30 Provoked (1/2)
I was dragged away from our simple camp, even then Lili refused to meet my eyes. Once she disappeared from my vision, I snapped out of it. I was being dragged by a couple of middle-aged looking beast men with signature white wolf ears and tail, I mentally cast [Light Blade] imagining it to be a slender, thin blade that came out the tip of my finger. I used the blade to slowly and quietly cut through an iron link in the shackles that bound me.
I looked back at the wolf-men and said. ”You guys look pretty strong, but I bet you can't take a punch.” The older of the two laughed saying. ”You'd be wrong, but you can't exactly test that, can you?” I grinned back smugly and said. ”I wouldn't say that.” The blade of light cut through the last bit of the chain as I finished speaking and I jumped up using the full force of my legs and back, I drove a devastating uppercut to the closest wolf-man. I smiled waiting for him to collapse from the shock to his jaw, but he remained standing. Panicked I looked up at his face, he was smiling at my still extended hand under his jaw.
He backed a pace away and said. ”Not bad, haven't had someone give a punch like that in a long time.” He wiped his lip and set his eyes on me with an excited glint and said. ”My turn.”
My eyes could barely register his speed, let alone react to him as he swiftly delivered a powerful blow to the edge of my chin, knocking me out cold instantly. I was unwillingly plunged into the dark abyss, I floated aimlessly vaguely aware of my body being dragged over the coarse ground, even unconscious I knew they had very little regard for transporting my body safely, I tried to listen in but the void was too dense to hear through. I roughly remember some foul liquid that I was forcibly ingested, my body felt drained after consuming it, but I was in no state to oppose it.
Eventually, I awoke in the middle of a sprawling encirclement of tents filled with milling beastmen and wolf-men. My hands were chained around a stripped tree embedded in the ground serving as a large stake that confined me. Eventually, the audience of enemies realized I had come to, and the wolf-man that I saw when I first woke up approached me saying.
”Look who's finally awake, serves you right. If you cant take a punch, then you shouldn't try and deal one out. Look at you, the most wanted person on the entire continent, being knocked out cold by a single punch.” He looks over at some men and motions in my direction, they approach us toating a suspicious-looking wooden case. Fear awakens in me, but I cannot help but be curious about the contents of the case.
He notices my curiosity and grins with distasteful pleasure, he addresses the congregation of gathering soldiers saying. ”This is Paladin Knight Christain, but you will know him as the ”Crimson Shadow.” As you know he's slaughtered many of our brothers, he killed many of our own about a month prior to today. He did not defeat them with his own strength or skill, no he clung to the shadows killing our proud family and friends with magic and arrows like the goblin he is.” He turned to me with his arms flared pompously outwards and wore a grand smile savoring the fear growing in my eyes.
”I was going to transport him back to the demon continent where the Demon army would try him, then execute him, but what say you, brothers? Should we haul this dangerous cutthroat all that way, allowing him to endanger more of our own? Or should we honor our fallen comrades with an offering of his black blood on the ground!” A great cheer erupted from the gathered beastmen, all demanding blood.
Fear gripped my heart and it threatened to overtake me. My breathing became ragged and tears started prickle my eyes, but I bit my tongue hard forcing myself to remain calm. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth and spit flowed uncontrollably in my mouth, but my fear was forced back and I was forced to think with a clear mind. A deadly calm overtook me, the kind that I only felt when I knew I had to act or die.
The wolf-man lifted his hand to his white twitching ear saying. ”I can't hear you, what should we do with him?” With one voice the soldiers screamed. ”Kill him!” He looked around at them faking disappointment. ”If you're going to whisper, then I won't bother asking. Let's try this again, what should we do?” A cumulative cry with a deafening primitive volume bellowed from every beastman's throats. ”KILL HIM!” This cry only gained momentum, soon all that could be heard was the rhythmic demands calling ”KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!”
The wolf-man nodded, finally satisfied with their display. He walked casually to the soldiers, they bow while presenting the wooden case to him. He opens the container, grasping the object he lifts it high above his head declaring.
”This is the sacred blade ”Moon Fang”, with this I will claim revenge, giving solace for all that have fell victim to this vermins mistic traps. He will die chained like the do... the rat he is!” He could barely finish before his voice was completely drowned by their encouraging cries still calling for a single demand.
I take note of the blade, it's an oddly shaped knife that has an entirely white blade and black handle, where it has a circular ring at the end of the hilt. The entire knife curves like a cat's claw, but it seems the only way to use it is by holding it in a reverse grip the same way you could hold a dagger. The knife looks similar to the tribal blades used by the nomadic people in the jungles of the Dragerian Republic, these are called a kerämbit.
The wolf-man walks slowly twirling his ”Sacred Blade” with his index finger through the ring. He smiles and cherished the fear that unwillingly grew on my face every second. The barbaric chants grew louder with every step.
I feared that this would be it, my life flashed before my eyes as he came closer. The wonderful moments of growing up with Sir Richard as he taught me how to become a Paladin Knight, the countless nights I spent playing my mandola as Aliece listened to my music, and when I shared a serene meal with my squad at the tavern as we joked and laughed freely. All those moments flew through my mind, but I felt like I had barely lived. As my death approached closer with each passing moment I realized that I didn't want to die. Not yet.