Harbinger: The Four Knights

The Monsters That Suddenly Appeared On The Training Grounds

A few days after uncle Mark left us in his domain, aunty Kassandra took care of us. I don’t know what uncle Mark told his wife but she is treating us like more than a guest at all, we are more like her sons than guests, we did not get to do any work for the entire day and we did not even see uncle Mark’s son in our entire stay up until now, I heard from uncle Mark that he is quite person and wants me to get along with him but with him absent, I might just be looking around in the capital. So I asked where he is from aunt Kassandra who humbly told me that he is at the training grounds and is planning to stay there for a few days. “He is quite in bad terms with his father for a while now. I’m sure he is pouring all of his frustrations in training.” Seeing how aunt Kassandra acts reminds me of my mom back home, she is gentle and rarely get angry at someone but when she does, she gets really scary that you wouldn’t want to even approach her while she is in that state. 

“If he is going to stay there for a few more days, can I join him?” I asked after hearing what aunt Kassandra said, I am already liking uncle Mark’s son. He pours his frustration in his training and is very lenient in doing so. Though I promised uncle Mark not to recklessly challenge someone but it looks like I already have someone in mind to challenge first. I unconsciously smiled without even realizing it and unexpectedly aunt Kassandra allowed me to do so. “Is that so? That’s great! Marcus is quite lonesome because he did not have any other sibling that he can train with and now he got stuck with some people that he did not even like training with. I hope you help him with his problem, can you do that for me?” aunt Kassandra immediately grabbed my hands asking for help and showing me her puppy eyes. 

[Well- I need to be in good terms with him so I guess I will be doing it either way? And how else can I refuse aunt if she had been kind to us for the past few days? I may have no idea how common sense work in these parts of the land but at least I know how to pay back the kindness that I received.] and without any thought in the problem I gave her my word. “I will do everything I can aunty, please leave it to me!” I declared as I bow my head and she let out a hearty chuckle. “Very well, I will send someone to guide you there so you would not get lost. The capital is quite a huge place after all.” She then called for a worker to leave her work for the mean time to guide us.

 “Zhuge” I muttered and immediately my assistant in the shadows appeared in front of me. “Yes my lady.” I turned my heads to Amon and his butler hoping for them to help my son in the best way possible so in order to get the real story, I need someone to watch over what he is about to do and how he will solve it. [I don’t understand why would Mark told me to treat him well. He even told me to keep an eye for him to prevent him from getting too much attention in the public, since that kid tends to do some ridiculous things. If he is as brilliant as Mark told me he is, then he must be able to deal with Marcus’ problems. His problem is quite huge after all.] I thought to myself as I ordered Zhuge to watch over them. 

“Follow them and hide yourself from their detection, he may be a kid but my husband told me that he is not normal. Give me a report on what had happened later. I want to hear a detailed report.” After hearing my order, Zhuge immediately vanished in front of me. [I sure hope Mark wasn’t wrong. I’m getting worried for my baby.]

 Now that I have seen the capital for myself and up this close. I am starting to wonder what it was that uncle Mark wanted to tell me the other day before we arrive. There must be some kind of place that can allow me to challenge all the people that I want to fight. Imagine how incredible it would be to be able to fight to your heart’s content, just picturing it out in my mind makes me want fight someone already and with these bracers om my limbs I can’t catch so much attention, I will be able to hold back my strength. 

We passed by so many buildings that sell all kinds of things that both Abel and I are seeing for the first time. There are things that my father had described in the past but seeing it in person is a whole lot different from what father told me. We ended up looking like a pair of country bumpkin , Abel tried to hold himself back as hard as he could but our excitement got the better of us that I think our guide is getting a little anxious.

 After a hearty treat for our curiosity, we arrived at the training grounds. It looks huge, a very wide somewhat arena looking space with floor made of stone made me wonder it is where the spars are taking place. The guide then talked to the gate keepers and told us that we came looking for Marcus Saber but the expression on the gatekeeper’s faces ticked me off. [Hmmmm- their reactions are quite sketchy. Why would they be surprised? They even started sweating the moment the guide mentioned Marcus’ name. Something is going on!] I told myself as I turned to Abel who thinks the same and felt the same sketchy reactions. 

“It’s okay Ms. Guide, we can take it from here. We just need to find Marcus right? From what I heard, he is quite lenient in his training so he should be easy to spot!” I told the guide and she nodded her head and left. “Now, which way to the place where kids like us trains?” I heard the gatekeepers gulped and pointed behind them where we can see a kid getting messed up by some guys larger than him, just seeing some of the facial features that somehow resembles uncle Marks and aunt Kassandra’s, it was then that I felt a little fire warming up my body as if I was being roasted. I started walking towards them and ask what they are doing in a really calm tone. “What are you doing?”

 The huge guys then turned to the young master and turned back as if he did not exist and continued to beat up the man we assume to be Marcus. I saw some of the veins of the young master to bulge up from his neck but then it slowly returned back to normal. As demons, we can sense a sudden surge of demonic energy from another demon that is about to wreak havoc that humans cannot sense even in the slightest and the young master just had that surge but then it dispersed before long. 

[The young master really is good at hiding his hostility. How high can you still rise young master I wonder.] I thought to myself as the corners of lips rose. “Excuse me but can you please stop doing that? I find it a little uncomfortable beating someone who doesn’t even have the slightest plan to fight back.” The young master said as he tries to stop them from beating Marcus up but I can’t help but think of the irony from his words.

 [Wow- are you in a position to say that young master? You killed the envoys yourself even though they were not in a position to fight. Well, that’s probably because you restrained them before you obliterated them. Not to mention that they had a fairly different goal in mind so I think it is quite acceptable.] one of the big guys turned his head to us and finally caught his attention. “Are you saying that we are cowards for doing this?” finally, someone who entertained us but the way he speaks and tone is quite rude. Well, they are even beating someone who is not willing to fight so this is much expected from them I guess.

 “Huh? Did one of us say such a thing? Or you just realized it yourself? It’s a good thing that you recognized what you guys are doing but why don’t you stop even though you are aware of what you are doing? Did that guy do anything to you?” I retorted with a calm tone but the huge guy suddenly stood in front of me, towering me for a good three inches. In my calculation, he is good as three years older than me which is a huge gap for someone. Some of them then turned their attention to me and even had the same look in their face. 

[They are looking down on me, well that’s great! My father taught me to always consider yourself weaker than your enemy, that way you will be able to stay focused and alert but clearly these guys are only here to show off in front of many people and their first flaw is even exposed. What were they learning from here any way? Are all they do is beat up other kids who is trying to train?] I stared back at them without flinching, some of them even smiled thinking that I may be stupid for boldly standing in front of them. “Where did this pipsqueak came from? And he is boldly staring at us like we are nobody! Are you aware of the consequences that you are about to do experience little one?” one of them leaned forward to me as if trying to plant fear in my by showing the huge disadvantage in our heights? I don’t understand how these guys’ head works but I didn’t think that it would be this easy. 

[Now I get what aunt was trying to say earlier about helping Marcus, to think that he is experiencing something like this.] I let out a sigh as the crowd around us starting to multiply. “Eh? Such an imposing figure, I wonder if your combat capability is such as imposing as your height.” A smile appeared on my face before I know it as Abel grabs my shoulder. “Young master, I don’t think we should do this. The crowd is getting larger and larger, this is the opposite of what we are planning to do.” I can sense Abel’s worry but things will just stay the same if we do not make a change right now. Who knows what will these guys do once they are left alone. 

“Eh? This pipsqueak is a young master? A young master of what? Hell hole?” one of them blatantly made fun of me but I did not let his words get into my mind as per my father’s training goes. The moment you bite into their taunt, you are already dancing in the palm of their hands. I turned around and tilt my head to Marcus who is standing up slowly and wiping the blood from his face. 

“You’re Marcus right?” I asked and his reactions made me sure that it really was him. He immediately flinched the moment I mentioned his name but before I can say any more, one of the huge guys butt in. “Oh! So you are acquainted with this punk? No wonder it got in your nerves when we beat him up.” He said with a smile on his face, the smile that one can make when he is sure that a new prey has appeared.

 “Uncle mark told me that you are quite lenient in your training so I thought you are working hard. But to think that you are getting beat up by these kind of people makes me think if what uncle Mark told me was the truth.” I purposely anger him so that his anger will be reignited. My father told me that getting caught in their taunts will only be a disadvantage to you but angering a once beaten up person and making them remember the reason for their training will reignite their anger or passion to be better and will greatly put them back on track. I’m not sure how effective it will be but I just have to try, if not then I guess I will be training along with him later. 

Then out of nowhere, one of the huge guys attack me with a sloppy punch that anyone who trained rigorously would be able to detect. I caught his hand mid air and flip his hand, making him lose strength in that hand by applying pressure to his pinky, instantly disabling his will to fight. [Pain is the best way to make an opponent falter, is what father taught me.] I look around and ask if fighting him immediately would be an improper way. “Is there a procedure or something before I fight?” I asked as I drag the guy with me while grunting in pain.

 GRUNT! GROANS IN PAIN

 “What the hell? He caught Libreain’s hand in an instant? And he looks like he is younger as well.” “Would you look at that, so that’s how helpless he looks if he is in trouble.” After looking for a while, a man who was one of the gatekeepers stepped in. “There is no such procedure here young man, people with authority cannot sue a family for the trouble here if their family member get beaten up in here. Every family knows the risks in letting their sons and daughters come here.” The gatekeepers said as he left after telling me that. “Let go of my hand! You imbecile! Do you know whose hands you’re gripping so much you damn bastard!?” he yelled on my ears even thought we were so close.

 [He is able to exert that much strength in his shout, that means he has some techniques to show me right? Whoever made this training ground, I’ll need to thank them later for making this place. This place- is perfect for me.] I turned to the guy that I was holding with a smile and release his pinky. I saw Abel immediately rush towards me but I gestured him that its okay. “Then I guess there is nothing sort of a procedure. So why don’t we start fighting now? All of you huge guy bastards, come at me-” And gestured them to come and have a go with me, fortunately enough, these guys are easy to intimidate and immediately jumped on me before I can even finish saying what I had to say.

 FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH! FWOOOSH!

 I can hear the air whistling with only their fist flying to my face. [They have the strength and speed but that’s all there is to it. There is nothing more impressive than that, they must have slacked off in training. Compared to mine- their performance is below average.] I dodged their attacks even thought they are ganging up on me altogether. One of them had the idea of attacking my arms rather than attacking my face but unfortunately for him that is where I place the bracers.

 BANK!

 He immediately retreated in pain after punching his way through the bracers which I imagine would have hurt even more since he looked like he poured everything into that punch but I guess they have some kind of tolerance to pain. “What the hell was that just now?! You wearing an armor or something?!” he exclaimed after going back to his senses. Seeing how hurt their friend was after landing a punch on my arm, they cease their attacks to try and assess the situation. “Wearing an armor? Who do you take me for? Did I even complain when all of you are attacking me at once? Therefore there is no need for you to complain when I do not even complain about this.” I retorted to make them even more agitated but their minds are surprisingly strong. They did not attack me immediately nor make any sudden movements. 

[I have to hand it to you father, pain really is the best to make others falter.] I thought to myself with a smile on my face that I forgot how many kids my age are watching right now. “Is that all you all amount to? I thought you were confident earlier? Where did that confidence go?” seeing that they have no plan in attacking me any sooner, I made the move first. I accelerated myself towards them by using the ground as I put my power in my legs with a crouching stance and in that instant I was able to propel myself in front of them and used the excess power and momentum for a kick that one of them was unfortunate enough about to get hit but before landing my kick, he instinctively raise his arms to defend against my attack.

 BAM! c***k!

 I could hear the cracking of his bones which is a little discomforting, a fact that everyone around us also thinks. GUAAAAAAAAAAAH!” the guy cried in intense pain as he tried not to move his arms but every time moves, I can see his hands wobble as if I snapped both of his bones in half and are actually puncturing his flesh.

 [What the hell? Where the hell did this guy came from? I was just planning to get beaten up as part of my training but- damn. That was some monstrous power, from the time he crouched and propelled himself towards them, how can someone do something like that and it seems like he is even younger than me.] Marcus thought to himself as he witness for the first time the definition of strength. [This- this kid is strong.] the kids around them had their jaws dropping after seeing one of the reigning kings of the training grounds drop and cry in intense pain with just a single kick.

 [Impressively even with their friend down in an instant, they do not seem to be fazed. Did they get a training before coming here? Its impossible for someone to be feeling fine even after seeing your friend ended up like that.] I guess that was enough, they do not even have the slightest interest right now. “I guess that’s enough, you guys are no longer interesting.” I said as I tidy my clothes and walked towards Marcus who seemed to have been the one dazed of what happened and turn my back against them when all of the sudden I felt a sudden piercing murderous intent behind me. “Die you bastard! You have the honor of dying by the technique of the Joyeous family! Eight lightning s***h!”

 BOOOOOM!

 “One of the noble family using their family’s secret art against another person? Isn’t that prohibited?” the crowd started to get anxious as the gatekeepers sprinted out towards where the fight is as the guy who attacked lets out a villainous laugh. “Hahahaha! I was just waiting for an opportunity to strike but to think that you are that stupid for leaving your back wide open. How stupid can you get?!” he shouted as he got out of the cloud of dust. 

[This guy is crazy! He used a secret art of their family even thought it is prohibited to be doing so!] Marcus exclaimed as he turns to where Amon was and then turned to the who called Amon a young master, Marcus’ eyes widened even more when he saw Abel’s huge smile on his face, as if they were seeing the situation wrong. That is when he realized that something is off. The hands of the attacker is trembling greatly like he had no control over his hands. [Impossible- even without a sword, that secret art would have still be powerful.] Marcus thought once again when he sees a figure standing in the place of impact with a defensive stance.

 “That’s impossible- to withstand my family’s secret art and injuring my instead. That’s utterly impossible!-huh? A slave?” the attacker muttered to himself after seeing Amon’s built body with huge bracers on four of his limbs and mistaken them to something that chains are linked in to. Everyone in the training grounds are in awe after seeing Amon’s built muscles, young girls got flustered after a single glance while young boys envy him for being built at such a young age. “Ah- I didn’t get to bring a set of clothes and you ruined it. I didn’t know you were that interested in my body that much, satisfied now?” he muttered in such a cold tone as he rips off the remaining clothes hanging on his body.

 TEAR! TEAR!

 “I hope you are satisfied because I will be charging you for ruining the clothe that my mother personally knitted, you bastard.” Amon propelled himself and appeared in front of the attacker and strike with his palms wide open. “Bone crippling palm.” Amon struck the attack on his abdomen applying intense force to the attacker by sending his power into the attackers body overloading his bones with power more than the attacker’s body could handle and then made the bones around his chest shatter.

 SPLATTER! SPLATTER!

 The gatekeepers were standing in awe as they witnessed something that they have not seen before, a kid younger than his enemies taking them down viciously and with ease. And a few moments later, they got out of the daze and ask what is happening. “What happened to him?” Abel turned to them and answered. “Nothing much, the young master just shattered the bones around his chest. Nothing serious.” The gatekeepers and the kids around them were taken aback by what Abel said. [Shattered the bones around his chest and its nothing serious?! What the hell is this kid talking about?! That is absolutely serious!] one of the gatekeepers thought to himself but it was then that Abel reach out to the attacker’s chest and a green glowing light illuminated his hand.

 [Healing magic] is the only thing they can all think of after seeing that the attacker’s complexion immediately gotten better. [That must be the reason why he said that it was nothing serious, to think that he is able to use healing magic. These guys are monsters.] Marcus told himself as the blood stop flowing out of the attacker’s mouth.

 “Is this okay young master?” Abel asked me and I nodded my head in response. “I think that is enough to teach them a lesson. Thankfully I have these bracers to hold back my strength, if it weren’t for these. That guy should be dead a long time ago.” I added as Abel offered his cloak for me to use. “I see, you are as unpredictable as ever. But young master, do you have any idea as to why that person is looking at us? That person has been following us the entire time. Do you think lady Kassandra ordered that person to follow us?” well, I can’t really blame Abel. 

This person has really been following us from the start. I turned my head towards the trees and made contact with that person’s eye and then vanished after seeing me looking. “Well, at least that person is fast.” Abel let out a chuckle and ask me to go back after finishing our goal. “See you later Marcus.” I waved my hand to Marcus who is still dazed.

 Meanwhile

 Zhuge had already arrived to report to Kassandra what happened in detail and could not believe what she heard from the report. “Are you certain about it?” Kassandra wanted to confirm but almost immediately, Zhuge nods her head. “Yes, I could not sense their strength at all. But I can confidently say that both of them are on a whole new world against the kids their age or even the adults. Especially that kid named Amon, he was wearing bracers the entire time. I can’t imagine how strong he can be without those restraints. Where did the master picked up those monsters?” Zhuge muttered before disappearing. 

“Where indeed.” Kassandra muttered to herself as one of her problems have been solved but it was then that she realized that her problems are just going to pile up. “No wonder Mark left in a hurry. He must have seen this coming. You caught me off guard, I will make you pay when you return.” Kassandra promised as Amon and Abel entered the residence, a few moments after Zhuge left.

 A few hours later

 [I did not think that I would go home in emergency. I need to tell mother that there is someone who knows father and they turned out to be monsters. The way that kid fight is quite refined for someone his age. Not to mention that the guy he had around with him has the ability to heal injuries like that in an instant. The world is really a dangerous place.] Marcus thought to himself as he passes by the gates and hears an distinctive chatter not too far away from him. 

And when he turns to where the sound came from, he saw his mother talking to some people in a table in their garden. “I didn’t know we had guests.” He muttered to himself but then his eyes widened when he recognizes the faces that his mother is talking to. “No way- it’s them!”