| Ezura Mikazuki |
Reasons? He didn't know why he expected a straight answer. At face value, the action was almost too selfless to wrap his head around. The handful of times he'd had a rebel reveal themselves so openly, it always led to a fight. Such a kind gesture being repaid by imprisonment felt a bit unfair, but he won't dwell on it. None of it could be helped.
His head bobbed slightly. It was oh so very tempting to shut his eyes for a second. The feeling only grew when he felt something press against his back. He knew Mr. Noboru was holding onto his jacket earlier, but was that his head? He tensed up a bit, unsure of whether or not to let him lean against him or to make him get off. Then, hearing the cackling of the two men driving the carriage behind him, he grumbled to himself and decided to wake him up.
He didn't get the chance, though. There was a sound between that of all the galloping and gentle breeze. It reminded him of a crossbow firing. That would've been the last thought of his life if a sure pesky rebel didn't step in.
"Did you just..." Should he have been more surprised about Noboru's reaction time and awareness or that he saved his life? Something to worry about at a better time.
Was it some ambush? They'd be easy targets on their horses if there were multiple attackers. But instead, the number of trees in the surrounding woods had him holding up a fist to signal the convoy to slow down and stop.
"Use the carriages and trees as cover. I want all eyes toward where that arrow came from." He wasted no time dismounting as he spoke, helping Mr. Noboru down once his boots hit the dirt. He watched as he broke the arrow in half. It was a brilliant idea so the attackers couldn't use it again, but they must have brought more than just one. They needed to be careful.
His heart was beating unusually faster than it usually did when similar situations occurred. He'd never been that close to dying. Without Noboru, he wouldn't have known what happened. As much as it genuinely pained him, he owed him. Being saved by him, of all people... How infuriating.
"Whoever shot that wouldn't happen to be your friend, would they?" It was a little suspicious he was almost killed a few hours after Noboru threatened him. Still, he didn't honestly believe it was his doing. He first thought the attack was another rogue magic user who heard about Noboru being taken in.
Mr. Noboru clicked his tongue, seeming annoyed by his question. "If they were, I would have known they were coming. I also would've let you die." He wasn't wrong, but his annoyed tone also annoyed him—such a brat.
Still, he tried to shield Noboru with his body from any potential attacks. He had a job to bring back the suspected rogue magic user. Even if he told him he could drag his body back by horse, that didn't matter now. It was dangerous, but he tried to guide him behind one of the carriages, where a group of his knights took cover. They held crossbows, peeking out slightly to try and spot the attacker.
Three hooded figures appeared out of the darkness, pushing their hoods off their heads and revealing their faces. The leader was a woman who bared a symbol on her left cheek. The tattoo of a Phoenix in the middle of a ring with its wings overlapping the edges of the circle. She wasn't the only one with this mark; the other two males behind her had the same effect but on their necks and the other on his right cheek.
Mr. Noboru stood up and peeked over his shoulder, probably trying to figure out what was happening, "It's real," he spoke by his ear, giving him a slight shiver. He believed Noboru even more after seeing the look on his face. He seemed just as surprised to see the three hooded figures from the treeline. What was with people being so bold lately? Ezura's men outnumbered them, and why did it seem like Noboru had heard of these people before? He travel around and haven't heard anything about these red-cloaked individuals.
Eyeing the surrounding woods for more hidden enemies, he soon realized why the lady seemed so confident. The flames flowing from her arm illuminated the moonlit forest. Ezura really couldn't catch a break. Even with a numbers advantage, he didn't feel confident. Seeing how some of my men trembled while holding their weapons, neither were they. He couldn't blame them. Most of them were recently recruited.
"Looks like we finally caught up to you, Captain Ezura Mikazuki." The woman spoke with a devilish smirk written all over her face. She stared at his men, who held their arrows ready to attack, and laughed as if pitying them like their death soon came. She held up her hand, which was engulfed in flames. Her eyes seemed to burn with passion even if they didn't change color or glow like Noboru's did when he used his abilities, "Let's not waste any more time than we need to," she spoke as if determined to fight.
When facing hostile magic users, norms survival rate weren't very high. His men's lives were in his hands. He'd hold back on any sarcastic remarks, "I'm not sure who you are, but I'm sure you can see the odds aren't in your favor. Don't start a fight; you'll lose." More of a bluff than anything. Fights between magic users were always volatile. That was one of the reasons he had yet to give the order for his men to attack. She could ignite all of them for all he knew before a single arrow or blade pierced her skin. The other two individuals behind her potentially had magic, too. But, for the sake of his men, he'd try being diplomatic first.
"Untie me," Noboru whispered, his voice a command in the tense atmosphere.
Refusing to be swayed by his sudden demand, Ezura held his ground. "Are you insane? I'm not freeing you. You're going to help those mutts," he retorted, his irritation palpable despite his attempt to whisper.
Even as he spoke, doubts nagged at Ezura's mind. Noboru's actions seemed out of character, but in the chaos of the moment, he couldn't afford to take chances. With the threat of his magic looming over his men, the possibility of him escaping couldn't be dismissed. Yet, he knew he couldn't divide his attention between him, defending his troops, and facing their attackers.
Furrowing his brow, Ezura weighed his options, absently toying with his hair. Finally, he made a decision, his fingers tracing the crystals that bound Noboru, turning him to dust. "This doesn't change your situation. Neither you nor them will escape her Majesty's will," he declared, his tone firm as he met Noboru's amused smile with a steely gaze. His reaction, however, mattered little to him now; he had more pressing matters to attend to.
Summoning his magic, he fashioned a sword from crystal, though it was brittle, a consequence of his exhaustion. It would have to suffice if their enemies decided to attack. As he brandished his weapon, the man facing him took notice, his curiosity evident. "What an interesting ability you have. It seems pointless, though. Are you hiding more from me?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing as he unleashed a barrage of fireballs without warning.
Fighting at range was never one of Ezura's strong points. Instead, he needed to get closer to the woman, right in her face, close enough to encase and immobilize her with his crystals. Until then, he'd use them to help close the distance. Stomping down his foot, a layer of crystals crept over the grass like ice. They continued forming upwards, shooting up to create a wall to block the fireball that came his way. Instead, it collided against it, sending sparks of flames in wild directions.
He'd have to worry about the fool lighting the forest on fire. Ezura patted out a lone ember that spread to his jacket. The woman rushed at him after pulling a dagger in her other hand. She lunged, trying to get a hit on him. She was fast, rageful, and had a fire that consumed her arm and soul. It was clear how much she craved his blood on her hands. But Ezura continued to put up walls to shield himself. They were getting weaker, though. Soft enough for one of her attacks to break through it. Close enough to swing his sword at her, he gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the scent of the singed fabric of his sleeve and the burn on his shoulder. The heat radiating from his wound was nothing compared to being so close to the woman.
The air whistled as he slashed at her neck. Close, but no luck. He was put on the backfoot as she began fighting back with a dagger. The weapon and she were too fast to block every attack, so he deflected the ones that'd be fatal. A few superficial cuts to his cheek or side were a better alternative. Her attacks seemed so erratic and filled with fury. Only an idiot would stay to fight a knight after a failed ambush. That or she hated him enough for some reason to ignore the risk. Did he know this woman?
"What could push you to throw your life away carelessly like this, mutt?" Ezura didn't plan on giving her the time to answer. He stayed closer to her after she avoided one of his swings. He angled his palm towards her. The spike of crystal that sprouted from it was only enough to break the skin of her neck. Damn, he was tired. There's not enough mana for a killing blow. The crystal spike shattered as he used it to block a swipe aimed at his face. He backed off, sweating slightly from the fire roaring along her arm. One of his troops bought him space by firing an arrow toward the woman. It'd be only a minor annoyance with her fire magic, though.
She backed away from him, using her fiery arm to burn any arrow that came at her as if they melted before making contact. He assumed that such would happen. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he could see her nostrils flaring, "You are a betrayer, just like the others. You kill your kind and watch them suffer to give the High Elf more power! You're disgusting, and people like you should die. I feel ashamed that we are the same kind. So I will be the one to end your life here and now! So you'll see what it's like to be drained and put under, betrayed by the ones who share your gift.." she shouted as she went in for more attacks. He wasn't expecting her to have so much energy still. She swiped his feet from underneath him, pushing him down, and got on top, holding him still. She held the dagger close to his chest, ready to push the blade into his heart. His shaky grip on her hands was the only thing stopping her from doing so.