I knew instantly that this man was the one who had hired the bounty hunters, the one behind the destruction of the forest and the killing of the innocent. And I knew I had to stop him.
But as I prepared to fight, the man spoke again. "I'll make you a deal. You give me the bag of treasure, and I'll let you live."
I hesitated for a moment, considering his offer. But I knew that I couldn't let him have the wealth that he had stolen from the innocent.
In one swift move, I lunged towards the man, my fists flying towards his face.
He yanked my arm in a vice-like grip, almost causing me to cry out in pain. He sneered at me, his voice dripping with disdain, "This is no way to treat an elder!" His eyes narrowed, boring into me as I struggled to free myself from his grasp. But I refused to let the man's words or his grip hold me back. I mustered all my strength and kicked him in the gut, causing him to stagger backwards. "Young Boy, you should watch what you doing," he growled, his eyes blazing with anger. "I could crush you like a bug."
I knew I was no match for the man's physical strength. But I also knew that I couldn't let him win. Not after everything he had done. I gritted my teeth and prepared to charge at him again, but before I could make a move, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a shiny, black dagger.
I froze as he brandished the weapon in front of me, the blade glinting in the moonlight. "You made a mistake, boy," he said, his voice cold and menacing. "You should have taken my offer while you still had the chance."
I took a step back, my heart racing as I tried to think of a way out of this. But before I could do anything, the man lunged at me, the dagger aimed straight at my heart.
I managed to dodge the attack just in time, feeling the cold metal graze my skin as it missed its mark. I stumbled backwards, trying to regain my balance as the ground trembling. "Young boy, who teach you lesson, how to fight," the man taunted as he came at me again, the dagger flashing in the moonlight. He launched at me, but this time, his dagger was glowing into mist purple darkish, swift through me, i manage to dodge to sideline, tip over, gather my balance. He could not be serious, trying killing a 5-year-old child rag at him.
But as he charged at me again, his movements became more erratic speed, slice at me, I manage to dodge it, but then the event taken a turn around, slice at my back into pain of growl. I lost my balance fallen into the dirt ground, my body writhing in agony as I clutched my back.
I knew I was in trouble. The man had managed to cut me deeply, the wound bleeding profusely. I tried to get up, but the pain was too much. I lay there, helpless, as the man approached me again, his dagger held high.
"Young Boy, You should try to run away, but instead attack me," he spoke with a grin on his face, send chill to my spine, "Sad things, You got early life for such child," he has spoken sadistic, enjoy at my suffer.
But the man taken a turn, decide to put his dagger away. He walk toward me, then kneeling close at me, reach his hand toward at my chin, lifting my face toward his evil grin, "You a special young boy, you can give me a valuable thing I want," he said at me with interest, "But for that, I can give you second chance, if you agree."
My eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what the man is talking about. But before I could respond, he stood up and walked over to the bag of treasure. While I injure, he pull something out, walk toward at me, then kneel again close to me, show at me a gold chain necklace with small white opal pendant. "Young boy, Do you want to make a deal?" he asked at me with his wicked smile, send chill at my spine.
I hesitate for a moment, not sure what to do. If I make a deal with this man, I might be left alive, but I would be indebted to him. Thinking close, what should I do? I need to plan things out indirectly.
"Sure, i agree with your deal," i speak at him, with my weak tone, while clutching at my back wound.
The man grinned, clearly happy with my choice. He helped me stand up, and I winced in pain as the movement pulled at my wound. Might be planned to kill him on later on the event. But how can I kill him, i not even stronger enough to face him, waste my time here, i suspossed to get home quickly my mother and father are probably wonders sick where i am. But I could not able to run away as long this wound at my back, not healed it would become worst, "Young boy, Don't you worry about anything, i can help your wound, so you can have easy life," he spoke at me with a wicked smile.
I grin at him very weakly, in secret inside me furious anger at him. "You will die eventually," I whisper to myself.
While I recover, the man taking out bandage from his pocket, slowly unroll and place it at my back, wrapped and put medicine ointment for recovery. My vision blurring, become dizzy from loss blood, almost collapse to the ground, the man grab my arm and drag to carriage was sitting in wait of soak forest. It seems i lose conscious from blood loss.
*
As my vision slowly came back. I still don't have any strength to move or make a noise. I could barely move my head side to side, all that i can see is the world around me move, but i couldn't feel the ground anymore, thinking, must be at a carriage. Then slowly as i coming to consciousness, i suddenly sense a manly rough calloused hand. As i turn my view around, i saw the man sit behind the wheel. His face, thinking expression as the sound of horse clomping trotting toward north direction. While the wind blew to the side, bring the cool crisp air, ruffled the hair over the man's shoulder and back of his head. He looked at least 25 years old. But he has rough skin. The man wears black cowboy hat. His attire was blue jean, long sleeve shirt and dark brown vest, gloves.
As I could rememeber, i didn't see what he actually look like, while i attack him. But now, i could get closer and better view at his face and head. My strength recovered a little, and the pain slowly fading. I had to make a move, get revenge at this man's act.
"Child, you awaken?" he asks. I make no response, no vocal, only small breathing. Must planning to give something and want me to follow along, not yet sure the destination of travel, I needed information.
Later on the event, I was able to recover my strength. The Man spending talking to me, for some-reason, feeling like he's talking to a random ghost. shut my mouth, not responding to anything the man wanted. Even passed days, when eventually arrived at the place look like a hidden cabin deep in the woods. The trees loomed tall and dense around us, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. The cabin itself seemed old and weathered, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
But for now, still sit at the back, as the carriage stop, the man jump down, open the back curtain door, motion his hands to me to get out. I don't make any eye contact, nor response.
The man huffed, grabbing my arms, roughly dragged me out of the carriage. He continued to drag me into the cabin, our steps leaving foot prints in the dirt as we walked. Opened the cabin door, pushed me inside, closed the door. The cabin was sparsely furnished, with just a few pieces of simple furniture and a threadbare rug on the wooden floor. It was dark, musty and slightly chilly.
Still ignoring him, decided to explore the whole house, find all information and planing ahead. For some-reason, all door handle have locked from other side, no chance to escape. Even the man brought and keep me a track on each room, he placed something black marble-size round gems.
But came to my surpise, saw hidden door frame, a strange metal plaque in the wall of the attic and, found out about hidden the room. I opened the secret door panel with strange crest embedded at the back. From my view, saw this underground hidden chamber have many book shelves filled with a pile of books in each. But a prison cell still occupied, inside was a young teenage girl around 6 years old. Her long wavy-dark hair down to waist. Her bright fliaming-eye filled with sadness, look like about to cry.
Then eventually, the man came behind me, " I didn't expect to ran into this place," he speak, then continue," My past mistake," with a hint of guilt in his tone. But he grapped my wrist, then throw me inside prison cell. He slammed the cell door with hard, making the whole place quiet.
When he gone, i stared at him in shock, couldn't believe it. the young girl grab my arm with her weak fragile body. she look scared, like in horror. "Did... you meet the Elder One?" she asks in quiet tone.
"Who is the Elder one?" i ask
she speaks "...He's an old dark magic-user. he cast a curse spell on me, trapped me here."
This young girl speak Alot about this place, came to my mind, how long did she stay in here, with no interaction with the outside world at all. She did tell me that man who I make a deal with was part a adventure guild. But, come to think of, did she reveal the man's name was?
Remember back, the man's name was Draco. That's what the little girl tell me his name. Her eyes glow into mist of red with determination. I glanced at her.
"They here,"