I was forced to shift D’iabel into a sword in the heat of the moment to parry attacks from the side. Rest of the warriors acted far less thoughtlessly as they already learned that even cornered I can bite. That wasn’t much of the fight, they jumped in, traded blow or two and ran back. Yeah, they have the advantage of location and numbers, they didn’t have to rush things, chances that some squad of the military would march near the inn were almost non-existing.

I couldn’t chant any spell, each time I cried word or two they strengthened assault forcing me to stop, so I was limited to cast only most basic form of the spells – in the current situation, almost with no effect at all. And then the woman moved – when I was distracted parrying another slash. In a blink of an eye, she shortened the distance between us and hit me with the sword’s head in the guts. Her strength was insane. Mere punch forced me to take few steps back as it completely broke through my defense. Then she advanced forward. Her slashes turned into blur which I barely saw, when the sword cut through the wind it made the sound of a singing bird.

Yet she avoided dealing serious wounds. Soon I noticed why. Her blade scratched my cheek making a small drop of blood slowly paint my face. This is when I noticed – my wounds wouldn’t heal. She was holding a bloody enchanted weapon! If she would stab me with that I would be done! But that also means that I am supposed to be delivered alive, at all cost… maybe… Shall we gamble?

As her blade was approaching I waited until the very last moment and dropped my guard performing thrust. Her eyes widened as she took a step to the side stopping her attack and avoiding mine. Her reaction time is insane! She truly is… she truly is in the same league as Jericho. Still, I may at least tease her a little.

She was supposed to be in my blind spot as she was simply too close, my hand with the sword was stretched and it was impossible for me to make use of it at this very moment. So I used my head. Literally. With satisfaction, I saw as her nose start bleeding after meeting with my forehead. She took a step back, I did the same getting on the opposite side of the room.

She touched her nose and admired the blood on her hand, then she looked at me

“You are crazy. Simply insane. I could have killed you, yet you… do you have your life for nothing?!” “Quite the opposite, sunshine, I love my life, but unlike you, I have nothing to lose can you say the same… also… how long can you hold your breath?” I asked innocently, while I put my hand on my belt and grabbed a vial of purple liquid which I smashed on the ground.

The liquid in the glass after contact with air started to evaporating creating a dense smoke. I bluffed, it wasn’t deadly at all, all that could do was to cause you to cough, maybe you would have a sore throat for an hour, but they don’t know about this. As soon as I was hidden from their gaze I started running back to the window through which I jumped landing on the hard soil beneath me. It hurt like a bitch, but I had no time to waste. I started running in direction of the forest.

Amelia’s POV

Smoke raised quickly. He asked me how long I could hold my breath. For enough to catch him, but I couldn’t say the same thing about my people… and innkeeper and his daughter. I am a bloody paladin! I swore to protect innocent! The fact that I needed to threaten them like a bandit, to lure him out of his cave was making my blood boil just enough! But he… he is not concerned about the life of other people at all! He is a madman! At first, I didn’t like the idea of invading enemy territory for one man… but slowly I was thinking that there is a reason for him to have a meeting with torturer.

I grabbed my two men and throw them outside, then I took innkeeper and his daughter, and ran back for remaining four more solider

I wasn’t fast enough though! The last two man inhaled the gas!

“Lucas! Look at me! Everything will be fine!” He was fighting for breath “Don’t you dare to give up! Can you hear me?!”

Fuck! FUCK! I already lost four of my men! Good men! I am not letting

„C… Commander!”

- „Save your breath, soldier!”

- „It’s.. .n..not that b…bad!”

“… excuse me?” “My throat hurts, but I know this gas, local alchemist in c..capital was using it on the burglars. It’s not deadly. He tricked us.”

… he made fool out of me. I have never been so mad and happy in same time.

“You two, rest for a while. George, Simon, try surrounding him I go right after that bastard!

I put the sword back and tore a piece of branch from the nearest tree, after fast modification it could be barely called a mace. I was told not to kill him, but I think that I could break a leg or two.

I quickly start running after him, the trace he left was fresh. He has about two minutes of head start… I should get him in a minute then. I felt as holy magic was rushing through my body as I cast lesser boosting spell. I bolted after mage. I was moving past trees and bushes with speed that would make most of the people dizzy.

The traces were easy to be seen, broken branches, footprints in the sand… why are those footprints changing? First, those were normal prints of boots, then of naked feet. Human’s feet… so, why are they slowly looking like hoofs?

Wait. Those traces are far too visible, almost as if made on purpose…

I lost my footing. I never lose my footing just like that! He must have placed a thin rope on ankle level on which I stumbled. Rope itself isn’t much of a threat… unless…

Mid-falling I quickly grabbed another branch. The ground in front of my face collapsed revealing sharpened wooden spikes. That was close… CRAP! My senses screamed and I quickly rolled to the side. Three arrows hit the ground I was standing on a moment ago.

“Where did you got that bow from?!” I called in the forest. I hoped that he would answer, reveal his location… “That will be my sweet little secret!”

LEFT! I charged onward in direction of the voice… but behind the bushes, there was no white haired boy waiting for me… but a lone bird looking at me with a surprised gaze. Afraid he flew to the sky.

What is happening here?! Another arrow which I barely dodged.

“Sorry sunshine, but the forest is in my domain. You should have retreated. Wait for another occasion… unless… Can't you wait? Maybe I should vanish then? Disappear in the darkness?”

The voice was changing its location all the time.

“You won’t. You are far too proud for that.” And to foolish… “Is that really what you think? Well, see you then.”

… it became quiet around me. he is bluffing! Same as with potion! I waited for the another arrow, all tensed up. But it never came

You are shitting me! He ran away! He really did! FUCK! I just gave him, even more, time to run and prepare ambushes! Just where did he go?! WHERE?

West. Of course that West. As far from us and kingdom as possible. That’s the most rational solution… North then. Why? Because I doubt he would be rational about that. And after few dozen of steps, I have noticed traces once again. Little rat. He is clever. Damn, I am afraid that I could have just this one chance! We lured him only because he did not suspect us attacking him so deep in Neira territory! He will be more careful from now on! Out of my reach! I have to catch him! I have to! NOW OR NEVER! Even if I would have to use it now…

“Angel of fire, guardian of my heart,

I beg you, lend me your powers,”

I started a gentle chant as I grabbed a small crystal pendant that shattered after the spell was activated. It was made to hunt for the witches. It seeks for nearest, strongest source of magic. I just hoped that in this forest there was no sacred ground which could attract the spell….

I rushed after the trail of light. Faster! Faster!

“Angel of wind! Be my wings,

Lead me through the sky, which I pray to reach!...”

FASTER! FASTER!

I walked past another trap, yet I managed to leave its area of effect before it triggered. I am Amelia Scarlet! I am called strongest human alive for the reason! No petty mage will fool me thrice in a row!

I can see it! Is almost in the reach of my grasp!...N…No. It’s not him! It’s some kind of monster! With hooves on rear legs and claws on frontal, running quickly through the forest… did… did I lose him?

No. Wait! That beast’s hair… are white. Just on top of its head, just like this kid! I must be sure! I accelerated even more! Faster! I outrun the creature and stood in front of him just to look in his eyes. One was blue, another was green. Just like that kid.

“My my. I thought they were exaggerating after calling you a monster.” I said to the creature that stopped in front of me “That monster hiding among the humans was merely a name they gave you. But I see they were lying at all.” “You dare calling ME a MONSTER? Tell me, which one of us invaded another’s home? Who took hostages? You dare calling yourself a knight! A paladin! But you are nothing more than a bandit! A killer that can be bought by coin! How much they gave you!?... tell me. What do you desire?”

His eyes… why does he look like someone who can actually help me? No! NO! Must be some kind of illusion so I would let my guard down!

“I wasn't paid with coins, but with something that I can’t refuse. Not for myself. It’s for… greater good. If the life of a murderer can save life on innocent being, then I am willing to trade your life for her.” “Murderer…” he grinned “That what they told you? I am a gifted alchemist. I started an underground company that produces potions and sells them for half of the price. Murderer? Unlike you, I can save more lives in a day than you in your whole life, butcher.”

Alchemist? They never told me about that! But considering that potion he used in the inn… C rank adventurer can’t afford such potions, not for basic escort missions. That would make sense.

I wanted to ask. Can you cure my sister? But I know he couldn’t. She is being treated by finest healers of the church, which can do nothing. And he? He will lie. In such position, he would say that he can cure every disease in the world, that he is the only one that can do that. They always promise things they cannot give, just to save their lives. But maybe… just maybe…

“Tell me. Hypothetically, if you would find an ill child on the street, what would you do.”

He looked at me as on crazy woman

“Probably nothing.”

What?

“Is that so?” “What you want me to tell? That I would take care of every sick, lost orphan? There will be always more. No matter how many times I would help them, there would be another just behind the corner. Maybe, if I would find some personal connection with sick one, then maybe, or when I would think that I have really nothing to lose. But as I said. I can’t take care of everyone in need. It is impossible and I would lose whole time that I could sacrifice on getting better. And by getting better I can eventually help more. But I am mostly helping friends. And friends of friends.”

Is he being honest? Maybe he is doing that just to trust him

“So you would help if you would get something from that?” He nodded “Could you… could you heal a very serious disease? The one exhausting body?” “How the fuck should I know? You want me to tell if I can fix something without examination? What kind of disease? When did it start? How many stages it had? I am not a fucking fortune teller.. oh wait, actually I am…” he looked at me sharply “You want to bargain something?”

I hesitated.

“No. You won’t be able to do anything. Best healers are helpless, barely able to keep her condition stable…” “Do you, by any chance, belong to some influential party? Tell me, are they asking you for a favor, from time to time, to compensate their services? Is this why you are here?” “What if yes?” “Oh, I will tell you. They are probably making her condition worse on purpose.” … what? “Tell me, why would they help you out completely? Then you would help them once, twice, thrice… and consider your debt paid. No, they would try making themselves irreplaceable. I don’t know if I would manage to help you, but those healers of yours will never, ever improve the condition of your dearest.” “How can you know that?” “Plotting, backstabbing, using each other. That’s what you humans do.”

Indeed. Her disease was serious, very serious, but ever since we asked church for healers her condition was only worse and worse…

No. I can’t risk it. He is a big deal, I will deliver him and then tell the bishop, that if my sister won’t feel any better, I will consider their services as lacking and shatter our deals. Yes. That’s the safest option.

I am sorry if that would be about anyone else I would probably believe you, but it’s not about anyone else. I won’t gamble the life of my little, pure, innocent sister. I won’t believe someone who killed four of my men without batting an eye. No, I would do same if I was him, I would do everything to save my life. But, he didn’t hesitate. He acted like the life of a human is nothing! I won’t believe him! I can’t believe him! Not now.

“I am sorry.” I only said.

He wasn’t expecting much. He only nodded and sharpened his claws. We both rushed at each other. He swung, I strike.

His body fell to the ground unconscious.