The pain that should’ve arrived instantly, wasn’t there, and it was as if it didn’t exist. Cecillia’s closed eyes opened slowly and she looked at the man as a strange feeling surfaced. The arrows had definitely left his bow, but instead of flying towards her, they were aiming at something different.

‘Could it be?’

Her head suddenly whipped around, but what met her gaze was an explosive sea of fire. Slamming against her was a massive wave of fiery heat that pushed her backwards with a gust of hot plumes. Crimson embers flew in the air as the tree-line started to burn with the dredges of the undergrowth. The ground was scorched black and the dirt kicked up into the surroundings, washing the area with a cloud of dust. But the source of the unknown feeling was what lay beyond.

“You’re kidding me.”

Cecillia could feel the presence of more than ten lifeforms. The closest of which was just ten meters away. Their threatening eyes pierced through the flames, hungry beings looking to eat and swallow her up. They were none other than humans.

“Laen! Protect the girl!”

Cecillia heard the man’s roar from behind her and what quickly followed was a storm of arrows. Beams of golden light shot forth, spiraling through the waves of red as shouts of pain were heard in the near distance. The man continuously fired away, his hand a blur, and the green reticle before his pupil pulsated with a pristine sheen. Cecillia thought he looked like a picturesque version of Robin Hood. Tall, skilled at archery, a tad little handsome, though she wasn’t too sure whether he had the same morals as the fictitious character or not.

By now, Blackie was already at her side. The wolf’s eyes flickered between the flames and the ‘Robin Hood’ as she struggled with the decision of what to do. Yet that dilemma was quickly solved as a voice pierced through the sounds of battle.

“Girl! Run over here!”

It was the boy, he had seemingly ran all the way onto the stream’s bank and was calling for them with a wave. His bow was already drawn, and there was a trace of desperation to his voice. Cecillia eyed him for a second, wariness written all over her face, but she decided to trust him as he had been the one to save her life earlier.

And boy was she glad she did.

Immediately after, the hairs on the back of her neck raised and the space she had just previously held exploded. Fractures ran through the earth beneath her bare feet, and the shrapnel from the attack tore through her blouse and smashed against her pale skin. Cecillia winced slightly but continued to run as several more deafening booms impacted behind her.

‘I’m getting fcking carpet bombed, what the hell is this???’ she thought.

While in front of her, the boy must’ve released at least a dozen arrows as cover fire. His image was like his father’s, arm flowing to his quiver in a single graceful motion before an arrow blasted over her head a half-second later.

“Faster!” he yelled.

'The hell you think I'm doing?!'

Cecillia estimated that he was about a hundred feet away now, but her jaw clenched on its own as every explosion behind felt like it was gaining on her. She didn’t even have the leisure to turn and take a look at what the hell was happening as her heart pounded out of her throat, lungs working overtime to supply her lead-filled legs with oxygen. And when she finally neared the forty feet line, Cecillia felt herself being thrown forward. The earth crumbled beneath her feet, a pillar of magma-like flames shooting up with a deafening roar. The skin on her back screamed as the scorching pain lashed against her mind, but with the ground rapidly approaching beneath her, the pain was the last of her worries.

Her eyes found the boy’s face, a hint of despair showed on his face but a flickering shadow immediately caught the edge of her vision and caused her to grin. Beneath her, she fell not on the solid stone, but on the soft coat of her unexpected companion.

Blackie released a reverberating howl as the world became a blur around her. The wolf’s rippling muscles worked in tandem to power the frightening speed of its sprint and in just a couple seconds, they had cleared the distance. The explosions stopped there, they were seemingly out of the range of effect.

Cecillia gave the boy a nod, and he responded with the same. No words were exchanged but the meaning was there. Blackie also did not make a move against the boy, the contract Cecillia and the beast shared apparently conveying her state of mind through telepathic means. Her gaze lingered on the boy for a second longer—he seemed to be faring well, every arrow he released was quite accurate and helped his father considerably—but more importantly was to find out what the hell was going on.

She surveyed the stream, and bore witness to dozens of pillars, sculpted by the molten stone. Their surface was glossed over in a black sheen, steam wisping away and up into the skies as the air wavered from the heat. However, the boy’s father had forsaken his bow for a sword and was engaged in melee combat with three other cloaked attackers. Cecillia stared at the battle, eyes unable to pull away as sparks flew from their bladed weapons after every single clash.

[Rogue]

[Warrior]

[Spearman]

She used her identification skill, but just like last time, it didn’t seem to work properly on humans and she wasn’t unable to glean any further information than their general class. It was frustrating, but then again being able to access information from some sort of database on monsters and inanimate objects was overpowered enough. And it wasn’t like she didn’t have any other ways of finding information about a combatant. Back on Earth, her life was basically one long battle. Nothing else mattered other than fighting, and through ten years the ability to pick up intent from subtle signs of movement was paramount.

Cecillia narrowed her eyes and analyzed all actors within the fight. Two women formed the front of a triangle, the warrior and the rogue, while the spearman hung a step behind and pierced through any openings that were created.

By now, the dust had cleared up and the fight was rolling out in full. The positioning of the three was impressive as the warrior would constantly shift her shoulder to force the hunter to avoid her shield. Which would’ve been risky as she now had to completely defend with her blade, but that is if it wasn’t a three vs one battle. The rogue was able to circle around and nip at a couple of the man’s blindspots, her curved blade glowing with a green aura as the wind seemed to coalesce around the edge. Sounds of slicing rang through the air as the rogue continuously exchanged a chain of slashes with the hunter. But the threat wasn’t the two women, it was rather the spearmen waiting for an opportunity to strike. A sinister pressure was emitted from his being that continued to slowly grow, and from the distance Cecillia was able to see the spearman’s muscles bulging at the seams. The cloak he had been wearing had already been cast aside and she estimated that he was about two hundred centimeters tall.

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‘A monster.’

Cecillia was the most wary of this man as she recognized the focus he held. Sure, he could’ve been right at the forefront and used his large size to his advantage, but with such power at hand to save for the perfect moment, it was reminiscent of a sniper’s resolve.

The fight continued to rage on for minutes, but there was a nagging feeling at the back of Cecillia’s mind. In a three versus one battle like this, it should’ve been over already. But the father wasn’t being pushed back in the slightest, no—it was rather the trio seemed to be holding back in ways. As for the next odd thing—her gaze filtered over the treeline—what happened to the magic?

Ever since Cecillia had escaped its range, the reverse bombardment had stopped completely. She grumbled a little, knowing that her attacker was out of sight, and had completely ruined one of two things she owned in this world. But that didn’t change the fact that something was indeed wrong.

A metallic clang echoed out and Cecillia’s gaze flicked back to the fight, the blow had sent both of the women backwards who then smashed into the spearman. They held their ground, and didn’t fall, while the father was only pushed back a step. His eyes were cold, but he didn’t pursue.

“Dad!” Laen called out as he stopped firing. “I saw eleven of them, they’re not fighting yet, but we have to run!”

‘Eleven?’ Cecillia thought, knowing that she only sensed ten.

The man glanced their way briefly, but didn’t answer as he remained firm. The three against them were breathing heavily, while the hunter didn’t even seem to have broken a sweat. However, in the next moment he lowered his blade and held it at his side. The rogue released a light laugh, while the warrior spat out blood.

“You, what are you doing?” The spearman’s deep voice echoed.

The father ignored the man and let his gaze travel behind the spearman’s shoulder and into the forest. As for the reason why…?

[Bladesinger]

A figure stepped out from the kindling flames. It was a woman that looked to be in her early thirties with a slender and delicate frame. She had creamy brown skin and a black leather combat suit wrapped around her with curved spikes jutting out from the shoulder. Her auburn hair was tied into a single ponytail and flowed down to her hips. Yet even with all these striking features, Cecillia’s attention was on the swirling, sinister scarlet circle beneath the woman’s feet.

Dozens of intersecting lines, runic symbols and patterns meshed together in vivid symmetry to create a magic circle. Three rings surrounded the outer edge and the thrumming sound that emitted from the construct was replete with power.

‘Is that… magic?’

The sight was mesmerizing, but she must’ve made her presence known as the woman looked up at Cecillia. Coal-like eyes with crescent shaped pupils locked with her very own eyes that were reminiscent of the ocean. The woman gave her a stare and Cecilia blinked. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but somehow she knew that this woman before her eyes was the same that had attempted to kill her with fire.

There was a small movement around the woman’s lips, almost like a chuckle as her gaze passed on over to the boy next to Cecillia. The unknown woman grinned, and the boy stiffened. Laen looked over to his father, but the older hunter’s face had hardened.

“It’s been a while Captain,” The Bladesinger said as she walked closer. “I see you’ve raised quite an impressive son. Although I must say that your daughter hardly looks like you, just what kind of woman did a bastard like you meet.”

From the distance, the words were barely audible, but the meaning was clear as day.

‘Does this woman think I’m that guy’s daughter?’

Cecillia bit back the urge to vomit and shook her head. She sensed the boy’s eyes on the back of her head, he most likely heard the woman as well and she guessed he was thinking of something similar.

“I agree, it’s been a while, Naira,” the hunter said. “Why did you attack me?”

The woman grinned, “Why not? I just wanted to say hello. You can’t be saying that a former subordinate like I doesn’t have the honor for a simple greeting.”

The man was silent, and the woman continued with a smirk.

“Besides, it looks like you’ve grown soft. The captain I knew would’ve killed every single one of us already,” she chuckled, the sound carrying a hint of mockery. “Don’t tell me a woman has tamed the Great Red Lion. What a sight it is to see.”

“What do you want?” The hunter said flatly. “If you’re seeking revenge, you won’t find it here. ”

Naira’s grin widened, “Oh no I’m long past that mind you, we’re here on business. You see that girl over there, or shall I say your daughter… very beautiful ain’t she? Like a young untainted, pure flower. A little lacking in the front but still more than enough to satisfy those dumb nobles.”

The hunter glanced at Cecillia and pursed his lips while Cecillia received the gist of what was going on. Those people were slavers, and she was the would be product. If it wasn’t for the boy, she would be dead, but then again, if she had survived, a worse fate would have arrived.

“Well?” Naira asked, following the man’s gaze. “Don’t you think she would’ve sold for a pretty penny?”

The hunter grimaced, “What do you want Naira, get to the point.”

“Oh, don’t be so serious,” she laughed. “I guess you really are the same as ever. But if you really want an answer, as I’ve said, we have business, but then you showed up, so I just had to come and say hello.”

A heavy silence hung between them but it was soon broken as Blackie growled. All eyes turned towards the wolf and she stopped immediately, the animal’s head turned in every direction as the pressure bore down upon it.

The Twin-Tailed Wolf released a small whine and Cecillia sighed. The situation for now seemed to be okay, but right now she was too exhausted for any more. And she reckoned that if this was settled peacefully, the questioning that she would have to endure from the father and son duo would still remain.

“Well anyways Captain, stay safe out there. I can't have you dying because I’ll definitely kill you next time,” Naira said with a large smile. “You’re lucky your kids were here, I at least have the honor to spare you that.”

The woman in black leather turned and called for a retreat. The three people that had previously fought against the hunter in melee combat looked at the man. Adrenaline was pumping through their bloodstreams and Cecillia knew that their urge to fight was through the roof, but it seemed that the woman named Naira held the absolute authority.

As they group of slavers nearly exited the stream’s bank, Naira turned and glanced at Cecillia for a final time. There was a light smile playing on the woman’s lips, more genuine than not as she gave her a small nod before finally heading off into the depths of the forest.

“Farewell,” the hunter muttered.

His gaze lingered on the treeline, confirming that they had indeed left before making his way back to his son. As for the boy, he stared at Cecillia incredulously.

“So you aren’t with them?”