Episode Nine – The Brothers Galden and Felda
Time was running out before sunset, and they still hadn't found the thief.
Suddenly, an evil laugh echoed through the streets. The three of them turned—Martin was standing atop a tall building, the golden sun setting behind him, holding the bottle of magical ink.
Martin: "You want it? Come and get it!"
Then he ran off like a cowardly rat.
Thomas: "Damn it! He's getting away!"
Galden: "Let's go after him. Felda, stay here—Thomas and I will chase him."
The chase began.
Martin leapt from rooftop to rooftop. Thomas raced up a set of stairs, pursuing him from above, while Galden followed through the streets below. Their plan was simple: force Martin down so Galden could grab him.
But Martin, realizing Thomas was chasing him from above, guessed someone was tailing him from below—and decided he wouldn't go down, no matter what.
Thomas (thinking): Damn him… he's stalling until the sun sets!
Thomas picked up speed, closing in fast. Meanwhile, the alleys below were getting narrower, forcing Galden to change tactics. He darted up a staircase, aiming to cut Martin off. As Martin sprinted past, Galden leapt at him from the left.
Galden (thinking): Didn't expect this, did you? Got you! You can't run now—Thomas is behind you. No way back.
But Martin pulled an unexpected move—he too leapt sideways, falling three stories. Using his magic staff, he transformed a cart into a cushion to soften the impact, then kept running.
Galden: "Damn! He got away!"
Thomas: "No—he's heading for open ground. This is our chance! It's easier to chase on flat land."
They jumped down and pursued him to a grassy field near a small river, the sky ablaze with sunset colors. There he stood, waiting defiantly.
Martin: "Here… we'll witness the splendor of the sunset."
Galden: "Give us the ink, you fool."
Martin: "In your dreams."
Galden: "You have no idea what we went through to get here."
Martin: "I don't care who suffers—or who cares."
Thomas: "Enough. What's taken by force… can only be taken back by force."
Thomas drew his staff, taking a professional fighting stance. He was trained in martial arts, and his cane could transform into multiple weapons.
Martin: "Sunset has its own melody… listen… listen… LISTEN!"
(He raised his voice in a dramatic operatic tone, then struck a conductor's pose—staff held between two fingers, his other hand directing the air.)
Martin: "Conductor's Stance… Lento!"
Thomas: "What?! That's a conductor's stance for leading an orchestra! Damn it—there's no opening. His defense is flawless."
Thomas winked at Galden.
Thomas: "I'll distract him. You sneak in and grab the ink—it's on that rock."
Thomas attacked with his staff, while Martin unleashed magic in sync with his own imagined symphony, each strike a note in his bizarre performance. He dodged, parried, and countered—but neither Thomas nor Galden could get close.
Martin: "I am the maestro, the controller, the victor. Your every move plays to my rhythm—because I set it!"
Galden's frustration peaked.
Galden: "How is this happening?! Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT!"
Suddenly, a strange energy surged from within him—the same power that had appeared when he saved Thomas before.
Electricity—Shashoki magic.
His body glowed white, his eyes turned blue, hair silver and spiked, veins glowing with light, sparks crackling between his fingers.
He shot forward at lightning speed.
Martin (shocked): "What the—?!"
Martin quickly shifted to a more serious stance.
Martin: "Maestro… Presto!"
He unleashed rapid-fire magic blasts, but Galden was faster—zigzagging like a lightning bolt—until he closed the gap and landed an electrified punch.
BOOOOM!
Martin's body slammed into a tree with bone-rattling force.
The energy vanished from Galden.
Thomas (amazed): "It's the same strange power… this boy is hiding incredible magic!"
Thomas: "Galden! Hurry—get the ink!"
Galden approached the rock where the ink bottle sat, but suddenly—
Martin (weakly): "Damn you… I lost the battle… but not the war!"
With a desperate blast, he shattered the bottle. Magical ink splattered everywhere.
What now? How will they escape this mess?
Find out in Episode Ten!