Erlic noticed the exchange between the two gang members as he walked back to his table.Upon sitting down, he noticed Kmitza slowly put her hand under the table as one of the youths proceeded in his direction. She was possibly preparing to cast a spell. Suddenly the youth fell to the ground right before Erlic's table. The place erupted in laughter with Marz laughing the loudest. The boy stood up angrily and looked at Erlic. Erlic made himself as comfortable as the situation allowed. He didn't see the boy grab something from within his own pouch.
"HEY OLD MAN," Anek shouted. "People like you don't belong in fine places like this here, you know what I mean?"
Erlic just looked up at the youth, staring intently into his eyes and keeping his own hands on top of the table.
"Like didn't you hear me, man? I SAID you don't belong in places like this one."
"I suggest you quietly go back to your own table before one of us gets hurt," Erlic stated in a very quiet tone.
From the bar, Chang Po just observed. One hand was polishing the bar while his other hand had silently drawn a shuriken. He didn't think it would be necessary, not after seeing the potential in Erlic. However it could not hurt to be prepared. From the table not too far from Erlic's, Arcanum and Kmitza watched in silence, hoping nothing serious would emerge. Arcanum just kept shaking his head slowly, emitting the feeling to Kmitza that Erlic was more than capable of handling himself.
Back at Erlic's table, Anek was getting a little unsettled. But the thug had a trick up his sleeve, one that always worked; one that always gave him the upper hand and one that always led to victory. As he was jeering Erlic on, he held the capsule that he took out of his pouch earlier and crushed it; knowing full well that he would have to fling it in the air towards his opponent to render him temporarily without vision. This method assured him of victory in the past, as it was about to do so now.
"I said I'm talking to you," Aken said, pointing a hand toward Erlic and letting the powder reach his eyes. Immediately, he pulled out a dagger and held it at Erlic's throat. "Now maybe you'll pay me for my troubles with your money, and maybe I might let you outta here in one piece."
Erlic felt the dagger tip pressing at his jugular as well as the irritation in his eyes. His hands went to his eyes instinctively trying to rub them to regain his sight.
"Uh, uh. No you don't," Anek stated. "You just keep both of those hands of yours on the table. Ah don't worry, the effects of the powder are temporary. They'll wear off in no time. By then, you'll really be flying after I take care of you, and I'll be a richer man."
"Remember, do not use our eyes to see." Words spoken by his Master from the East, the one that had raised and trained him. The lesson was quite simple; the monk had blindfolded him and told him to 'see' with his ears. The monk started walking around him, dropping small items such as a pear, an apple, a twig, and an orange. All Erlic had to do was pick them up in order. It took a long time before he accomplished that feat. This training eventually prepared him for what was known as blind-fighting.
Rather than have the irritation bother his eyes, he just closed them and started to concentrate.
"Now little bird, I'm gonna teach you the right way to fly. This way you don't have to practice it anymore," Aken retorted. With that, he kept the dagger at Erlic's throat while he slowly moved in position around the table and behind Erlic, always keeping the dagger against Erlic's throat. This plan had always worked and he started to smile knowing he was about to become Marz's second in command. "Now, I'll just relieve you of your money and you can be on your merry way flying," he laughed. "Anyone else try any funny stuff and he gets it right through the throat."
Erlic braced both feet firmly on the floor. He then threw all of his weight backward into Aken's chest forcing Aken backward against the wall, jarring and startling the boy at the same time. The move was just enough to make Aken relax his grip on the dagger that he held at Erlic's throat. With one quick movement, Erlic reached for the boy's wrist, being careful not to cut himself on the dagger. He applied pressure to Aken's wrist making him drop the dagger onto the floor. With his heightened senses, Erlic rose halfway up and slammed his elbow into the now surprised boy who doubled up in pain then kicked the dagger away from the table. Slowly, Erlic made his way out away from the table, pretending to feel his way toward the bar. It was there that he made his stand.
Aken swiftly recovered but only to find his prey at a distance from him. Upon scanning the floor he spotted his dagger and started for it. "Now you are going to pay for that, OLD MAN. No one, but no one messes with Aken. If you got anything to say best say it quick for it will be your last."
Aken's voice was like a sounding board for Erlic. At that precise moment he knew exactly where he was and what he was about to do. Erlic took a few steps backward to give his 'prey' a chance to redeem himself. "Maybe you should pick on helpless women or beggars," Erlic jibed. "At least you could handle them."
Aken's anger rose within him and he picked up the dagger. "You're gonna be sorry you ever laid eyes on me, cause when I'm through with you, I'm gonna make sure you really fly. A little black lotus and you won't even know who in hades you are. Maybe if I'm in a nice mood, I'll sell you to some slavers who'll take real good care of you. But now...now you pay!" With that Aken threw the dagger towards Erlic. "So long sucker."
Throughout this exchange, Erlic had called up his Chi powers; the inner power that everyone had...but could not control. He had learned to control as well as master it. His body felt like a mass of clouds, swirling about his body, fine tuning his very senses to the area between his hands, which he now held in front of him, palm facing palm. He "heard" rather than saw the dagger leave Aken's hand, and with precise accuracy, caught the blade between his palms at just the right time preventing the blade from harming him. In one quick move he aimed the dagger back at Aken towards his leg, and heard the anguish howl of pain. With a quick somersault he was on top of Aken. One palm went for the ribs, making a slight cracking noise, which made Aken double over in pain. The other palm jarred upward into Aken's chin, and sent him "flying" in the opposite direction. Erlic stood his ground for the next attack, which never came.
Marz didn't believe what he saw. No one but no one could catch a dagger like that and live to tell about it.
Erlic, sensing no more movement, went to the bar. "A wine if you will Master Chang." Chang simply bowed and poured him a glass. Erlic decided to stay at the bar just in case someone else decided to take matters into their own hands.
As soon as the fight ended, Marz turned to the remainder of his group. "Listen up dung-heaps," he said sternly, "go pick up that unconscious piece a crap and dump him on Ginza's turf. Then head over to the warehouse. I'll handle the business here and meet you there later."
"But what about that mage who just tangled with Anek?" Barash asked. "He may give you problems."
"Mage?" Marz asked, perplexed. Then he thought about what the dark-haired man had done. Because his friends didn't know about the eastern arts they would naturally presume he used magic rather than disciplined talent.
"Oh ya...the mage," Marz said, trying to cover his initial puzzlement. "I'll handle him."
"You saw what he did to Anek," the one known as Snake said. "You might need our help if he decides to butt in between you and the owner when she arrives."
"Oh?" Marz asked with raised brows. "And just how in hades do you worthless jerks intend to help ME?"
The gang members suddenly grew quiet. They knew that the only thing they could do well was look and sound tough. Marz was the only one with any real fighting ability. That's why he was their leader and they were his cronies.
"Now, do like I said," Marz ordered. "I don't want no further lip from any of you...got that?"
The four youths nodded then stood up without another word. Ignoring the others in the inn, they picked up Anek's body and made their way out the door. Arcanum & Kmitza must have been relieved to see them go because all the tension seemed to drain from their bodies, and they went back to talking amongst themselves in a more relaxed fashion.
After a few minutes, Marz left his table and strolled over to the bar, taking a seat next to the dark-haired, bearded man. He set a coin on the bar and called out to the redhead. "Hey doxy! Get me a mug of juice!"
Marz glanced at the man sitting on the stool beside him, who was busy wiping his eyes with a rag Chang Po had given him. He cleared his throat before speaking. "I like what you did back there. But, I was wondering if you could tell me how the hell you were able to catch that dagger?"
When Erlic didn't answer right away, Marz tried again. "Ah...maybe I should introduce myself first. The name is, Nightcrawler. Marz Nightcrawler. And you are?" Marz wondered where in the nine planes of hell his juice was while he waited for a response from the man beside him.
Erlic heard the youth approach and wondered if this one, the one he figured to be the leader, was going to be of any trouble. He looked at him through veiled eyes. The powder Aken threw into his eyes to blind him was starting to lose its effectiveness. But still, he could not make outthe image too well. He could, however, see an aura surrounding the youth and put the colors of the youth's aura to memory. If there was any further trouble in the future, Erlic would be able to distinguish those unique colors that each individual carried.
He was wondering what the youth's intentions were as he spoke: "My name is Erlic, and in answer to your first question, many feats are possible, providing you are familiar with the regimentation that govern that particular feat."
Marz tried to figure out just what the hades the man was talking about. Wang spoke to him in a similar fashion; and many times Marz would just agree with him, never really getting a straight answer.
"Oh yeah, I know that," Marz replied, "it's part of my remigta practice too!"
Erlic just stared at Marz and grinned. Apparently, Marz didn't like the fact that this guy who just took out Aken, without his sight yet, was just smiling at him. Like what did he ever do to warrant something like this?
Erlic looked at Marz and spoke: "You seem to have a lot of...Ch... potential for one your age. It is a pity you don't make use of it. But then your reputation, whatever reputation you have, would cease to exist and that is the situation now before you."
Marz looked at Erlic and said: "Huh? You wanta try that in common? What potential? What cease to exist?"
Erlic just smiled and said, "In order to fly, one must watch the birds. In order to swim, one must understand the fish. In order to grow, one must learn to be a lotus, with its petals outstretched in the morning, misty sunlight. And, in order to live, one must always be careful of the path he or she chooses. For that path is always lined with obstacles, and it is that which prevents one from maintaining a true course in life. That is your answer."
Erlic watched Marz ponder what he just said.