"Your words will be the death of you and you'll have only yourself to blame!"
Mikangleo's declaration was followed by a powerful charge. I never understood, where this man got his throwing knives from, but he mainfested three of them out of thin air. He launched two of them at me, and they clashed before dispersing in two direction. I barely had to dodge them since his aim was off.
He must've accounted for that as he kept one of them in his palm for when he apporached. Mikangle lunged forward, aiming to stick the knife into my chest. Hatred blazed in his eyes as I sidestepped the attempt. No matter where Mikangleo placed his knife for an attack he would find air instead of my body, which made the nose of the man wrinkle even more.
His attacks were careless and indincative that he had no plan. This man was lashing out from pure rage. I manged to avoid one of his wilder slashes and get behind him. Mikangleo couldn't react in time and my foot found its way in his back.
"I'll put you down! I'll kill you! I'll kill you for messing with me?! You don't know a damn thing about me?!" he roared after recovering his step. "I won't have you looking down on me!"
Before Mikangleo could perform another attack, I jumped several feet in the air and then crashed a fist down onto the man. I expected him to avoid it, but Mikangleo was soon planted onto the ground. The man was heap in the accruing mud as the rain continued to barrage us with drizzles.
"I-I'm not d-done!" I heard him shout, but his voice was weakened.
"I will overlook this too." I said softly as I approached him.
As his hostile gaze shifted my way, I would notice a tear escape the man's visible eye. He shook with rage as he pushed himself to his feet and desperately wiped his eyes with his sleeves. "I'm not a coward, and I'm not a fool." He said softly. I was only able to hear that, because of my enhanced hearing.
"Then what are you, Mikangleo? What would my death even gain you? What would you prove from your actions and who are you trying to prove them to?"
There was no response as the man continued wiping his tears. Shaking my head, I was turn my back to him and moved to where Claire was lying. With the rain beginning to build, I didn't want her to became unnneccesarily wet in her current state.
"Silence speaks volumes." I told him as I scooped Claire over my shoulder. It took a second to regain her sword and fix it to her waist, but achived it. I draped the cloak over her head to shielded her from the drizzle. "You won't answer those questions, but kniow this. you may return to Astana, but that man, The Ravager as he is labeled will kill you once given the chance. He views you as Claire's ally."
I would turn to point toward the road of Astana with the assistance of wooden sign. Following that I will point toward the direction of Sturburg. "Head that way, and your life will be uprooted, but you fair a better chance at living. It is the optimal route for a coward. Continue running from whatever ghost is haunting you, but know that the grim reaper will come eventually. That man is likely persisitent, so consider him another thing that you have to run from."
I watched as out the corner of my eye as Mikangleo weighed his options. His eyes still blazed with hatred as his fists once again clenched. Unfased by his actions, I would begin my journey toward the path to the Hidden Grotto. My steps displaced the mud underneath my feet with a satifying splatter and I reclaimed Cataylst.
"I would like to point out your best option." I said when I arrived at the familiar yellow road. "The time of running away is over as the mistress of oppurtunity has come to your door. This is a once in a lifetime oppurtunity and the defining event in your life. You want to prove that you aren't a coward? You want to prove that you aren't a fool? Then your decision should be obvious. Join us, lend Claire your strength and explore your potential! The yellow brick road is right here, and you'll find me on it if you have the courage."
With no response from the man, I turned and begun to travel the yellow dirt road. It was unbearibly hot when I traveled it the first, but now the humidity of the rain and the air choked like a smog. However, that didn't deter me from my path ahead. I will return to where my journey in this world started, alone if need be in order to gain the tools I required to properly begin my journey. My ears would flicker as Mikangleo made his decision, and a grin appeared on my face.
'Q...Bonner... fear not my brothers. I'll get it done, no matter what it takes.'