The troll leaped for me, but my driver grabbed his foot with all his strength, dragging him backwards. With the attacking troll dazed, the driver smashed the headlights and sparked a tiny flame in it. In just a split second, the car seemed to come to life, with the tires sprouting sparks everywhere, and ignition sparks sending the troll sprawling backwards.
“Eat this, fool! Enjoy some ashy flames!” The driver yelled, and leaped into the driver’s seat, clutching the wheel.
The attacker gaped, and tried to jump off the road, but the car door was still open, and it smacked him across the face and sent him crashing into the woods behind him.
I heard a creak noise. Then I realized the tree was starting to split open, a small jagged line of light yellow spreading across the trunk flopping backwards, sending a massive boom flying into my eardrums.
“Argh…!” The troll growled, clutched the ground. His palm pushed forward, and the ground began to shake, with the road starting to be completely ruined. Layers of rock jutted upwards, sending the taxi spinning out of control.
“Jump,” the driver screamed, his voice drowned out by the rushing wind around him. “JUMP!”
I grabbed the window and leaped out, but the back of the taxi banged my leg, sending pain shooting across my leg and sending me crawling for cover. The ground kept jutting and cracking in weird areas. Finally, the shaking stopped.
The attacker was lying against the tree, still dazed from the powerful spell he just used and being attacked by the driver. It seemed the fight was generally over, though.
“Golly,” the driver panted. “It’s over, Rey. I-I mean, uh…”
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I twisted in surprise. “How do you know my name?” I took a step back. The driver didn’t look mad or bloodlusted, just gave me a pained, sad sort of look.
“I suppose I must tell you what’s happenin’ now, eh?” The troll stood up, his breath still shaky from the previous fight. “My name is Jork, and I assist the Headmaster of the Academy, Gary Abrov.”
“The Academy…” I sighed. “So you work there?”
Jork nodded, his tone starting to light up with less panic. “I was sent to guard you to the Academy, for that reason specifically.”
Guard…me? But why?
Jork sensed my look, which probably showed my confusion, and gave another deep, gruff sigh.
“Mr. Abrov will explain it to you in more detail, Mr. Karn. But for now, I do not think you are ready to know,” he leaned on the taxi and opened the door. “Nor is it my place to say. Now, stay tight, I’m going to have to repair the taxi and call for help.”
He was right. The headlights were smashed, one of the tires was hit by the messed up road and crushed, the bottom was seared and on the verge of completely falling off.
“We’re in dangerous territory, Mr. Karn. You have not learned enough to defend yourself, so you must stick by me at all times. I am hurt myself, so we should stay hidden.”
I nodded as he beckoned me closer to the taxi. With his immense strength, he picked up damaged logs, as I helped carry twigs to make a small, working roof, with leaves littering in between the wood.
“Good work, Mr. Karn!” Jork applauded, and went back to work on the taxi.
I realized that repairing the car would take a while, and in a place like this, dangers lurked everywhere. Well, I might as well strap in, because we were definitely in a bad spot.
Night came, and Jork was still working. He had lit a small fire and handed me a small sandwich and a water bottle, and ordered me to stay quiet and get some sleep. But I felt guilty. While Jork was out there risking his life and working his hands off, I was getting food and sleep. I talked to him about this, but he always said the same thing.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Karn, I’ve got this. You go to sleep.”
So I did. I tried not to, but my eyes slowly drifted down, fluttering, and eventually, sleep washed over me, knocking me out.