He'd never considered himself to be fragile.
But he swore he just flung from the impact of that punch.
Niel coughed painfully, his body curled up against the ground with a hand holding his sore jaw. The night was chilly with unforgiving temperature, yet he found himself breaking in sweat. His vision caught onto the approaching girl, his breath quickened.
The girl roughly pulled his coat, rummaging for something without a word. But after a few seconds with nothing, her expression darkened. She tossed it away, now crouching in front of him, trying to look into his shirt and pocket.
Damn life, Niel thought.
He had little money, his family store was being targeted by a greedy rich man, and he didn't have anyone else to rely on but himself. And to rub salt into the wound, he was currently being mugged after being punched so hard.
His mind was spinning, but he still managed to catch on muttered curses from the girl "Ugh, damn it. Where is it?"
What was the girl searching for? He was broke, and had nothing to spare. Maybe the girls were desperate enough to knock out whoever and take whatever they can find. He should just let her be, and he'll survive with just an ache on his face. The pain would be hell, but maybe he's going to live.
He sneered at that thought.
Niel had one big problem. Even with no money, no family and no hopes of striking it rich in life, he would never lose one thing.
And that was his damn stubborn pride.
With a swing of his leg, he kneed the girl in the face. She put up her arms to block, but the impact managed to send her back.
Niel got up, his mind still reeling from the prior attack. A drop of blood dropped from his cut lips, his gaze furious. He'd earned this money by sweet-talking people and putting up with their attitudes. The girls were dead wrong if he's just going to lie there quietly and letting them take all his hard work away.
The girl spat on the ground, her face scrunched up in anger.
Niel held back a sigh. Maybe he'd just made a wrong choice.
The girl dashed forward, sending another blow. Her speed was too quick, and by the time her fist was inches away, Niel could only duck under his arm and withstand the force.
"Gh-" The pain shot up as if his arm was about to break. This kind of strength and speed were really inhuman. Maybe some physical amplification with magic? Niel wondered as he kicked her in the stomach.
Commonly, amplification spells worked when certain symbols were etched or written on an object. The wearer was practically invincible as long they had it on them. He remembered this because his grandpa used to carve these kinds of spells into jewelry.
The girl staggered back. It seemed the kick had successfully hit a vital organ. Her eyes getting watery, her breath ragged.
He immediately used the pause to search for anything suspicious on her but the darkness didn't help one bit. Not to mention, the girl herself was fully covered with no skin exposed, even half part of her head covered with a hooded scarf.
The girl started to move again, now lowering her centre of gravity to tackle him.
In that split second, Niel had begun to realize something. This girl was too brash in her attacks, and none of her skills suggested her as a fighter. She punched and kicked with no thoughts in her mind.
Taking advantage of that assumption, he kicked sand into her eyes. The oldest trick in the book which proved to be quite successful.
"Ack- bastard!" Sharp pain stung into her eyes, as she reached her burning eyeballs in distress. Then, a sharp blow landed right on her nose as she stumbled back to the ground.
Niel didn't stop at that. He dashed and yanked her hooded scarf away, a victory smile curled up when he saw a glowing pendant on her necklace. The girl, now realizing what was happening, struggled with greater force, kneeing and punching the man repeatedly.
Niel sucked in a sharp breath, each blow hurt as if it ruptured his inside. The pendant was just within reach, and when he finally grabbed it, smoke began to emerge from his palm, his hand began to turn ember in colour.
The girl's eyes widened.
Niel wasn't really passionate about magic. But among all the spells taught to him in school, he only bothered to learn one. And that was fire magic. It was one of the most practical abilities in his line of work especially when it came to soldering iron, firing up the jewelries and more.
The pendant cracked, its red pieces slowly crumbled into his hand.
The girl slumped in defeat. Niel smirked, relishing in his victory before a sharp sudden pain pierced through.
His breath trembled.
Looking down, a sword was peeking through his chest, covered in thick blood.
"You're wasting our time again" A cold voice rang from behind.
He can't believe he'd just forgotten there were two of them.