The attacks came as soon as we arrived, and the situation isn't as we expected at all.
The knights who attacked us were non-combatants, and none of them looked like they were trained in combat whatsoever. From that alone, we can deduce that they are civilians in armor.
Not just that. All of them looked like they were crying whenever they charged at us. They all showed the same emotion that seemed odd, and it became clear to us about what we're facing after we've killed a few tens of them.
The golden knight appeared, and he announced to us that the knights we are facing are all civilians who are trying to flee the country. However, they were only given freedom if they could take down the enemies that were going to attack them.
That was why they were so eager to be freed. That was why they were so sad when they had to attack us. Because they knew… that they had no chance to win since they were civilians.
And… it wasn't just that.
"If you can bring me their head, then I will release your family with a fortune!!" The golden knight announced to the civilians in armor on the battlefield, and all of them became even more hasty with their attacks.
"Their family… is also taken…?" Far in front of my position, Ezra muttered from the shock of hearing that. But, he was far too focused on such a thing.
"Ezra! Focus!!" Darryl shouted at Ezra, and the confused knight quickly held his weapon tightly. But by the time he snapped out of it, there were over eight civilians rushing at him.
Ezra slashed away multiple civilians from around him using his spear, but it wasn't enough to stop one that came behind him.
JREB!!!
"Ghakk!!--" Ezra screamed from having his stomach pierced by a sword, and he turned around to take down the civilian. For a moment, he saw the scared face of the man who stabbed him, and that made him waver for a moment before stabbing the civilian with his spear.
Seeing that Ezra has been wounded, Darryl, Klaus, and Johnny move in to cover him. All four knights are now in the same spot, supporting each other.
"Ezra! You good!?" Klaus asked, and the wounded knight nodded firmly.
"Yeah. I can still go on."
"We'll go on the defensive for now. Don't hesitate to kill! Your lives are more important than these people!" Johnny shouted for everyone to hear, and the three other knights nodded.
"Your highness!" One of the Valkarian soldiers came up to me, and followed by the other. The two ended up protecting me for a while. "The princess has ordered us to protect you."
"T-Then, I'll be in your care." I said to them awkwardly, and the other one turned to the holy knight.
"Sir Kayden! What now!?" The second Valkarian soldier called the holy knight, and the old knight turned his gaze to the golden knight in the distance.
Seeing that the holy knight had placed his interest in him, the golden knight stood up from the rock. "Looks like my time to play has come."
Sir Kayden then turned his gaze back to me and the two Valkarian soldiers. "All of you just stay on the defensive for now! I'll deal with the golden knight!"
"""Yes, sir!!""" The four knights shouted, and the two Valkarian soldiers nodded at him. Meanwhile, I only watched as Jonah's father rushed towards the golden knight in the distance.
As the holy knight slashes through the crowd of innocent civilians, the golden knight is preparing himself for Sir Kayden's arrival. "Let's see what you made of, Holy Knight!"
The golden knight pointed his bow at the holy knight, and a bright yellow light can be seen being charged powerfully from the golden knight. Seeing such a bright light, Sir Kayden noticed that this was a ranged attack, and he quickly flew to the side.
"… Just kidding."
The golden knight then turned the bow to the other part of the battlefield, specifically towards the four knights.
"NO!!!! EVERYONE DODGE!!!!" Sir Kayden screamed, and everyone heard it.
The two Valkarian soldiers next to me quickly pulled my body away from the course. I was lucky because these two are experienced enough to move in time. But, the four knights who were grouping up… weren't.
ZRIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!!!!!!!
BOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!
The powerful light arrow was released, shooting a dense and powerful light arrow to the four knights. Seeing the arrow coming, Klaus and Johnny hurriedly created multiple layers of earth walls to protect them. But, I watched very closely when the light arrow exploded, and the explosion pierced through the walls very easily.
"No…" I watched in silence from afar, not being able to do anything. The two soldiers next to me are also watching in silence, silently hoping that the four knights are alive.
The cloud cleared, and we were able to see the aftermath of the explosion. Fortunately, they all looked like they were moving, but they looked badly wounded from receiving the explosion.
But, what they didn't expect was that they were surrounded.
VWOOSSHH!!!!
Without thinking, I ran ahead at full speed. I leaped past the armed civilians and arrived at the crater where the wounded earth knights are, and I quickly charged a ton of flames around me.
I swung the flaming sword around me, releasing a fire wave to the ground surrounding the crater. I didn't want to hurt the civilians, so simply placing a fire wall around us should be enough.
However… I underestimated the civilians very much. One by one, they started jumping into the fire, diving straight to kill the wounded soldiers on the ground.
JREBB!!!!
"GHAK---!!!!"
And I watched… with powerless eyes.
When a blade stabbed through Johnny's back.
Because I didn't protect them better.
Because I didn't want to hurt anyone.
Because I was naïve.
"RaaaAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!--------------" I shouted very loudly as I swung my flaming sword around, releasing a merciless fire wave to the world around me.
VWOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fire wave was released endlessly, slicing and burning everything that it touches. The snow melted completely, turning the ground dark instead of pure white. It lasted for so long and burned the whole battlefield clean, not minding which one is an ally and which one isn't.
"Oh, dear." The golden knight jumped right in time when the fire wave nearly touched him. He landed back at the burning ground, and he turned around to find that nearly all the trees around him were cut down and burning.
"Oho~… what a unique individual---"
"HOOAAAA!!!!!!" From the left, the guttural war cry of the holy knight came straight for the golden knight.
The golden knight was thrown far away from the attack, and the holy knight chased. "Leave the site and call Frisena!!! Tend the wounded!!!" Sir Kayden shouted at me, and I understood the command.
As the holy knight disappeared from view, I turned around and started tending the wounded knights behind me. Ezra lost his left leg, so he won't be able to walk. Klaus and Darryl are still awake, but their wounds were also bad. As for Johnny… his body is still lying on the bloody ground, not moving.
Damn it… I'm sorry… Damn it all…
I realized that I can't carry all four of them at the same time. I will have to get help from someone. With the help of the two Valkarian soldiers, it may be possible.
Where the hell are the---
BRUK!!!
By the time I turned around, the first thing I noticed was how the Valkarian soldiers were no longer standing. They have fallen on the ground, with their necks slit from the sudden assassination.
And standing right where they previously stood… is a knight wearing dark blue armor. The knight's figure was very thin, compared to the golden knight. They are also holding a pair of daggers, and both of them are still dripping with blood.
And the two soldiers… are dead on the ground.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the second prince of Fiordall." The person behind the armor spoke, and it sounded like a male's voice.
Another one... tsk.
"… You know me?"
"Of course! Who doesn't know about the handsome and talented second prince? You're way more famous than the crown prince." The dark blue knight said while stepping forward into the light, and now I can see his figure clearer.
His armor looked much more detailed, unlike the golden knight. As for their origin, I can only assume that it is based on the armor color, so it must be water.
If his origin is indeed water… then I might be screwed, here.
"I wonder how your kingdom will react if they find you dead here. Naturally, the King of Fiordall will get angry, right? Or… will he not care since you're an adopted child?" The knight seemed to be babbling a lot, and I felt relieved that he is talkative. Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out what I need to do.
The three soldiers below me are suffering from blood loss. I can't just leave them behind for too long, otherwise they might die. I must protect them, or try bringing this blue knight to fight elsewhere.
But, if I left… what if there are other enemies…?
Damn it all… this is just too difficult.