"We were in the middle of fulfilling a request, before heading back to Aisengard, if you could help us with it, we could agree to being your escorts."
Despite having more than enough to meet the criteria, Rosebelle throws up a demand of her own for some reason as Walter ruffles his hair as though to make a decision.
"Terms for an escort contract eh? Well, whatever it is, I don't want to experience the same thing twice."
Rosebelle explains our rather simple requests as they agree to it almost immediately as Walter rises to shake hands with Rosebelle as though to seal the deal.
"Haven't been out herb picking since forever, hah, it'd surely take me back. Glad to have a veteran on my side for once."
With his hand outstretched, Rosebelle too follows with a humble smile.
"Like I told you, you've got the wrong person."
"Hah, my eyes don't deceive me, miss. If it's one thing I have confidence in it's-"
With an explosive laughter, Rosebelle abruptly shoves the man aside with great force as he tumbles against the earth. Wondering what the problem was, I proceed to Walter's side as my eyes then fall back to Rosebelle who in which suddenly has a large projectile sunken into her torso as she takes a few steps back before falling to her knees.
"...R-Rosebelle..?"
The projectile resembles that of a bolt fired from a ballista back in ancient times. Just what the hell happened?
Beatrice's eyes widen as she's the one closest to Rosebelle as she runs to her aid, however, Rosebelle holds her hand out as though to brush her away.
Slowly closing the distance between Walter and I, we scan the area for any hostiles, however, my mind stays fixated on Rosebelle and her current condition.
"Rosebelle, are you all right?!"
With the bolt too ridiculously long for herself to pull out as she winces in pain, such artillery isn't meant for infantry. Not only that but how was one able to fire a bolt of such size in the first place?
"Nothing, I don't see anything in sight!"
Walter spins around time after time again as he seems more riled up than everyone else.
Before I knew it, a great force brushes by me as a severed limb flies high followed by an excruciating shout.
"Arggghhh!!"
A cry of pure agony that sounded almost inhumane comes from Walter who's fallen to the ground, clutching his severed arm.
"W-What..."
What's happening..? Suddenly Rosebelle's sunken to the floor and a moment later, Walter too.
Locked in sheer fear, a terrifying presence soon reveals itself as I slowly turn my head.
A large beast stands almost ten feet tall with numerous scars plastered around its body as several parts are protected by heavy looking plate. With tusks protruding from his mouth; unlike the smaller goblins, his were much larger and defined. With animal fur wrapped around its waist, several canine teeth dangle from a necklace whilst numerous human skulls lay displayed on its belt like trophies. Dragging a large weapon behind him, a clean swing of it would be enough to level several forests.
"Akira...-"
A voice calls out to me, however, it soon falls short as everything in my mind becomes blank. The beast almost smirks as though its merely staring down a harmless prey that's about to be slaughtered.
"..."
Unable to move, nor even utter a word, I stay paralyzed by its fierce some stare, as though merely gazing upon him, I surrendered my will.
With each and every step closer, it stands tall before me, however, soon its expression changes to one filled with disappointment; as though taking my life had no benefits; a useless organism that's not even worth killing.
Stepping pass me as each step seems to shake the earth, the Goblin heads towards Rosebelle as she winces in pain in Beatrice attempts to pull the bolt from her.
She's in no shape to fight with such a burden... And.
Looking down at Walter with his entire right arm missing, he tries withstanding the pain in his attempts to stand.
"..."
Didn't I say I was going to be a Hero? If I don't act now, I'd never become one, not only that but if I ran away now... She'd never forgive me. That smile that I robbed from her; her very life...
"...Who told you that you could ignore me? Hey, Goblin!"
Whether or not it's merely a Goblin doesn't matter, I approach it in small steps. As Walter grabs my arm, he speaks a few words, however, his attempts to talk me out of it falls short as the Goblin turns around.
Ready my axe and taking a stance, it seems it noticed my conviction as it answers my call.
"Walter... I'm counting on you."
I slowly step towards the open area in attempts to avoid the others as the Goblins eyes follow with each step.
"Counting on me, for what!? You can't possibly take that thing on your own! That, that thing is-!"
What he says is true; without a doubt, that thing could very well kill me with ease.
"I'm not saying I can, but someone needs to, I'm not strong enough to survive on my own, so that's why... Please, when you can, come help me."
And so, I run, frantically for my life. If I engage in any close combat with that thing, especially out in the open, I wouldn't last a second. As I draw closer to the cliff side, I drop to the floor as a blast of wind passes by. The goblin launched itself with a swing of its large slab of iron for a sword; however the strike was more befitting of a hammer colliding against the cliff side. Sending numerous chunks of stone in the air, even being hit by them is enough to start dwindling my HP. With no potions to survive off of, clearly, I don't see even a glimmer of hope.
...
Dropping into the forest, I run as the Goblin chases me with its terrifying presence glued against my back. Trying not to run in the same direction for more than three seconds, with each swing, it clears the forest of trees and vegetation as they fall. Soon, there wont be a forest left as the wildlife runs rampant.
Trying to find a spot to at least rest to create Luel's stamina pot, I fall into a ditch as I hide in the small cave at the end. Rushing through the screen to create the vial in the empty pot I received from Walter, the moment it appears out in front. A roar emits from behind me as a bear emerges to chase me out of its cave.
"Give me a break!!"
Storming out a few meters, a large figure falls from behind me as a large spray of blood shoots out and into the sky; covering the entire area in red as the Goblin cleaved the bear in half.
Continuing to sprint with new invigoration from the potion, it quickly recovered my body as my insides almost contract from the sudden change in my pulse. Truly a strange feeling, one I could deal without as I should note to take the potion before overexerting myself.
...
Feeling as though I'm more of an athlete that I thought, the potion worked wonders, however, there's very little I could do as I eventually back up against a large rock formation against a cliff side. Feeling a small draft from within, it'd appear an opening is on the other side.
"Just my luck..."
As the Goblin draws closer, it doesn't seem to be in the least out of shape.
"Hoo...man..."
A strange, almost distorted grunt comes from the Goblin as though he were trying to communicate with me. However, nothing else followed as I raise my axe to defend myself. If I'm going to die, I surely won't go down without a fight.
If it's my life for the others, I'll gladly take it. But... I sure wished I was able to see more of this world, explore the sights, and perhaps even become a Hero and receive her recognition. I wonder, if she'd forgive me, for robbing her of her dreams.
"A Hero?"
"Yes, a Hero!"
Standing atop of the monkey bars in the park, I could only gaze at her from below as the sun shun above her.
"But why a Hero?"
Such a thing didn't sound possible; I couldn't understand her.
"Because, wouldn't that be awesome?!"
Pumping her arms, her smile beams like the sun as her eyes were lit with a fiery passion.
"Fighting evil, purging them all in the name of justice? Doesn't that sound cool? If someone on TV can be one, then I can too!"
Referring to mere cartoons for her fantasies, it's all for the sake of entertainment; not reality. However, she thought of it as something that could exist. Even if people were to mention not to get fiction mixed up with reality; she'd tell them that they're wrong. That her way of thing is right. That she can become the worlds Hero.
I could never understand her; however, I wanted to. I wanted to stand by her and see the world she envisioned in her passionate gaze.
With one swing of it's iron, I lift my axe to intercept, however, the moment the two collide; the axe shatters as the shock sends a sharp signal through my arm as it destroys it.
"Arghh!"
As though all the bones in my arm shattered, my HP rapidly depletes as I fall to my knees in agony.
On the edge of consciousness as I continue to struggle, my HP sets in the red; with just a slither left. However, it means very little as I'm left defenseless.
"It wasn't... this wasn't how it was meant to be..."
As though I was about to breath my last breath, a dagger abruptly sinks into the ground between the Goblin and I as a flash of white emits; obstructing my vision as someone carries me away.
"R-Rose..?"
...
Woken up abruptly, a stranger stands before me as they take a step back. Donned in a light looking outfit consisting of black and hints of red; the only visible protection seems to be around her arms and legs. An attire that reminds me of one belonging to kunoichi.
"Get up, your fight isn't over until the Orc Hero falls."
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