Chapter 20- Awakening Aura!

The caravan had been traveling for 2 months now and Eliana had been accepted by everyone. She helped cook, nurse some warriors injuries, and what many respected the most was that she fought on the front lines with the burly men and women.

Currently their caravan was under attack by a beast known as the stone fist ape. They were a hype aggressive pack group with roughly the same features of a normal ape, but they were stronger and faster and had hands coated in stone. Eliana was fighting valiantly against two at the same time because the man who helped her side was injured.

Sidestepping a hammer fist from one ape and parrying the fist of another Eliana gave a quick thrust into the side one the one on the right. After a little resistance the saber slid perfectly between the bones like she planned. Enraged by letting one of his pack get hurt, the ape threw a blind punch at Eliana. Smiling, Eliana suddenly let go of the saber and jumped back barely dodging the blow, while the already flying punch smashed into the wounded ape's side. Taking the moment when they were separated, Eliana threw her right hand at the unwounded ape's face. Her target: the eyes.

GGgguuuUoooOoo!

The monster ape let out a heart rending cry as Eliana tore out it's right eye. After pulling it's eye out she quickly ducked to the ground and, in one motion using her free left hand, she threw a handful of dirt into the ape's only eye. Then while the blinded ape was thrashing about, she rushed over to the one with her saber in it's side. Ruthlessly killing the ape still disoriented by it's companion's strike.

After finally killing one, she turned to the blinded one and easily evaded it's frenzied rampage stabbing the saber into it's chest. Throughout the whole ordeal she did not bat an eye once or show a shred of mercy. The innocent and kind girl that Roen saved was almost no where to be found. To top it off she immediately ran off to help the other warriors in killing the rest of the apes.

"I guess you're quite savage now huh?" Roen's comment made its way to Eliana's ears and she instantly turned red. She couldn't refute him. After spending weeks fighting against monsters, and barely holding onto your life one has to pick up a few nasty tricks to survive.

"Thanks for saving my skin."

"Great work out there girl!"

"Nice job today blood princess."

Comments and thanks came from the warriors whose group had dwindled down to a mere 17 of the original 30. However the title 'blood princess' came along when the warriors realized the origin of Eliana, but on the lie that she was running away to become strong they naturally accepted her. Even the once arrogant young noble had a complete change of character towards her.

That night a large banquet was held for the caravan in celebration for fending off the monsters. The warriors were especially rowdy because who knows if they'll survive the next day, they are 'live in the moment' type of people.

Everyone was making merry and singing tales of their heroics around a crackling fire, jugs of alcohol clashing endlessly, laughter, shouts, and the sounds of the forrest all blended together to create a rowdy symphony. That is everyone but Roen, who sat far away from the light of the fire, in the cold night. A bottle of glowing blue light was being drained by him in a greedily fashion. When he finally finished the contents he gazed into the night sky with many emotions being expressed in his eyes.

Sometimes he would gaze back at the rambunctious party happening at the camp, but he never joined. That was not his world anymore. Suddenly standing up he staggered off deeper into the woods searching for a release of his emotions.

He came to a clearing that was obviously made recently by a fairly big monster. Searching for it's signs he quickly found it's tracks. His eyes glowed with bloodlust. In a small area around him no small animal dared to make a sound or movement in the presence of this death god.

GGGGUUUUOOOOOO!

A familiar animal scream pounded into him. A warm smile broke out onto his face as he gazed at the large lizard.

"Come, let me show you how low you are."

Saying those words two purple spheres started to coalesce in his palms. If one looked closely they could see a face that was constantly being pulled back into the ball. Without a sound Roen instantly appeared next to the giant lizard and lightly pressed one of the purple spheres into it's side. The purple sphere seemed to easily pass through the tough hide of the monster and disappear. The giant lizard turned toward Roen with surprise, as if it say a ghost and jumped away a considerable distance. It now paid Roen all of its attention.

"You can't run, burst!"

Following Roen's words the area where Roen inserted the sphere blasted open leaving a hole in the lizard's side.

"Tsk too weak, arc!"

Without giving the lizard time to so much as scream Roen's next slew of words changed the other purple sphere in his hand into a spear that plunged itself into the hole created by the first. The monster instantly died this time with a large column missing from it's midsection. Instead of brightening his mood Roen's face held nothing but a sour expression.

Walking back to the caravan, Roen was in deep thought.

'To think it took two single word spells to kill such a lizard. If my predictions are correct, then this will be quite unpleasant.'

Reaching the area where he left Roen took a quick look at the campfire. However instead of a huge party, everyone was surrounding something or someone. Looking closer to the center Roen's eyes grew wide open and he instantly appeared next to Eliana. She was on the ground sweating profusely with both her eyes tightly closed.

"Who did this!" Roen's angry shout awakened everyone from staring at he who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Little one please calm yourself, she is merely awakening her aura."

"Explain yourself!" Roen's anger had barely subsided as he glared at the crowd.

"Well everyone's awakening is different, but she has a common one so it was easy to point out. She should be fine when she wakes up."

Although Roen knew she should be fine, he stayed next to her awaiting her revival.

The following morning Eliana awakened to find her body was full of energy. Then she finally saw Roen staring at her intently with drowsiness evident in his eyes.

"Did you stay up to make sure I'm ok?"

"A master who disregards his servants is not fit to be a master."

"So that's a yes?"

"Good morning."