“That skull which mask in the darkness, those eyes which pierces the soul” The Sve Trader retorted.

  Like the feather of a phoenix—burning, reborn, undying!

  “No!...it be”

  The Sve Traders voibsp; quivered in fear, his face twisting into a grotesque mask of terror. His bck eyes darted between me and the bandits.

  “It was rumors surely?!” He whimpered.

  He quickly stumbled back losing his footing, pointing his trembling plump fi me.

  “K-KILL IT!”

  His shriek echoed through the den, slig through it. The moment he yelped his order he scurried behind the cart like a rat being hunted.

  “I-it’s only a man”, the bandit leader yelled out, stepping forward. His long bck hair swayed as he uhed his bck sword, fidence glittered in his eyes.

  No!

  No! No!

  “It the Reaper!”

  The words came from the men their breaths mixed with fear.

  “T-the what?” The Bandit Leader asked.

  I didn’t give them time to process it. I on them.

  Like a phantom, my red eyes swayed in the dark as I maed my sword. The first bandits neck split open before his lips could utter a scream. His body fell with a dull thud.

  The others reacted, too slow. Oer ahey fell.

  Their bdes ine. I parried, dodged, killed.

  A pathetic attempt of a dagger went for my back I swiftly appeared behind him impaling my bde through his ribs.

  Magic suddenly crackled through the air.

  A caster his staff raised high, his trembling voice whispering an intation.

  “INFERNO OVOID!” He yelled.

  A fire ball raced toward me.

  I griightening my grip. The fmes curled between my fingers, their power in my trol.

  I believe this is yours?

  I threw it back but this time it was bigger. The mage and the bandits were ignited into charred flesh.

  Silence all of you.

  I stepped over the charred remains log eyes with the bandit leader. However, he was different than any ordinary bandit. His magical aura, and on stance of choice all seemed familiar.

  Then, slowly, he sighed.

  He exhaled, his posure returning. Shadows begin shift from out of him his aura was bck as obsidian.

  “The name is Marcus” he pauses “Marcus. Redwood”

  A/N: ^^What Marcus Redwood looks like^^

  "Where have I heard that name before?" I asked myself.

  Before I could think further the air rippled around him. The torches on the walls flickered—the out entirely.

  Nothing but darkness.

  Suffog bess oozed from his body like smoke. The air grew unsteady with an unnatural presence.

  Shadows which silhouettes mocked their master were formed ten of them in an instant emerged.

  “May you be filled with the noe of night” Marcus let out as he blended with his shadow es.

  They lunged.

  I moved.

  My bde fshed through one.

  Another swing—two gone.

  A dodge, a sideway ssh—gone.

  The moment my mana sword went through them, their bodies crumbled into nothing but empty mana.

  Then—G!

  Our bdes cshed, sparks flying in the darkness.

  “Not terrible,” I muttered, defleg the bde aimed at my neck.

  Marcus scowled. “Who are you truly?”

  His attacks then became relentless, but mine were precise.

  The way he used his magid sword was a lot like Professor Red-

  In a moment the air cshed of mana aal. His bde became darkened as his sword was enveloped by shadows. He trated all his aura with one final strike.

  “You o die here” he sneered as he gritted his teeth.

  He failed to realize. This is exactly what I want from him.

  “So utterly predictable,” I muttered as my mana bde sliced through his sword and aura. The hing he saw was my bde fshing at his chest, pierg his lungs.

  As he colpsed on the floor, I found my mask falling off my face. A cut through the middle.

  He mao hit me? I muttered trying to py ignorance. Before turning toward, the cart.

  Suddenly, I felt a faint tug on my arcus

  His bloodied hands gripped my cloak, weakly pullioward him.

  “Y-your so young… h-how did I lose” he gasped, his throat filling with blood. “You…you attend the academy don’t you boy?”

  "I didn’t take you as a fan of mine." I replied with amusement. But he failed to hear me.

  “With magic like yours I could have made him proud… When my father finds out he’ll ki-"

  Before he could finish his sentence, I felt his grip untighten from my cloak, his body embrag death.

  What a pity. I walked over his dead body, not b to gnce back. There was no need. His opinions and voice will be an echo.

  As I walked toward the cart, the sve trader sat behind it trembling like a rodent caught in a trap. His voice shook as he pleaded, a pitiful excuse for someone like him.

  “Please! Don’t kill me. I’ll give you anything—Men? Women? Fame?” His words went on seeking desperation. Then, a glint of misuanding flickered in his eyes, “Oh! Oh, you must be into little girls, huh?” His breath caught in his throat as if he solved the question.

  “How repulsive,” I muttered. I could feel the revulsion from deep inside my gut, but there was no meren like him. He ig, unworthy of the same mud he bathed in.

  With a fliy wrist, I unmaed my bde. My hand founds its way to his throat, like a snake strig it's prey. “Men like you are merely pawns to the oligarchy we live in. We may cim this is a established monarchy, but everyone—even royalty—has a price.”

  His eyes bulged, realizing his situation. “You are no use to me,” I whispered coldly, as my grip tightened. “I’ll take your life's work and make it my own”

  In a swift motion, I snapped his neck. His body became lifeless like a doll that was discarded after its strings being cut. “I’ll be taking these rings with me they may sell for a high price” I said to myself.

  Now time for the true harvest.

  As I approached the cart, I slowly ed my hands around the tarp pulling it back. Revealing a green orb. I a girl, no older than myself, y unscious. Her elveures were delicate her skin seemed as smoothed as por. Her breath seemed shallowed as if she was slipping in and out of sciousness as if she was in a atose state.

  I broke the lock of the cart with ease. A simple fliy fingers and the cart that fined her en.

  As I approached the orb a name was faintly written on the side. Elnora. I whispered it to myself as I reached out my hand over the aext. As soon as the words left my lips, the name seemed to glow.

  The orb pulsed with magical energy, and door to it opehe elven girl began to stir, her eyes opening.

  “W-where am I” Her voice was soft, her words slurred, as she tried to rise. Though her legs failed her she stumbled forward, but I was already there, catg her in my arms.

  “Careful” I said holdieady. She looked up at me, her pure wide, fused eyes meeting mine.

  Her blush was quick, but she tried to stand again, this time with more strength. As I helped her stand up, I realized she was without clothes. A sense of awkwardness filled the air. Without a word, I used the magicules, and weaved her a set of clothing. A white, green, and gold spring dress formed her petite body with delicate floral patterns.

  “Y-your trol of magic I-it’s beautiful” she whispered, a sense of awe filled her voice.

  Here you go I said looking away from her current appearance.

  Her eyes darted to her bare form for a moment. “C-could you look away for a moment please?”

  I didn’t even blink. Things like this don’t bother me really with a subtle turn of my head I faced the darkness. When she spoke again her voice seemed to have a touch of fidend warmth.

  “You turn my way now”

  I turned fag her, and in that moment, she gave a pyful but elegant bow, her movement fluid and light.

  A/N: ^^What she looks like in her dress!^^

  “I am Elnora. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  I stood their pletely puzzled. For the first time in my life, words failed me. Never before had I been moved by a woman—not in my past life nor in this one. In that moment time itself seemed to slow down. I could hear my heart beat a fra quicker than normal.

  What is this meaningless feeling? Ugh… It’s foul.

  I shook my head, pushing my emotions to the side.

  “Why were you in that orb?” I asked cutting to the point.

  She titled her head slightly “I-I don’t know” her smile soft but sincere.

  “Oh… great! You don’t remember a thing, do you?” I asked sighing.

  “No but I do know this…” her eyes twinkled “Whoever lets me out of my slumber will be given my panionship. So therefore, that will be you, Ryn!”

  I froze “I old you, my name.”

  “I know.” She giggled lightly, as if amused. “But since you opehe orb, a permeant pact was formed between us.”

  I blinked, sidering the implications of her words. Bringio the academy as my assistant and enrolling her as a student could yield me many bes. “Will you serve any and I give you?”

  “Yes!” Her voice rang with siy behind it. I could see it in her eyes she has already pced trust with me.

  “Before I chose you in the orb, I determihat you are worthy of my grace.” She said smiling.

  Just as I was about to speak again, she colpsed.

  Like an instinct I caught her with my arms, as she id in my embrace.

  “I guess we’ll get you home” I muttered as I carried her bay dormitory.

  A/N: I hope you all enjoyed chapter 6! I'm really happy with introdug Elnora which (is one of my favorite characters in the series). If you haven't seen my ret post on my profile I will be posting one chapter a day for this series. However, this ge as time progresses if it does I will keep you guys up to date! Thank you, all for the support! < 3