Bab 20: Caught in the crosssfire
I took in the surroundings. A few carts and crates were upturned on the street side, some of the goods scattered all over the ground. The wall of the building opposite us had large chips and cracks on its surface, probably from when one of them had been thrown outside earlier. I could hear the fading screams and shouts of people who had fled the scene, along with that of mine coming from inside me.
A strong gust of wind knocked me back, and I nearly fell to the ground if it weren't for Lira pinning my shoulders down. The sudden force was due to the impact that was caused by Galen's sword hitting Ras' own sword. Their faces were very close to each other, both taut with challenge and focus. Sparks flew from the place upon which their blades met, and it was already obvious that neither of them had any plans of losing this fight.
"I've always wanted to wipe that smug look off your face, Captain," Galen snarled, teeth bared.
"Why, I'm honored that you even think of me, my lord." Ras' smirk was there, his arms barely trembling from Galen's sheer strength.
The two of them pulled apart, and not a moment too soon they were onto one another again. My eyes could barely keep up as Galen and Ras exchanged blow after blow, each of them seemingly more powerful than the previous ones.
It was like watching two dancers performing something out of a choreographed dance—for every strike there was a parry and for every feint there was a quick block. I was knowledgeable enough about fighting to realize that none of the two were wasting any moves, every attack calculated and precise. None of them made any mistakes.
And then Galen started to use his magic.
Fire ignited from his blade, streaks of flames curling from the hilt up to the very tip. It cast a golden glow on his tan skin, complementing his eyes of glimmering gold—wait, I should not be commenting on appearances. That is not the main focus here.
Amusement bloomed on Ras' face when he saw that Galen had begun to use his magic. "That's interesting. They say the Grand General of Orion only summons his flames when faced with a great threat."
"Don't push your luck, Cygnusian. I merely want this little squabble to end quickly, you are not worth my time." Galen spat on the ground. It was red. A bruise was forming on his cheek. Since when? I had not even seen Ras land a punch on him. As much as I hated how much of an asshole Galen was being right now, I could not help but feel a pang on my chest upon seeing him get hurt.
But there was a kind of concern I was feeling for Ras as well, and it was different from what I felt for Galen.
This emotion stemmed more from worry of how he was feeling. Of what he was thinking as of the moment. Galen had mentioned something about an incident from three years ago, and that must have affected him badly. I wasn't sure what it was, but I was worried for him. Right, I was beginning to care for my savior that I've also started to care for what he was thinking and feeling. And for what I could do to ease his pain.
The battle continued. Galen charged at Ras with his fire-licked sword, and his movements had become sharper and faster. Ras did well in evading the attacks, but I could tell that he was lagging behind. The fire singed his sleeves, and I caught the slight twitch of his eye. He got burnt.
Lira fell into place beside me. "You still have plans to stop them?"
"Yes," I answered, but even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.
"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire," Lira said, sounding exhausted. I heard the shifting of rubble, and I didn't have to guess that she'd finally decided to sit on the ground. Not giving a damn care was her specialty, unlike me who perhaps cared too much.
Ras grunted, making me turn to them once more. It didn't take me long to realize that he was losing. There were burn marks on his arms, angry lines of red that peaked from the torn wraps of bandages. A gash lined his cheek in a clean cut, blood dripping down his jaw. Galen kept swinging and swinging his blade at him, and Ras was losing his foothold. All he could do was move backward as he blocked Galen's every attack.
A memory from earlier entered my mind. Shadows forming in his hands, his face distorted in agony. My hand immediately flew to my mouth as I snapped back to the present with the realization. Whatever power Ras had used earlier, it had cost him greatly. And I might have healed him, which basically meant that all I did was make his disrupted energy flow return to normal. But he had not fully recovered yet.
He was hiding his weakness with that stubborn clenching of his jaw.
What was I going to do? Was I really this helpless that I had to stand here for nearly twenty minutes trying to think of a way to stop these two from cutting each other's throats?
I yelp escaped my lips as I saw Galen cornering Ras against a wall, the flames on the Grand General's sword kissing the Captain's neck.
"At last, I get to make you shut up," Galen hissed, his fires flaring brighter.
Ras chuckled. "What, do you expect me to congratulate you?"
"Pathetic," Galen tilted his head, "those are your last words? Very well."
Galen's flames roared, growing ten times bigger as he raised his sword.
At the very last minute, amidst the panic and chaos in my mind, Lira's words echoed repeatedly.
"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire."
"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire."
"Good luck on doing that without being caught in the crossfire."
A dazed laugh climbed up my throat. "I am going to do the exact opposite of that."
"The exact opposite of what?" Lira blurted out.
But I was already gone, running toward my savior and hoping I could save him too.
Hadiah
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