We got off the carriage at the edge of the forest.

In just a few minutes of walking, we already encountered a monster. It was a mutant bear since I requested for this hunt, I have the privilege of killing it.

At the distance, I used ▪Air Cutter▪ It didn't damage the mutant bear. It just managed to take its attention, it then charged toward us.

The recruits tried to stop the bear but still... it got past them. Terrence managed to decapitate it with a single strike.

Even though I was grateful, I was still mad at him for stealing my kill. For two hours, even the knight recruits had a kill of their own. Only I was the one left and I started to get frustrated.

After hunting, we took a rest. They cooked the animals that we have hunted, except for others that weren't edible. I sat on the far side of the campfire.

Terrence and those recruits were merrily eating and talking about how fun it was.

While they were busy enjoying themselves. I took the time to escape, that way no one can hinder me from getting my kill of the hunt.

"I'll show you that I could hunt a monster on my own." [Elaine]

I've managed to walk far enough, but I haven't seen any monsters. It was really hard not knowing how to track them.

And then, I saw a white monster. It was a small one sitting by the edge of a cliff, its back facing mine.

I silently began casting ▪Firebolt▪ it takes three seconds to cast, then I fired it at the monster. It struck it around the torso and then it leaned forward.

"Yes!" [Elaine]

I shouted. Then I saw something emerge from the cliff. It was a huge hand, it then plucked the ▪Firebolt▪ off...

It stood up with its back still facing me, as it turned I was gripped with dread. It was an ogre... what I hit was the lump on its head.

Standing at five meters tall, it was only sitting on the edge. I've miscalculated...

Unable to move. The ogre stared me in the eye. It picked up a boulder that is nearby and charged at me as it roared, because of my fear. I couldn't even move my legs and just stood there.

I will surely die if I didn't do anything.

"Earth Spear! Violent Gale! Flamechaser!" [Elaine]

I used my Apprentice-level spells so I could instantly bring them to bear, but they didn't inflict as much damage. The ogre quickly closed in, I know that I can't dodge even if I tried, that's the reason why I decided to be a magician in the first place...

I wasn't ready to die yet. I was scared... "Someone... somebody... I don't want to die... I don't want to die!"

"Princess!" [Terrence]

"Protect her majesty!"

I heard a familiar voice, it was Terrence and the knights. They went to block the ogre with Terrence at the front.

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"I will take it on, you guard the princess!" [Terrence]

"Rog- Ahh?!"

When we heard one of the recruits scream, we looked in his direction. Another ogre is holding the recruit by the leg and the next thing that happened is...

(Crunch-munch-munch)

It lowered the recruit to its mouth and ate him. The sound of his crunching bones echoed with every move of its jaw.

"Kevin!!"

A recruit screamed for his comrades' name just as the ogre threw what was left of the recruit's body. Only a single leg was left with the thigh pad and metal boot still on it...

"Ahh?!"

(Bam!)

Another scream from the opposite side just before a loud sound silenced it. It was another ogre, it crushed the recruit with a huge club. Bloodstains scattered from where the impact had hit.

"T-three ogres?!"

"We're all going to die!"

"Do not falter! We can take them on!" [Terrence]

Terrence tried to calm them, but the recruits still panicked. One by one they fell, and when only four of us are left the two recruits ran for their lives. Two of the ogres followed them.

"Let's run!" [Terrence]

"B-but the knig-" [Elaine]

"You said that you don't want to die right?!" [Terrence]

Terrence held my hand and lead the way as we ran.

~~~

Michelle stopped for a bit. I wiped her tears with some cloth and she smiled at me.

I can see Maria's hand shaking. Well, we all are... one ogre is already a bad foe to fight against, but two more... if the knights weren't recruits, the outcome may have been different...

Regina seems a bit different, she's sweating all over.

"I... I was supposed to accompany you on that day. I missed the carriage by only a few minutes..." [Regina]

From saying that we focused our attention on her. So she was a recruit too at that time, she's very lucky.

"I'm sorry..." [Michelle]

"..." [Regina]

The mood was getting a bit heavy... I better say something.

"Mother, please continue..." [Angelica]

She looked at my face, she may have understood my intention and continued on.

~~~

Terrence and I managed to hide inside of a hollow tree. It is a bit cramped for two people, I was shaking very heavily.

Nearby, we heard branches breaking as they were being stepped on. The third ogre was searching for us.

From it, my shaking intensified that it made my equipment bump into the tree and was audible enough to hear.

Once the breaking of branches stopped, my heart sank with the thought of the ogre might have noticed us.

I felt Terrence hugging me tightly and whispered "It's going to be alright... don't be scared. I'm here for you." With that, I managed to calm down.

His embrace provided me with a sense of security...

Then we felt the whole tree shake. In a second the tree was uprooted, exposing us from the ogre. It was two of them.

"Run princess." [Terrence]

Terrence, quickly drew his spear as he moved in front of me.

"N-" [Elaine]

"I SAID RUN!!" [Terrence]

He's going to fight alone? He will surely die if I leave him, but I will only hinder him if I stayed...

Any options will have the same outcome. Even if I stayed I will die if I run, there is also the chance that the other ogre is still out there, or the second ogre will go after me. If I'm going to die anyway I don't want to be alone... I may as well die here with him...

"Please put your trust in me." [Terrence]

When he said that I could see in his eyes full of conviction.

"I'm sorry!" [Elaine]

I have said my goodbye and ran. The second ogre glanced, I was certain that it was going to run after me.

It dashed for me and used the tree that we hid from as a club, then...

(Bam!)

"You're not going to pass me! I'm going to protect her with my life!!" [Terrence]

Terrence stabbed the ogre in the ankle and it fell. I was surprised at how he instantly did that.

He may win this, no... he can win this. My personal knight... Terrence.

I ran as far as I could and hid somewhere. I was lucky to not encounter any monsters on the way.

It has almost been two hours since I went into hiding. When I went to look for him it had started to rain.

While walking around. I heard something

"So I'll be dying of blood loss huh? Well, I guess this is better than being eaten or crushed to death."

"Terrence!" [Elaine]

I can hear him, but... where is he?

"Uh... I'm starting to hear stuff too."

"Terrence, where are you?!" [Elaine]

"Get out, voice from my head, at least let me enjoy dying in peace."

"You stupid idiot!! Don't you dare die on me now that you've promised to protect me!" [Elaine]

~~~

"That sounded very much like him." [Kate]

"I know right?" [Michelle]

"Hahahah!" [Michelle/Kate]

Mother and Kate laughed as they talked about father.