Stand off

Zeph and Sauren looked towards the robbers who were barring their way.They were quite normal but small leaking of elemental energy suggested their warrior identity.

Sauren replied first"Hey you should earn money from other means not by using your superior strength to loot normal human beings "

"Shut up child ,who are you to lecture us looks like another new warrior with no knowledge of immensity of heaven.Brothers kill them ,then we will loot their belongings probably these newbies has some pricey stuff."

Sauren was going to retort but Zeph unsheathed his sword and disappeared.He appeared at other end and calmly sheathed back his unstained Vajra.

"Should not waste time on trash "one thing his grandfather has drilled personally inside him was never to take advantage of normal humans .They were true future of humanity and we are just guardians protecting that future.

So he hated those who use their power to take advantage of normal humans.

Sauren clossed his opened mouth as he realised that his friend has never used such speed in their spars ,he understood like him he was also holding back.

He jogged to him and destroyed rocks by punching them and then both of them proceeded forward.

Soon two days passed as they were traveling through route .

They then arrived at huge stone monument of wolf in the path.It looked like it was guarding entrance of deep forest behind it .They were amazed to see such perfect stone work.Some words were written on its huge first leg.They read as follows:

'As long as mighty wolf guards way ,no evil shall leave gravestone forest.'

"what does it means ?"asked Sauren.

"Maybe local myth"replied Zeph.

"You Two should be travelers" said nearby passing person.He was carrying a basket of fruits in his hand .

Sauren and Zeph nodded."Then you probably don't know about it . Actually this forest is called Gravestone forest ."

He pointed towards gloomy looking forest behind wolf statue.It is believed that it harbours various graves of legendary evil men of historic period. Thus this forest contains very powerful evil spirits and also many black magic sorcerers practice their evil arts there.But there is also secret which only few ones knew including me ."

"What secret? "asked Sauren.

"Hehe you see I am selling fruits for whole day but not single one has sold.Maybe you want some fruits by chance?"

After some time ,both Sauren and Zeph could be seen walking inside forest eating fruits.

"Damn he totally ripped me off.....in the end what did he say ,'it was only myth he himself has gone into forest but didn't found any black magic sorcerer or evil spirit 'like we didn't knew that already.I am sure he has used this trick plenty of times before"said Sauren as he finished his fourth fruit.

"And why did only I have to pay for it?"

"well you were more curious about secret than me ."smiled Zeph as he finally finished his second fruit.

"That's totally unfair we both decided to go through this forest as it saves us about three hours of travel by merchant path.so why only I had to pay for secret"

"That's too because you want to reach city early as you are sick of sleeping on trees ,I am fine with three more hours of travel "commented Zeph .

As they went deeper and deeper into forest , surroundings began to become more and more gloomy.

"Can we really believe that man's secret .Now I think about his face ,it is looking exactly like greedy ,wicked evil spirit."Sauren was beginning to regret his decision of taking shortcut as fear was rising in his heart.

"Why are you so scared ? Don't tell me you fear evil spirits"

"well no need to being embarrassed,I admit I fear them ,ghosts can end your life easily and who knows that elemental energy works on them ?"

"Spirits are type of energy so surely elemental energy will work on them .By the way what is ghost?"

Sauren facepalmed himself inside his mind ,and said "other name for evil spirits"

Zeph nodded.As they were advancing through forest they saw a boy sitting on the branch of tree ahead them.He was thin boy with his face marked with various lines with ash and his arms also bears Arrow like ash markings .

He was wearing cow like animal's skull over his white haired head.He seemed to have black sleepy half opened eyes .He was quietly looking towards them.

Sauren was scared first ,after realising it was normal (well not normal)boy ,he relaxed and said

"Are you black magic sorcerer?"

"You look good men to me . Don't go forward ahead is our kingdom.They will kill you in first glance.Think of it as my warning"Boy said and jumped down from tree to stand between their path.

"oh warning and if we don't move then "said Sauren as fierce flames began to rise from his body .His battle lust even overcame his fear of surroundings.

Boy looked quietly towards both of them but didn't move inch . Similarly Sauren showed no signs of moving back.

Zeph moved ahead and kept his hand over Sauren's shoulder"Let's leave" he said.

"Leave? why leave ?just one hour ahead we can reach city why leave now?"Sauren was visibly confused.

"We will leave . are you coming or not?" said Zeph . "Hey,okay I am coming. "replied Sauren as he followed behind Zeph.Boy looked them quietly then merged back into darkness after watching them disappear from sight.

Finally after whole walking of six more hours they reached city .In path no one talked about that incident they just casually chatted on some topics.They booked their rooms in random inn and went to take shower first.

After two hours they met in lobby to go for their favourite activity of day that was food .After searching,they went inside crowded restaurant for dinner.

They sat on table and ordered dishes that sounded delecious to hear from their menu.Finally when they were waiting for dishes, Sauren asked

"why did you stopped me then?He didn't looked that powerful to me .Moreover we were two vs one condition."

Zeph shaked his head "you didn't hear his words clearly .He said he was here to warn us and yes he was powerful but not more than both of us together.Then what we defeated him and then moved forward to meet his clan members who could have easily oblierated both of us ."

"But atleast we can destroyed him then moved back I haven't fought sorcerer for even once"

"No he didn't have least bit fighting intent and moreover he was there for our safety.How could we have attacked him"Zeph shaked his head at twisted thought process of his friend and moreover he was giving powerful waves thought Zeph but didn't said it loud because he know competitive behaviour of his friend.