Chapter 14

Meeting My Enemy! Nyx's Gift?!

Fraser stood among corpses of his fellow bandits soaked head to toe in blood muttering about how he still can't hear the song clearly enough. That was when Knight told him, "If you want to hear the song more clearly than I'll offer you a new deal. Go into Zanef, find and kill the majin, and I will make it so the song is as easy to hear as church bells". Fraser just stood there nodding his head in agreement with a blood thirsty grin on his face.

Back in Zanef

Delmore, A.K.A Atlas, pointed Will and Nyx to an inn/tavern he owned in town so they would at least have a place to stay for the night. Will's plan was to rest up and try again to at least get something more clear out of him. By the time they got to the inn Fraser was wondering through the town looking for them as he kept muttering, "kill the majin".

It was late as they walked to their rooms. "I'm just glad we were given separate rooms" Will said as they were in front of the doors to their rooms, "I've already got the guards at the Queen's Palace gossiping about Ymir and me in a relationship. The last thing I need is to have you become another victim of their little fantasies. Well, goodnight Nyx" from there, they went into their rooms and went to sleep.

Later that night

Fraser soon came to the inn they were sleeping in and looked around for someone who could tell him where he would find them trying to keep a sane look on his face. He spotted a man that he recognized as the innkeeper, approached him, and asked, "I'm looking for someone; he's a tall man with red eyes, pale skin, pointed ears. You've seen him?" He refused to tell him until the edge of his blade was mere millimeters away from his throat which loosened the innkeeper's tongue, "Look he and a women checked in here about three hours ago and t-t-they got separate rooms on the next floor at the end of the hall. Please don't do anything to the other guests".

"Don't worry as long as they stay out of it they won't have to die. And I will be able to hear the song clearly". He slowly walked down the hallway towards the room with the floorboards making an eerie noise with every step he took until he reached the door to Will's room. That's when he muttered, "I found you majin" before he kicked down the and was greeted by something he didn't expect, a fireball to the face. That's when she said, "So that's why Will-chan traded rooms with me". That's when Will got behind Fraser; putting his arms underneath his, moving them to be behind his neck, and locked his hands together to keep him restrained. "Fraser" Will said in a humorous tone, "Its been a while and I still see you have shit for brains but I gotta say that look in your eyes is new. I didn't know serial killer is a new theme for bandits. Does that mean that you were gonna cut off my head and rape my lifeless body while its still warm?" his tone then changed from humorous to serious as he continued, "But that ain't gonna happen. Because now you're going to tell me who was stupid enough to send one of Risty's rejects after me, especially the one that I could beat with both hands tied behind my back". That was when he heard an unfamiliar voice say, "That won't be necessary boy"

Will POV

That's when I first met him. He then introduced himself in his own fashion, "I'm Knight, and that bandit was under my employ but that has been proven to be my first mistake when the Swamp Witch gave me the task of testing you".

"Testing me? He looks he was ready to kill me right after a massacre"

"He did kill a few guardsmen and his own bandit clan before finding you in Delmore's little place of business. It was a clever choice with all the gossip that can be..."

"He killed WHAT!?"

"His entire bandit clan. All for a song he has in his head".

"So what? He did it to get it out".

"To hear it as clearly as a church bell, as for the reason why you should look at his claymore, and since he failed to properly test you" that's when I noticed the longsword he had as he reached for it, "Then I must test you myself but first". He walked forward towards forcing me to pick one of two choices; either use Fraser as a shield or let go of him and risk being tag teamed. But before I could make my choice he added, "Fraser, you know the conditions of are agreement if you failed". He started struggling to break free from my hold when he heard those words muttering how he can't die until he can make out the words even if it meant killing him. He ended up leaving me no choice but to let go and watch him charge Knight head on.

Will POV Ends

The hallway left them with little room to maneuver as Fraser was about use his weapon like a lance but Knight changed the direction so it would run straight into the wall to his right giving him an opening to strike a lethal blow to the neck leaving Fraser's body to drop to the floor. Knight just stood mocking Fraser's death by saying, "The only good thing about hiring bandits is that they're expendable all the way down to the last man" he noticed the look on Will's face and added, "I'm sorry, does seeing me treat this lifeless body like the piece of trash it is, angers you". Will answered as he popped his knuckles, "I'm not angry. I'm pissed" He charged head-on aiming for his mask when Knight used the pommel of his sword to knock the wind out of him. Knight asked him, "Did you actually think that you fight me bareheaded?" He didn't even bother to spit in his direction as he added, "its pathetic especially from someone she has taken an interest in... I know you're listening witch so there is no need to hide in that room like some scared servant girl".

That was when Nyx stepped outside from the room with whatever courage she had slipping away as she saw Will on the ground trying to catch his breath. Knight put his sword away as he stepped towards her with a look of curiosity in his eyes as he asked, "So you are the Master of Flame. It is interesting that there is still someone capable of using magic in this world after so many generations past her time among the living". "Her time?" She asked as Knight got closer before he answered, "The Swamp Witch. The only other form of magic still practiced is the churches so called Holy Poses but they haven't recognized it as white magic for quite some time" Nyx tried to keep her distance until she was trapped at the end of the hall. He asked "What's the matter? You once burned down an entire village without even the slightest regard to consequence and yet here you are scared to the point of wetting yourself" he was about arms length from her when he placed his right hand on her head.

It was pure silence for a few minutes before he said, "I see... he broke you. Ruined your gift so that you could rely on him to use your powers alone but... those bracers... they act as the substitute" she was in complete shocked as Knight was somehow able to read her thoughts and memories like a book as he continued, "it would be such a waste... you seemed to be even more frightened by this. Do not worry as my name implies I must show some degree of chivalry so I shall give you a gift far different from the one bestowed to Fraser and it might serve for more interesting entertainment". Nyx was even more terrified of what this gift but then she started to feel different like something kept locked away inside her was free and was making her even stronger and then an incantation entered her mind,

"Tasogare yori mo kuraki mono
Chi no nagare yori akaki mono
Toki no nagare ni umoreshi
Idainaru nanji no na ni oite
Ware koko ni yami ni chikawan
Warera ga mae ni tachi fusagarishi
Subete no orokanaru mono ni
Ware to nanji ga chikara mote
Hitoshiku horobi o ataen koto o"

all she could tell was that it was for some kind of spell and that it was very powerful. That was when Knight said, "this spell is not from this world so be careful when using it" he then took his hand of her head and turn his head towards Will as he continued, "and as for your friend... I was told to keep him alive and I don't think he's ready for whatever the Swamp Witch has planned so I leave him for now" and like that he just walked away.

Outside Zanef an hour later

Knight's explanation left Baroque dumbstruck before he asked, "Why did you do that? Teaching a women like that a spell you picked up from traveling to other worlds especially one that draws on the power of a ma-ō. So tell me, HAVE YOU'VE GONE AND LOST IT OR HAS YOUR NATURE AS A DEMON DROVE YOU TO SUCH EXTREMES!"

"Neither" he answered before he continued, "I saw her memories, her life, her endeavors, and more importantly...her pain. People like her only desire such power for two different reasons; to right the wrongs in their lives or to make the ones they responsible for their pain pay for their actions. This will be a chance for me to conduct a unique test for both the Esterly and her".

It was soon morning and Will had some new questions for Delmore.

Hollow: Nyx are you alright

Nyx: I'm fine but Will-chan are you...

Will: I'm fine but talking about adding insult to injury. So what did he do to you.

Nyx: *face turns light pink* I'm... not sure but... I feel... different.

Will: Different how

*Knight watching from a distance*: Thank you all for reading this chapter of Where's Anne? Leave your thoughts and reviews with them and hopefully you'll continue to stay out of my way next time.