Elaine Raveest had never experienced this feeling before, but this moment somehow thrilled her. Her heart was beating so fast that she didn’t know what to do with it. Could she have stopped it? Probably not.

She looked at behind her again, as the man named Bobby moved smoothly between the sea of trees. Unlike before, when he looked frail and weak, he now looked so deftly, and decisive with his movement.

Was it the power of the Health potion that he drank earlier? She wondered.

His back was now getting smaller, smaller as he kept moving without even once looking back. They soon would need to execute their plan, or rather Bobby’s plan. His plan was actually quite simple so to say.

First, they would need to split up. And from the opposite side, Bobby would attack from behind, and take out the leader in instant, so it couldn’t react. While she is going to rush to her father's side, and inform him about the plan. And later on they would attack them together from all sides, in short a flanking attack was? She wasn't familiar with the word, but probably that was about right, like what he'd said.

But could dad really do that? He was badly injured, after all. She asked in her mind, as she thought about it thoroughly. At first she didn’t think much about it, but she began to wonder about this.

He also added, “It would be no surprise if they will appoint a new leader immediately. So, to avoid that situation we must wipe them completely before anything else, also in order to prevent any potential reinforcement. And, that’s where your father would come in part to prevent anyone from escaping.”

They would need to do that sooner than ever. And, she knew by now, she also needed to move, yet her legs couldn't budge. She was afraid, afraid of the outcome in case she failed, and would make the man angry or would her father? No, they probably couldn’t do that anymore, since they would be killed by the red wolves.

Such a future is just no, not acceptable.

Her body began to tremble the moment she thought about the worst outcome. Dread looming on her face, as the wind of dry spring blew close to her ears, whispering in its soft, and sinister voice. The same voice that she'd used to hear.

“It would be your fault, you are nothing but a seed of trouble, after all.”

“You are a bad omen, you killed everyone dear to you.”

“A monster.”

“Get out of here, you, a fucking monster!”

“I’m scared,” She put her shaking hand, held them tight together in front of her chest, and prayed. “Please the merciful god, Mercedius, help this sod servant so they can regain their strength.”

But, it didn’t work. Just like she’d expected. Her body was still trembling, her heart wavering, and her hand still shaking. What could she have done? She asked herself. Then she remembered back when she had a conversation with Bobby at the end of planning.

“But, what i-if, if I fail to inform dad about your plan?” she asked hesitantly.

“Hmm, no need to be worried even if you failed to inform your father, I could easily handle them alone.”

“But, do you think you will manage?”

“Of course. However, the plan here lies in you and your father. So, instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself more.

“Geez, that’s not what I’m asking,” she said. “Um, I know it is weird, but I don’t recall hearing your name before. I’m Elaine Raveest, thank you for helping.”

“...I-I’m Bobby, just call me Bobby.”

“... Anyway, there is no reason for you to worry. It is essential if you can get your part done, but it wasn’t the end of the means. I could come up with a different one myself later.”

The way he said that with so much confidence, as though he couldn’t see any failure, somewhat putting her at ease. Maybe that was what made adults awesome, just like her own parents, which she always regarded highly.

“No, I’m not a failure,” she said confidently. The voice slowly faded away until she couldn’t hear it no more.

I’m sorry dad, but I will break your promise, to save you. No, that wasn’t right. I think I will break another promise to fulfill another one.

When she puts it on like that, she could feel her heart getting lighter. Her hands weren’t shaking anymore, as well her trembling body. So, she stood to readied herself.

“I think I should also be going.”

----------------------------------------

She didn't know how much time had passed since she was frozen in fear, but she managed to get her feet to move, and got closer to the location.

She could see her father figure in more closer. His huge like figure, and his red hair fluttering behind, made him not so easy to miss out.

She knew, she should be within the range in several seconds.

But, the question was how she would approach him. The plan never said anything about it and Bobby never mentioned anything either. It never struck in her mind, but until now. She steadily reduced the distance as her mind pondered around, almost tripped her over a bulging root on the ground.

Looking at the battlefield, the situation seemed hasn’t changed that much. They are still staring at each other, trying to weary each other. She needed to come up with one, or the worst outcome was going to happen. And, she would fail the promise.

But, how would she tell him about the plan without being noticed? Maybe she could just sneak in a whisper, hoping his dad would notice? That sounds good to her, but would it work? She had no other choice but to make it work, then.

Now, she’d arrived, crouching, hiding in the closest bush. Looking at his father figure at a close distance, she noticed the wound on his right arm more prominent. The wound looked more horrible than she’d seen from afar. A series of red marks admonished it, opening the gash of an open wound. It made her want to look away.

Would the plan work? When she looked at the state of her father, she couldn't help but to raise the question.

She doubted it as she looked at her dad’s face, he was tired. His red beard which always become something that he was always proud of himself, now looked weary. Sweat soaked across his face, as well on his white shirt. Maybe, even to hold the knife in his left arm, he needed to muster all the strength he had.

“Could the plan really work?” Even if she said that, she'd no alternative plan. And this plan was definitely a lot better than nothing at all. Should she really do this, she hesitated.

But, before she could make any decision, as she was looking the battlefield, she saw it out of the corner of her field. Something fast has struck the biggest red wolf. The leader yipped in pain.

And, for the second time, it struck again. Her eyes couldn’t see it clearly, but it looked something blue, as it smashed against the wolf’s shoulder. And once again, it was coming, but this time it missed the target, struck the tree. The bark of the spot where it hit was dented, but its vicinity looked like it was wet.

The wolves looked bewildered by this attack. They didn’t know who was the preparator behind this attack. But, she knew who it was. It was Bobby. She knew it immediately. The direction from where it was coming was clear, it was from the opposite side from where she stood. And, yet, she couldn’t see any sign of him. Where was he hiding?

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But, what was that thing that hit the red wolf earlier? It was blue. Like it was made of water. One word came into her mind. Magic. She’d heard about it before, and also saw a glimpse of the beauty of it in the circus before. But never seen it being used against different life beings, to attack them.

It sparkled her eyes. “No, it wasn’t the time for that.” She said to herself.

The fourth time the magic hit the same red wolf again, but now hit its head, as the force threw the wolf on the ground. The wolf tried to scramble up, shaking its head as it tried to fend off the dizziness. Its eyes were glaring at a certain spot. It now knew where the attack came from.

With the long howl, the leader called the other three for them to come with, to hunt for the man behind this attack. In its mind, the man in front of him can be dealt any time, it was more important to deal with this pesky attack.

“Oh, no!” Cursed her, as she watched the wolves going toward Bobby. She needed to do something and real quick. She should inform her father about the plan.

“Dad!!” She yelled.

Her father had an exhausted look as he saw the wolves suddenly retreat, he was about to relax his muscles. But, when he saw his name being yelled, he was caught by surprise for the voice was someone he was familiar with. It was his daughter, Elaine.

He used to be a soldier before, this situation didn’t look much different from what he’d experience. His head began to work. An attack from behind, Elaine came back even though she used to be so obedient? What’s going around? A help? But by who? He was in a deep forest, he couldn't find anyone that fit the idea.

“Please, Stop them from going that way!”

The last sentence was what he needed. A smile crept up across his face as his body began to tense up again. Even though he was exhausted, but, when his daughter asked, he couldn’t simply refuse didn't he? He tightened the knife in his left arm once more, and with a big smile, his heavy voice roared.

“Leave it to me!”

He rushed forward to dispatch the slowest wolf, the one with the limped leg. It was one that he’d hurt earlier, but couldn't deal any last blow. He quickly kicked its side, the wolf rolled on the ground. Seeing its comrade was attacked, the third back rank wolf changed its direction, to attack him. While the two in the front were already ahead, chasing after Bobby.

“Two against one, better than four against one.” He smiled. In fact, it wasn’t four against one before, there were five of them. He had successfully dispatched one before getting injured.

It kept attacking, with its maw forward. But, he kept dodging, and dodging when he saw an opening he smacked its head against his knee. Bam! The wolf, staggering a bit. But, from behind, the limped wolf already stood up, ready to sink its sharp teeth.

He was ready to dodge, but surprising to his eyes, he saw Elaine rushed in to smack on its head with a thick branch on her hands. The limped wolf yipped in pain. Because it was already in a weakened state, even with her strength she could easily beat it.

“I can also fight!” Elaine shouted. “It is two against two, not two against one.”

A warm smile tucked on the corner on his mouth, but at the same time looming thought, he didn't want to risked it, he didn't want her to get hurt.

“Just stay behind, and leave this to me.”

“Please let me help. I can also fight,” but she relented.

There was a fire in her eyes, he saw it, as a father he couldn't simply ignore it.

“...Very well. But, never leave my side.”

“I can guard your back.”

“That's reassuring. Be ready, they’re coming!”

The moment he said that the red wolves had already backed up to their initial position. From the left, the limped wolf aimed at Elaine, launching forward, she took a step back to avoid that. But from another side, the other wolf was also ready to punch an attack. Her father pulled back while pulling Elaine along to dodge the attack, also to avoid being encircled by the red wolves.

Now, they were in front of them.

The limped wolf punched again, lurched its body forward., but this time Elaine didn’t dodge, instead pushing through her newly weapon, the long branch against its wide open maw. it was on weakened state, as it didn’t have any much strength to break free from the stick. It hacked, and coughed as the throat get pierced.

She tried to push more, but before she could, she felt her hands suddenly become hot. She hurriedly released her hands from the stick. It was the specialty of the red lychantes emitting a hot wave from its fangs. But, she had no knowledge about that, looking at her hands, puzzled.

Yet, that was enough time for her father to deal the last blow to the limped wolf. After he kicked the other one away again, he lurched his knife toward its neck. With so little strength left the limped wolf couldn’t dodge anymore, and the thick fur couldn’t protect the incoming sharp knife.

And, it fell dead.

Now, there was only one left.

“Don’t let that one escape!” she said, “Bobby said, they could bring another one.”

Bobby? A name that he hadn't familiar with. But, even without him being told, he would never let them escape in the first place.

They quickly dispatched the remaining one, and they could feel the tension go away from their body. He took a short breath.

“Good job out there. I’m proud of you.” He patted her head. “By the way, who is this Bobby person?”

Her smiling face was gone, and turned darker. She remembered.

“That’s right. The plan should be we’re attacking from both sides, not taking one by one.”

She ran faster as she could toward the way the other wolves were going.

“... Wait, Elaine!” He shouted, but alas she couldn’t hear it anymore, as she was already a bit too far. He was confused by this sudden moment, but followed her anyway.

As far her eyes could see, there was nothing but trees, and green trees. She hadn’t seen anything that resembled humans or wolves. The sun was getting lower, as she delved deep into the forest. It made her have a hard time to see. She needed to peel her eyes open. On the corner of her eyes, something suprised her, on the tree there was red wolf, she thought it was alive. But appreantly it wasn't. It wasn't moving, seemed dead.

She sighed in relief. It meant the man should be at least safe. She kept going forward, she didn’t know the way, but only pushed through.

And it was not long before, on the big tree, it also crashed like the previous one into the tree, she spotted a big body of the red wolf. It also unmoved, died. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but also near the wolf, she spotted a man with a ragged outfit, and ragged hair, Bobby. There was a gash on his right shoulder exposing his pale skin, with red bloods spread out.

The moment she saw that, her mind was wandering into the worst possibility as she began to succumb into despair. Would it become her fault again, for someone dying. I'm really the cursed child. No, no please, no, no.

But, then she could him coughed. She realized that he hadn't died yet, so she hurriedly rushed toward him. The wound on his shoulder was pretty big, almost like a chunk of flesh was taken out. The bleeding didn’t seem stopping.

“Please, no, no, no.” She couldn't hold back the tear in her eyes. At this time, she had no idea what she ought to do. “Please, God, don't let it happen again. Please, help me.”

She remembered there was the potion. The potion that Bobby drank before. The Health potion. Maybe that could help. She needed to look for that. But, unfortunately, the pouch was under the weight's man. Though, she could see it from where she stood, peeked out a bit.

Still, she needed to try. She tried to remove the pouch from the belt. It was hard, but it paid off. She dragged the pouch off the weight. Now, what she needed to do was to look for the red potion.

“Sorry for barging.”

Looking inside the pouch, there were so many tools that she’d never seen before. Nonetheless, she found what she was looking, but there were two red potions. One had a slim bottle and the other one had a chunky bottle. If she remembered correctly the health potion should be one with the chunky bottle.

She couldn't remember it wrong. It piqued her the first time she saw it.

All the noisy clanging from the potions inside wake him up.

“...why.. so….noisy…”

“Oh you’re awake. Please I have found this. I think you should be better if you drink this.”

“..who?…ah, the auburn haired girl…”

“Yes, Elaine. Thank you for your help, my dad is safe now. But, I'm sorry for not sticking to the plan, I caused you so much trouble.”

“no..it doesn’t matt… no… nevermind… that’s… good to hear..”

“Yes, really thank you for your help. But, please drink this, I think you should be better.”

He looked at the potion in Elaine’s hand, even with his blurry vision he could immediately recognize it.

“...Ah… the health potion… but, I don’t think it will do anything…*cough*”

“But, please, I insist….” She begged. “I don’t want anyone to die because of me, again. So, please, I beg you.”

She sobbed hard.

“Why things.. couldn't..just go..on my..way *cough* *cough*”

He hated the fact that he couldn’t just die immediately, but if he left things like this he could just die bleeding out. He wanted to look away from her, but he’d no more strength left.

“alright...just.. stop crying.”

“Thank you.”

He took the potion from Elaine’s hand, and drank the content immediately. He spilled some, but still finished it. Still like he had said, it'd do nothing. Nothing seemed has changed. And Elaine no more idea what to do.

From the distance she could hear the long howl. Another howl. And another one. It called each other. Seemed the situation had gotten worse.

“just leave me here…”

She didn’t want to recognise that word.

From behind her, she could hear the faint footsteps.

It was her father.