Even before I was blasted, I was already having a rotten day.
I woke up in a carriage with a lap pillow. That wasn't the rotten part. The lap pillow was great and the girl giving it was cute as well, but I couldn't figure out who she was or what I was doing there. I sat up and tried to think. I scanned the whole carriage, it was an expensive looking one.
Sitting across me was the middle-aged guy and beside him was his wife.. probably. Sitting beside me was the girl who just gave me a lap pillow. She looked around my age.. fifteen? Sixteen? Okay, that's kinda scary. I don't even know my own age. She wore an elegant dress. Her blond hair was long and braided down each side. She wore little to no makeup but she was still seriously pretty. Her eyes matched the beautiful blue sky.
The guy across me wearing expensive-looking clothes asked, "How do you feel?"
"What..? Where am I..?" I responded with a question instead.
"Don't be afraid, you're safe here." He reassured then he added, "What's your name?"
"Marcus... I don't remember anything else..."
"Really? That's a little concerning... you didn't look that injured so maybe you hit your head or something? Anyway, my name is Gul Ceone, besides me is my wife, Mystral Ceone and the one you're sitting beside is my daughter, Lucy Ceone"
"Do you know where you are?" Lucy asked.
"No... I don't."
"It's the great fields of Relinur, just after the valley of the fallen." And she added, "If you don't even remember where you passed out then it must be quite severe."
"Do you even remember anything at all?" Gul asked.
...
"My name and.. that I know how to wield a sword," I said.
"You know how to wield a sword? That's a relief" Lucy said then she added. "Looks like you're okay physically.. we just need a specialist to look at your head."
"We'll help you until you're able to walk by yourself so trust me. I'll take responsibility for you for now." Gul assured.
"Thank you..." I replied.
The carriage rumbled along a bumpy road. Out the window, lush green fields rolled under a bright blue sky. I kinda feel nostalgic but I'm pretty sure I didn't live here. I tried to think back.. the last thing I remembered...
Suddenly I heard a loud howl. I spotted the wolf almost the same size as the carriage. 'A piece of cake compared to what we hunt' I winced and put my hands to my temples. I don't know how but I'm pretty sure I can beat that wolf.
I glanced back at the family but their faces were filled with a dreadful expressions.
Four escorts ran in the middle of the carriage and the wolf, trying to block its path. 'That's not going to work' I thought. In a flash the two of them were dead, brutality sliced to pieces by the wolf's sharp claws. The other two tried to retaliate but it was no use, they also died.
I can't help but feel like something's wrong... wolves usually hunt in packs so seeing a lone wolf is quite odd.
I tried to go out but Lucy stopped me.
"Don't! It's dangerous!" She cried.
I ignored her and got out. While the wolf was busy eating one of the escorts' corpses, I quickly grabbed the sword just laying on the ground a few meters behind the wolf. The sword was straight and double-edged. The grip didn't fit my hands— it was a little big. Although this isn't my preference, it was enough to kill the wolf.
It saw me, and the wolf snarled and backed up. It was hesitant but it still lunged at me. I let my instincts take over, I swung at the wolf-like I've done it a thousand times. The sword passed through it and the wolf disintegrated.
"A summon!" Lucy shouted holding a.. decorated stick..?
I was too immersed in the battle that I almost forgot about them.
"Wha-" before I could ask what she meant, I was interrupted by the sound of clapping hands, a guy emerged from the shadows.
"I didn't know there was someone strong enough to defeat my cute little pet, I wasn't informed about this." He continued "oh sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Zethes a saint rank mage."
I'm not sure about that saint whatnot but he definitely doesn't look like one. However, Lucy gasped, her eyes widened as if she just saw a ghost and lost all hope...
"You kid, you have a lot of potentials. Stop protecting those bastards who tried to revolt against the kingdom, join us and we'll double what they paid to you!" He declared.
"Hmmm... Yeah, no thanks." I replied
"How foolish of you siding with those traitors." Zethes mocked.
Suddenly his aura seemed to change. 'Danger!' I thought. I gripped my sword and got ready to charge, but I never got the chance.
Zethes chanted something, suddenly he raised his hand, arcs of electricity ran between his fingers, and blasted me in the chest.
BANG! I found myself lying flat on my back. My chest hurts. I passed out monetarily. I lifted my head and saw my clothes smoking. The lightning bolt had gone straight through my body.
In the corner of my eyes, I saw Zethes laughing. The air sparked. Lucy screamed defiantly, her legs trembling trying to protect her mother behind her. The middle-aged guy, Gul was on his feet, desperately swinging his sword, but Zethes was just toying with him.
"Stop," I croaked. I stood up unsteadily to my feet and wasn't sure who was more surprised the family, Zethes or myself.
"How are you still alive!" Zethes hissed. "That was enough lightning to kill 100 men!"
"My turn," I said.
Zethes charged at me, his fingers crackling with electricity. I swung my sword but he blocked it and let loose a bolt of lightning... I deflected the charge then I stepped in, one quick thrust. But he pushed me back with the wind. "Who are you!?" Zethes hissed.
The girl was so stunned she dropped her stick, "How..?" She said dazedly.
I saw Zethes chanting again. It seems like he wants to finish this fight in one blow. I was about 10 meters in front of him. By the time I close in the distance, I'll already be dead. 'Think! Think god-damn it!' Suddenly I thought of something.
In a stance, I closed my eyes and said "Hiken! First form - thunder strike!" Trying to recall the movements. Dashing forward I performed a fast and strong sweeping attack.
"Gaaah!" Zethes shouted writhing in pain.
"Huff, huff, huff... Well, that was a bit anticlimactic" I said mockingly. That cost me quite a lot of my ki... I flinched again tapping my temple, 'ki? What's ki?' I asked myself.
He didn't reply. I managed to cut off his left arm.
"Master Sylas... Please.. save me." He begged while crushing a valuable-looking stone.
"What, have you finally gone insane?" I asked.
Suddenly the air felt heavier. I fell to my knees gasping for air. A figure of a person walked past me and he carried Zethes onto his shoulder. He said something that cut through the chaos like a finely sharpened blade. "You are brave to come here, Son of the Eastern Sword God," he said. "After what you have done to my subordinate, very brave indeed. Or perhaps you are simply very foolish."
His words filled me with dread so primal it caused me to know the only kindness he had was the warning he gave. My body got numb, and my vision blurry.. finally I passed out.