Chapter 5 - Trust Is For Fools

I tried separating the paragraphs some more to increase readability. I can't find a double space option so it's a bit hard to do.

Earlier That Night

If one were to look to a certain group of hills located some distance from our Hero, and if your perception was good enough, you might spot a manic smile and a pair of eyes piercing the darkness.

The eye's glowed with a faint light. Certainly, they would send shivers down the bravest of men. Suddenly the figure cackled maniacally! "It seems the little Hero is doing well! Why he even came up

with such a deviously delicious idea to use poison. His time under Azazel really must of screw with his head." The figure began walking down the hill, towards an encampment not dissimilar to the one our Hero is currently visiting. However, this encampment is larger by far. It was home for at least two hundred men, and not a single one was up to any good. So who was it that dare stride into such a place? "Gotta keep things interesting ya know. Hehe. Maybe I'll do a little of this or some of that." the figure cackled maniacally again. He strode past the sentries guarding the camp without so much as a whisper, the men none the wiser. Approaching the center of the camp, he stopped. "This should be the spot!" He walked in. Inside was a large set man. So large in fact, that he could be confused with a bear. On his back was a large bastard sword suspended only by a strand of leather. The man looked at the figure which dared enter his tent announced. "Who the fuck do you think you are co-" Before he finished his sentence, his eyes fell upon the face of the mysterious figure. "Lll...Loki?" He stammered before falling to his knees. "Forgive me oh mighty one, I didn't realize." "Oh come now none of that Darius. You should know I dislike that grovelling. Usually. Now stand." The man named Darius did as he was ordered. "How can I help you, my Lord." "Oh me? No no, tonight I come for your benefit. You see it has come to my attention that someone wiped out your Southern encampment." "Shit, did the Baron finally send his men?" "No, it was done by a single man." "Imp..Impossible! A single man wiping out 32 men? They were lead by one of my most trusted sergeants, tasked with raiding a caravan." "Yes, well. All your men are dead. And you know what else? The man who did it insisted it was 'Oh so simple' and that he could destroy your entire legion of bandits without even trying." Darius grew red in the face as Loki continued talking. "Yes. He also took that valuable girl your men finally managed to capture, what was her name? Ella? Eli? Who remembers." By now, Darius was quivering with anger and veins bulged on his face. "Who the fuck is this mother fucker?" "He goes by the name 'Alric'. He looks like a child but is actually a grown man. He is traveling with the girl towards her village. I suppose he fancies himself a hero. Oh one more thing, he said he could take on fifty of your best men, but he thought you would be too cowardly to only send fifty and would come with your whole force!" "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch." Anyone could see how Loki was mealy manipulating the poor man, but Darius was too angered to think. "Well I shall leave you to your preparations." Loki vanished. Some distance away he materialized. "Sigh, the hard work I do for someone so ungrateful. I sure hope he enjoys my little gift." Loki grinned and began laughing. "God knows its not the last little surprise. It's just a matter of which one arrives first. Haha"

According to Emilia, her village was only a few days walk and just north from the bandit camp, or so she estimated. After walking through the forest we arrived on the road in which the caravan I woke up at was travelling. Upon seeing the rotting bodies, Emilia only grimaced once and continued on. Seems like she's a pretty tough girl. Well she did see all of her little friends murdered in front of her, I supposed that would harden even the sweetest girl. Instead of taking the road, she continued northward through a thick forest. The first day we made quite a bit of headway. I thought she would stop and ask to rest but she didn't. Besides eating and answering nature's call, she didn't stop for anything. Soon enough, dusk rolled around and we found ourselves still in the forest. It occurred to me that maybe if we had taken the road, we could have found another road that took us north, but I figured maybe she didn't know this area well enough. I started to make camp by

laying out the bed rolls I had taken from the bandit camp and ordering Emilia "Go into the woods and get some firewood." She dutifully went off and returned with several large logs. What? I made a girl go get the firewood? Oh boo hoo, poor poor girl. If she didn't want to freeze tonight, she had to put in work too. Apparently she agreed with my mentality as she did everything I told her very quickly. It didn't take long before we had dinner, a rabbit I had caught using a bit of magic and a rock, cooking over the fire. This whole time since leaving the bandit camp she hadn't said a word. Well that's fine with me, I don't have to put up with any nagging. After finishing dinner I laid on my bedroll. I looked at Emilia who was sitting down staring at me as if she expected me to leap towards her and attack her. By her looks I wouldn't put it past her to try and kill me while I slept. "Emilia, I order you not to attack me or otherwise try to harm me." She didn't say anything and kept staring at me. Whatever. I rolled over and started counting dragons.

My eyes snapped open as I awoke from my beautiful dream of slowly killing Azazel. Something felt...wrong. The air was too quiet, the fire was almost dead. I sat up and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Then it hit me. The girl is fucking gone. "Shit." I leapt up to my feet and started looking for tracks. "That little bitch tried to pull a fast one on me. I was so preoccupied with the thought of her attack me, I forgot to order her to stay in camp." I sighed and kicked myself mentally. Well there's no helping it. I looked around for her tracks but I couldn't find any. Damn her, she was smart enough to hide her tracks. To bad for her, tracking her was as easy as breathing for me. I pulled out the compass I had found earlier and began channelling magic. I picture her in my mind as best as I could. About my  height, long sleek glossy black hair, and deep sky blue eyes. A beautiful girl. Once I had her image locked, I imbued the compass with the magic. The needle suddenly spun west. Without stopping to gather any of my gear, I took off after this stupid girl.

Emilia

My lungs burned and my breaths were pained. As soon as that kid fell asleep I took off. There is no way I can stay with someone like him. He clearly doesn't care for anyone but himself. I bet he is no different from those men who took me away. If their wasn't a reward I'd still be locked in that cage. I'm exhausted and my pace slows to a walk. He should be able to follow me. Even if he notices I'm gone, he won't find my tracks, and he will probably think I went north to where my town is supposed to be. I don't know what kind of magic the 'contract' is but it doesn't seem to be doing anything to me. He's probably just a dirty liar. I wonder if I can ever trust anyone again? He didn't seem to be able to trust anyone either... I wonder what he went through. No! He's nothing like me. I shook myself and continued walking. I need to get as far away as possible before dawn, then I can take a break. I willed my tired legs forward. The moon shone through the tree's and I could see everything perfectly. Suddenly a howl pierced the silence of the woods. I froze. Its probably some wolf far from here I said, trying to reassure myself. I gathered my courage and started walking forward. Crack! Suddenly a branch snapped behind me. A shiver ran down my spine but when I turned around to look their was nothing there. I picked up the pace. My heart hammered in my chest. Behind me I heard slight foot steps crunching on dried leaves. I bolted. Looking behind me I saw a great wolf chasing after me. It wasn't just any wolf either. It's coat was long, grey, and he was taller than me on four paws! Suddenly my fatigue was gone and I ran faster than I ever ran in my life. Behind me wasn't a normal wolf that usually lurks in the forest amongst its pack but a Dire Wolf, a lord of its kind. I risked a glance behind me. The Dire Wolf was right behind me. His powerful legs easily closed the distance between us. By the time I looked forward again, I was already falling, tripped on a tree branch. I turned in mid-air as I fell so that I could face the wolf. If I was going to be eaten, I would at least fight the son of a bitch. My fear was replaced with burning anger. I was so close to finally being free of my misery and this wolf was about to take it away from me again. Why? It's not fair! I tried to summon the magic that made me so valuable but there was nothing. I felt the magic but I couldn't do anything with it. The Dire Wolf lept towards me and bared its teeth to bite my throat...

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Alric

How far did this stupid girl go. God damn it, I wouldn't of even bothered looking for her but it really pissed me off that some girl tried to screw me over. I've had enough of that without a child fucking me over. It wasn't even about the money any more, it was pride. I swear I'm going to beat her black and blue, the contract only says she has to be alive! Wait a second. I recalled my phrasing of the contract. If she died, wouldn't it be a breech of contract? I said it was void upon death but I didn't specify who. Would it kill me for breaking the contract before voiding it? Shit I fucking hate contracts. With renewed vigour I sprinted in the direction of the compass. Out in front of me I heard the howl of a wolf. That stupid girl, if she gets killed... I needed to move faster. There was only one way; I had to use magic to strengthen my body, but I only had 500 mana. Strengthening your body is a constant burn on your mana pool, and a very rapid one. I wouldn't have long before it ran out, but I had no choice. Cursing the girl once more, I began channelling magic through my body and into my legs. I bounded through the forest with ease. After a only a few moments I felt my magic waning. However, by then I saw the girl lying on the ground and the wolf poised to pounce. My mana was exhausted at that very moment. The wolf lept, his fangs bared. I didn't even think about it. There was only one thing I could do. It could kill me, but so could that girls death. "Earthen Coffin!" I shouted into the night. From the ground below the wolf rose an open fist, faster than the eye could see. The wolf didn't even have time to growl in surprise when the fist closed, instantly crushing him between its earthen fingers. Blood sprayed through the cracks in the dirt. The world started to fade and I fell to one knee. Earthen Coffin was a high level technique which would be almost impossible even at full mana, but I had used it with no mana left what so ever. There was only one place that I could get the energy from; my very life force. I collapsed and the world faded away completely.

Emilia

It came from nowhere, a fist from of rocks and dirt, as if the very earth desired vengeance. I noticed I was trembling in fear. My puny life had flashed between my eyes. There was only one person who could of done this. I waited for him to appear, to curse and yell at me for my stupidity, but he didn't show himself. On trembling legs, I stood up and looked around. A few feet away I saw him lying on the ground. I timidly started walking towards him. I don't understand why he's laying down. When I reach he is very still. I listen hard, and here a shallow breathing coming from him. I kneel down and turned him over. Suddenly he starts to cough and something hits my cheek. I raise my fingers to touch it and I pull them away covered in blood. I looked down and notice blood running from his mouth. I figure he must be bleeding internally. The thought registers but it seems like everything is so far away. Why was this happening? Why is he hurt? Why am I safe? Shouldn't it be the other way around? I called him names, I didn't trust him, and I ran from him so why? Why was he here, dying? I reach down and put my hands on his face. He feels so cold. A distant voice speaks to me. "Your fault. Its all your fault. You did this. He saved you and he ended up paying the price." I realized I was saying these words. Why had he saved me? It couldn't be for money. No one would risk their life for such a pittance. So why? I wanted to know. I had to know. I started focusing my mana. I didn't have much but I had to do something. Suddenly the mana coursed through my body into my hands that were on his face.

Alric

I float in a dark place. An abyss much like the one I suffered in during my time with Azazel. Maybe the whole thing was a dream. Maybe I'm still waiting for him to come for me? Still trapped in his contract. I guess I finally lost it and began hallucinating. I remember channelling a high class magic when I had no mana. I knew it might kill me, I knew it would drain my life force. So why? Why did I do it? Why did I risk my life for some stupid girl who I didn't even know and who clearly didn't even trust me. Should I have just let her die? Either way I might have died, so wouldn't it of been better to just risk it and see if her death voided the contract without killing me? Yeah. That would of been the safe way. I shouldn't of risked my life. I bet that girl ran as soon as she saw I was down. I'm never helping anyone. Trust is for fools and I'm not a damn hero. Wait what? Trust is for fools? Isn't that how Azazel used to mock me when I brought up my contract? So why am I listening to him? Maybe I shouldn't live my life without trusting anyone. I have these last centuries and what has it gotten me? I've had no family, no friends, nothing. Why? Why didn't I realize it before. This is Azazel doing. My own lack of trust stemmed from his betrayal and constant mockery. Fuck him. I want to be stronger than him, than anyone. I want to be able to trust without being afraid. From the darkness came a light, a warm shining light that blew away the darkness. I could feel mana coursing into me. Was this a healing spell? No. It was just raw mana, replacing the mana I had lost. I don't know where it came from but it was my only chance. I started to weaving the mana into something that could sustain and replenish my life force.

Alric

My eyes snapped open. Above me was the girl I had just saved. The sun shone from somewhere in the sky. Rain hit my cheek. No, not rain, a tear. She was crying. What the fuck happened. Suddenly I began to remember. Man what kind of sappy shit was I going on about? I was probably just loopy from almost dying and all. It's not like I'm about to start trusting this stupid girl who almost got me killed. I sat up and stretched my neck. I felt like shit. Well considering I had just almost died, it wasn't surprising. The girl looked at me with wide eyes as if waiting for me to say something. Her body was curled up as small as it could get as if in fear. I sighed. "Stupid gir-No I mean, Emilia, what are you sitting there for? We have to find our camp." Emilia burst into tears.