CH -4- FAUX

Liam left the city behind and was now walking forward through the entrance of the woods.

He kept walking and walking deeper into the forest stepping on the overgrown grass not appointed with a gardenener. Reaching a dense part of the forest ,surrounded by various tress and plants, he put off with the backpack removing it from his back and placing it in the ground prepare to set the camp.

"This seems good and deep enough. Most probably no one will cross paths with me here and I can focus on my training."

Prepared to set the camp here, Liam started to unpack.

He had bought a thin cloth for the tent with him with considerably good tensile strength. It was quite expensive but why would he struggle for money.

"Now for some dry wood and logs". He unbuckled his axe from his waist pelt and left the sword alone in the left side.

"It may be a God opportunity for me to test my strength. I can infuse magic to my muscles and intensify my power. It may also help me to get my magic under control.

He set his eyes on a nearby thick tree. Upon walking near the tree he ran the magic in his body from his navel to his arms.

The location where one's magic is stored is behind the navel inside the body. It was the reservoir of magic.

Crunching the axe tightly and firming his grip, Liam twisted his body and took a swing.

"Slash!"

The axe reached just stopped at the middle of the trunk.

"Boy! magic really is awsome. Sister Lia thanks again. Till eternity may I never forget you"

Feeling satisfied, he made a smile.

Taking another swing, the tree broke and fell down trembling the ground.

"Before just reaching the middle took so much effort but now it feels so simple"

He balded the tree of its leaves and braches and started polishing the surface with his axe before chopping it.

The day went by with him setting up the camp .

Sitting before the bonfire he was chowing on his rations consisting of dry meat and fruits like the seven colored grapes and sea apple. These fruits were good for nourishing the magic inside the body.

He was having a pleasant time but he didn't knew someone had been watching him from the shadows the moment he took the step inside the forest.

A person with black robes camouflaging himself in the dark was hiding on a tree.

It was the guy back at the central market.

He had been tailing Liam from the moment he passed by him.

"Looks like its the right time."

murmuring to himself he descended from the tree taking a jump. Strange as it may seem the moment he took the jump and reached the ground there was no sound given out by the ground. Not even the tiniest fluctuation in vibrations.

He started heading towards the light.

Liam enjoying his meal was totally unaware of the man approaching him.

Suddenly he could sound small footsteps given out by the man on purpose.

(huh! No one's suppose to be here at this time of the day furthermore this deep in the forest.)

(who is it? magical beasts? No that can't be , the small number of magical beasts that were in this forest were wiped out due the security of the city

and had also been hunted down by the hunters)

Liam's defense system rose up to its peak.

Performing a kick-up he got back on his feet.

"Who?" standing on guard he kept his vision on sight from the direction of the sound.

Liam could see a silhouette of a black mass approaching him step by step slowly.

Few moments upon walking towards him. The black mass was unveiled as a person slowing approaching him in black robes covering his face with a hood.

"what do you want? who are you?"

Liam questioned with tension in his tone. His instincts were screaming that the person before him was dangerous.

"you don't need to know"

Judging his voice Liam could say he was an aged guy.

Before Liam could have responded the old man started sprinting towards him taking out a dagger half the size of a regular sword.

(Looks like I have no choice. This person is not someone to be reasoned with)

Liam circulated his magic .

His hair started fluttering slowly.

(Bring it on)

He joined both of his hands and screamed

"Take this" A beam of ice magic was fired towards the old man.

"Swooooon!!!"

Like an realeased arrow it went straight for the old man creating wind fluctuations.

He kept pouring out his magic out of his hands like a broken dam.

(I guessed right. His magic has ice element in it. Let's instigate him some more)

The old man had a grin left unseen by Liam due to his hood

"Want me to kill with laugher"

The old guy jumped high in the air.

"Damn!!" Liam was startled as the old guy approached him from the air like a fire eagle.

He cut out his release of magic and unsheated his sword.

" Clank!!!". The sword and the dagger clashed creating out sparks.

(Guh!! He's too strong)

Liam gripping the sword with both of his hands tried his best to push. But he couldn't overpower the opponent no matter how much he tries who was only using his left hand.

He fixed his right leg in the ground and swinged his left targeted towards the head of the opposition.

"Slow"

His leg was grabbed.

Gripping his leg the enemy swinged him in a arc and threw him tangentially.

"Thadd!"Liam smashed his back on a nearby tree. He was thrown so hard the tree was titled.

His face went pale with pain.

"cough!!, cough!!". coughing out blood he groaned with pain lying in the ground. The light in his eyes were dimmed due to the pain.

He only could see the legs of the guy approaching him.

(Is he going to kill me. Why? I didn't do anything wrong. This is injustice)

The old man was standing infront of him.

Upon seeing the old man moving his hands he closed his eyes tightly.

10 sec passed.

"Huh! I am not dead"

He looked towards the old man. He was dumbfounded.

Contrary to his thought , instead of seeing the dagger top pointed at him , he saw a hand extended towards him.

( What does this guy want?)

" Take my hand, I won't hurt you"

Listening to the person Liam slowly extended his hands with a bit of reluctance.

Grabbing his hands, he was lifted from the ground.

" who are you? Why did you attack me. Arh! my back"

He looked at the old guy with some malice in his eyes.

The man reached out to his hood and removed it.

Liam could now clearly see his face.

His beard and hair all white. There were some wrinkles under his eyes.

Though old , he looked strangely dashing and face full of vitality. Not looking like some old man near his death bed.

"Sorry for earlier kid. I was just making sure you were an ice mage. You are one right."

"And what does it have to do with you?"

He was staring daggers and the old man

" Hey no need to harbor anger. I don't near any kinda' ill intention"

"If you would have said that earlier before attacking me , I perhaps would have believed in your words"

Liam still unable to trust him.

" Well , If I wanted to kill you . Minced meat would have suited you better"

The strange old guy replied laughing.

(Well it's true that he could have killed me in a heartbeat. He overpowered me without any usage of magic. Maybe I could trust him)

Thinking through he relaxed a bit.

"What is your name?"

enquired Liam.

"Oh you can call me grandpa Faux"

" Well uncle Faux. How can I help you? what it is you seek from me?"

To his question , Grandpa Faux laughed.

" What can I possibly seek from a brat like you. And it is opposite of you helping me in anything, you can say I came to help you"

"Help me?"

Liam made a confused face.