| Noriko decided to go & fetch the doctor. The doctor came, but couldn't detect what Izark was suffering from. Izark told him there's nothing wrong with him, only his old sickness recurring again. He will be very weak for a few days due to the accumulated tiredness over the years. Noriko tried not to disturb Izark as much as possible. However someone tipped off to the bandits that Izark was vulnerable now, & the head of the bandits ordered his men to give a surprise attack. Izark sensed something was wrong, & told Noriko to hide. The bandits rushed in, but couldn't see Izark on the bed. Izark attacked them from behind. It was arduous for him to regain his composure while confronting the bandits, backing the walls for support. One of the bandits wanted to cover Izark with a blanket, but Noriko saw through the plot & refused to let go of it. The head of the bandits screamed to them to get Noriko, & Izark hurtled to grab Noriko before the bandits get near. <"Why must I save her? I should be more obliged to have her killed." Izark thought. They jumped down from the window & landed safely. But then Izark had drained up his energy. He told Noriko to run, but Noriko wouldn't leave. She carried Izark up with all her might & dragged him to hide. After resting for a while, Izark went out to fight again. He managed to fight off the bandits but was injured during the fight. Noriko made a fuss over his wound, but Izark told the doctor, who came to examine his wound, that he wasn't injured at all; the blood was the bandits'. Noriko examined closely at Izark's healed wound, & observed his face closely to detect any signs of pain. Izark coloured, & Noriko was glad that he wasn't suffering from pain anymore. She cried, & soon fell asleep (her weird symptom recurring again). The village headman had heard from the doctor that Izark was a remarkable fighter, & he offered Izark 500 gold if he could banish the bandits who often robbed the village. Izark accepted the offer. He met Keimos, a crazy man who enjoys killing people & seeing them suffer. He possessed powers similar to Izark's. After a soul-stirring struggle, Izark defeated Keimos completely. Keimos couldn't believe he himself was defeated as he thought he was supposed to be in the place of the winner, not Izark. He wouldn't permit someone to be better & stronger than him; he refused to concede defeat. Izark knew that Keimos would be a big threat to him in the future if he didn't finish him now. But neither knew that their duel was being watched by Rachef (he's a person who possesses special powers that might be a match with 'heaven ghost', or even more powerful than that) through his sorcerer's magical pond. Rachef saw the potential of Keimos, & decided that it's a pity if Keimos was killed right now. With the help of his sorcerer, Rachef rescued Keimos. Izark returned to the village, his clothes tattered & torn. Later he & Noriko left the village. |