Battle of the King’s Guard

The ground beneath the mission party glowed with intricate, pulsating runes, binding magic. The same magic Rayne and the Commander had sensed. Commander Dion's sharp gaze swept the scene. 'A well-planned ambush' They had been waiting for them. 

"Kill them all" One of the Dark Mages sneered, lifting his hand. 

Before the attack could be unleashed, Dion barked out a single command: 

"Release!" 

In perfect synchronization, every King's Guard, includingcommander Dion, dropped to one knee and drove their swords into the earth. A surge of power rippled through the ground, their weapons glowing with radiant light as they released a counter-spell. The binding runes shattered, dissolving into thin air like mist in the wind. 

The Dark Mages barely had time to react before the King's Guard surged forward, blades drawn from thin air. 

The commander turned sharply to Rayne. "Take the princess and run!" His voice was sharp, leaving no room for debate. "Get her out of here, now! We'll hold them back and take care of this ourselves" 

"No!" Emeney protested, already gripping her own sword. "I won't…." 

Rayne moved before she could finish. 

With one swift motion, he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. Then, ignoring her struggles, he threw her over his shoulder like a sack of rice. 

"Rayne!" She snapped, pounding his back with her fists. "Put me down this instant!" 

"Yeah, not happening," He muttered, adjusting his grip. 

Behind them, steel clashed against steel as the King's Guard engaged the Dark Mages. The battlefield was a whirlwind of chaos, spells erupted in flashes of fire and ice, trees splintered under the sheer force of magic, and battle cries rang through the air. 

Commander Dion blocked a dark spell with his sword, his blade absorbing the impact. He glanced toward Rayne and shouted over the chaos, "Go!" 

Rayne didn't need to be told twice. With a burst of magic, he propelled himself forward, disappearing into the dense forest with the princess in tow. 

Emeney twisted in his grip, furious. "Rayne! We can't just leave them!" 

"They knew what they were signing up for" He said, his tone unusually serious. "Their job is to keep you alive. My job is to make sure you stay that way." 

She gritted her teeth, her heart pounding with frustration, but deep down, she knew he was right. 

As the sounds of battle faded behind them, Rayne pushed forward, weaving through the trees with inhuman speed. The safe house wasn't far. If they could just make it back, they could regroup. 

Still, as they ran, Emeney couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in her chest. What if…this was the last time she ever saw commander Dion and the others alive?

***

The moment Rayne and Princess Emeney vanished into the trees, Commander Dion turned his full attention back to the Dark Mages. A quick assessment of their mana signatures told him what he needed to know. 

'B-Class mages'

A silver of hope ignited in his chest. 

Yes, they were outnumbered two to one, but these were the King's Guard elite A-Class warriors trained to handle high-level threats. And he was an S-Class. 'We can win this'

"Hold formation!" He bellowed, his voice cutting through the battlefield. 

The King's Guard moved as one, seamlessly forming a tight, defensive arc. Their swords gleamed under the moonlight, their bodies surrounded by faint magical auras, each mage reinforcing themselves with enhancement spells, heightening their speed, strength, and reflexes. 

The Dark Mages struck first. 

A barrage of dark spells erupted from their hands, sickly green and black energy bolts screeched through the air, twisting like vipers toward the King's Guard. 

But the guards were already moving. One flicked his wrist, and a translucent barrier spell shimmered into existence, deflecting the first wave of attacks. Another phased through the incoming onslaught with a Blink Step, appearing on the other side with his sword already swinging. 

Sparks flew as steel met steel. The forest exploded with action. 

Commander Dion surged forward, a powerful gust of wind magic propelling him at lightning speed. His blade clashed against a Dark Mage's sword, forcing the enemy back with sheer strength. With a twist of his wrist, he unleashed an ice spell, freezing the mage's arm solid before shattering it with a brutal kick. 

To his left, two guards worked in perfect unison, one parrying an attack while the other swept low, slicing through a mage's leg in a blur of motion. Blood sprayed across the dirt, but there was no time to stop. 

A Dark Mage raised his sword high, chanting an incantation. 

Commander Dion's eyes narrowed. "No, you don't"

He stomped the ground, and a shockwave of fire magic erupted from his feet, turning the battlefield into an inferno. Flames engulfed the enemy, forcing them to scatter before the spell could fully activate. 

"Keep up the pressure!" He commanded, his sword slicing through the air, cutting down another mage. 

The King's Guard moved like ghosts, dodging, phasing, countering. One vanished into the shadows, only to reappear behind an enemy, driving a blade through their back before flickering away again. 

Another leaped into the air, flipping mid-flight and releasing a barrage of light magic spears, piercing through the enemy's defenses. 

But the Dark Mages weren't weaklings. 

A twisted smile stretched across one of their faces as he slammed his hand onto the ground. 

The earth trembled. 

Suddenly, black tendrils burst from the soil, snaking around two guards, locking them in place. 

Dion cursed. 

A second mage raised his sword, summoning a rain of razor-sharp ice shards that shot toward the immobilized guards. 

"Not on my watch" 

The commander phased his body turning into a blur as he appeared in front of them. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a wind barrier, deflecting the deadly shards before slashing through the dark tendrils with his blade. 

The freed guards didn't hesitate. They lunged back into the fight, their swords carving through flesh and bone. 

The battle raged on. 

Spells collided midair, igniting in dazzling explosions of light and darkness. The ground was scorched with fire, frozen with ice, shattered by wind magic. 

Commander Dion moved like a demon, weaving through the battlefield with impossible speed. He sliced, dodged, countered. With every swing of his sword, an enemy fell. 

But the Dark Mages were relentless. 

A particularly large one, his body covered in glowing runes, stepped forward, hurling a black fireball directly at the commander. 

Commander Dion didn't even blink. 

He raised his hand and absorbed the attack into his palm before sending it right back at the caster, engulfing him in his own dark flames. 

Another mage lunged at him with a cursed dagger. Dion caught the blade midair, twisted the mage's arm, and shattered it with a burst of wind pressure.

Bodies littered the battlefield. 

The King's Guard had suffered injuries, but they were holding their ground. 

Commander Dion's breathing was steady as he took in the scene. They had cut down more than half of the Dark Mages, but the remaining ones weren't retreating. 

'They're buying time for something'

His eyes narrowed. 

"Finish this. Quickly." 

***

The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and burning magic as Rayne and Princess Emeney sprinted through the dark forest. The moon cast silver beams through the thick canopy, flickering between the branches like a shattered mirror. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves, and their hurried footsteps against the forest floor. 

Emeney's heart pounded, not just from exertion, but from the sheer disbelief of what was happening. 

Rayne had dropped her a while ago, but his grip remained firm around her wrist as he pulled her forward, effortlessly weaving between trees, dodging overgrown roots, and adjusting their path with sharp turns. He moved like a shadow, fluid and untouchable. 

She, on the other hand, struggled to keep up. 

'How is he this fast?' She thought to herself. 

She was an A-Class mage, superior in both magic and physical ability. Rayne was a B-Class, and yet, she felt like dead weight compared to his speed. Every time she thought she was matching his pace, he subtly slowed to allow her to catch up. 

It made no sense. 

"You better start running faster, princess" Rayne called over his shoulder, his voice calm despite their desperate flight. 

"I don't…." Emeney opened her mouth to counter with a sharp retort, but he cut her off. 

"Save it for when we're not about to die" 

Her breath hitched. 

The words struck her like a lightning bolt, sending a chill down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold night air. 

Deja vu. 

Her mind reeled, transporting her back seven years, to the day of the Dark Mage's attack, to the chaos, the screams, the fire. To Leo. She had been running then, just like this. Struggling to keep up. Her hand in his. And he had said the same words. 

'You better start running faster, princess'

And when she tried to reply, he had cut her off the same way. 

'Save it for when we're not about to die'

Her stomach twisted violently. She turned her gaze to Rayne, her eyes locking onto the back of his head, searching for something, anything that would make sense of this. 

But no. 

It had to be a coincidence. A cruel, random trick of fate. It had to be. She shook her head, forcing the thought away. This wasn't the time for distractions. 

Ahead, the silhouette of a building came into view between the trees, the King's other house, hidden just outside Arcania's borders. Safety. 

Rayne picked up the pace, dragging her with him as they burst through the clearing. He shoved the door open, pulling her inside before slamming it shut behind them. 

The heavy wooden door sealed with a thud, and silence settled between them, save for their ragged breathing. Rayne's shoulders relaxed slightly as he scanned the room, ensuring it was secure. His grip finally loosened on her wrist, and he took a step back. 

***

Fifteen minutes had passed since their arrival at the King's spare house, yet the silence between them felt much longer. Emeney sat on the edge of an armchair, her hands clasped together, her foot tapping lightly against the floor. Her mind raced with possibilities, 'Was Commander Dion alright? Were the King's Guards still holding their own?' She hated being on the sidelines when her people were in danger. It gnawed at her, the helplessness, the waiting. 

She glanced across the room and found Rayne sprawled across one of the couches. 

Unlike her, he looked completely at ease. 

He lay on his back, his legs crossed at the ankle. His hands were locked behind his head, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in thought. His breathing was steady, unfazed, as if they hadn't just barely escaped an ambush. 

Emeney frowned. 'Who is this man?'

She had been asking herself that question ever since she met him. Rayne Egan. A supposed B-Class mage who moved like an A-Class, fought like he was barely trying, and somehow felt familiar in a way she couldn't explain. 

A sudden wave of curiosity overtook her. If they were going to be alone for a while, she might as well take the chance to find out more about him. 

She leaned forward slightly. "Where are you from, Rayne?" 

Rayne blinked as if pulled from his thoughts, then slowly turned his head toward her. His blue eyes met hers, unreadable as always. 

"Here and there" He said nonchalantly. 

Emeney's brow twitched. "That's not an answer." 

"It is" He countered, stretching a little. "Just not the one you wanted." 

She sighed, but didn't back down. "Fine. Who are your parents?" 

Rayne exhaled through his nose, a small amused sound, as if he had expected the question. "No one worth mentioning." 

That wasn't an answer either. 

Emeney narrowed her eyes, shifting in her seat. "Why are you in Arcania?" 

Rayne's gaze flickered with something, something subtle, something almost… distant. But it was gone before she could analyze it. He tilted his head slightly. "Because I live here now." 

Emeney huffed in frustration. He was being deliberately vague, giving her nothing but empty responses. 

"Are you always this difficult?" She asked, arms crossing over her chest. 

Rayne smirked. "Only when people ask too many questions." 

She scowled. "I'm trying to have a conversation." 

"And I'm trying to rest, I'm exhausted from running. It was too much for a B-Class mage like me" He shot back, closing his eyes. "We both have goals. Life is about balance, princess." 

Emeney inhaled sharply, biting back a retort. She had dealt with difficult people before, but Rayne had a way of frustrating her unlike anyone else. 

Still, she wasn't done. 

"If you don't want to answer my questions, fine" She said, shifting tactics. "But at least tell me this, why did you accept my offer to join the King's Guard?" 

Rayne's smirk faded. 

His eyes remained closed, but his fingers twitched slightly where they rested behind his head. For a moment, it seemed like he wouldn't answer. 

Then, finally, he spoke. 

"You wanted me to" He said simply. 

Emeney's breath caught slightly. That was…unexpected. 

She searched his expression, but there was nothing to read, just his usual calm, collected demeanor. Yet something about the way he said it made her heart skip a beat. 

She swallowed. "That's it? That's your reason?" 

Rayne opened his eyes then, dark and unreadable. 

"You tell me" 

The way he looked at her, as if there was a hidden meaning in his words, sent a strange sensation through her chest. Like a memory she couldn't quite grasp. 

A sudden shift in the air made Rayne tense. 

The faintest ripple of mana, subtle, but there. Dangerous. His sharp eyes flicked toward Emeney, who sat across from him, lost in thought. She hadn't noticed. 'Good'. He needed to keep it that way. 

Rayne rose from the couch, stretching his arms in a lazy motion. "I'm going to check the perimeter again" He said casually. 

Emeney barely looked up, too preoccupied with worry for her men still fighting in the woods. "Fine" She murmured, sinking further into her seat. 

Without another word, Rayne exited the house, shutting the door quietly behind him. His carefree demeanor vanished the moment he stepped outside. His gaze sharpened as he honed in on the disturbance. It was faint, nearly undetectable, but it was there. Four distinct presences, moving just beyond the treeline, circling like wolves. 

Rayne exhaled slowly. 'So they followed us'

His steps were silent as he moved through the woods, hands in his pockets, his mana suppressed just enough to keep himself hidden. The presence grew stronger the further he walked, and then— 

Four dark figures emerged from the shadows, their black robes shifting with the wind. 

Dark Mages. 

Rayne's lips curled into a mischievous smile. 'How predictable'

They didn't attack right away. No, they were gauging him first, expecting an easy target. One B-Class mage. No backup. No chance. 

Rayne turned his head slightly, just enough to glance back at the house in the distance. "Still inside. Good" 

He let out a small, amused breath before stepping forward. 

And then— 

A silent explosion of mana. 

The air vibrated with raw energy as his aura erupted, swallowing him in a wave of glowing power, his eyes glowing blue. The Dark Mages flinched, their faces twisting in shock. 

'This isn't a B-Class aura…'

"Who the hell are you?" One of them hissed. 

Rayne tilted his head, unconcerned. "Does it matter? Let's get this over with. I need to return back before she starts suspecting anything" 

Before they could react, he flicked his hand. His sword materialized in a flash, sleek and black with a crimson edge, humming with barely contained power. 

The Dark Mages shook off their hesitation and lunged. 

Rayne disappeared. 

A blur of movement, too fast, too precise. 

The first mage barely had time to scream before his head was severed from his shoulders, blood spraying in a clean arc. His body hit the ground with a dull thud. 

The second tried to retaliate, casting a barrage of dark projectiles, but Rayne already teleported behind him. His hand shot through the man's chest, fingers wrapping around his heart. A heartbeat later, he ripped it out. 

The remaining two stumbled back in horror. "This isn't possible…!" 

Rayne's cold and glowing eyes locked onto the third mage. He lifted a finger, and in an instant, a freezing spell consumed his target's head, turning flesh and bone to ice. A quick slash of his sword shattered it into a thousand pieces. 

The last mage knew. This man was hiding his true strength.

Fear gripped him, but it was too late. 

Rayne's hand lifted lazily, dark energy swirling at his fingertips. A black spell shot forward, wrapping around the mage's body like invisible chains. He screamed as he was lifted off the ground, his limbs convulsing violently. Blood trickled from his eyes, ears, and mouth as the magic crushed him from the inside. Then— 

*Boom* 

His body exploded into a mist of blood. 

Silence. 

Rayne lowered his hand, his sword vanishing into thin air. He glanced around, scanning for any remaining threats. 

Nothing. 

With a casual flick of his wrist, the bodies were engulfed in black flames and then disappeared completely, he disposed of the bodies, ensuring no trace of the fight remained. Within moments, it was as if nothing had happened. 

His aura faded, suppressed once more into the harmless presence of a B-Class mage. His expression shifted, morphing back into one of mild disinterest. Then, without a second thought, he turned and walked back to the house, slipping back into his role as the weak, indifferent guard. 

By the time he entered, Emeney was still in her chair, lost in her own thoughts. Rayne smirked to himself, and uttered a sigh of relief. 'Good. She has no idea'