Chapter 22:

CHAPTER 22

The Mathematician

The cyclone Lÿarah conjured destroyed the garden and the entire facade of Alex’s house.

“Alex, take your “bride” and her furry pet to the back,” Lÿarah said before the cyclone caught her. “Things are about to get ugly here.”

“Come with me, Theresa!” Alex grabbed the girl by the arms.

As soon as she saw the two move away, Lÿarah shot her blades and, with the wind’s power, made them spin around their own axes at high speed, practically turning them into projectiles.

With this single attack, she managed to hit seven of her opponents in a row.

“What kind of power is that? Was it from being exposed to all those roots in Muspelheim?” Lÿarah thought to herself, amazed.

She amplified the cyclone’s effect, combining attack and defense, and threw the remaining enemies into the air, sending them more than 10 meters above the ground.

“[Execute: Ignition Loop]. Physical magic. Gravity! [Compile: Special Physical Parameter].” With that, she jumped from the eye of the vortex and struck each opponent still in midair. Her blades returned to her hands like boomerangs.

Part of Alex’s roof had already come loose due to the strength of the winds.

As she landed, she faced the remaining enemies outside; they hesitated to enter the property to challenge her.

Lÿarah thought they would run away, but no, they stayed there, impassive, without moving a muscle.

“They haven't received orders to retreat, have they? They don't know what to do when things are unpredictable.” Lÿarah said, smiling.

Suddenly, the soldiers moved aside, making way for a particular man. He kept approaching Lÿarah. That man wore a Mask of the Executioner, but in a very special way, with armor embossed with wolf shapes. He carried a long black sword. He must have been a skilled, confident swordsman to approach her calmly after that display of power.

“Savage. Could you tell me your name?”

“What does my name matter?”

“I need to know what name I’ll carve on your tombstone.”

“Arrogant. I like that. Those are the most fun to break. I know that if your pride gets hurt, it might hurt more than your wounds.”

“No matter how powerful you show yourself as a sorceress, I know magic has a short life. You’ll be unable to use it for several minutes. Are you as skilled with your daggers as you are with your spells?” The man said challengingly.

“My name is Lÿarah. And yours?” She said, mimicking his tone. “Maybe I’ll remember your name after I kill you. I’ve faced so many that I don’t even remember their names or faces, especially you, wearing that strange mask. Maybe, if you’re as good as you let on, I might make an effort to remember.”

“Fenrir. The black wolf. And this mask is a sign of my power and pride.”

“You have to use this because it's very ugly... It’s definitely that.”

Fenrir chuckled.

“Barbara with a sense of humor. Ah, to hell with it... Whatever... Watch out, sorceress.”

“Come on, show-off.”

Quick as lightning, he struck a diagonal blow at Lÿarah, so hard it knocked her back into the house after she defended herself.

“That’s strong! If I hadn’t defended with the wind magic activated, he would have split me in half.” She thought.

He kept advancing, trying to hurt her with quick stabs. Using her two blades, she dodged and defended herself.

One of his strikes hit her arm, causing a deep wound near her shoulder.

“Next hit, I’ll hit your tendons or cut off your arm. Surrender, and I promise it will be quick and painless.”

“Well, I promise your death will be slow and agonizing.”

“Fine, I accept the challenge. Attack then!”

Lÿarah was a close-quarters combat expert. That’s why she always chose her short blades. There, in a space as tight as Alex’s living room, anyone might think she was cornered, but in reality, she was in her most favorable environment. The opponent’s long sword prevented him from executing diagonal or vertical attacks.

With each exchange of blows, metal clashed, and sparks flew.

In the back of the house, Alex and Theresa were surprised by other enemies who had surrounded the exits.

“Alex, we’re surrounded,” Theresa said, terrified.

“Stay behind me and hold Miah tight.”

“What do you mean?” Theresa asked, surprised. “You’re not going to surrender? Are you going to face them? And since when are you a warrior?”

“Since I faced an ice bear.”

Theresa thought her ally had lost his mind. A skinny man like him couldn't have faced an ice beast.

Alex grabbed the dagger Lÿarah had given him.

“Idiot, put that away! They’ll kill you if you resist.” She tried to dissuade him.

“Will they?” Alex said, raising the dagger. “[Execute: Ignition Loop]. The cutting wind. [Compile: Wind Parameter].”

The wind magic wasn’t as powerful as Lÿarah’s, but it created three small cyclones about 30 centimeters in diameter each.

Theresa was amazed by what she saw. Her enemies didn’t react any differently.

“What is that? Did you cast a spell without reciting the charm?” She said, incredulous.

The leader of the Executioner's servants looked at it, stunned, but after a few seconds, he took the initiative again.

“What are you waiting for? Attack!” He ordered his subordinates.

Three of them charged at Alex, who, with a gesture of his hands, made the small cyclones go against them.

“Cutting wind!” Alex shouted.

Although small, the cyclones had enough centrifugal force to turn the air into blades. The three suffered severe cuts just from touching the wind attacks.

“How is this possible?” The leader shouted. Then Alex's dagger flew at him like a projectile, hitting his armor and throwing him against a wall; the impact was so great.

“[Execute: Ignition Loop]. Physical order magic. Living metal. [Compile: Special Parameter Magnetism].”

Alex moved his hand, and as if attracted by a magnet, the weapon returned to his hand.

I understood the logic behind this: I can combine different moves to create new combinations and work with other elements or forces of nature, called special, as Lÿarah did. Some of these combinations are obvious; others aren't. But I think I’ve learned to improvise.

Frightened, the soldiers fled and made way for the two fugitives to escape.

Alex took Theresa by the hand and ran to the backyard.

“Hold Miah firmly in your arms!” Said Alex.

“What do you think you're going to do?” Theresa asked, still confused.

“[Execute: Ignition Loop]. Physical order magic. Gravity! [Compile: Special Physics Parameter].” Alex shouted as he picked up Theresa and jumped over the high back wall with her.

The defeated soldiers, stunned, watched the escape scene.

“Equations! No one will believe what happened here if we tell.” Said one of them.

In front of the house, Lÿarah's opponent managed to lead the fight outside.

Realizing that Lÿarah's magic recharge window had run out, the swordsman knew it was foolish to insist.

“Our fight will have to wait for another time. But you’ve earned my respect and admiration. You’ll make a fine trophy when I finish you off.”

“Oh, you're going to run away with your tail between your legs, huh?”

“We, the Executioners, only aim for the goal, no matter what has to be done to reach it. I’ll run today so I can fight another day. I’m already looking forward to it.”

Saying that, he stepped back without turning his back to her until he crossed the gate. His followers followed him.

As soon as the enemies left, Lÿarah ran to the back to see if Alex needed help.

How surprised she was to see the soldiers lying injured on the ground.

She grabbed one by the collar.

“Where did they go?”

“They... you won’t believe it... They jumped the wall.”

“Oh, I believe it.” She smiled proudly.

She forcefully dropped the soldier onto the ground, making him hit his back. Then she ran toward the wall and jumped over it just like Alex.

Landing on the other side of the street, she worried she'd lost sight of the two.

“Oh... crap! Where are they?”

Lÿarah saw Theresa waving her over to meet them in a nearby alley.

“Are you guys okay?” She asked as soon as she saw the two.