'15 seconds. That's your limit.' Warned the one behind the voice inside Ian's head. Since he knew Ian's capabilities more than anyone else, he also knew Ian's limit better than anyone.  "Fifteen seconds." "What are you talking about, young master?" Asked Corner as he prepared his mana to help the Duke put up a shield again.  "You have fifteen seconds to put up your shields. Or we all die, is what I meant." Ian said as he chuckled. It was a serious situation, but for some reason, he wasn't feeling rushed or cornered either. It was as if he had confidence in something or someone unknown to secure his protection.  "We're ready." Miller said as he put up a huge shield. Many more layers were added to it as he was speaking. Only ten seconds had passed after Ian's warning, but they were already done with their

"Can you help us out a bit... Uh...?" Ian realised he still didn't know that man's name yet.  "Sorry. I still don't know your name.." "Rio. Just call me Rio. What type of help do you need?" His answers were short and to the point. Ian liked it that way as well since he didn't need to waste time on useless chatters.  "We're here to look for an antidote for my mother. So we need some directions from a local." Ian said as he glanced at Olivia who was being protected by the guards behind him.  "Poison? What type?" Ian hesitated for a moment, pondering ocer whether he should be honest or not. "Dark mana poisoning." "Whistle~ that's a tough one." Ian could feel a trace of amusement from the guys tone as he whistled. But he was relieved to hear tha

"Where's Ian?"Asked Miller as he got up from his seat. They were at an unknown place with only a few poeple with them. In top off that, there was Olivia who was on theverge of death. At a time like that, Ian's decision of acting alone sounded nothing more than a suicide attempt."The young master took a villagers horse and ran away.He said he was going to meet that guy called Rio. But he promised to come back soon and to not worry about him."Miller felt a sudden ominous feeling bubbling in his heart as he looked at Olivia. He was in no position to leave her side and go look for Ian right now. Neither could he ask the guards to aimlessly go search for Ian in this unknown place.He wanted to ask Corner how could he let Ian go by himself, but thinking back on Ian's stubborn attitube, he knew it was impossible for Corner to stop him. "Alright.. Let's wait.. I'll trust his words and wait." This w

"Hm? You're back?"Ian looked at Rio, wondering what he went inside this time for. There was a look of annoyance on his face and it looked like he was grumbling. But Ian had no clue why he was acting like that. So he simply tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Change your clothes! Your parents will get a heartattack if they see you like that."Grumbled Rio as he threw a pair of clothes at Ian's face. Ian caught the clothes and jumped down from the moose's neck. He looked at himself and there it was."A complete mess, alright."His clothes had blood patches everywhere and was ripped here and there. There was a huge claw mark on his shoulder, and underneath it, the wound that was still bleeding. "This fucker won't heal?"He mumbled as he took off his ripped up shirt, irritation visible on his face. A wound like that would only slow him down on his way ahead. And it was annoying. But then he remembered some