Project 7 the First: The Hero's Great Come Back

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Lance was trying out a new technique. He was in the middle of maintaining it, but it became unsteady and waned.
"Do it again, Lance," said Pagos as he sat on a rock drinking and observing him.
"Pagos, can I rest for a while?" said Lance feeling tired. "I've been doing this since yesterday."
Pagos crossed his arms, let out a deep sigh and said, "Fine."
"Yes!" He fell on the ground on his back. He looked at the sun that was shining bright.
Suddenly, the clouds covered the sky; and it was getting dark. Rain drops were falling.
Lance got up from the ground and said, "Pagos, let's go find a place for shelter."
"Yeah."
So, they got their stuff and went to find shelter. As they ran across the forest, Lance tripped over a man.
"What is this guy doing here?" said Lance. "Is he a corpse or something?"
Lance rolled his body to check who it was. He was shocked to see who it was.
Gavin.
Quickly, Lance put on his mask, placed Gavin's arm around him, and carried him. Finally, they found a cave deep in the forest and rested there. Lance lay him on the ground and placed his coat on him to keep him warm. He also got a piece of cloth from his pocket, soaked it with water, and placed it on his forehead.
Besides the rain pouring, it was very silent. Then, the silence broke when Pagos started to talk.
"So, what are you going to do when he wakes up?" he asked.
"Well, we should look after him." said Lance kindly. "He is my teammate after all."
"What happens if he figures out your identity? Will you kill him?"
"Why would I kill someone who hasn't done anything to me yet?" Lance said.
"It's your call," said Pagos, "Kill him or not, he's your problem. I have no concern over this boy."
"As heartless as always, Pagos."
"Whatever. Just go get some rest, and we will continue in the morning," said Pagos as he lay on one side of the cave facing the wall.
The rain stopped pouring, and it began to become silent. Lance did not feel like sleeping. Instead he remained awake. Lance went outside the cave and sat on a rock. He was sort of keeping watch while the two are sleeping. Nothing was going on so far. Then, Lance decided to continue his training while Pagos was sleeping. As he sat on the rock, he did concentrating gesture to focus his okaerisu.
It was already late at night. Lance was still doing his focusing training. It was still quiet. Then, Gavin woke up and felt dizzy.
Where am I, he thought. He looked around and found himself lying on the ground with a piece of wet cloth on his forehead and a white coat covering him. He tried to get up as hard as he could in his weak state. He was also looking for his bow, but it was nowhere to be found.
Gavin, then, saw a man with glittering silver-white hair wearing a navy blue sweater and khaki jeans sitting on a rock doing nothing. He started to familiarize who it was. The Blue Assassin, he thought. He slowly reached for his dagger in his pocket, and he ran quickly and silently toward the man. He jumped on the rock and pointed the dagger at the man's neck.
"Who are you?" Gavin said whispering in his ear. "Why did you bring me here? What is your business with me and where is my bow?"
Lance was terrified for a moment, but he slowly inhaled and exhaled and said with his multiple voice, "So, this is what I get after rescuing you?"
"What are you saying, Blue Assassin?" Gavin asked with distaste.
"You looked like you were dead, but I checked again and it seems that you only had a fever," said Lance straight. "You were about to die, but I helped you out by taking you here and treating your injuries and illnesses. So, if you mind, cut the crap."
Gavin felt so irritated with his attitude, so he grabbed Lance's shirt and positioned the dagger parallel to his neck.
"Listen, I hate how you talk and I hate your attitude," he said. "I know that your someone from Manteio, so remove your mask and reveal yourself."
"How are you so sure if you don't know who I am? I mean, we just met; and-," Lance said.
"Shut up!" Gavin demanded. "Now, remove the mask."
"Fine."
Lance slowly reached for his mask. Gavin felt so curious. He could not wait who the Blue Assassin really was. Then, Lance disappeared quickly in the speed of light.
Gavin was so close, but he was not able to see his true identity. He looked sideways trying to find him. Then, when he turned around, he froze. Lance was standing right behind him with his spear/ staff pointing at him ready to impale him.
"Just calm down, and nobody will get hurt. Unless you want that guy over there to wake up," said Lance pertaining to Pagos. "And you don't want to make him cranky for disturbing his beauty sleep."
"Fine," said Gavin forcefully.
"Good," said Lance as he put down his weapon. "Now, I want to know some things from you. Sit down."
"Tell me where my bow is first," said Gavin.
"Don't ask me," said Lance innocently. "You already didn't have it when I found you."
Gavin sighed like it meant nothing to him. He sat down on the ground and looked at the fire that was burning brightly. "So," he said with a serious tone, "what did you wanted to know?"
"I'm just curious," said Lance as he placed his weapon on the ground and sat quietly to prevent Pagos from waking. "Why were you out in the woods? Where did you come from?"
"That's it?" asked Gavin.
"What? Can't answer a simple question?" said Lance trying to piss him off.
"It's just that I expect you to ask questions like secrets from my village," said Gavin as he felt relieved.
"Why would I want to know stuff about your stupid power if I have my own?" said Lance arrogantly like he was stronger than anybody who comes in his way.
Gavin was finally pissed, so he stood up and said furiously, "You take that back! You just don't know anything about me or my village. Your nothing but a-"
Lance quickly formed hand signs and said, "Kingly Seat Restrain!" He smacked the ground with both hands and suddenly the ground shook slightly. A chair made of ice started to rise from the ground behind Gavin. A statue made of ice that looked like a king was sitting on the chair. Then, the statue opened its mouth and released snow whips which wrapped around Gavin's appendages. The statue pulled him with full force, and he finally sat still.
"I already warned you," said Lance sitting still with his hands forming one sign. "You don't want to wake that guy up."
Gavin tried to break free since he thought it was made up of snow, but he just could not seem to escape.
"Don't try to struggle, or it'll get tighter," Lance warned.
"What is this?" Gavin asked trying to breathe deeply. "I don't even think this snow anymore."
"Duh. That's why they call it MAGIC," said Lance as he emphasized his last word. "This is a slow-death trap. If you continue to struggle for freedom, then, you will meet your end soon. So, if I were you, just relax. I'm not an enemy."
"Fine," said Gavin as he gave up from breaking free. "I'll explain to you everything. Everything that happened yesterday."
He explained his story in detail. It was filled with emotion coming from an emo from the academy. Perhaps people just misjudge others. After hours of explaining what had happened, Gavin cried a tear out. He felt really depressed from what happened. He also felt furious for the person who attacked the village. He planned to rebuild his village and rise back to the top after avenging all the people who were killed.
"I see," said Lance, feeling depressed. "So, I bet that you have to prepare until that day comes."
"Yes," said Gavin, his eyes filled with desperation. "I have to leave now, too, to start right away."
"Right away? Wait, you said that you're part of the academy, right? How about that? Shouldn't you finish your training first?" said Lance feeling concerned fir him.
"So, what? Then, I'll just have to train on my own if that's the case. Besides, nobody else knows how I wield my power," said Gavin as if he was losing hope.
"No, you can't just leave the academy like that. They have taught many stuff, right? They can also help you to improve or even help learn new abilities that you have never seen before," said Lance trying to give him inspiration. "That avenging thing can wait until you reach that top. Who knows? Maybe you could even become one of the best there."
"And why should you care? Judging from how you speak seems like you're a student of the academy," said Gavin with suspicion.
Lance started to run out of ideas. He was not sure what to say next. He did not know how to hide his identity anymore. Then, something hit him.
"Well, I'm not a student," he said awkwardly, "I just visited there before maybe a couple of times...and it seemed nice there, so I bet that they have a good system."
"I see. I still don't fell safe there. What if that person finds me there and kidnaps me?" said Gavin with worries.
"So, are you just gonna end it like that? Then, let them find you; but by that time comes you need to become stronger than how you were before," Lance said with dignity.
Gavin smirked and said, "You know, you remind of my little sister." He stared at his bracelet that his sister gave him. "She was filled with courage, and she always face her problems easily. You would always put your bet on her. Listening to you now is like listening to her." He was suddenly filled with desperation to become stronger. The bracelet that he had made him feel that way. It reminded him that there is always a solution for everything.
"You know what, I guess that you're right after all," said Gavin. "I will become stronger to beat anyone who blocks my path. Fine, I'll still continue to train at the academy; but next time we meet I'll totally beat you."
"Don't back down your word," said Lance as he released the trap. "I'll be waiting for that day to come."
"I guess I'll be going, then," said Gavin.
"Alone?"
"Yeah," he replied. "Well, if you'll come along then you'll just be in the way. I also need to get a new bow."
"Fine."
Gavin left the cave filled with inspiration and the will to become stronger. Lance, on the other hand, has also training to do for him to also become even stronger.
Pagos suddenly woke up looking around like he did not know where he was. He saw Lance still awake and said, "Don't tell me you stayed awake for the entire night just to keep watch or train on your own."
"Um," said Lance trying to find an answer, "yes?"
Pagos, still feeling sleepy, became hot-headed and shouted at Lance. "You idiot! I told you to get some rest to build up energy for today's training, but you didn't listen to me."
"Hey, I still feel fine, don't I?" Lance shouted back. "So, stop your yapping and get over it."
Pagos looked around and realized that Gavin was gone. "Hey, where did that boy went off to?" he asked.
"He left."
"Oh, good. So, what did you guys talked about?" asked Pagos feeling curious.
"It's none of your concern," replied Lance.
"Hey, your master is asking a question; so you better give an answer!" said Pagos feeling irritated.
"You, bastard. I said it's none of your business," said Lance disrespectfully.
"Fine. If that's the case, then, no resting on today's training," said Pagos. "I'll go full force on you whether you like it or not."
Lance felt really excited when Pagos said that. He always wanted to push himself to get the job done. He jumped up and down like a kid and said, "Yahoo! That means I'll be able to learn more today!"
"Whatever. Now, let's get started!"
Lance continued his training for the rest of the break. He was prepared to face new challenges that will come to his way; and, due to that, he will become the most powerful frost mage of all history.

***End of Chapter 25***