Chapter I0: Harrowers.

Day 4, part 3

Standing still by myself, I watch as everyone around me rushes to find strong people to team up with.

Snapping out of my daze, I look around for anyone I know.

Standing off to my right, equally alone, is the lithe redheaded Aya.

It seems like everyone is avoiding her now, likely because she seemingly pissed off the Colonel. Can't say I really blame them either.

Honestly, I wouldn't go out of my way to put a bullseye mark on myself by associating with someone the highest ranking officer in the region clearly has an issue with, either. Unless, of course, I had a very good reason to, of course.

Walking over and standing next to the dazed Aya, she doesn't notice me until I clap my hands loudly in front of her face. Coming alive with a start she takes two steps back and takes a fighting stance while looking around frantically.

Scratching my head awkwardly, I smile apologetically at her.

“Sorry, didn't mean to scare you.” I say sheepishly.

Locking her gaze on me, she relaxes slightly and stands up straight. “Oh… it's... you.” she says slowly. “Did you need something?”

“Yes, me. I do have a name, you know.” I say and sigh. “I'm Ray. And I noticed everyone is avoiding you, and for good reason, too. I honestly wouldn't be talking to you either; if I didn't know how god-damn strong you are." I say and look her in the eye." So I came to ask if you wanted to team up?” I ask the lithe redhead, but after a moment of no reply, I continue talking instead.

“I know we're going right into the worst place we possibly could go, and I want every last boon I can get to get through this alive.” I say as I look into Aya's eyes. "Don't you?"

Aya just stares at me for a long moment before sighing; She then nods her accent weakly. “Sure, why not. Not like anyone decent will even look at me right now, much less consider forming a group with me…” she says dejectedly.

“Hey, that's just rude. Sure, I may not be all that great at sword fighting right now, or spear fighting or... fighting in general…” I say and sigh. “But! I'm working on it! My god am I working on it... ” I say and grimace at the memories.

Shrugging noncommittally, Aya just looks at me impassively. “Whatever. So, where's the rest of the team?”

Looking at her blankly for a moment, I notice a certain raven haired youth standing behind and slightly to the side of Aya.

“Hey, Raven! Wanna join us?” I shout at the youth with an impressive build and a giant bow strapped to his back.

“Hmm?” focusing his gaze on me, Grey aka “Raven”, seemingly ponders the proposal for a moment. Coming to a conclusion, he nods and walks over towards us and replies with a simple: “Sure.”

“Good to have you onboard.” I say and look over to Aya.

“That makes 3. We need 2 more.” I say, more to myself than anyone else.

“Ah, you have 2 spots open? Great! Let us join you.” a voice suddenly comes from behind me.

Startled, I involuntarily jump slightly.

Looking behind me, there is the tall redheaded youth from the armory. Next to him is an unfamiliar girl, also red headed.

“Hey, you're from the armory. Never did get your name.” I say to him.

Nodding to me, he replies with: “I'm Jacen, and this is Jana, my little sister.” he says and indicates the girl next to him.

Looking closer, they do kind of resemble one another...

She is of medium build, and on the tall side; almost being as tall as I am.

In terms of looks, she leans more towards the beautiful side, rather than, say, Aya, who leans more towards the cute side. As a side note, I can't help but notice she has an impressive chest. Just saying.

Nodding, I reply: “I'm Ray. The redhead on our side is Aya and the one with the giant bow is Raven.” I say and nod to each respective team member.

“Welcome to the team; Jacen, Jana.” I say and shake each of their hands.

---------------=÷×

With our team full, we quickly went and registered our group, which was done through scanning our ID cards at a registration table. We got designated as group 6.

With registration done, we then made or way down the ramp and over to where the other groups have started gathering.

------------÷×+

A few minutes later corporal Kal arrives and quickly walks towards and past us as he heads for the table in the middle of all the gathered groups.

With a large map laid out on it, the table is almost completely hidden by the map. Said map has a bunch of crossmarks and numbers written on it.

Doing a quick headcount he nods and straightens himself. “Everyone is accounted for. Good.” he says and looks a little relieved.

Only to grimace a moment later.

Shaking his head, he looks up at the gathered groups.

“Now; we need to know how many, and what type of monsters we are facing.” he says then pauses a moment as his gaze sweeps over us. “That is your primary, and only duty. Combat is to be avoided at all costs.” Sighing, he adds: “If, at all possible.”

Pointing at the closest group, he says: “ Group 1. You will start scouting from this spot here.” Pointing to a mark with a “1” written on it, to the west- southwest of the city.

“The rest will similarly start scouting from their respective starting points. Move out after confirming the location on the map with your own maps.” Pausing, he nods to the right, towards where a pile of cloth is.

“Those maps are rough, but they should get the job done.” He says and sweeps his gaze over us, stopping on group 1.

“Now; line up. Group 1, confirm your starting location, then move out.”

-------------+×÷=

After a few groups had departed it was our turn. We got number 6 out of 10; our starting point being straight to the south.

Almost precisely in the middle of a certain monster army that is headed this way. Great. Well, to be fair, once a group gets discovered they will promptly be swarmed by all nearby monsters either way, so it does little difference really where we are deployed...

Confirming our starting point and copying it unto our maps, we set off towards the south.

------------+××÷+

An hour later we arrived at our starting point; an open plain with a few hills but little else, without any real complications to speak of.

As we start making preparations to begin our mission, I can't my stop myself from asking any more:

"Hey, why aren't we just running from the army? I mean, if we are outnumbered and outmatched then it seems like it would be the logical thing to do, right?" I ask as my group they are finishing up the last of their preparations.

Freezing, they all look at me in unison and just stare at me for a good long awkward moment, making me squirm from the awkward attention.

The one who speaks up is Jacen, who has a rather large sword and shield strapped to his back. "You do realize that the closest city, Gali, is on the other side of the forest, right? Which just happens to be the direction monsters are coming from, right?" He says exasperatedly. "Furthermore, the next closest city, Rau, is on the opposite side of the Raus hills to the west, which would take at least 3 days march for even the best of rangers, not to speak of commoners and townsfolk to reach." He continues heatedly. "Or, are you suggesting we abandon all the civilians and run away?" He asks, with an edge of danger to his voice.

A cold shiver goes up my spine as I can practically feel the violence that would befall me if I should decide to try to cut and run. "No no, I'm not saying we should leave the civilians, I was just wondering if there were no other options, other than facing the monsters where we are...

Nevermind. Sorry I said anything. I simply just don't know anything, is all." I say sheepishly as I try to wiggle myself out of everyone's gazes.

Awkward silence ensues as we all finish our last preparations before we take a half circle formation and slowly make our way south while each and every one of us scan our surroundings carefully for any stray monsters.

----------------×÷+++×

Half an hour or so later, Raven stops us suddenly as we reach the top of a hill, using a sign we agreed upon before setting out.

Lifting his right hand, clenched into a fist, he signals us to stop and hold.

Hunkering down behind what I can find; a rock, little more than half a meter high I try to make myself inconspicuous.

A long moment passes with bated breath, as Raven keeps perfectly still in a kneeling position, he stares out over the open field towards a forest in the distance.

Looking over the other team members, they look just as uncomfortable and jumpy as me.

As I look over to my left at Aya, she meets my gaze.

Giving me a questioning look and a “What is up” gesture, she nods her head towards Raven.

Shaking my head slightly, I shrug weakly.

I don't know what has him spooked, I tried following his gaze to see what he was staring at, but I can't seem to spot anything strange.

After a minute he gives us the signal for “Fall back”, so we quietly backtrack for a few minutes until Raven tells us to stop.

“We have a problem.” He says as everyone comes to a stop, forming a circle.

“There are Harrowers keeping watch around the outskirts of the forest.” he says and looks around at us, stony faced. “I saw 5, which means there is likely more, hidden away. There are most likely at least 20 times that number, hiding in the trees.”

Having no idea what an Harrower is, I look at my teammates reactions to try and gauge how bad news they are.

They all have sour expressions at that statement… which means, pretty bad, I guess?

‘I guess I need to ask after all…’ I muse and raise my hand awkwardly. Everyone's focus quickly falls on me. “Uhm… What's a Harrower?” I ask tentatively. “and is it really that bad?”

They all stare at me for a long and really awkward moment.

Finally, Raven speaks up. “Right, I did hear you were not from around here, but…” he says and trails off towards the end.

Shrugging, Aya chimes in with: “Not like it's the first time he's clueless about obvious things.” She says and shakes her head. “Who knows what kind of backwaters village he comes from anyway... You might as well go on and explain to him about flowers and bees, and what you get when you mix 'em while you're at it." She says and sneers at me.

‘No need to get all uppity about it...' I retort to her in my mind while pinning her with a pointed glare.

Sighing, Raven begins explaining. “Harrowers are big flying ---”

“You'll have to leave that for another time; we've been spotted.” Jacen interrupts suddenly. “Get ready for battle.” he says, pointing up in the sky at half a dozen giant bird-like beings that are flying towards us at a surprisingly high speed.

-------+×÷=÷×+

Quickly falling into formation, Aya and Jacen are acting as front guards, me and Jana act as rear guards/ranged attackers and Raven is the main ranged attacker/Support.

A few seconds after forming our defence, they reach our vicinity.

Swooping down from the sky like a missile, the first of the Harrowers dives straight at me.

As it quickly shrinks the distance between us, I realise belatedly that these monsters are huge. Like, stupidly big: With a wingspan of easily 5 meters and a body size of about a full-grown man, a head like a cobra and claws to match an eagle, they are indeed terrifying beasts of claws and fangs.

Panic starts building inside me like a tsunami, furious and unstoppable as I start realising just how bad our current situation actually is. 'And it is bad, sh!ts about to hit the fan levels of bad; I don't know shit about even fighting other people, so how the hell am I supposed to fight giant freakin' birdmen on steroids!?' I hysterically raze in my mind as the panic takes over me.

What little willpower I have left that is trying to keep me from full-blown panic is like a dam trying to stop a full blown tsunami, futile and quite pointless; And with a metaphorical crash, the panic overwhelms my pitiful willpower.

Dropping my sword, I bring my hands up in front of my face, my gaze locked onto the encroaching beasts.

Feeling a familiar heat building in my chest, I force my mind to focus on the task; killing the beast to live another day. Just as enough mana is concentrated and I prepare to fire at the beast, I notice another pair of wings behind the first.

‘My god, they are flying in formation!’ I realise belatedly, which means it's more than two; likely even 5 or 6 Harrowers that are diving straight at me. Dread building, I realise my planned attack won't work; I may be able to hit two of them if I spread the fire stream wide, but then the question is if it is enough to kill any of them at all if I do that.

‘No, I need to use something else, something that can branch and still retain potency…’

Suddenly realising what I need, I form an image of what I want, changing the built up mana to my need.

As the first Harrower crosses the 10 meter line, barely slowing from its dive; I feel something click.

An arrow suddenly comes flying from behind me, and hits the lead Harrower straight in the chest. “Ray!” Raven yells at me. “Dodge!”

Lifting my right hand and pointing my index finger at the encroaching beasts, I release the built up mana while keeping a strong image of what I want in mind.

“Ray!! Move!” Raven yells again, urgency in his voice.

With a crack of thunder, lighting shots out from my finger as the world goes white.

The crackling of lightning continues for a few moments longer until finally, a dozen or so thuds can be heard.

Then there is only silence and a world painted white.

End of chapter 10.