Chapter 1 - Death

I ducked out of the way of the arrow with a curse.

“You ok honey?” My dad yelled, already running at our ambushers.

“Of course!” I yelled back, preparing my first shot. The enemies weren't all that many - perhaps two dozen all in all - so I took time to search for a valuable target. It was best to take out any mages or elementalists first - even one of these could turn the tide of a battle. I spotted none, so I search for the enemy commander.

There. First among those charging at my father and his guards. I allowed myself a grin before loosing my arrow. Unlike the incompetent idiots attacking us I didn't miss hitting the bastard right in the middle of his chest.

My arrow knocked right through their leaders breastplate - only thin, boiled leather - and he collapsed with a cry of anguish. My dad and the other guards it the bandits frontline a moment later, so I turned my attention to their archers. They didn't have a leader, so I picked one of the few that actually looked like he knew what he was doing.

My arrow hit his arm right as he was about to lose another arrow, making it fly wide. I smothered a grin - I shouldn't enjoy killing people. I sighed as I felt an instant arm tugging me back into the safety of our wagon.

“MOM!” I protested.

“Don't mom me young lady! Get here in this moment!” She yelled, pulling with all her strength. I didn't stand a chance - I was only fourteen and she was an adult, there was no way I could win.

“Come on mom, I didn't even take my staff!” I whined.

“You will not risk your life so recklessly!” She chided, forcing me to sit down in front of her.

“But I wanna, dad didn't teach me to sit here!” I insisted, getting up and opening the door behind her. Getting ready to step out.

Mom stood up, stopping me from leaving the carriage with her body. I froze.

NO! Nono! Nonono!

I saw it happen in slow motion, one of the enemies losing an arrow just as I looked over her shoulder, right at my mother’s back. NO! She couldn't see it coming, couldn't duck.

I was flooded by horror, moving to shove her in safety, but I knew I was too slow. Nonono, this couldn't be happening!

Crack. I could see something flooding my body, yet nothing happened, the arrow continued its flight of death, unerringly, unstoppable. Death.

No! I wouldn't allow it! I focused everything, my very being on the arrow, forcing it to stop before it hit my mother.

I felt something leaving me, and a wave of intense exhaustion washed over me, but I didn't let that stop me, my focus on the arrow still.

It was near, barely a meter left.

It stopped midair, and time resumed. I’d never really attacked my mother, so she was surprised by my shove, and fell back onto her bench. I slammed the door shut, collapsing into my bench.

“Honey? What happened?” Mom asked, confusion visible on her face even as tears started streaming down my face.

“I'm sorry, I'msososorry. I won't do it again. I'msorry.” I wailed to my mother’s obvious confusion. She moved towards me anyways, embracing me in the way only a mother could. I clutched her with all my might, relief and deep exhausting warring.

"Nothing happened, no need to worry." She said, trying to sooth me.

I held on tight, like I would be drowning without her. Everything receded, until the exhaustion caught up and I fell asleep in my mother's embrace.