Mahaya crushed the dagger, and her Rekh exploded in that moment, releasing a sinister energy. Her hand that crushed the dagger flew forward, but the assailant vanished right as Mahaya's hand neared her.
Mahaya's mouth stretched into a sinister smile, opening and revealing two long fangs. Her hand continued through the empty air.
She eventually grabbed a shoulder.
Her smile widened.
***
Yadrith opened his eye with a somewhat blank look.
"Yadrith!" Britain shook him. "You're lucky... Merrid's Regalia could stabilize your injuries, but you should be careful with your arm."
"...Injuries?" He rubbed his right temple and recalled what had happened. His helplessness and the moment he almost died.
He trembled.
"What about everyone else? what happened to my attacker?"
Britain smiled. "Everyone is fine..." Her smile vanished. "Though your attacker was unidentified and got away."
"That's expected."
"The owner is a bit weary, so Oliver has been vigilant ever since you were attacked. He asked for you to talk to him when you're up. As for the True Demon, she hasn't left your side. Apparently, she was the one who saved you."
Next to him sat a spider, who silently stared at him.
He returned a smile, a silent display of his gratitude.
"I'll talk to Oliver then."
"Be careful with your arm; Merrid's Regalia isn't as potent as the clerics of Vestriam." Britain warned.
"With Mahaya next to me, I doubt I'll get much exercise," he smiled and left through the back of the wagon. He quickly traveled to the front of the caravan and met Oliver, performing his duty.
"Yadrith!" His eyes looked watery. "I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon... That Merrid's Regalia is impressive."
"I'll have to thank Merrid later."
Oliver's face was full of relief. "It's only been a few hours, but it was terrible for me. I thought you were gone... When I saw your injuries, they looked terrible."
"They aren't as bad as they looked. Surprising as it is, I was able to avoid being fatally attacked. Though it sucks having my field of vision cut, it'll take a bit to get used to."
Oliver nodded. "I think I know who attacked you."
Yadrith already had an idea—the black cloak. The dagger and oddly swift movements... It all spelled assassin.
"Was it your Ravenhood pursuers?"
He nodded. "I'm not sure why she went after you, though, she probably didn't expect someone as powerful as Mahaya to appear and was just planning to whittle down any help I could receive as reconnaissance."
"Probably so."
"I doubt whoever attacked you could beat me, so that must've been it. Now, Neo Ogma knows our location and most likely is on his way... No, it's odd that he hasn't come yet." He paused, swallowing. "This means we have to leave the caravan. As soon as possible. I waited for you to wake up, but that may have been a mistake on my part."
"...We're just going to leave them? What if Ravenhood attacks?"
"They won't." He interjected, "They aren't a completely merciless group. If we leave, they won't bother the caravan. No... if 'I' leave, they won't." He sighed, looking at Yadrith.
"If you leave, I and Mahaya will go with you. Either way, you'll need help to avoid trained assassins. How will you even sleep comfortably?" Yadrith smiled. "I have nothing to lose." He looked at Mahaya. "Will you come?"
She jumped once, standing on Yadrith's shoulder. He had expected such an answer.
"We will leave now; I've already informed the owner." Oliver spoke.
"How will we proceed? You said this valley was the only way to the port."
He shook his head. "The only safe way... They already must know I'm on the way to Vestriam, so it doesn't matter anymore. They will pursue us even to that place. The Dexilient region. A furious tundra, just across the mountains to the right. If we cross those moments, we can then enter that region and make it to Gelben."
"How are we going to climb these mountains? They're at, like, a ninety-degree angle."
Oliver chuckled, "Hop on my back. Using Rekh will leave my traces behind, but it doesn't matter anymore. Once we make it to the Dexilient region, they won't be able to find us in its eternal blizzard."
Pure-white light exploded, and Oliver leapt, leaving behind a powerful shockwave. He landed on air and continued to leap through it. After ten or so jumps, he crashed onto stable land near the top of the mountain.
He let out a deep breath, dropping Yadrith, who hit the ground awkwardly.
"Hell! That takes a lot out of me. Let's move immediately; we should be able to find a few walkable pathwa—"
Emerging from the shadows were three cloaked figures.
Oliver sighed, drawing his blade. "How did you guess the exact mountaintop I'd jump to?"
There was no answer.
Yadrith unsheathed his sword, and Mahaya simply stayed on Yadrith's shoulder.
"Careful, Yadrith."
"Alr—" Before he could even finish saying 'alright,' Oliver had appeared before him with a flash of light, pushing him out of the way of a blade.
"All three of you are Rekh users, huh?" Oliver quickly parried the incoming blade and kicked another cloaked figure aside. His pure-white light burst forward, turning a beautiful shade of gold. He gave them one last smile as all three of the cloaked figures approached them with blades.
His sword moved, and a terrifying shockwave of power shot forward, splitting all of them in half. Yadrith's singular eye shot open, witnessing the extent of Oliver's power.
'I-I thought Mahaya was stronger than him... Was I wrong?'
Oliver dropped to his knees, the golden light fading away immediately. "Huuf...Hufff...That takes a lot out of me." His hands were trembling, and he grabbed his chest.
"What was that power? I've never seen you do something like that."
He formed his trademark smile. "My Regalia, in exchange for my lifespan, it allows the amplification of my Rekh. I amplified my power to deliver a single strike at the Fifth Step there, so the shock is a bit much."
Seeing Oliver's state, Yadrith walked over and supported him. He looked at the three severed bodies. 'A power that allows you to exceed your own limit even if for a moment... That's terrifying.'
"I'll be fine... It's just that damaging your soul is dangerous." Oliver choked on his words, coughing up blood. "Carry me for a bit; it won't be good to loiter around these bodies... The fact they were here means they've somewhat predicted my movements."
Yadrith nodded, picking up Oliver. 'This guy is quite heavy!' It was usually Oliver carrying him around, considering Yadrith didn't possess superhuman strength. With a red face, he ran at full speed down the path given to them.
It was then that he arrived at a bridge. An old rustic rope bridge connecting two mountains, over a large... Drop? Yadrith looked down, full of nausea; it was just darkness. There was no ground to be seen; whatever was below this cliff was certain death for anyone.
Oliver coughed, "Careful crossing the bridge; my master and I once crossed it. It's by no means stable."
"What? You seriously want me to cross this thing by carrying you?"
"We need to hurry... I already knew we'd have to cross it before I used my Regalia."
"A-alright, I'll cross it if it means avoiding another fight."
He swallowed, looking into the abyss, then turned his head back to the slightly swaying bridge. 'Damn it!'
He was more scared of the bridge than even assassins at this point. But his fears weren't worth more than Oliver and Mahaya's lives.
'It'll be bad if that Neo Ogma character catches us.' He blinked heavily, taking his first step onto the bridge, gripping both the ropes at once.
"Are you sure about this, Oliver?"
"It'll be fine... Even if anything happens, I'll be back in top form by the time we make it across."
'...By the time we get across?' His vision seemed to distort for a moment as he stared down the lengthy bridge, taking his next step. 'Have I always had a fear of heights?' He took another step. Then another.
This continued for a few minutes with no problems until he took a step and nearly fell off the bridge as the board he stepped on fell into the abyss below.
"...Woah." He felt his heart drop as he hurriedly continued to the next step. 'I just want to be done.'
He was about seventy percent across, so he continued, determined.
Creak!
A burst of wind hit the bridge from below, causing it to sway wildly. Undeterred, Yadrith held on to each rope tightly and continued moving.
Another board fell, but he was ready for it and shifted his weight, crossing over to the next.
'Almost there!'
Just a few more boards were left!
One step! Two steps! Three steps! Four steps!
He had made it across, instantly dropping Oliver on the cliffside next to him and collapsing to the ground immediately.
"You're not done yet... Cut the ropes, hurry!" Oliver shouted in a muffled voice.
Yadrith raised an eyebrow and looked over at the bridge. Cloaked figures were crossing it, and at a rate much faster than he had.
"You weren't joking about their pursuit." Yadrith felt a chill; in response, he drew his sword, delivering two clean slashes to the ropes holding the bridge. Soon after, he was watching all the assassins plunging into the abyss.
"I guess none of them can jump through air like you."
Oliver shook his head. "I jump on air by creating footholds out of the ambient Rekh... That spot is precisely so dangerous because it is a gap in the world where no Rekh exists. Even my teacher was awkward when crossing it, and with it gone... Perhaps only Neo Ogma can follow us." Oliver stood up awkwardly. "Let's hurry."
But when the pair turned, what greeted them was not a sight they had expected. Oliver's eyes widened to an extent never seen before. And Yadrith simply took a glance at Oliver to understand their situation.
A lone man stood before them, wearing a rather simple outfit. There was a half-mask on his face, one you would see at an opera of a sort. But aside from the mask, there was no mouth or nose. He was genuinely faceless.
"Neo Ogma...!" Oliver shouted, trying his best to stay standing.