanian, it didn’t sit well with his wife. However, truth be told, Kashiro had other ideas. Kashiro thought about it and what Gideon said, didn’t make a whole lot of sense. The Lycanian abducted his children and now she was headed to confront the ones who set the trap. Why not just leave, why not tell the guards in Loegrey, why come alone, none of it made sense.

Kashiro has spent enough time with Gideon to understand, some of his train-of-thought. Kashiro, knew of the rumors of the beautiful Lycanian, if Gideon wants her alive, he must want to add her, to his collection. Furthermore, why abduct his children, the would be an obvious hindrance? It would be more plausible, if she was helping them instead. It was the only reason he could think of, that what warrant them, using him as bait.

If he was right and the Lycanian was coming here to rescue them, this was his chance. If he could just find her, he would then betray Gideon and help the Lycanian save his family. He wouldn’t let Gideon have his way any longer, for the sake of reuniting his family, he will turn against his captives.

Jonathan, not too far off from Kashiro, waited impatiently for something to happen. He was told that the Lycanian race were great trackers, at least that what was written in documents, he had read. So why hadn’t she shown yet?

Jonathan: “Something isn’t right.”

No matter how you put it, from the area the Lycanian was last sighted, she should have reached this area by now. Kashiro’s scent should be similar to his children, so there’s no way she wouldn’t have not notice. She should have made herself known by now, could she be on to them? Even, if that were so, nothing has happened. Jonathan looked around carefully, none of his men had fallen asleep or disappeared. Furthermore, the plants in the area hadn’t change, as far as he could tell. He had his spell books filled with fire magic, just in case, the need arises. Jonathan mind ran a mile a minute, trying to figure out what was taking so long.

Jonathan: “(Wait, why would she help someone who led her into a trap? Not to mention take on a group of bandits by herself, unless there was something else she wanted?)”

Jonathan looked up to Kashiro, it had been way too long, perhaps Kashiro wasn’t the target. They did have a stockpile of stolen riches, if that was the target then Gideon could be in trouble.

Jonathan: “We’re heading back, you three, come with me, the rest, keep watching Kashiro.”

Jonathan and the three he chose began to head back, before Jonathan stopped and turned to one of men.

Jonathan: “If no one shows within the next twenty minutes, you know what to do.”

With that said, Jonathan hurried away, the man he assigned the job, pulling out a dagger, ready to end Kashiro.”

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Gideon: “You can’t dodge forever.”

Nathan: “That’s debatable.”

Gideon continued to launch attack after attack, preventing Nathan from countering, but it helped in a way to. While he was bouncing around, any spot he could find soft soil, he would leave a seed and he nearly had enough. The flowers were beginning to sprout and soon would take effect. Nathan just continued to dodge the assault, while pretending to counter attack, but if he did land a hit, all the better.

Gideon: “Well, how about this?”

Gideon launch in attack, aiming for where Nathan was landing. Nathan threw his sword at the incoming attack, it negated the beam but the force of the attack, sent the sword flying off, out of reach.

Gideon: “Looks like you lost your weapon, but I see you got another on your back. If you take to long to draw, I must just cut you down.

Nathan: “Hah, Like you could. I’d never soil that blade with your disgusting bodily fluids; I’m sure it would decay.”

Gideon: “Why you-”

Nathan continued to rouse Gideon to attack, keeping him distracted from his plan. He finally had enough seeds and placed, all he had to do was maneuver Gideon, into the right position.

*Shwiiiiiiiiiiip*

Nathan: “What!?”

Gideon launched another attack, but not at Nathan. With lightning precision, he cut down all of Nathan’s sprouting plants.

Gideon: “Do you take me for a fool? You think I didn’t know, about your ability over plants? I lived in these caves long enough to recognize what doesn’t belong, plants are on the very top of the list.”

Nathan: “Tch.”

Nathan was running low on time, his plants getting cut down wasn’t helping either. But then, Nathan notice something, Gideon was breathing loud and heavy, but had he not notice it himself?

He must be running low on Mana, the constant flurry of attacks, must be taken its toll. This could work, there was a shot, he didn’t have his plants, but with his speed and abilities he could do it. He just needed to allow Gideon, to take himself out.

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Kou: “Ai, where are you going?”

Kou chase after his sister, yelling for her to stop. She had become impatient and decided to head over to the bandit’s hideout.

Ai: “Stay here, it’s not safe.”

Kou: “But, what are you going to do, you can’t save mom and dad by yourself?”

Ai: “And you want to leave it up to that woman, she blatantly said, she had no plan to rescue them. Even if she catches the leader, what about the rest? You think they will just let her walk out if there?”

Kou: “But, mom and dad, might not even be there. You remember what she said? Gideon was using all of us, to steal for him. What happens if we go there and mom dad aren’t there? We would just get in the way.”

Ai: “It’s better then, sitting around here waiting for something that might not happen.”

Kou: “No, she said she will send them our way right, I think she plans to rescue them.”

Ai: “That’s not reassuring, Kou.”

Kou: “Then why even say that, after she said she wasn’t going to save them, doesn’t it contradict?”

Ai thought a little, it was strange to say, she would send their parents this way, if she had no intention on setting them free first. However, that vague chain of thought, wasn’t enough for Ai, she needed something concrete and what was more concrete than doing it yourself?

Kou grabbed his sisters hand, forcing her to stop. She tried to shake him loose, but he refuses to let her go.

Ai: “Kou, let go.”

Kou: “No, we need to wait here.”

Ai: “They’re not coming.”

Kou: “You don’t know that.”

Bandit: “Well I do, and I can guarantee you, they are not coming.”

Ai and Kou, turned to see several people step out of the woods. Ai cursed herself, the warning Nathan left them, about sticking to the trees, stab her in the chest.

Bandit: “Well, Jonathan was right, we been looking for you kids. We’ll be needing you to come with us, we’d like to hear more about the Lycanian’s plan for our boss.”

Kou: “Ai.”

Ai: “Stay behind me.”

Bandit: “Look here kids, we don’t want to have to hurt you, so none of that fancy foot work, okay?”

Ai signaled Kou to moved, with there leg work, they could both as easily make it to the top of the trees, as Nathan did.

*Bam*

However right before they could make a move, Ai was suddenly, smashed in the head from behind, knocking her to the ground.

Kou: “AI!?”

Ai tried to get up, but the woman who hit her, quickly pinned her back down.

Bandit: “Alright kid, if you don’t want us to hurt your sister, no fooling around.”

Ai: “KOU, RUN, AAAAHHHHHHH!”

The woman began bending Ai’s arm in an awkward position, causing her to scream in pain.

Kou: “Ai!”

Ai: “K-Kou, GAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!”

Kou: “Stop, you’re hurting her. I won’t run, just stop.”

Bandit: “Good boy.”

The bandit woman, stopped her assault on Ai, but kept her pinned down. The man, walked over and reached out for Kou, who put his head down. With his sister capture and the Lycanian gone, there were as good as dead.

Bandit: “What the hell, AH, AAAAAAHHHHHHH!?”

Kou’s head snapped up, the bandit who reached for him, his hand began twisting in an unnatural way. A moment later, the woman holding Ai, started to scream as well. Soon, the rest followed, screaming in pain, as their arms were twisted in awkward positions. Free from the bandit’s grasp. Ai quickly shuffled over to her brother, while rubbing her sore arms.

Ai: “Kou, how are you doing this?”

Kou: “Me, I thought it was you.”

Iris: “Its’ neither of your doing.”

Ai and Kou jumped at the voice, it took a moment, but they both recognize it. The anonymous voice from before, belong to the invisible person, the Lycanian was speaking to had returned.

By some unseen force, the group of bandit’s arms and legs, were being twisted in unnatural ways. Iris twisted them in a way, that brought them extreme amounts of pain, without breaking them.

Kou and Ai stared in fear and amazement, wondering who the voice belong to and how she was doing what she was doing.

Iris: “You gather in groups to assault on children, let’s see how much you enjoy, your arms twisted in awkward positions.

Iris made an unseen turn, towards Ai and Kou.

Iris:You two, please avert your eyes and cover your ears, the following, will not be particularly pleasant.”