(Author: So i believe people have this misconception that last chapter is all about Eliza, well i don't blame you but you should skip down to half of the post and that is where the story starts so you don't get confused with what is happening here, so without any further ado enjoy)
"HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME, EEEEKK" emerging from behind a tree is Eliza sprinting away from... something. She then crouches next to me onto the ground. “I wonder if that is her...instinctual position’ I recall the many times i’ve seen her in that position in times of danger.
Soon enough, I notice a lone
‘Again….’ I grab a stone from the ground and shot it towards the
Eliza stares at me and back toward the beast that previously rampaged towards her only moments ago. She only nods and we move on following the subtle path in the forest.
Out of the blue a mumbling voice could be heard from her,“If I may ask...how are you so strong?”
I stopped and turned facing Eliza directly into her eyes as to not be disrespectful to the person i converse with.
Eliza strangely jumps back startled but recovered back into her posture.
“It is the strength i have battered and refined all my previous life. However it is not strength that surpasses humankind.” Looking at Eliza’s ribs protruding out reminds me of the malnourished villagers that were fighting off the
“W-Will you train me?”
I turn to see Eliza stare at me with intense. ‘This is quite interesting...a person of this generation no less a female. However one must have a reason...a motivation...determination...virtue and most importantly must be willing to sacrifice. Does she have what it takes?’ Sternly i replied to her.“So tell me child, what is your reason for learning the art of blood-shed battle techniques? Do you wish to gain glory? Or perhaps dominance?”
Eliza, who seems spooked quickly replies back “I-I just want to have the power….” she pauses.
‘Is that her virtuous answer? Pathetic. Her answer echoed and began to remind me of the tyrannical king. I replied back in disdain “In that case, I believe it is best for you to learn your skills elsewhere.” I turn around and as i take a step forward-
She grasp onto my arm with both of her hands and shakes her head vigorously side to side. “No I..want enough power to save and protect my village!!!” She begins to shed a few tears- “So pl-please teach me!” I feel the grasp of her hand tighten.
‘I look down to see the eyes of a beggar. ‘Hmmmm’ I looked at her frail body and feminine features that was buried under all the rags she wore. I doubt a woman would be able to face off against a man, but if against a wild creature like a
Eliza on her knees looked up at me with desperation “I am willing to commit every moment in my life-every sweat my body can muster-squeeze out every ounce of energy to at least protect the people I care about so that these people will not suffer the same fate i have years ago. So I beg of you please-TEACH ME!!!”
I looked straight into her eyes and could sense she is telling me what she truly desires. I lift her up back to her feet, “Eliza, If...you truly wish then I shall teach you the knowledge of warfare, but in turn you must obey my every order no matter how harsh it may be. But-don’t forget what our current objective is, so we shall reserve our training until we complete our current duty.”
“YES!!!” Her back suddenly straightens up as if she was ready to take on everything in her path.
‘This shall be an interesting experiment’ I look up to see the moon rise from the horizon. “For now i suppose we should get some rest for the next day.” To be truthful, I would still move on with the quest as I currently do not need rest until my body says i have to; however, I must make sure Eliza leaves this forest unscathed in order to begin out sessions. As I sat down, I quickly started a fire with a flick and continue to watch the limited light we could see fade into pure darkness. ‘Since when have i gotten this close to her...’ That question ran throughout my head.
“Uhhh King Vance-”
“Do call me Vance, as i am not currently a King.” It is rather an inconvenience to repeat something that i am not.
“Well, Vance. Do you think that the soldiers that should’ve arrived...are still alive?” She looks downward while her eyes seems to be void of everything but sadness and worry.
It seems that she has not accept death. That probably might be one of the first things i shall teach. I lift her chin up and make her face me, her cheeks redden.“Although I do hope they are still breathing well, However I also understand that their death is quite probable especially in a forest where many beasts hunt in packs.” As i say this i turn to find Eliza on the verge of crying. I do nothing to stop her as it is important for her to know that death is inevitable one way or another and comforting her will only make her more dependent on me. In the meantime i grabbed my scepter and bent the space of the tree next to us and expanded it to cover all of your sides as to not get ambushed in the night.
“Vance…”
“Yes Eliza?”
“How...many people have you killed?” Eliza still had her face aimed downward.
“I do not know...it is rather near uncountable” I reluctantly said.
“oh….” Eliza looks down perplexed. “Do you ever *sniffle* regret murdering all those people?”
Despite my attempt to not sound blunt I continue on “Eliza...Let me tell you something. Us living things desire to keep living. That is our goal in this world. In nature we kill, scavenge, steal from others for resources-essentially to live. It is an inevitable fact we kill the biggest giants to even to the lowly insects for the very reason to preserve our life, so when you ask me if i ever regret the people that we were at war against in order to survive and obey our insticts? Then no i had no regrets-”
“BUT WHAT IF THEY HAD A FAMILY, FRIENDS,LOVERS, TEACHERS, PETS…” she slightly pauses “...a child.” Eliza’s furiously looks at me.
I looked past those eyes and fury to see a sense of pain. ‘Perhaps….i have gone to far.’ I took a deep breathe “Even though... i did say i had no regrets killing them... Does not mean i didn’t respect them.” I calmy reply to her question. “I respect the spirit and will power of each and every man, in fact i would give them a medal for each person we have faced. After all facing death should not be a day to day basis; however i must do whatever it takes to assure my own survival.”
She collapsed down next to the tree trunk burying her head into her legs and arms and mumbles “....you still murdered them….”
Sensing she was still hurt, I decided to leave her on her own for now and left the umbrella’d tree. I look up to
…
…
I woke to see the sun passing to any available openings inside this forest directly into my eyes. I open the umbrella tree and disable my scepter decreasing the size of the tree.
“Mmmm” Eliza budged but indulged back into her sleep.
I attempted to wake her with various methods….and again i was answered with the same response…
“mmmm” with an annoyed look upon her face.
‘I guess….it’s in no importance whether or not she is awake once we reach our destination’ I grabbed her arms and put her on my back and swiftly grabbed her legs. My toga kept pushing down my shoulders due to her weight however i paid no heed. I turn to see her rather stunning face. well...beneath the dirt of course and i came face to face with a rather exquisite face. i saw a smooth, fair skin enough to make even the goddesses envious. however i look further to see her eyes swollen. The result of all of the crying from yesterday….‘Listen Eliza….I do take full responsibility for being straightforward with you when it comes to the death of another; however, it is essential that you are inquired about how we are no different from animals before we begin training. The life of a warrior is not the life of a maiden, surely.’
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“mmmmph, where am I?” She finally has awoken with a yawn. “Vance...Vance? Oh-dear-oh-dear, please do forgive me!!!” She gets off the next instant.
“It’s no worries. Now shall-” Suddenly i see a pained expression upon her.
“ARE THOSE THE SOLDIERS?” She quickly deviates from the path into a small clearing near a huge boulder.
I quickly follow after and see a couple of people covered in metal. ‘These...are soldiers?’ Once i got to the small clearing myself, I tap on the metal and soon realize it was armour that covered their entire body rather than just the chest.’Strange...rather, that is genious, but do they have any mobility?’ As i was looking at the soldiers with fascination and curiosity. Eliza on the other hand...
“Oh-no-oh-no-oh-no” Eliza starts touching the necks and placing her head against their chest.
“If i may ask dear, what are you in gods-name are you doing?” Asking about all of her actions of touching.
“I’m checking to see if they’re….” She slowly stands up slowly and dejectedly “alive…”
‘Strange as i’m pretty sure they are dead looking at all the blood that is spilt. There was blood also coating at least a large portion of the boulder.’ Recognizing how much grief Eliza must be feeling i swiftly grabbed the spears and helmets of the two soldiers and put them aside. I then grabbed the two soldier and placed both of them in a nearby pond to protect them from the birds that may come to feast on them as a sign of respect
“What are you doing” Eliza mumbled quietly as if paralyzed unable to take in what has happened or what is going on.
“I am giving respect to the dead and placing them under water to shield them from the ferocious birds that may fly across here.” I said as i still work in carrying the last person into the water. Once i finished i grabbed two spears one on each hand and plunged them straight into the ground near each to their respective owners. I then grabbed the helmet and put them on top of the spears.
*CLAP* Eliza gets on her knees and looks up with both her palms squeeze together.
Sensing it was some form of ritual i did not interrupt and continue to stand by and watch out for any potential threats. Sooner than i expected Eliza got up. I wish to ask her if she finished; however she nodded as if she had read my mind and we both get back onto the path.
“I hope they are in a better place now” still discussing about the death of the two soldiers.
After a while i noticed shouts from afar. “Do you hear that?”
Eliza who still had her grievous face snapped back to reality “Hear what? I don’t hear anything”
I speed up my pace towards the source of the shouts. ‘I will be hoping it is the military camp that we have sought for a couple day’s travel.’
“WAIT Where are you-! Are those shouts?” Eliza who finally was able to pick up the sound from the air finally realized what i have heard all along. Eliza then speeds her pace to match my own. Soon enough both of us ran stealthily to make sure that the camp was not some sort of bandit camp.
There was a slight open field in front of us. Pretty close to that spot i notice light refractions and halted Eliza. ‘ Seems they have us surrounded.’ “Eliza i’m going to toss you onto that tree branch” I look up at the tree that is no more than five meters high.
“Wait-Why~” Just as she was about to deject my proposal she looked at me straight in my eye that basically intel my seriousness in the matter. She whispers, “I understand.” She put her foot into my hands after she let loose her unnecessarily huge bag then I pushed her up the tree branch.
Immediately right after i walked straight into the clearing knowing that I am surrounded by potential adversaries. I hear the sound of wood bending-three from my East and two from North. I positioned myself in a form that would help me dodge the incoming projectiles. ‘If only i had a shield. Fortunately there is less than eight archers’ A split second later-
*Phewww**Phewww* Arrows began flying in the air. I dodge all of the arrows incoming from the East and swiped all of the arrows from the North in attempt to assure Eliza’s survival who is hiding on top of a tree behind me. “PRESENT YOURSELF YOU SCOUNDRELS.” My voice echoed throughout the forest.
*Mumbles from within the bushes* A couple of chuckles could be heard from the West.
“I see they are making a mockery of me.” Annoyed I threw the arrows that i caught only a few moments ago and let them fly to seek its prey into the bushes due West. Blood splatter could be heard against the tree bark and stone..,
“AHHHHH MY HAND”
“AHHH MY LEG” Screams of agony pierced the air.
“RETREAT” A order is executed from another but this time from the North. A few scurrying footsteps soon followed.
‘Pathetic, to start a battle only to retreat in such a short amount of time.’ “NOW SHALL I REPEAT MYSELF?!?!?!” I heard light footsteps from behind me.
“A-are we safe now?” Eliza cautiously walks towards me as vigilante of her surroundings.
‘At least she is learning/’ Meanwhile my impatience is ever more growing by each second that passes. Suddenly-
*Pewww* A weak powered arrow flys from the bush i was awaiting for the scoundrels to exit out of. I calmy grab the arrow and threw it back just like i would a javelin.
“AAAGHHHHH” A yelp came out with hints of whimpers surfaced.
Irritated, I again yelled “DO I NEED TO REPEAT MYSELF?!?!?!”
My question was answered when a person clothed in dark attire appeared out of the bush with a bow in one hand. He was crawling on his knees with his hands in the air. “P-please i beg of you, let us go” Tears was flowing out of his eyes with an arrow stuck through his hand.
Before i got a chance to take a step forward-
“Wait, please don’t kill them. Lets just hear him out an-” Before Elize got to finish, I have already made up my mind.
I walked up to the person who is currently had his knees practically buried into the dirt ground. I flatten my hand and swiftly struck the temple of his head that quickly knocked him down into the land of the dead. I look at the bush where the other still resides and the sounds of weeping that originally could be heard from the bush has now died down signifying his inevitable demise.
“You didn’t have to ki-” I interrupted her.
“During a battle, only one survives and the other meet his due. There is only one true survivor-do NOT forget that.” That is the unfortunate truth when it comes to conflict. I did not bother looking at Eliza as i knew what face of her’s awaited me… and the fact that i have made a monster out of myself in front of her. Knowing that Eliza witnessed me murder someone, a thief no less. I decided to go back to the path rather than pursue the other thieves that may or may not lead to their base. After all the safety of the village outweighs the destruction of a bandit coup.
Eliza stays silent as we made our way onto our path and we moved on. Unfortunately the darkness caught up to us and began to cover the sky, so we decided to shelter ourselves with my sceptre as i have done many times before. Eliza sat down next to the tree trunk exhausted of all that has taken place in this dreadful forest. I pass her a couple apples i found nearby to her and she ate in a detached manner. She continues to eat without emotion.
‘Sadness is not good for the heart….’ “Eliza, would you like to hear a folktale?” I decided to try and attempt to raise her spirits like i would’ve done with my soldiers in amidst in a war.
Eliza stares at me in shock and postured herself next to the tree, “I would love too, Vance!” As if this is the first time i have shared something personal.
“Well there is this dragon…”
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Author: So I do apologize for the late chapter, but here it is :D. If you are wondering what i was doing i was doing finals at the beginning of January while i had this cartography thing that started around December for "Immortal Soul" by Mike777ac. Anyways i should be able to go back to the normal schedule :D