The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - INTRUDER (2)

“What are you doing here, Azak?” Noah wasn’t pleased. “This is a restricted area; you shouldn’t be here.”

“Calm down Noah, you are always so stiff. I just wanted to watch the tests with you. I’m sure you must be lonely,” Azak teased.

“I’m not in the mood for your games. Leave immediately.” Having Azak around was a bother. By law, non-Risers shouldn’t be within the testing area, save for the test administrators of course. And even they too were bound to their respective districts. At the moment, the space they were in wasn’t classified as a testing area, seeing as they were within the mesh, but he was in Noah’s district.

Azak took a seat. Noah was far from pleased. “We’re like brothers, you and I. We have the same origin. If not that your sponsor was aligned to another member of the Eight, we might have both served under Lord Blaze.”

“Maybe. How does that have to do with anything?” Noah was interested in anything but a conversation. But Azak was a difficult one.

“Why would the Phantom grant her ability to only person? Even so, after all this time?” Azak steepled his fingers in an attempt to look serious. A poor attempt it was however.

“It’s not in our place to question the activities of the Eight,” Noah replied. He was curious too, but he found Kiro useful. Perhaps Azak thought the same too and was trying to recruit him.

“Blaze suspects a coup. Orders are that the Phantom Riser shouldn’t survive this round.” – Azak was serious this time however. Noah grimaced so much that the skin on his forehead almost came off – “But, it would be such a waste, wouldn’t it?”

Noah adjusted a bit. Azak had caught his attention. “What are you implying?”

“By law, to make things fair, members of the Eight can have no direct influence on the Risers and the tests. Hence, this order is not a direct order from Blaze himself. I for one, has no interest in killing the Riser, but I also have an order. So how about we give him a fighting chance,” Azak said.

“I can’t allow you interfere in my tests,” Noah retorted bluntly. He had no intention of being part of Azak’s games.

“I get it. As a test administrator, there is no way you could agree to something like this. That’s why I took the matter of your hands.”

“What did you do!” Noah charged at Azak with fury.

“Calm down. This was already set-in motion before the test begun. A Ranger was sent to the Mesh before the Risers got there. And his orders are to kill the Phantom Riser after he has secured the Ascient.”

Noah was in disbelief. They didn’t even have the courtesy to inform him beforehand. And how didn’t he notice? “Why are you telling me this? And why now?”

“Before now, I really didn’t care. But he has shown promise and has caught my attention. More so, he seems important to the Ascient and his development. The last thing I want is for him to have a motive of revenge against us,” Azak said with all seriousness. But what could they do in this current situation, with everyone watching?

“What do you want me to do? I can’t be of any help.”

“You know you can. Give the Ascient a little boost. The Phantom Riser might be strong, but there’s no way he can take on a Riser. He’ll lose before he can even blink.”

Noah remembered his first conversation with Kiro;

***

“A living being that has adapted,” Kiro goaded. “For your own good, you might want to retract your sword.”

Initially bewildered, Noah burst into a hysterical laughter. “Me, threatened by a level 1 riser? You can’t even lay a scratch on me, much less hurt me. Even beings higher than myself would find it difficult to kill me. You would be unwise to make such a bluff,” he said with all seriousness.

“Do you deem yourself immortal? I really hope not. It would be a shame to have to rip that fallacy out of your head.”

“I’m the last person you want to make enemies with, riser.”

“You and I? Enemies? I think you’re wiser than that,” Kiro gloated.

***

Kiro threatened him, a Knight, when he was still a level one Riser. And the things he knew. Noah chuckled.

“You seem to think light of this situation, Noah.”

“I just remembered the first time we spoke. Helios sleep had no effect on him and he actually threatened me,” – Noah peaked Azak’s interest – “If he is as special as he claims he is, as special as we all think, as dangerous, then he will come out of this alive, without our help. However, know this. I will not tolerate such disturbances next time. Be warned Azak, if anything does happen to him, I won’t let it end there.”

“Oh, you have that much faith in him? I wonder what could have led up to that. Nonetheless, I guess it’ll be fun to see how this all plays out.”

“You can get out now.”

“There’s so much space.”

“No, seriously. Get out.”

***

Kiro sat straight with his back on the wall of the cave, completely oblivious of the danger that awaited him. Karenia and Victor had gone hunting for food. As they arrived at the mouth of the cave, Kiro let up his shield that had preciously been guarding. They hadn’t brought much but it was enough, seeing as they would be leaving that area very soon. The morning started with roasted meat. That was pretty much the only thing they ate. After eating, Kiro went out to get some fresh air and Karenia followed him not long after.

“What are you thinking about?” she noticed that he was deep in thought.

“Our next set of moves. Thanks to me, we’re down on time.”

“Come off that.” Karenia noticed something else was wrong. “Do you trust us?” she asked.

Kiro was quite surprised at the question. “Of course, why would you even ask that?”

“That power you used; you know what it was don’t you?” – Kiro tried to defend himself, but the words didn’t come out. Karenia was convinced – “I guess we’re not ready to shoulder your worries yet.”

“Karenia---”

“There’s no rush Kiro. We trust you. Completely. And if there’s anything you can’t tell us; we know there’s a reason for it. Just don’t do this often, okay. It does kinda hurt.”

“I won’t,” he assured her.

She rested beside him, taking his arm in hers and her head upon his shoulders. After that, she was quiet. Unusually quiet. “Thank you Kiro, for everything.”