The villagers watched our every move, considering that we were ten guests that the town knew. This rcenary beca the village's heroes since they shared their hunts with these poor families. My team was a pack of adventurers that could defend this place against the army of Caerleon.
Ten hotshots butting heads against each other was a spectacle to watch for the villager's eyes. And we were both adventurers, which made the battle more intense and exciting. If I was a villager living in this town, I would have done the sa thing.
But that was not important right now. The only thing that I could do was begging for forgiveness. I knew too well that death cannot return to life. And no matter how hard we would try to twist the story, it was still my fault for butting in to save the puppies. rleen killed the two leaders of this rcenary group, which was the breadwinner of this ghost town.
But regardless of this, rleen and I pleaded for a second chance, hoping for their kind considerations.
However, that hopeless thinking ca back, biting the crap out of .
"I'm sorry for taking the life of your leaders. I know that what I did could not return those two lives. That's why I want to atone for them but protect this village. If there is one thing I know, I need to do the right thing," I said, with my head looking at the ground.
I did not want to cry, since there was nothing we could do about this situation. It was all my fault, and I accepted my mistakes. There was no point in shifting the bla to them, since there was no way around this situation.
But before I could even continue my sentence, the rcenary cut off with a wave of his hand. "I don't need your apologies. What I need is your life or that girl's life. You took one of our own. We would like to return the favour."
That rcenary pushed backwards and aid his bastard sword at my neck. But despite his threatening actions, this man refused to injure . I could only guess sothing held him back from attacking . And if I had to double guess my mind, the chief's words might have done sothing about this.
As if proving my hunches, the rcenary retracted his weapon while continuing his sentence, "Thank Chief Galehaut for protecting you. Despite hearing our sides, that old man refused to listen. he disliked throwing you behind bars. And yet, here you are, talking about protecting our village when you killed one of its defenders. You are nothing but a hypocrite, Arthur."
"I was the one who killed him-!" rleen shouted, but I raised my hand, telling rleen to shut her mouth.
rleen imdiately knew my actions remained silent for a while. I knew this girl only wanted to defend . But I did not want these rcenaries to hate her for it. If they need to bla soone, it should have been , not rleen or Fenrir.
Despite protecting rleen from sexual harassnt, this rcenary still planned on killing us. He did not care about our well-being, considering that saw us as his enemies. Well, if it were not for the chief, this bloke would have taken our lives already.
Instead of piercing his blade into my chest, the rcenary t my eyes and talked again. "Just because your team is full of adventurers, it doesn't an you could kill soone getting anything back!"
There was no chance for to escape this prison, especially when we lost so lives. Even though I was not the one who took the lives of their leaders, rleen was still my partner. I was also responsible for the death of those fighting against the tyrant king.
"I-I only have two things to say; I'm sorry, and we're fighting the sa enemy. If we co to the king, we better not miss."
(Author's note: This quote cos from the movie "The Wire". Omar Little spoke this line (played by Michael K. Williams) written by David Simon and Ed Burns. I have to edit it to add more uniqueness to the story. But the thought cos from the movie itself.)
After saying my fill, the rcenary rushed towards and punched my face. A back tooth even ca out of my mouth as my face ca into contact with the rcenary's fist. My skin turned bright, beating red, with a mark covering my cheeks. I could only grit in pain as I kissed the ground and caressed my gum.
Blood ca out from my lips every ti I coughed. I did not want those crimson fluids blocking my airway, so I had to push them out. And I could not raise my head and stare at the rcenary, despite receiving a punch from him. He had the right to attack , regardless of my excuse. Since I killed two skilled warriors in his team, the rcenary group wanted sothing in return.
"And I have two things to say to you too. Number one, don't stand in our way. And number two, we will never help a man like you. You are an incompetent fool of a leader, Arthur. We will defend this place on our own, even without your help. And these villagers will not take orders from you, regardless of the situation's weight. We have protected the city much more than you could. We've worked hard and sweated blood to feed these families. Unfortunately, you killed one of our protectors. That's your punishnt as a kid who puts his nose to soone else's business," the rcenary said, while rallying his lackeys back to the building. "You don't belong here, Arthur. Leave this village and let the rest of us protect them."
"I can't," I whispered, hoping they could hear it. "I can't turn a blind eye to those who need ."
After our exchange, the eight rcenaries finally returned to the shelter. I could not move a muscle after listening to those painful words spoken by that man. It hurt more than a truck ramming my already burnt out body.
And the only thing that kept alive was the warm touch rleen gave, with her arms wrapped around my body.
"You didn't kill anyone! I-It's who killed them...."
"No, rleen. It's an accident. You couldn't control your powers, so that light took them away. And I didn't teach you to control it. You're not at fault, rleen. I know you just wanted to protect ," I said, while kissing her forehead.
This event was my first ti showing how I cared about rleen. Regardless of the relationship, I wanted to be beside rleen.
"She needs , and I need her the most," I thought, before standing on the ground.
"Okay, rleen. Break tis over! We need to protect the village with just the two of us. Are you willing to... sacrifice yourself for the sake of these people They might not know what we would do... And they might not appreciate the work we plan to do. You don't have to fight my battles, rleen. If you wish to stay behind and live your own life, nobody's going to get mad at you," I expressed, while gazing into her eyes.
"I know... That's why I'm going to fight. You gave the reason to fight. I have these powers, and I want to use them for good! I don't want the other girls to suffer as I did.," rleen replied, while flashing a smile. "I will follow you until the end of ti, Arthur. You're the only one I have."
After hearing her motivational support, I gave her the tightest hug I could do. My fragile bones inside my body cracked a song, but I did not care. As long as I was with rleen, everything would be okay.
If we die protecting this city, we die as heroes. It did not matter if those people would cheer us or fight with us. Because doing sothing right was the action of heroes. Regardless of our powers, we will protect this village, even if it was the last thing we would do.
There was no doubt that this was the stupidest thing I would do in my life, since I would gain nothing. Protecting these villagers would only risk my life dying for them.
But that did not matter to . I, who dread of becoming a hero, had finally reached my goal. I could chicken out and escape this place, but I didn't. Unlike the village of Cornwall from before, I remained here to protect those who needed the most.
"Am I going to be a hero, Arthur?" rleen asked, with glittering eyes.
"You don't have to be one, rleen," I said, and brushed her head using my hand. "You are already a hero in my dictionary."
"What's a dictionary?" rleen asked.
I could not help but giggle at her question. "Oh, right? You don't have one of those yet. Don't worry. As soon as we win this fight, I will tell you how to make one!"
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