It is nighttime in the village of Darow, and Kyra lays on her bed staring at the ceiling, throwing the bag of coins towards it and catching it as it falls back down with a gloomy look on her face.
"Your job is done, Kyra. Leave it at that and move on."
"You're the moody one."
"I'm fine."
"Upset 'cause he didn't even invite you along for the journey?"
"Shut up."
"You wasted so much energy saving him just to be thrown away."
"I don't care."
"But you do. Otherwise, why would you do so much for someone that means so little? He does look like 'him' slightly, though."
Kyra catches the bag of coins a final time as simultaneously a loud slam is heard muffled through her door as the Inn entrance is opened with force.
Flashback to Kyra sitting in Redwood Forest next to a man her age. The world seems bright and sparkly, the leaves and forest streaking with vibrance, oozing their colours over her memories. The two embrace fondly, the man holding her hands tightly with passion as he looks into Kyra's eyes.
"I love you, Kyra Starsin." The man says, overjoyed.
Overwhelmed, fighting back tears of joy, she manages to smile back, overcome by emotion as words fail her. She leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly before loosening her grip to see him covered in blood, gurgling blood, struggling to breathe.
Happiness is what she remembers, but only for a moment. Her mind is ripping any fragment of joy from her head and replacing it with pain and misery.
Kyra is lying in bed; a tear builds in her eyes as she wipes it away, rejecting her emotions.
"He 'Isn't' him." She angrily states to herself.
"No, but enough like him to make you act so selflessly." she replies to herself.
A muffled verbal scuffle is heard through the door with a voice that sounds like Krovar and others.
"Where is she?! She is banned from this village, and you're harbouring her?! You're in BIG trouble." an angry voice shouts with vitriol.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't hear any such information!"
Kyra recognises the second voice as Krovar. She throws herself off the bed, grabbing her gear as a loud bang is heard on the door.
"Open up, or we'll tear this door down!" The voice shouts.
"You'll be there awhile; the door is pretty sturdy." Kyra tauntingly replies.
A brief pause before they throw themselves vigorously into the door, it buckling and splintering at the sheer force applied. Eventually, it slams open, smashing into the wall.
Kyra doesn't hesitate to throw a punch, connecting with the first figure in the nose, a guard, as he collapses to the floor. Rubbing her knuckles, she sees three more guards standing behind the first.
"You not got anything better to do? You must want rid of me pretty badly." Kyra boasts as she runs towards the window behind her, the guards chasing after her, paying no mind to the guard, crumpled on the floor as they step on him, trying to get to Kyra.
Leaping out the window, one of the guards narrowly skiffs his hand on her boot but can't grasp it tightly to restrain her.
Crashing into the mud and springing to her feet, a smile grows on Kyra's face.
"Useless fucks, the lot of you! Is Moreland too pathetic to escort me out himself?" Kyra laughs.
"It'll be a good way to end the day by arresting you!" A voice shouts from the side.
Kyra looks down the alley and sees Moreland standing with a guard by his side. She smiles at him.
"Fuckface, watch not get your armour too messy now." Laughing hysterically, a guard throws themselves through the window, trying to grab Kyra but failing as she leaps back and presses her foot into the back of their helmet, driving them into the mud.
"We'll catch up later; I've got somewhere to be!" Kyra winks as she runs away from Moreland.
"CATCH HER NOW!!" Moreland bellows as lights pop up around the village from the skirmish, villagers looking out from their homes.
Sprinting through the alley and around the corner, four more guards await, sword drawn but still. Slowly, they enclose her as if trying to cage a wild beast carefully.
"Now, stay still, don't make this harder than it needs to be." The guard attempts to sound confident but instead sounds desperate.
A sudden movement from Kyra causes the guards to lunge wildly, swinging their swords and spears at her without hesitation.
Kyra is calm, carefully and meticulously weaving in and out of their attacks and progressing forward. Moreland catches up, emerging from the alley, causing Kyra to become surrounded.
Grabbing a handful of mud, she launches it into one of the guard's faces, causing them to reel in pain, giving her an opening to grab ahold of them, twisting their arm, almost snapping it. She uses them as a shield to allow her to break free from being surrounded.
"I don't think you realise just how fucked you are. Attacking a guard, resisting arrest and whatever other charge we can easily pin on you, you'll be executed within a month, I bet." Moreland tauntingly informs Kyra.
Kyra holds the guard close.
"You're such a pathetic excuse for a human, Moreland. Your oh-so-precious appearance is all you give a fuck about, not anyone other than yourself." Kyra exclaims.
Moreland can only chuckle as the guards slowly approach Kyra, weapons pointed at her.
"Pot calling the kettle black, I think. You've spent enough time here for me to know exactly who you are—selfish, self-indulging, hatred-filled harpy." Moreland spits back with abuse.
Kyra loosens her grip slightly.
"Yeah, you're right, but I'm done pretending now. I've realised how tiring it is being that kind of person." Kyra calmly states as she pushes the guard-forward and sprints away.
Moreland was enraged at the thought of Kyra escaping.
"SHOOT HER!! She's escaping; shoot her now!!" He roars.
The guards hesitate.
"Sir, are you-" One tries to speak to Moreland.
"Shoot her now, or you'll be arrested beside her!!" He angrily shouts, his face as red as the Redwood Forest leaves.
The guards shakily take their bows and draw them back, racking an arrow.
"Loose!" Moreland clamours as he signals with his arm.
The guards release their arrows as they rain down on Kyra. She was agile and slippery, but not enough to dodge all the arrows. One manages to stab into the side of her stomach, getting lodged tight as another pierces through her arm.
She stops briefly as the pain hits intensely, falling to one knee, but she grits her teeth as she stands back up and continues to run.
"Again!! Again!!!" Moreland nervously shouts as Kyra might escape his judgement.
Suddenly, a painful crunching noise is felt and heard by Kyra as she flips around, landing on her face. A guard has smashed the edge of their shield directly onto her nose, causing it to shatter as blood cascades down her muddied face. The guard flips her onto her back, the arrows pushing as her weight pushes them through.
A smile sprawls across Moreland's face.
"Don't kill her! Leave her to me!!" He evilly commands.
Villagers have started gathering, the Inn emptying, with Krovar looking on in shock as Kyra lies on the ground with arrows sticking out of her, with a guard's boot pushing down on her torso.
Moreland confidently strides up, his sword shimmering in the moonlight, unused and clean, spending more time being polished than being used.
"I was going to be kind to you by arresting you and giving you one more month of life before executing you, but you abused my kindness, so I think I'll just kill you here." Moreland wickedly says as he stands on her hand with his boot, sword nearing her throat.
"Let my last act as captain of the village of Darow be executing a criminal, guilty of heinous crimes." Moreland shouts to the crowd gathered.
"Miserable bastard, you can best believe I'm haunting your sorry ass." Kyra says, chuckling at her impending death.
Moreland drew his sword back before thrusting toward Kyra just as a villager leaps into Moreland, dragging him to the ground.
"What are you doing?! GUARDS!!!!" Moreland shouts, confused.
The guard next to Kyra moves to help Captain Moreland, but another villager tackles him as more of the crowd charges in, subduing the guards.
Kyra painfully tries to stand up as an outstretched green hand offers aid, Krovar.
"Let me help you up, Kyra! You need to get out of here!" Krovar hurriedly says as he doesn't try to lift Kyra carefully but instead pulls her up with force as she yelps in pain.
Kyra looks on, entranced, watching the village come together to help her. Krovar tries to snap her out of it, ushering her away.
"Leave, Kyra! Now!" Krovar angrily shouts.
Kyra is captivated but manages to start running away, the arrow in her gut moving, every step digging in more, breathing through her mouth as her nose is smashed flat.
Kyra leaves the village as the fighting noise grows quieter and quieter.
She gathers her bearings, saying only one word.
"Volmyr."
End Chapter