The door shut firmly behind me as I stepped out of the gem shop, I blinked against the sudden sunlight, pausing to let my eyes adjust after the dim interior. Shouts echoed from a nearby alley, accompanied by a pained cry. After moving towards the alley, I saw the boy from the shop had been corner by two soldiers, the emeralds on their chest marking them as the captain’s men.
One held the boy by his collar, fist raised threateningly, while the other laughed. "Where did you steal this from?" the first soldier growled, holding up the handkerchief the woman from earlier dropped. The boy stammered, eyes wide with fear. Before he could speak, the angry soldier struck him hard across the face. The boy yelped, clutching his swelling cheek.
"I can't just stand here. Drawing my sword would be stupid, but doing nothing feels worse. Lindy's safety is more important" I exhaled, slowly loosening my grip on the hilt. The soldiers laughed, landing another blow across the boy's face. He whimpered, collapsing against the wall. As I turned around, I heard one of the guards speak. "Hey, you there, don't I know you?" the soldier called out, his eyes narrowing as they fixed upon my retreating figure.
“Just keep walking and pretend you belong here. Blend in. Please, please, walk right past me.” I silently cursed my horrible luck as his shadow fell over me, the goddess having clearly abandoned me to this as the soldier closed in, his boots thudding against the cobblestones.
As the soldier reached me, he grabbed me by the shoulder and forcefully spun me around. I winced at the rough handling. The other soldier, filled with sadistic glee, had stomped on the defenseless boy's chest, the sickening sound of a bone cracking echoing through the air. My eyes darted to the injured child, his chest rising and falling agonizingly slowly.
The soldiers wore sturdy brown coats, exuding professionalism. Yet their ominous presence was undeniable. Glimpses of white shirts peeked from pristine sleeves, adding unexpected elegance to the uniform.
Vivid red hats strapped under their chins marked their allegiance. Swords hung at their sides, reminding them of their duty to protect. But now those blades seemed more tools of intimidation.
The soldiers radiated chilling authority. Their attire, though refined, only magnified the foreboding air about them.
Looking at the burly soldier, I couldn't resist a sharp retort, "Sorry, I didn't hear you over the sounds of the execution of that young kid over there," my finger pointing toward the boy who lay gasping for breath. Anger simmered beneath my composed facade, fueling my words.
The soldier turned to glance at his partner, who was reveling in the display of power and dominance. A wicked smile adorned his face as he responded, "Oh, him? That kid was a thief, and I think I'm looking at another," he sneered, his eyes narrowing with suspicion, returning his attention to me.
My jaw clenched, my fists tightening at my sides. This soldier embodied the worst of his kind, tarnishing the reputation of the honorable few among them. The despair etched on the faces of the townspeople confirmed that encounters like this were all too common.
I turned to the soldier, “I took nothing, sir. Just a humble traveler here," I responded, keeping my tone neutral. The soldier's smile turned cruel. "I don't believe you." He leaned in close, sour breath assaulting me. "Lying to the captain’s men is unwise” . I met his glare with a smile, ignoring the threat.
"No, you're a thief. Came from the same shop as that other whelp," the soldier growled, grabbing at my hand. The ruby jangled in my pocket as I forced my hand back, frustration evident on my face. "Really that is a stupid reason to accuse someone. As I said, I just arrived." I gestured to my clean appearance, the stark contrast to the thieves the soldier accused me of being.
"Does this idiot think I can't see through the ruse? One glance at his stupid grin and you can see the truth - he saw a mark, nothing more. I should probably just pay up and keep moving.
The essence of my fire magic tingled in my chest, the heat rising around me. The soldier who had been stepping on the kid delivered one final kick, this time to the boy's head, before moving towards me, his sword being drawn. I backed up, scanning my surroundings for any escape routes. The once lively streets hollowed out before my eyes, citizens evacuating swiftly with dread writ across their faces.
As the soldier approached, sword in hand, I steadied myself for the impending confrontation. I took stock of the situation - one soldier was nearing me, an anticipatory glint in his eye. He probably thought I would pay. I give a smile, then struck out with a swift, strategic punch, connecting firmly with his jaw, and causing him to stumble back, disoriented.
The second soldier, incensed, charged furiously towards me. I stepped out of the path of his swung blade and delivered a measured, well-placed kick to the back of his knee at just the right angle to force it to buckle. He cried out gruffly as he collapsed, dropping his sword. I stood poised, heartbeat echoing in my ears, assessing the scene as it unfolded.
The first soldier, recovering from the blow, shook his head attempting to regain his balance and composure. His furious gaze locked onto me, he bellowed angrily, "You're dead!" The soldier rapidly drew his sword again and approached me aggressively, making his murderous intent crystal clear. As he took his first forceful swing at me, I narrowly managed to dodge the razor-sharp blade, stumbling a bit in my hurry to avoid its lethal arc. My heart pounding with adrenaline, I desperately scanned every detail of my surroundings, searching for some kind of escape route or strategic advantage I could leverage to get out of this altercation.
The streets offered little respite, with onlookers frozen in fear or seeking safety. If I timed it right, I could try bolting down that tight alley just 10 feet back, before he can swing at me again." I thought, my eyes darting towards a potential escape route. I managed to duck and weave away from another fierce swing of the soldier's sword that whistled past, narrowly missing my shoulder. But my luck was running thin. Gasping, I sidestepped again as the razor-sharp blade carved the air. I needed to act now. Spotting a chunk of debris near my feet, I kicked it up to create a distraction and made a break for the alley's entrance. My boots slid precariously on the gravel as I just barely squeezed into that constricted passageway.
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As I reached the mouth of the alley, I quickly scanned my surroundings for anything that could help. A pile of abandoned barrels caught my eye. With a thrust of my hand, I set the barrels ablaze, the flames roaring with intense heat. The soldier paused for a moment; his eyes fixated on the fiery barrier. Seizing the chance to de-escalate, I spoke calmly, “Look, I don't want any trouble. Let's stop this here." A wicked smile spread across the soldier's face as he raised his hand. "Too late for that now." The emerald gem on his chest glowing as energy surged through the ground. The earth trembled beneath me. With a fierce cry, he cast the "Stone Bane" spell, summoning a gigantic boulder. It hurtled towards me with surprising speed.
I barely dodged the boulder, my heart pounding in my chest. It slammed into the building behind me, leaving a trail of destruction. “That was too close for comfort.” The soldier laughed as he cast the spell again, launching four more giant rocks my way. I drew my sword and swung, shattering one into pieces. However, the remaining boulders continued their relentless assault, narrowly missing me and crashing into the surrounding structures. “This idiot going to destroy the buildings and the street.”
After dodging another boulder, I raised my hand and started an incantation for my own self-created spell, "Flame Flare,” the gem in my chest glowed and got hotter. As I completed the chant, a torrent of intense flames erupted from my outstretched hand .But as I prepared to unleash the powerful fire spell, a moment of hesitation gripped me. The flames would not only engulf the soldier but also risk igniting the surrounding buildings, innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
Gritting my teeth, I lowered my arm, I extinguished the flames, choosing not to cast the spell. Dodging another boulder, I swung my sword, deflecting the remaining boulders while moving closer to the soldier.
The ground shuddered violently as the soldier's earth magic unleashed a relentless barrage, each boulder crashing down with devastating force. Looking around I noticed some crates that was tied down with some ropes. Swing my hand towards the binding, I burned it, causing them to collapse, creating a makeshift barrier between us. The newly summoned boulders collided with the flaming wreckage, sending sparks and debris flying in all directions. The soldier momentarily caught off guard by falling crates jumped back. It was the opening I needed, I lunged forward, my sword arcing through the air.
It happened in a flash. One moment, the soldier's head rested atop his shoulders, and the next, it lay lifeless at my feet. Shock and disbelief filled the air as the second soldier, now on his feet, witnessed the gruesome sight. He staggered backwards, his eyes darting between his companion's body and me, uncertainty and fear clouding his judgment.
After looking at the body of his partner, the remaining soldier emerald glowed brightly as he conjures a massive boulder. With a roar, he flung the boulder, his movements jerky and uncoordinated, as he felled forward.
leaped backward, narrowly evading the hurtling boulder. As I landed on the ground, I weighed my options. I looked at the man, who was getting up. "Listen, I didn't want to kill him, but your friend left me no choice. Just turn around and walk away, and we can both forget this ever happened."
“You cowardly piece of shit! You'll die for this, you hear me?” he snarled. I sidestepped the soldier's sword thrust. I swung my own sword in an arc, aiming to sever the soldier's head. However, my timing was off, and instead of a clean beheading, my blade cut through the man's face, slicing off his nose. The soldier crumpled to the ground in agony, clutching his mutilated face, his cries echoing through the alley.
As I glanced at the wounded soldier lying in agony, I turned to run down the destroyed alley to go back to the inn. I had barely taken a step when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the market. Five soldiers, swords drawn, were closing in on me. Alistair, leading them, wore a smug grin that made my blood boil.
"You know," Alistair said, his voice oozing disdain, "I was just starting to wonder where you and Erlinda had disappeared to, Lucas." He gave a little smile. "Erlinda was very striking with her blue hair, and I wanted to ask her some questions about a rumored book."
I froze as the realization hit me: we had never told Alistair about Erlinda’s name. The rumors surrounding her, and Darwin's book were more than just idle gossip; they were real, and now we were in serious trouble. I glanced around, taking in the sight of the five soldiers closing in on me, their swords glinting in the sunlight. Surrounded and outnumbered, I desperately tried to find a way out of this mess, but the odds were stacked against me.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I surveyed the scene. Five soldiers were closing in on me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel a bead of sweat trickling down my temple. I couldn't take them all on, not like this had to find a way out of this, even if it meant playing along with their game for now. I took a deep breath, forcing my face into a neutral expression. "Alistair," I said, keeping my voice level, "it seems we have a bit of a misunderstanding here. These men attacked me, and I was merely defending myself. If you're willing to listen, I can explain everything."
The soldier beside Alistair stepped forward, his face reddening and his jaw clenching. His hand trembled as it gripped the sword hilt, knuckles turning white. "These men are soldiers of the Kingdom of Alveria!" Alistair's arm shot out, blocking the soldier's path. A smirk played at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes flashed with a cold, cruel light.
I couldn't help but let out a snort. "Soldiers? Is that what you call thugs who beat defenseless children these days?" I nodded towards the small, crumpled form lying behind the soldiers, barely visible in the shadows. The soldiers didn't even glance back, their gazes locked on me.me.
Alistair drew himself up, puffing out his chest. "By the powers vested in me by the king," he boomed, his voice echoing off the alley walls, "you are under arrest." He motioned for me to drop my sword with a flick of his hand, one eyebrow raised in challenge. My eyes darted around, searching for an escape route, but found none. Grinding my teeth, I slowly lowered my weapon and raised my hands.
The soldiers descended on me like a pack of wolves, their grips iron-tight as they forced me to my knees. The ropes cut into my wrists as they bound my hands behind my back. I couldn't hold back a grunt of pain, but I set my jaw, determined not to let them see me flinch. A boot slammed into my back, and my face hit the ground, the taste of blood filling my mouth.
"Where is Erlinda?" Alistair's voice came from right above me, each word dripping with contempt. I turned my head and spat out a mouthful of dirt. "She left after lunch," I managed to say through gritted teeth, my hands throbbing.
Alistair crouched down, his face so close I could feel his breath. "That's not what I heard," he sneered. "But we'll get the truth out of you at the prison." A sudden blow to my head sent my vision spinning, darkness creeping in at the edges.
Rough hands seized me and threw me into a waiting carriage. As my consciousness slipped away, I caught sight of a young girl in the shadows, her face streaked with tears as she watched the soldiers' brutality and the boy lying motionless on the ground.