The confidence of the men who stood near Granny immediately broke as the man's lifeless body hit the floor, his blood painting the cobbles as the black knight withdrew his blade.
The men ran away crying in fear, leaving Granny a lone woman standing against the attackers. Granny spoke without turning her head, giving the black knight a stern gaze from beneath her eyelids. Her own voice seemed to echo around the village.
"Everybody flee, do not attempt to fight these monsters, that goes for you too Lauri!"
As she spoke, Lauri could feel something change in the environment as the light of the bonfire grew dimmer and at the same time, Granny's back began to straighten, she let her cane drop to the ground as her skin began to glow. Throwing off the long cardigan Granny always wore, Lauri was surprised to see she was not actually a weak old woman, not in the slightest. Rippling muscles running along her arms were proof enough.
The black knight tilted his head as Granny no longer seemed as frail as she had moments before.
"So," His voice came out like a whisper. "There were more than two Awakened…"
As the black knight levelled his blade at Granny, strings of light burst from the woman's chest, wrapping around her body, some of the strings began to form into a long weapon in her hands. After only a moment, the strings dissipated, revealing an armour of pristine white stone that perfectly fit the woman's body.
The black knight called out to its fellows before it dashed forward, turning into a black blur.
"Leave this one to me! Kill them all!"
The Black Knight's blade fell against the spear, made from crimson wood which Granny had summoned moments before.
And that was all Lauri could see before he turned and ran. Almost tripping over his own feet, Lauri heard screams from around the village square, looking to his side, Lauri's eyes widened.
On the other side of the square, a woman's body hit the floor. A large gash tore through her back by the man standing above her. It was another of those who wore the dull grey armour, another attacker seemingly intent on killing everyone here.
Lauri's breath caught in his throat as he realised something.
'Do they- Are we surrounded?'
Lauri ran towards Merry and Richard - the other kids who had been with them had run off as the fight had begun.
"Lauri!" Merry's voice was shaky as she grabbed Lauri by the arm. "What do we, what do we do?"
Lauri looked at his friends, all of them filled with uncertainty, before turning to their home.
"We need to get inside," As Merry ran off, Lauri and Richard's gaze met as strings of light burst from Lauri's chest, wrapping around his body.
"We have to protect her."
Richard ran after Merry, holding the replica of Laurence's staff tightly in his hands.
Lauri took a step toward his home as Her Aegis finished weaving itself onto Lauri's body. Turning his head to look at the carnage of the scene before him. Lauri turned just in time to see a blade flying towards his body.
With no time to react, the blade slashed across the chest place of Her Aegis. Although the attack did not damage the Imprint, Lauri was still knocked back by the attack.
Steadying himself, Lauri's mind went to the first thing he could think to use. A sword of questionable design appeared in his hands.
His attacker paused, seemingly confused by the appearance of the comically shaped weapon.
Gritting his teeth, Lauri stepped forward, slashing at his opponent.
Before his first fight against the Crimson Vine's infested host, Lauri had never held a sword. The biggest weapon he had ever held was a large wood-splitting axe. It was no surprise when the man he slashed at perfectly parried his attack, returning with a slash of his own.
This time Lauri was able to bring his sword up, Lauri had expected his sword to break the moment both blades met, but to Lauri's surprise, the light sword held together. Still, Lauri was pushed back.
'I can't beat this person…'
Lauri glanced at the people around him. Lauri wasn't the only one engaged in a fight with the attackers. A brave group of men and women had taken up arms to try and defend their home. Although, unlike Lauri who had the protection of Her Aegis, an Awakened Imprint, the villagers were being slaughtered. Their clothing offered no protection against the blade.
Returning his attention to his foe, Lauri stepped back letting his opponent's blade swing through the air.
Lauri sighed, knowing there was only one way he would survive this encounter. Bringing his sword up, he hurled it at his opponent, turning he ran away from the fight as fast as he could.
Almost stumbling over a corpse, Lauri corrected himself just in time to avoid collapsing on top of the body. It didn't take Lauri long to reach his home. Despite the village square being filled with attackers, it was also filled with Lauri's fellows. Although the villagers seemed to outnumber the knights ten to one, it offered them no advantages.
The men and women sheltered in the grey metal of their armour seemed inhuman. The smallest of them easily overpowered the strongest of the villagers, no villager had yet to even land a blow as the speed of their attackers was just too fast.
That was not the only strange thing, Lauri realised what was happening as the very fire comprising the bonfire lurched, tentacles of fire lashed out from the flame wrapping around the villagers causing them to scream in agony as their flesh sizzled.
'They are all Awakened… My god, where is Laurence…'
Reaching his home, Lauri's fear doubled, seeing that the front door smashed in. The centuries-old wood lay in a splintered pile inside the hallway.
Turning around, Lauri looked towards the buildings, it wasn't just his home. The attackers had begun to move out from the village square and into the homes surrounding them.
Lauri's eyes caught on Granny and the black knight. A space had appeared around them, it seemed any villager who attempted to help Granny was cut down by the black knight, the same was true for any knight who attempted to help the black knight was killed by Granny. Their armour which the villagers had no way of penetrating was like butter when pierced by Granny's spear.
With no more time to stand in awe, Lauri rushed towards the kitchen, finding it vacant, he heard footsteps and a clatter as something crashed upstairs.
'Merry and Rich are upstairs, and so is the one who broke the door!'
Rushing towards the stairs, Lauri jumped up two at a time. Reaching the first floor, Lauri froze.
Resting against the door to Lauri's room, Richard's head hung low, the replica of Laurence's staff lay next to him having fallen from his hand. Lauri staggered towards his friend, dropping to his knees.
Lauri dispelled the helmet of Her Aegis as he reached forward and grabbed Richard's shoulder.
"Hey Rich," He gently shook his friend's shoulder. "I need you to get up, we need to go and rescue Merry."
Richard was unresponsive.
Lauri shook him a little harder. Lauri's voice shook as he felt his eyes grow wet.
"Come on, man, please, I need you..."
Richard didn't move.
Lauri already knew why. He knew why Richard wasn't responding the moment he had seen him.
Gently holding Richard's chin, Lauri lifted his friend's head. Richard's eyes blankly stared ahead. Gritting his teeth, Lauri reached up with his other hand, closing Richard's eyes. Lowering Richard's head back down. Lauri stood up, he hadn't noticed at first. But a red stain was blossoming across Richard's chest.
Straining against the urge to break down, Lauri picked up the replica of Laurence's staff he had only recently given Richard as he heard steps above him.
Looking at the ceiling, Lauri's body shook with rage.