228 Unyielding (1/2)

The injured kobold growled low, glaring at the fallen archer. It was lowering its body, about to strike.

”NOOOOOO!!!!” Rena shrieked as she lunged forward, thrusting her dagger into the kobold's neck.

The kobold grappled with the taller human, rolling around... but when they stopped, the kobold laid motionless atop her.

Decanus Justus grabbed the kobold by the scruff and tossed it to the side.

He knelt by the archer's side and shook her, ”Rena!! Rena, it's me! Are you okay??”

Rena blinked her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Bawling, she dropped her knife and wrapped her arms around him, ”I killed him! Justus, I killed himmmm!!!”

Eleven heavens and seven hells. He embraced Rena tightly.

Only bells prior, Justus had been in the same miserable mess. He didn't realize it until that moment, but Rena hadn't yet been close to the killing. It was different, looking down the sighs of a crossbow.

”I killed him... I... I... It... it was so easy... My knife just... slid in. I felt him die in my arms,” She sobbed into Justus' chest.

Justus grimaced, rubbing Rena's small back.

How could a woman so headstrong, so brave... be this weak and frail at the same time?

Looking past her, he saw Rena's crossbow, the archer-girl's pride and joy. Its base had cracked and splintered. The weapon was useless.

”Hey-- hey, listen to me, Rena,” Justus grabbed onto her shoulders.

The miserable girl sniffled but continued to stare at the bloody dirt.

Justus examined her for injuries...

Blood was pooling around her leg. She had taken a spear stab to the side of her calf.

Shite.

Justus sheathed his sword and unstrapped his shield. Still kneeling, he turned his back toward her, ”Quick, get on.”

He could sense her hesitation, but Rena gingerly placed her arms over his shoulders and around his chest.

Justus stood up with the girl on his back, using his arms to support her legs.

He glanced down and grimaced. He was leaving behind his shield and Rena was leaving behind her knife and crossbow.

He had to.

He was confident in protecting them both with just his sword. Earlier, a strange golden light had wrapped his blade, allowing him to kill two kobolds with ease.

...But it wasn't important. What was important was getting to safety. He needed to get away. He needed to wrap Rena's wound and staunch the bleeding.

He needed to keep going. They could rest at sun's end.

...

”⌈Moon-Fang HELL SLAAAASHHH!!!!!!⌋”

Tycondrius calculated the aim and direction of the spotted Alpha's attack. He stepped to the side, dodging the cutting crescent of mana, and planted his knee into the Iredar's abdomen.

”Yield,” Tycon ordered.

”(I will NEVER yield to you!!)” The kobold coughed, choking up blood.

Tycon grabbed the kobold by the neck with his offhand and slammed him high against a tree, ”You are well out of mana. You are injured. You have lost.”

The kobold snarled and slavered and spat, ”(You're a MONSTER!!)”

”You're repeating yourself,” Tycon sighed. He stabbed his sword into the kobold's right bicep, piercing the wood of the tree. Still, the kobold did not relinquish the grip on his weapon.

Tycon smashed his elbow into the dog-creature's snout, ”Yield.”

”N-NOOOO!!” The kobold barked, snapping at Tycon's elbow.