Yukina POV:
“Yukina we have to go,” said someone and touched me, which brought me out of my peaceful sleep.
It took me a few seconds to realize where I am, but it quickly dawned me.
I'm in an old shack with Max, fleeing from his old team.
The last months were hell and I thought of suicide more than once.
This damn cardinal convinced the military to come to his side and accused me as an elf and beastkin collaborator. He then used my own special unit to arrest me and put me in a cell for three months.
These months were used to convoke a large “holy” army to wage war against the rest of the world. He even declared himself as a pope.
They poisoned me, obviously because I'm still a hero and as such have some strength, it only weakened me, however, it still was enough for them to overwhelm me. After that, they inscribed runes of mana sealing on my skin and left me in a cell.
I'm lucky that they didn't torture me, they did not even rape me. I don't know why, but am glad that it didn't happen.
It might be because of the man in black robes, he behaved as if he is above the pope. Demanded that I was not to be harmed or raped, as it is usually done to imprisoned women.
He came in and asked me about Clair. What her limits are and her usual fighting habits. I said I don't know, which is true. Normally you would get tortured for answers, but he didn't, he just said that he believes me and then left.
They told me about my planned execution the day after. I accepted it and thought that's it. And then, on the day that was meant for me to die, I was saved by Max. He used a smoke grenade to blind my guards, whom were tasked to bring me to the execution ground, and then fled with me.
We stole horses and tried to flee to the border, maybe even reaching Aeron. Max said he had built a small safe house with necessaries for a journey and even the sound transmitter of Clair. It was hopeful thinking and our hope was crushed on the same night.
His old team caught up to us and we only escaped them narrowly. We had to force our horses into something like an overdrive and they died the moment we stopped.
But we were able to reach Max's hideout. It's a small shack that he uses for hunting trips.
The moment we got inside Max fetched the sound transmitter and I contacted Clair. I was really glad to hear that she'll come and save us.
We stayed for the night and want to steal a new pair of horses today.
“How late is it?” I asked the moment I got completely wake.
“Not late, the sun is only up for a few moments. Eat something and then let's go,” Max said and gave me a piece of bread and some smoked meat. I ate in silence and then prepared for departure.
“You think Clair will manage to come before they manage to catch up to us?” Max asked as we started to walk.
“I don't know, she said she's near, so it might be possible,” I answered.
“I hope she will, she's strong enough to decimate my whole... my old team as a whole,” He said with a grieved face. It must've been hard for him, his friends turned against him and now he's stuck with me.
I patted his shoulder and he gave me a sad smile.
“Thanks, it's okay. They did what they thought as right and so did I,” he said and we began to run.
It would be so much easier without this magic inhibitor runes. My strength is only around 3.000 with them.
It took us the whole forenoon but we reached Heiligenstadt. We sneaked in through the river, the gates were guarded and we didn't want to take any risks.
A few minutes later we reached the tavern Dead Harpy. We told Clair to meet us there, it would be good if she were already inside. Max opened the door and we stepped inside a shabby tavern.
Grumpy and dirty men looked at us and then turned their attention back to whatever they did before.
I looked around but couldn't see Clair. Of course, she isn't here, she would be too fast if she was.
“Let's sit down and wait for a few hours, we can't stay too long,” Max said and we sat down at a dark corner.
An older waiter asked us shortly after, “Whatcha want?”
“Some water and something to eat,” answered Max.
“And for da lady?” The waiter asked.
“The same,” Max said and the waiter left.
“We'll get some horses and then go east for one or two days. We might be able to shake them off this way. They surely think we're trying to get to Aeron on a direct way,” Max said in a quiet voice.
“Good,” I answered and watched the other guests. None of them looked as if he watches us. It might be that they didn't catch up to us, but let's stay vigilant. Better safe than sorry.
“It's too bad that we're not able to contact Clair a second time,” Max then said with a sigh and also watched the other guests.
“Here ya go, water and something to eat. That'll be 30 copper,” the waiter said and put two plates with something in front of us. Something is the best way to describe it. It might be a soup, but it's too viscous for a soup. It's grey and one mass. Then maybe something like porridge or gruel? However, there is no sign of any rice or oats.
“Thanks,” Max said and paid for us.
“Is that edible?” I asked as the waiter left.
“Yes, it's called Murshl, a poor people food. It's made out of old bread, water, and mashed vegetables,” Max said and began to eat. I followed suit and it wasn't as bad as it looked. And it did fill the stomach.
“Seems like Clair won't come, must have been to much to ask her of that. I mean we contacted her yesterday,” Max said a few hours later.
“Yes, let's go with our initial plan,” I said and stood up.
We left the tavern and stole two horses on a farm near the city. Of course we left some money for them. We just hadn't enough time to ask the owners.
“Shit!” Max cursed an hour later.
“What?” I asked and looked at him.
“They caught up to us, just turn around and you'll see,” he said with a frown.
I turned around and could indeed see a small cloud of dust with a dozen or so silhouettes inside of it.
“Let's try the same as yesterday,” I proposed. We might be able to lose them if we drive our horses over the edge.
“Let's hope for it,” Max said and speeded up.
It didn't work. They caught up to us and our horses are deadly tired. It's 14 against 1. You can't count me as a fighting force, I'm only a burden for Max.
“Surrender Max!” Shouted his old vice captain Rits.
“We might be able to put a good word for you in,” a woman named Farly said.
“I won't, Yukina gave us a meaning in our life and I won't betray her,” Max said resolutely and brandished his sword.
“I don't want to fight you, but I will. So last chance surrender and give her to us,” Rits said again. He was Max's best friend and it looked like it pains him to do this.
“No!” Max said and got in position.
“You forced us. Formation C!” Rits said and they got in position. Two swordsmen at the front, a bowman on each backside and two mages at the back. The other eight will keep watch and will come at me. It would work against them if they attack him with more people. This is a complete overkill and shows that the pope wants me dead.
“TCH!” Max clicked with his tongue and rushed to the side. He wants to evade the swordsman and attack the back. But his old teammates know that too and move with him, which brings him back into the initial position.
“Then let's try this,” Max said and rushed directly at the two swordsman. They got ready and the first slashed horizontally at breast height, while the second waited for Max's move.
Max made a jump roller and jumped through the legs of the first swordsman. He quickly got up and threw sand at the second, so that he has to close his eyes.
Max used the created opening to run behind them and was now in a direct line to the mages. But the bowman kept an eye on him and fired their arrows at him. Their arrows made a humming noise and the first one was deflected by May's sword. He then jumped back to deflect the second one but lost with that move his speed and got in a complete stop.
“Behind you!” I shouted and Max turned around to deflect an incoming sword from the first swordsman. He didn't need me, but I couldn't stop myself from saying something.
They were back in a deadlock and the second swordsman got also at Max. All this happened in a few seconds and four other, who stayed back, were now near me.
“Surrender quietly you Highness, this won't end well and we don't want to kill Max,” Paul, one a swordsman who was in Max's team during the school tournament said.
“You can't flee and Max would only die a useless death if he fights,” a woman, also one of Max's team said with a pleading face.
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“Sigh, okay. I don't want him to die for me,” I said and raised my hands. I hope Clair will help with the coming war.
They got near me, still ready for anything unexpected or a defensive act of my side. I mean they are pros they are trained to stay vigilant till the end.
But they didn't reckoned with what happened next. None of us did.
A gust of wind blew from the right side, the side where Max was fighting and the noise of their fight suddenly stopped.
We all looked to the side and saw something that made us speechless.
Something was hugging Max from the front, like...like a koala. And that is not everything, it was humanoid, naked and completely clad in black scales. The scales had red lines on them, the hands had large claws and the feet were nasty looking talons.
Two black wings sprouted from its back and a pair of menacing horns were on its head. Red lizard-like eyes were looking up at Max and a surprisingly cute voice said,
“Hi.”
The monster just said hi, not bothering with the heavy atmosphere and completely disregarding the 14 pairs of weapons that are directed in its way.
“What is that?” The swordsman behind Max asked and the monster climbed on Max like a squirrel onto his back, where it looked at the swordsman and said.
“How rude of you to call me a “that”.”
It leaned a little bit away from Max, so I was able to see it more clearly and noticed two small bulges on its chest. It's a female.
The swordsman looked a little stunned and opened his mouth to say something. And then closed it without saying something at all.
The female monster then climbed back to its initial position and smiled up to Max.
“Wait a moment, these movements. I think I saw them somewhere before,” Paul, who's standing next to me said.
“Yeah and I suddenly got goosebumps from that thing,” Farly said and hugged her chest in a defensive motion.
“Muu, they don't recognise me. But you do Max am I right?” the female monster said and looked at Max with a smile, showing rows of sharp fang-like teeth.
“A...are you Clair?” Max asked slowly and almost inaudible. However it was so still that we all could hear him.
“BINGO!” The monster, no Clair said and grinned.
“Clair? You mean the Goddess of Carring?” Rits asked a little pale.
“That doesn't really look like someone who cares for other people,” a man said.
“Yeah, more like something that will eat you in the night and nothing will be able to save you,” a woman said.
“You're here!” I shouted happily and Clair's head turned to my side. Paul quickly grabbed my arm and put his sword at my neck. I must say he's fast and good for keeping a cool head, even if it brings me in a bad situation.
“Leave or she is dead!” Paul demanded and his hand quivered a little. What did Clair do to him? He's frightened.
“Better idea, you leave and you won't die,” Clair said with the same grin and climbed on Max's shoulders, where she sat like a daughter would sit on her father's shoulders.
“D...do not move!” Rits shouted and Clair glanced at him, while playing with Max's hair. But her claw-like fingers weren't able to grab correctly and she cut it off.
Max winced as he saw his curl falling down.
“So what do you want? You could either fight me to death, and you know you will die, or go back to Lichtstadt and be a major force in the coming war,” Clair said to Rits in a playful manner and showed him two of her claws.
“How could we let a monster like you go?!” One of them shouted but Rits raised his hand to stop him.
“You will let us go and won't attack us?” He then asked and stared directly in Clair's eyes.
“Of course,” Clair said.
“O..only if you answer one question,” Rits said and sweat dripped down from his chin.
“Ask what you want,” Clair said cheerfully and clapped with her hands over Max's head, which brought all of them to flinch.
“...What are your intentions in the coming war?” He asked after a pause.
“Hmm,” Clair said and put her hand under her chin, which looked grotesque with her sharp claws and scaly face.
“I think I'll play general and want to see my abilities as a commander,” she then said after a short pause of thinking.
“Commander?” Rits asked baffled.
“That would be your second question,” Clair said and waived with her pointy claw in denial.
“I..I understand, so you promise to let us safely leave?” He then asked.
“Sure, as long as you release Yukina and won't attack either Max or her,” Clair said and turned her left claw back into a small and slender hand. She then grabbed Max's hair and played with it by twirling it.
“Paul, let her Majesty go, we will go back to Lichtstadt,” Rits said and the six around me stepped back. They kept they weapons pointed at Clair and then walked behind Rits. The two swordsman also walked back, constantly looking at Clair.
“See you on the battlefield,” Clair said and waved at them while they slowly backed away.
We waited for a few minutes until they were out of sight. Clair then grabbed Max's ears and pushed them to the front, actively using him as a way to move.
“You... why...what...how?” Max asked while walking to me.
“Me. Because of you. Helped you. With my cool looks,” Clair answered in the same short way and then looked at me.
“Hi Yukina, how do you do?” She then asked and changed her head back into that of a stunning beauty with long white hair and almost glowing green eyes.
“Hi, thanks...for helping us,... I think. W...what is... that?” I asked and pointed at her.
“That is my humanoid-dragon form, I can't change back, as of now. I don't want my ride to see me naked,” she said and patted Max's head, who in return got red.
“Humanoid-dragon form?” I asked, does she mean she is a dragon?
“Yes, I can change into a elf, dragon, this or partially. Cool isn't it?” She asked happily and leaned on Max's head. Her scaly breasts were touching his head and he got redder.
“You are still naked,” Max said and tried to stay calm.
“True, but it doesn't look as sexy as my elf form, and every important part is covered by scales,” she simply said.
“Ähm, what now?” I asked and interrupted her teasing. Max gave me a thankful look.
“Now we're going to Nahar and plan for the coming war. I'm right in assuming that you want to stay at my place as a refugee?” She asked and jumped down from Max.
“We hoped to do that,” Max said and tried to turn around but Clair stopped him.
“Wait a moment, I'll change back,” she said and it her scales, wings, horns and talons changed back into the body of a beautiful, naked elfen woman. A blink later she was fully clothed and stepped in front of Max.
“And?” She asked, expecting him to comment her outfit. She now wears a black dress with red lines and rose pattern on the skirt part.
“Looks good?” Max asked, more than said and I giggled from his boyish behaviour.
“How do we get to Nahar?” I then asked.
“Easy, we fly. But first, let me destroy your magic inhibition rune,” Clair said.
“You can destroy runes?” Max asked with wide eyes.
“Sure, it's on her back, so she has to take her top off,” Clair said and looked at Max.
He just looked back and then get the meaning of her look. He quickly turned around and excused himself.
I giggled another time and then took my blouse off. I turned around and felt Clair's hand on my back. It was small and warm. Then my skin got warmer for a short moment and I felt my mana coming back to me.
“Finished,” Clair said and Max turned around. He must have thought that Clair meant that it's okay to look. But she meant that she finished with erasing the rune, so I was still topless and Max had a full view on my breasts.
“S...s..sorry,” Max said and hurriedly turned back around.
“Hehehe,” Clair giggled at my side and I had a beet red face. I think Clair is a bigger evil than the pope. Maybe it would have been better to get killed?
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Next chapter, as you can see I'm experimenting a little bit with cliffhangers and the likes. This will increase in the future.
Suggestions for the coming war? Opinions to this chapter? Something you want to have happened in the chapters during their travel? I need material and your suggestions are often helpful.