The man stood near Foxen's fallen body,laughing low and hoarse.
The man: You were pretty damn good,kid.I haven't had this much fun in ages.
He pressed his foot into Foxen's back,grinding him against the cold floor.Foxen coughed,blood dripping from his lips,but his eyes still burned with defiance.
Sana froze,her hands still locked on Mahnstin's body as she healed him.She wanted to scream,move but her body betrayed her.
The man stepped over Foxen and moved towards her.
The man: I have never come across a healer–So,tell me girl....can you fight ?
Sana's voices shook but her glaze was sharp.
Sana: Just because you took down our fighter with cheap tricks doesn't mean we've lost.
The man: Still got the spirit huh ? Don't disappoint me.
Sana stood at her ground,refusing to leave Mahnstin's side.His wounds were nearly sealed but he remained unconscious.
The man approached,faster than her eyes could track but when he swung-Sana's fist already flew towards him.He dodged-impressed.
The man: Not bad.But not better than these two...still dangerous.
She didn't answer–her blows did instead.Kicks,jabs and knees were thrown at him.He dodged and deflected few with his cloak,it rippled unnaturally.
The man: Impressive.I didn't expect this much from you....but game time's over.
Sana shoved him back with a final kick,then bolted towards Foxen's fallen body.
The man: You know,you can't heal him in given time.
Sana didn't reply.She picked the dagger that laid beside Foxen.
The man chuckled.
The man: Oh picking up that toy ? I told you playtime's over.
Sana smiled.
Sana: Yeah,you are right geezer–playtime's over.
Confusion flickered in his eyes.He thursted forward aiming to stab her chest–only to slice nothing but thin air.In a blink both Sana and Foxen had vanished from his reach–reappearing near Mahnstin against the cracked wall,she held Foxen in her hands.
The man blinked in disbelief.
Sana: Oh wondering how I dodged that ? Well you see I am quite fast too..faster than Mahnstin but this man in my arms beats me.
The man: Oh you are fast huh ? Just that won't help you win,you know ?
Sana: Of course I know.So I risked carrying this princess's dead body.
Foxen coughed.
Foxen: Uh...uh..I am not dead yet.
The man's grin faltered.
Sana: Look at you,shocked.Thought you'd won already huh ?
She lowered Foxen on the ground and pressed the dagger back into the cracked wall–CE flared mending the dagger back into the wall.The walls in the chamber pulsed with light.
Foxen raised a weak shield around three of them.
Foxen: You are manipulator too right ? How come you didn't sense this ?
The man's eyes widened as the chamber erupted.The underground ruin shook viloently,the ceiling split apart–the sunlight piercing the floor.
The chamber collapsed.Dust and stone filled the air.
Inside the shield Sana bent over Foxen,healing him.
Sana: Your plan worked princess.
Foxen struggled to grin as blood dropped on his lips.
Foxen: Yea....told you.I...always deliver.
Earlier when Sana was healing Foxen after his and the man's first clash:
Foxen: Listen,fighting that guy one on one will take us nowhere–on top of it the cloak he's wearing is irritating...quite mysterious too.
Sana: What are you suggesting ?
Foxen: I will go fight him again,with a weapon.And then give myself off to him,giving him a disbelief of his triumph.
Sana: And ?
Foxen: And when he let's his guard down.Just take the weapon and mend it back to place.
Sana: Oh I ain't getting you here.What weapon ? And mend where ?
Foxen: Ah my powers will do it.Just follow along.
Sana: Fine.So should I act like I don't care when you fall off ?
Foxen: Your call,act natural.
Suddenly Mahnstin was stabbed and Foxen rushed towards the man.
Present time inside the shield:
Foxen: You are quite an actor huh? Those dialogues and acts uff.You handled it good,Mahnstin's collapse wasn't planned.
Sana: That wasn't acting Mr.bomber.
Foxen: oh...you care for me? How–
Before he could finish,Sana pressed her hand hard on his abdomen.
Foxen cried in shallow pain.
Foxen: Ouch! Be gentle.
Mahnstin finally stirred back to his senses.
His eyes darted towards the wounded Foxen.
Mahnstin: Foxen??? Why are you torn apart??? Where's that man ?
Foxen: If you have time to speak then why don't you check yourself.
Mahnstin closed his eyes searching for him–but found nothing.
Mahnstin: He's gone.Did you guys finish him ?
Sana: Yes,we did.
Foxen: No,we didn't.
Sana: Have you gone crazy huh ? There's no way he could have escaped that blast.
Foxen: I don't want to believe it myself but he managed to escape.
All three struck in silence.The rubble around them finally rested.The dust settled down hinting the escape of the man.As his body or presence was no where to be seen.
End of chapter 14.