60 The Knight Arrives

60 The Knight Arrives
(Eli's POV)

I saw Kyle's lips curve slightly. He stepped forward sideways, cloak edge sweeping the ground, dark airflow expanding from his feet like water ripples. Those approaching figures were forced back half a step by that airflow. In that moment's gap, Kyle had already entered their formation.

I stepped back several paces, covering my brother's eyes.

This was a battle of vastly different strengths. Blood stained Kyle's black cloak dark red as he walked toward me, each step leaving a bloody footprint.

Too many died, making the survivors dare not challenge the dark elf again. This was my first time directly witnessing a dark elf's power. I thought he must once have been a pureblooded elf - indeed much, much stronger than a half-blood mermaid like me.

Dark magical currents spread from Kyle's feet as we rushed above ground.

I breathed the outside air, the wound edge at my chest beginning to numb.

Those sounds continued behind us - pursuing voices from the passage depths, bouncing between walls, direction obscured. They shouted, torchlight flickering at alley corners like hungry beasts following prey scents, holding tight.

Kyle didn't look back. He crossed a narrow alley piled with abandoned wooden boxes, stepped over a rotting walkway, the boards creaking under weight. I followed behind carrying my brother, adjusting my center of gravity with each step to maintain balance.

"I can sense the sea's direction," I said, voice somewhat urgent from breathing. "We go right."

Kyle didn't answer, but he turned right, adjusting his stride direction before my words finished. He grabbed my arm with steady force, then leaped upward.

My feet left the ground, body carried upward, wind surging from below into sleeves and collar, icy and fierce, making me unable to open my eyes. I could only squint through gaps to look down. I saw black wings unfold behind him - massive, broad, wing bones extending with slight bone friction sounds, like a long-unopened door slowly pushed open. His wings gleamed dark in moonlight, edges showing extremely faint silver-blue halos, trembling slightly in night wind.

Soon I smelled the sea.

Moonlight illuminated the water surface, reflecting dark scattered light, wave after wave surging toward the shore, shattering then retreating, leaving white foam slowly fading at the edges.

Kyle descended with my brother and me, wings folding in a motion that flashed before my eyes. I couldn't even see clearly how he made them disappear. He landed almost soundlessly, wings completely gone, cloak falling to cover his back as if nothing had happened.

I stepped onto slippery rocks, spray surging from shore, wetting my shoes and trouser cuffs. My brother opened his eyes, pupils showing extremely faint light in moonlight like stars reflected on water. Seeing the sea, his lips parted slightly, looking very happy.

"Time to fulfill your promise." Kyle stood several steps away, back to the sea, moonlight outlining his silhouette in silver-white. His cloak had dried, dark red traces becoming deep brown, swaying slightly in night wind.

I had my brother stand on a seaside rock, touching his head. His hair was blown against his cheeks by wind, eyes still watching the sea.

"Wait for me," I told my brother.

If not for Kyle, my brother and I could never have escaped. This was a worthwhile deal.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, sensing the pearl tears' position within my body. It rested slightly below my chest, like a water drop sealed in a transparent container.

Wave sounds grew louder. Ocean waves hitting shore accelerated their rhythm, spray falling at my feet. The pearl tears were glowing, their magic resonating with the sea.

"Whoosh—" A sound of cutting air as powerful force attacked Kyle.

I opened my eyes, seeing a silver-white trajectory arc directly toward Kyle's back. Kyle dodged sideways, not completely avoiding it. His arm swept out, dark airflow surging from his palm, colliding with that white light's source.

Two forces met in air, shockwaves spreading. The tremendous impact forced me to stop my actions, crouching to protect my weak brother.

A figure leaped down from the walkway edge, landing several steps between Kyle and me. He wore worn knight's armor, breastplate showing various scratches, arm guard edges mostly paint-stripped, revealing dark metal beneath. He held a sword, blade drawn, reflecting moonlight with a thin flowing silver-white halo matching that trajectory's color. His gaze passed over Kyle's shoulder, falling on my brother and me.

Was this knight here to catch Kyle?

Who was he? Why did I feel familiar?

Wind blew across the sea, carrying salt's fishy smell and distant ship lights.

An answer was emerging. I greedily studied the knight's face - the feeling was like when I first saw my brother.

I... I think I... know this knight.

I opened my mouth, wanting to call his name.

"Co..."

"Not even sparing mermaid cubs?" The knight's voice was particularly clear in night wind. "Truly despicable, shameless dark elf."

He raised his sword attacking Kyle. The blade traced an arc, striking down from above. Kyle sidestepped to avoid it, not actively engaging, just using that retreating step to create distance. The blade swept past his face, bringing cool wind, stirring the dried brown traces at his cloak's edge.

"You really are... constantly seeking death."

Terrible - Kyle was angry!