Episode 8

“Tiger…”

Tamie called out to her new friend when they stood on their posts in the square to act as ‘formal guards’ like the old man had named it.

“What is it?”

Tiger played with her three pets. Especially her dog Blizzard was restless, as always.

“I feel suspicious of that old man and this whole place. Maybe we shouldn’t have come, after all”.

“Oh… Why is that?”

Tiger held her little shy cat, Astra, in her hands, and petted her black-to-orange-and-white fur.

“Because, I had a talk over a Star-gadget with one of my acquaintances yesterday, and he told me things about that Blood Dragon our Magister talked about, if you remember – that murderer who massacred his whole clan… So, the magister of the Blood Dragon’s order – the Crimson Flame – was Merlinn Goldreich. It’s the same surname as this old man, the holder of the Dragon Festival, has”.

“I think you worry too much, Tamie. Surnames might just be a coincidence. Like, I am Braun, but there are a lot of other people under Braun surname who are not related to me at all”.

“Yeah but, still…”

They heard people whoop and noticed how dragon balloons began floating in the sky. The crowds had gathered around the dragon dance performers. The festival had begun.

“I tell you, don’t worry about a thing! This will go smoothly. Which sane person would ever attack a festival?”

Tiger laughed. Tamie still felt uneasy:

The likes of the Blood Dragon are exactly insane…

The party continued. The people whooped, clapped and danced under the upbeat tunes, getting more and more cheerful and excited. They felt safe as their guards were none other than the Rose Cruce members, and everyone knew the Rose Cruce was a famous and powerful Zodiac Order.

However, as Tamie feared, this party didn’t prove to be all that safe and secure: when the sun rolled a little to the west and it dusked, three lightning bolts struck the highest pillar – the statue of a golden dragon – in the square. Out of the smoke, three robust men appeared, all with sunglasses – the famous criminal group, Aries Trio.

“Hello, ye people! We’re here to grab some fortune!” the leader of the three – a curly-blond-haired, slim, almost bony guy with sunglasses – grinned, showing his several golden teeth amongst his white ones. “I advise you to panic!”

He raised his hand and blasted the square with powerful flames. The people screamed and ran, trying to leave the square as soon as possible. The old man, Knut Goldreich, trembled:

“Guards, please save us!”

“Ugh, and this you call a job for the Rankless?” Tamie grew angry and worried all at the same time.

“I… I’m sorry! I could not give enough reward! But please, you can’t get the people involved!”

While they were arguing, the Aries criminals threw powerful flames and burned the surroundings. It became hard for people to escape. Some even got caught in the large fire around the square and couldn’t move forward.

“Ah, mommy, help!” a little boy was screaming somewhere.

Tiger’s heart couldn’t withstand it.

“Blizzard, Christo, Astra, in position! We shall beat them!”

She took a battle pose. Her pets followed up, as if they could actually hear and perfectly understand her.

“Virgo Style, Tamer Art, Naturalist Mode – We all stand as one!”

Tiger raised her hands and emitted powerful green energy – the Zen.

She can manipulate Zen already?!

Tamie was astonished: at only the Rank Three of the Tamer Class – the Naturalist – Tiger could use the Green Zen energy of a Virgo?

I guess Rose Cruce Order is truly powerful…

Once the Green Zen powers of Tiger reached her three pets – Blizzard, Christo, and Astra – all of their eyes glowed green. Blizzard snarled. The two cats growled and took a stiff, upright stance.

“Christo, take down that guy,” Tiger pointed on one of the Aries minions – an orange-haired man. “Blizzard, grab that one,” she pointed on another, black-haired minion. “Astra, you and I battle against the boss,” she glared at the Aries leader, the blondie.

Upon hearing the command, Christo – the fluffy powerful cat – hit his paws upon the ground and caused an earthquake which hit only the orange-haired guy he was commanded to attack. Blizzard too once heard the order, dashed at the black-haired guy and spat flames out of his mouth.

“Well then, Astra, it’s the two of us now…” Tiger shouted another incantation: “Virgo Style, Tamer Art, Naturalist Mode – Lianas of Mother Nature!”

She made thick lianas grow from below the ground and rush towards the blond Aries guy. Astra purred and added more but smaller lianas to the shot. Tiger grinned – her little cat had made it well! However, Tamie’s and their happiness was short-timed.

“Huh? You think you can kill me with some plants, you silly Virgo?” the Aries blondie laughed. “Aries Style, Battler Art, Raider Mode – Flames of the Ram!”

He spat giant flames out of his mouth, burned all of the attacking lianas, and hit Tiger and Astra. They got burned and fell down. Tiger tried to stand but collapsed back to the ground.

“Tiger, no!”

Tamie ran up to her and examined her wounds.

W… What can I do? Raider rank is the Rank Four of the Battler Class. Even Tiger, the Rank Three of her Class, was powerless against him, and I am Rank Zero!

“Give up, ye kiddos. Ye lost!”

The Aries guy grinned, his golden teeth blazing under the sunrays. Tamie watched him in fear, not sure of what to do. But then, beholding those sunrays, an idea struck her mind.

“Okay then, let’s settle this!”

“Huh? Who are ye?” the Aries guy noticed her Libra necklace. He burst out laughing: “Huh? A Libra? The Libra are weaklings! Ye think ye can defeat me?”

“Not I, but I’m not alone. I shall make you regret you’ve hurt my friend!” Tamie clicked a certain signal on her gadget, “Erik, help!”

“Erik?”

The Aries grew confused, unable to understand what it was all about. But when Erik emerged, he easily recognized the sun necklace on his neck.

“No way – the Sun Celestial Lord?”

Erik didn’t pay attention to his squeaks. He only looked at frightened Tamie knelt beside her wounded friend, and asked:

“Yo, Tamie, this guy has upset you?”

“Erik, please help! He’s injured my friend!”

“M… Mate… I didn’t know that girl was your friend…” the Aries tried to resonate.

Erik cracked the joints of his fists:

“Attacking two girls of lower rank… No dignity, no honour. I tolerate no excuses!”

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