5-minutes-ago Simon thought how he could get lost. Current Simon believes whole-heartedly he is. Despite retracing the steps he has taken to get there, Simon finds himself getting further and further away from the main avenue.
"Sylph, take me up."
He summons a spirit to manage his mana usage. Scaling his way upward the walls, Simon sees the bricks duplicating and piling on top of one another to block his way. As he slowly falls down, the surrounding retreats to the normal height. Even when he sends his two spirits upward to take a glimpse for the way out, similar situation happens.
"Ma-Master! I'm sorry. I cannot fly passed the heights."
"What about you, Chron? What is it that you are thinking?"
"Same as you. This is not something just randomly happens to one individual. The most likely case is that someone is hiding within the repeating maze and something about you let you enter the hiding spot."
"I just think about wandering into something akin to an array, the illusionary type. But to fool even the mana sense, I am just that unlucky then."
"Indeed. And from what you have mentioned to us about the nun and the alchemist girl, they aren't aware of this and thus are not trapping us here. Then we are stuck here because someone else is the main tar-"
Clang! Thud!
A person and two spirits silence themselves at the sudden sound. They all rush toward the direction of the sound and are met with a sword clash. A cloaked figure standing 2 meters tall brings his greatsword and is deflected by a young ginger man distancing away and hitting the tip. The young man in high-quality cloth, most likely a noble, is protecting a smaller figure leaning against the wall and breathing raggedly; the former keeps pushing the fight away from the injured person.
The injured figure catches the movement of the three bystanders, showing a jerk of surprise. The free hand not applying pressure to the injury reaches into the cloak and brings out a wand with a yellow gem attached to the handle. Despite the shakiness and jerkiness of the aiming hand, Simon feels the mana concentration and is more sure of his decision of not participating in this mess.
Simon quickly brings out his hand, ready to fire a stream of water mixed with gravels. The spirits has recognized the situation. Sylph hides behind Simon providing a possible speedy dodge. Chron, taking advantage of his flat characteristics, has sneaked his way above the injured figure. With both sides ready to hurl the reactive attack, Simon is the first one to stand down. He sits down and keeps watching while waving his hand half-heartedly showing that he is not there for an ambush.
The injured figures out what is happening then brings his aim to the fight for his life, too fast to let him reliably land an aiding hit. Simon decides to help save a life first.
'Syph, shatter the wall beside me.'
'Ay Master!'
The sound draws the attention of the fighters away and the attacker aims for a clean bisection. The shattered bricks is levitated by Sylph and Simon is responsible for the aiming. Clapping both of his hands together and lining his eyes between the two indexes, Simon orders.
'Fire.'
The debris pieces shot forward with the aid of Simon's and Sylph's mana. The bulky attacker uses the cloak to protect himself against the barrage, twisting his body along the swinging motion. The movement does not stop but Simon does not need that. After the noble rolls sideway avoiding a gash in the ground, the attacker kicks the blocking hands to open up the defense before directing his punch parallel to the ground, hitting the chin of the noble.
That momentary confidence allows for the injured person to fire his spell, yellow lightning sparks up and electrocutes the attacker. Simon from behind orders Chron to use his specialty. Chron can repeat the latest spell acting on the objects. The brick pieces, scattered and still spinning mid air, regain their speed and fly toward the exposed head after the jolting motion of the attacker.
The pieces get into the wide-open eyes and blind the attacker. The sudden pain from one of the most sensitive body parts brings the attacker out of the shock but the only thing he can hear is the air in front of him being pierced by a blade.
Swiping the brain matter off his blade, the young noble man takes in the person who has helped him and gives a charming smile.
"Good job there! To blind someone by delayed casting a spell, you are a fine piece of work. I woul-Eck!"
The sudden lightning shocks him from behind. That brings back the man to the injured target.
"Oh, my bad, Master. Please take this."
A healing potion, high-grade from the lively sheen of the red, is splashed onto the injury, a slash across the stomach if not heal correctly will lead to guts spilling out and infection.
"Get me up."
"Your hand on my shoulder. I will lift you up."
Burrowing his hand beneath the armpit, the guard pushes up and let both of them stand.
"Stranger, it's seems you have been brought into this without knowing anything. For that I must apologize. And I am grateful for the help you provided moments before. May I have your name?"
"Simon."
Simon can finally take a look at the person beneath the hood. A androgynous man with dark purple hair, the locks bind into one another with the sweaty glue. The cautious purple irises observe Simon from head to toe before their owner continues speaking.
"We need to get out from here. When you first entered this place, Simon, what were you doing?"
"Me? I was just getting back to the main avenue from an old church when I stuck here. For you two?"
"We were chased into here. They are a team so we try not to harm the civilians by fighting in the middle of a commercial district."
"I forget to ask your names."
The ginger man points at himself, flashing a prideful smirk.
"Mortla."
Then points at the purple man.
"Daviki."
"Daviki? I am not familiar with every noble houses so I am sorry if I was acting rudely toward you."
"I don't mind. It must have been luck that let us meet. Mortla, keep our friend entertain while I check the array."
"Okay okay. So Simon, anything you are curious about? My lord is busy over there so I'm open to many things. Even rumors and gossips about him. "
"Eh, how can I find you two after this? How do you two even identify me?"
"Simple. Take this. Master, I can give our friend the ring right?"
"Not THE ring, changes to something else. I'm busy, stop talking."
Mortla snorts at the command but gifts Simon a necklace, tying with the smooth wire is a pendant with the royal family crest etched inside with a folded piece of paper.
"Inside is just the address if you want to converse with us."
"Thank you."
After waiting for some time after receiving the necklace, curiosity takes over and Simon tips toes to take a look over the shoulders of Mortla. The man also tips toes to block his view. The smile never leaves his face but one of his hand has reached to the scabbard at his waist.
"Just curious."
"Ah, it's okay. It's just a habit of mine while working as a guard. Sight of my lord can be used for a sneaky arrow so I was just cautious. Here, take this."
"...Thank you. I do not know someone like your master is wandering around."
"Keep it for yourself. It's a token of trust from him. Also..."
Mortla inches closer to Simon's ear.
"Stay silent. We do not want to have our royal prince known wandering around on weekends."
Simon just needs to keep it to himself, not like he wants to blabber someone's hobby loud and public, and everything is fine. He has no issue with this.
"I do not. But just answer me one thing. Is the stuff you two doing posing any dangers?"
"It's just some survey around here. There has been rumors of illegal black market activities around here and we are investigating that. We have found nothing so far but this ambush meant the original rumors were bait. We are not coming back here anytime soon."
"Thanks for the information. I was anxious thinking if I have touched upon something illegal."
He was not but lies anyway. As time passes on, the two free guys chats on various things around here with Mortla giving Simon an impromptu class of petty skills useful for a duel.
"Utilize the opponent's weakness. For example, I can deliberately scrape my sword tip against the ground to pick up rubbles and launch them toward my opponent."
"A lot of people are confident with their ability to sense mana, aura, or holy power. The best way to hide is to not use any of them. Learn some make-up tricks, painting skills, and breathing control. Mush your presence into the environment. Want to take a look at some of my camo-cloaks? From urban bricks to chaotic foliage. Here, check this out."
"I haven't done this technique yet but in one case where we were chasing an assassin, the target used a rapier to feint as the gadget attached inside the sleeve of him fired a poison dart. Nasty thing. But for someone using spells like you, wearing baggy clothing to hide spells is a recommendation. Personally, I believe the old mages wear cloak precisely for that reason."
"Just as us-"
"Mortla, Simon. Time to move. Follow me."
The crouching figure stands up, in his hand a lightning compass. The electric touches the skin but does not burn it. It gently caress the palm and is trying to climb up the arm but the clothes stop it in its track.
After a few turns, all three get back to the main avenue. The bustling scene replaces the oppressive, dreary walls they have gotten away from.
"I still have something to do at the alchemy shop. Thanks for getting me out of there."
"Get on with your business then, Simon."
"Bye young man!"