"Stay together with the shields up and don't get split off from the group!", ordered the captain.

The guards, who were all equipt with shields, stood shoulder to shoulder in a half-circle formation around Elincia, the innkeeper and his daughter. But behind the small defensive wall stood not only those who needed protection but also Bao and Morell who could carry out attacks on all sides from behind the shields.

Like a horde of wild animals without any strategy or coordination, the villagers armed with nothing but farming tools stormed against the sturdy guards who didn't budge an inch at their first assault attempt. The villagers just crashed against the shields and tried to break through with sheer brute force which made it very clear that they had no experience in fights or wielding weapons.

The arms of the guards which formed the first line started to feel heavy as there didn't seem to be an end to the constant stream of villagers.

"They are trying to overrun us with their sheer numerical superiority!", screamed Morell as he swung his giant sword over the heads of the guards.

"I know! If this drags on any longer we'll be at a disadvantage!", echoed the voice of the commander through the sound of clashing swords and shields.

Wounded villagers on the ground screamed for their mothers and begged for someone to help them, as their blood seeped through the small cracks in the floor. It didn't take him long to notice that amongst the bodies, that lied around, were no casualties, only wounded or unconscious ones.

"If you want to survive this mess you'll have to kill them! You can't just knock them down! There are always more coming in from the entrance to help their fellow villagers, despite them not even knowing that they are assisting murderers!" Bao stung his sword between two guards right into the chest of an attacker. "We need to finish this quickly before even more people will die!"

"No, stop it! Everyone put down your weapons please," screamed the innkeeper's wife with all her might and tears rolling down her red cheeks. But her words found no hearing.

Another new wave of villagers pressed themselves against their shield wall denying them even a single second of rest. The guards, deprived of their remaining strength, got pushed back by sheer force and had no way of defending themselves as the swords in their hands felt too heavy to lift. Even Bao had his share of troubles, slipping through the red river that had formed under his feet as he hurried from side to side, depending on where he was needed the most.

The bearded man who was in charge of the small purging force had reached the frontline right next to Bao's position. Up close the man seemed even bigger with his broad arm muscles which were probably bigger than his head.

A pitchfork that slipped through their defence left a small red line on Bao's cheek.

"If this continues, you'll be responsible for even more deaths, even amongst your own people, do you really want that to happen?", screamed Bao, ducked behind one of the shielded guards.

Not even the blink of an eye had passed that the bearded man swung a big smithing hammer in his big paw-like hands, over the head and slammed it into the guard's shield who flew back a few meters, crashing into the nearest wall behind them.

"So is this your response? I didn't want to show it but I'm kinda happy that I can take revenge for the poor little girl."

Bao dashed forward to fill the gap in their thin shield wall just to stand face to face with a two-meter tall package of muscles. Again the blacksmith, despite the heavy weapon, didn't hesitate to attack a second time, letting his hammer whizz down upon Bao, who evaded at a hairs breath with a swift sidestep.

Like a meteor, the hammer crashlanded into the floor, sending wooden splinters flying all across the room. Most of them bounced off from his leather armour which he had forgotten to wear in the last fight, but one sharp piece remained stuck in his thigh.

Now that the weapon was stuck, all of his attacker's body parts were exposed to the tip of Bao's sword.

He had not forgotten the pain in the eyes of the young ghost girl when she told him her story. Game or not he just couldn't forgive the villagers misdeeds.

Without mercy, he drilled his sword through flesh and bones just beneath the lowest rib.

The bearded man cursed and screamed out loud in his deep voice that everyone in the room, be it friend or foe, turned silent.

Even though the rattling sound of iron clashing on iron still echoed in his ears no one moved. All eyes were set on him and the man in front of him.

Blood flowed down the sword and dripped from the hilt on his hand. It felt warm in the midst of the chilly storm which raged outside.

The bearded man let go of his weapon and straightened up, ignoring the hole in the side of his torso. A strong man with an even stronger will, thought Bao.

He had now the chance to kill one of the people who brought pain and agony to a young girl and her family with his own two hands. Not to mention that the quest for revenge would be completed and bring the fighting to an end. Just one chop with his sword and all problems would have been solved.

"Papa no! leave him alone!"

Bao didn't even perceive the voice which echoed across the room, all of his thoughts were pointed in deciding on what action he should take. Only after he felt a short blunt hit against his injured thigh, he noticed the little child who hammered with his small fists against his leg.

"Stop hurting Papa!"

"No Adrell, go away from him!", screamed a female voice.

The father of the child didn't react to its sudden appearance, he seemed to have fallen unconscious whilst standing, with blood still flowing out of the wound inflicted. If Bao wouldn't make a decision soon, nature would make it for him.

"Put down your weapons and surrender yourself to us! We'll heal everyone and only bring those who are responsible for the killing of the innocent merchant family to the castle on the frontline, no one else shall be punished. Enough blood had been spilt already!"

As a statue who gave weight to his words, the leader who until now stood still on the same spot fell to the ground. One villager after the other let go of their weapons, which were nothing but farming tools, to begin with.

Elincia stepped to his side as people were treated and the moans and cries of the wounded finally subsided.

"You did the right thing, David," she said.

"Did I? Leaving murderers and rapists alive for not making their children's orphans, despite them having done the same to others?" Bao turned his head in her direction. "Did I really make the right choice?"