Unwoven Destinies
Yuujiki
Chapter 2: Chapter # 1 - A chance encounter
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
One morning in March of the year 420, Armored Dragon King calendar, an hour from the fortifications marking the Asuran border, a small caravan of three carriages trailed on a muddy, disheveled road. A dense, dark forest drew close to the road, surrounding it. The Red Dragon's Beard, as the people called it. Separating the narrow pathway of the Red Dragon's Upper Jaw from the border of Asura, this forest was home to monsters, brigands, and smugglers. No one cared to get rid of its occupants. In fact, their continuous habitation of this place was almost a benefit for the right people.
No authorities, no jurisdiction, no unnecessary witnesses — despite every inconvenience this place's state brought to border guards, merchants, and authorities of neighboring areas, having this kind of place exist was extremely convenient. This location, due to its bottleneck position between the Asura Kingdom and the Magical Triumvirate, made sure there were certain conditions for someone to pass from the Asuran part of the Central continent to the northern part. And even if those who wanted to move could meet those conditions, more obstacles could be arranged. In short, its state ensured the monopoly of wealthy merchants and powerful forces on the crossing, outweighing the dubious benefits of sparing a substantial amount of money to clean up this place.
This wasn't the first caravan to pass on this road this morning. A bunch of horses and a sizable carriage left behind deep trails on wet ground. At least that meant the road ahead was passable, grumbled Bruno, the merchant who owned this caravan. No one wanted to stay the night in this lawless territory if they could help it. Therefore, the merchant's nervous behavior was understandable since his whole career, and by extension, life, depended on this risky trip.
The first two carriages were filled to the brim with goods, and the third had several passengers in it. A B-rank party of adventurers, counting five, that was hired by Bruno for protection. Two young swordsmen who were passengers. And a grey robed boy slumped against the wall of the carriage, his head leaning on the hard wood. His knees to his chest, hugging a staff covered by an untidy grey cloth. He didn't listen to his fellow passengers' small talk or Bruno's grumbling and shouted orders. The rattling and jolting of the carriage barely registered in his mind. Glimpses of grey march sky and dark crooked tree branches flickered on his vision, but the boy didn't really pay attention. Behind the blank look in his eyes, there was a thought that just wouldn't leave his head.
"How do I make a person happy, huh?"
Rudeus Greyrat was left behind some weeks ago. There was no doubt in my mind why it happened. Eris left because I didn't make her happy. Because I was baggage. It made perfect sense. This explained the short, emotionless note left behind by Eris. Explained why Ghislaine left with her: the ever loyal beastwoman was just fulfilling the last orders left behind by her old master. Explained why I was thrown away, too. Eris was in my care for years, and I couldn't do a single thing right, only relying on luck, half-assed plans, and most of all on Ruijerd, our reliable superd guardian. Of course, she would know I couldn't make her happy by now. She asked me to become her family, but who would be happy with me as a family? It was like this in my old life, too. My relatives were disgusted and ashamed of me. In this world, most of my family members were disappointed in me, in my uselessness and foul temper.
At least I am well aware of my faults. When I came to this world, I told myself I would do what I could to fix them and become a better person. But that wasn't enough. Being abandoned like this still hurts. It hurt like hell at first, only a bit numbed by the sheer shock. By now, the pain has become dull, and the shock have worn out completely. Only the emptiness and my own faults and failures remained.
Come to think of it, in my old world, when proposing, people would often say 'I will make you happy' to their loved ones. I wish I knew how to do that.
"For starters, you don't keep sighing like this."
A sharp voice came from my right. An irritated voice from another passenger. I turned my head and saw a blond girl with cerulean eyes and a bow behind her back glaring at me. Did I just say it aloud? How embarrassing,
"I'm sorry, was I sighing? I'm sorry to bother you. I'll try to tone it down." Apparently, neither my words nor my apologetic smile made the girl particularly happy. As she opened her mouth to say something, another adventurer interrupted.
"Anyway, kid, what's the matter? You seem awfully gloomy." A dark-skinned woman with dreadlocks pulled into a high bun asked. There was no contempt in her voice. How nice. It's almost like she is genuinely concerned.
"I'm just fine, miss. Just having a little trouble with my family." Saying that I was just dumped would be too embarrassing, to the point where someone could even make fun of it. The blond girl huffed, loudly enough for the whole carriage to know her opinion on this reason, but didn't say a word. I wasn't about to elaborate, either. The dark-skinned woman was hesitating if she should ask something else, but the carriage suddenly stopped, right before a turn on the road. The voices of carriage drivers could be heard from the outside, yet no words were intelligible.
"What was that?" The woman's attention abruptly switched. She stood up, looked out from the entrance, and in a few seconds left the carriage. The rest of the party slowly followed after her. Wordlessly, though the archer girl seemed as confused as me. Either they had agreed on the course of action before, or they had enough understanding and trust in each other to not ask any questions. What was happening? Did someone attack? The other two passengers, both swordsmen, laid hands on their swords. I couldn't just ignore the attack, too. Standing up and picking up my staff, I channeled mana into the Eye of Foresight. Nothing was happening. Carefully stepping out of the carriage on the wet ground, I looked around. There was a slight mist in the air this morning. Combined with the lack of sunlight in the forest and the dim lighting of the winter sun, visibility wasn't good, but it wasn't awful either. I could probably make out a silhouette a few hundred meters ahead in a clear place, if there was one.
There was only a muddy road on the back. Check. The forest on the sides looked as normal as a monster-infested, dangerous location could. Check. A huge trench ahead on the road. Check. Wait, what the hell is that?
Going forward, I caught up with Bruno, who kept swearing under his breath. A magician from the guard party, who rode in front today, looked apologetic. He probably couldn't help this time. The rest of the adventurers seemed puzzled, and a bit annoyed by this turn of events, yet they didn't let their guard down, looking around with their arms ready. Those who caught the sight of me were also mildly surprised. Wait, are they surprised that I left the carriage to look at what is happening so soon? I might be out of order, but I wouldn't just leave you to danger, you know!
From up close, it became clear that the trench was undeniably a recent addition to this beautiful location. There was very little water at the bottom of this pit, and the edges were unaffected by running water. Considering the carriage trails continued further on the other side, that meant the trench was created this morning. It crossed the whole road, denying further passage. Its width and depth were no less than two meters. That was undeniably the work of a magician. Probably earth magic, considering there were no traces of explosion or water flow. Did that mean to stop us? Sure, there were brigands out there, but did they really have an advanced-level magician to spare on such a small robbery? Could it be there was something else worth such effort?
"Oh, it's you." Bruno begrudgingly acknowledged my presence. I couldn't blame him, I would panic in his place.
"Think you can help us with that kid? Yeah, that's what I thought." Not bothering to hear my answer, the merchant turned his back on me. Obviously, he didn't hold me in high regard. Uh, if I cared more, I could cry.
"As a matter of fact, I can. Would you pay me for this?" I asked apathetically.
"Huh?" Not only Bruno, but most adventurers were taken aback by this almost confident response. Without waiting for a reply, I came closer to the merchant and mage.
"Watch out for me, please..." Come to think of it, I didn't even know their names. Not that I was particularly interested in them, but that would be a common courtesy. Could it be that Eris hated my apathy? She was so excitable for new things… No, bad thought. Now is really not the time for this.
"It's Timothy." The mage supplied with a pleasant smile.
"Then, I'm counting on you, Timothy." With a nod, I went forward to the edge of the trench, channeling even more mana into Demon Eye. Dying here wasn't part of my nonexistent plan.
Lifting my staff, I cast a big earth pillar on the bottom of this pit, and then a bit of water and earth magic combined to fill the gaps between the pillar and the edges. Finish with an earth wall. If threaded carefully, a carriage could squeeze through this makeshift bridge. Normally, filling the whole pit would fix the road better, but staying here for another few hours didn't sound like a good idea to me.
Finishing my work, I turned back and glanced at Bruno. The merchant looked so relieved he could cry. As he was haltingly thanking me, a sudden realization hit him.
"Umm... Rudeus, was it? Could you perhaps go ahead and fix the road further? I will suitably compensate you, of course. Oh, and you should take a couple of guards as well!" He definitely caught my suspicions about whether he wanted me to go and check not for the road, but for the ambush, and had the decency to assign guards. Perhaps he really only wanted me to fix the road.
The only other choice for me is refusing, and this guy might turn back and return to Asura in this case. What should I do? There was no telling how long the road would be out of order. I will also have to find a new caravan to travel with if I refuse him now. Besides, he might send adventurers ahead instead. They are a B-rank party, and they might actually die if there is really an enemy ahead... Why do I even think of them?
"I'll take an Asura gold coin for it. And you will owe me a favor, got it?" Against my better judgment, I ended up agreeing. I didn't really know why I was doing it myself. That was dangerous, and searching for Zenith was always going to take years anyway, so it's not like I'm in a hurry. I don't even know these guys... Ah, could it be that I wanted to play a good guy? We used to do good deeds, small and not-so-small, as Dead End. Officially, it was for Superd reputation, but Ruijerd simply could never just pass by, pretending not to see bad things happening. Eris was a person who liked to be praised and honored as a hero, too, but more importantly she has a good heart. She wouldn't just leave people in trouble behind. But if so, was I that hopeless? Just why would she… No, bad thought. Let's not think of it. And I already agreed to do it anyway. No going back now. After wiping my eyes off, I turned back to Timothy and Bruno.
The latter was so delighted that even losing an extra gold coin didn't faze him. The two were deciding who was going to accompany me.
"Patris is no good at hiding, and you will need a swordsman with you… Suzanne then. And Sara too, she is good in the woods." Timothy voiced his decision. The black woman, apparently Suzanne, was satisfied with the arrangement. The blonde archer girl was not, and she even voiced a complaint, but quickly gave up and accepted the decision. "Oh, and if you get into a fight, send a signal. Fire magic will do for a short distance, but for long distance, please rely on sound."
"Will do." It looks like these guys really weren't planning to send me to die. What a relief.
"You've certainly made Bruno happy." Mirth could be heard in Suzanne's remark as we were leaving the caravan behind. Bruno and his people were carefully arranging the passage of carriages with help from Timothy. Oh, she meant the talk we had when I let that line slip.
"Ha-ha, if only it could work with the rest of them." If anything, my laugh seemed to discourage her. Anyway, we must be careful, so no idle talk! Sara, trailing behind with a bow and arrow prepared, was sulking a little, but she at least seemed watchful.
Advancing further in silence, I was fixing small obstacles on the road. Half an hour later, we encountered another trench. Whoever did this wanted to trap their victim, for sure. I only hoped we weren't the intended victims. As I pondered, right after crossing the second trench, a person suddenly attacked my right side, cutting me down. No, that was a vision from the demon's eye. Barely glancing to see a nearing figure, I stepped two steps back and set a quagmire right before me. A second later, the attacker's leg dropped into the bog, his sword missing me by thirty centimeters. Cutting my rock bullets midair, the hooded figure finally got their leg out, only to be attacked by Suzanne. Meanwhile, a wind slice went my way from ahead. Sidestepping it, I knocked the first attacker down with another series of rock bullets to the side, where he got finished with an arrow.
Another brief lookout had proven fruitless, as only a magician figure could be seen ahead near the bushes. He also had a short sword in hand, now. So, warrior magician? Taking off, I gave chase after him, followed by Suzanne and Sara a bit behind her. These guys, obviously, were sentries. There was no way in hell they were all this ambush consisted of. And now, if they were to raise alarm, passage here would be out of question. The magician guy broke into running, zigzagging, and dodging projectiles: both Sara's arrows and my half-charged rock bullets. There was no real chance to get him at this distance.
As minutes passed, the chase was closing in, especially after a quagmire of mine briefly landed left of the magician, losing him another ten meters in distance of the advantage he had. Suzanne almost caught up with the guy. As I was preparing another rock bullet, now with a real chance to strike the target, a cacophony of sounds erupted several hundred meters ahead, behind another turn of the road, muffled by both forest and distance. Shouts, battle cries, and screams of pain. Clashes of steel, panicking horses, and more. Suzanne seemed startled for a moment and slowed down a bit.
The guy we were chasing couldn't let this opportunity go to waste and skipped the turn through the forest to get to the fight. Getting behind a thick tree, he breathlessly chanted an incantation in a hurry.
"Let the great protection of fire be on the place thou seekest. I call the bold heat of a torch here and now. Fireball!" No fireball flew in our direction. Instead, it flew up to blow up above the trees. Damn it, it was too far to use Disturb Magic. There was no other choice, we might fail to escape from here now. Besides, there was some fight ahead. A fireball of my own, with a bit of wind and earth magic mixed in, soared into the sky and exploded with a deafening sound. Every party out there, including our own, must have heard it.
Suzanne and Sara caught up with the guy we were following and engaged him in a fight of their own. The mage obviously wasn't too comfortable in close combat.
Should I go forward, or should I fall back? These guys attacked without any consideration. They didn't demand that I hand over money or my staff. They didn't even ask for information on Bruno's caravan! Could they not be regular brigands? They probably were after the party ahead of us and finally got to attack them right now. And all this preparation, sentries, and trenches, too. They really wanted to get the party ahead of us. But when they finish them, will they just let us go? Doubtful. Damn it, did we just get ourselves in this mess by not waiting?
Anyway, I should at least go gather information on the situation. Right now, they are distracted and engaged in battle. We could even eliminate the danger entirely. With that in mind, I pushed forward, sending some rock bullets to help Suzanne along the way.
I emerged from the woods, slightly higher than the road itself. A medium scale skirmish unfolded down the road, some twenty or thirty meters ahead. An enormous, expensive-looking carriage was standing sideways, leaving a huge trail on the muddy ground. It was probably hit with the magic. Facing my direction, three armored swordsmen and a few others were standing in a semicircle, guarding a bunch of noble-looking girls both in carriage and in semicircle. There was also a mage, a short white-haired boy with sunglasses, who was energetically waving his hand with a wand in a casting pattern. Scattered around, but mostly to the right, several horse and human corpses were lying around. Around this party, from all sides, men were closing in. Some of them were cloaked, and some had ragged clothing. Trailing a bit on the far side, there was a magician — some old one-handed guy. Most of them, however, had a motley mix of chain mail, leather, and cloth on them. All those numbered about a dozen.
It didn't seem like they had already noticed us. But could they really? They must have heard the signal I've sent. As I was assessing the situation, Suzanne caught up to me with a conflicted look on her face. Sara had to be somewhere behind, too.
As we were hesitating, a new round of the uneven skirmish started. After another brief seconds of hesitation, she spoke up.
"I'll get closer. You cover me."
Before I could reply, the woman had already left. Uh-huh. A fight is inevitable, then. Following her, I belatedly sent a volley of rock bullets, stunning at least one of the attackers.
Ariel Anemoi Asura was in a pinch. No, that wasn't quite correct. Up until now, she had been in a pinch for months. It started several months ago, when the political warfare of the Silver Palace was enriched with constant assassination attempts on the lives of her allies and her own, less subtle each time.
She should have fled sooner, but when this plan was concocted, it was already winter. Navigating the North in the middle of winter would be just as suicidal as staying in the capital, so they waited. And because of all this, her situation right now is close to a checkmate, to a dead end, to an utter defeat and a gruesome death.
As Calvin, Babette, Edwina and Frorence died in this ambush, she wondered if waiting for the spring and allowing the opposing faction to set up all those ambushes was a mistake. As Johann's and Marcelin's dying breath and moans reached her from behind, she wondered if the winter cold and snowstorms were all that bad. As Ellemoi was posing as her double just behind her, she wondered if she should give up and at least try to save the lives of her friends. As Bernadette, Cleane, Corinne, and Victor, non-combatants, were trying to shield her with their own bodies, she wanted to scream, rage, and cry. But that would only make it all worse. It would ruin the efforts of those who still tried to protect her. It would only distract Luke, who was standing by her side as the last line of defense. And as she stood in disguise and watched Sylphiette to her right wave her wand, throwing another couple of attackers from this side back, a faint hope glimmered within. That godsend child saved her so many times before. Selfishly, Ariel hoped it would happen again, just this once. She wanted to live through this and continue fighting tomorrow. She wanted to take revenge for all her friends and servants who died here and see the day when Darius, the disgusting pig, would fall from power and grace. She wanted to make a little plot or two with Luke and Ellemoi like they used to years ago. She wanted to see Sylphie reunite with the boy she talks so much about in an adoring tone and a look of longing. She wanted to succeed in her quest to take over the throne.
The hope was crushed when another three attackers broke through her guardians to the left, cutting down Dominic and Callum in the process. But as soon as those three attacked Victor, her elderly steward, who stubbornly stood in their way, a rock bullet struck one of them from behind. That was unexpected. Glancing right, she expected to find Sylphie who came to her help. But she wasn't even looking, waving her wand in a complicated pattern.
As she turned back, she found a woman she had never seen before fighting with one of the attackers. That woman had dark skin and held a sword. Just who was she? No, that wasn't important. What really counts is that she was fighting her enemies. A boy in a grey robe could be seen ten meters behind this woman, sending even more spells towards the enemy with terrifying efficiency. Wait, was he casting them silently? Ah, it seems her wishes sometimes do come true.
Sylphiette could not afford to be focused on one part of the battlefield. To her right, Cedric and Alistar were barely holding their own against eight opponents, and her spells could barely even the odds. Right behind her was Princess Ariel, disguised as Ellemoi. Somewhere further, there was the enemy mage, who kept aiming at non-combatants, and Ellemoi Bluewolf, who was disguised as the Princess in particular. To the left, there were enemies, too. Preparing another series of icicles to send their way, she suddenly noticed a quagmire meter ahead of her, blocking the enemies from coming closer in place of the fighters they were lacking. Turning right again, she saw a barrage of rocks crush into the assassins, overwhelming them and making those who still could to fall back.
She didn't cast these spells. Could it be that one of the mages from their party survived? But there was no chanting. Looking left, she finally noticed him, and her breath stopped after a sharp inhale. Her heartbeat grew even more rapid. With wide eyes — not that anyone would notice behind the glasses — she did a double take, watching a boy magician cast spell after spell silently. His face changed a bit from her memories, but there was no mistake. He had unkempt dark blond hair, and his dark grey robe was worn out and tattered. There was a bit of a lost look in his light green eyes, as if he wasn't entirely awake. He wasn't particularly handsome or tall. But it didn't matter at all. For this girl, he was an absolutely overwhelming presence, dazzling and breathtaking, effortlessly captivating all of her attention.
"Ru…dy" Her lips quietly spoke a nostalgic name, but she never even noticed it. Only seconds later, she managed to remember just what was going on and look another way. She checked on the surroundings, not forgetting the boy was here for a single moment, as excitement and relief floored her. And then looked his way again, not even thinking to resist the urge.
The fight was turned upside down. Behind the enemy lines, I noticed Sara's arrow pierce a man's torso, probably puncturing the enemy magician's lung. My stone cannon swept back enemies charging on the right, possibly even killing some of them. But my mind wasn't entirely there. In the midst of the fight, a strange mix of feelings took over my mind. My heart just wouldn't calm down and kept pounding in my chest, ready to burst. Could it be my unwillingness to kill? While I have no qualms with actively hurting humans, I've never actually killed one. I just subconsciously wouldn't attack with the intent to kill. Up until now, that is.
There was also that strange feeling deep inside. It wasn't fear, and it wasn't guilt for killing someone sinking in. In fact, that wasn't an unpleasant feeling at all. It was as if I had found something in this fight that I didn't even know was missing. I couldn't properly name it. But witnessing this fight, seeing how desperate these people, both combatants and non-combatants, kept trying to protect those around them without regard for their own lives, I could finally point it out. If I had to name it, I would say 'concern' or 'involvement', but that wasn't quite right. I didn't even know those people; just what was I concerned about? But the cold, empty apathy just wasn't there now, replaced by the pulsing energy, an urge to do something for the first time in weeks. I actually wanted to help these strangers I encountered by chance. That's it. That feeling is probably called resolve.
Anxiety was there, too. I've never enjoyed combat in the same way all those hot-blooded warriors do. I've never felt any strong bloodlust, and too much blood and gore makes me sick. But there was more to it. There was a sense of some impending menace. This one, at least, had an explanation. A complete lack of response to our interference felt unnatural. It felt as if another ambush was awaiting ahead. But I couldn't help but walk into it, being extra careful. The fight was not over. As I kept spamming rock bullets and quagmires to protect the group and force the attackers to retreat, a flash crossed my vision right before my eyes. That was the eye of foresight again, but I couldn't identify the sensation this time. I could only step back and try to dodge it. Moments later, the source of that flash became clear.
A sword came out of nowhere, slashing me across my chest. No, that wasn't just a sword. A person came with it. That was a Longsword of Light in all its glory, the Sword God style ultimate technique. No, not quite. It had a fatal flow that allowed me to dodge it. It was a little too slow, as I could make out at least a few glimpses of the swordsman's movements. That's why the wound I received wasn't fatal. Probably. A person with a better reaction speed could do even more with it. But that imperfect technique was enough to throw me into the mud behind. My ribs were probably crushed, too, and I probably broke something from impact.
The pain has not fully set in yet. Only a searing burn throughout my chest. I was sure it must hurt. It did hurt now, but my adrenaline-induced body just didn't know it yet. My breathing was shallow; there wasn't enough air. Barely any sounds made it through my ears. Half-standing, I managed to dive into a roll to dodge another attack and let a triangle of rock bullets forward, fully believing they wouldn't connect and intending to follow up with a quagmire. Rock bullets didn't connect, of course, with two of them dodged and another blocked. Quagmire didn't make it either. But as the enemy stepped back to not get sucked into the bog, an icicle from his right penetrated his side. None of us saw it coming. How could we, when battle magic took so much time to use?
Was there a silent caster somewhere, or did someone use a magic item? Thank god, it was only a matter of time before I wouldn't be able to keep up. It hurts as hell, and I am getting dizzy. Seizing this opportunity, I lift my staff to cast another quagmire. Was it always that heavy?
As the ground eroded into bog under him due to my spell, the enemy threw his sword, aiming at me, and then tried to get out and get away. But before he managed to, he was pierced with several more icicles roughly the size of my arm. I dived to the right from this last attack, only to not be able to stand up this time. The world kept spinning around, and nausea was catching up with me. Moving was hard. Gritting my teeth, with the help of my hands, I rolled on my back. Was it all my blood? Pain was rubbing heavily on my consciousness. It was cold. I should cast healing soon, but the words just wouldn't come to mind. Out of sheer stubbornness, I sent another rock bullet his way. Then, everything went black.
When that fireball exploded in the skies with a deafening sound, Sylphiette assumed it was another signal from the enemy. She didn't notice the man who had killed Calvin, one of the guardian mages, in the initial ambush disappear after that; she was too busy maintaining their fragile defense.
Sylphiette wasn't a little girl anymore. She knew better than to expect miracles; or for someone to come and save her. And yet, one had just happened. Rudy came to save her, and the realization had flooded her chest with elation.
Rudy have thrown the assassins back, effectively saving the lives of the princess and her guards. Only to be struck by that man. Panic and shock overwhelmed her at the sight of that sword slashing Rudy's body, of all that blood gushing out, and of him getting thrown back by the impact. If it was her old self, she would be paralyzed with crippling fear at this point.
But Sylphiette lived through dozens of life-threatening predicaments these past years. Her mind may have been in complete disarray, but her instincts kicked in instead. Running forward, she leaped over the quagmire thanks to Gale boots, and sent Icicle projectiles the enemy's way. And another, getting him away from Rudy. And another series of lesser ones, striking one after another. Barely sparing a glance at the fallen enemy, who got finished by the impact of either the final rock bullet or icicles that punctured him, she got on her knees nearby the boy who had fallen into the mud. The blood was soaking his clothes, and a grimace of pain was frozen on his pale face. Tearing the clothes from his chest, Sylphiette summoned her mana, desperately praying that it would work and that her healing magic would be enough. No incantation was necessary, so when her trembling hand touched his blood-stained chest, her mana poured into the wound. Bones mended themselves; flesh and skin were reattaching. It all happened in a matter of seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime to the girl. Sylphiette didn't notice her tears until her vision got more and more hazy and blurred due to the fogged glasses, so they were cast aside. A leaf-like wooden carved pendant hanging on a thread around the boy's neck was unnoticed too, as it fell to the boy's side. It was a vibrant red cut between shades of pale and grey that held all of the girl's attention.
Finally, his chest looked fine, with sticky blood and gore being the only reminders of the severe injury. He was steadily breathing. If anything, he was pale, but after all that blood loss, it was the best she could hope for. A loud sigh of relief that was caught in her throat left her lips. Rudy was going to be fine. The presence of mind was coming back to her. Gently laying him down, Sylphiette finally remembered just what was happening. Another wave of panic arose. She leapt back on her feet and looked around to see the fight ending.
The one who attacked Rudy was dead for sure, his body torn apart with magic. The few of the assassins who could still move were fleeing. Alistar, the remaining knight, was looking at their backs with a hateful glare. Ellemoi Bluewolf, disguised as Ariel, slumped against the carriage, panting, with her eyes closed. Victor, the old steward of the princess', was trying to get back to his feet. Next to him, a black woman she had never seen before was holding a sword, still on guard. Another blond girl with a bow was getting closer to them with a conflicted look. It didn't seem like she was an enemy. Cleane had a conflicted expression too, standing by the princess' side. Luke next to them still held his sword with a calculating look, his eyes still narrowed. Sylphiette suddenly caught the look from Princess Ariel, who was still wearing the magic tool, Green ring, and therefore disguised. That look in her eyes was both sorrowful and jubilant, but Ariel sent her a reassuring smile with a hint of mirth in it. An unspoken question.
After years of surviving in the Silver palace, they could almost communicate like that. Princess Ariel had probably noticed Rudy. Sylphiette felt her cheeks heat up, but the princess had already turned her attention to unknown women, her facial expression being her usual facade of a charming smile, if only slightly adjusted to match the situation.
"You've saved our lives. You have my gratitude. May I ask for your names?"
Notes:
Thank you for reading. Any feedback, including but not limited to negative, is always appreciated.
In particular, let me know how was the battle scene. Does changing perspective feel right? Or don't, lack of comments is a feedback of it's own too.