As the sun set a lanky pale man with an orange scarf dashed through the city, a panicked look on his face. Long black hair whipped behind him as purple eyes with dark circles under them desperately searched with a roving gaze. The satchel hanging against his side bounced and jostled, papers rustling. From within the bag something moved and small red eyes peeked out, curious.

“Where is he?” The man ducked around people, scooting past carts as his heart thundered in his chest, a bird desperately trying to escape its cage. He picked up the pace, working up momentum that allowed him to take a running jump. 

He leapt over the canopies of the merchant stalls before climbing a nearby building with the prowess of a cat. As soon as his feet hit the rooftop he scanned the city as far as he could see, eyes rapidly searching.

“I look away for a second and he’s gone! Where could he be? Where?!” His heart pounded, worry eating away his last nerves. His white shirt was drenched with sweat, suspenders nearly welding themselves to his body with the moisture. His thoughts crowded in his head, whispering to feed his dread as the pit in his stomach grew. 

Every minute that slips by… and it’s been hours! Please don’t—

A bright flash interrupted his panic, drawing his attention. From the other side of the city was an undeniable bust of magic that was like a beacon. People below startled in the direction of the sudden light, drawing the attention of the guards who began talking amongst themselves.

“That mana burst!” The man locked on to the location of the magic source, recognizing it. Below him the guards were beginning to get louder, their voices carrying.

“Are we being attacked?!”

“Was that a mage’s signal or a monster?”

“What are you, a detective or a soldier?”

“Hurry! We have to protect the city!”

“Should we summon a medic just in case?”

Dread filled the long haired man once more as the guards rallied. Such a big mana burst could make one go unconscious, posing a threat to the populace—and to the source. 

Who knows what could go wrong if they find the source first—they’d just want a weapon. They wouldn’t care what it took for compliance. He gritted his shark-like teeth. “Tch. I have to get there first before the bastards do.”

A glow formed around the man’s feet and he pushed off the roof, jumping with ease. He hit the next roof and leapt again, bounding with ease like a giant rabbit, his eyes trained on the direction of the light. With each step his speed increased, hastening.

As he jumped his bag swung, jostling its contents. A yellow slime with red eyes peeked out, bounced with every jump, almost slipping out at various intervals, a tendril wrapping around  the strap to keep it from flying. 

Sweat ran down the man’s face. He gritted his sharp teeth as his heart thundered in his ears, but unable to drown out the new worries that plagued him. 

By the gods! Don’t do anything reckless, Chrono!

⁜

The mana burst was going strong, pulsing with a wild energy. Rabbit stood unmoving, his staff still pointed at the thugs while Kasla lay on the ground. The younger boy’s expression was still fierce, eyeing the would-be kidnappers, daring them to move a finger.  

That amount of mana! Kasla could only stare in awe though a small cough escaped him, pressure from the magical energy seemingly crushing. It was as if an invisible rock were above him, its gravity alone crushing him before it made impact. His vision and head were swimming from the blood loss and blows, the mana burst nearly suffocating him. I’ve never seen so much mana leaking out. How can a kid hold so much mana?!

“You’ve got to be shitting me!” the horned thug exclaimed, eyes wide in surprise.

“This kid—! The buff thug stared, a greedy smile forming on his face.

“We can take him! Knock him out!” ordered the bald thug, having backed away from Kasla out of surprise. Despite the assurance the thugs struggled to move, the force of the mana affecting them as well, seemingly slowing their movements as everything became heavy. In desperation the bald thug called to his stronger comrade and tossed him the mallet, forgoing the sack. “Teb! Get ‘im!” 

Rabbit’s scowl deepened as he focused. The temperature seemed to drop rapidly, Kasla able to see his breath in a matter of seconds. The ground grew slick and ice began to form at an alarming rate, crackling as it rapidly grew. The ice hit the thugs’ boots and shot up their legs.

The thugs let out sounds of surprise and anger, attempting to bat the ice away. Within moments it reached their necks and engulfed them, expanding outward into what seemed a solid block. Soon all three were encased in an icy prison.   

“He… He can use magic without an incantation?! That’s im-impossible!” Kasla gawked, blinking as he was certain a concussion was not making him see things. Thankfully his clothes protected him from the chill, leaving him to be simply dumbfounded at the scene. 

Not even a minute after forming the icy prison shattered, revealing the buff thug. Teb grinned wildly, swinging his comrade’s hammer as his comrades shook ice off themselves. He charged towards Rabbit, hammer raised. “HAH, that won’t work! Now it’s time to knock your lights out! What a fine sum you will bring!”

Rabbit whipped his staff in the direction of Teb. A wall of ice burst from the ground, barring the hammer wielding foe. There was the sound of boots squeaking and sliding before a loud crash. Teb had been unable to stop in time to avoid slamming head first into the wall, slipping on the icy ground. There was an audible thud as the buff man hit the pavement, groaning.

“Magic without incantation is unheard of… Mages have to pray to the gods in order for them to cast magic, but this kid… To use magic fast, too…” Kasla fought to stay awake, attempting to sit up and crawl towards the boy. 

Nng… my head… His vision blurred as his head pounded, the mana’s pressure seemingly squeezing the breath out of him. “Who… are you?”

Rabbit waved his staff towards the other thugs who were resuming their advance. The crackling of electricity started from the staff as he took aim. 

A rock sailed over Rabbit’s head, hitting the horned thug between the eyes, knocking him unconscious. A second rock swiftly followed before the bald thug realized what had happened. With a crack the ringleader hit the icy ground like a fallen tree, a welt on his forehead.

He looked in surprise at the fallen thugs and turned towards the source of the rocks. He smiled widely, showing off slightly elongated cuspids. The mana around him dissipated immediately, the crushing pressure gone, allowing Kasla to gasp for air.

“Who—?” asked Kasla, his vision swimming as he saw the blurry figure of a tall man hurrying towards them from a distance. The newcomer seemed to be wearing an orange hood, obscuring his face and head except for his eyes. Kasla tried to think, his head pounding as his consciousness started to slip.

The man teleported next to Rabbit who looked up at him happily, ecstatic. He reached down and grabbed the boy, tucking him under an arm. “Thank Ina you’re alright. We don’t have much time before the guards show up.” The man’s voice was deep, serious and slightly panicked.

Rabbit’s expression turned to shock. He turned toward Kasla, gesturing. The man was oblivious, his gaze on the thugs before sweeping the area for signs of witnesses and guards.

“Rabbit…” Kasla watched helplessly as with a mighty leap the two rocketed into the sky, landing on a nearby rooftop and taking off, disappearing out of sight. He struggled to get up once more, his vision spotty, but collapsed against the cool pavement.

He had no choice but to surrender to the demands of his body. He faintly heard the sound of numerous rushing footsteps approaching and the clinking of armor, various shouts ringing in his ears. Then everything went black.

⁜

Kasla sat quietly in the small room, hands under the table. The floors were polished wood, though looked worn and in need of a thorough cleaning. The walls were smooth, completely blank, though if one squinted enough they might suspect what was a stubborn shadow of a once bloodstain. The table itself was simple except for the dim magic circle on its surface, wards against any notion of violence when activated. His eyes went from the magic circle to the stern looking guard sitting across from him.

Aside from the serious expression, Officer Mason was not threatening, at least in comparison to the thug trio. He had a neat looking uniform, seemingly proud of and sworn to his duties, but there was an air of sadness and frustration. His long blond hair was tied back in a high ponytail, his purple eyes locked on Kasla, evaluating; if he was not so serious one might call him handsome.  

Kasla resisted the urge to squirm, instead giving his best innocent, wide-eyed expression. It was not hard to do as he wondered what was in store for him.

Officer Mason tapped his pen against his notepad, frowning. “You’re telling me that you didn’t see a suspicious person or persons who caused the mana burst?”