His life was at an almost standstill. Almost seventeen years old, and he felt as if he had seen, heard, and done it all. His grey eyes went over the application to the local community college for magic. He turned his head towards the back of the bar where the two best mercenaries of that time sat with a third man, discussing a bounty. Like those two men, he wanted a strong partnership. He wished to work on his own, emerging from his older brother’s shadow.
“Deo, you’ve been staring at that back table for twenty minutes. Why don’t you just go back there and sit with them?”
The younger man turned towards the bartender. “They’re just talking about work. I’m sure Suv doesn’t want me to get in the way.”
“He’s your older brother.” The bartender shrugged. “Are you sure you don’t need him?”
Deo looked down. “I’ve always wanted to be on my own. I can’t live in his house forever. I just don’t want to be alone. I need a partner.”
“I have a suggestion, but you won’t like it.” He smirked at Deo’s puzzled look. “They say he is a man who is afraid of nothing, but one powerful sorcerer and his followers. They call him the Red Mage.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Deo chuckled. “For several months, you have tried to sell me the story of the Red Mage. I can’t be partners with a fictional character.”
“Fictional character, huh?” The bartender looked up and grinned. “That fictional character just stepped through the door.”
Deo turned his head towards the cloaked figure waling towards the bar. A blood red hooded cloak hid his face from view. His eyes continued to watch the figure even after he had stopped at the bar.
“The usual, please.”
“You got it, Red.” The bartender looked at Deo quickly before preparing the mysterious man’s drink. It did not take long for him to set the glass full of red liquid on the counter.
As the man lifted the glass to his lips, he was interrupted.
“Juki Klavier.”
Deo rested his left hand on his gun as the cloaked man turned around.
“Hans. I don’t need to ask why you’re here.”
The man standing in front of Juki grinned wickedly. He had short brown hair and empty black eyes. His black cloak reached the floor, like that of the Red Mage. “Well, I was going to hire someone to kill you for me, but you conveniently walked into your own death trap.” He turned towards the table in the back. “I’ve no need for your services, gentlemen.”
Deo stood up. “You should think before you go back on your word.”
“This is not your business, child.”
“Actually, it is,” Deo said firmly.
The Red Mage removed his hood. His red hair was like a shiny apple, his eyes like a bright blue sky. The halo above his head shone in the dim light of the bar. “You don’t want to get hurt by this man. He’s a powerful mage.” A mass of blue energy hit Juki in the middle of the chest. He fell to his knees.
Deo lifted his gun and fired. The shot missed.
“Child, I am warning you for the last time!” He built up another mass of energy in his hands.
Juki lifted a wooden staff ending in a red ornament. He leaned upon it for support as he stood. The red ornament began to glow. “Fire… ball…” Juki said weakly. A massive fireball hit the evil man in the stomach. He flipped backwards and landed down on one knee.
“You’ll have to do better than that, Juki.”
Another gunshot went off. Hans fell forward, finally unmoving.
Deo holstered his gun. “And that is why you don’t mess with the family of Dimitri Li.”
“You’re Deo?” Juki asked; his voice quiet.
“Yes. I’m the mercenary Deo, and you’re the Red Mage.”
Juki nodded. “Did you really protect me because of your family?”
“Those mercenaries he fired are my brother and his partner. We might me killers, but we do it with a certain code of honor. You just don’t go back on your word. Besides that, I’ve head so much about you and I have never met you. You can’t speak with a dead man.”
“Yes, that is true.” Juki looked at the body lying in the middle of the bar. “You also shouldn’t speak with a man on the run.” He walked to the door of the bar and exited.
Deo resisted running after the mysterious mage. He believed he had discovered a partner the in red haired, fire mage.
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