Camellia Pieris

After a couple of minutes, the lights above the stairs changed from red to green signalling they could go up onto the teleportation platform.

As the light changed a timer had been projected from their bracelets. It showed how much time they had left before the teleportation would take place.

They had exactly 5 minutes left to wait before they would get to have yet another astonishing experience.

"The light is green! Let's go! Quick lets run! Leo! Uriel!" Hari made sure that everyone was well aware the light switched green before starting to run shortly followed by Leo and Uriel.

The three kids run excitedly up the stairs. Alin started moving too but then sensed something dangerous as the three kids reached the apex of the stairs.

Twin shadows were flying like a rocket towards the three children. Alin's eyes started glowing a golden glow and then from his right foot, a short wall of flame started flying up the stairs.

It reached the apex in an instant but before it could reach past the children and connect with the shadows, an ice wall formed blocking the wall of fire, simultaneously a similar wall was heading straight for Alin but without even turning around he had created another wall of fire from his other foot that clashed with the other ice wall.

"Oh, I've been told their guardian is quite weak and frail-looking looks like I will need to... punish some people for lying to me when I'm back" A woman could be heard speaking in a seductive and slightly sadistic sounding voice came from behind Alin.

Alin didn't immediately turn around to look at who the voice belonged to, instead, he kept his eyes fixated on the peak of the stairs.

Alin looked down towards the ground in an attempt to hide his face "Ha, Ha, Ha. Good. Yes, this will be good for them…" he said in a quiet excited voice. His face was hidden so no one saw the twisted blood starved expression.

When he sensed that the twin shadows shouldn't be a threat to the three siblings he turned around.

As he turned around a woman came into sight. She was an attractive looking woman she had ice-cold blue eyes and white hair with a single blue highlight, tied into a ponytail. She was smiling seductively revealing her perfect pearly white teeth.

She was wearing a big white sweater that had various patterns on it and just barely covered everything important. Over it, she was wearing an elegant looking white coat with golden buttons that had a crest engraved into them. The coat was slightly longer than the sweater and reached the top of the boots.

Various pieces of golden jewellery adorned her wrists, fingers, neck and ears. Her nails were painted white, not a single nail was broken and her hands looked smooth and perfect. It was clear she hailed from a well off family and rarely had to lift a finger.

Gripped within her right hand she had a white whip made from what looked to be hundreds of white slightly clear spherical beads that glistened like diamonds.

She wore white velvet knee-high, high heeled boots. Alin pondered how she could be mobile during a fight in those but he swiftly expunged that thought. Soon he would see it for himself.

Alin asked in a calm voice "Who are you and what is your goal?"

The woman grinned "My, my. How rude. Shouldn't a gentleman introduce himself first? Tsk Tsk Tsk" the woman teased Alin but not seeing a change in his expression she shook her head dejectedly and answered him seriously this time.

"Today is a very fortunate day for you, you are in the presence of Camellia from the grand clan Pieris" Camellia spoke in an elegant tone with extreme pride radiating from every word she spoke.

"What business does your clan have with us?" Alin spoke in a cold indifferent voice. To him, it didn't matter who or why chose to find trouble with him. But in his mind, it didn't hurt to find out who will be getting a visit in the future.

"You? None. The kids, however, are a different story. Primarily the big one in the winter coat. I saw him fight a few months ago. The way he took the attacks head-on, how they didn't even look as if they scratched him or bothered him…" Her elegant looking face then changed as if she could barely contain her excitement.

She put her left hand to her face and stuck her tongue out making an erotic expression. "...imagine how fun it would be to break him. I wonder how much punishment he could take. Ohhh but he is still young. Plenty of time to get stronger. I can't wait to see him reach his potential. It's been a long time since I've last found a toy so interesting."

"Oh, sorry where are my manners. I went into a world of my own" She smiled with a slightly embarrassed face.

"Tell the boy to quietly and politely follow me and not only will I leave you and the other children alone, but clan Pieris will also compensate you for your trouble." She smiled once again in a soft and kind smile.

"Ha, Ha, Ha." Her smile broke as she heard thunderous laughter coming from the old man blocking the way up the stairs.

"It has been quite some time since I have last heard such insolence. Young lady, I shall instil a lesson upon your mind and soul. One that you are bound to never forget."

Alin's eyes began to glow one of them became silver while the other golden. Camellia could feel Alin gathering mana but to her, the quality and amount seemed to be abysmal.

This fact made her believe that the old man in front of her could have possibly been quite strong in the past judging from his behaviour and body language. Nevertheless, she felt that now he was just a shell of his former self.

A small strand of ice was slowly making its way from the heel of her boot towards Alin from behind and above. It was so small unless your eyes were right in front of it and light reflected perfectly from it you wouldn't be able to tell.

'Sigh'

"I wanted to be kind to you old man. But don't worry. I will make sure the other two are also taken care of" She licked her lips in excitement and in the same instant the small thread of ice that was looming behind and above Alin rapidly grew in size.

Series of Ice spikes started forming behind Alin and extending towards his shoulders and legs. From above two more spikes were extending aiming for the top of his shoulders as if they were going to nail him into the ground.

As they were about to make contact Alin's eyes started glowing once more and the spikes suddenly started cracking and became a huge pile of snow behind him.

The spikes that were flying from above on the other hand looked as if they simply melted away and not even a drop of water was left.

'Clap'

'Clap'

'Clap'

A sarcastic clap came from Camellia "Oh? That was impressive. Old man, you are the first person I've faced that saw through my ice thread."

Her face once again became sadistic "Yes, you will be a fun toy for now"

She moved her right hand up and swung her whip with extreme force and speed. As it struck the air it created a cold gust of wind that flew in Alin's direction. A cut appeared underneath Alin's left eye but quickly closed back up.

"Hoh, I have not seen a whip used in such a way before. Interesting." Alin acknowledged Camellia's surprise attack. She froze the moisture in the air and using the shockwave from the whip she launched them forward and they acted like small needles all in an instant.

If it was anyone else they would be riddled with holes currently, however, Alin was not a normal individual.

He grinned and decided to get serious before appearing right in front of Camellia. "My turn" He kicked her side sending her flying into a nearby pillar.

As she smashed into the pillar sending chunks of it flying in various directions. She got up and gently patted her clothes.

"Oh, I see you like it a little rough, just my type" she licked her lips once again and this time dashed towards Alin while swinging her whip wildly.

Alin was stepping backwards dodging the whip with great ease. "And here I thought we would have an exciting time together" she frowned at Alin who was busy dodging her assault.

Alin ducked narrowly dodging the thin whip before something unexpected happened. The tip of the whip expanded in size and just as Alin ducked underneath it, it snaked back around and something tried to bite his shoulder.

He twisted his body to the side narrowly dodging and avoiding a chunk of his shoulder being taken out by something. He grabbed the whip and using the momentum of his body twisting he yanked the whip from Camellia's hands and threw it up behind him onto the teleportation platform.

As he did that Camellia came flying like a rocket and started swinging at Alin, the pair exchanged blows as they made it up the stairs and onto the platform. Alin jumped back a few meters and stood deep within the platform while Camellia stood just on the edge of the platform by the top of the stairs.

Camellia used her ice ability quite competently in Alin's eyes, he believed Camellia to be a strong opponent but unfortunately for her she had to pick the wrong opponent.

As the pair's fight intensified something the kids would find interesting started to happen. At the peak of the stairs, the whip proceeded to grow bigger. It became a white snake whose body looked as if it was entirely made from diamonds.

Its radiance was almost blinding, it looked pure yet dangerous. "Hahahahaha, I bet you weren't expecting that old man." Camellia laughed as Alin's gaze fell behind her.

Alin's face remained expressionless as he spoke "hmm? Oh yes. It was quite unexpected that you have a Lerone Snake with you much less managed to tame one. It is indeed an impressive feat so for that I commend you."

Then his expression turned dark.

"However you are a fool if you believe this will change your fate"

As he spoke that his fingers began to turn into claws. Fury raged throughout his mind and body. The only thing that kept him from losing his mind was the thought of swiftly dealing with the nuisances so they can depart.

As Alin was about to launch his final attack a loud crack and the sound of something metal clanking and hitting the ground could be heard as a blood-chilling scream and a flash of light could be seen and heard.

"URIEL!"

The word echoed and as the light vanished the teleportation hall was left desolate with signs of an intense battle left atop the teleportation platform.