Just then, someone appeared in the sky.
Gabriel dropped down like a shadow flashing through the moonlight. His boots hit the ground so hard that the earth cracked beneath him. A strong wave of force rushed out, sending the assassins closest to Kaelith flying backward.
The rest of the attackers quickly pulled themselves together and formed a wide circle around him.
'He came to help me? What with all those attitudes earlier.' Kaelith clenched his fist.
Gabriel's aura spread through the air, his eye narrowing at the assassins. His face was cold, and his black coat moved in the wind. Blue energy wrapped around him softly, as if a storm was hidden under his skin.
"Are you alright, little one?" He asked.
"I'm doing fine, and I'm not a little one." Kaelith said with gritted teeth.
Gabriel raised one hand without saying any more words.
A strange wave rippled through the night. One of the assassins ran at him with two blades, but before he could get close, Gabriel snapped his fingers.
The man froze in midair.
Then his body twisted back with a loud crack and slammed into the ground. Gabriel did not even look at him.
Kaelith quietly observed from behind. He could tell that Gabriel had not unleashed his full powers yet. And from Gabriel's aura, he believed he wasn't just any low mage. 'An Archmage. A stage higher than the high mage and lower to a Sage. But according to the information I have gathered, he should be in the High mage stage, how did he break through into an Archmage? And he was unconscious for five years. Nevertheless, he is too young to be an Archmage.' His brows squinted with intrigue.
Two more attackers rushed toward Gabriel from both sides.
Gabriel turned once, and two short silver blades appeared in his hands. His movements were smooth and fast. One of the attackers dropped to the ground, blood spilling from his throat. The second man tried to run, but Gabriel moved his hand. The blade in his hand disappeared and reappeared in the air, stabbing straight into the man's back.
Gabriel never even looked behind him.
Another masked man screamed and threw a cursed talisman at Gabriel. The talisman glowed with red light and dark fire.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. He lifted his hand and drew a glowing mark in the air. The flames folded in on themselves and vanished. Not even ashes were left.
One of the assassins turned to escape through the trees.
Gabriel lifted his hand again.
"Espalloc'," he said.
The ground broke open under the man. Roots shot up from the soil and pulled him down. His scream was cut off halfway.
A smirk tugged on Kaelith's lips. He didn't choose him to be his teacher for nothing.
The last attacker stood frozen in fear.
Gabriel walked toward him slowly, his eyes sharp and calm, like a beast watching its prey.
"Who sent you?" Gabriel asked.
The man trembled. "I… I cannot say."
Gabriel tilted his head. "Is it that you cannot say, or that you will not?"
The man stayed quiet.
Gabriel let out a small sigh. "That is too bad."
He flicked his finger, and the man's body froze. He fell to the ground, stiff and shaking. He was not dead. He just could not move or speak.
Gabriel turned to Kaelith, who was leaning against a tree with blood on his side.
"You look like a mess," he said.
Kaelith gave him a sharp look. "I was doing fine until the second blade came."
Gabriel smiled a little. "You lasted longer than most people would. Your instincts are sharp. And that ring helped you too." His eyes moved down to the Drakyn ring on Kaelith's thumb.
'He also knew the power of the Drakyn ring? Not bad for a teacher."
Kaelith looked at the Drakyn ring on his finger and sighed. "It did not work when I needed it the most."
"That is because you are still forcing it," Gabriel said as he walked closer. "Magic tools answer to strong will, and connection. You have a strong will, but you don't know how to connect with it, so it cannot share the same will and mind as you."
Kaelith took a deep breath and stood up straighter. "Then teach me. I came here for a reason."
Gabriel looked down at him. "You are very stubborn. I don't take students."
"You won't regret it, if you take me as your student. Imagine I can already handle elite assassins at six years old, it only means one thing. I have great potential." Kaelith replied.
Gabriel let out a quiet laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement and intrigue.
He said nothing more as he lifted his hand. A soft blue light spun in a circle and opened a glowing portal between two nearby trees. Through it, Kaelith could see his bedroom in the palace.
"You are sending me back already?" he asked, sounding disappointed.
"Be thankful I did not kick you through it," Gabriel replied.
Kaelith stepped forward, but he stopped before walking through. "I am serious. I want you to teach me."
"I know," Gabriel said. "If you really mean it, then come again."
Kaelith frowned. "You just want to watch me beg."
Gabriel lifted his shoulder in a lazy shrug. "Or maybe I want to see how badly you want this. If you give up now, then you were never worth teaching in the first place."
Kaelith tightened his jaw, then nodded. "Fine. I will come again."
He walked into the portal without another word.
Warm air touched his skin as the light faded. He was back in his room. The candles were still burning softly, and everything was quiet.
His eyes moved toward the bed.
Scarlet was still asleep, curled under the blanket. His breathing was slow and peaceful, and somehow, that made Kaelith frowned in annoyance.
He wanted to throw him out now, but he knew it would only raise suspicion.
Kaelith let out a long breath. He was tired, hurt, and drained.
A small smirk pulled at his lips. 'I am getting closer.'
He turned to the window and narrowed his eyes at the rope he had used earlier. Quickly, he pulled it inside, rolled it up, and pushed it under the bed.
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at his reflection in the glass window.
His shirt was stained with blood. His eyes looked darker than before.