I knelt before a pale Seinaru as a pool of blood formed from the stab wound in his side. His eyes were wide from shock, and mine were dim from worry. A trail of blood streamed out of the side of his mouth as he tried to speak.
It was difficult watching him like that, but this was the plan.
In order for our actions to not hold any connections to Yukov, we had to stage his death… or more correctly I had to. And the only piece left happened to be the middle-aged man who stepped in.
His eyes beheld Seinaru, and that was all I needed.
However, the sound of wailing followed by the clashing of swords reached the pantry, and for a split second, the middle-aged soldier took his attention off the bloodied sight before him.
I rejoiced inwardly, understanding what that commotion was. I didn't hesitate to take that chance.
Charging at the man abruptly, I watched a mix of confusion, shock, and indecision spread on his features when he tried to take hold of the sword attached to his belt.
Not intending to let that happen, I threw my fist at him the moment I was within range.
Still, he was much too experienced to fall prey to such a basic attack.
He weaved to the side, drew his sword before executing a slanted slash in that instant.
A quick draw.
He planned to take me out in one blow!
Unfortunately for him, close combat happened to be part of my strengths.
He wasn't a 'Rebel' too, meaning I could match his speed.
Already taking a step backward an instant after I punched at him, I watched his blade slice the air in a deadly attack. He was quick!
I created a bit of distance realizing how disadvantaged I was now that I had done that. I had no choice.
Moreover, my attention fell on my chest when a stinging sensation made itself known to me.
'He's good,' I commented, seeing the slanted cut he had left on my chest. Though it remained superficial.
"I should have used my knife," I said, loud enough for him to hear me, causing his attention to fall on my bloodied weapon.
I watched his countenance grow darker than he spoke.
"Why have you done this? Is he not your fellow man?"
"Fellow man?" I retorted, adopting the intended act for that scene. I never anticipated that I would play that card this early.
"We don't care about any such sentiments, only that he deserves to die…" I cringed as my lips curled into what I hoped was a cruel smile befitting of a crazed, blood-seeking attacker.
I also took a strange posture to amplify this detail.
It seemed to work since the man's eyes widened and his rage exploded. My gain.
He charged at me, roaring. "We? Do you and whoever sent you have any idea what you have done!" I allowed him to close the distance and watched him swing his blade in a wide horizontal attack.
His attack struck my side… or so he expected.
CLANG!!
A wide smile crept into my features while horror appeared on his face.
The shelves had stopped his swing in its deadly tracks.
"Did you forget where you were!" I shouted, seemingly excited—An act of course.
In truth my chest thumped in fear… fear of Seinaru's death. That man was wasting my time.
He was close enough so I stepped forward and in one swift set of movements, embedded my knife in his right shoulder—A non-fatal blow, but a painful one nonetheless.
I couldn't kill him. After all, I needed him to be my testifier.
A cry erupted out of his mouth as he let go of his sword and fell to his knees in pain.
Yet, he quickly wrapped his arms around my waist before proceeding to squeeze with all his mght—In hopes that it could stop me.
"Pathetic," I remarked, clasping my palms before bringing them down on his head in one painful, world-spinning blow.
My approach had worked since his arms went limp and he fell he nearly fell to the ground. Before he did, however, I struck him a second time... Payment for the bleeding cut on my chest.
It was thanks to the Empire that I had built enough strength to be capable of such an attack.
Checking his vitals I confirmed he was still alive, and leaving the knife in his shoulder to limit the bleeding, I hoped he wouldn't die, then rushed back to Seinaru.
My heart skipped a beat the second I knelt before his almost lifeless body.
His face had gone deadly pale, and my knees lay in his blood. His pulse was still there but deathly weak. He had fallen unconscious too, causing terror to unfold in my chest.
Was I too late? I asked in fear, still hearing the sounds of blades clashing and the thuds that were unmistakably the sound of bodies dropping.
If her brother died… then I; without fail, would too.
"Please work, please work," I chanted, staring at my palms hoping for the results I staked that entire plan on.
Placing my hand on his wound I shivered when I noticed it had stopped being warm. His entire body had lost nearly all its warmth.
'Please, please, please,' I begged, sensing death loom over me. My death.
Still, joy shattered that dark atmosphere when a familiar burning sensation erupted in my being to flow into my palms.
Immediately, a stream of warm golden-orange light shone from my palms and the light mesmerized me again.
However, it suddenly went out.
"No no. Not yet," I cried, rubbing them and placing them on his wound again, not minding that I stained them.
The first burst of light had worked, but not enough.
My palms shone again and I pressed with my mind trying to see if it would keep the light running.
It did!
I actually had control over it?
Vitality seeped out of my bones like a broken jug, but I dared not stop. Not until the warmth of life filled his face again, and he inhaled sharply, still unconscious.
I stopped the process before all the energy in my bones was gone. There was still work to do after all.
Seinaru's breathing grew stronger and so did his pulse. A sigh of relief and gratitude left my lips and I ignored how tired I felt to lift his unconscious figure. I nearly fell.
Stepping past the middle-aged soldier who I confirmed was still breathing, I made my way down the mansion's mostly-empty hallways; to reach the outside world.
However, what I saw the instant I arrived caused my mind to freeze.