SECRETS OF EXOCLYUS

8: ESCAPE

  Koma plopped down on the snow below not bothered by the cold air that brushed against his bare chest, but more concerned with the blonde brute that had seen him landing outside the inn. A face he recalled both from three nights ago and a distant memory.

  "You!" Usgard shouted.

  "You." Koma growled.

The knight wasted no time in charging at Koma, who had no space to sidestep the attack due to being in an alley so instead blocked until the hit came but despite his defence a blast of force still sent him flying into the backyard of the inn.

  Koma took a moment to understand what happened, Usgard definitely didn't build enough momentum for his attack to be that heavy, and yet Koma became airborne the moment he made contact.

  It was magic, he couldn't tell what kind, but he could smell it on Usgard as his arms began to shimmer a blue light.

  "What did you to Stella?!" Usgard demanded and Koma gave no reply other than making his wooden arm glow from magic, he didn't plan on fighting but he needed to leave this town and nothing will stand in his way.

  Usgard threw a punch and Koma did the same, when their fists collided their magic did as well creating a shockwave that knocked them in opposite directions.

Koma managed to recover faster because unlike Usgard he hadn't slammed his head against anything, but the conflict had made commotion and soon enough people appeared from all over the town, including Stella.

  Hunters stinking of ale came to Usgard's aid, he was regaining his composure and if he rose again Koma knew it would be more difficult to escape.

  Everyone's eyes were on him, they muttered amongst themselves in confusion as to who or what he was, they kept pointing to his wooden arm, and Koma was too annoyed by their comments that he didn't realise when Usgard was on his feet again, and with back up.

  "Surrender, Nyxlian." He ordered, which caused more confusion by onlookers. A secret he had been trying to keep for years was now a new topic amongst these strangers.

  He couldn't change that now, what he needed to do was get out of this town.

  Kill them all...

  Koma winced at the whispers' directives in his head. They would make matters much worse if he remained here longer.

  "Surrender!" Usgard repeated.

  "Leave me Alone!" Koma roared, a sound that terrified any creature that he encountered to their core and for a moment everyone in that town remained paralysed by fear so he used that opportunity to leap over the crowd and started heading for the main gate.

  Usgard shrugged off the paralysis faster than anyone else, he felt annoyed that he had fallen victim to that sound again but the need to stop Koma was more of a priority than his feelings. He quickly checked Stella, she was standing still so he guessed the fear hadn't worn off, however seeing no injuries on her made him feel a bit better.

  Atleast the monster still kept up the weird act of not hurting her.

  He charged his feet with his magic and with one strong jump Usgard was above all the buildings in Luro, he remained airborne for a moment that was long enough to spot the escapee then with a hand aimed in the opposite direction he released a shockwave that propelled him towards Koma, who without turning around quickly sidestepped the attack completely.

  Usgard rose from the crater he made from landing, shook the snow out of his hair, and grinned. "Where do you think you're off to?"

Koma wasn't keen on combat right now, he couldn't even tell what element Usgard had used to drop in from above like that, but since the man before him blocked his path to freedom Koma had no choice.