The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Gail Wunther, one of the fiercest wind users who specializes in speed and efficiency. She was one of the fiercest opponents with many tricks and attacks back in Ashen Grove. Oscar remembered how easily her strange razor-sharp anima cut through his Eduresiclad. He stood from his chair in shock, alarming Avril and a few of the waiters. Chuckling and bowing his head in apology, Oscar sat back down, calling for Erden to escape as soon as possible. He could see Gail's wide, unsettling smile, the same he had faced years ago, staring at Erden.

"Who are you? My winds are picking up a strange small shape. Are you some winged dog or cat?" Gail giggled, keeping her creepy stare without blinking. Somehow, she sensed his presence through the winds, a great feat for a wind user. She had improved greatly since last they fought.

Erden wasted no time, spurring into action. He rushed into the air in a single flap of his antler wings, trying to create a large distance between them. Strange flowing wind acted like tendrils and tugged him back, forcing him to slow down, and Gail overtook him at that moment and swung her arm, the sound of something slicing the air following her attack, her invisible anima. His wings expanded to their normal size, brambled around, and blocked the sharp anima. Wild, fierce winds slashed around everywhere.

Before he could retaliate, his instincts screamed, and a jet beam of water nearly pierced him before he dodged in time. He was surrounded by the six other ambassadors, including Arinn, their Eins rising in hostility. A swirling ball of wind encompassed him, locking him inside, and Gail stood before him with a horrid innocent smile under the bleak moon.

"You fools allowed a rat to listen in on your conversation. Not so interesting. Thankfully, I came back in time." Gail stared playfully at Erden, who was still invisible within the wind prison. She giggled adorably to herself like a child in a park. "So interesting. I wonder who you are, beast, and who you work for?"

"Forgive us, Lady Wunther. We have failed you."

"This beast is strange. We could hardly detect any Ein until you forced it to defend itself. Could it be…a Mythical Exalt Beast? What a rare find!" They all eyed him greedily.

"It's mine~all mine." Gail hummed and snapped her fingers, the walls of wind enclosing tighter around Erden, waning inch by inch until it barely skimmed past his skin. "I want to see who owns such a mischievous little thing. Will your master come here?"

''This maniac…' Gail's nonchalant and condescending look enraged Erden, his newly found pride as an evolved Mythical Prielapos stinging like a needle in the heart. Surrounded by seven Knight Exalts, four Greater and three Middle, Erden let out a roar and exploded with overwhelming fire, a pillar of flames shooting into the sky. The seven enemies gave chase after the rising pillar before it burst apart and separated into several hundred flaming balls, descending all over the area.

Erden hid himself in one of the falling flames. Since his Ein was everywhere, they couldn't sense him, and Gail could not catch all of them, even with her speed. Alarms and bells tolled over the city as everyone stared up into the sky. His enemies had no choice but to descend and hide or else be caught and implicated in the downpour of flames, their scurrying figures making him chuckle. Sighing in relief, Erden killed the flames around him and flew silently across the night while the Convecia guards fought off the flames and converged on the remote building.

'That was close.' Erden relayed this to Oscar.

'I had to use my Meld for you to break free. She has gotten stronger, but I'm more worried if she finds out it was me.' Oscar replied.

'I didn't expect to be caught by her sensitivity to winds. What a load of bull. Do I still accompany Avril tomorrow?' Erden ran along the streets, keeping himself hidden in the crevices and alleyways. The invisibility elixir has worn off, so he needed to be prudent.

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'They won't have access to the inner parts of the guild unless some of them are alchemists and fabricators. We'll both use private rooms and stay in them until the end of the day. We can ask Helen and Hector for backdoors out. Just stay with her in case.' Oscar sighed in Erden's mind.

…….

Gail Wunther escaped from the remote building before the guards came crashing in. She still had her bright smile, but her eyes seemed as dead as a fish. She had come on this mission away from her usual killing. It was supposed to be an easy mission, but these fools somehow messed up. She cupped her cheeks with an adorable expression while kicking her legs like a child. Before her were the six envoys, bowing their pathetic heads deeply.

"Ah ah. You blunderheads truly screwed up. No doubt the six factions are aware of something happening to our base. A show of weakness means losing all grounds in negotiations. Whatever shall I do with you?" Gail Wunther sighed dramatically.

She thought back to the moment within the flames before they burst, seeing a strange deer wrapped in fire and blue metal. Something felt off. She rubbed her missing arm. It was aching unusually more than before now. Recalling a man with black hair and black eyes who stood defiantly against her, Gail smiled widely and clenched her missing arm. Why was she thinking of that man now? He hadn't shown himself at all during the war, and her information mentioned he never made it out of Ashen Grove.

'What a shame. If only Oscar survived, getting revenge would have been interesting.' Gail pouted and then smiled openly at the six envoys. With a swipe of her hand, three heads rolled on the ground as blood splurted like fountains from their headless bodies. The others didn't say a word at their companion's deaths. "These idiots were not interesting, so they paid for their failure. As the rest of you are Greater Knight Exalts, I expect better."

"Thank you for your mercy, Lady Wunther." Arinn and the others bowed.

"Now I have to go hunting. Goodbye, everyone." Gail lifted her body and vanished into the winds.

…….

Inside the Hilrest Tower, Erden came in from the window and plopped to the floor, exhausted.

"Erden! Are you alright?" Avril hugged Erden into her arms despite the dirt and grime around him ruining her clothes. She glared at Oscar. "Oscar acted strangely during dinner. She worries about Erden too and should know."

"It's fine. Just a brief altercation with an old enemy." Oscar patted Erden's head. "You overdid it with your flames. Go and wash up."

After Erden washed up in the bathroom with Avril's help, they sat around the table as Oscar explained everything that happened. Avril's expression grew darker and more worried from his words. Thirsty after talking for so long, Oscar drank from his cup and sighed. "At least with this, their relationship with the six factions might be damaged. If they knew that the remote building was where they made their home, then seeing it detained would not be a good image. The problem is this other faction that wants people."

"Are they…New Dawn?" Avril asked, her face paling slightly.

"It's a strong possibility. They can take advantage of the war's messy aftermath to move people and write them off as deceased. But that means this is also a chance to find their base. I'll have to watch out for Gail Wunther. It's been over twenty years, and my face matured more, but she still might recognize me." Oscar frowned. His movements might be severely limited due to Gail's presence. She could be anywhere without him knowing and without proper preparation.

"She pumps her fist in the air and has a suggestion!" Avril smiled.

The next day, Avril hummed to herself while sitting in the earth-tier seat overlooking the great stage of the coliseum. She was disguised in her pink hair and blue eyes and sipped from her cup before a slight nudge came from her leg, covered by a long, wide skirt. She tapped the softness beneath her dress with a knowing smile; Erden was hiding with her.

"Oh! Isn't this Mrs. Grant? Nice to see you again today." Arinn came from the side and smiled at her. He looked around and looked puzzled. "Where is your husband? I wanted to speak with him again today."

"Hello, Mr. Flint. It truly is a beautiful day out. My husband will be running late today because he's caught up helping at the Fabricator Guild. You know it never ends for them. They seem to regard their armaments and craft so endearingly." Avril flashed a bright smile and tugged her pink hair behind her ears, not having braided them.

"Ah, that's a shame. I wanted to meet your husband. Arinn over here couldn't stop talking about him." A voice came from behind. Avril turned and smiled at the woman with sky-blue hair and innocent-looking teal eyes. She was dressed in a summer dress and skipped to her seat next to Avril.

"I am Gail Wunther. Nice to meet you." Gail smiled and extended her hand out. "I am a part of Arinn's entourage."

"Asher Grant. Nice to meet you, Ms. Wunther." Avril smiled back and shook her hand, eyeing the woman with a soft gaze. As they expected, Gail came out herself to check them out.

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