Daughter of Charm, Son of Adventure (Sequel to Daughter of Life, Son of Death)

Shifted

The next morning, the Order had a second mission. "This time, there's been a rash of attacks on a city. People are being stabbed and left to die. Most survive, but not all. Be on your guard. We can't afford to lose you guys again." Soren warned. As the gang went out, Lukas looked at Aiden and Maya. "Well? Are you coming?" he smiled. "Heck yes!" they both chorused and caught up with them.

"It's no joke. These guys were definitely stabbed hard." Olivia sighed as she examined a patient in hospital. Petra walked over and looked closely at the wound. "It was a dagger. Left handed. Cold, hard steel. Obsidian handle, nothing to be messed with. The victim was unconscious when the blade touched." she declared. "How do you know all that?" Lukas said, astounded. "When you're training with one of the best warriors in history, you know a thing or two about weapons." Petra grinned. "Should we investigate?" Aiden suggested. "Well, we don't have that many options, so let's go." Jesse nodded. Overall, the village was pretty quiet that day. Even the villagers said themselves that nothing had happened recently. Aiden and Olivia decided to search near the town square. Nothing was really happening, except a group of kids were playing around and some markets were open. Olivia decided to grab everybody a snack for later and she got herself some redstone. Axel and Lukas took a look around the blacksmith's. Nothing unusual to report, just villagers going about their everyday lives. Jesse, Jess and Maya took the edge of town. Everything was normal. Petra said everything was fine at the library too. "Weird... do you think that the attacks already stopped?" Lukas said. "I don't know really. Should we report that there was nothing?" Olivia suggested. "I don't know, maybe-" Maya was cut off a yell. A little boy was being cornered by a hooded figure. Acting on instinct, Aiden quickly retrieved his sword and tried to defend the boy. "Stay behind me, kid!" he assured. Olivia and Lukas went to help out. The figure slashed his sword at Aiden. The two were suddenly in a duel. No doubt the stranger was good. Aiden kept defending himself until Olivia poured water on his opponent's head for distraction. "Thanks!" Aiden called and began to circle the stranger. Lukas and Olivia copied. "Take off your hood! You're surrounded!" Jess commanded. "Oh, am I?" the stranger asked.

What happened next was a blur. It was almost as if the universe flung on it's side, and the next thing the gang knew was being slammed against walls and bushes. Jesse came to his senses and tried to fight, but next the whole place was upside-down! Jesse hung on to the ground for dear life, as it was a pretty big fall into the sky. "How does the world keep shifting?!" Petra shouted, trying to untangle herself from a peony plant. "Help!" Jess cried. She couldn't hold on to a flower any longer. She screamed and fell. "I gotcha!" Aiden shouted. He jumped and placed his foot in a hole so that he could safely grab Jess by her hand. He swung her onto a building and got up himself. Lukas glared at him. Stay away from my girl... he thought. Maya was getting dizzy. She felt like she was about to be sick, which often happened when she was upside-down for too long. If only she wasn't like this...
Please turn back...
Suddenly the world flew back to normal. Everyone, including the stranger, sprawled onto the ground. He got up and ran away. "And stay away, you psychopath!" Axel called after him. The little boy that had been threatened was looking hurt. Aiden ran over to him. A nasty gash was on his leg. The boy had red hair, as in crimson, brown eyes, a pink shirt with a black waistcoat, with black jeans. He was trying not to cry at the bleeding wound. "Whoa, hey, I have ya!" Aiden reached into his inventory and took out a piece of leather, then a potion of healing. He added a drop of the potion to the leather and wrapped it around the cut. The boy sucked in air through his teeth. "It will sting for a bit, but after about an hour it will be back to normal!" Aiden ruffled the boy's hair. Jess, Axel, Olivia and Petra looked surprised. "Maybe his time in Land City taught him a few things?" Petra asked. But Maya wasn't surprised. She knew this little side of Aiden that took a shine to smaller children. The boy looked about twelve at least. "Thanks!" he smiled. Lukas wouldn't admit it, but he wasn't surprised either. After all, they had known each other for quite a while. "What exactly were you doing when you were attacked?" Olivia asked. "Well, I was nibbling some carrots over here and playing with friends when bam! This dude comes along after my Children of Balance power! But he ain't getting it!" the boy grinned. The Order's eyes widened. "Wait wait wait, you know about the Children of Balance?!" Jess asked. How could this kid know that? Unless, he was a Child...

"Duh! Why are you being so dense, mom?" the boy said to Jess.