Chapter 13: Ambushed

Ambushed;

'Hey?'

'Art… my head hurts, so d-does my butt.'

'It should. You split two tree trunks in half. You should be probably dead now.'

'What? Am I dead?'

'Not yet.'

Vester!!

'Here, let me help you up.' the blurry image of the person under the moonlight extended his hands to Vester's face. Vester gave his hand and he was pulled up by the person.

'Vester... are… you okay?' Bobby timorously asked after he ran to them.

'Well, I'm not dead so that's okay.' said Vester.

'I-I'm sorry. I lost control. There was so much rage I wanted to let out.'

'No, I said too much. I'm sorry.' Vester apologized.

'What do you want?!' Bobby said at the interloper.

'I… came to talk actually.'

Vester rubbed his eyes in surprise to clear his vision and said to him, 'Wait, aren't you Mordecai?'

Mordecai smiled and replied, 'Hey Vester.'

'How'd you find our dorm?' Vester asked

'You have my Ascension spot. I know your location, and Bobby, he made a scene earlier today. It wasn't hard to find you both.' Mordecai explained.

'FYI, we're kinda like in the middle of something.'

'Look, Bobby, I need your help.'

'Hmph! I'm not as strong as you are Mordecai. Find someone better.'

'It's not that. They're back Bobby. I… saw one.' Mordecai sounded consumed with rage no matter how hard he concealed it.

Bobby's countenance flared up too as those words were uttered. The only person still looking like a confused was Vester when he tried to understand them.

'What… do… you wanna do then?' Bobby asked.

'I gonna make them pay.' Vester could notice traces of sympathy and anger from Mordecai's words.

'You don't have that power Mordecai, let it go.'

'Let it go? If I do that how'd I live with myself? Knowing I could avenge her. What is my purpose if I can't kill them.' at this point Mordecai's voice became unstable and started breaking.

Kill them? Kill who? Vester's heart dropped when he heard kill. For people, their age isn't killing bigger than their quota. 'Who are we killing?!'

Mordecai was deep in thought that he couldn't answer Vester. So instead Bobby did, 'He wants revenge.'

Vester was silent for a minute before asking, 'Revenge?!'

'Three years ago, there was an internal conflict between a kingdom force and some foreign clansmen. For all, I know the kingdom's force couldn't reach the end of their bargain and they backstabbed the clansmen. The clansmen also illogically reacted to this by taking the law into their hands. Mordecai's mother was connected to the kingdom force so she was affected. One of the clansmen is responsible for her being a cripple.'

'Why does he need your help?' said Vester.

'Bobby knows the culprit's face. I need him to show the one.' Mordecai interjected.

'I can't be responsible for your stupid death! Why don't you let the kingdom escort deal with this?!' Bobby blurted.

'It has been three years! Three years nothing has happened. They've all forgotten.'

'Well then, I have my uncle reopen the case.'

'You think he'll help. You think he'll do it when only one person is involved. Please, Bobby, he has better things to do.'

'…'

'This is the last time I'll ever help you do something stupid like this.

'This is the last moonlight he'll ever see.' Mordecai let out a deranged smile.

'Only if Vester comes with me.' Bobby spoke.

'What??'

'What?!'

'I need someone to help me when I… lose control.'

'What?! No, no, no. You guys go do your thing.' Vester shook his hands as he spoke.

'Look, Vester, you're our friend now and I think we have a long way to go together.' said Bobby.

'Is he gonna kill them?' Vester asked.

'If he does or not is none our business, he's not my problem.' Bobby answered.

'…'

Another brief moment of silence and the three exchanged sharp eye glances at each other. Mordecai didn't care who got on board along with him, so far they weren't going to interfere with his plan. Bobby didn't care so much any longer on what Mordecai planned on doing, so far he finally got to be excluded. As for Vester, he felt pity for Mordecai. A boy who seeks revenge for his mother irrespective of how much trouble it would cost.

'Our journey is outside the first district. We should head out if we want to return before dawn.' Mordecai broke the silence and the gang agreed by a nod. 'Think you two can keep up?'

Foosh! He ran straight ahead, but to the bystanders, it seemed like he disappeared. Bobby gave Vester and encouragement look before dashing out too. It took only a few seconds for Vester to process his actions then he dashed forward to them.

..

As the moon shone upon all trees of its kind from high up within the travelling clouds, three shadows of humanoid figures dashed out from trees continuously till they entered a small bush and ceased their journey. Before they were a pile of wood arranged to create fire for the night while a tent suitable for only a person was not too far from the fireplace. A blonde hair lady sat on a boulder where she arranged numerous paper scrolls and made astronomical patterns on them. Beside her was a man dipping his hands inside the fire to provide warmth for himself. This man was seated but his colossal body made it easy to deduce he was about six to seven feet tall. He was dark in complexion and carried a bald head which had purple tattoos drawn all over it.

'He knows how much I hate waiting.' the man spoke in a deep terrifying voice.

'He'll come. Just a little longer.' said the lady.

'I'm not you who's good at waiting.'

'I'm not. I only keep myself busy so I lose track of time.' she answered.

'If he doesn't come back with a plausible reason, I would dismember him.' said the man impassively.

'There was increment on what we had to offer. Staying here all night might be worth it.' she said.

Hmph! The man inexpressively harrumphed at her and the lady gave a light chuckle in return.

Meanwhile, Vester and the crew had split ways already. Bobby stayed hidden behind the bush where they were previously. Mordecai silently adhered behind one of the trees and listen to their conversation. While Vester jumped up to a tree branch and watched the spectacle from above.

Mordecai was shocked to find out the person responsible for his mother's disablement was none other than the lady with the paper scroll. According to the information Bobby disclosed to him.

'Who gave such others?' asked the man.

'Sentinel Morgan.'

'Hmm…I know her.'

'Of course, you should. She's the benefactor. After we were all banished she stood beside us in the shadows. Our lives at this point in time are because of her. Remember that.' the lady spoke emotionally.

The man could only lower his head remained silent. Even how brave and tough he was, he wasn't impervious destruction. He could take out hundreds of Ascenders or even more but he couldn't continue that forever. Some of his comrades who thought they could stay and fight with the kingdom forces before their banishment was unfortunately met with their deaths. He was smart enough to have escaped some of the most brutal deaths known to mankind with his very close partners. Now to avoid being totally annihilated, he had to engage in some dirty jobs for an insider.

'Sentinel Morgan?' Bobby whispered. Being ordained as a sentinel by birth, he grew up knowing the power the Kingdom Force, 'Sentinels' held in the kingdom and it's a top hierarchy. Sentinel Morgan was the Head General of the force. Hearing her work with outlaws was an offence that could deposition her.

Krrk!

Immersed in thought, Bobby unknowingly stepped on a dried twig and invited the attention of the gang.

The lady smiled and said, 'I was wondering when you'll make a move.'

The trio was dead-shock after the lady spoke. As if she could sense their current state she added, 'Did you think I wouldn't notice you three lurking around?'

'Then I'm sure you'll notice death when you see one?' Mordecai boldly exposed himself as he spoke.

'Of course, but now? No, I can't.'

The huge man slowly contacted a bag with his hands and brought out a complicated weapon. This weapon was shaped like an orb with three sharp extended blade extruding from it. Looking at it, it resembled a fan. Only a long chain was attached to the back and it could spin automatically when swimming through the air.

After introducing this weapon, the man glared at the tree where Vester hid behind and in a split second, the weapon came flying through the tree, slicing it in half.

Vester expedited a quick front-flip to avoid the weapon but ended up crashing hard on the ground.

'I should inform you. None one has fought me and lived despite how big or small.' said the man.

Before Vester could rise, he felt a gush of breeze ahead of him and when he looked up, he saw the bald's man knuckles which were exactly inching to an inch with his head surprisingly close to his face.

BAM!

Vester flew into the dark forest like a ball hit by an angry kicker, crashing into whatever came into contact with his head.

'VESTER!!' Bobby cried out.

The bald man retracted his weapon then tossed it out once again towards Bobby. Luckily for Bobby, there was a tree he slid through to get on the other side. But the bald's main weapon pierced through the trunk of this tree which without stress he pulled back his hand and the entire tree was uprooted from the ground and flung away.

When Mordecai saw the situation was worse than what he anticipated, he dashed at the woman, throwing out a fast sidekick in an instant. The woman swept her leg back and spun on it, providing space for a counter but instead, she insisted on grabbing Mordecai's leg. Just centimetres from holding his leg, she unbelievably gripped thin air while as for Mordecai, he was almost reaching the ground so he pushed himself back up with his two hands, spinning like a ball on them, he landed a brutal kick to the lady's head – like a boss.

After hitting her on the head, he went further to put down his leg in an orderly fashioned way like he threw a forward stunt, placing both legs down at a time then leaping up high above again for a remodified hook.

But how could the lady not see Mordecai come at her? She unrolled a paper scroll and Mordecai came flying into it. At that moment the writings twirled inside the scroll and a spark took place before blowing and sending everything before her into flames.