We had been fighting each other on a daily basis and Evelyn had adapted and overcome my skill in martial arts. For each hit i managed she would hit me twice. My progress had stagnated to a harrowing degree making me think that i had hit my limits.
Pushing myself off the floor i helped Evelyn off the floor too. We had beaten each other to the floor since i had higher endurance and had seen more combat while she had more techniques in hand to hand.
"Good work Evelyn at this rate you will definitely surpass me. "
haah haah "Y-yeah" Haah haah
"Take a break and a shower maybe even a nap. I'm sure you will feel better then."
"Thank you noir"
~~
As she walked away my smile faded. I could feel stagnation once again but i was in dire need of strength. I had started to feel the hunger more recently due to my excessive training and the injuries i was sustaining.
The best way for me to gain more strength was to be in life and death combat where i felt at home. I obviously couldn't do that inside the city so i would need to leave and find a mark or some bandits to fight. I could find a dungeon but they would take time to clear and i have the academy to attend along with a guest at my house.
My thoughts had been spiraling more and i could feel my emotions dampening. I needed an adrenaline rush. To feel my life in my own hands, the thrill. Throughout my journey of 'reincarnation' i had been killed multiple times in different ways and killed others in grueling and gruesome ways all the while being on the run from nobles.
Being put into what was essentially a cage where my actions were limited and it was killing me. I needed that release that dopamine.
It would be dark in a few hours and after the household has gone to sleep ill sneak out and go on a small spree.
~
Covered in a dark robe and with a mask made of Thorium i leapt up to the roof of my house before dashing between houses as silently as i possibly could. Sometimes there were gaps that were too big so i had to jump from signs and use all objects that were available to me to parkour until i finally reached the wall. There was no way to get over or under the wall without being detected and/or killed. But there was one weakness.
The gates
The gates didn't have a barrier and the only protection was guards that switch patrols each hour on the hour. This made my job easier as i knew the exact time i needed to slip through and how long i would have before i was spotted.
Melding with the shadows made things easier as my presence and footsteps couldn't be heard but it would take a second for the guards to recognise me. Slipping through would be a cinch!
As i slipped through i felt my body pass through the confines and into the open space. I was free! There were a multitude of paths that i could take but the only one i knew was the one i took to get here. I had to put my hopes on bandits setting up on that road, i didn't want to take an unknown path where i might get lost.
Taking the path i followed the trees and a rough stone path beneath me. Each step created echoes as stones came loose. I decided to use my mana sonar and before i knew it i stumbled upon multiple mana signatures clustered behind a few trees and bushes.
Walking.closer i was met with mercenaries? Bandits? I wasn't sure as they had good gear but they were holding someone hostage. I decided to get closer and listen in.
"Hey boss? Why did we take on this job? Isn't this like... highly illegal?"
"That it is johnny boy but it's also highly profitable. It doesn't matter as we made no mistakes and we weren't caught so it's basically free money now. "
"Still who was stupid enough to order the kidnapping of the elf princess?"
"Are you serious! You should be more worried about us, the kidnappers. If we get caught by the elven royalty they are going to do something to us that is far worse than death."
"Then why did we take the job!?"
"It's simple... Monetary gain. Bandits are outlaws they wouldn't be able to get into the city however respectable adventurers can move freely. It was easy to get her anyways almost too easy so that should show that whoever this was they have high connections and a lotta wealth."
"Wealth that will be shared with us!" hahaha
"Indeed!" Hahahaha
~
Oh so they are technically bandits.
Giving my best Aussie accent I silently declared
Stabbing time.
Walking behind one I glided a kitchen knife across his throat.
the next one couldn't react as I threw it into his skull.
The others finally seemed to catch on as they armed up and got into a formation. These guys were above average that was for sure.
Pulling out my dearest scythe I gave it a twirl, it vibrated in dissatisfaction.
"I'm sorry I couldn't bring you out in the city or I would be done for! To make it up to you, you can dine on the sweet blood of these adventurers what do you say?"
It shivered in delight!
"Perfect let's get to it then."
Shaken out of their confusion at the man talking to his weapon the first one charged at me with a wide and heavy swing.
"Too predictable."
With a simple slash I cut him in half his blood being sucked into the blade.
Whoa! I wouldn't have been able to do that before. My strength finally felt justified.
In my reverie I didn't notice a blade piercing my stomach before it was ripped to the side. Blood spilled out of my body as I dropped to the floor and was temporarily stunned.
~Kiera Whyte~
I had been sleeping when I heard my door opening. Knowing that I told my servants not to disturb me unless absolutely urgent I was on high alert. Rolling out of my bed I grabbed my sword before turning on the lights.
I was met by faces partially covered in a dark cloth. I screamed for my guards but nothing happened.
There are no guards to come to your aid girl. A deep sneer was visible by the way his eyes creased in enjoyment. No one was coming to help me.
I knew I couldn't take them on directly, I needed to escape. Turning to the window I was met by another person on the balcony.
"Tut tut tut. Think you could run away? Were not that sloppy. "
I had no choice but to fight! Coating my sword in wind magic I slashed at one of the assailants. But he naturally parried the blade. I kept trying to employ more and more mana with each swing hoping to overwhelm him but it was of no use.
"That's some good magic but you are too weak to use a sword with it."
Complying with his words I coated the sword once again but threw it at them.
"That's Better! "
Using magic we clashed but since I used most of my mana on the sword eventually tired me out and I was suffering from mana exhaustion.
I felt a strong impact on my stomach and the air in my lungs left me.
I couldn't breathe! The rough pain of my throat not being able to inhale air was disastrous. My lungs burnt with each passing second screaming for air. I choked and spluttered but my vision darkened before I could fully regain my breath and I passed out.
~
Waking up I was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by these people, they took their face covers off and I could easily identify them as humans. They were talking about something.
"Wealth that will be shared with us!" hahaha
"Indeed!" Hahahaha
Suddenly one of their throats was slit and another was stabbed in the head with... A kitchen knife?
A person with a silver and purple mask dressed in black appeared out of nowhere and the kidnappers started to fight them.
They pulled out a beautiful scythe made of red crystal with black metal before they started... Talking to it?
They instantly sliced a person in half something that I bet even the kidnappers would struggle to do. Mana enhanced bone was extremely strong so to be able to cut through it that blade must be extremely strong and valuable.
However my hope and fascination died down as the mysterious figure was stabbed and the kidnapper ripped the blade out of their body. They instantly fell to the floor.
"Who the fuck are they!? "
Crouching down and ripping off the mask I could hear small gasps of shock.
"A Woman!?"
Looking at their face they were unnaturally beautiful with a perfect proportional face however blood was leaking out of their mouth.
"Hey boss look at this scythe it must be a legendary artifact."
"Give it here."
"Hehehe look at this boys it looks like we doubled our riches now, drinks are on me."
"Yeeah"x5
As they turned around I noticed something, The body's eyes opened and they stood up their wounds closing at a visible rate that definitely wasn't normal.
Walking up to the guy with the scythe I felt something unnerving. A colossal shadow formed in the girl's hand before it turned pointed, It instantly pierced into the guy's back and his body sank into the shadows beneath him.
The scythe hovered in mid air before it slowly recalled to its master. They looked like the definition of the reaper as their piercing red eyes looked over everything. It felt omnipotent and overbearing.
Instantly the heads of a few of the kidnappers fell to the ground before the blood was absorbed into the scythe. Then the eyes. Those eyes looked into my soul.
"SHIT!! "
I was confused.
"Fuck why is she here!? She is meant to be at the academy."
Then it clicked. I knew this face. The face that I hadn't seen since the fight between them and the teacher. My shock blocked my memory.
"You! what are you doing here!" I instantly stiffened as I talked before i could think. But I didn't get scolded as another blade pierced him in the throat. He must be dead right?
But he just stood there before turning around the blade cutting through the cartelage of his neck.
"You just fucked up buddy."
Instantly the blade that had pierced him was shattered by his hand before he took the hidden assassin into the woods where I heard screams of pain and anguish. He came back covered in blood and I almost heaved at the smell.
"Fuck! What am I meant to do with you. I can't kill you but I can't just let you go. (Mumbled)"
"Please Untie me I just want to go home."
"Jeez what are you a child. Calm down I'll release you just let me get this blood off."
Taking out the kitchen knife from the body he used it to cut my binds.
"Thank you I was so scared waaah"
"Calm down. There there I'm sure it was scary."
I couldn't control myself anymore I had been abducted by a bunch of men I feared for all I had and what would become of me.
"Don't worry I have a duty to get you home.("not that I want to but if I leave you here I'll be executed by the elven royal family)
"Can you stop crying now?"
"S-sorry." Slapping my cheeks I steeled myself as he walked into the darkness.
"Um I can't see."
"Oh yeah you don't have night vision here take this torch."
It didn't take long for us to reach the gate, when the guards saw me they rushed to me and secured me when I turned around he was gone.
~
When I reached my mansion security was tripled and I was sent to bed to sleep however as I was about to sit down I heard a tapping at my window. Opening the door he appeareddonned in more casual clothes.
"Hello princess. We need to talk about today."
"I promise to not reveal your secret I promise."
"Not.Good.Enough"
"From now on, you will follow me on the nights while I fight bandits so I can keep an eye on you until I come up with a plan to stop you telling anyone. The days don't matter since you will be in the academy. I bid you a good evening princess."
He didn't wait for my response as he dived off the balcony.
~Noir~
After some leftover stew i did my usual jobs before i would leave to go hunt some bandits like i had been doing recently, however as i was walking down the stairs i heard muffled cries.
Urgently following them i was met by Evelyn's door , turning the door knob slightly and cracking open the door I was met by a heart wrenching sight.
She was there shivering cold tears dropping from her face onto the messy bedsheets. Her eyes looked dull, almost lifeless.
Walking In ahe didn't even seem to notice me even as i walked up to her.
"Evelyn. Evelyn "
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you leaving me?"
"Huh I'm not leaving you I'm right here?"
"Yes you are! You keep leaving in the night. Am i not good enough!? do you not care about me!?"
"Of course i care about you, i wouldn't be here otherwise."
"Then why do you keep leaving me?!"
"As I said I'm not leaving you-"
"Is it a woman? Do you have a girlfriend? Is that why?"
"That shocked me a little."
"What? No i don't have a girlfriend. I'm going out at night since i don't need as much sleep as you do."
"LIAR,LIAR,LIAR I can smell another woman on you"
That shocked me, I guess her senses were better than mine.
"I don't have a girlfriend nor am I going to leave you."
"You promise"
"What can i do to make you believe me."
"Don't leave me alone. I don't want to be alone."
"Fine fine. Here"
Laying her head on my lap I covered her in a blanket before slowly swaying and hushing her. Stroking her silky pink hair as her tail slowly swayed until she fell asleep.
Haah what am I to do? She really is a hastle, she can smell other peoples scents? The days would be rough from now on. She is like a child or an obsessive lover. She needs to learn to be self-dependent. What if I need to leave or I get killed.
I felt panic for the first time in a while. I could only stroke her hair and soothe her until she woke up. I guess the princess was let off the leash this time.