~~~Blake~~~
The city was like a ghost town.
Most of the shops are closed, and people hid inside their residences. The streets were almost clear that we can even see the other end of the city.
What broke the silence was screams, mostly those of women and children can be heard. Their screams bounced between the alleyways and corners which basically made it hard for me, Angelica, and Maria to pinpoint where they were.
Angelica took a sidelong glance at me, she's really worried about the city folks. Is it because of what happened to our village? That's what I liked about her always helping and defending others.
As we made a turn to a corner, something flew outside the alley and fell in front of us. It was the adventurer that came to his wife's rescue, he had a large wound on his chest... and some of his internal organs are dangling...
"Maria! Heal him!" [Angelica]
"..." [Maria]
"Maria?!" [Angelica]
"His wounds are too severe... there's nothing I can do for him now..." [Maria]
"P-pplease... prote... ack!"
While speaking, he spat out blood as Angelica held his hand.
"Pro...tect m-my wi-fe..."
"I will..." [Angelica]
His lifeless hand fell on the floor, and as it fell there was a nearby scream. Angelica quickly dashed to where it came from. Her reaction speed was so quick that she left the both of us instantly dumbfounded.
~~~Angelica~~~
I followed the sound of the scream. While moving I can hear metal... it was a familiar sound of armor clanking. As I followed it, I came upon the pregnant wife, she was down on the floor, her skirt covered in dirt. She fell from running from the orc, it held up a huge cleaver dirtied with blood.
"No!!"
The woman screams as the orc raised its cleaver. As the cleaver fell, I managed to get in between them. Orange sparks fly, as I had cut the cleaver in half, its blade flew and bounced harmlessly to the side. The orc raised and looked at its destroyed weapon seemingly dumbfounded.
"Die!" [Angelica]
Before it could even react, I had already taken its head.
"T-thank you..."
"..." [Angelica]
I helped her up, and at the same time, Blake and Maria came.
"Maria, please heal her wounds..." [Angelica]
"Y-yes..." [Maria]
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
A green aura covered the wound, the scrapes on her knees and the wounds on her hand disappears. While we escort the woman, we heard another huge noise. After that, we felt a strong gust of wind. It was near Jose's shop.
As we got to the shop. Jose and some adventurers were outside combating orcs with magic. He used ▪Air Blast▪ on a group of orcs, they flew like plates being thrown at a wall. Their armor clanged as it hit the wall's surface.
▪Air Blast▪ apprentice level wind magic. Its effects are a strong gust of wind like a back blast but directed at the front. Sometimes the blast is enough to make you deaf for a few seconds.
"Petty orcs. You are of no match for me!" [Jose]
"Jose!" [Angelica]
"Well isn't it the missy and the boy. Oh, you brought some people with you." [Jose]
Jose, gestured at his shop when he saw the pregnant woman. Inside his shop, were people huddled together. Men, women and children, all cowering in fear...
"Why are they here?" [Blake]
"I offered them shelter of course!" [Jose]
"..." [Blake]
We looked around the shop. A few shelves are empty, some opened... almost half of his products are gone. Mostly potions, but he doesn't seem to mind.
"Is it fine if we leave her here?" [Angelica]
"Yes. There's still room for me to spare." [Jose]
"Can you take care of all of these people?" [Blake]
"Kiddo. I may not look like it, but I was an adventurer back in the day." [Jose]
"So that magic of yours isn't just for show eh." [Blake]
"Do you want to be used as an example?" [Jose]
"No thanks." [Blake]
Jose crosses his arms while nodding with a wide grin on his face. At least he has the confidence to take on the orcs...
He glanced at me and gave me two magic crystals. This time, it actually looks like an actual crystal, slightly transparent one colored leaf green and the other fire red {1} these are of high quality. I stared back at him in puzzlement.
"One has a ▪Heal▪ of Expert level, capable of healing the serious of wounds, but it can be only used two times. The other contains offensive magic. ▪Meteor Storm▪ I forgot how they rated my magic, but they probably said it was around Master to Grand Master level." [Jose]
"G-grand Master?!" [Angelica/Maria]
Maria and I stuttered. Grand Master... who is this person really?!
"Heheh. Use it over a large field of most enemies, and make sure that no one is caught up in it. Its coverage area is about 400 meters." [Jose]
400 meters?! That's even bigger than the city!
"A-are you sure you want to l-lend this to us?" [Angelica]
"Yes. Just bring the other back." [Jose]
"Other? isn't it two?" [Angelica]
"The one with ▪Meteor Storm▪ will most likely shatter on use due to its power." [Jose]
"I-I see..." [Angelica]
My hand trembles, holding something this powerful is dangerous. Why does this person trust me with something so... but why has he lent it to us just now? It may have been better if he gave it to us earlier when starting the attack. No... it was probably that the orc formation is spread out when we started and if used it would just be a waste.
"You might think that. Why is this guy giving me this thing? That's because you have the same look in your eyes, of my previous lover." [Jose]
"You had a lover?!" [Angelica]
"Oy! Old man, she's too young for you." [Blake]
Blake, gritted his teeth as he threatened Jose.
"That's not what I meant ohohoho! She has the eyes of a protector." [Jose]
"Protector?" [Angelica]
Jose pushed my back.
"There are still people outside who needed help." [Jose]
"Can we leave Maria here too?" [Angelica]
"E-eh! M-me?!" [Maria]
"I want you to heal the people who helped defend this place. Also, Jose's shop is full of energy potions, so your energy supply is endless." [Angelica]
"Alright..." [Maria]
Although I feel a bit reluctant leaving Maria here. She is a great asset when it comes to magic. Blake and I glanced at each other and nodded.
"Jose! I'm borrowing a few of your potions!" [Angelica]
"That'll be on your tab!" [Jose]
"That is if we get back alive!" [Angelica]
"Heheh." [Jose]
We left the shop to clean up the city of orcs.
~~~Meanwhile~~~
The battlefield is covered with corpses of both orcs and humans.
"Sir! The frontline is crumbling!"
"Tsk!"
"Order a retreat! Fall back to the city!"
"Yes, sir!"
References
{1} Refers to Pokemon game versions http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/39700000/Pokemon-Fire-Red-and-Leaf-Green-pokemon-world-and-pokemon-games-39743654-470-235.jpg