Chapter 154 - Lesson Learned

Alastor snapped his fingers.

Caroline’s eyes shifted frantically as she was brought back by reality. She looked up and saw Alastor with a concerned expression.

“You alright?” Alastor asked. “You seem to space out their buddy.”

Caroline didn’t reply. Instead, she made quickly rose. She lifts the knee while turning the supporting foot and body in a semicircular motion, extending her right leg.

This time, Alastor returned the favor. He caught her leg and bent fortifying his stance. Alastor firmly took a grip and threw her off.

Caroline’s back crash against the tree.

“I told you, if you use a move that turns around, you’re going all over the places,” Alastor said.

It wasn’t hard. Caroline was able to withstand the pain and rose.

“Damn it,” Caroline swore.

Alastor went the other way and onto the tree, he laid his back after he picked up a bottle. He drank and poured his head with the water, refreshing his mind from the heat.

Caroline came and sat with him. She drank and closed the lids of her eyes.

Caroline gulped for air. She felt as though her lungs might burst. She counted to ten to slow her mind.

She was focusing on slowing her heartbeat and relaxing her mind so that she ignored Alastor's farewell.

“That’s it for today.”

Alastor had said and stood marching to the forest.

The moment she opens her eyes, she’s surprised by the silence and the shrill of wind.

Alastor had already noticed earlier about the men’s behavior. Their movements are routine. He’d guess that they’re taking turns on guarding, but he doesn’t know what it is.

He went from behind the temple and through the extending pave road to its end and entered the forest.

A moment after, he saw two men walking back to the temple. Alastor immediately hides around the tree and bushes. He waited with still. His breath calms to unnoticeable.

When he felt they were already gone, Alastor quickly make a change in his pace and he broke to sprint.

His venture was briefly cut when he saw a pyramid that is relatively small in size but big just as a mansion. Alastor briefly take a breath and so he continued to stride.

As he get deeper, a thick smog of ominous ash had settled and crept over. The milky smoke had seemingly spread everywhere.

Upon arrival, he was met by the unsettling gaze, creeping to his spine.

Before he can respond, he felt the tip of a blade at his neck. Alastor did not dare to move.

“We are well aware of your relationship with our tribe leader, but that doesn’t give you the right to trespass here.” The man is stiff and hard, his voice the tone of a gruff soldier.

“Hold it.”

Timber coldly said as he came out on the pyramid.

“Sir.”

The man’s tone turned soft when Timber came. It seems he is soft on their higher-ups.

Well disciplined and properly trained, a perfect soldier. Alastor thought.

“What the hell is going on here?” Timber turned his eyes on the man.

When Alastor looked back, he got a clearer view. He is fairly tall despite his uneven and petite body, yet the strength and hostility he showed earlier might differ on his presumption. There is always more than meets the eyes.

Alastor was perplexed when Timber gave way and wave his hand inviting Alastor to come inside before turning his back.

“But sir!” The man protested. “This boy just violated and disrespect our sacred ground. Surely you cannot allow his insolent behavior go unpunished?”

It wasn’t a plea, but a question of authority.

Timber didn’t even flinch.

“I will handle this.” Timber confirmed his tone without emotion.

He didn’t attempt to retort and simply retreated to wherever he’s hiding.

Alastor felt a chilling wind that harbors omen. He doesn’t like how Timber is silent as they walked on the long dark path inside the pyramid.

Thereafter, Alastor felt something twitch his stomach. It wasn’t painful, but enough to serve as a warning. The visual kinetic ability that was bestowed upon him automatically activated. Despite the dim entrance, Alastor could see his muscle movement suddenly stiff and tightened.

Alastor instantly dodges on his right when Timber’s left fist suddenly swings towards him.

The pressure he felt like a knife that cut through the air.

But that wasn’t the end.

Timber swiftly dragged his feet forward to stop himself from away from the momentum, and he turned on his heels.

Alastor smirked. So obvious. He thought.

And Timber thrust his fist in the air.

There is nothing to worry about.

The gap between them is too huge. It wasn’t so ideal to attempt for a hit.

Then, Alastor’s confidence is obviously reflected through his broken grin. He thought that he has the advantage.

Then there’s a gut-wrenching pain.

A force had turned his confidence to a gruesome intolerable agony in a short span of seconds, before crashing on the hard cold wall of the pyramid. His back lay on the ground as he endure the pain.

As soon as he turn his grounding teeth to calm, he looked up and met his stern gaze.

“How?”

He was sure of it. There was no mistake in his calculation. Timber was the one who has not enough distance to laid his fist to him and yet he managed to break the odds.

“You got confident with that ability I bestowed upon you, didn’t you?”

Alastor was silent. He crouched, still the pain’s presence is there.

“It was a common conditioning.” Timber answered the question that lingered on Alastor’s thoughts. “I made you think that you had the upper hand when I purposely misled you into predicting my movements. And when I confirmed with that smug face of yours, I went quick in performing my plan.” Timber winked. “You won’t be able to see it either since it’s magic. Physical magic that conjures a force from my fist. That kind of attack isn’t something you can block.”

Timber continued. “Even I was appalled by your brashness given how coolheaded and perceptive you are the last time we fought. Hey, don’t resent on me. You’re the one who trespassed without giving a second thought. Just be glad we are not totally evil.”

Alastor rose. “Yeah, yeah. You sure you’re not in the ’50s, ‘cause you hit like a 30.” He spat.

“First of all, I’m in my 40. I may not active like before, but my fist is a load of bombs.” Timber remarked. “I’m not partly offended by the age comparison.”

Timber motions forward.

Alastor wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic, but nevertheless, it was worth the trouble to come here despite the brief torment he had to face.