Chapter 107 - 106: Mana King.

On Grey's instruction, Ermic, Rin, and Aetna were on the lookout for the intruder and any guard who could possibly alert any other guard. 

They were also doing the job of eliminating the guards, well the task of eliminating the guards was mostly done by Ermic.

Whereas Rin and Aetna were standing on the exit to block off the escape for the guards and anyone else. 

Rin being seated with her back against the wall of the cave asked "What did you mean by Grey is 'your right'? how do you trust him so much?"

But Rin's question was met with awkward silence, Rin looked at Aetna who was awkwardly trying to not look Rin in her eyes. 

After a minute of silence, Aetna answered, 

"You know Rin, I feel like I have done something bad to Grey that I don't remember of." 

"Something bad? why do you feel like that?" 

Aetna walked closer to Rin before taking a seat right beside Rin. With her back against the wall of the cave, Aetna sat on the ground. 

"I first met Grey around five years ago, I don't remember my life before that, I don't remember what lead me to that moment. But it didn't bother me much, since I felt comfortable with Grey. 

Grey, for some reason always wrapped his left hand around bandages, one day he took his bandage off and that was the first time I saw those scars. It happened in an instant, but various bits of memories flashed through my mind.

It was bitter memories...

It was scary...

Looking at that scar I felt like----- I felt like that scar was the symbol of something cruel I did to Grey. But he still supported me and showed me kindness, from that day Grey started wearing full sleeves clothes, it was his way of hiding his scars from me."

Aetna turned towards Rin, leaning towards her, she said looking right into her eyes, 

"My first set of memories was being in someone's embrace, he was crying---- Crying like a little kid, he held me tightly as he shed tears. That was the moment where I decided that I would walk by that person, I would always be by his side, even if it means taking part in evil. I would take part in it since that person------ Grey is my only reality." 

Being taken by the intense conversation she was having with Aetna, Rin looked at Aetna for a good second before asking, 

"That's some intense love for Grey."

It was lightning quick, the speed at which Aetna's face turned into the shade of beet red was lighting quick. A thick cloud of fog emerged out of her head, as she stuttered, 

"No!! no ---- no, it's not love. You know---- that---- It's his--- his blood!!, Yes, his blood!!. I love Grey's blood. not Grey, definitely not Grey." 

"Now now, why don't you just admit it" 

"Don't teas----" 

Before Aetna could complete her sentence, her animal instinct suddenly spiked as she assumed a defensive form and so did Rin. 

"This is bad, don't lose your focus, okay?"

"Yes!"

Both of their focus was dead set at the place from where they were sensing an extreme sense of danger. It was from the outer part of the exit. 

With each passing, the source of danger was getting closer. 

Walking out of the shadow of the cave it was an old man with crooked stature and silver-white hair. But there was a thing about the old man that put both Aetna and Rin on edge. 

Well, the thing was obvious, it was the fact that the old man was insanely strong was the thing that put both Aetna and Rin on edge. 

But on the contrary to their caution, the old man wore a gentle expression. Opening his mouth the old man said, 

"Don't need to be so cautious young woman, this old man just wants to go inside the cave. I mean no harm and especially I wouldn't harm young ones." 

"That's the thing--- good sir. we can't let you do that---- good sir. So perhaps you would just walk away." 

Adding good sir was just Rin's way of showing respect and not angering the old man since Rin didn't want to fight this old man,

'He is super scary' is what she thought at the moment. 

Couldn't be able to hold off his laughter, the old man busted into loud laughter "Good sir!"

Rin also awkwardly laughed with the old man, since she thought that was the right thing to do so. 

"May I know the reason for you young ones to stop me?"

"Actually one of my friends has a business inside, so we are standing her guarding and not letting one in or out of this place."

After hearing the explanation, stroking his chin, the old man went into the deep thoughts, after a brief pause he spoke,

"How about both of you young ones fight me? if you win, then I will walk away." 

Evan thought Rin was panicked, she was clear about one thing, one thing that she would have to fight this old man and so was Aetna. They both took a sharp stance, Rin with her sword whereas Aetna was ready to strike any ranged mage attack if needed.

Even though they looked sharp from the outside, they were in a state of utmost panic from the inside.

Shit shit shit shit!! was Rin's line of thought. 

"Then here I come!!" announced the old man before dashing in front of Rin in an instant, the old man swung his arm aiming at Rin. 

Cling! 

Old man's hand clashed with Rin's sword which made a metallic noise.

'What the---- what is this old man's arm is made of?!' The old man was just a normal fragile mortal who just happen to have a very thick coating of mana layer protecting him all the time. 

Rin ducked down as a ball of fire came from behind her, crashing on the old man, but the ball of fire just faded away with just one swipe of the old man's hand.

'What the---- why am I fighting overpowered old man?!'

Rin quickly swung her sword, which was easily blocked by the old man. but this was what Rin was aiming for, as she parried his hand with a swift circular motion, attacking the old man. 

But before her sword could connect the old man, the old man stepped back avoiding her attack. Without giving much chance to the old man, Aetna launched herself towards the old man using a little fire explosion. 

Closing her fist she gathered mana in her hand, in mid-air she reached closer to the old man. Releasing the closed fist, Aetna aimed it at the old man but before she could attack, the old man stepped back more. 

Aetna didn't continue her attack, she quickly retracted her mana. Landing on the ground, Aetna looked at the old man curiously, 

"It would have definitely would have been bad if i had taken that attack on the point-blank range." said the old man laughing it off, "I didn't know that a young one like you would have such a high capability for a fire type attack." 

Aetna's facial expression twisted, she was more confused than before. 

How did he know that I was going to attack him with high-level fire magic? thought Aetna.

"Okay, we will end it right here!" said Old man as she straightened up his fist. In an instant, the old man dashed towards Rin. 

At a certain distance, the old man swung his fist and Rin was ready to parry his attack, as she swung her sword in counter. 

But before he could take any more step closer, something grabbed his feet stopping his movement. Looking down he saw a hand made out of flame grabbing his leg. 

"Oh?" 

The old man was confused, he looked up to find Rin's sword had already traveled its distance near his neck, and there was a certain flaming fist that was coming his way. 

"Eh?"

Rin's sword connected to his neck and Aetna's fist was buried right in his cheek.

Boom!

An explosion was made due to Aetna's fire fist, which covered the whole cave with a cloud of dust. After a few seconds, the dust settled revealing the still-standing old man. 

But the difference was that there was a drop of blood coming from his neck and there was bring red marking of the fist on his cheek. Both of the attacks were made barely through his defense. 

Looking at the still-standing old man, Both Rin and Aetna took their defensive stance, but to their surprise, the old man raised both of his hands as he said, 

"I lose!! you both young girls are strong after all, it's my loss" 

hearing old man's word, Rin's and Aetna's faces twisted in confusion.

The old man started walking away towards the exit of the cave. But before leaving the tunnel he turned around facing Rin, he asked "You have learned your swordsmanship from the sword king right?"

"Yes, how did you----"

"That old man is my old friend, tell him that mana king remembers him."

It was the last thing that the old man said, before walking out of the cave. Walking out of the cave, The old man looked at the night sky, "I got to see something very interesting today, fighting him would have been the best experience for my seven disciples."

By him, he was talking about Grey and the seven disciples were the seven successor virtues. 

The old man's name was Ambros Meier, also known as the mana king.