Our second world- book one: Past beginnings

Chapter 15: Haren

Grace and August had fallen asleep hours ago, but Haren couldn't sleep. Whether it was the new beast half of him that existed in this world, or something else entirely, he wasn't sure. What he did know was that the smell of the now smoldering fire was burning his nose. He stood up, careful not to wake the others sleeping next to him, and walked over to the empty road a short distance from their makeshift campsite.

In movies, this would be the part where the edgy, brooding character would pull out a cigarette or something. He thought with a small chuckle. I wonder if there are even cigarettes in this world anyway. Not that I would smoke one if there were.

He let out a small sigh," I know you're there. Why don't you come out already?"

There was a rustle in the bushes down the road from him as a group of masked figures stepped out onto the road. There were about 10 or so, and they all held short swords or daggers and were dressed in the same black and crimson leather armor and bone white masks. Their blades all held a tint of green to their edges as if they'd been doused in poison or something to that effect. They could also be using magic. Haren didn't let his guard down.

"Guess I won't be having a quiet rest of my night," he mumbled, pulling his hands from his pockets. He spoke loudly so the group could hear him." Let me guess, assassins?"

One of them stepped forward, probably their leader," We are the crimson star. A rather well-known group of hired swords and respectable assassins."

"I suppose you're the one who's been following us the past few days?" he said.

"Impressive. I'm surprised you knew of our presence."

"Yeah, well, you aren't the first to try a sneak attack. I've had a lot of experience with my brother, so I've developed a kind of reflex for them."

"So we've learned. Would you like to beg for your life now?" the man sneered.

"Would you?" Haren countered, a low growl escaping his throat. It surprised him, but he didn't let it show. He stood up and grinned smugly, revealing his sharp, pointed fangs. Loosening the collar of his coat, he took a step forward. The assassins around him tensed. All poised to strike at any moment. The one he assumed to be the leader stepped back, another taking his place as the others closed the circle.

"Oh, I see. A fight one-on-one. You seem confident, but are you sure you can handle it?" he smirked, cracking his knuckles.

"I'm confident in my skill," the newcomer said calmly, raising his two twin daggers to a readied position." And I won't go easy on you."

"Good, I could use a challenge once in a while," Haren replied confidently." I'd be disappointed if you went easy on me."

He acted so confidently because he was. He trusted his skills that had beaten Tsukiyama so many times before, along with many others. At the school, all the students knew him as the Lightning sword for he had never lost a duel to anyone. Therefore, he was confident, but not arrogant. Unlike many who boasted of their skill, he knew the limits of his own, and he could easily gauge the skills of his opponent. He felt like a completely different person when he held a sword. He felt...

Unbeatable.

"Will you fight with no weapon?" the leader laughed." Unless I'm mistaken, you do not possess one."

"How observant. I suppose I could show you my party trick," Haren grinned." ShadowBlight."

He clenched his palm around the rough handle and raised the familiar weapon, black smoke billowing from the blade. After all the training he had done with August, there wasn't really a need to say the name out loud anymore, but he felt like doing it this time anyway.