The Runic Alchemist

The giant air blade splitting the air in half headed towards the two knights at horizontal waist height, the speed was incredibly fast since it took more than fourth of Damian's mana.

The burned knight was at the center of the spell, bald leader on the other hand was at the very edge so he speedily got out of the range. The burned knight tried to duck down and saw the ground moving upwards, the bald leader knew how to take advantage of the situation.

So the burned knight went with the only choice he had left, which was to jump up and he did just that, however the slight delay cost him dearly. As his left leg which was just a second behind than the rest of his body got hit by the blade at ankle length. The force was so great that the blade did not just cut the leg clean off, but it also sent him flying in circles.

His legs up and face down then face up again, spraying the blood all over, it was real brutal and messy to look at.

The aura's hold was released and finally Damian and Anthony were free to run. Damian stared at his bald leader of their little mission for a while and then turned around, his debt was paid. Picking up both Sam and Anthony Damian started running towards the wall without looking back. The burned knight was still very much conscious, badly injured but still functioning.

The screams however were blood chilling. All the knights observing the fight rushed at once towards the bald leader and Damian. They were pretty far though and it wasn't that big of a deal.

Damian could easily make it and go past the wall, and after that, the city was huge. They could easily get away. Damian did not know whether the bald leader went after the injured third ranker or just simply ran away but neither did he care.

"Running away so soon..? Without even saying hello..? That's rude you know.."

Damian almost tripped when he heard the familiar mockery filled voice from high above him. With a load of despair crashing on his little heart Damian slowly raised his head and looked up. Anthony and Sam were on his each shoulder.

"Of course, you are friends with the murderer... I knew I couldn't trust any man who lusts after my sister... No matter how young..."

The prince of Faerunia was sitting on his feet looking down from 20 meters above land, on a square half transparent cyan slab of some kind. Another man was besides him with the same uniform and insignia as the handsome knight Damian had met the other day, identifying him also a member of king's guard.

He had light cyan spiky hair which was something Damian had never seen before and a hard look on his face that screamed danger.

Damian focused on his mana sense and for a second felt relief not sensing the handsome knight anywhere around, then he frowned and looked back. The knights were still chasing him, there was no sign of the bald Dawnstar knight and the burned knight was surrounded by some people, flashes of golden light repeating again and again from the gaps between people around him.

'Well.. I am truly and royally f*cked...'

*****

Two days ago...

"You are still short, go a little higher.."

'Groans'

"I tell you Ivar, this is plain bullshit..."

"Still you need to go higher..."

Alex had enough of this shitty practice, a thousand freaking cuts on a tiny little papers which were hanging from a rope on the freaking height of his head? For what just disobeying once..?

"My hands hurt..!!"

"I know... You already told me 100 times today, my lord."

Raising his short sword up Alex performed another overhead slash barely grazing the tiny little paper which was not even a finger length.

"Higher.."

"AGGHHHHH !!"

This was the most annoying punishment in history of punishments, Alex was sure of that. Gritting his teeth Alex raised his sword up once again and concentrated, calculating the distance and power he needed to make a clean cut. However just as he was going to execute his move a young annoying face disturbed his thoughts and he failed again.

"Goddammit !!"

"Higher..."

He had to do 1000 cuts and he was stuck on 14 for a whole day now. The lecherous boy who was annoying his beautiful sister was a genuine piece of shit, no doubt in that. Yeah, everyone in the world knows that. Still.. he was just a commoner and he...

'No.. No freaking way.. It was just as sis said, I messed up the execution of the hidden art..'

Alex thought and felt 2% better than before however he had told himself this hundred times already and his mind was still stuck on it. Alex had calculated the distance perfectly, the mana was enough, the power in his swing was perfect, the actions of the stance flawless... and yet it had failed.

Alex had practiced the move again and again after getting back to the palace, hiding in one of the training rooms alone. And every single time the slash was executed perfectly.

"Come on... if you won't do at least 50 a day we will be doing this for the rest of the month..."

"What's with you..? You are just lazing around all day anyway. I have seen you. This is your punishment too..."

"Don't I know it..."

"What was that...?"

"I am a guard okay..? What do I guard against when there is no one around..? Can't a guy rest for a while...?"

"Useless..."

"Weak ass.."

"What was that..?"

"Work our ass off.. yes.. my lord.. we have to work our ass off to complete this task.."

"Hmphh..."

Among all the king's guard Alex hated this one the most, he was always lazing around, finding corners to sleep in. Alex had once seen him sleep in the freaking stable with horses.

Doing the miserable cuts rest of the evening Alex was finally let go of after completing 35 cuts. Taking a bath in the warm water Alex finally relaxed and enjoyed his momentary freedom. He had to do the damned cuts tomorrow morning too.

Thinking about how his his sister looked so cute no matter which angle one looked from, Alex finally fell sleep smiling happily.

In the early morning his uncle poked him with the butt of his sword till he finally woke up in annoyance, almost cursing at whoever it was that was annoying him. However he stopped just as he recognized who it really was. He already had 1000 cuts, he didn't want another 100 added into it.

Cursing in his heart Alex got up and let the maids do their work making him ready for the morning stamina training and practice. He found his uncle in the hall below and glared at his smug face. The knight captain got up and they both walked outside in the training ground, the handsome knight all proud and walking straight, the less handsome one all annoyed and dragging himself behind him.

They reached the training area where many knights were already present doing all kinds of stretches and exercises.

Doing his regular exercises, he was ordered to run all around the big open area and Alex did just that. He had never regretted any other decision in his life as much as he did the one where he decided to become a squire to his uncle.

Alex had swore an oath that if at the end of this torturous training he did not become as powerful as his uncle, he will poison the guy in his sleep and laugh like crazy over his grave.

That was the only thought that motivated Alex to wake up everyday and suffer this fate.

Finally finished with his morning training, the prince of Faerunia was washed, cleaned and clothed by the maids and delivered to the dining hall. Looking all prim and proper, however that was just the outwards appearance. Damned right was the guy who had said that 'Outward appearances was a big fat lie...' he was named Yrorakh, Yworas or some other Yvyo guy.

Alex had read that once so he knew, he was smart like that.

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