Chapter 13: Whispering Pines - friend or foe
The journey unfolded seamlessly, with only a few more squads appearing along the way, all of which they dispatched with relative ease. The small figure remained enigmatic, never revealing his combat prowess, yet Jahad could instinctively sense an underlying strength within him. Perhaps he belonged to class F, Jahad mused, contemplating the potential that lay beneath the surface. Agon was a good addition to the roster, able to use wind and fire magic. Jahads knowledge from Airus allowed Agon to use his spells, just not as effectively. Lepic and the group glided lazily using Agons spells. The knights and the boy looked at them enviously as they trudged forward.
Three uneventful days had passed, they were three quarters deep into the whispering woods, already passing several sectors. Soon they would be back at the hollow district, Jahad and Lepics district. The spectral steed made its pit stop, allowing the guards to relax. Although they could get attacked at any instant, all encounters had ended swiftly. Lepic and Jahad sat, Gladius and Agon surveyed the woods, any opposition they encountered, Jahad would know instantly. It felt as if their minds were linked. Jahad nibbled on a square ration. It tasted surprisingly good, better then what he had eaten in his previous life, although the food he had from the underground stands were much more gourmet then the square compressed block.Lepic was doing the same but then his head perked up. He dropped his ration, startling Jahad slightly, and stood up. He pulled his sleeve up, revealing a symbol that glowed on his wrist, light blue in color, depicting twin snakes wrapped around a winged staff. He put his wrist to his ear and spoke. Jahad stayed silent as Lepic walked towards the forest for privacy, murmuring into his wrist. A communication spell, Jahad thought. It seemed important since he moved away from Jahad and the other group. Jahad noticed the other group; the two knights looked up at Lepic walking away and whispered to each other. The small figure sat apart from them. Although he was part of the group, it didn''t seem by choice—he always chose to sit away from them, ate away from them, and never engaged in conversation. What a weird dynamic, Jahad pondered.
Twenty minutes had passed, ten more before the spectral steed started up again, Lepic nowhere to be seen. The two knights glanced at Jahad before whispering. Jahad gripped his spear tightly but acted as if he had not noticed their gaze. He could feel the tension in the air, a mix of curiosity and unease. The knights'' whispers hinted at something more, perhaps a secret or a plan, but Jahad remained focused, ready to respond if needed. He called to Gladius and Agon in his mind, Agon was in the tree tops, stealthily waiting, Gladius closer to Jahad but still hidden behind a large redwood tree. The two knights stood up and walked towards Jahad, their weapons in hand however he did not sense any malice. Jahad stood, hoisting himself up with his spear.
"Everything okay?" Jahad said with authority. The knight with the halberd inquired curiously, "Where are your friends?" Before Jahad could respond, a claymore blade narrowly missed his head, his quick reflexes saving him. The knight grunted as the blade lodged into the tree behind Jahad, surprised by his swift reaction. Jahad swiftly thrust his spear forward, a lightning flurry of strikes aimed at the claymore user. However, none of the strikes landed; the knight had reinforced himself with water magic, rendering his armor and body fluid-like against attacks. The other knight, Jabbed using his halberd missing Jahads abdomen, he twirled it causing it to slice Jahad. It was a shallow cut but caused Jahad to skitter backwards. The next jab came but Jahad parried it with his spear head before sending a strike of his own, the knight swivelled his head, getting nicked in the neck. He growled “brat” as he moved back, regaining the composure to unleash an attack. Fiery mana swirled into magical circles, and Jahad could feel the heat radiating from the halberd as it grew three times in size. The blazing torrent around the weapon created an intimidating spectacle. As the knight swung, Jahad leapt over the arc, using the momentum to grab onto the weapon, even as it scorched his hand.
Propelling himself towards the knight, Jahad''s spear glimmered with intent as he thrust with all his might. The impact echoed through the air as it smashed against the claymore, the claymore user had guarded the halberd knight. The vibration traveled up Jahad''s arm, but he quickly adapted, launching a vicious kick while still airborne. The strike connected, and he darted backward, ready for whatever came next. The halberd spun, leaving a wave of fire on the ground as the two knights coordinated their attacks against Jahad, believing he was alone. Jahad parried, ducked, and dived, staying on the defensive, his senses heightened by the black wisps that coursed through him. He waited patiently for a wide swing or an ample opportunity for Gladius to intercept, knowing that timing was everything in this intense battle. The flames flickered around him, but his focus remained sharp, ready to seize the moment when it would come.
The claymore stabbed into the air as Jahad sidestepped, seizing the moment to step forward and grab the man''s gauntlet. With a swift tug, he sent the knight sprawling, the water magic that reinforced him proving useless as he tumbled forward. Taking advantage of the chaos, Jahad unleashed a torrent of black wisps towards the halberd man''s mask, briefly blinding him. Although the wisps wouldn''t dig in, they provided a crucial cover. Instantly, Jahad commanded Gladius to intercept, and a massive swing of the halberd crashed into Gladius''s sword, the knight holding it back with determination. Meanwhile, Agon unleashed blazing spears formed from wind and fire magic, pushing the halberd knight back and creating the perfect opening for Jahad to focus his attack on the water knight. The battle raged on, each move calculated and filled with purpose, as the tide began to turn in Jahad''s favor.
Jahad''s knee slammed into the water knight''s mask, sending the helmet flying. The man looked at Jahad, his lips tinged with blood. He smirked, “That''s some nasty magic you got there,” he said, gritting his teeth. Jahad''s spear flashed as he drove its head forward, but the knight guarded using the claymore''s broad blade. The floor beneath his feet swirled with magical circles, allowing him to use water to slip and glide through each onslaught that Jahad sent his way, showcasing his expertise with the spear. The tension in the air thickened as they continued their fierce exchange, each combatant determined to gain the upper hand. The clash of weapons echoed through the arena as Jahad faced the water knight, who wielded a massive claymore with precision. Jahad, armed with his powerful spear, danced around the knight, his movements fluid and calculated. Each thrust of the spear was met with the broad blade of the claymore, creating a symphony of steel as sparks flew.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Jahad''s agility allowed him to evade the knight''s heavy strikes, countering with swift, piercing jabs that forced the knight to retreat. The water knight, though skilled, struggled to keep up with Jahad''s relentless assault. With each successful strike, Jahad pushed the knight back, his confidence growing as he showcased his mastery over the spear. However, just when it seemed like victory was within Jahad''s grasp, the water knight revealed a hidden technique. He swung his claymore wide, and Jahad instinctively raised his spear to block the attack. But as the blade connected, the claymore transformed into water, obscuring Jahad''s view. In that moment of confusion, the knight seized the opportunity. As the water cascaded away, Jahad regained his sight just in time to see the knight execute an underhanded sweep with the now-fluid form of his weapon. The sudden shift caught Jahad off guard, and the tide of the battle shifted in an instant, leaving him momentarily vulnerable as the knight prepared to capitalize on his advantage. The sudden swing caused Jahad to tumble backwards, it narrowly missed him, the wind that followed the strike cutting Jahads face, leaving a shallow mark. The knight readied to deal the decisive blow but Jahad was also ready. In the instance, Agon summoned several magical circles, each lined with a fiery bolt fueled by wind magic, all ready to bore into the water knight, Gladius locked in a clash with the halberd user. Before the water knight swung, before Jahad ordered Agon to unleash a barrage, the knight''s arm flew into the air, severed from its owner. Blood gushed from the wound, he clutched it with his other hand screaming, the other knight with the halberd looked to him. The shift in focus was the cause of his death. Gladius used the momentum of the clash to dig the halberd blade into the ground before plunging his blade into the man''s stomach. He slammed backwards howling at the pain.
The water knights'' screams echoed in the forest. Jahad looked around to see who dealt the blow, the masked figure behind him, he twirled his staff before summoning another magical circle, the stars and galaxies swirling within the runic symbols, another arc of steam sliced through the man''s reinforced armour with ease, dismembering his other arm. The hooded figure had used fire and water magic to invoke steam, whilst using wind to send it as a lightning fast arc. Jahad got into a stance, his spear low and ready. His hand still scorched, he held his spear one handedly with it, using the other hand to crunch a Vestra Vial onto the wound. The hooded figure stepped forward, a blackened mask still covering his face. He let go of his staff, using wind magic it hovered as he raised his hand signalling no ill will. Jahad muttered “I had it under control” as he relaxed.
He felt Gladius’s warning, the knight was not dead, Jahad could see behind the figure, the knight charged towards him, the boy unaware of the impending doom behind him. Jahads eyes widened and he dashed forward, startling the masked boy. Before the knight reached him, a dagger shot through his heart, he staggered forward, causing Jahad and the figure to snap their gazes towards the area. It was Lepic walking towards them. The knight clutched his heart before another dagger bisected his body to two. In an instance he flitted forward, the masked figure frightened by the speed. Lepics dagger cleaned, it cleanly rested near the boy''s throat, the cold steel glimmered as beads of sweat skittered on its blade. His hands were still terrified. “Who are you?” Lepic snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. Jahad opened his mouth to protest, knowing that, despite the chaos, he had the situation under control. The boy had tried to help him, but Lepic shot him a look that clearly defied Jahad''s futile attempt at diplomacy. With a swift motion, he pressed the tip of his dagger against the bottom of the mask, flicking it off with an air of arrogance. The tension in the air thickened as the masked figure''s identity was revealed, each moment hanging heavy with uncertainty and potential danger.
Underneath the mask revealed a fair face, gentle skin without any blemish, framed by cascading brown bangs that shimmered like spun bronze. Jahad’s heart skipped a beat as he realized that all this time, he had assumed this figure was a boy, but standing before him was a girl, strikingly beautiful and about his age. Her bright eyes sparkled with a mix of defiance and curiosity, challenging the preconceived notions that had clouded Jahad''s judgment. The soft curve of her lips hinted at a smile, yet the fierce determination in her gaze spoke volumes about her strength and resolve. In that moment, the battlefield faded away, leaving only the undeniable connection that sparked between them amidst the chaos.
Lepic''s dagger pressed against her throat again, a small incision created by it. “Answer. Now.” His voice was stern, and her lips trembled a bit before she spoke.
“Please,” she whispered, her voice gentle and soft, like a lullaby carried in the wind. Despite the danger she faced, there was a soothing quality to her words, a calmness that contrasted sharply with the tension in the air. It was as if she were trying to bridge the gap between fear and understanding, hoping to diffuse the situation with her delicate tone. In jahads previous life, he had no qualms about killing women, kids his age. Regardless of gender and age, he was forced to kill. However, in this new life, he felt as if he had a choice. Although he still kills, it felt different to before. He killed out of necessity. If you pick up the sword, be ready to die by the sword. He thought to himself. He spoke again, disregarding Lepics annoyance. “He-” he paused briefly, “She helped me out Lepic, I don’t think she’s with them”. Her radiant almond eyes looked at Jahad appreciatively. She nodded vigorously to agree with him. “I was tagging along with them, I just needed the extra money, I swear”. Lepics dagger was still held there but was no longer pressed. “Swear by your sacred divinity that you''re not a threat to us” his voice slightly more tender. She hesitated for a second but spoke. Every word that exited her soft lips seemed to give off serenity. She raised her right hand further. “I, Nova Clarke, swear by my sacred divinity bestowed by the old queen Eris, have not been ordered to kill or harm your group and have only gone on this mission for gold, I am not affiliated with the duo of knights”.