Chapter 58: The Deal

"Dark mage," whispered Master Will. "I don't care, now close the gate."

"That won't do silly old man," replied Mage Park. "Have you met your demise? I guess not, since you're still here. You know how it works old man, I have my mission, and it is to open a Gate. Killing you is not my mission, though. But I'd loved it too. But that knight will kill me too. So no! I'll leave him to you!" The Mage lifted his hand, then a stone shined. The moment the stone shined, the Mage vanished in front of Master Will.

"Teleportation Runes," Master Will said. Seconds later, the Gate was now fully opened. Inside, Master Will sensed energy running from low to high tier Grade monsters. The forests where the gate was near the orphanage. With a thought, Master Will ran to help the kids, and his friend Zoreena.

Battling the ghouls and Alghouls led Master Will to meet what the mage called his demise.

Sir Edwin spun his sword so that the tip pointed right into Master Will's shoulder. With the old man on his knees, exhausted and determined. Sir Edwin stabbed his shoulder without a second thought. Blood surge, and some sprayed right into Ned's face. Master Will's blood ran through Ned's emotionless eyes.

With the yank, Master Will spout a mouthful of blood. The blood made a pond as Master Will opened his dying eyes, looked at Ned, and smiled. "This... all my... fault kid... do not... make revenge... to justify... all this," Master Will stuttered before he closed eyes.

Ned remained unmoving, with the blood running down his cheeks, it shocked him. Not even a tear made its way out of his eyes. He couldn't move, nor shout. He was fixed on the ground with the nail of despair holding him.

"Fret not kid," Sir Edwin said. "Let's make a deal."

"Kid no," said Master Will. Blood leaked out his mouth. He forced himself to use the last remaining of his energy. To persuade Ned. To let him go. "Just" —coughing a mouthful of blood—"go kid, leave me... I deserved all this... let go, kid, let go."

Ned stood off the ground, walked towards the knight and Master Will. He threw the Butterfly on the ground. "I'm sorry, Master, but I won't lose people I value. Ever, again." Ned closed his eyes, and tear dropped off his cheeks." Wiping the tear, he asked, looking at the knight. "Tell me, knight, If I do what you asked, will you let my Master go?"

"I'd love to kill him, kid, right here, right now," Sir Edwin said. "But, circumstances changed, you have the Mark. And this is the only way to persuade you. So for now, I can assure you, he will live. This old and sinister mons - "the knight pushed deep the sword impaled into Master Will's shoulder.

"Enough!" Bellowed Ned. "That's enough! Whatever you want, tell me. Let him go."

"The Mark kid, I want the Mark."

"But I don't know how to extract it, and Master never thought me."

"Kid,' Master Will said. "You needed it, without the Mark, you'll never...survive the outside."

"You have no say to this old man. This is now between me and your kid."

"Tell me, what do you want! I'll do anything, the Mark? You want the Mark, okay, give me time. And I'll give you my Mark."

Sir Edwin, with his left hand, waved, and a scroll appeared. "Take that, drop a part of your blood into the scroll with an intent to obey me, until you have me the Mark."

Ned pulled open the scroll off the ground. Bit his finger and dropped blood onto the scroll. Making the scroll shine and vanished the moment the blood made contact. "What now?"

"I need another assurance," the knight said. He waved his hands with the ring and an item appeared midair. A black metallic cube with smooth edges appeared into his hand.

He then pulled the sword off Master Will's shoulder, making the old man shout in agony, half-conscious, Master Will dropped on the ground, face-down.

"Master!" Running towards his Master, Ned helped Master Will into his arms. "What now!"

"You're...an idiot if you think you can put me inside that!" stammered Master Will. Mouth with blood mixed with mud.

"What's that?!" asked Ned.

"Praha's Cube," said the knight. "I laced my sword with poison. I made sure that your Master won't survive even if he tries to leave the island. Now that his gravely injured, coupled with my poison. It's only a matter of time before he collapses. Then die."

"What! But we made a deal! I told you! I'll give you the Mark!"

"Calm down, kid," asked Sir Edwin. Calmness enveloped his figure. "The moment I knew you had the Mark, I already planned all this in my head. I will put your Master inside the Cube, this will freeze time inside, making him, well, undying. So, any last words, old man?"

"Let... my kid.. go... do not... involved him anymore…" Master Will held Ned's arm. "Kid...you'll always be here -"pointing into his chest - "I'm very happy, that I…"

"Kid, bid goodbye to your Master, I'm giving you this chance, I'm not a monster like your Master."

"Master," gripping his Master's hand, Ned feared even more. "Don't worry, I'll make things right, don't worry. I'll make sure that this knight will pay."

"Enough! You had it, now move."

The knight threw the Cube beside Master Will. Making it shine, cracking noise broke the cube into pieces. Then, the bright yellow light enveloped Master Will. Sucking his almost lifeless body inside the cube.

Leaving the two alone, Ned went into silence. It only broke when the knight took the Cube off the ground. Waving his hand, the knight put the Cube back to his Spatial Ring. "Let's go kid."

"Don't call me, kid," wiping the tears with his shoulder. Ned gripped the Butterfly on the ground. Putting on his last remaining strength, he pushed forward into the knight, raising the Butterfly.

With ease, the knight parried the attack. "I like that, Ned. You have the resolve. Don't worry, I'm giving you five years. Five years to extract the Mark off you. After that, and with no Mark, I'll release your Master out of the Cube, and let him die bleeding. So if you want your Master, you have no choice but to follow me. You'll become my apprentice, whether you like it or not, effective only for five years. I'll help you with all the resources you needed to survive the outside. All resources you needed, I'll give you. Five years. For five years. You might not know it, I'm one of the twenty people in the Kingdom who snatched a Legacy item."

"I don't care," replied Ned. "Let's workout with the deal. I'm telling you this. Five years. And I'll make sure I'll be strong enough to cut your head off. Now let's go, Edwin."

"Edwin," the knight muttered and smirked. He raised his fingers, aligning it into his mouth, and whistled.

Moments later his steed, the Gryphon, landed between the two of them.

"Hop on."