Anna was by the house training by herself until she heard combat nearby. Worrying for her children's safety, she started to sprint in the direction of the fighting but was cut off by a wall of ice that suddenly formed in front of her.
Anna turned around and saw five figures staring her down.
"Well, well. It seems we found the mother." a woman with red hair and red eyes said.
"Five on One? Piece of cake." a woman with brown hair responded.
Anna looked at the five of them with disgust. "You dare to block me from my children?" she said in a threatening voice.
"Oh, don't worry, your children will be dealt with, but fir-" the brown-haired woman was trying to say before Anna attacked her with a lightning strike, causing a giant hole to be opened in her chest and her body dropping instantly.
The four other women were shocked to see this. "ISATA!" they yelled in a panic. They looked at Anna, who was twirling her spear in her hands. The four of them shared a single thought. "What just happened?"
"Let this be the first and final warning; move along or prepare to die in the worst ways possible."
The four women didn't move; instead, each of them readied their weapons.
Anna smiled devlishly. "Just remember..." Anna's eyes glowed a piercing purple as lightning appeared on her body and through her spear. "I gave you an out."
The first brave woman to charge at Anna was a girl with blue hair.
"Ozanne, what are you doing?" the girl with red hair yelled.
A flash of lightning appeared, and suddenly Ozanne dropped dead, headless.
"Dammit, why did we sign up for this?" One of the girls, this time the one with black hair said.
Anna, in a matter of less than three minutes, put the fear of the goddesses in each of the mercenaries hearts. She dispatched two of them as if they were nothing; how would they stand a chance? They wanted to go, but they also wanted to go after Anna since two of not just their friends but their family died in front of them.
"So what do you three choose?" Anna asked them.
The three looked at each other, but right behind them, the woods nearby started to look as if a wildfire had started, which made Anna look even more nervous.
"I don't have time to wait; either get out of my way or die." Anna said threatening the three surviving mercenaries.
"What do you think, Eloisa? The girl with the red hair said.
The blonde girl responded "I say we fight. What about you, Nina?"
The black-haired girl said "Rosaline is our leader; it's her choice."
Anna, not wanting to wait, charged the three of the girls, caught Eloise in her hand, and immediately snapped her neck with unexpected strength. Eloise dropped immediately. In anger, Nina charged at Anna but was quickly stabbed in the stomach by Anna's spear, and lightning shot around her body. Nina dropped lifeless, leaving only Rosaline alone.
Rosaline just watched her entire family be killed right in front of her. She grew up and spent years with the four girls, all of whom were just cut down in front of her, one by one.
Anna walked up slowly to Rosaline and looked her in the eye.
"What's your name?" Anna asked the girl, looking down on her.
All of Rosaline's strength left her as she dropped down to the ground on her legs; she couldn't even lift her arms. All she could do was look upwards at Anna with fear in her eyes. Part of her wanted to do one, but another part of her just wanted Anna to finish it. She didn't know what to do now that everyone she grew up with was gone.
"Final words? Anna asked Rosaline.
"You're a mons-" Rosaline said before Anna stabbed her through her mouth and out of the back of her head.
Rosaline died nearly instantly; the last thing she saw was Anna's cold eyes staring down on her.
"Yes, yes, I am." Anna responded.
"What in the seven hells..." a voice said from behind Anna.
Anna turned around and saw a group of six knights dressed in black armor. Each of them looked at the absolute devastation that Anna left behind. It could only be described as a massacre.
Anna sighed when she saw the knights. "Did Edward send you?" she asked the group. It took a second before one of them stepped up to speak with Anna.
"Yes ma'am." The guard quickly cleared his throat. "We were sent to stop the intruders, but it seems..." the guard looked around again. "You took care of that yourself."
Anna showed no emotion on her face besides anger as she said "There are other intruders. Find my daughter and sister and take them back to my house; I'll look for my son."
The guards nodded, not wanting to argue with the woman who had just massacred five mercenaries. They headed in the direction of the fires, while Anna went towards the waterfall, which is where Alex was. She knew that he was with Kaede, so she did feel some relief that Kaede was there to help protect him. Anna, while running, could hear lightning crackles and screaming before she came before a body on the ground that she didn't recognize; she figured it was one of the mercenaries.
"Dammit, Alex, be okay." Anna said to herself with worry.
*Alex's perspective*
Alex was by the waterfall meditating; Kaede was there too, but she was there mostly just to watch over him. Alex was in a peaceful state of mind, connecting with the high source of magic that the waterfall produced.
That is when the area around him was suddenly filled with a white mist, and a figure walked right to him.
"Hello again, Alex." the familiar voice said.
"Xymaris?" Alex asked in surprise.
"Yes, it's been a bit. How have you been?" Xymaris asked.
Alex was nervous that Kaede would be hearing this.
"Relax; I used magic, so all she would see is you sitting here meditating. She doesn't know a thing." Xymaris reassured Alex.
"Okay, so why are you here? You rarely show up." Alex asked the goddess.
"What? Can I not just visit you?" The goddess feigned offense.
Alex sighed "You know you wouldn't appear in front of me, especially during the day, without a good reason. So come on, tell me."
Xymaris chuckled "Look at you; it seems you're starting to understand me more and more. But yes, there is a reason I'm here." Xymaris' expression changed as she sighed. "Soon you will have blood on your hands."
Alex looked shocked. "What do you mean?"
Xymaris looked at him in the eyes and said, "Someone has made a move against you and your family. I won't say who, but you can figure it out. In short, it's time for you to learn who you are meant to be in this world."
"What are you saying?" Alex asked.
Xymaris cupped Alex's cheek and said, "When I reincarnated you, it was for a purpose. This purpose will be revealed soon, but what happens today will give you a major hint as to what that is. Your family will soon be attacked by various groups. Now, Alex, what will you do to protect them?"
"Attacked? By who?" Alex said angerly.
"That will be for you to learn from and react to. I'm just the messenger in this case, but Alex, I have to ask. How will you react when you meet whoever's responsible? That will tell you exactly who you are meant to be." Xymaris said.
"Why do you have to talk in riddles?" Alex asked the goddess.
Xymaris chuckled. "Because it would be cheating if I just gave you the answer."
Alex sighed.
"Also, before I go, my sister is going to want to talk to you soon." Xymaris said before vanishing.
"Sister? Xymaris wait!" Alex said, but it was too late as Xymaris and the mist around him vanished.
"That was...something." Alex said.
"People are going to attack my family, and my purpose is going to be revealed? What the hell is she talking about?" Alex thought to himself.
"Are you okay, Alex?" a voice said from the treeline.
It was Kaede who walked up on the outside of the small lake that the waterfall flowed into.
"I'm fine, Kaede. I just have a very bad feeling."
Thats when the two saw part of the woods light up into flames, both of them looked nervous. They wondered if their family would be okay.
Kaede then drew two swords out of her sheaths, and Alex looked on into the woods just to see multiple figures come out of the shadows. These figures were all armed to the teeth, each with weapons or prepared to cast any magic needed.
"Sir Target acquired." one of the figures said, looking up at seemingly their boss.
"Good, it's time to begin our hunt."
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