Guardian's Redemption

Chapter Thirty Nine

'They will be okay, Astoek is with them,' Ben told himself as he was turning his full attention to the matter at hand. His hand went to his hood, slowly moving it aside to reveal his face to the people walking towards him. This was also to eliminate the peripheral constriction that the hood gave when on. He felt the power from the central woman who was laughing as the group made their approach.

Her hair was long and blonde with blue strips of cloth here and there in it. She was dressed in a tight blue shirt and jeans with a hip scarf hanging behind her legs while the rest of the troops were in ceremonial armor from an era far before the industrial age. There was no doubt about it in his mind that a Highlord of the Sanctum of Haven was approaching him. She was gripping a blue trident in her hands.

"I am so lucky to come across someone as famous as you. The Hunter is here," the woman laughing loudly for all to hear. Ben kept his stern gaze for this woman had known it was him. How didn't matter. "The assassin failed me."

"Apparently," Ben replying casually. A Highlord hiring an assassin, no that was intriguing.

"Lord," the woman commanded. A young man broke the formation they had and went to her as they came to a stop. "I will fight this criminal alone. I do not want any interference. Put up the barrier."

"But my Highlord, the council requested..." the man stuttering.

"Do it!" she screamed at the man.

Ben should have struck then but he was curious at her ferocity towards him. He was a well known criminal but to hear a Highlord had hired an assassin to go after him kind of gave him a light shiver. He made a note to ask Dyrune who had hired him to see if it was the same assassin or the one's before.

The woman took a few steps forward, her entourage scurrying backwards from the combatants before breaking off and running in different directions. They were gone from Ben's sight. He stood there watching the woman before him. She began stretching her arms above her head and gave the man a smile as if taunting him. He didn't fall for it.

How many times did his opponents do these useless routines? It was getting annoying. Each one preparing themselves or going into rants about their strength. He honestly didn't care and wanted to be left alone, but she had more of a murderous look than Sonya.

He felt it, the water temperature in the air and the sudden increase in multiple individual's power. He gave a smirk as a massive dome of ice began to form high above them. Within minutes it was just Ben and this woman standing in the middle of the street beneath a massive dome of ice. They were flanked on either side of the enormous buildings.

Ben could see his breath from the cool temperature. He could have warmed the area but instead let her continue her display. The man sensing the twenty Naturalist's holding this dome together on the outside. At any moment this dome could come down on him.

"Don't worry about the people here in this area; they have been moved for our benefit. I just could not pass on this opportunity to get rid of the criminal known as the Hunter." The woman shook her body in glee. "By the way, I am Michelle, Highlord of the Water District. I am the woman that is going to kill you." She pointed her trident at the man.

Ben gave a large yawn and then slowly drew Moonlight from its scabbard, the blade shining as it came forth from the darkness that held its beauty in check. He stretched his weapon out in from of him pointing it at the woman. "Let's get this over with."

"Do you not understand what this is?" Michelle pointing at the barrier around them. "My personal guard are using their mana to hold this massive barrier together. Within this dome of ice I can unleash my power and the outside world will not feel it. I can fully unleash within here." She gave a childish giggle.