Chapter 20: The Journey (VI)

It was quite awkward traveling with this family. I still wasn't sure if they wouldn't lead me into a trap. They seemed like innocent people but they clearly hated demons.

*If they find out what I am...well in the worst case I will need to kill them...at least all but Anja.*

It would be a cruel thing to do, but I would have no choice. Getting safely to Sarien was the priority, and in the end, I was in enemy territory.

*Humans killed the ones that loved me, they will pay for that...but as long as they are innocent, there is no reason to just kill them.*

The family slept together in die carriage, except Nila, who slept in the Tent. I myself lay in the bedroll I've made right next to the fire. Fenrir was always next to me.

"Hey Lena...why do you cry in your sleep?"

It was Nila.

*Shit...what now...*

"I cry?"

"Yes you do...and quite loudly I would add."

"I am sorry Nila..."

She looked intensively at me, I couldn't tell what she thought.

*What do I do now?*

"HELP! SISTER! LENA!"

It was Anja, running towards us, nearly tripping. Nila jumped up running towards her. I stood up myself and rushed to them.

"What happened Anja?"

"Bandits...they have Mommy, big sister wanted to follow me but..."

Nila's face got white and a panicked look shot towards me.

"Lena help them...you promised!"

*Well I didn't really...but leaving them to their fate?...*

"Wont you help Mommy and big sister?"

...

...

"Fenrir come!"

We rushed towards the direction Anja pointed at.

*This is so stupid...why do I help them?...they are just humans...well they help me get faster to the border...if the bandits are to strong I just run...*

I readied myself, gathered Mana in my hands, then sucking in my own shadow. It was time to test my new abilities in combat.

When I got there I could already see that Elen was badly hurt, but she was still breathing. She must have bought time for Anja to escape. Kara on the other hand was dead. An arrow had directly pierced her throat.

*Shit, my guide is dead...*

The bandits were all humans, consisting of 3 women and 5 men. As soon as they saw me one of them let an arrow loose. I concentrated on the shadow in my hand and formed a shield before me.

The shadowy mist sucked up the arrow. As far as I knew this shield could even absorb Mana, if the attack used less then I put into the shield. It's physical abilities were still unknown to me, but I had to test it, so I just took this risk.

Fenrir rushed to the bandit that was nearest to him, jumping at him and plunging his teeth into the female bandit's head.

I followed up on the arrow with a lance made out of my shadow. It shot at high speed towards the archer of the group. He had no time to dodge as the lance ripped his head clean of.

*They are definitely no soldiers nor experienced fighters in any way...*

The other 6 were a little bit dumbstruck, as they realized what was happening, they started to run. Fenrir let go of the female bandit and ran towards the next. I didn't want to stop either. There was still a new technique I wanted to try. I followed one of them and formed a large blade in my hand. It was weightless and I wanted to test how sharp it was. I let some Mana flow into my feet and sped myself up. I then sliced the bandit in half.

*Wow...*

Fenrir finished of another one, as the rest of them escaped. I didn't want to risk following them, because my Mana reserves were getting quite low, and an familiar feeling of dizziness set in.

I could hear Anja and Nila cry for their Mother and Kara, so I turned around and started walking towards them.

Anja sat next to Elen , crying in her arms. Even in her weakened state she wanted to comfort Anja. Nila stood over her dead sister, trying her hardest to not cry. I sat myself down near Helen and rolled her over pulling Anja away from her arms in the process. She had a deep cut on her back. I then took out some Golden Tears, Bandages and the healing paste. First I washed out the wound and gave Helen the flowers to eat, then I rubbed the paste onto the wound. Helen shouted and cried all the while. Then I bandaged her.

"Is...Kara...alright, where is she?"

*And now how do I answer that?*

I moved away from Helen and went to Nila.

"Your Mother and Anja need you..."

Seeing that she didn't react I grabbed both of her shoulders and shook her back to reality.

"Ok..."

She slowly made her way towards them. Then I saw some riders come from the distant.

*Should I have killed all the bandits?*

But as they drew near, I could see their armor and the flag of Grimveil in one of their hands.

*Soldiers...*

"Fenrir, lets get out of here!"

I ran into the near forest and hid myself in the shadows, observing what was happening next.