To protect somebody

I was already too late.

The moment I stepped out hundreds of arrows were already flying across the sky. Knights laying on the ground. Some of them were already wounded critically. Were there any dead bodies? Oh no! I feel anxious!

No, get a grip Sherya, you have to grit your teeth and do something. Help them in any kind of way. Just as I saw an arrow aimed at a middle aged knight with silver- white hair and huge build, that was already hurt from another arrow that pierced through his leg I started running.

I still might not be able to use my powers. Maybe out of fear, maybe because I am unable to control them however even someone like me can fight. Even someone like me can protect somebody with these hands of mine!

I will! I will protect as many as I can!

“You can do this Sherya, look there is a longsword on the ground if you take that and position it rightly you can deflect it!”, Rusha directed.

As I reached the knight I snatched the Longsword that fell to the ground and deflected the arrow just like Rusha told me. The knight, barely conscious and bewildered, stared at me.

“Y-young Lady? You shouldn’t be here, I-it’s too dangerous.”

“Sir Knight, can you walk, wait let me help you get up, we should take you somewhere where the arrows can’t reach you.”

I took him by the arms and carried him inside the house I just stepped out from.

“It’s not the most ideal place, but if you keep your head down the arrows shouldn’t reach you. Also… for the wound, wait a minute!”

Since the clothes are too big for me anyways I used the knife to tore my sleeves. With the fabric I bound the wound.

“This should at least stop the bleeding for now. Would it be alright if I borrowed your sword?”

“My lady, if I paid more attention I wouldn’t have been hit by that damn arrow! You shouldn’t go out either, we don’t know how many enemies there are! It’s far too dangerous my lady!”

“I am sorry if I realized sooner that something was wrong then your leg wouldn’t have ended up in that condition! So please let me at least try to aid the knights that try their best to take down the enemy.”

“Young lady, Why would you apologize? None of this is your fault.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“Be careful and come back alive!”

“I will Sir-”

“You can call me Dalton my Lady.”

“I will take care of Dalton, please rest assured.”

And with these words I ran out in search of the perpetrators. There is only one way to stop this bloodshed, it’s to capture or to kill the opponent. Killing? Just a few hours ago I was accused of murder and now I might actually become a killer. But in a situation like this where life and death are hand in hand, I have to abandon my morals. To protect somebody, to save a life.

I ran around the battlefield holding the sword closely by my side. Actually I don’t even know how to use a sword but with Rusha helping me it was manageable. Also it’s better to have a weapon than running blindly empty-handed towards a killer commando.

Here and there were knights on the ground.

“Let me help you, don’t give up. You have to make it home Sir”, I carried another Knight this time behind a huge rock that seemed to be the safest choice. I was gasping for fresh air. I slowly started to lose stamina. Well no wonder I was never the fittest and I never had to carry other people to safety before. But right now there was no time for a break. I couldn’t see Sir Alvernetti nor Teiran. Those two were possibly in the woods trying to catch the one who caused this, right?

I probably don’t have to worry about them. I should focus on the knight’s in close reach. So I ran and carried. Ran and carried again. Deflected an arrow here and there. I started to reach my limit. It should have already stopped. Why are they able to shoot so many arrows almost as if someone used a special ability?

An ability!

“Yes it must be an ability Sherya. I can feel it too, the arrows are tainted with a dark aura!” Rusha shrieked.

Of course, in a world where magic and powers were common and most of the noble families and even commoners with special talents could awaken, everything could be possible.

So it must be an ability where arrows are being shot straight out of a spell or a magic circle? That person, he should soon reach his limit to. It’s already been 10 minutes since I stepped out of the house. Ever since then he fired nonstop. Even a genius gifted in magic would start to weaken. Since you are also a human, I will catch you!

The arrows are shot from the forest on the south side. Where is it? Where is the highest amount of arrows coming from?

From the middle? No.

From the right? No.

The left side!

“It’s the left side, am I right Rusha?”

“Actually I am not sure this time, Sherya. In my eyes it’s all black smoke over the whole forest.”

No, I was certain. It was the left side for sure. The power is the most concentrated there. Wait for me, I will take you down!

I started to sprint. I couldn’t rely on Teiran nor on Sir Alvernetti. I don’t know where they are, they would be somewhere in the middle or right side otherwise I would have seen them. This one is on me. I am the closest to the left side. I will take him down and will make it back safely just as I promised Dalton.

The forest was vast, piled up with an endless amount of trees making it hard to see the front. It was a perfect hideout. If I wanted to ambush someone where would I hide? Somewhere far away yet close enough to aim, also it should be rather high up above right?

So he is somewhere on the trees. If I calculate the trajectory of how the arrows fell down and add up the right angle the only right place would be there.

I found him. A middle aged man, dressed in a black fabric continuously chanting the same spell. His face is covered by a black hood.

“Disperse, dismantle, kill, fly up above oh Glosa, pierce through the flesh Glosa!”

And he continued on and on.

So all I have to do is stop his spell. If I interrupt him, I can stop him. Good. But how? I am not athletic enough to climb up, nor was I able to activate this forsaken ability of mine.

I am screwed.

Should I throw the sword? It probably wouldn't reach him anyways. It was too heavy , hard enough to even carry. So what should I do?

Right, I did have one thing. The arrowhead. I put it in the pockets of my pants in case it might come handy. Well luckily enough it actually is useful. If I sneak up closer and throw it at him, even if it doesn’t scratch him, it could at least make him stop chanting the spell.

“Don’t worry, that's what I am here for. Remember? I am a spirit born from your power! A part of you. I can control it with the power that dwells in me so it will reach him. I promise!”

“I will count on you Rusha!”

He seemed to be rather careless. Probably since he attacked from a long distance he didn’t expect that anyone would come this close.

Well it’s time to stop chanting! I stretched out my arms and tried to throw the arrowhead with all my might. It flew at a high speed which was quite impressive and since Rusha let out a wind it flew and aimed right at the men’s back. It pierced lightly against his back and he let out a shriek.

The chanting stopped, the arrows stopped. We actually made it.

“You!”

Or so I thought. He was angry and now he noticed my presence. Well I actually hoped he would be impaled and couldn’t continue but I guess not. So yeah, I think we messed up. I am screwed!

“Why are you trying to kill us, what is your motive?” I asked him. I mean since we already came so far, I should try to delay it even further, so he wouldn’t start chanting again.

“Why should I tell you, you should just die quietly without interfering!”

He stared at me. His hatred filled the whole forest. A painful expression engraved on his face.

“Is someone forcing you to do this? Are they threatening you? Tell me!”

“You wouldn’t understand, even if I told you!”

Just as he was about to reach for his pocket a cold wind brushed past us turning everything and even the man himself into ice.

In the distance he was standing there with a darkened expression and extended hand.

It was none other than the Ice Lord himself.