Chapter 48: The Magus who helps

The Hill burned as the Lady fought the Pyromancer. Flames encircled the hill and the three who is watching could smell the burning of grass. The sky turned red. The three who was far from the battle stood there not minding the Orcs around them that is dead.

The Captain had killed the Orcs with the help of the two. The Mage and the Soldier that was with the Captain helped in killing the Orcs methodically by immobilizing them and snuffing their most vulnerable parts. The mages would blind the Orc while the Soldier would distract it with sound. The captain then would sneak attack the Orc with his weapons.

The Captain carried three weapons in total. The shark saw dagger, the nameless sword with a cog sigil, the Mithril short sword. He’d kill most of the Orc with the nameless sword in his hand. He’s covered in blood and he was panting despite most of the Orcs were dead already. He’s pale as snow but the Ashes and blood coated him. His cloak was more tattered and cut. His eyes were looking at the flames with a bit of grim.

He’d remember the flames on that day. The smell of the grass burning and the heat that blisters his skin made him unable to help the lady. He’s a bit afraid of the fire but not to the point that it would stun him like this. The blood covering him and the ashes sticking on his skin made his legs frail.

He’s feeling weak but mostly it was due to being tired. He’d notice the two that was helping him. Their wary expression woke him for a moment before he noticed the lady in the distance being flung like a puppet with its string cut.

The lady wasn’t kind to him. He’d never felt the kindness of the lady throughout the road so far. She’d spat on his face and hurled insults at him so much that he’d forgotten to count already. Normal people would have been angered, insulted already. But he’d bear no grudge the lady despite that. He’s known how nobles act after spending time most of his as their punching bag back in the Academy.

He’s not angry at the lady. But sometimes he had to resist helping those who would bear grudges at her. The traveling companions of his did not see the lady greatly. They’d think that she was an arrogant brat princess that deserves no respect.

He agrees to them. But when he saw the lady dancing in the rain one day near the valley where the party once stayed days ago. He realized that the lady wasn’t far from anyone. Just like him and the others, she’s human too. He’s could never see her other than a lady hiding in the facade of rich noble girl.

His glass of heart melted the moment he saw her play in the rain. That is why even though most of the people would never save her from her current situation. He’d move his body already despite the flames around him. The two behind his back tried to stop him but there was no need to speak.

His eyes lit up with a golden glint.

He wanted to save the lady that was alone in a cicle of fire.

...

The lady saw nothing but the flaming iron palms of the Pyromancer coming her way. Her head went blank for a moment and when she’d thought she would die. Two pairs of legs came about and kick her right in the shoulder, pushing her away.

A crude violent way of saving someone but it worked. The one who’d save her had twisted his body to avoid the burning palms of the Pyromancer. He’d then use the nameless sword in his hand to vault away from the Pyromancer. He rolled towards the lady and started removing her armor.

“What are you doing?”

“I am helping you milady. I cannot carry you with your armor on.”

“Why help me?”

“You looked like you need it.”

He said while removing the straps of her armor. He noticed that the breastplate of the armor has caved in. The armor also pierced her stomach and removing it would mean that she would bleed. He thought on what to do before just letting the breastplate of the lady equipped.

“Watch out.”

The lady said weakly. He’s noticed the heat behind him so he pushed the lady away again and threw his sword at the Pyromancer only for it to melt. The nameless sword was made of steel and with the control of the Pyromancer with using fire. It was obvious that a normal weapon could not last against the fire of the enemy.

The place was like a smelter. And he’d realized that there was no way to fight this Pyromancer at his current state. If his magic crests weren’t blocked then maybe he’d knew how to somehow get away from this trouble. He’d really have not thought about what to do when he was coming to help. He’s realized that doing so would make him afraid.

“Just leave me to die...”

The lady said with a broken tone. She was rather limp and there was despair in her eyes. She looks like her pride was shattered to pieces. He’d saw that kind of eyes on her. And seeing such eyes he could only shake his head and say.

“You need help. So I will help.”

“How really foolish of you...”

The lady said without any hints of enthusiasm in her voice. She’d lost hope of surviving and right now she can only say those words.

He’d felt like that there was nothing he could do to make the lady have some hope. It would BE more troublesome to think to think about IT so he instead glance at the Pyromancer who stares at them like they were sheep ready to be slaughtered.

He’s noticed the arrogant look on the Pyromancer’s face. It was the expression of someone who has done such thing for years. He thought that despite the Pyromancer calmly walking towards them. There was no trace of the Pyromancer letting his guard down.

This troubled Arden but even with that, he drew his mithril short sword hoping for the best.

“Milady, please stand up.”

“...”

The lady didn’t answer and merely looked dully at him. He almost wanted to click his tongue in annoyance but he saw the two that he was with just awhile ago near the circle of flames. Although he could see that they are still far away. He’d noticed the soldier gesturing for him to throw the lady.

He’d thought about it but since there was no way out other than that. He turned to the lady, grabbed both of her legs and spins her before throwing her into the direction where the soldier is. The lady spun mid-air which made the Pyromancer looked at it oddly. The Pyromancer then saw the soldier running to the lady. He could not allow the knight to escape so he tried killing both with a fireball only to feel danger.

The Pyromancer dodged in time before the mithril short sword could pierce his eyes. His body was iron but his eyes weren’t. That is why the most vulnerable area that the Pyromancer has right now is his eyes.

“Come on Orc, let’s dance...”

Arden grits his teeth while taking a stance with his shortsword. For now, he could only try.