The leader gently rose his arm. The arrow got stuck between his fingers. Liz’s face froze as she saw him inspect it. He gently smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth.
“Well-crafted arrow, you can have it back!”
Liz sensed danger and immediately rolled sideways. Moments later, the cave wall loudly cracked behind her. She turned around and looked in amazement, the arrow was embedded at least three inches deep in the wall. Vio calmly stood near, and spoke.
“General Myr, level 3 defensive magic knight, leader of the Solar knights, head knight for the Solar family. Specialized in runes.”
This general smiled as he bowed, “Ms. Luna, very glad you remember me! We have come to escort you back to the capital, as ordered from your family!”
Vio laughed, as she shook her head, “Over my dead body!”
The general tried to comply, “Is this girl forcing you miss? Give us the order and we’ll kill her!”
Vio once again shook her head and laughed. Liz just stared at her, wondering how she’s going to fix this situation.
The general looked shocked. His knights, huge warriors, armed to the hair with high-grade armor, with a sun emblem etched on each one, stood in formation. Liz paled, one knight would give her trouble, let alone at least three, with the general to lead. Liz turned to Vio, who held out her hand.
“Grab my hand, hurry!”
Liz instinctively grabbed it, and Vio pulled out a scroll. General Myr, confused by the sudden actions, ordered his men to charge.
Vio smiled as she mouthed the words, “Teleport” as the General paled and rushed forward himself. However, he was too late.
----------------------------------------
Liz opened her eyes, she was on the grass. She looked up, a tree blocked the sky. The smell of saltwater filled the air, they’re next to the sea, or maybe an ocean, she thought. She looked over to Vio’s side. Vio was sitting on the side of the tree. She flashed a tired smile at Liz. Liz frowned sat up. She looked around, plains covered the vast lands. Liz moved and stood next to Vio.
“Where are we?” Liz inquired.
Vio laughed, “No idea.”
Liz shook her head and looked around. She spotted a town to their right. She helped Vio up and informed her about the town. They both ran to the town.
The town was busy, farmers working on their farms as the children played with one another. The merchants chatted and waved each other goodbye. Vio went to a vender and talked. Liz waited patiently on the side as Vio gathering information. The children stared at them, they probably don’t get much visitors. Liz looked over and saw Vio pale as she thanked the vender. Liz’s face grew grim, something went wrong. Vio went over to the inn and bought a room.
Nighttime fell as they waited in their room, Vio pulled out a map.
“Bad news, we’re nowhere near the capital…” She continued, “Rather, we are in a different continent completely.”
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Liz looked at Vio, who shrugged, “Cheap teleporting scrolls often teleport you somewhere random”
Liz sighed, “Do you always have to be the bearer of bad news? Don’t you have a functional teleporting spell, or something to help us?”
Vio grimly smiled, “Nope, those cost 10,000 platinum coins, unlike the cheap one I bought”
Liz choked as Vio laughed at her reaction. Vio rubbed her tears, “We’re in the Southern continent, the eastern holds the capital, so we’re not in a totally hopeless situation. Though, it would take more than a year just to reach the capital from here. They call this town ,"Town Chestnut", bordering the eastern continent, luckily for us, though like I said, it would still take around a year to reach the capital.”
Liz slacked against a wall, and asked, “Why didn’t you go with them? You needed to go to the capital, right?”
Vio laid back, “What I need in the capital isn’t the families or the kingdom, but St. Magics School, a magic school meant to train magical knight or mages. If I manage to join the school, my family can’t force me to do anything since I have the protection of the school.”
Liz frowned, “What about me?”
Vio smiled, “If I make it in, I can bring someone, like a maid in to live with me.”
“I’m not a very good maid” Liz replied.
Vio laughed, and silently agreed.
“Aren’t your family living in the capital, wouldn’t they just search around the capital until they find you?” Liz asked.
“Once I sign up, they can’t touch me.”
“And what if you don’t pass?”
Vio stared at Liz, and laughed, “Grade 7 talent, and already a level 0 knight at the age of 16. I’d like to believe that I’m a talented person.”
Liz sighed and tested her equipment,
“Hey, hold out your hand” Vio appeared in front of her.
Liz looked confused but held it out.
Vio held it and shook her head, “You don’t have much potential with magic.”
Liz smirked, “As if I didn’t already know that”
Vio shrugged and went to sleep.
Liz silently fixed her equipment as the night darkened the sky.
----------------------------------------
The sounds of arrows filled the empty air. Sleeping animals quickly scurrying away from the sound, the larger beast slept heavily in the caves. Liz grabbed a handful of arrows and continued firing. The constant sounds of the arrow hitting the tree vibrated the forest. Liz nonchalantly shot arrow after arrow.
Ironically, the sound of her bow calmed her, she didn't even know why, this bow that costed a few silver was probably the only thing she could reliably depend on.
“Impressive.”
Liz turned around just to see a middle-aged man sitting near a campfire. His fair hair reflected the flames, somehow creating a calmer atmosphere. The man fished out another piece of wood and tossed it.
“Your shooting that is.”
Liz stood still, the man finally turned to her.
“Very rough, but still very good.” His golden eyes stared at Liz.
"Can't sleep?"
Liz didn't answer.
"Well, me either, never slept well even as a youngster."
Liz just stared, the man just laughed.
"Let me give you some pointers."
He walked over and took her bow. Liz tried to move but was somehow paralyzed. The man pulled the bow, testing its quality as he pulled out an arrow. In a single fluid motion, he pulled the bow and released it. Time froze, Liz stared at the arrow, for a split second, she could see it. The arrow disappeared, along everything else in front of it. A crater formed. Flames flared out, as the man tossed back the bow and went back to the fireplace. Liz was amazed, great destruction, yet so silent?
"Don't be so stiff we you shoot, ok?"
The man smiled and pated a tree stump next to him. Liz walked forward, if the man wanted to kill her, he could easily do it. She sat down, the man tossed another piece of wood.
“Who are you?”
The man sat still.
“What was that?”
The man sat still.
“Why are you here?”
The man sat still.
“Where are you from?”
The man sat still.
He got up and took a kettle.
“Tea?” He asked
Liz nodded.
He poured her a cup and grabbed his own. Liz drank it, hot but smoothing with a hint of bitterness.
“I know you have many questions, but right now, they can’t be answered”
Liz was about the refute.
“There isn’t much time left,” He calmly stated.
The man grabbed a book and tossed it over to Liz. She caught it and looked over to the man.
The man cleared his throat, stared, then smiled,
“Good luck Elizabeth.”
Liz gasped and looked the man. He was gone, rather, everything was gone. She was just standing there holding a bow. Was she daydreaming? She shrugged it off and walked back to the inn.