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Chronicles of Rathia - The Era of Blood
Chapter One - The Wondering Swordsman

Chapter One - The Wondering Swordsman

Water sprayed over me as I was slumped against a tree; gripping onto a wrapped up blade soaked in blood. I looked up to see what the source was and saw a carriage pulled by two horses far down the road now. I retreated back into the warmth of my cloak but stopped when I heard a loud howl and looked back over to the now stopped carriage. There was a pack of demon wolves surrounding the carriage. They had big frames with white fur, the one in front looked like the leader. It was a lot more fierce with it standing taller than the rest and had a jagged horn with electricity sparking off of it. The wolves started to creep towards the carriage but stopped when the hooded figure in the driver's seat jumped down off it followed by a panicked voice that I couldn’t make out. The person then walked in front of the carriage and drew a sword; ready to fight.

The wolves started to tighten the circle while I started to slowly get up to get a closer look. Rain splashed over my face as I stepped out from underneath the tree that was keeping me shelter. As I got a better look at what was happening and saw there was one person against five wolves with the pack leader in front waiting for their time to strike. It was hard to get a good look at the person since he had his back to me so I decided to get closer. I was nearing the carriage and saw that the wolves finally made their move and two rushed in from both sides with one jumping towards his chest and the other diving at his legs. The person quickly jumped back. He then adjusted himself and swung, hitting the wolf. It jolted backwards whining in pain.

The wolf with the horn then howled out and the other two wolves that were still on the sidelines started to rush towards the man, one infront and the other behind. The one in front of him lept towards his face and the man blocked the wolves attack and guided it to the side. The one behind makes it’s attack, while the person slips in the mud, losing his footing.The wolf uses the chance to sink its teeth into his leg making the man yelps painfully. He then cut the wolf loose from his leg and regained his footing. I was then close enough for the leader of the pack to notice me and it started to howl. All The other wolves turned to me and then the pack leader looked back down at me, It’s horn now had large sparks of electricity flying off of it.

Shortly after a bolt of lightning shot passed the man and was heading straight for me. I quickly stuck my sword into the ground sideways. The lightning clashed with my sword, which made the cloth wrapping start to crumble, it revealed a long crimson blade. The man looked behind him to see what the wolf was trying to hit and I got a good look at his face. He was younger than what I thought he was, couldn’t be more than seventeen but I couldn’t think much on this and quickly pulled my sword out of the ground.

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Two of the wolves darted towards me. I quickly ready myself and as soon as the first wolf dived at me, I tightly grip the most familiar thing I know. I drop my stance low while taking a step forward and swing overhead. The blade connected with the wolf’s face making blood spray everywhere as I forced the sword through its body. When I felt no more resistance, I quickly planted my left foot behind readying myself for the next wolf. I made a horizontal swing towards the wolf which was running towards me. As soon as it leapt off the ground my sword met with its head, the blade cleanly cut through it’s jaw. I then turned my body sideways as the wolf's body flew by.

The Leader of the pack howled again and lightning started sparking off it’s horn again. The remaining wolves then started to rush towards me with the leader behind the first two wolves. The two wolves in front, which were already hurt from the man who held onto the carriage for stability, started to close in on me. I ready myself again and as soon as they both jumped off the ground I swung my sword sideways and realized there was a lightning bolt flying towards me. As the sword cleanly cut through both wolves necks, I quickly tried to regain my posture and block the incoming lightning but it wasn’t in time to fully block the attack. Some of the lightning passed by my sword hitting my left shoulder. The pain isn’t as intense as what I felt in the past but my left arm goes numb. My arm drops to the side leaving me with only my right hand left to hold my sword.

I didn’t have much time to recover as the pack leader neared close and leapt towards me. Before it got close enough to land a hit I mustered up enough strength to swing my sword once more. The blade connects with the wolf, making a shallow cut. The wolf yelps as it flies to the right, it regains its footing and it then starts to howl again. I quickly ready myself for another shot of lightning but what was followed wasn’t lightning but the wolf retreating. I watch as the wolf runs back into the forest still ready to fight but all that follows is the noise of rain hitting the ground.

After relaxing a bit I felt my left arm was still very numb. I looked towards the front of the carriage and my vision started to blur. The last thing I remember was a man limping towards me followed by the endless gray sky above me as my vision started to black out.

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