The fight had started for a few minutes and Kyllian was having the time of his life, there were rare moments in which he was feeling so alive, and these moments were often happening when his life was threatened. With a smile on his face he was evading and attacking each man coming after him, using the different crates and scaffolding to move within the warehouse. Cynrik on the other hand was more stationary but he was using his attackers weapons against them. Three men came at him from different angles, he ducked under the first one's sword and grabbed his wrist to use his sword against the second to deflect his sword, he broke the first man's wrist, turned his sword against him and slit his throat. He then juggled with the sword a few times and sighed.

  " Well, it's not my baby but it will do, wanna dance lads ? "

  With a scream of anger the two men charged him, he switched the position of the sword in his hand and held it backward, when the first man tried to stab him, he turned on himself and kicked him in the back, the other one that came at him swung his sword trying to split Cynrik's head in two, he dodged to the right and applied the blade to the man's throat.

  " If you drop that sword, I may not kill you aight ? "

  As an answer, the man grabbed a dagger at his waist and tried to stab Cynrik but he was faster than him and ended him like the first one. With his left hand he took the dagger and threw it behind his back without looking, hitting the third man in between the eyes.

  " Damn I'm so good ahah. "

  On the other side of the warehouse, Kyllian was standing on top of a crate, dodging swords aiming to cut his legs. One of the men tried stabbing his feet and Kyllian stepped on the blade to lock it in place, he then placed his hands on each side of the man's head and jumped over him while twisting himself. The man's neck cracked with a disgusting sound as Kyllian was using his body to move forward. " That is seven for me, Cynrik got six in total, that makes seven left including their boss, three are after me, two are attacking Cynrik and Pete has his bodyguard next to him. I need to shake these three off me. ". He noticed a scaffolding with lots of merchandise stock onto it and had an idea. He ran towards it and turned around to make sure he was being followed. The three gang members were on his tail. As soon as he got close to it, he gave a strong kick in the base of it, the kick was enough to make it shake but not to make it fall. " I need something bigger. ". He looked at the man coming at him and smiled. As soon as the man got close enough, Kyllian grabbed him and threw him towards the structure. Right after, crates began falling from it and the whole scaffolding started to fall on them, Kyllian rolled to the side and evaded the debris. All of it came down in a crash, once it was over, he looked around and saw that Cynrik had just disposed of everyone on his side and only Pete and his bodyguard were left. Kyllian approached them as Cynrik was making his sword twirl around in his hand.

  " Nice of you to join us blondie, Pete, where is the stash? "

  " I aint telling you shit, you're gonna die here Cynrik! "

  " I'm shaking in my boots, where is the stash!? I don't have time for your shit! "

  Pete drew two daggers and prepared himself to fight. His bodyguard was wielding a two handed hammer. Cynrik smiled and looked at Kyllian.

  " You take the big one, I take this rat. "

  " Wait, why do I get the big one!? "

  " Then you can brag to your girlfriend that you got the big one, ahah! "

  With that said, Cynrik rushed towards Pete and began clashing with him. Instantly the bodyguard came at Kyllian and started swinging his hammer around. The first hit missed and hit the ground, causing the ground to shatter, Kyllian began to hit body shots at the man but with no effect. The man backhanded him so hard he flew back and fell to the ground. Kyllian was stunned for a few seconds and moved to the side just in time to evade the hammer again. He kept rolling on the ground to evade the heavy boots of the bodyguard trying to stomp him. He tried crawling under a scaffolding but something suddenly got hold of his his leg, he looked back and realized the bodyguard had just grabbed him and began pulling him back.

  " I think I catched a little mouse ahah! "

  " Let me go you fat fuck!! "

  " As you wish, little mouse. "

  The bodyguard began flinging Kyllian left and right and finally threw him into a stack of crates.

  " Oww ... that hurts .. "

  He quickly tried to see if he was injured as he broke a few crates when he crashed into them. " I can't get him barehanded, all of his vital points are too far to hit because he is so tall, I need to bring him down and take his hammer away from him. I need a weapon! ". His hand clenched on a piece of broken wood" Guess I'll use this". He stood back up with a groan of pain, due to the long fight his bandages were slowly coming undone. He stood in front of the man and waited for him to swing at him again. The bodyguard aimed at Kyllian's head and missed again but this time, Kyllian blocked the hammer with his foot once it hit the ground to prevent the man from raising it again. He instantly stabbed the man in the hand with his wooden weapon and then stabbed him multiple times in the chest, the man punched Kyllian in the guts and grabbed him by the throat.

  " What the fu- "

  It was as if he could not feel pain, he began choking Kyllian with both hands. His feet were no longer touching the ground. Kyllian kept stabbing his arm but to no effect. Finally he decided to aim at the man's neck and planted the wood piece a few inches deep in it. The bodyguard finally let go of him, Kyllian fell heavily to the ground, coughing and gasping for air. He looked up and saw the man just pull off the piece of wood from his neck with a smile. His eyes were bloodshot and his veins on his arms and neck were pumping a dark greenish substance. He man chuckled as he looked like he was litteraly growing in muscles right in front of Kyllian.

  " You are gonna need more than this to bring me down, little mouse. "

  Kyllian stood back up and spat some blood, he wiped his mouth, raised his fists and smiled.

  " Ok then, bring it big boy. "

  On the other side of the warehouse, Pete and Cynrik were gazing at each other, walking in a circle, waiting for the other to attack, waiting for the other to commit a mistake. All of Cynrik's senses were on edge, he was paying attention to every movement, every sound, any clues. He was imaginating all the possibilities in that could happen and countering in his head, finally, he smiled at Pete.

  " Ah, finally I found it. "

  " You found what? "

  " How to kill you for sure, I know how you are going to move and how I'm going to punish you for it, before you die, tell me, where is the stash? "

  " I won't die and I won't tell you. The navigator is gonna kill you if he learns about it, you are nothing, you are a peasant that presented himself to me months ago! You didn't even know how to hold a sword!! "

  Cynrik laughed out loud and his face changed, he looked completely serious, he let go off his sword and Pete looked at it, he blinked and Cynrik disappeared from his field of view.

  " What ?!"

  In an instant, Pete found himself on the ground with his left arm in an armbar.

  " How ?! "

  " Misdirection, very easy to direct someone's attention to an object when they are focused in a fight. Now, tell me, where is the stash? "

  " I can't tell you! The navigator he will .. "

  " I know the navigator, just give me the damn stash and I won't kill you. "

  " It's under the floor of the main room, in a small chest ! "

  " Thank you. "

  Cynrik grabbed one of Pete's daggers and slit his throat, he then let go of him as he was chocking on his own blood, Cynrik readjusted his bandana and looked at Pete who was trying to reach for him.

  " The navigator sends his regards, you played your role perfectly, this port belongs to him now. "

  The last expression on Pete's face was an expression of terror mixed with anger, Cynrik began to walk away from him as the life was leaving him. He headed for the small room where the deal was happening, he moved the table and chairs away and began tapping the ground with his foot. The sound of the wood was different just at the spot where Pete was sitting. Cynrik kneeled down and began touching the ground, he finally noticed a small space where he could put his fingers in between the planks. He lifted the hatch and entered a sort of basement filled with different types of riches. His eyes landed on the chest Pete described, he opened it and found a set of maps all folded and held by strangely shaped gems. He took the chest and exited the basement with it. " My lads will collect the rest. ". He exited the room and walked in the warehouse while whistling, he headed towards where Kyllian was fighting the bodyguard and stumbled on him, out of breath and covered in blood from head to toe. Cynrik raised an eyebrow at this sight.

  " You alright blondie ? You seem to have a small stain right there. "

  Kyllian wiped the blood covering his eyes and smiled as he pointed behind his back

  " Not my blood, I think he might have a bit of a headache now. "

  Cynrik looked at where Kyllian was pointing and saw the corpse of the bodyguard, his head was smashed in pieces and his bloody hammer was laying beside him, with pieces of his brain still on it. Cynrik whistled in admiration.

  " Let's go home aight. We got what we came for. "

  " And what is it exactly? "

  " This? That's my past, my present and my future blondie, come on, get up, we are due for a fine meal. "

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Kyllian and Cynrik came back to the inn and all of their companions were waiting for them in the main room, Kyllian was hurt by his fight and his only wish was to bathe and rest, the blood was staining his clothes and bandages. As soon as she saw them enter, Mika ran up to Kyllian and looked him up. She noticed he was limping and holding his left arm close to himself.

  " Oh my god what happened!? Are you hurt!? Where is all this blood coming from!? "

  " I'm fine, I'm tired, I'm going to wash myself. "

  " But all this blood, and you seem hurt.. and .. "

  " I'm fine. "

  " Let me he- "

  Kyllian smacked her hand off him and pushed her away.

  " I said get the fuck off me! Leave me alone! "

  He then walked upstairs and the walls shook as he slammed his door shut. Cynrik whistled again, stunned by the rudeness of the young man.

  " Well, he an angry one ain't he ? "

  Mika sighed and put her hand on her forehead.

  " He is. " She then looked at Cynrik and noticed the small chest he was carrying. " So that's what you got for your deal? "

  " Well, the deal didn't go as planned but I still got my prize. "

  " What is it ? "

  " Personal belongings but a deal is a deal, you people helped me, now it's my turn to help you, I'll let your friend rest for today, tomorrow morning we depart. "

  " Thank you Cynrik. "

  " At your service lil lady. "

  He then took the chest and headed back to his room, Mika went back to sit with her friends, Maggie took a sip of water and scratched her head.

  " Is Kyllian alright? "

  " I don't know, he is an enigma, all I know is apparently something went wrong but they still got what they needed, Cynrik will take us there tomorrow. "

  A smile appeared on Maggie's face, she then turned to Yordan and slightly shook his shoulder with excitment.

  " Great news isn't it Yor? "

  " Yes it is, we are getting closer. What are we doing today then? "

  " Wanna see my newest invention? The guy I met in Glatsko gave me an idea. Meet me in five minutes in the alleyway behind the inn. "

  All excited, Maggie stood up before anyone could say anything, Mika had a chuckle and bit a piece of bread.

  " Well at least someone is enjoying the trip. "

  " I wish you could enjoy it a bit, maybe stop trying to go for Kyllian? "

  " But.. there are things you don't know and he is pushing me away on purpose. "

  " Then ignore him, he obviously cares about you, he will come around, give him time. "

  " I guess .. "

  " Come on, let's go see what Maggie has done that will blow in our faces next. "

  They both stood up and exited the building, they then walked around the building to meet with Maggie, they found her crouched tinkering with some sort of long metal tube slinged to her by leather straps. Yordan stopped and placed his hand on his hips.

  " So, what is this ? "

  " This is the future my friends! So far, to fight from long distances we have to rely on bow and arrows but what if we had something better, faster and with more power ? "

  Mika chuckled.

  " Yeah it's called a crossbow. "

  " No no no! Better than a crossbow, just look at this, inside of this tube is the dried up paste basically put into a powder, with the help of the other engineer in Glatsko I had this idea of this little gearbox at the end, if you pull the trigger of it, it will create a spark inside of the tube and ignite the powder!"

  " Ok but what do you shoot with this ? "

  " These! "

  Maggie held a small metal ball not bigger than a marble, Mika looked at it intensely.

  " This? This couldn't hurt anyone enough or stop them. "

  " You are thinking of it from the perspective of it being thrown very slowly or slinged, if I toss it to you it's going to annoy you but if it's fired and moves faster than the eye can see by a condensed explosion, it's going to do damage, just watch okay? "

  Maggie loaded the ball inside of the tube and aimed at a plank at the end of the alleway, she took a deep breath and pressed the trigger. In less than a second, the powder ignited and exploded, causing the ball to be expelled from the cannon at an incredible speed. The ball landed inside of the wood plank, shattering it on impact, the explosion was so strong that Maggie was pushed back from the recoil and landed on the ground. Mika was too stunned to move or speak, Yordan helped Maggie up and made sure she was ok.

  " You good bud? "

  " Better than good! You saw this?! It worked! Let's go see the result. "

  They approached the plank and noticed the ball had pierced a hole into the wall it landed in, Mika gave s slight slap on Maggie's shoulder.

  " Congrats Mag'! "

  " Thank you, now I just have to find a solution to the last hurdle. "

  " Which is? "

  " Reloading it, because if you miss, you have to put the powder and ball back and also, the gearbox gets messed up and shaken after every shot so I don't know how many shots this can take. "

  " You'll figure it out, I'm going to the stables to check on the horses, wanna come with me? "

  " Yeah sure, Yor you coming ? "

  " Nah, I'll just be reading. "

  " Your loss then. " Maggie slinged back her new weapon and started to walk with Mika " Oh and we could do some shopping ! I want out of these rags. "

  " Maybe, I might need something new on me. I also need to write a letter to my father to let him know how the trip is going. "

  Maggie leaned and whispered to Mika.

  " Maybe we can find you something sexy to wear for Cynrik or Kyllian. "

  " Stoooop! It's not like that, Cynrik is too old and Kyllian is .. "

  Before she finished her sentence, she heard a noise of broken glass above her head, someone just flew out of the window of the inn and landed with a thud on the ground in front of them, the person groaned on the ground, Mika was stunned when she saw who it was when they turned around.

  " .. Kyllian?! "

  " Oww fuck that hurts.. "

  Mika heard a laugh above her head and looked from where Kyllian came from, Cynrik was standing at the window and laughing at Kyllian's fall.

  " Next time you better know how to pick your fight boy, aight? "

  Kyllian was obviously in a state of rage, he punched the ground and stood up.

  " Come down there you coward and give back what you took from me NOW !! "

  " As you wish. "

  Cynrik jumped out of the window and with great agility made his way down to the ground level.

  " Calm down lad. I don't really want to fight, I gave you an option, you can still chose the right one. "

  " That sounds like a you problem, give. it. back. "

  " I told you, I'll give it if you can land a hit or answer my questions, you haven't done any of these yet. "

  " If I put my hands on you, I will kill you. "

  Cynrik laughed out loud and raised his fists.

  " No boy, you will try. "

  Kyllian charged Cynrik directly after that under the horrified gaze of Mika.

  A few minutes before this whole situation came to be, Kyllian was resting in his room and redoing his bandages, he heard a knocking on his bedroom door and tried to hurry wrapping his arms.

  " Wait ! "

  Completely ignoring what he said, the person on the other side opened the door and entered his room, Cynrik closed the door behind him. He took a few seconds to look at Kyllian's burned arms before he could finish wrapping his hands, he then smiled and started to walk in the room, touching Kyllian's and Yordan's belongings.

  " Hey there blondie, can we talk ? "

  " No, get out. "

  " So I was wondering something.. "

  " Didn't you hear me!? I said get out! "

  " Oh I heard you, I just ignored it. So I was wondering, the other blondie, what does she like? "

  " What? "

  " Come on, she is your traveling companion right? You must know what she likes and dislikes? "

  Kyllian wanted to answer something snarky but he took the time to really think about what Mika liked, he realized he never had a deep discussion with her, it's not that he did not care, he just never asked. Cynrik noticed his silence and smirked.

  " Your silence is all the answers I need. "

  " Why do you ask? "

  " Isn't it obvious? I like her and I think she likes me so I'm gonna shoot my shot. Come on, give a friend some tips. "

  " You aren't my friend. "

  " I think you say that often but don't mean it, you aint that cold aight? "

  Cynrik walked up to Kyllian and sat next to him.

  " Ok, tougher question now. How does she like it? "

  Kyllian winced at the question and gritted his teeth.

  " What? "

  Cynrik passed his arm around Kyllian's shoulders and brought him closer.

  " Come on, how does she like it? Slow, fast, being under, being on top? ". Cynrik whispered the next part extremely close to Kyllian. " With a finger up the ass? "

  Kyllian had enough of him and pushed him away from him.

  " Don't speak of her that way! "

  " Ahah! I knew it! You two are a thing! "

  " No we are not and you better leave before I kill you. "

  " Ouuuuu so scary but seriously if you are not a thing, I can fuck her then? "

  " You won't, she is not like that. "

  " You don't even know the first thing about her, what tells you she wont fuck me if I push enough ? "

  " ..."

  " Exactly, ok then if she is not your girl but still close to the point that you want to protect her this much that would make her .. hmmm . oh I get it! Your sister? Two blondies and barely any age difference. "

  " What? No! "

  " I mean, you look like a sister fucker to me. I won't judge. "

  " One more word out of you and I will end you right here, right now. "

  " Ok last question, why does a sister fucker at the end of the world possess such a valuable jewelry ? "

  Cynrik then showed Kyllian the golden necklace he was usually wearing around his neck, Kyllian touched his neck and realized it was gone. He then realized that when Cynrik had placed his hand around him he had used grabbed his neckless off him.

  " Give it back! "

  " Wait wait wait, let's play a game, you tell me who you really are and I give it to you. "

  " I have no patience for your games! "

  Kyllian stood up and tried swinging at Cynrik, he simply evaded and kicked Kyllian in the back, sending him crashing against the door.

  " There is no way a peasant like you would have something so valuable and not sold it yet, so it means this is not just some nice piece to you. It had to be a gift aight? "

  " It's the last thing my mother gave me! Give it back NOW!! "

  " Ohhh, you a momma's boy? That's funny, so, who are you and what are you doing here in this dump of a country? "

  " I have nothing to tell you! "

  Kyllian came at him again and tried to tackle him down, Cynrik simply braced for the impact and did not fall, he then gave multiple hits with his knees to Kyllian guts and then used both of his hands like a mace to hit him in the back, knocking the air out of him.

  " I think I will keep it then, or we can play another game, I will give it to you, if you can lend a hit on me. "

  Kyllian stood back up, still coughing, Cynrik was a better hand to hand fighter than he thought, he would have to trick him somehow. Without answering, he focused on Cynrik, trying to find an opening, Cynrik opened his left hand and Kyllian saw his necklace shine in his hand, instantly he received a kick to the face.

  " Eyes on me boy, don't be distracted aight? "

  Cynrik kept delivering a series of devastating kicks that Kyllian could barely counter, finally, Cynrik turned on himself and kicked Kyllian so hard he flew out of the window, landing a few meters below in front of his companions.

  The two men had been sparring for minutes and for the first time since they knew him, the group was seeing Kyllian struggling in a fight. Mika was observing the fight with attention. " Kyllian seems so desperate, what does Cynrik have that he wants so badly, he doesn't even take time to breathe or think, he is just charging him without proper footing. When we fought he was being smart and calculated, it's like he lost all control. "

  Cynrik was laughing as he kept evading the now sluggish hits of Kyllian, he was toying with him and taunting him to chase him around. Every time he was close to being caught, he would hit Kyllian directly in the face and move away. Kyllian was charging through the hits, ignoring his current pain, ignoring his bloody nose, busted out lips and newly opened eyebrow ridge. He was blinking through the blood getting into his eyes and was acting like a wild beast. Maggie touched Mika's shoulder to get her attention.

  " Shouldn't we do something? This looks bad. "

  " I don't think even the creator could get between these two and get out unscathed at this point. "

  " I still don't like it. "

  " Me neither .. "

  Yordan was standing in the back, trying to think of a way to break the fight but just as Mika said, he saw no way of getting between them without getting seriously hurt. Kyllian attacked again and tried to fake Cynrik with a punch. Seeing him trying to counter the punch he changed his movement and tried sweeping his leg with a kick. Cynrik saw through the fake out and kicked Kyllian directly in the face once again, causing him to fall heavily on the ground. Cynrik let out a sigh and approached Kyllian, he got him up and held him in a choking position.

  " Listen to me boy, you are strong and somewhat smart, but once it becomes personal you lose all your senses, this will be your demise. "

  - " Let me go! Unhand me you fucker! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOOOOOOUUUUU !!! "

  " Shhh shhh, If you don't care about yourself enough to apply this, think about them. "

  Kyllian finally noticed that Mika was standing right there, he eventually stopped struggling and as he was relaxing, Cynrik slowly loosened his grip and let him go. Kyllian fell on his side, bloody and out of breath, Cynrik searched through his own jacket pocket and took out Kyllian's necklace, he crouched and placed it in Kyllian's opened hand, he then put his own hand over his and made him close it.

  " There you go blondie, I got all the answers I wanted out of you, I hope one day you can tell the others where you came from, have some rest. "

  Cynrik stood up and looked at Mika. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead here and there with how she was glaring at him. He scratched his neck, realizing he may have done a bit too much.

  " You can tend to his wounds now, I'll see you tomorrow. "

  Mika stood silent and kept her eyes on him as he was leaving the scene. As soon as he was out of sight she ran up to Kyllian and gently tapped his cheek.

  " Kyllian, it's gonna be alright ok? I will .. We'll take care of you! Yordan, Maggie, helped me, we need to get him to his room and clean him up. "

  The other two nodded and helped Mika raise a bloodied and unconscious Kyllian, still clenching his fist on the last valuable object that reminded him of his mother.