Why?
Why am I so lucky?
There are billions of people, but no Lady Luck became my stalker. The fuck did she find in me? Go rape some random lord or an idiot in palace, I am sure they would be more than happy about that arrangement.
God damn it.
I run and jump through wall of fire hiding my face with left arm, the moment I land I don't even look around and hope that my memory is correct, I swing my sword at 10 o'clock. I feel that my new sword grazed something fleshy quite deep. I don't even stop to look at the result and instantly roll right, half a second after which a spike of earth impales the air where I just was. My eyes finally capture the current state of my fuck-up.
How the hell did a bandit group get their hands on mage, or even better, what in the name of my hairy balls is this imbecile mage doing here? Well it doesn't matter anymore really, he is choking on his blood right now.
Can't even close a small neck cut? Pathetic. As I am preparing to finish him of, my instincts scream at me and I roll forward. Several arrow hit the ground behind me, more likely poisoned.
Fuck, I must hurry, even if they are total retards, their number is still an issue. I quickly cop off head of mage who wall dying on ground, even half-dead he is more dangerous than anyone else around.
Ranged are next.
“He killed Atir!”
“Catch him!”
“Shoot at him idiots!!”
A lesson to every close-combat fighter. GOOD CARDIO. If they can't catch you, they can't hit you. Running to two archers who are retarded enough to stand together I await their next shot. The moment they aim at me I bring the shield up and block the arrow that should have hit me in the chest, other arrow misses me totally.
Oh come on. At least fire separately to have me constantly on guard. I reach them before they can prepare, they stand about 2 meters apart, the one on left is more experienced, he is nearly ready to fire, so I tackle him with shield held high. We are on ground and I quickly plunge the sword through his lung.
Shit, not enough time, meatballs are caching up. The seconds archer throw away the crossbow and runs into forest, sorry, but I can't allow that. He has much lighter equipment so I wont be able to catch him like this, so I do the most stupid thing that comes to mind, I throw my sword at his legs, which somehow hits his calve. I am not sure if the damage was big, but it did cause quite dramatic fall.
Oh, am I switching places with Lady Luck on who's turn is it to fuck another today.
I run after him and grabbing my sword, plunge in into his back. I don't really register their screams and profanity coming from metal burgers trying to catch me.
“Donny! No!”
“Oh sorry. He was your cock boy? That’s a pity but his dick will never stand again. But you can suck his willie while it's still warm. Last taste of him, you know…”
OK, one by one bitches.
I continue running around and dividing them, oh, nice, the one in the front doesn't see that he is far too ahead from his group. Turning around I block his attack with shield. His eyes flash with acknowledgment of his mistake. What? Didn't expect retaliation? I plunge the sword right into his Adam apple, yeah, more gurgling.
OK, 3 bean cans left. I repeat same strategy with next 2 idiots, but the 3rd one runs away when he was the left alive. Shit. Maybe I could hit him with crossbow, but he is too far already.
I sigh. Why am I a living magnet to this kind of situation. Anyway, I collect anything valuable from the failed muggers. Few extra coins are never extra.
Well, mage, 2 archers and several idiots with sword can scare many people into instant submission. But I am not sure if they had many battles, and this is more likely the reason that I am still alive.
Putting mage together with vanguard. When you reach this point you know, that there is definitely something wrong with your brain.
…
I continue on the path to Emeral, and the appearance of trees told me I am on the right direction. But still, when able mages become bandits… I really need to hurry. After several day and nearly exhausting my yak snack supply I reach the destination.
The harsh environment stops any possible village to appear norther to the city. And the city on its own only exist because, during summer when river Anolat melts, and the trade starts again, this point becomes a really big trading and control center. Which additionally is quite far from any other major city, which on its own means that it is easier to do whatever the fuck you want to anyone who travels through. Corruption, greed, and time can do a LOT. And they all gather around like flies on shit.
The city stands on the river and is surrounded by stone wall at least 5 meters tall. Closer to fortified castle really. The gates are open but there are at least 5 armored guards on ground and 2 archers on the wall.
“Halt! Who goes?”
“Legioner. B117”
I am still in the legion. So everything must be official. Guards eyes become round as they all tense up.
“What is Legioner doing so far north?”
“Same as always protecting lives of ungrateful. Are you going to hold me up whole day? I have a lot of stuff to do.”
The leader of group looks at his comrades them back at me with a visible worry.
“Can you Sir prove your status?”
I start taking my upper clothes off until my bare chest is visible.
The moment their eyes fall on the big mark on my chest they shrink and look away in fear.
“Is this enough?”
“Y-yes. I am really s-sorry sir. We did not expect you.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Um. My apologies sir, b-but I was simply not informed, um.. about your arrival.”
He is hiding something. I can feel it. But nothing will come out of squeezing him.
“Not a problem.”
“Thank you sir.”
They step aside as I get my clothes and wolf armor back on. I didn't take muggers armor as it was heavy and hard to move in, and speed is much more valuable for single traveler like me.
Walking into the city I reiterate on my plan of next actions. During spring, summer and autumn the whole city is busy, alive, but now… As if the city has been abandoned for decades. Only few people outside and even less lights in the inns are visible. I sigh.
If I remember correctly the Legion Hall is in the east part of the city. Walking there takes about 20 minutes. But when I arrive there I curse every god I can think of. The building is standing, but the doors and windows are closed with wooden planks. And it seems as if it was not managed for quite some time.
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What the actual fuck. I have never seen anything like this, closed hall, this is unacceptable in any form. If the Legat would hear about this…
No. Not my problem. Just report in, and that should be the end of it all. Nothing more.
Fuck...
I return back to the center of the city and walk directly to the biggest inn. That's why they were acting in such a way. Shit, I need information.
I open the door of inn with slight squeak and close it behind myself. It's not full, but its not empty either. Good. I go directly to the counter and place 10 coppers on it. Not too much, not too little. I look at the granny behind the stand which greeted me politely.
“Good Afternoon. Feed me granny. No alcohol.”
She smiled at me warmly and quickly turns around to give orders to the cook and waitress. I go and sit near the wall. It has been quite some time since I ate anything warm. Food comes quickly, bean soup with potatoes and meat, bread and ginger ale. I eat in silence trying to gather a bit of information from drunks. But they speak about utter bullshit, big tits and asses, their adventures and how each of they killed a wolf or bear bare handed.
I await until evening when most of half-drunks leave. Then I get to the counter, sit on the chair and place a silver coin on bar.
Grandma looks at me coin for few seconds, then at me in silence.
“Girls are not for sale. We are not such place”
I look at her in utter disgust. Those waitress children that were moving around the inn are barely 12.
“Single room for one night. Alone.”
She continues to look at me suspicion.
“Thats too much money.”
“Some information would be appreciated.”
“What exactly do you want to know?”
“I haven't been in the city for the past 4 years. Nothing important just publicly known changes, events… What happened to the legion hall.”
…
Long story short, they know shit. For some unknown reason a year ago legion hall shut and no one seen anyone leaving. What the actual FUCK. That's it? Oh and also street rumor of war brewing.
No shit. That was bound to happen. What do I do now…
I yelp stops my thought as I turn around and see the scene I have seen hundreds of times over and over again with few variations. Drunk idiots with weapons plus young waitress in pub or inn. But it's a child this time, this is too much. One of them holds the child by hips and starts groping her.
Granny is already near them trying to stop them, but it is useless, and she must know it. Does she have a weapon? No. Or does she know that… I sigh. Even grannies are trying to use me. How I fucking hate them all. Pathetic vermin whose only purpose in life is to use one another to slightly improve their lives.
I stand up and walk to the group… I look at their equipment. City guards.
5 warriors and 3 scouts, one barely adult, more of a child. Their whole looks and vibe produces only one thought. Rotten. Those who were bound to protect somehow always end up as the oppressors.
They barely give me a glance as the continue to drink and laugh.
“Release the child.”
“Ha? Get Lost.” Says the older one who continues to grope the child and laugh without even giving looking at me.
“I said, release the child.” I say clearly.
2 of them stand up while the original one continues to grope the child.
“You don't belong here stranger. Its better to mind your own business.” says the one on the left.
“You will get into trouble that you won't come out of alive.” says the other one on the right with a sneer while putting his hand on the sword.
Fucking trash.
“Unsheathe your weapon and you die.” I state why putting my own hand on the sword and giving them the usual death glare I can.
The whole room grows silent as even the one groping the child stands up and looks at me while he releases the child.
The one on right tries to take out his sword as fast as he can, but its useless. Half-way through his neck splits, the one on the left was too slow to see his friend taking action, and the moment I moved he tried to take his sword out too. He got a bit further but still too slow. I plunged the sword into his gut before he could take any stance or deflect the attack. They both fall on floor with a thud.
“Dad! No!” screamed the child scouts barely older than the girl as he took out his dagger and stared at me in pure horror.
The girl and grandma shriek and together run behind the counter fumbling on the way there.
They jump at me all together, as I evade the vertical chop from the groper, I perform my own on him. His skull falls apart as smashed tomato with it content flying around in all directions. The next ones were dispatched in a similar way with counter attack. Even though I didn't equip my shield, I am still wearing metal gauntlet on left hand which is much more effective in this constricted terrain.
The whole floor was colored red with blood. And the only ones left standing were me and the young child scout. After few seconds of looking at me, he runs at me while screaming on top of his lungs while holding his tiny dagger with both hands. He meet a fierce straight left, after which he falls like a sack of potatoes.
I look down on him…
He will be a problem. One way or another he will come for revenge, he will cause an issue in future. I should not leave lose ends.
But he is innocent. Everything was result of his father and his comrades actions. He is too young to understand anything. He just follow orders from superiors.
But he will never know that. He will make me into evil villain in his mind. Someone who came and killed his family who were totally “innocent”.
I was only meant to give the final oath here. Why do things never go the way they should have never meant to go. Was my interference a mistake?
No. It always starts this way. Look other way, forgive the men who do evil, and let them do what they please. World is not hell because the evil wins. But because the good never takes action.
To do or not to do, that is the question.
To live a day killed by my own regret.
Or know that vengeful dagger will be my end.
Life was never easy. And it looks like it will never be.