Chapter 33 - Congregation's Old Commander

"Adhere to my plea. Forge the protection I demand. Howling winds. Corrupt flora. Black Lotus Of The Storm!" shouted Gillian.

An enormous black flower blossomed, both blocking and absorbing the icy attack, likewise. It had grown mightier before it exploded towards the direction of Ysabeau. She hastily placed her wings up as a defense.

"No way..." said Raiyen, looking at the shield before Gillian.

"What? You've seen the spell before?" asked Z.

"That's the upgraded version of Black Wave Hibiscus. I know of the spell. I barely gained a clue that the Headmaster is capable of wielding it," explained Raiyen.

Concurrently, the onlookers from the town beneath the sparring field had gathered to observe the sparring session. The fighting session had also earned them a spectator from the old Congregation.

More specifically, the Old Commander of the Congregation. Raiyen had spotted the fluctuation of Aura within the crowd and stood on guard.

"Don't," warned Mavislin, placing her hand on the boy's shoulder.

He blinked in confusion but heeded her warning.

"If he was the one who hired Gillian and reared him, what makes you think we could stand a chance of challenging him?" she asked, bluntly.

The Time Boy's constant moving implied he was starting to itch.

"Is the man's Aura rubbing on you?" asked Mavislin, nudging the boy's shoulder.

The Time Mage nodded as he laid down on the cloth that they had on the grass. She massaged the boy's temples gently. He seemed to be turning green.

"If they maintain this, Raiyen might be unable to take it," said Mavislin, worriedly.

Three arduous powers within a distinct radius. Add one more in, and Raiyen is going to be down for the count. Baldwin came back, just enough to protect the duo from the oncoming ambush from the Old Commander.

"Been a while, eh? Old Man Pond," addressed Baldwin, along with a mischievous smile plastered on his face.

Z tried drawing his Kunais while Mavislin prepared to strike the Commander down.

"Don't you dare step in, the both of you. Even if with your combined powers and feelings, it still won't be enough to match up to this man's powers. Focus on Raiyen's wellbeing first," ordered Baldwin, striking the man with his spear.

A poisonous Elemental Aura loomed over the two as Commander Pond tried to overpower his enemy exerting his raging powers.

"Word has been going around the Mage Community about you trying to bring back the Husks. Are you that bored?" asked Baldwin, cutting through the Old Commander's attack.

"Not bored. We just want to enter a pact with the Corrupted One," explained the Old Commander.

Mavislin was shocked, the Corrupted One?! The three stood on the side as Ysabeau and Gillian were still engaged in their duel. Raiyen, by now, had already collapsed. Gillian noticed a new duel occurring beside him and his wife. Ysabeau stopped in midair, diving down without warning as she snatched up the Old Commander.

"Oi! That's my enemy!" whined Baldwin.

He sounded as if Commander Pond was his toy or something. Gillian looked just as perplexed as the rest of the group. The crowd was placing bets on what would be destroyed next, or who would be killed next.

"Why are you lot still looking at us?! Are we some kind of circus act on display for you now?!" asked the Angry Man, leveling his spear towards the crowd.

They backed away in fear. Z placed a gentle hand on the spear that shook in anger.

"Enough, Baldwin. They're not over here to mock us. They just wanted to witness how we battle. Don't be the person that they fear. Remain the person that others see as a Knight," asked Z, looking at Baldwin in the eye.

He whipped his spear back into his sleeve, loathing the action.

"This doesn't explain why Old Man Pond attacked," he replied.

Right now, only two of the Founders were capable of flying. One was already in the air, so it seemed like the other should provide her some support. As Mavislin stretched out her wings fully, the folk watched in both fear and awe.

"Are you going to torture us?" asked someone from the crowd.

Raiyen gazed upon her hazy eyes. The Valkyrie's predicted answer was supposed to be a nod and proceeding to kill without hesitation.

After all, that's all they had been undertaking for the past few hundred years. Mavislin rolled her eyes as she sighed. Why do all people assume she would waste her energy on trivial things like human lives?

"Nah. I'm bored with that. I find playing with my opponents feels much more exciting. After all, I love watching others in fear and dread before I kill," she replied, propelling herself towards the clouds.

Baldwin was a tad bit upset as he witnessed Mavislin snatch his opponent once again.