The Life I Gained From Dying

Chapter 18 - Luminents

Dense gray clouds flooded the sky over the water continent, bringing a sudden drop in temperature accompanied by distant eruptions of thunder that rolled across the land.

"This looks like quite the storm is brewing over us." Elder Treya stated as she casually watched the sky.

Mai also was watching the sky with concern before the uneasiness of Kenzo caught her attention.

"...Kenzo?"

"...Something doesn't feel right." He responded as he stared off into the forest. "A fog is rolling in."

Mai and Elder Treya's attention was pulled towards the oncoming sea of fog. At the same time, the light from the gate began to fade revealing Kaden's body eerily standing in place.

"Kaden?"

As Mai called out to him, the rain began to trickle down around them. As the first few drops of rain hit the ground so did Kaden's unconscious body.

"Kaden!" Mai shouted as she ran over to him.

Just before she arrived at his body, a spectral arrow flew through the rain and landed in between Kaden and Mai. All three of them quickly turned their attention towards the direction in which the arrow came from. Kneeling down on a narrow ledge of the mountain was a man who seemed to be glowing, aiming a spectral arrow at them. He wore a mask that covered his entire face with the exception of his eyes. The mask had glowing bright yellow markings as did the clothes he wore. A thin sleeveless shirt and long pants that appeared to be stitched together with various cloths. Upon noticing the attacker, Kenzo drew his ice sword and Mai manifested a spectral bow and arrow.

"Who are you?!" Treya questioned.

The fog finally reached the group and slowly began to flood the area and engulf everyone in the vicinity.

"Mai, protect that one." Kenzo ordered as he inspected the waist high fog. "I'll cover Elder Treya."

The moment he said that another attacker jumped out of the fog and attempted to slash Kenzo with a steel sword. Kenzo dodged it and delivered a strong side kick to the attacker who was wearing a very similar attire, but this guy's markings were glowing blue.

"Who are you people?" Kenzo questioned.

"Hand that boy over to us and we'll back off." The guy on the ledge stated.

"That's not an option." Mai replied.

"What purpose do you have with him?" Treya asked.

"Trust us you wouldn't understand. Actually it's better if you don't understand."

"So you're expecting us to just give him away with out any kind of explanation?" Mai questioned angrily.

"Either that or we'll take him by force."

After hearing that Mai immediately released an arrow towards him which he quickly avoided by jumping sideways against the mountain. He then slapped his hands against the wall which was followed by a slab of stone projecting out from the mountain ahead of him. As he leaped to the slab of stone, others began to appear ahead of him which he used to get directly above Mai.

"Earth essence?" Mai questioned.

The attacker jumped down in an attempt to strike Mai, but she evaded it by leaping backwards. She fired another arrow into the fog where he landed, but she couldn't see if she had connected or not.

"I wish Kaden was awake to deal with this fog." Mai whispered to herself. "Wait Kaden-"

Mai attempted to move over to where Kaden was, but she was unable to lift either of her feet. Without her noticing the attacker had sealed both of Mai's feet into the ground. She struggled to free herself as the attacker reappeared behind her, wielding a stone staff.