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

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The wind was blowing gently, and the leaves were drifting with it. The branches of the trees were dancing and swaying as the wind blew right across the forest.
Albert was staring at Lance like he did something weird. He squinted eyes as he tried to observe him like a detective.
Lance felt doomed inside. He did not know what to explain to him. Did he see what happened there? Was he there right from the start? He kept thinking of many things.
"Hey, Albert!" he greeted him like nothing happened.
"What are you doing at a time like this?" asked Albert as he was cautious about the time they had left.
Lance was really nervous. He was sweating like crazy. "Oh. Um, I was thinking of a strategy! That's all."
"I see," Albert said as he tried to buy that. He started to feel suspicious. He thought that something felt fishy about Lance acting all weird all of a sudden. He looked around at the fog that was covering the grass. "Hey, do you know anything about this fog?"
"No," Lance replied trying to stay calm. "Maybe it's the master's ability."
Who was he kidding? He could not do a genuine lie. He was not born with that ability. He just can not convince anyone.
Lance was starting to get nervous. He cannot look at Albert staight in the eyes.
"Are you okay?" asked Albert starting to realize that Lance was becoming weird.
"Oh, yeah," he replied with a shaky voice. "I-I feel just fine. No need to-"
Suddenly, a scream was heard from the direction that Lance just detected. It was so loud that maybe the others also heard it. Since there are two girls in the team, they would bet on either Marjorie or Shannelle.
They started to forget what they were talking about an agreed to head to the direction of the scream.
Lance was leading the way which made Albert curious. He was already filled with doubts from the very start they became teammates.
"Hey, Lance," Albert called. "How come you know where they are without trying to stop and think on how to track them down?"
"Um. It's just that I have a keen sense of hearing, and it's really easy to tell where the screaming came from," Lance replied trying to sound convincing. "Judging by the sound... I can tell that it's about 195 kilometers away."
Albert was impressed that he could tell the exact measurement of the sound. "Wow! I guess you have powers after all!"
"Oh, don't make me laugh," said Lance with a smile. "It just runs in the family, I guess."
Albert still had doubts about him not having powers. How could someone with no powers enter the academy? To enter into the academy, one must show their abilities and techniques.
He still had a strange feeling about him, but he will just buy that for now.
"Awaken," said Albert as they ran through the trees. He was wearing metal around his body. He had a metalic crown around his head. He also had two swords behind him.
He started to slow down because of his metal armor that made him heavier.
"Is that really your transformation?" Lance asked.
"Not really," Albert replied. "I have a lot of transformations. I just use this in simple battles or missions."
"I see. So what is it called?" Lance asked.
"It's the Shining White Knight," he said.
When they both reached the designation, they saw Marjorie leaning against the wall with trauma in her look. She was frightened. She froze in terror as she saw Mr. McGuillon's ability.
"What happened to her?" Albert demanded.
"Probably got traumatized," replied Mr. McGuillon. "I just blocked her attack, and she's turned like that.
They went to her aid and tried to gather information, but she could not seem to answer. She was just sitting with her eyes opened widely.
Lance kneeled one knee on the ground and lifted his pants on his other leg. There was a leather belt around his leg with a small rod attached to it. He got the rod and stood up from the ground facing his teacher.
"Albert," he called as he became serious.
"What is it?"
"Bring Marjorie to a safe place until she calms down," Lance instructed. "If she gets to her senses, try to get information and tell the others.
"What about you?" Albert asked.
"I'll fight Mr. McGuillon and see his abilities," Lance replied.
"Are you crazy?" Albert said in panic. "This is like suicide you're doing. You don't have powers yet and here you are acting all high and mighty. Atleast let me do that."
"Don't ever underestimate your own commrades," Lance said boldly. He spun his rod around until it became a battle staff. "With powers or not, you just have to trust your teammates no matter what."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Lance pardoned. "Now, go. I'll hold him for a bit."
Albert carried Marjorie over his shoulders and left.
Lance was left alone with Mr. McGuillon. Deep inside he thought that he was crazy for saying all of those. Maybe Albert was right. Maybe he should fight Mr. McGuillon instead, but it was too late to call him back.
"That was brave for you to substitute for your friends," said Mr. McGuillon. "I'd never thought of all people you would be brave enough to go on a solo battle against me."
"You'll see, master. I can fight you without any powers," said Lance as he prepared a stance.
"Let's see about that, then," said Mr. Mc Guillon.
Lance looked around for clues on what his teacher could do. He noticed the grass was a bit maroon. Could it be blood? Did Marjorie got lucky and slashed him? He was thinking of many ideas.
They looked at each other and observed each other. Then, Lance lunged forward with his silver staff spinning. He tried to hit Mr. McGuillon, but he blocked the attack with his weapon. They leaped from one place to another and threw attacks at each other. Both of them gave their all.
Lance kept blocking all possible spots that Mr. McGuillon would strike. He was troubled because his opponent uses a kind of blade. Lance just used an ordinary staff that was given to him by his dad on his birthday. It was somehow worthless. He was worried that any minute his staff would split in half by the axe of Mr. McGuillon.
Mr. McGuillon let out a grin and said, "Wow, Lance, for a powerless guy like you; you are really good with physical combat."
"Why, thank you," said Lance as he kept throwing attacks. He swung his weapon left and right. He spun it around him trying to block the attacks that were thrown at him. He was a natural in battle. It seemed like he was doing this for a long time.
They leaped away from each other and stayed in one spot. They were both panting.
"With your style of battle like this, we won't be getting anywhere," said Mr. McGuillon. "It's a tie if it's gonna be this way. Let's turn it up a notch."
Mr. McGuillon placed his weapon behind him. Then, he bit his thumb and let it bleed continuously. The way he let it flow seemed like he did not care for his own health.
Lance was a bit worried. He felt pity for his master.
"Mr. McGuillon, are you insane?" he asked.
"Be patient," Mr. McGuillon said. "To become a good warrior, one must be patient and see through all his enemy's moves."
That made Lance shut up for a while. He just kept watching his teacher waste his blood.
After dripping all that blood, it came to a stop. He grinned and said, "You better prepare, Lance. I won't be going easy on you."
Lance was looking serious while Mr. McGuillon was grinning at him as if he already knows the conclusion of the fight.
Lance charged first again. He was spinning his staff around as he charged. Suddenly, he tripped and fell on the ground. He was wondering what could be messing with him. When he looked behind him, he saw his foot wrapped with blood. It was holding his ankle. He suddenly realized that his teacher is able to manipulate blood.
"I guess that you already figured out," said Mr. McGuillon as he approached Lance slowly.
"Usage of blood. That's a unique technique," said Lance. "You must be a member of the Juvian Tribe. A tribe that specializes in the usage of blood in combat."
"Exactly," said Mr. McGuillon. "You sure know a lot."
"I read a lot."
"Good!"
Lance got up and continued to attack.