The worst thing about starting a fight of this scale is waiting. You know your life’s at risk. You know you might lose a finger, a hand, a leg or your head. But you chase these thoughts away. You know that as soon as the fighting starts, these thoughts will vanish. But you just can’t help but think about the possibilities, the endless morbid possibilities.

Raiya had coated me with protective spells. As long as I didn’t get hit with more than a spell at once, I should be fine. But when did I ever catch a break? I couldn’t rely on protective spells. I had to rely on my senses and hope they’re sharp enough after I’ve lost my breath and my arms and legs ached. Fights aren’t an easy business. Unlike popular belief, you get tired quickly.

Fighting a duel is one thing. Fighting a war is another. I didn’t know that then, I’d lost most of my memories, remember? And a war was coming. The fifty soldiers heading our way were preparing a nasty surprise for us.

I hid above a tree, away from sight, between thick branches and falling leaves. Thank my stars they hadn’t shed everything yet. Raiya waited for the posse to get to the tree, her vessel, her pride. She said she’d defend it with her life. No living soul would be allowed inside without her permission. I reminded her of my grandfather and was almost granted an early release from fighting duty. She was in a really bad mood. I pitied the fool who’d engage her first.

Footsteps, loud and mechanical, reached my ears. They all moved in one rhythm, one fashion. We had an organized unit heading our way. Well, maybe not just one….

Sisha had given us their numbers, but he didn’t specify whether they moved in one unit or not. In fact, they had divided into three. I heard them approaching the tree from the north, east and west. Their stomps reverberated throughout the forest, scare tactics, typical…

They aimed to surround us. How foolish of them. Picking them off, now that their numbers have been divided, was going to be easier, or so I hoped.

I was hiding in the north section of the woods. I saw the first squad approach, fifteen of them. Most of them were heavily armored. Some wore heavy iron armor. Others wore some silver plates on their shoulders. The rear guard was comprised of two archers behind three iron clad soldiers.

Their leader I could easily spot. He was marching in the front, for starters. He wore a golden breastplate. You don’t see that very often. His leg guard was also coated in gold. His shoulders had spaulders from which sharp spikes protruded. How he managed to walk with all this weight? That’s because he was a giant of a man, seven foot tall, as wide as a full grown maple tree trunk.

He held a war hammer, as tall as he was. I shouldn’t attack that one head on.

I made a mental note of everyone’s equipment. There was one, among the lot, that didn’t wear any armor, just a long navy blue robe. He held a withered long pole in his right hand. It looked like a dead miniature tree that had miraculously preserved its white, frail branches. That was a mage. I mustn’t approach him unless he’s engaged in something that would completely take his focus off his surroundings.

But first, I had to deal with the four, silver plated guards that surrounded him.

The leader raised a clutched fist and the party stopped, right beneath me.

“Why have we stopped Gervais?” the mage asked.

“Orders,” the leader grunted. “We’re to wait until Father Utar makes contact.”

“These weren’t our initial orders,” the mage protested.

“The western unit’s missing two paladins,” the leader said. “Would you like to venture deeper inside this forest, into warlock territory now?”

“We have the element of surprise,” the mage went on, not showing the slightest bit of fear or dread. “Each team has sufficient magic users to swarm her and end this fight before it starts.”

“It’s already started, you fool!” the leader retorted.

“Two paladins for the head of one warlock, and the ultimate treasure the Church could ever get its hand on!” the mage went on, not willing to take no for an answer apparently. “Let me contact Father Utar, I’ll convince him that our plan is the fastest way to get rid of the warlock.”

They kept arguing while the other soldiers observed, standing like marble statues. I admired their discipline.

‘Paladins are the ones wearing silver armor,’ Eva’s voice reached me.

‘What about the golden one?’ I asked.

‘The ones in golden breastplates are paladins that represent the Holy Order,’ Eva replied. ‘They lead raids against enemies of the Church. They’re good in both melee combat and spell casting. The silver plated ones are usually assigned in escort or protection missions. They cast protective spells that shield harmful spells, hexes and even physical damage. You want to take them out first if you wish to reach the mage.’

The mage was still arguing with the leader, who categorically refused to let him contact Utar.

‘Why do mages ally themselves with the Church?’ I asked.

‘Don’t talk too much or you’ll attract their attention,’ Eva said. ‘The mage can detect psionic conversations.’

I didn’t answer. I didn’t want these heavily armored men to swarm me, while I hung on a tree branch, waiting for archers to skewer my studded armor. I could certainly take one or two arrows to the chest and come out with bruises. But leather won’t take more than that before it tore then arrowheads will certainly find their way toward my flesh and bones.

The paladin in golden armor swung his arm forward and the squad followed.

‘I’ll talk you though it,’ Eva said after a while. ‘As soon as they leave, you can start with the sharpshooters. They stay behind to provide back up.’

‘They’ll hear me coming,’ I said.

‘Then use your stop spell,’ Eva retorted.

‘Easy for you to say,’ I grunted. ‘The moment I use it is the moment the Fragment attempts to take over and destroy me once more.’

‘Then let me help,’ she said.

‘You’ve helped enough,’ I retorted. ‘Now watch and learn!’

I carefully climbed down the tree and followed the squad. Archers were trailing behind, looking left and right. They looked pretty nervous for a rightful army fighting for justice. They were invading foreign territory after all. They should be nervous. They feared the warlock. Anybody would fear someone who possesses powers they couldn’t hope to comprehend.

When trying to lure someone out, it’s essential that you keep your tactic simple. Don’t complicate and don’t overthink. I silently followed them from behind, a small rock tightly squeezed within my palm. I reached a boulder large enough to conceal me. I hid there then threw the rock against a nearby tree.

The archers turned around, I heard their boots squishing against the dead leaves. Side-note, learn to walk silently through the woods if you wish to keep your element of surprise. They both turned back and resumed their march. I threw another rock, a bit further, into a bush. The archers turned back once more.

“What’s the hold up?” I heard a voice ask. It wasn’t the leader. He didn’t seem to notice that the others have stopped yet.

Good.

“Nothing,” one of the archers answered. I heard their hurried footsteps, trying to keep up with the advancing squad.

I threw another rock, farther this time.

The archers stopped and turned once more.

“Did you hear that?” one of them whispered.

“Probably some stupid animal, scaring us for nothing,” the other replied. “I’ll go check it out.”

“Don’t!” one of them said. “We don’t want to fall behind.”

“What if it’s the thing that’s been snatching the paladins in the west?”

“Then we fight it as a team,” the other retorted.

Did they realize that their team had already advanced far enough?

I carefully snuck from behind the boulder and used the large tree trunks to conceal my thin corpulence. I wasn’t the heaviest of fighters, and that always worked to my advantage, especially in this situation.

“Come to think of it,” the archers were still talking, “where is our team?”

“Damn it!” one of them swore.

“Watch your language!” the other hissed.

Is this really the time to think of language? Why am I complaining, their bickering bought me enough time to get closer.

“Oh right,” the archer that swore said. “Oh merciful God above, accept thine sinful creature’s – “

I didn’t let him finish his prayer. Sorry, if there was a god, I hope he’d take you in with open arms. All that matters is your intention, right?

I thrust my sword through the nape of his neck, and out his open mouth it came. His companion didn’t have time to shout or warn the others though. I moved as fast as my two nimble legs could take me. I was in my element now. Murder and blood, nothing exhilarated me more. The archer backed away, fumbling in his quiver for an arrow.

Too late…

I was already before him. I swung my sword which decapitated the poor soul instantly.

Sharpness: Excellent!

I wiped the sword clean and moved the two archers away and inside a large bush. I wouldn’t want the others to backtrack and follow my trail. I took a bow and snatched a quiver from the headless archer. He had a composite bow, quite smart for a squad that was about to fight in the woods. Long bows required strength and time to nock and loose. Composite bows could be used while on the move.

I wasn’t a good shot, but it could save my life eventually. There’s no harm in carrying light weaponry anyway. After I made sure I had well hidden the corpses of my victims, I strode through the woods in pursuit of my next targets.

I soon reached them and found out, to my glee, that they’ve stopped once more.

“Where are the two archers in the rear guard?” the leader asked.

“They went to investigate some strange noise by some bushes a while ago, sir,” a soldier in iron armor answered.

“Why hasn’t this been reported to me?” the leader yelled and approached the rear guard. “Mage, come here!” he ordered.

The man in blue robes and his escort made their way to the back.

“Can you sense them?” the leader, called Gervais, asked.

The mage closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate.

‘Sorry Stalwart,’ Eva’s voice suddenly said. ‘I’ll have to invade you once more!’

I felt my consciousness fade away for a while. I was back in that black space in which nothing existed. I was about to start protesting when the forest materialized in front of me. I was gone only for an instant.

“They’re dead!” the mage said. “I can’t sense the killer though.”

“That’s bad!” the leader said. “Let’s move,” he bellowed for the others, “stay in formation and don’t stray without my permission! Utar’s reached the warlock’s location, it’s time we attacked!”

I exhaled a long sigh of relief. I was almost caught! I should’ve thought of their probing abilities…

‘Still unwilling to let me help?’ Eva asked.