Chapter 126: Archery Lesson (2/2)

Sera stared at the man, wishing she had the ability to kill a person with her thoughts. Glancing to her left and right to confirm that her friends would support her, she answered, ”I won't be doing that, and you don't have the right to ask it of me.”

This answer seemed to excite Carson, ”Oh? Well then, boys, it looks like we're going to have to teach her the lesson personally.” He motioned for the others to spread out and encircle the small group. Weapons drawn, they advanced menacingly.

”Ready?” Tal asked. Brenden had already drawn his sword, and the palpable bloodthirst it emitted gave the cocky students pause.

Sera nodded, already knocking one of the blunted arrows. ”Let's show them who they're messing with.”

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Carson was confused. This wasn't playing out how it was supposed to. Almost immediately after the fight started, the group was hit with a wave of Earth Magic, knocking them from their feet. The elf was apparently a mage. He'd been ignoring her, since she hadn't said anything on either occasion, but knowing that she could swing the battle with her magic, he ordered Cedric to take care of her.

Thankfully, the veteran warrior had maintained his balance in the initial attack. He launched himself at the mage, only to be intercepted by the beastman. The two engaged in a furious exchange of blows.

Bryce was trying to stand when an arrow blasted him between the eyes, knocking him out cold.

Cursing, Carson rolled to his feet as well, deflecting a second arrow with his sword. ”Close in on the mage! We need to stop her before she casts again.”

The advice came too late as the elf finished a chant and slammed the palm of her hand on the ground. Carson dived to his right, but the rest of his crew weren't so lucky.

Slightly tilted pillars of stone emerged from the ground at high speeds, launching the students into the air. Unable to help themselves, they flew for a few seconds before crashing into the ground with sickening thuds. While they didn't seem to be dead, Martial Arts students were durable at the very least, it didn't look like they would be of any further help.

The sound of broken metal filled the air as the confrontation between Cedric and the beastman was concluded with the former's sword shattering. The hapless bodyguard was thrown by the force of the final blow, colliding with one of the stone pillars and sliding down to the ground with a pained grunt.

Carson realized, to his horror, that he was the last of his group still standing. He looked over and saw the girl knocking another arrow on her bow.

”Wait! I'm a noble. You won't get away with this! There will be a price to pay for this, peasant!” He said while readying his sword to block. The beastman was circling around to his right, and the elf was preparing another spell, but it was the silver haired girl he was focused on.

She held her shot steady for a moment, hesitating. A look of determination flashed across her face. ”So be it.”

The girl fired three arrows in quick succession, each aiming at vital points. He dodged the first and blocked the second, but couldn't stop the third. It struck him in the center of his chest, and he felt his sternum shatter under the force.

Unable to breathe, and vision going hazy, Carson fell to his knees. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him, was the girl....no woman standing proudly, defiantly.

[How....]

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When the noble finally collapsed into the dirt of the training yard, Sera let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. That had gone a lot more smoothly than she dared hope. Now it was time to deal with the aftermath.

She glanced over at her companions, ”What do you think we should do? He was right about one thing. Attacking a noble like this, justified or not, could lead us into some serious trouble.”

Tal remained quiet, her consternation clear despite her lack of facial expression.

Brenden grimaced and slammed a fist against one of the stone pillars. ”I don't know..”

”I suspect that won't be an issue for you.” The bodyguard broke in from his seated position. Sera had honestly forgotten about him in the heat of the moment. She was going to have to work on that in the future.

”Why is that?” She asked, making sure to keep her distance from the man.

”Its a bit complicated, but Carson, that fool over there that I have the misfortune of serving, is a follower of Lord Hubert, heir to the house of Lothrain.”

Sera grimaced. The Lothrains were the most powerful Almiran noble family outside of the royalty itself. Making enemies out of them was tantamount to suicide.

Seeing the look on her face, the bodyguard laughed and then grimaced, holding his side. ”Ow, that hurts. Anyway, I'm not telling this to you as a threat. In truth, my master was ordered to leave you alone, mainly to avoid offending the Serpent, I believe. However, Carson is a fool. I suspect that, so long as your master agrees, Lord Hubert would be quite willing to bury this issue.”

”That would be most generous of Lord Hubert.” She replied with a smile. ”Would you be so kind as to pass on a message for him? Please ask him to keep a better eye on his subordinates in the future. Do so, and we will be willing to let this issue slide.”

The bodyguard raised an eyebrow, then chuckled again, eliciting another pained groan. ”Oh? Its like that, is it? Very well, I'll pass the message along.”

”Thank you-” Sera's response was cut off by a sudden roar of pain-fueled rage.

Bryce, face a mask of fury was swing his mace at her. She tried to dodge, but could already tell she was going to be too late.

[Damn....forgot about him too.....some Oracle I am.]

She squeezed her eyes shut in anticipation of the coming blow.

There was a rush of air, and the sound of flesh colliding against flesh. A silence descend on her surroundings.

”All that big talk, and you let the fat guy get a jump on you? I'm a little disappointed.” A taunting voice said.

Her eyes flew open and she saw Mike's cocky grin. The brutish Martial Arts student had collapsed into a heap nearly 5m away. A visible, fist shaped imprint was still embedded in the man's face.

Looking up at the infuriating individual who had once again saved her, she only had one thing to say.

”Well, its about time!”