The Strong Always Looks Down on the Weak
Percy felt slightly annoyed by the mocking way Dorien was facing them, but he quickly took several steps back, putting some distance between them. Meanwhile, Dorien did not even move to attack or do anything.
"Harry, tell me you have a plan," Percy said in a serious tone without looking back. Behind him, Harry wore the same serious expression as he stared at Dorien. Even so, his eyes kept scanning the surroundings, trying to find something he could use. But when he noticed Dorien's smile, it almost seemed like he had spotted that immediately… as if he could read his mind.
"Step one: don't get cut by his sword," Harry said.
"Oh, really? Good thing you said that. I was just about to test what that feels like," Percy replied, unable to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
"If you can think of a better plan, then say it," Harry answered while looking at his brother.
"At the very least I wouldn't say something stupid like 'don't get cut by the sword.' Between the two of us you're supposed to be the smart one… but now I'm seriously starting to doubt that," Percy said, lowering his sword as he turned around.
"It's not like I believe I'm the smart one. It's just that you do a lot of stupid things," Harry replied with a frown.
"Guys… I don't think this is the moment to be arguing," Grover said carefully.
Meanwhile, Annabeth raised an eyebrow while looking at the two idiots arguing right in front of their enemy.
"Wait, Grover. We need to settle this right now," Percy said, stopping him before looking toward Harry and pointing at him. "Everyone always thinks you're smarter than me. Just because you can learn magic easily, remember everything, and like to read."
"Well… I kind of think that does mean intelligence," Harry replied.
"Bullshit! I learned how to use a sword way faster than you. I can run more than a kilometer without starting to breathe like I'm dying, unlike you. I can even fight in a coliseum against trained goblins. Can you do that?" Percy said.
"You're missing the point," Harry replied, rolling his eyes.
Dorien watched them with a slightly tired expression while crossing his arms, patiently waiting for them to finish arguing.
"How am I missing the point?" Percy said irritably while pointing his sword at Harry.
"A little more to the left," Harry said with a faint smile.
Hearing that, Dorien slightly raised an eyebrow before glancing to the side and lifting his sword when he suddenly felt a gaze coming from that direction.
Metal clashed instantly with another blade that appeared out of nowhere.
Percy was the one holding the sword.
One of his eyes was open while the other remained closed. He had been advancing with his eyes closed so he would not reveal his movement with his gaze; Dorien's senses, just like Gema's, seemed capable of feeling when someone was looking at him. Percy clicked his tongue in annoyance, just like Harry when he saw Dorien had already discovered the trick.
The Percy who had been standing in front of Harry dissolved into a faint mist.
"Ah… almost," Dorien said with a soft smile while looking at Percy.
But then he noticed the smile on Percy's face and quickly shifted his gaze. Just like the fake Percy, the Harry standing there also dissolved into a light cloud of mist.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Dorien's feet froze, trapping his boots inside a thick layer of ice.
Percy, seeing that, quickly jumped backward.
"Now!" he shouted.
Dorien seemed to feel something behind him and tried to turn, but the ice trapping his feet made it difficult.
Even so, he managed to look over his shoulder.
Harry was there, pointing his wand while quickly murmuring a long spell from his magical tome.
Then he shouted,
"Convertio!"
Instantly, chains began to emerge from the walls and the ground of the alley.
They moved like metallic snakes.
And they shot toward Dorien's body from every direction.
Dorien opened his eyes slightly when he saw that, a faint acceptance appearing in his expression. Even so, with his feet frozen and the chains closing in, he moved his free hand behind his back and drew his second sword.
But at that exact moment he felt something else.
He raised his sword just in time to block a direct strike aimed at his chest.
Percy had appeared right in front of him, thrusting forward with a stab almost identical to the one Elara had used against the Minotaur.
The same perfect stance.
Even Dorien had to shift his sword slightly backward, since the position of his frozen feet did nothing to help him absorb the weight of the attack.
Dorien swung his other sword to push Percy away and cut the chains that were rushing toward him.
But Percy had a small arrogant smile on his face, as if everything were unfolding exactly the way he had planned.
In his other hand he was holding something else.
His wand.
He raised it quickly and pointed it straight at Dorien's face.
"Lumos Maxima!"
The flash exploded in front of Dorien's eyes like a small burst of light.
He had to turn his head to avoid the direct glare.
But that small instant was enough.
The chains moving like serpents reached him.
They coiled around his arms, legs, and torso.
And tightened firmly.
For a moment, Dorien was completely bound.
Even so, with a faint trace of surprise, he could not help letting out a small smile as he looked first at Percy and then at Harry, who had quickly moved beside his brother.
"Well… you did manage to surprise me," Dorien said while nodding slowly.
"Well done."
Harry, seeing the look on Dorien's face, frowned slightly as he watched him with suspicion. But he quickly said,
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dorien. The chains will probably last about an hour, enough time for us to get far away. But we have to do this. Tell our mom we'll be fine, that she shouldn't worry. We know what we're doing," Harry said in a serious tone.
Percy quickly sheathed his sword and nodded at Harry's words.
A second later both of them turned around and ran off at full speed, followed by Annabeth and Grover, who were still a little stunned by what had just happened.
Dorien did not say much as he watched them leave.
He simply kept that amused smile on his face.
He moved his hands slightly, which until that moment had never released their swords. The chains holding him produced a faint metallic sound as they tightened, showing that they were actually quite strong.
Only a few minutes after the children disappeared through the streets, Dorien heard footsteps approaching.
He lifted his gaze.
He met Gema's slightly cold eyes as she arrived, looking as though she had run all the way there. Her clothes were somewhat muddy, as if she had been fighting with a dog.
Or maybe with a bear.
"What are you doing?" Gema asked in a dry tone, looking at the chains and then at Dorien with a hint of disdain.
"Hey, don't look at me like that. I was tricked. You know… they learned that the arrogance of the strong makes them underestimate their enemies and hold back at the start," Dorien replied calmly.
"Adrien will be annoyed if you let them escape," Gema said while staring at him. "You know it's not safe for them to be running around out there."
"I don't think they're just running around. And they know very well what they're doing," Dorien said calmly.
Then he spun his swords lightly between his fingers and pressed the edges against the chains. Metal scraped against metal for a moment before he moved his wrists slightly.
The chains were cut with ease.
After that he lifted his feet and effortlessly broke the ice that still covered them. Interestingly enough, his feet had never moved from the exact spot where he had been standing since the beginning of the entire fight.
He stretched his neck slightly before walking toward Gema with his usual calm smile.
"They want to rescue their cousin Dred. Their family. I might be a villain… but I'm not a monster," he said casually as he sheathed his swords again.
"Supposedly you're a noble knight, not a villain," Gema said, rolling her eyes. "Sometimes you're really an idiot," Gema replied while looking straight into his eyes before turning around.
"Come on. Now we need to follow their trail."
Dorien watched her with a slight smile, noticing her dirty clothes.
"By the way… what happened to you? I thought you'd catch them in the forest," he asked curiously.
"Shut up," Gema replied irritably before starting to walk in the direction the children seemed to have escaped.
Dorien followed calmly.
As they walked, he heard her mutter quietly,
"That stupid dog… tricked me."
Dorien had obviously heard it.
But he felt it would not be very fun for Gema if he asked what had happened.
So he simply kept walking behind her.
While following Gema, Dorien remembered something the children had said a few minutes earlier.
A small smile appeared on his face.
But that thought… he decided to keep it to himself.