The large man turned in his direction to walk toward the other small person.

  That bastard, Erzo realized. That old man turned his sights onto the siblings and the brother paid the price Erzo would have if he weren’t so lucky months ago.

  Erzo’s fists were spilling blood onto the cobbled street corner. A pain he ignored to the fullest. Mana began to leak out of him in multiple colors. Beating him was one thing, but those kids were harmless. There was no way they could do anything to trigger him.

  Erzo’s eyes were locked on the butcher who was making his way to Mel slowly. Before he knew it, he was standing in between them both. Waves of blue and white mana pulsated from his body outward.

  “Watch it, boy,” Vega said sternly, trying to capture Erzo’s attention. “You are using your life force again. Get yourself under control.” Erzo closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders. Each glow from every pulse dimmed.

  “Well, well, back for another helping eh, lad?” The butcher gruffed. A cheeky smirk found its way through his large lips. A sight that took everything Erzo had to not lose control again.

  “Leave them alone,” he replied, still bleeding from his fists.

  “Erzo, why are you here? We thought you left.” Mel wept.

  Erzo turned his head slightly, “I wanted to take you guys with me to our new home. Away from trash like him.”

  Mel crashed to the floor on her knees, hands in her face, and began to cry harder. “Thank you, Erzo.”

  “Shame ye didn’t get here soon enough to help the other one,” the butcher sneered. He pointed his thumb behind him. “I reckon he won’t need any warning ever again.”

  “We only wanted some of your scraps, you monster!” Mel screamed. “They were of no use to you!”

  “No use?” The butcher cocked his head to the side and shrugged. “Don’t you know I have some pigs that need tending to? My poor babies need the best there is.”

  “Stand back Mel,” Erzo said as he pulled his hand back and cocked it to his hip. Blue mana began to surge into his hand from the small leaves and plants in the cobblestone.

  “Learned some magic, did we boy?” The butcher said.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “A few tricks I learned from a friend, yeah,” Erzo replied confidently. Erzo looked up to the butcher smiling down on him and thrust his fist out towards the large man’s stomach. The force created a small shockwave that launched the butcher backward through the wall of a wooden supply hut.

  Erzo breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards Mel, “Are yo-”.

  “That was quite a punch boy!” a voice called from the rubble.

  Erzo slowly turned around to see the butcher standing, chest out, covered in splinters and blood.

  “Thanks for the compliment, I guess,” Erzo replied.

  The large man kicked the wooden planks and shards away and made his way toward Mel and Erzo. “Well lad, I am still standing. If that was your best shot, this will not end well for you.”

  “I guess I should be glad that wasn’t,” Erzo said. He turned completely around to completely face the butcher again.

  “No, don’t,” Mel said and grabbed his arm.

  “It will be alright Mel.”

  “Remember what I said earlier boy. Revenge is never the answer,” Vega said.

  “I know, Vega,” Erzo reassured him.

  “Vega?” Mel asked and tried to look around through her tears.

  “I will tell you later,” Erzo replied before pulling both of his arms out to the side.

  “What’s this? Already wanna give up?” The butcher scoffed through his blood-stained beard.

  Erzo ignored him and tried to control his breathing. Slowly he breathed in and out.

  In and out.

  In and out.

  His arm was raised towards the butcher. His wrist twisted, and his fingers placed together like he was going to snap them together. The butcher cackled, “Ha, ye think you can continue to tangle with me boy? Tricks or not, you have nowhere to hide.”

  “I don’t need to fight you,” Erzo said grinning.

  Revenge is not the answer, right Vega? I think I understand now.

  The butcher looked around giggling to himself, “There’s nowhere to run, fool!” He then charged at Erzo like a wild beast. “I will teach you lot to mess with me and my merchandise!”

  Erzo ignored him and merely turned to look towards Mel, smiled, then snapped his fingers. Both were completely frozen, with his hand in front of him as if he hadn't snapped yet.