The rest of the practice went the same way the start did: easily being beaten and told it would come in handy later. Orion could not argue with the results, he was nearly level 20 when it came to Wood Elf Style Combat. The thought of surpassing basic rank was quite appealing. There was also what he heard about getting something when he did.

“Something that will stay with you and hopefully help you on whatever path you chose for yourself”

When Orion tried to press for details the people he asked smiled and overall said the same thing about it being different for each person. At his rank of Basic when he ranked up to the next rank of Beginner it would be time to see what all the smiles were about.

The forest was becoming increasing brown and everyone around him was becoming tenser, Gaelin and the rest drawing there weapons.

“Orion you should do the same from here on out even with the plan of just talking it’s still most likely they will attack”

With their experience fighting the beastribe it would not be possible for Orion to spot enemies first, each impression of the dirt by his feet brought him closer to some conflict.

Is this really the best way to keep myself alive, Sword in hand walking next to the guy who looks like the leader of the group of people the Beastribe hates?

There were two paths Orion saw in front of him and what the most important thing was. Was it what’s best for the Village or what’s best for him and in the end getting the most for himself was the choice that shined brightest. It would be soon that things could turn ugly so planning everything out perfectly was not an option.

Time to change from an ally to a prisoner

Orion started to sweat as he fumbled with getting his new gift off his wrist. The sudden drop of the leather knife holder surprised Gaelin

“Orion is something the matter?”

“Not a thing, now if you could just hold on to this for me it would be a big help”

Orion lifted the Mold sword into the opening of Gaelin’s pack while they walked. The sight of him desperately shoving a sword into the pack caused a stir with the rest of the squad. With all eyes on him he decided to double down on his choice of action.

“You know what I could use some of the rope of yours”

Confusion stopped Gaelin from responding either verbally or with his body as Orion now had taken the rope from his side. Tieing himself up would be too hard so he asked one of the other members of the squad to do it. They looked over to Gaelin and he nodded.

“Try to leave some rope left I need it”

Now unarmed and bound there was one thing left to do to complete the outfit. Orion came to a sudden halt causing everyone else to do the same, find the nearest tree he walked up facing it pressing his hands to it

It’s all or nothing

Orion violently threw his head back so far he was looking upside down to a half circle of Elf squad troops then just as fast rammed his head into the tree. Instant, overwhelming pain caused him to fall to his knees with blood running down his head. Orion wanted to curl up into a ball but forced himself to stay awake

“Orion why did you do that? Your bleeding let one of us heal you”

Gaelin tried to step forward but Orion waved him off

“No, don’t you get it if you do that all of this-“

Orion saw passed the squad that now tried to hover over him what had to be at least a dozen of the beastribe.

How much of my planning did they see me do? Everything? There’s no way to know and I can’t even be sure this is a winnable fight. No… I already picked what to do

Orion slowly stood up to face the crowed of worried people and pulled up whatever misplaced anger he had about his place in the world and hoped it showed through.

“Its impressive how little you think of humans or maybe it’s not considering how you treat the Beastmen who you attacked in the first place”

“I don’t know what’s going on but for now let’s rest here”

One of the squad, the woman who was touching the tree earlier held Orion by his side. Those few seconds were all Orion could make for the Beastmen and it seemed to be enough. One of them, large with a rams head seemed to raise his spear while looking at Orion in a sort of thanks.

Just make it fast

Orion broke free then wrapped his arm around her neck, before she could struggle a spear flew into her and sent them both into the tree. Now with a dying elf impaled on top of him and an even fresher blow to the head Orion just sat there and watch something that could not even be considered a battle.

Arrows flew in one large wave cutting down another with only Gaelin able to deflect the arrows from hitting him in time fully. When the arrows stopped the Beastmen came tumbling in quickly overwhelming whoever was left standing. The Ram head leader walked over to where Orion laid, easily seven feet tall it pulled the spear out of the now dead Elf and walked over to where Gaelin knelt. The spear glowed slightly then was launched instantly killing him.

Orion started to go numb and as he lost his ability to stay awake a thought held tight till the end.

Did I make the right choice?