Grimoires & Masters - Chapter 17.

The Silver-Hawks kept circling in the sky, right under the white clouds created by the steam of the geysers.


“How many are there?” Elena asked.


“Eeno!” Chino flashed its nine fingers at her.


She had sent the little monkey to scout on the ambushers secretly, and Chino did its job brilliantly.


Aoun glanced at Elena and sighed in his heart. No one knew better than him that Elena did not like taking the lives of people. But now that he sensed her feelings, she was determined to shed blood, all because it was his way of doing things.


“Ready?” He softly whispered.


“Mhm..”


They entered the part of the valley where the ambushers were waiting and kept their heads down as Ray leisurely walked. The geysers around them kept spouting boiling-hot water pillars that reached dozens of meters in height.


Suddenly, a few Red lights flashed, and then a dozen grey wolves rushed from all sides, encircling them.


Ray stopped and finally showed uneasiness. It neighed angrily, and its brilliant green eyes flashed to intimidate the wolves.


However, it was useless. Wolves were intrinsically ferocious, and could not be easily intimidated.


Each of these twelve wolves was Desolate-Yellow.


Aoun climbed off the horse and pulled his hood off, revealing his brilliant features under the half-mask.


Without uttering a word, he took out a decent long-sword from his ring and unsheathed it, making the wolves growl in anger.


“Kid,” A gruff voice called out. “Leave that Horse and your rings, and we shall let you pass here safely.” Ending his words, he appeared in front of them.


Aoun frowned when he saw a large boulder transform into a man with a rugged build. He was wearing a leather vest, and brown leather pants, standing nearly a foot taller than Aoun. His Bronze Grimoire was hung on his neck like a necklace and was giving off a faint Bronze hue, which meant that the man had already called his Beasts out.


He clearly remembered seeing six lights flash, and each divided into two, and so twelves wolves had appeared. Three of the Masters had not called out their Beasts yet.


“Eeno…” Chino apologetically lowered its head.


The little monkey had not realized that the Boulder in their path was a man in disguise.


There were not nine, but ten people that they had to face. And slowly, the rest of the nine people walked out of their hiding spots and encircled them as well.


“10 Masters…” Aoun palely smiled.


He could tell that these guys were not Hunters but a Mercenary group. The crests of their vests were the same. They belonged to the same Guild.


“You have a minute to decide what you want to do.” The Leader with the gruff voice generously smiled, his astute features making him seem more fearful.


“Primal Rune of Earth; Sacred Mountain.”


His words made the Leader frown. He was surprised that the Kid could tell about it by just how he had seen him transform from a boulder to a man.


Aoun knew that it was a Rune and not an Artifact or Magic. One of the privileges of being a Royal was the quality of education.


“You have keen eyes.” The expressions of the man turned severe. He felt a little uneasy at finding his prey not afraid of the situation it was in.


“His Element is Earth, and he already has his Beasts lurking around,” Aoun whispered.


“I know,” Elena giggled and jumped off Ray.


She pressed a rune on the saddle, making it disappear together with the reins.


“I will take care of that Leader.” She confidently said.


“All yours.” Aoun nodded back.


The Mercenaries realized that things were not the way they had assessed them. Without wasting a second breath, the wolves were ordered to kill.


Aoun rushed forward. Spikes of ice formed on the sides of the path he was taking, preventing the wolves from getting to him.


An ear-piercing scream of wind resounded, pitiful wail sounded from a wolf, and the encirclement was torn apart.


The nine Novice Masters were horrified at seeing the indigo-eyes of the little monkey sitting on his shoulder.


Another ear-piercing strike of wind came, and another Wolf howled miserably in pain. A massive cut was left on his body where the blade of wind struck. But soon it stopped screaming, a spear of Ice pierced through its neck, hoisting it a few feet above the ground.


Aoun had the attention of all the Beasts now, and he ignored them as he rushed at their Masters.


His sword was caught by a  defending Battle-Axe, and he changed his course, turning left and reaching the heart of another mercenary with his blade, totally taking him by surprise. The man looked horrified at finding his Rune not working, and neither his Element did.


The sword pierced the vest and the heart smoothly, and as he drew the sword out, blood spouted out of the wound uncontrollably.


A wolf lunged at his back, and Chino activated its Blink, taking Aoun with it a few meters away, right behind another mercenary.


The man didn’t even realize what happened to him. Darkness shrouded him, his soul left his body, he fell like a sack, and blood started pooling from the wound left on his heart.


“Blink!” The anxious Leader of the group cried out.


The remaining seven Novices were horrified. No one realized that it was not his Blink but that of the little monkey sitting on his shoulder.


Aoun met the next attack of the wolf head-on. And just as the Beast was about to utilize its element, it realized that it was not working. Its instincts kicked in, as it tried to get away from him, but failed to change its trajectory mid-air. He dodged the jaws of the wolf at the last moment, and his swift sword severed its head smoothly in one stroke.


Ray neighed angrily as it saw the men starting to scatter away. The ground slightly trembled as a wall of Ice surrounded all of them, closing all paths of retreat, and reaching more than ten meters in height.


Dozens of sharp spikes of ice erupted from the ground, targeting the mercenaries, huddling them close inside an encirclement.


The move tired Ray tremendously, but its determined green eyes showed no sign of it.


Aoun didn’t waste any time. One by one, he took down wolves and the Masters. And before those who had not summoned their Beasts could call them, they were killed off as well.


But things were not so easy from then on.


His sneak attack failed on one mercenary, and shards of Ice were hailed at him by a little white fox that had suddenly appeared by the side of his target. It was its Master’s Soul-Beast, and its green eyes were seething with fury.


Aoun’s eyes turned Severe, the Rune of Annihilation revolved in majesty, and a will-shattering power shrouded his enemies, making their legs tremble and their hearts pound in fear that sprung from deep inside their souls.


A wall of Darkness formed in front of him, and all the shards of Ice were devoured by it.


The wolves cowered in fear, and a few faint-hearted Masters dropped on their knees, and as soon as they lost their focus, their heads were severed by blades of wind. Even their Soul-Beasts couldn’t come out to save them in time.


“Aaaaahhh!!!” The Leader cried out in anger as he tried to shed the feeling of suppression on his heart.


The Ground trembled as fissures spread, but then they mystically vanished, together with the diabolic presence that was pressing on everyone’s heart.


“I am your opponent…” Elena looked at the tall man and readied her twin-blades.


“You…”


Now everyone realized what was happening to them.


The little girl hidden inside the cloak was the reason why their Runes and Elements failed to work from time to time.


However, their souls trembled when they looked at Aoun.


“He’s corrupted!” Someone cried out in fear and tumbled back on his ass as he tripped over some rocks.


“Keep your head cool!” The leader of the group shouted. “Can’t you sense that he is only a Novice Master?”


His reminder failed to bring any composure back to his broken team. Seeing the element of Darkness in all its glory even sent chills up his spine.


Aoun fought the wolves all together, he had sensed them target Ray, and he couldn’t allow that.


A light flashed and his Grimoire appeared.


“Ray!” He called out to the horse as his sword ended the life of one more wolf.


The white horse turned into a beam of light and disappeared inside his Grimoire. And with Ray finally resting safely, he battled freely.


“Eeno!” The little monkey raised its hands to prepare to attack the wolves that were approaching them from all sides.


“Don’t” Aoun stopped it. “Do not tire yourself out.”


Chino listened to him with a nod, and quietly sat on his shoulder.


Seeing that Aoun was going all out, Elena activated her Rune once more, this time, keeping the area of her domain short. And in her domain, no other Rune could work, and no Elemental Powers could be used.


Elena attacked the tall, rugged man, and covered the distance between them in seconds. The man was taken by surprise but maintained his composure.


She was up against someone who had more strength than her, and real-time battle experience. It wouldn’t be a simple battle for her.


The mercenary leader parried her attacks with a spear and danced with it to keep her from getting close.


Elena knew that she did not have the luxury to drag the battle. Her Rune was active, draining her mental strength, and stamina. Though the load was not heavy, it was best to finish battles as soon as possible. Finding herself at an advantage of speed, boosted her confidence.


She attacked the man relentlessly, looking for openings, and just as she found one, her instincts cried out to her. A chill ran up her spine as she heard a bird-cry. The spear of the man came at her, targeting her chest. She knew that she could dodge it, but she also knew that if she did so, the enemy coming down at her from the sky would not miss. She briefly deactivated her Rune and prepared to use her element of Light.


“Eeno!” A sweet voice called out to her, and the next moment, she found herself at a safe distance away from the mercenary.


Elena saw a giant Silver-Hawk with blue eyes fly by where she had just been, and its dangerously sharp claws tightened her heart. And there was one little detail her eyes caught as well.


A Beast was hiding inside the geyser near them, and it was about to attack her in case its Master and the Silver-Hawk missed. Seeing her safely get away and gain a safe distance, it went into hiding again.


By now, everyone that had witnessed it realized that it was the little monkey that was using Blink.


The Grimoire of the Mercenary leader flashed again, and a Desolate-Green Snow-Leopard appeared by its side.


“Thanks, Chino!” She smiled and glanced at her brother, engaged in a battle with the wolves and the remaining Masters.


Elena unleashed her presence of an Empyrean. And a dreadful suppression pressed on the heart of the mercenary Leader. She was only a Novice, and so her presence did not have enough might to shatter the will of her opponent, but it did make the Beasts wary of her.


She rushed forward, swinging her twin blades, and as the leopard pounced at her, a flash of blue light blinded it. Her light covered blade cut its thick coat, and the Beast miserably cried out in pain.


The element of Light exploded inside the wound, blood, and pieces of flesh splattered from it. The Beast was not dead yet, but it was down on the ground without any strength to get up.


The mercenary leader used the chance to slam its fist on the ground. A strong fissure spread under their feet, the ground started to slipt apart, but Elena didn’t allow it.


She activated her Rune once more, and the Elemental Power could not be utilized.


The mercenary leader cursed himself for targeting these two people. He did not know what Rune the little girl had, but it rendered him useless in front of her.


The Primal Rune of Earth; Sacred Mountain, helped the user fortify the body as hard as a rock, and gave them a tremendous strength. Somone with that Rune would always choose to center their combat styles around it, and thus, he was helpless here.


Elena attacked the man from the side, and Chino stayed alert and attentive to the two Beasts that were looking for chances.


The princess constantly activated and deactivated her Rune, and thus, she managed to critically wound the mercenary leader within seconds.


Her element of light was fast and deadly, and there were several holes inside the body of the Mercenary leader where the beams of light had pierced through and exploded.


The Beast that was hiding inside the Geysers revealed itself as it came for its Master's rescue. But Chino caught it in a torrent of strong wind, and despite the Beast utilizing its Water element, it failed to escape and was soon grievously wounded. On the verge of death, the silver-colored Lynx turned to a stream of light and returned inside its Master’s Heart.


“Chino!” Elena finally ordered the little monkey to go all out.


“Eeno!” The little monkey spread its arms and a torrent of wind formed, soon turning into a cyclone, clearing the sky of the clouds and revealing the giant Silver-Hawk hiding behind the curtain.


The wild Silver-Hawks scattered, getting higher in the sky, but the Mercenary’s Beast did not do that. It chose to go all out and dove right down as it activated its Wind Element. It had no other option. If it did not attack now, its Master would die for sure.


An ear-piercing sound spread as Hawk covered in grey aura clashed against the green cyclone of wind. And that was the mistake the Silver-hawk should not have made.


Chino was Desolate-Indigo, a rank higher than the Silver-Hawk that was Desolate-Blue. And its control over the Wind element was exquisite.


The grey aura around the Hawk was eroded by the green cyclone, and the defenseless bird pitifully cried as its body was shredded into pieces.


“Rest now…” Elena smiled at her Beast and walked over to the Mercenary leader with severe eyes.


The man was down on his knees, soaking in his blood, body riddled with holes. The damage on his Soul-Beast added to his mental fatigue, and he could not see her approach him through the mist in his eyes.


She lunged at him, and in one clean move, her sword decapitated him.


Elena turned to look at her brother, and seeing the cloak he was wearing riddled with cuts and tears, her heart tightened. To her relief, he was not injured, but covered in the blood of the wolves and Masters he that he had killed so far.


Only three Masters remained, and two wolves were still able to stand on their feet.


Aoun was covered in a black flame-like aura. And all his enemies were shivering in fear.


With each life he took, his speed and strength enhanced, and the suppression on the hearts of his enemies intensified.


The Primordial Rune of Annihilation; Purgatory, was through and through diabolic. There was no excuse for it. A rune that allowed the user to gain strength, speed, and mana with each life he took, was outrageous, and then there was the menacing aura of it, that instilled fear in the hearts of even the strongest of people.


Aoun cut through the Beasts and the Masters. It took him only a few more minutes to finish his part of the battle, and when there was no one left alive for him to kill, his eyes searched everywhere to find more enemies.


“Brother…” She sweetly smiled and called out to him, and her voice managed to reach his heart.


His mind cleared, and the Primordial Purgatory stopped revolving. A wave of tiredness hit him, and he dropped on his knees, panting for breath.


Bird-cries rose in the sky as soon as the battle concluded. The wild Beasts urged them to leave and let them be at peace here.


“Let’s get out of here…” He whispered and tried to get back on his feet, but stumbled.


Elena rushed forward to support him. She called out her Grimoire and summoned Maya.


The black horse anxiously looked around the battlefield, ignoring its unease to the cold weather here.


“Don’t worry,” Aoun smiled at it. “Ray is fine. He is resting.”


Maya nodded its head and then urged Elena to place a saddle on her.


Elena took out a small bronze plate with a rune on it, and she placed it on Maya before tracing the Rune’s code. The plate flashed a light, and a saddle appeared on the horse together with the reins.


“Chino…” She commanded her little Beast.


The little monkey used its Blink and quickly gathered all the storage rings of the Masters they had killed and then proceeded to search for Cores inside the bodies of the Beasts. The little fellow sent everything it found flying over to Elena, who stored them inside her ring.


In under three minutes, they were on their way out of the Snow Spring Valley.


“Winter…” Seeing how uncomfortable Maya was in the cold here, Aoun called out the little fox of chaos.


The little fox obediently hid inside his cloak and then used its elemental control of Ice to ward off the cold from Maya, earning a thankful neigh from it.


It took them a while to get out of the Snow Spring Valley, and soon they found themselves in another forest. They tracked the direction that was leading to the Kingdom of Dreams and managed to find a stream of water that was right in the middle of the forest.


The sky had already darkened, the clock showed the fifth hour of the night. The Black horse cautiously walked up the stream and arrived near a waterfall.


Little luminous insects were storming everywhere in joy, singing their songs, and making the place glitter.


Elena got off the Horse and quickly set up a simple camp to spend the night. And then she took out the firewood from her ring and created a pit before lighting a bonfire.


After making sure that everything was set, she helped him off the horse and brought him inside the tent to rest.


Aoun was pitifully weak right now. It was the first time he used his Rune. And though it made him feel invincible when it was active, he found himself drained of all stamina and strength right when he deactivated it.


The softness of the mattress lulled him to sleep as soon as he hit it, and the last thing he felt was Elena helping him take off his shoes.