THE MERCHANT

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for your senses to grow sharper.

-W. B. YEATS-

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This fight was inevitable, since both of them had their own concerns regarding the girl there, while Apple knew nothing about their intention, as she was busy trying to find a way out for herself.

She tried to break the glass with a chair, yet no matter how hard she threw the bar stool, the glass was impenetrable, it didn't leave any crack whatsoever.

Meanwhile, the fight between Dorian and James grew more intense. Not only did they destroy everything around them, but one of the arrows that James dodged almost stabbed her. The arrow brushed her left cheek and pierced the shelf beside Apple.

"Oh, I am sorry honey, are you okay?" James asked Apple in a cheerful tone while evading Dorian's attack. "But, that was not me. See? He is the one who shot it." James nodded at Dorian.

Apple ignored those gestures, as she moved away from them, though there were not many places for her to hide since this convenience store was not that big and most of the things inside had been turned upside down. All the stuff on the shelves had scattered on the floor.

Apple didn't know who Dorian was, but since that man helped her earlier, thus she trusted him more than the other guy.

However, it seemed Dorian was not a match for him. At this moment, Dorian's left thigh bled profusely because James stabbed an arrow when they had to fight in a short distance.

Yet, Apple didn't have time to observe them, as she couldn't jump between the two and help Dorian, and moreover, she had another task at hand.

When Dorian managed to kick James on his guts, Apple made her way through the room and jumped over falling shelves to go to the cashier area. She saw a door behind the cashier, maybe it would lead to the emergency exit. Apple just hoped the door was not as odd as the door earlier and could be opened easily.

On the other hand, James butted Dorian over the head, as his body fell to the floor and took the sword that he wielded. He raised the sword and stabbed it down, aiming for Dorian's heart.

Fortunately, the magician used his magic and managed to twist the direction of the sword, as the blade pierced his left shoulder instead, yet his predicament was not yet over.

Rudely, James pulled back the sword, as Dorian growled in pain and blood gushed out from his open wound.

Once again, James used the same movement, he had an advantage because he stood over him, while Dorian was laying on the floor helplessly.

At this rate, James would finish Dorian in no time.

Gathering his power, the magician made an escape for himself as he blocked the sword with his own hand that was shrouded by magic and snatched it away from James, causing the man to stumble backward.

Upon seeing the chance, quickly Dorian stood up and jabbed a dagger in the side of James's thigh, pulling it back out, and he kicked him in the same place.

James wailed in pain and cursed loudly when his thigh was bleeding profusely. He threw an arrow that he created from thin air at Dorian, which he dodged swiftly and cut James's hand.

It was a clean-cut that his palm was thrown across the room. The curse was getting louder and his fierce glare aimed at the magician.

Even though Dorian looked like he was the victor of this fight, yet that was not the case.

James was an astral creature, which meant he would heal very fast, while Dorian was not. He would need weeks for him to recover from such injuries. It was said if he managed to get out of here safely with his head intact.

He needed to find the girl and make sure she was safe, or maybe he could bring her to Dorian's place. That was much better.

However, before Dorian looked for Apple, the girl appeared from behind the door in the cashier area and waved her hand to him.

"Over here, I found a door that can be opened. Come here!" she said hastily. Apple didn't run away alone, at least she could reciprocate the help that she received.

With ragging breath, Dorian walked toward Apple as fast as he could, while James's hand started to grow again.

"You should have run," Dorian said hoarsely and grabbed her hand. He closed the door and locked it, though it wouldn't help, but at least it would give them a few more seconds.

"You help me, I will not leave you," Apple said righteously. She wouldn't forget those people who helped her, the same thing went to the people that hurt her.

Dorian didn't want to argue with her about that and let Apple lead their way to the emergency door.

Maybe the door could be opened because James was in a weak state because of his last attack, but whatever the reason, it was good enough that they had a leeway from that man.

"What is he?" Apple asked. She helped Dorian to walk, worried if he would stumble forward, as blood from Dorian's thigh left traces behind them.

"The merchant," Dorian told her.

Apple frowned, she didn't know what that meant, but it was surely something that did not belong to the human world.

"And what are you?" They walked past the emergency door and arrived at a narrow alley beside the convenience store.

"A magician," Dorian replied.

"Is he dead?" Apple asked as they walked hastily in that narrow alley, the time also stopped here, many plastic bags froze mid-air.

"No." Dorian swatted a plastic bag from his face. James' magic would be nullified if he died, but since the situation was still like this, then he must be fine.

"Where should we go?" Apple asked when they arrived on the bustling streets, where people didn't move from their initial position.