Might Makes Right!

“Let him go!”

As we attempted to pass back along the main path, a lone boy pushed through the loitering townsfolk. Tanjir adjusted her hold on the sack of twigs in the shape of a person and threw me an irritated side-eye.

Nothing could ever just be simple.

“I thought I just heard a little birdie jabbering, but I suppose it must have been the wind. We continue.”

I pushed past Tanjir. I could feel her teeth grinding from ten paces onward. The bodyguard should obviously not be following the person they’re protecting. Maybe I was confusing bodyguard for meatshield, either way it tried Tanjir’s patience which had become a sort of pass time for me.

The cute little hovels that were these townsfolk’s abodes slowly faded, the sound of small heavy footsteps did not.

“Give Arnold back!”

“I think this sack of twigs is named Arnold.”

“He’s not a sack of twigs!” The boy shot back.

“Is he not? Tanjir, what is that you’re holding?”

“Nothing. A meaningless collection of hair, bones, and skin that adds up to the sum of nothing.”

“Oho. Scathing. There you have it, little pigeon.”

“Ahh!”

The little boy’s footsteps approached faster. I could hear some kind of object being raised behind me.

Core Skill Activate: Teleporter

I was now behind the boy. The boy swung down at Tanjir’s backside which she hardened with her Core Skill and skillfully swept the boy’s legs. He jumped and did a backwards flip. Tanjir flashed some confusion when she noticed that I’d gotten behind her, but readied herself to face the boy.

He was small and lean, not thin in the same emaciated way as Scraggles. The Boy was probably ten years old with rust colored hair and some slight muscle on this arms and legs. He had clearly been trained, most likely by the Scraggles. Even so, no amount of training, gymnastics, or agility could rival Tanjir, or myself for that matter.

I had some level of pity for the boy, but one must learn the pecking order sooner rather than later.

Just as I had that thought, his skin changed to a reddish color and he began to grow, his muscles expanded. The boy was replaced with a 8 foot tall man with red skin and well built body.

Tanjir’s eyes grew wide.

“I won’t let you take him from me!”

He swung his now full-sized fist at Tanjir who had put her sack of “nothing” down. She braced herself and activated Diamond Frotress. His fist connected with a sharp crack. Tanjir was sent hurting sideways. The red man-boy clutched his fist and howled in pain. I teleported over to the “sack” and then to Tanjir.

Her eyes were unfocused and there was already some swelling on her cheek. His fist had broken through her diamond shell. I looked over to the weeping red giant, slightly impressed. He was still a child but this Core Skill was something else.

Once upon a time my Teleporter skill could move me from country to country, but in this life it was far weaker, now I could only move within my own line of sight and the skill was limited only to myself (though that was always the case).

Luckily, I had some other tricks up my sleeve; I have my doubts about said “trick” however it may be our only chance.

“Little Pigeon!” The red thing turned his head sharply toward my voice.

“How about you and I go a round? And if, by chance, I can’t manage to bring you to your knees where you belong, I will release your precious guardian to you. However, if I do manage to accomplish this then you will form a life contract with me. How say you, little Man-Boy?”

He considered it for a second, “Do you mean it?”

“Indeed.”

“Then…I decline.” He smiled and pointed his finger at me, “If you’re willing to make a deal that means you don’t think you can win against me, so no deal. My master told me when people are willing to compromise it means they believe that they’re going to lose.”

“Hmm. That advice may or may not have been correct had you been facing anyone other than myself. This game was more for your benefit than mine. So, don’t blame me when I utterly annihilate you!”

Core Skill Activate: Teleporter

Core Skill Activate: Superhuman

Core Skill Activate: Magician

My entire world came into focus, every muscle movement on the giant’s body appeared to be in slow motion. I could see every bit of dust kicked into the air as he began running toward me. I could see someone several miles away on a horse coming this way from the direction of the palace. I could smell the food from the main square, and the grime from the villagers up the road. Over all of that though I could feel the heat of power rushing off both my arms and the giant’s.

I kicked off to meet his bludgeoning fist with my own.

Tanjir woke from her daze having been knocked off her feet by the boy’s astoundingly powerful punch. She sat up just in time to see Lady Lumi facing off against the giant boy. She jumped into the air then disappeared and ended up above and behind the giant. A magic circle appeared behind her, she disappeared then reappeared right at his back, her fist made contact dead between his shoulder blades, shooting him to the ground. The ground cracked, the impact could be felt from here.

Lady Lumi stood on the giant’s back with a proud smirk. Tanjir could hardly believe this was the same girl she’d been hired to serve all those years ago. Her personality hadn’t actually changed all that much but her strength and this strange new obsession with the outside were so new. It seemed to happen overnight.

Lady Lumi used to call her for everything even when not needed, one would think her sudden independence was a positive change and from the outside it should be welcome but the small differences did add up. This Lumi was not the same princess. Tanjir was still trying to process all of this but that was something she was sure of.

“I’ve conquered this beast. Tell me Tanjir, where should I have him mounted?”

The Beast suddenly bucked causing Lumi to jump and disappear before reappearing above and repeating the falling punch she’d done before. The ground shook once again.

The beast however would not stay down, “You’re a tenacious one, aren’t you.”

“I’ve afraid I haven’t introduced myself to you, I’m Princess Lumi Sephora Armas.”

“I’m Alfeo-” Lumi jumped knocking the air out of Alfeo’s lungs.

“That’s not how this works. You don’t get to have a name. You are simply quarry that I’ve successfully hunted, you understand. This is the order of the world with you firmly under my heel. If I think you deserve a name, I will tell you. Got it.” She hopped off and then gave a firm kick turning him onto his back.

This Lumi was not the same as the one Tanjir had grown up with.

“You and Scraggles are going back to the palace with me, do you understand?” A magic circle appeared on her knee and she kicked down on his ribs breaking them as though snapping a tree branch.

Alfeo’s Core Skill deactivated shrinking him back to being a child. He coughed up some blood and groaned.

“Don’t worry Tanjir, I don’t believe you’ll have to carry both of them. The Royal Guard are on their way.” Just then a man in silver armor on a horse came into view.

“This field trip has not been entirely useless, let us greet him and go home, yes?”

Tanjir stared at Princess Lumi. There was so much she needed to know but for now, at least from the outside, appearances were important. A time would come to confront this stranger all she had to do was smile and wait.

“My you look rather grim. Is it something I said.”

“No, I’m smiling, my lady.”