The water slushed and flowed into the pitcher. Clear of any contaminants, this was the river where Fiona and Tiara came to get water.
If he had to estimate the distance between their house and the river, it would be around 8 kilometres. He could not picture himself surviving more than 3 days in these circumstances that too if he was not killed by monsters in the meantime.
Respect for Fiona and her unwavering will deepened in his heart. She survived all these years while also raising a daughter.
He examined the river which stretched deep into the woods, the opposite bank was 30 meters away. The river shimmered gorgeously under the direct sunlight.
Keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings, Darius kept a firm grip on his sword. He was warned by Fiona about the Goblin encampment not far from here.
There was a sudden ache in his abdomen. It had to be his wound acting up. Although, it was almost healed. He determined not to take unnecessary risks, 'System.'
[Yes, Host?]
'Are there potions in the shop that can heal my wound immediately?' He needed to keep a potion with him in case of an encounter. He could not bear to hold back in a fight.
[A low-level potion would suffice since your wound has almost recovered.]
He was relieved to hear that, 'What is the cost?'
[20 ST (Shop Tokens) per unit.]
'Buy 2 of them.' He would not use it now otherwise Fiona would get suspicious.
[2 E-rank Healing Potions purchased for 40 ST. Remaining ST: 210.]
A while later, Fiona called for him. He went and helped her put a pitcher on her head. She balanced it before picking up the other two. He picked up the last one and the duo turned to leave the site.
The pitcher was heavy, almost 10 litres of water was in there. While he struggled with the weight, Fiona carried the three of them as though they weighed as much as a feather.
Her gait had remained the same as before, graceful and fast. An impeccable show of balance as not a drop of water left the pitcher. While he already dropped some of the water on the way.
He changed hands frequently and, many a time almost stopped to rest.
Halfway on the way, Fiona stopped causing him to do the same. She quietly put the pitchers near a tree and equipped her bow. He followed her actions, drawing his short sword slowly.
They sneakily went a little further and looked over the bushes to see three green humanoid creatures. Small in stature only reaching his waist, ugly and pot-bellied.
Tounge lolling out, disfigured teeth, they psychotically giggled while their stick arms constantly stabbed their mangled prey with poorly crafted wooden spears.
Darius' nose scrunched, brows knitting together at the sight of the disfigured corpse. It was beyond recognition.
He sensed Fiona getting close to him, raising his heartbeat a little.
"Goblins." She whispered, "Climb the tree and wait. I'll take care of them."
The words of denial halted in his mouth. Her eyes demanded to not resist her commands. He gulped, nodding to her. As quietly as possible, his arms and legs carried him up the tree. Settling on the nearest branch, his body shrunk making himself look small and obscure.
Below, Fiona sneaked around the bushes in their blind spot. Her thin fingers smoothly pulled out an arrow from the quiver, loading it on the bow.
The bow creaked as her arm retreated with the string and arrow. Fully drawn and ready, she waited for an opportunity.
Her eyes were unmoving from the target.
The needlepoint focus of hers remained undiverted as a small butterfly sat on her nose.
Arms stayed steady even after holding the bow in the same position for a while.
Not much time had passed when her fingers released the arrow. It blurred through the bush with a thunk, piercing the first head and then the second.
Swiftly, loading the second arrow. She aimed for the third goblin while it was still baffled. The arrow shot piercing right between the eyebrows. In less than a minute, three goblins were lying dead.
She stood up and went to the corpses. Examining their prey, it had remains of black fur. Just as she recognised the corpse, the dry leaves cracked on the ground around her.
Followed by growling, she rolled forward pulling out an arrow and quickly drawing. Immediately, she released the string turning around.
A yelp sounded as the arrow hit a black and white wolf on the neck, killing it instantly.
Three black wolves rounded soon, pouncing at the same time.
She again rolled away, pulling out a dagger from near the ankle.
One wolf jumped, targeting her neck. She lodged the bow in its jaw.
Her dagger quickly wounding its neck.
It retreated.
Another, attacked from the side.
She stepped back, striking with her bow and sending it away.
The last wolf tried to blindside her from behind.
She sidestepped, a second too late causing a small claw injury on the arm.
While she fought desperately, Darius was frozen by the sudden attack on her. In panic, he could not think of a way to help her.
The wolves looked like normal wolves from his world only slightly bigger. Stronger too, from the way one of them tackled her a few meters away.
Seeing her starting to struggle a little, he quickly pulled out a potion and downed the vial in one go. The potion healed his wound fast, almost in an instant.
He had no experience in fighting, especially monsters. Neither, did the previous Darius have much battle experience.
As he was about to join her, one of the wolves had managed to injure her a little. That scene caused his jaw to clench and his eyes to flare.
He jumped silently, his short sword out and ready.
A wolf, who just stood up after being knocked down, was now pinned to the ground with a sword through its head.
Darius pulled out the sword at once, almost losing his balance. The other wolves were distracted for a moment, which cost one of them its life as an arrow pierced the head.
The last remaining wolf growled and barked in an attempt to intimidate the enemies. It sensed deathly danger from Fiona, so it targeted the newcomer.
Darius saw the wolf dash at him. He took a stance ready to fight. In his peripheral, he saw something moving.
Gritting his teeth, he hurled his sword at Fiona.
The sword darted through the air, aimed at her while he twisted his body. His back almost touched the ground, balancing only on his toes.
The wolf who had aimed for his neck, barely missed due to the sudden movement of its prey.
Darius' fist swiftly connected with the jaw of the wolf.
With all the force that could be gathered in such a position, he punched causing the wolf to disorient for a moment. Enough time for an arrow to lodge into its brain.
Fiona had guessed the trajectory of the sword and instead of dodging, shot an arrow at the wolf attacking Darius.
His sword had managed to kill the wolf that was sneaking behind her.
Knowing that the wolf was dead, Darius slumped on the ground. Exhausted.
Fiona wore the bow around her torso again, sensing no more threats around.
She appeared above him extending her hand, "You fight well for someone so weak."