Chapter 4

“Where am I?”

A few hours went by and the young cleric, exhausted from running through the forest, reached another dirt road. She was supposed to go back to where they came from but panicking made her run to a different direction.

Not wanting to get lost in the woods, the young cleric decided to follow the dirt road leading to a small farm. Although the farm had very few vegetation and crops, the fact there was a plantation suggests that there is at least one person living in it, someone she can ask for assistance in getting to a nearby town. Although exhausted, the adrenaline pumping through her system gave her enough strength to sprint towards it; little did she know, something was approaching her.

It came from the sky, an enormous being landed a few meters behind the young cleric causing her to propel forward, landing on her face flat on the dirt road. 

“I thought I’d never get out of that cold prison.” An ominous voice came out from the dust created by the falling object. The young cleric looked terrified as she witnessed the monster she was running away from emerge from the dust clouds, with body covered with a malignant dark aura.

“Don’t think too badly of me…”

“If it’s just a fight between your party and me, I would’ve gladly let you escape…”
“But since you’re one of the assassins sent to kill my King, then I will have to show no mercy.”

The young cleric could only crawl back as the boar general slowly approached her.

“Get up!”

“Put your guard up! Killing someone unarmed only leaves a foul aftertaste!” The monster was filled with bloodlust, itching to kill the last enemy of his King.

The young cleric stood up, her knees shaking from fear. 

“If it was them, what would they do?” She wondered to herself, thinking about her fallen comrades. She’s neither a warrior nor a mage, she has no offensive capabilities; aside from that, she’s now doubting her defensive capabilities.

“Fight to the bitter end.” That was what she witnessed her fallen comrades did. Exhausting everything they had whether it be their mana or their equipment, even their lives, just to defeat an opponent.

“I’m sorry.” She uttered quietly. Expressing regret both for not being able to save her companions and wasting their sacrifices.

“If you’re gonna kill me, then just kill me!” Knees still shaking, she stood her ground with her guard down. She will not give the monster what he wants. If killing someone unarmed will leave a foul aftertaste, if that’s the only way she could do some damage to the monster, then that’s what she’ll do.

“I see…” Dark flames start to manifest at the boar general’s clenched fist, as if his fury itself is starting to materialize. 

“I am referred to as the strongest shield in the Demon King’s army because of my absolute defense. But that doesn’t mean that my attacks are weak, you should already know that.” The boar general slowly walked towards the young cleric, who seemed to be confused at what the boar general was getting at.

“You seem to not realize what’s behind you.” The young cleric looked horrified as soon as she realized what the monster was referring to; the farm that she was about to go to.

“Put up your guard, your strongest guard! It may not be strong enough to yourself but it may mitigate the damage and at least save the people behind you.” The boar general laughs maniacally, knowing full well what the young cleric would do.

“Holy Father, protect us with your light from the forces of darkness that seek to harm us” A fully chanted miracle spell is far more powerful than a pre-chanted or a chantless, but takes a while to finish.

“Barrier!” The young cleric shouted as a more solid stronger barrier forms in front of her, the boar general grins knowing full well that he won the battle; unbeknownst to the two, a shabbily dressed man, carrying over his shoulder with a staff, is watching them fight.

“Everytime…” The stranger let out a heavy sigh as he puts down the basket filled with stones, before leaping upwards to the air.

The young cleric closed her eyes and grit her teeth, praying intently for the barrier to withstand the attack of the monster. All of a sudden, a thunderous shockwave occurred, rocks came flying all over with the young cleric being protected by her Barrier.

“Is it over?” The young cleric uttered as everything quieted down. No more rumbling, no more malevolent aura coming in front of her, no more sense of threat; just a cloud of dust.

“When will you guys learn?” The young cleric could hear a faint voice from a man coming from the dust of cloud. He seemed angry, more like annoyed, as he kept shouting colorful words at something he’s stepping on.

“Do I need to make effigies out of your corpses for you guys to get the message?! Huh?!” As the dust cloud clears out, the young cleric could see the shabbily dressed man with a staff over his shoulder, looking down as he stepped over the corpse of the monster threatening her a few seconds ago. The head of the boar general was completely destroyed, as if a huge boulder crushed it completely.

“Ah shit, how can you hear what I’m saying?! Your heads all busted up!” The man, just realizing that he’s talking to a corpse, exclaimed. As the young cleric stared at her savior, her eyes caught the attention of the faint golden magicka around the staff as it dissipated into the air; she knew instantly that it was what they were looking for.

“The Sacred Cudgel!” She loudly exclaimed, catching the attention of the stranger.

“Sacre- what?! Who are you?” He said as he removed his foot over the corpse of the monster.

“That staff you’re carrying! That’s the sacred cudgel! That’s what we’re looking for!” The young cleric, pointing at the staff the stranger is holding, shouted.

“What? This old thing? This is just a normal stick I use to help me with my daily chores.” The man said as he showed it.

“See?” He continued as the stick elongated to fetch the basket of stones he left.

“That’s definitely not a normal stick!” The young cleric shouted in surprise.

“I’m a cleric at the Hero’s party. We’re on our quest to subjugate the Demon King and the oracle told us about a weapon that could help with that, that Sacred Cudgel.” The cleric introduced as she pointed at the staff the man was holding.

“We’ve lost our Hero along the way, fighting that monster you just killed, and although I’m still hoping for the opposite, I think we’ve lost our mage, so I may be the only one left.” She continued.

“While my intention was to go back to the kingdom to report the incident, and try to recruit another Hero, I would still continue on with my quest. With that, I need your help. With your power, and the Sacred cudgel already in your possession, I’m sure subjugating the Demon King is possible.” She proposed, hoping for a good reply.

“Ah, No…” The stranger refused.

“I’m a farmer, not a hero.” He added.