Embers of Escape

"Stop!" a voice echoed behind me.

I froze.

I recognized that voice—it was Alea Von Blitzfeld, my half-sister. My hands gripped the gate handles a little tighter. Just when I thought I was about to slip away, an unexpected obstacle appeared.

"Who are you?" She demanded, her tone icy. Not knowing who I was due to the cloak.

I turned to face her, she stood a few meters away from me. Bathed in the silver glow of the crescent moon. Her long blonde hair, slightly darker than mine, swayed gently with the breeze. Her teal eyes, calm yet piercing, locked onto me with an unreadable expression. Even in a plain white nightgown, she carried herself with effortless grace.

A thin blade was held in her right hand, its hilt adorning the crest of Blitzfeld—An amethyst horse, representing the speed and cavalry of the Blitzfeld.

"Noah?" She uttered, her calm eyes showing a hint of surprise.

"Yeah, sis, it's me," I replied keeping my demeanor calm but internally I was in turmoil, How am I supposed to escape now? Alea was one tier stronger than me—Low Adept tier. 

But that was not the problem, unlike me who had not trained that much. She used to practice her swordsmanship daily. If one's prowess can be only measured by core, then the world would've been peaceful. A mana core does not relate to one's true power, it only signifies their magic efficiency and effectiveness.

Even though she was only one tier above me, her swordsmanship alone could easily overwhelm me. On top of that, she has her second element—Ice. So I've to tread carefully as my second element is locked and lightning proficiency is also not that great only a few spells that I could muster.

"What are you doing out here?" She asked, "You were supposed to be under house arrest"

"I was just taking a stroll" I replied, forcing a smile on my lips. No way she is gonna believe that.

"By knocking out the guards?"

[Well, let me suggest one thing—Run] Dante chimed in.

'I know but I can't as long as she is focused on me I can't outrun her'

"I asked you a question, Noah" Her cold tone pierced through my thoughts, "What are you doing here?"

"Tsk," I clicked my tongue and took out the spear from the holster which I took from the guard, taking a defensive position. "Let me go and we can be rid of each other"

"You are planning to escape? Why?"

'Why? she asks. Why!? Because you lot treated me like shit and still dare to ask me, Why? Fuck you all.'

[Calm down, don't get too impulsive] 

"Yeah," I exhaled, thinking of what to do next. "I am running away, got any problems?"

Her expression after hearing that line did not falter. She raised her blade taking a fighting stance, "I can't let you, you are an important member of the Blitzfeld"

"Load of bullcrap! You all just wanted to use me as a pawn to tie knots with the Edelstein or else, I would've been disowned already" I shot back.

Anger started bubbling inside me but I calmed. If I show agitation it can lead to mistakes and ultimately, my plan flops. "Huuuuu" I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm my raging mind.

"I can't let you escape, it is Father's order to put you under house arrest" She stated plainly her voice devoid of any warmth. A surge of amethyst lightning formed on her left hand, completely weaving around her arms.

She raised her hand towards me and muttered [Lightning Bolt].

A streak of amethyst lightning shot toward me—I barely dodged in time. But before I could react, Alea's blade was already coming down, the distance between us vanishing in an instant.

[Voltstep] I muttered, a flash of amethyst light clouded my vision as I teleported right behind Alea evading her strike. I thrust the spear towards her.

-Clang!

But her thin blade deflected it right in time. Blocking it by a hair's breadth. 

"Fuck" I cursed knowing that my strike was seen through.

"You," she began now her thin blade glowed, as purple lightning cracked around it. "Did you awaken your legacy?"

"And what if I did? That is none of your concern" I glared, a frown appearing on my face.

"That's more than one reason to not let you escape" She declared and vanished appearing right next to me, her steel blade now glowing with a purple light, arched towards me with a crackling noise.

This time, I had no time to dodge. I raised the spear's handle in desperation, trying to block the strike.

-Twang!

But the impact jolted me back a few meters, stumbling my balance. My grip on the spear faltered which gave her enough time to attack me while I tried to regain my footing. And attack she did. 

-Sizzle!

[Noah, watch out!] Dante's voice rang. 

A bolt of lightning surged toward me at a very high speed. This time I had no time to dodge or block, I was completely off. The bolt struck me sending me flying toward the garden of roses and lilies, pain exploded in my right shoulder where it had hit me, burning the parts of my clothes.

"Ugh," I stood up groaning, clutching my right shoulder. My spear had fallen somewhere in between the garden, nowhere to be seen. Meaning, I was unarmed. 

"Still conscious?" Alea walked up, her steps were slow and deliberate as if she knew that I wouldn't be able to run away.

'Dante, what do I do? I can't win against her' I pleaded to Dante for something—something that could let me defeat her or at least let me escape her grasp. Something to distract her.

[I don't know, this situation is bad] Dante replied.

"Fuck" I cursed taking out the dagger and readying my stance. She could leap at me any moment now.

"What is going on here?" Suddenly a voice echoed, and an orange light shined on both my and Alea's faces. Both she and I turned our gazes towards the direction of the voice.

It was a guard, holding a lantern in his hands, the lid of the helmet was slid upwards revealing his face in the lantern's light. He must've heard the commotion that my fight with Alea made.

[Noah, that lantern!] Dante spoke up. Knowing what he suggested, a smirk played on my lips.

Seeing that Alea was distracted by the sudden appearance of the guard. A feeling of hesitation rang inside my chest but I knew hesitation now was defeat. So, I took the opportunity.

[Voltstep] I whispered.

"Huh, Young Lady Alea and Young Master Noah, what ar-" Before the guard could complete his words, I appeared right in front of his face. My dagger's sharp edge aimed towards his face.

"I am sorry," I mumbled knowing what I was about to do. My dagger pushed through his right cheek, severing his facial muscles.

"AAAAAAAAAGH!" a cry of pain came from the guard's mouth, blood oozed out of the wound I gifted on his face, covering my clothes in crimson streaks. I pulled out my dagger which was now covered in blood.

The guard's footing slipped and his body trembled slowly descending onto the ground. Before he could completely fall down in agony, I grabbed the lantern that he was holding and looked towards Alea.

Her facial expression was one of disbelief, her eyes widened in shock. "Noah, what did yo-"

"Sorry but I had no option left," I said before she could complete her statement. I held my foot over the guard's trembling body, "Take this as a first step of my revenge"

"What do you mea-"

Before she could fully respond, I dropped the lantern in my hands on the flowers near the guard. 

-Crack!

The lantern shattered, and flames erupted, devouring the flowers. Their glow twisted Alea's expression into something unreadable—horror, rage, or something else entirely. Black smoke reached the skies, the air was now filled with the smell of burning roses. It slowly spread along the other flowers and even caught onto the trembling guard's legs.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" The guard again started shouting in agony as the flames slowly started consuming him. I feel sorry for him but I had no other way. I looked at my sister and with a teasing smirk I asked.

"What will you do now? Will you save him and put out the fire" Lightning crackled around my legs, "Or chase me and let the estate burn down" 

Saying that I dashed towards the back gate. I gave her a short glance over my shoulder, to see her reaction. Her face was still etched with disbelief and she stood there still not making any moves.

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A/N: Poor Guard but anyways, tomorrow there won't be a chapter. You all know the reason why, so I am sorry.