Chapter 6: Pursuit

The moonlight shown thru the cracks as the purple smoke escaped to the sky. Silence then filled the air ass time flowed on peacefully, as if the events that had just transpired an hour ago never happened. A fresh wind blows thru the corridor. The young mage began to stir as the cool wind caressed her face.

Aisha's POV:

"Cough, cough" I went as I began to wake up. I groaned as I picked myself up off the floor and sat up. Aye, what happened...ouch...my head…

I patted myself down to see if I was ok. Well, everything seems to be in order... I looked around to see nothing but Ann unconscious Elsword lying on the floor. Other than us, the room was empty. "Damn...those bandits really did a number on us...and where on earth is Rena?" I muttered wearily as I made my way over to Elsword to check on his condition.

Elsword's POV:

"Elsword, Elsword? Can you hear me?"

I groaned as I awoke to a concerned Aisha shaking me to consciousness. "Y-yeah...I can hear you..." I said weakly, my head still hurting from the sleeping grenade the bandits used.

"Are you hurt?" asked Aisha as she helped me up. I'm ok... I'm just a little sore..." I replied as I rubbed my shoulder. "How about you?"

"Well I'm ok for the most part, but Rena and the el shard are missing." replied Aisha. "You don't think..."

"I don't think Aisha, I know." I replied. "That bastard Banthus grabbed her while we were knocked out."

"So you mean that...she's been kidnapped?" asked Aisha, her face full of worry. "Why would they do that? You don't think they would try to...rape her...would they?" I cringed at her statement for that was most likely the reason she was taken.

"Maybe..." I replied. "She is a beautiful woman after all."

"But I'm a beautiful woman too! Why not take me as well!? Shouted Aisha, completely oblivious of the bigger picture here.

"I don't think they're interested in little girls Aish- aaaah!" I yelped before I finished my comment. I writhed in pain as Aisha and her rage was stretching out my face with her thumbs."YAAAAA! MY FACE!" I shrieked in pain. "I'M A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN TOO YOU LITTLE SNOT!"

"Aaagh! So...are you saying...you'd rather be kidnapped as well!?" I managed to spurt out through the pain. It took a minute for her to digest how fortunate she was and for her rage to subside. "You do have a point there..."she said as she let go of my mouth."Sorry." She said as she smiled and giggled with a bead of sweat on the side of her face.

I just glared at her as I rubbed my poor face.

"So what do you think he has planned for her then Elsword?" She asked, her face returning to worry.

"Well I don't know what he has planned for her but whatever he does have planned for her, I can't imagine that it'd be good." I replied as I picked up my sword and attached it to my back. "So let's get a move on." I turned to go but I felt a hand grab onto my shoulder. "Don't you think we should head back for reinforcements?" Aisha asked nervously. "I think this has gotten way above our heads, way!"

I turned around and looked at her in disbelief that she could come up with such a dumb plan. "Head back for reinforcements?!"

"Yeah! Reinforcements! Elsword, this problem is too big for just the two of us! We need to fall back, regroup and form a rescue party and then-" I cut her off before she could continue.

"Then, by the time that even happens, Rena and the elshard will be long gone!" I shouted as I clenched my fist. Aisha grit her teeth as she clenched her staff so hard she threatened to break it in two. "You moron! Are you really so eager to die! We continued to glare at each other, each refusing to back down. But if we kept this up we'd get nowhere. I let out a sigh as I lowered my fist and turned my back, preparing to leave. "Listen this is going nowhere... I'm gonna go after those guys and save Rena. If you wanna head back for reinforcements then you can go." I picked up my sword and started to walk to the exit. Silence filled the corridor untill I heard some fidgeting from behind me.

"W-why...why are you doing this huh? Why are you going so far for her?" Aisha pleaded with me as I walked. The change in her tone of voice intrigued me enough to stop.

"Why are going so far for Rena huh? I mean we both care about her be we just met her today! Are you meaning to tell me that you'd risk your life for someone you've only just met?" Aisha pleaded with me in her attempt to side with her reasoning. Honestly… I got the message. I smiled as I turned around to answer her request.

"Well… didn't I just meet you today as well Aisha?" I questioned her. I watched her stutter as she nodded her head. "Ok then, so if this was the other way around and Rena was standing here instead of you, I Still wouldn't change my mind of going after you. It doesn't matter how long I've known you guys, you two are my friends; and as a knight, it's my duty to protect my friends. Otherwise I couldn't show my face to Elsa when she returns home." I was so caught up in my speech that I didn't notice that Aisha was pretty taken by it.

"Wow Elsword... that's pretty noble of you." She finally let out. I just blushed and chuckled "Hehe, it's no big deal. We both chuckled some more at my comment. "Well then Elsword, I guess I'm in your care. So what's the plan?" I balled up my fist and rest it in the palm of my hand. "Well first things first? We need to get down from this tree. Then head north east towards elder village. It's about a 3 hour trek from the tree of el and we already lost an hour..."

"So where on earth could Rena be Elsword? You still haven't covered that." Asked Aisha. "Well if head past the forest ruins then we'll come across the white mist swamp and just past there is elder village." I explained. Before I passed out I overheard him talking about heading to camp first before heading to elder so..." "So the only logical place this camp should be is in this white mist swamp." Concluded Aisha. "Exactly." I congratulated her. "Now that we're on the same page, let's go rescue Rena!" "Right, she replied as we headed outside the room and down the tree.

Meanwhile in white mist swamp:

After much walking, a squad of five men made it to a campsite. "Aaah, we made it boys!" bellowed Banthus as he walked into the gates of his field base. "Well Banthus sir, how did everything go?" asked a rather nerdy bandit who approached Banthus. "Well, how do you think it went" grinned Banthus as he took a sack and threw it at his feet. The bandit opened up the sack to have a heavenly green glow of the elshard glowing in his face. "M-my yes that certainly seems to be the elshard." stammered the bandit. "Well that's because it is!" bellowed Banthus as he yanked the bandit by his collar to his face. "Now go take this prize and go get it ready for transport while I go tend to my other prize hehe." he chuckled as he groped the uncurious girl's butt. The disheveled bandit picked himself off the floor as he grabbed the elshard, witnessing the Banthus's lecherous grin while he groped some mystery girl on his shoulder. "You know sir, I was about to ask you where you acquired that girl. Was that why you took so long from this heist?" Banthus's face snapped back into reality. "Yeah, I found this elf girl caught in one of our traps so I decided to take her with us. You know how much elves fetch on the black market hehe" snickered Banthus. "But first I must have my fun with her. Go and ready the rum for the victory party! As soon as that's over we shove off for elder village." Exclaimed Banthus as he headed for his quarters. "W-well, a party would sound nice sir b-but what about the sightings of the giant phoru around these parts? I m-mean we should be getting out of as soon as possible!" This stopped Banthus in his tracks as he turned around. "Listen you!" As he point a meaty finger at his lackey. "Ready the elshard for transport and fetch the rum for the party got it!" The bandit nodded his head rapidly as he turned around and ran with the elshard in hand.

Banthus' POV:

It's about damn time he left; now I can get down to business. A mischievous grin swept across my face as I opened the door to my cabin and walked inside. I plopped her down on the bed as I admired her beauty as she layed there. Damn, she's so hot. As I eyed her voluptuous breast to her long leg. Yes sir, so scrumptious while she layed there unconscious. I caressed her body as my mind ran wild with the events that were to unfold.

"Well let's take these boots off shall we?" I began to mess with the zipper as I took her boots off one by one, exposing her socks which hugged her calves. Her slender yet toned legs bounced as the hit the bed as I got a peek at my next target. Well those are some nice panties. I wonder what they feel like. I slowly made my way to her skirt until "Knock knock" went my door. Well...that's what I get for wasting time. "What is it!" I yelled. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Well… um no because you're in there and I'm out here boss." I growled loudly so my frustration could be translated to the fool. "This had better be important!" "It is boss, we can't find the rum!" I raised my palm to my face as I shook my head and sighed loud enough for my lackey to hear. I turned back to look at Rena lying on the bed. I'd better wrap you up before leave. "Give me a few minutes" I said as I walked on over to a chest. Good thing I always keep some rope handy when we do our jobs. All those years of traveling heists have really paid off. I chuckled at my thoughts as I grabbed a few coils of rope and some cloths out of the chest.

I grabbed the girl's ankles and began to loop coil after coil of rope around them before securing a loop in between them, successfully locking them in place. "There's that" I said as I turned her on her stomach and did the same to her wrists. I then lifted her up and began tying up coils above and below her breasts; they puckered between the coils as it secured her arms to her sides. "And now for the peak to resistance" I said as I balled a cloth up and stuffed it into her mouth. I then took the larger cloth and smoothed it over her mouth and chin as I pulled the ends back under her locks of hair and tied it snuggly tight behind her head. A tiny muffled moan could be heard when the knot was secured. Haha, secured like a pro. I thought with a grin. 'Now to deal with these guys…' I grumbled as I walked out the door. "Right this way boss"

Rena's POV:

I groaned as I shook my head wearily. Oww, my head...how long have I been out? I blinked my eyes as I blinked my eyes wearily as they searched for light. As my eyes adjusted to the foreign setting I figured walking around my setting would be better than just looking at it. I tried to lift myself up but when my efforts were met with resistance I began to panic. "Wmmmnph? Hmmmn!?" 'What the heck's going on here? I can't move... or speak!?' I thought to myself as I wrestled with this confusion. I was rewarded for my efforts with the tingling feeling of my arms waking up. Along with my limbs waking up, so did my awareness of the situation. 'I've...been taken...but where are the others? Where they captured too?... I hope not...they have no reason to take them... I on the other hand...' I groaned and mewed into my gag as I worked the ropes some more but to no avail. I sighed as I stared up at the ceiling. I noticed the cold air on my calves as I realized that my boots have been removed. 'What the hell? My boots!? What does this sick freak have in store for me?' I thought as I wiggled and squirmed in my bonds that in some miraculous effort would free me from this nightmare.

Aisha's POV:

After about 15 minutes, we finally made it down the tree of el. I panted as i tried to catch my breath. I looked up to see Elsword walking off towards the path to the forest. "H-hey, wait up!" I called out to him. "Step lively now Aisha, we lost too much time already and we need to get thru these ruins before we reach the swamp!" He called back to me as he kept on walking. "Grrr" I grumbled. 'Just where does he get his energy from anyways...' I thought to myself as I surveyed the area which was vaguely familiar to me. 'Didn't I pass thru here before?...' We walked further thru what seemed to be the temple ruins that we first met in earlier today. That didn't seem to faze him as he kept on marching forward. "Hey Elsword, wait up!" I called out to him as he was getting too far away. I held myself up on a broken pillar as I closed my eyes, trying to catch my breath. 'That stupid blockhead...' I thought to myself as I took in deep breaths; blissfully unaware of the arms rising above me.

Elsword POV:

"Eyyyaaah!" I heard from behind me. 'Aisha? What in the world...' I thought to myself as I turned around, expecting to see the purple mage behind me but to my surprise she wasn't there.

"Aaaaah! Let go of me aaaampph!" I heard her wail again.

"Aisha?!" 'That doesn't sound good at all…' I thought to myself as I ran backwards towards the scream.

Aisha's POV:

"Grrmmph! Mmmrrrph!" I grunted as I struggled against my assailant. 'Just who the hell is this guy… and what does he want with me?' I thought to myself as I struggled. Whoever this was really strong. It took all I had to just wriggle in their grasp. The bastard had my arm wrenched into my back as he had his other arm around my chest; his hand muffling my mouth. " Ummmph! Grrrmph!" I grunted as I fought against him some more. 'If only I could summon my wand… then I could show him what's what!'

"Hey toots, if you wanna keep your neck you better pipe down." My assailant said as I felt something cold and hard point into my neck.

"Hmmph?!" I squealed as I felt the point poke at my neck. 'A…a knife?' I thought to myself as I instantly ceased my struggles.

"Hehe, glad you see my point." He snickered as he playfully poked my neck with the blade some more.

"Aisha!?" I heard a familiar voice from up ahead shout out. I opened my eyes and looked ahead to see the redheaded swordsman. He jogged a little closer to me as I struggled some more in my assailant's grasp.

"I don't know who you are but if you let the girl go now, I may just let you live… "Elsword said menacingly.

"Excuse me?" questioned my assailant. "I don't think you realize who holds the cards right now little boy…"

"Mmmmrrm!" I squealed into his mouth as the assailant pressed and poked his knife into my neck. 'Elsword…please help me…'

"Hey you overgrown billy goat, stop that!" shouted Elsword as he clenched his fist.

"Billy goat?! I'm now Billy goat! I'm a phoru!" he shouted full of pride. "William Phoru! Guardian of these temple ruins here. I felt a wave of shame as the shock that my assailant was none other than an overgrown phoru.

'This is so embarrassing…'

"William eeh?" said Elsword as he brought his hand to his chin. "So you're the little bastard that's been terrorizing and robbing travelers. We've had a lot of reports about you back in the village."

"Im glad you know who I am so the next part should be easy…" snickered William. "Throw me ED and the girl is free to go. Simple huh?"

'Is he really gonna give up his money for me?' I thought to myself as I watched him reach into his pocket and pullout his ED pouch.

"Yeah this is what you want right?" shouted Elsword as he waved the pouch in the air.

"Yes that's it, throw it over here." William demanded.

"Hmmph" pouted Elsword as he chucked the pouch. The pouch didn't go as far and landed a bit short.

"Woohoo! Money!" shouted as he chucked me to the side and ran for the pouch like starved dog.

"Ouch…" I said as I sat back up to witness the greedy little phoru pick up the fallen ED. What he didn't realize though was that Elsword dashed right for him like a bat outta hell. William just noticed the red head, just in time to "wha?" before Elsword's whole fist collided with his face.

"Get…." said Elsword as he built more power into his punch as if he cheated the laws of physics and delayed his momentum. "Lost!" he shouted as he threw the rest of his body into his punch, instantly launching William into a nearby wall, knocking out the phoru along with the wall.

"Hmph" grunted Elsword as he shook his knuckle. "You're just lucky that I don't have time to deal with your dumbass right now!"

'Wow… that was pretty cool…' I thought to myself as was staring at Elsword shout insults at his defeated foe. 'That was actually pretty heroic of him just now…'

"Are you ok?"asked Elsword as he held out his hand to me. "Your face is red." I was so lost in my thoughts I ended up blushing.

"I…ah…sorry…" I responded as I took his hand; looking away so he wouldn't see how embarrassed I was.

"That's why I said to hurry up before. So we wouldn't run into anything." said Elsword as he pulled me to my feet. "How's your neck?" I touched my neck as he asked me about it. It stung as if I touched a scrape but when I looked at my hand there was no blood.

"It hurts a bit… but I think I'm ok." I responded as I looked down at my side.

"Well ok then Aisha, let's get a move on." He said as he began walking and picked up his ED pouch.

"Um… say Elsword?" I called out to him as he picked up his ED.

"Yeah?" he asked while he was still picking up his ED.

"I...uh…just wanted to say…" I tried to speak but was struggling to say. 'Why can't I simply say "thank you for saving me" huh?' I argued with myself in my head.

"Huh?" he asked me as he got up. "What are you trying to say?" he gave me a confused look as I stood there bumbling.

"T-thanks… for saving me that is…" I said all flustered. I looked up expecting to see a confused Elsword in front of me. But to my surprise I watched him smile and cheese a big grin.

"Anytime~" he said as he continued to smile. "Now let's go save Rena. White mist swamp is just up ahead."

"Right! Let's do this!" I said as I clenched my fist. With that walked forward down the forest path. I looked up at the moon in the clear morning sky. 'Just hang in there Rena…we're coming to save you, just like he said~'

Digi: Well that only took about forever. I'm personally mad at myself that it even took so long but you know, life calls , I hope to release the next chapter of The Crimson Mask soon after this one but for now take care everyone. Read, review but most of all enjoy ^_^