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Tarion
The stampede of giant men charged at me, full of rage. Mid-swing, a Shaved had his elbow engorged with my left dagger. I pulled it out and lunged fast into his range, stabbing the first circle four times. Another axe was blocked by my right dagger. With a reverse grip, I pushed off the axe so I could duck under another one. My hair and cloak flowed in the wind the weapon pulled through. I toppled a shaved by the knee with the left dagger while the right poked in between a man's ribs. I leaned back, and an arrow drilled into a tree trunk, making a tree fall. Three more broke the sound barrier and I escaped using deft umbra steps. Life sight searched for the archer as several more mana-tipped arrows fell from above. I looked up, knowing I could save myself with a shield. I raised my right dagger up. Arms disappear as they move faster than they can perceive. Wood chips rained on me.
I felt nothing. Except the shame.
“Let's end this.”
The wind listened to my will and my wind became a storm. Wind gathered on my blades. And with both, I slashed. The wind cut all its way into meaty pieces. As the blood splashed on the floor, Kurt appeared by me. Distracted by my flashy fighter, not one Shaved noticed him stalking around with his Umbra Step.
“Is that all?”
“That is all. Other Raven scouts have found another Camp. Blood marked the floor in a spell formation.”
“Mm. Let's get to it.”
The thrill is enough this time to distract me from my failures. But my will to win this war evolved. It's the only way the shame in my heart will cease to be.
“Tarion…” Kurt said with a soft expression. Was my hurt that obvious?
“What I deal with, I shall handle alone. For when I tell you, these stupid emotions will never stop gushing out. Give me…time. Please, my friend ”
Kurt nodded slowly. “Of Course.”
Haru
I fell down on a discarded bed, sweat dripping down my forehead. I unclasped a button, breathing heavily after healing a hundred men. This use to a simple chore, wave my hands across a person and they are instantly healed. The only energy that I expired was to hold my arm up. Mana from a source as vast as the universe, my human body was the only limit to the power.
Give it back.
I heard dirt and grass being crushed outside by boots outside my tent. The thankful? The curious? I don’t know. I ake a satchel of water and gulped the whole thing.
I can help.
“You showed me how. I need your help no longer.”
The prison rippled again.
My future me is quite a selfish woman. You come and take my body and expect me to hide here in your prison! This is my body!
I shut her off.
“I’m sorry. It needs to be done to make things right.”
A voice returned with vigour. What is right about taking my life by making my husband think I am gone!?
“I…”
Haru. Let's work together. We are the same person. Except for the reincarnation thing. We can understand one another. I want what you want: My people to be safe and the world protected. You don’t need to do this alone.
“I rubbed my temple to relax myself. “I didn’t ask for any of this. But one of must keep this body and for the sake of the future I need to see it through.”
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Vanessa was quiet for a while. Tell me, Haru. tell me what happened to make you so…
“Could you imagine the love of your life using you, and seeping you of your power because of petty jealousy?”
Tarion? Such a thing is inconceivable.
“I thought the same of Kyros too.”
The prince?
“Your Grace!” Someone shouted through behind the tent curtain. “Another patient needs your help.”
“One Second,” I said, drinking another satchel of water.
“Your Grace… The patient is cursed.”
Cursed… Could it be them?
“Cursed and maligned spirits are attracted to those close people close to death. Had my fair share of possessed Cursed in the wars.”
I ran through the curtain and followed the soldier to a medical tent. “Where are they?” Mist billowed from a man laying a stretcher bloody. I felt the gaze of the soldiers peering at me, medics examining my method, watching me with judgment. It seemed some things had not changed. You ignore them; they discriminate. You help them; they fear you.
“We found him on the edge of camp. Since you have priestly power, we thought...”
“Exorcising the curse depends on how long the patient has been afflicted.”
I looked closer. Other than looking wild, dirty, and smelling like a month without showering, I could see no visible wounds.
Oh no.
The mist suddenly expanded, slowly wrapping itself around the body.
“RUN, EVERYONE!”
Blood spat on my face. Out of a soldier's body, a tentacle of mist squirmed through his back.
“RUN!!” Two medic heads were impaled and people finally followed my order. I held my right hand out, shooting out Holy Fire.
Nothing came.
Let me fight.
A soldier pulled me away to the side, evading several black spikes. “Your Grace! Are you alrig-”
I heard a thud and Jimmy’s face winced. His leather armour leaked blood on his right side. Jimmy stumbled to a knee.
“Fucking damn it. Run, Duchess. Run!”
Haru.
I let go.
My left grasped a fly spike heading to Jimmy’s head. “Woah!” A tether flowed from me to Jimmy’s wound. “Ow!
His sword.
“Do you mind?” I asked Jimmy.
“Yes, I do! Run away!" I held the grip of his weapon, unsheathing it. Mana covered its blade with bright blue. I felt Vanessa concentrate and the blue transformed into holy amber.
“Your Grace, wait…!” Jimmy grunt
After laying Jimmy down gently, I approached the jittery creature cloaked in swirling darkness and mist.
Just like Mouve.
“Did you kill a human cursed there?”
No, this will be my first time.
My feet was spread out, handle to my face, the point aimed at the screeching cursed. I was like a toy whose limbs was moved by a master puppeteer.
Claws jutted out from its hands and like a wild feral beast, the creature attacked.
Tarion
With Kurt on the lookout with the ravens, I landed in a quiet camp. The smell of blood was old, and the smell of sacrifice lingered so strong I could taste it. Four hooded cloaked men came out of the tents, mumbling. The stench got stronger as more bandits came out of hiding.
“A trap, huh.” circles turned and my greatsword hummed with mana. Scratching themselves in pain, the bandits jittered while they were consumed by the curse.
“…Ten cursed.” In a tail stance, I gripped my Sword with qi-imbued strength.
“Kurt, I'm going to need your help this time.”
Silence.
"Sorry, duke, you are alone this time. My spell covers the whole camp. None can get in...or out.” A feminine voice. Out of a tent, a woman masked with slits for the eyes and hooded in red sauntered out. Runes glow on her flowing dress. “Wow…you are as handsome as they say!” Her voice was seductive and cheeky but older than her figure gave off.
Other than mana, blackness fumed off her like Qi with such control and mastery I had only seen from Master Zhi. I showed off my own mastery with Qi wrapped around my body.
“Rogue Mage…You can do better than spend your time with dirty bandits.”
“Worried about me? Oh my, what a gentleman!" Two long, black-nailed fingers lift up a chunk of earth. It spun, sharpening into a spike.
“But I am no rogue. I am where I want to be.” The air popped as the mage shot the spike at an unbelievably fast speed. Ten cuts and the spike of earth disintegrated. The mage's poise changed. From a plaything, I am now someone to take seriously.
I grabbed the ground with my left, coiling my body like a spring. My Greatsword behind me flared like a gasoline-fuelled flame.
I inspect.
Third circle mage, Warlock. She can not be underestimated.
An impatient cursed ran with claws swiping and I became a bullet. Boot skidded on the grass as my sword chopped down on the arm, a leg then up through the head.
“Can you distract me, Miss Mage?”