The ogre roared, swinging the half-torn tree in its grasp.

Serlon cursed, running back towards the mules before hopping onto the back of one. Eran took the back of the other. They pulled on the harnesses, trying to control the frantic animals.

“Shit! Grab onto the side of the carriage!” Serlon barked out orders, quickly understanding the grave nature of the situation.

The twins launched backwards, gripping onto the wooden handles on the side of the carriage. Their eyes glued to the rampaging demon. Gunnar used his sword to create a handle on the back of the carriage. I gripped the top, hanging as I positioned my feet against the wood.

The forest trembled under the roar of the ogre, who leapt into the night air. Moonlight danced along its gray skin, as its beady eyes looked down on the carriage.

“Trent!” Serlon yelled, as the guard picked up the guiding reins, and sent the mules into a gallop. Like that, we barreled down the dirt road.

Ground broke in the exact spot that we were a second ago. The ogre’s large body rose, turning to our retreating figure. It roared again, fangs on full display. From the front, Serlon and Eran could be heard. Their boots clanking leather and metal, as they urged the mules faster in our desperate attempt to flee.

“Try to lose it!” Trent yelled back, whipping the reins forward. I peered to the side, watching the passing figures of the woods.

We were moving fast. But. I looked back at the charging ogre with the half-snapped tree swinging in its grasp. In Hellion, ogres were able to catch up to mounted soldiers. A heavy carriage pulled by mules would fall soon enough to the gray demon’s attack.

A wooden handle fell from the side, as the twins climbed to the rooftop of the carriage.

“I hope the Crown Prince isn’t standing,” Daniel whispered under his breath as he anchored his sword into the wooden roof.

Lars grabbed the handle, using the dull end to lock his footing around. From his belt, he pulled off the multitude of small knives from their straps. Daniel grabbed onto his ankle, as Lars pulled his hand back, launching the knife at the charging ogre.

The knife sailed through the air, stabbing into the eye of the ogre. It threw its head back, only stopping for a second as black blood littered the ground. This didn’t stop the demon. It would only make it angrier.

“That didn’t do anything!” Gunnar shouted. His voice almost drowned in the banging of the carriage on the bumpy road.

Lars screamed to the front, “What’s the plan?”

Eran cursed, the clanking of his boots still sounding in the night, “There’s a cliff about four miles ahead. We’ll reach it in ten minutes at this speed.”

“Should I try to reach the bows in the compartment?” Daniel started to lean over to the edge of the roof.

“Don’t bother.” I chimed in, “Arrows aren’t going to do anything against their skin. We can’t afford to waste anymore knives either.”

“We don’t have a choice!” Daniel refuted, “We have to buy time. At this point, we won’t last another two.” He pointed to the gaining figure.

We wouldn’t last much longer. He was right. But I wasn’t wrong either. We couldn’t afford to throw all our equipment.

The ogre swung the tree, the top of it hit Gunnar’s side. A cry of pain could be heard. In a blink of an eye, everyone stared in horror as the gingered man clung desperately onto his sword with a gash on his torso. Red blood dripped behind us, only driving the demon into a faster run. I clicked my tongue at the metallic scent that filled the air. If the rest of the forest didn’t know we were here, then the blood would alert them of it. Our slim chances of losing the ogre had become impossible. The smell would give us away.

Ogres were demons that could be considered middle class. But that was with those of intelligence. This one was probably lower middle class, considering it replaced its club with a tree. I could take it out easily if I used a bit of mana. But did I want to waste mana on this lower demon? No. There had to be another way.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“That’s it! I’m reaching for the bows!” Daniel cursed, scurrying to the edge.

“Ogre’s skin is too hard to break with mere arrowheads, you fool,” I argued, “I won’t stop you. I’m just letting you know that it’s a waste of energy.”

“And. How do you know this? Why should be trust you?” Daniel snapped, pausing to grip onto the sword handle.

“I’m sorry, Asta. But I have to agree with Daniel here. You’re still new and you’re only sixteen. We have more experience than you.” Gunnar grunted, his free hand gripping his wound.

More experience? That was laughable coming from humans. These humans were doomed from the moment that it stalked us from the tree lines. Humans were brash creatures that got heated in the moment. But even then, I could understand their frustration.

The point was that the ogre would catch us if something were not done soon. Everyone knew that which was why Trent and Serlon were desperately trying to reach the cliff in time. It was why we were flying at tremendous speed, risking the structure of the wooden carriage at each bump.

I hated humans.

Their desperation. Their frustration. Shit.

“Shut up. I have a better plan,” I exhaled, reaching over to the side, and swinging my body till I was at the door of the carriage.

“What are you doing?” Daniel yelled over the side, watching as I clicked open the carriage door.

“Shut up.”

The wooden door flew open, banging against the side in the wind. With a swing, I landed inside the carriage with a thud.

Edwin was alert, holding onto his seat for dear life. The sword that the twins embedded had only been inches from his head. Now wasn’t the time to laugh though.

“What’s the situation?” he asked. His expression had been similar to the one that I saw at the imperial castle.

“Dire. An ogre will destroy the carriage if we do not act swiftly. Serlon and Trent are going to try to rush to a cliff.” I relayed to the Crown Prince, who nodded in understanding.

“Will we make it?” He questioned.

I shook my head. He nodded once more.

“Then,” He continued, “What can I do to help? Isn’t that why you came to talk to me?”

I’ll admit it. This bastard was smarter than I gave him credit for. This plan would work. I knew it would. I knew because it had been used against myself. Surely, I would regret this moment.

“Edwin. Your family knows light magic. Isn’t that correct?” I asked, the words leaving a bitter taste on my tongue.

To this the Prince grimaced, a small scowl forming on his lips. His father knew light magic. It was something that I pondered since that moment. I knew better than anyone else that skills like that were generally passed down through royalty.

“…I’m not great at magic,” He admitted, “But I know a little bit of light magic. I’ve never used it in combat before, but I don’t have a choice. Do I?”

“Trust me. It’s the last thing I want to do either,” I expressed, reaching my hand out to Edwin, who took it.

“I’ll trust you then Asta.” He stood up, trying not to topple on his way over to the door.

I leaned out, the prince’s hand still in mine, “Lars! Daniel! A little help over here.” I called out, relieved to see their faces peer over the edge.

“Asta, you better have a plan!” Lars called out, reaching his hand down, as Daniel retreated back to secure his legs.

I grabbed it, using his grip to lift myself up to hang onto the edge of the roofing. Edwin poked his head out, scurrying back after spotting the ogre.

“What the fuck is that?” He yelped, tugging my arm to the doorway.

“I told you. An ogre.” I sneered, tugging him back to the edge of the door, “I’m going to throw you up towards Lars. Climb up to the roof and wait for me.”

“What?” he stammered, unable to finish as I pulled him out of the carriage. Edwin yelled in fear, as Lars caught his other hand.

“We’re supposed to protect the prince, not send him to his doom,” Lars glared, pulling Edwin the rest of the way up.

I lifted myself onto the crowded roof, “What’s the point if we’re all doomed if this doesn’t work?”

Well, I’d be fine but.

He stayed silent. That’s what I thought.

Now. I made my way over to Edwin, who clenched the sword handle. His golden locks blew from the speed of the carriage, as the ogre roared from behind us.

“Shoot the light magic towards the ogre. It doesn’t matter where you hit it, as long as you make impact. Demons are weak against it. It’ll slow the ogre down enough till we make it to the cliff.” I explained, crouching alongside him.

Edwin nodded, gulping. He raised his hand, the familiar magic sparking at his disposal. I clenched my jaw at the phantom pain at my shoulder, as I glued my eyes to the ogre.

“Here goes nothing!” He muttered, sending the magic cascading over the gray demon’s head. I stared at the spectacle with a dead expression.

“How do you miss from his close?” I scowled, “I could probably jump now and hit the ogre in the face.”

“I’m not a soldier!” Edwin argued, gripping onto the sword handle as we hit a bump, “I can’t aim.”

“You don’t have a choice,” I reminded him, reaching up to position his hand myself, “Just fire. I’ll aim for you.”

Edwin nodded, casting the magic once again. To my own mistake, the radius was larger than expected. As the light hit my skin, I winced. It was burning.

“Now!” He fired the magic, now straight into the face of the ogre, who wailed. Still, the demon ran blinded by the pain.

“We’re at the cliff!” Serlon screamed back, as the carriage swung drastically. Cries from the mules sounded, as the reins were jerked at the last minute to the side.

The carriage hull swung wildly, as Trent turned at the last minute, and sending the back of the carriage nearly over the side of the cliff.

Daniel grabbed Gunnar, as the wounded knight swung over the steep drop off. He was barely holding onto his sword. Lars gripped on for dear life.

The blinded ogre roared unable to slow down enough to stop itself from running off the side of the steep cliff. It shot off the side, digging its claws into rocky edge, its body hanging above the large abyss.

“One more!” I yelled to Edwin, who clutched onto the handle. He outstretched his hand, as I pointed it towards the ogre with my burned one.

A stream of blinding light shot towards the gray demon, sending it to its doom in a pained fit. A loud thud was heard from below, as birds flew up. It was quiet again.

“It’s down!” Lars yelled to the front.

The carriage slowed down, the mules’ gallop slowing to a halt on the cliff’s edge. Heavy breathing was heard, as everyone made their way from the roof of the carriage. Hopping down with a huff, they collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. Serlon and Eran walked back to survey the condition of everyone else.

“Is everyone okay?” Serlon questioned.

“Gunnar is injured, but everyone else seems okay.” Edwin explained.

“Understood,” Serlon nodded, his eyes widening as he landed on me, “Wait. Asta? What’s wrong?”

Fuck. I clutched my hand. The searing pain burning away from the light magic to which it was exposed. The pain was blinding.

“Asta!”

I messed up.