Crystal Clear

As Saya said, I started running towards the city district. I really didn’t like her alone, but I trusted her, I had to. Some of the bandits were following me, but I was able to outrun them. Though I was able to outrun the people that were chasing me from the gate, the thugs were spread all over the city. I was holding the kid like a bag, which might’ve been uncomfortable for her, was the safest solution.

“What should I do, hmm….” - I was thinking out loud

I knew I had to get away from the thugs first and then I needed to find a spot to hide before meeting Saya again, and the only idea that popped into my head was getting on one of the roofs to look at the area from a higher perspective. There was a wooden crate near a roof that was over a door, which I ran on, and before I knew it I was on the roof of a residential building. From this point I was able to see that most buildings were connected to each other in long lines, but I wasn’t really able to see a specific landmark that we could meet up at, though i was able to see a mine of some sort, but it was swarming with bandits , so that was out of the question.

I was so occupied with looking for a good place to hide that I didn’t even notice the amount of bandits that were on the roofs. It looked like some higher points were occupied by thugs who were specifically prepared for fighting on the roofs as they had ranged weapons like guns and I think crossbows, though i wasn’t sure, and some who have seen me climb or got it signalized, that have carried a sword and other metal weapons.

“Shi-” - I didn’t even get to finish my sentence as a couple of them had already started shooting. I started running forwards, fighting them would’ve been a stupid move, if something happened to the girl I don’t think I’d be able to forgive myself.

I decided to continue to run. There was no plan in my head yet but I thought running into the city might be the best idea. I was able to dodge most shots, but due to the sheer amount of the bandits on the roof, a couple bullets grazed me as I was too distracted.

Before I even knew the roof that I was running on was about to end, but this time it didn't connect to anything, though there was a house a bit further away that I wanted to jump on, and so I tried.

As I was flying I noticed one of the guys tried to aim for the girl, and so I had to rotate in the air to protect her. The bullet entered around the middle of my back though it didn't enter as deep, due to my practice with Ishiki. Thanks to that guy I now wasn't able to finish the jump and before I noticed I smashed into the wall after which I fell to the ground.

The kid was fine, I had to support her during the landing as well, but overall she got out without any physical damage, I couldn't be sure about her mental state.

On the ground the only thing visible was the blue sky, and some ropes that the citizens must've used to dry their clothes. There wasn't much time to waste:

"Hey, listen to me, hide in this for now, I'll drag them out and come back to you in a second, all right?" - I reassured the girl

"Mhm" - a quiet approval was in place

But before I was even able to guide her to where she should go, a hand grabbed me by the mouth and pulled me inside one of those buildings. I wasn’t sure what was happening so I grabbed the girl and pulled her with me. When we finally got inside the person let go of my face, and so I was able to turn around to see who it was, I held the girl behind me and kept my left hand on the Sword.

“Hey hey! Sorry it was so abrupt, but there really wasn’t a better way. Don’t worry I’m not with them, if anything I’m on your side.”

As soon as he said that, he raised his hands to show lack of animosity.

In front of me was a guy who had short brown hair, and some sort of headband over his forehead. He looked like he was around the same height as me, but it was hard to judge from my position. He had a jacket that had some sort of pickaxe emblem on it, and he was wearing long pants. I didn’t say anything initially after observing him, but i think he noticed that I do not doubt him so he continued speaking:

“ I know it’s not something you’d ask an outsider for, but it seems you guys have already made Xinx mad, so I thought we’d join hand”

“Xinx? Is that the big boss bandit guy?”

“Yeah, he and his guys overrun the mine due to it being important for some guy they know, and they’re using the train station too, to export all the stuff they steal, so no travelling from or to here either, I think you know what I hope we can work out”

“Thanks, I’m grateful for you saving me, but I don’t think I can decide whether to do it without reuniting with someone first”

“Oh that girl at the gate? I see, I see… well, regardless, I’m not gonna try and force you, but I’d really like it if you’d give it some thought. Though It’d be rude for me to not offer you protection for now,.”

“It’d be nice, thanks , The girl has to come too though”

“Yeah yeah I know”

And so, I started following him.

“Actually, it's kind of rude of me, what’s your Name?” - I asked politely

“Me? I’m Yamija Ren, you?”

“Alvare Sharra, shame we meeting like this”

“Haha don’t worry about it”

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I woke up on a rather comfy bed in a dark room, I realised that I was still alive, which made me sigh with relief, though it wasn’t before long that the relief turned into sadness. I really thought I could do it, I told Alva that I can do it, that I will keep the boss at bay while he escorts the girl and I failed. It wasn’t a game, if it wasn’t for the person who rescued me everything would be over. As I recited all those things to myself shivers came through me, but before the sound of footsteps in the other room distracted me. I doubt the people who saved me had ill intentions, but I really didn’t want them to see me in my lowest state. I took a deep breath and stood up and walked to the door.

I opened the door and was greeted by a girl that had black hair with a couple of blonde stripes, as well as a large blonde part from the fringe that was held on top of her head with a hair tie. She also seemed to be wearing some jacket with a pickaxe logo on it. She had some fur on her waist too, and seemed to be wearing some pants too, as well as having another jacket tied around her waist. When I opened the door she stood there for a second, it seemed like she was moving some folded clothes.

“Oh, you’re finally up” - She said rather casually

“Yeah… Were you the one who dragged me out of there?”

“Yeah, you don’t need to worry about that though”

“No no, it’d be rude to not even say thanks, sorry that’s its so sudden but can I ask you something?”

“Hmm?” - the girl said and turned around to me as she was fiddling with some stuff before - “ WHat’s up?”

“I actually came to the city with someone, do you know what happened to them?”

“About that, come with me”

She stood up rather enthusiastically, and followed to the room next door, and so I followed her. The door open and I was greeted with a rather pleasant sight

“Saya!” - A familiar voice echoed the room

It was my dear disciple i was looking for

“Alva! How’d you manage to get here”

“Haha! This guy here brought me”

“Oh so this ur Partner Awake in flesh, I’m Yamija Ren”

“Nice to meet you Yami, can I call you that?”

“Haha Yeah that’s fine!”

“Hey, what about me?” - Said the girl in a sarcastic manner - “ Ah whatever, my name is Sasagi Ren”

All of us exchanged a couple of laughs and sat down around the table that was in the room, but we all knew what the conversation will boil down to:

“So, about that deal from earlier…” - Said Yami, though i wasn’t sure what he meant - “We found your partner, I think we should discuss it again, do you want me to go over the details again for your friend? “

“I think that would be for the best”

“All right, Xinx, what do you guys call him?Boss bandit? came in with his crew not so long ago, in order to steal stuff from the mine we have around here to export some crystals that they found. Since they seized the mines, they also seized the connected train system and are using it for themselves. What i'm asking from both of you, is cooperation with us to get rid of them Also I forgot to mention earlier, but the girl Alva had with him is in one of my friend’s house right now, he’s pretty far away from the mine so she should be safe there, after all is done we will begin the search for her family”

“Wow that was long” - Said Sasagi

“What do you think Saya?” - Alva asked me, although I already knew the answer he wanted to hear

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t do it, we need to use the train, and they saved both of us it’d be shameful to refuse the request”

“Haha that’s great!” - Laughed Yamija

“Now for the plan” - Began Sasagi - “What we were thinking of is using My brother as a distraction, while Both Alva you and me Take care of Xinx, best moment would be to catch him down the mine, where there isn’t a lot of armored bandits, only a couple workers”

“I don’t want to sound rude” - interrupted Alva - “ But shouldn’t we have the strongest people going for Xinx?”

“Haha, it might be hard to believe but my sister is actually stronger than me!”

Sasagi didn’t seem bothered by Alva’s comment, I can’t blame him I thought he might’ve been stronger too.

“Anyways” - Yami continued - “ I assume you guys are in, plan will be carried out day after tomorrow, that should give you enough time to rest and come up with some new ways of fighting, because I don’t think the current tactic worked out well for you”

“Yeah…” - the disappointment in my voice must have been really clear because soon after Alva started speaking about the situation

“It’s just we didn’t know what to do, it was an unexpected situation, next time will be the real one”

“We’ll see, we’ll see, anyways, I’ll leave you guys up to it, if you need anything I’m free whenever and I’m sure Sasagi is too”

And so, Both Ren’s have left the room and left me and Alva alone, now it was our time to come up with a plan on how to beat Xinx.