Awakening (4)

"Umm... Hi?"

Serus laughed awkwardly at the gaze of all the women and children. They all retracted back not trusting the stranger in front of them.

As they were to evaluate his purpose, Serus was shocked by his surroundings. The corpses of women lay with their minds and bodies shattered.

Kids with soulless eyes hugged their knees and each other in the corner of the shack. They had scars all over, some even missing limbs and eyes.

Aequitas took Serus out of his stupor and spoke in a tired voice.

["...Serus, don't talk, just listen. I'm going to disappear for a week. Messing with the system took quite a toll on me... You'll still be able to access the system, but I won't be there to guide you...

I want you to, keep silent about your sin, don't act clueless about the world, and survive... I will see you later. The system is still there it may choose to answer some of your questions... Though unlikely...

Take care..."]

Serus read this extremely seriously and took a few seconds to recover and act normal... Soon a woman approached him from amongst the group. She whispered,

"Who are you? Why did you come here?"

"My name is Serus Lumen, I lost all my items and stumbled upon this area. I saw you all in danger and wanted to come and help..."

"What happened to the guard outside."

"I defeated them."

There was a silence and he received an odd look. Serus looked at the woman in front of him, with blue hair and red eyes. A very pretty person if she wasn't covered in mud, and other guck... riddled with wounds and scars.

"What's your class?"

'Class? Shoot, what should I say?'

"Umm, I'm a mage."

The woman nodded.

"Why didn't you inform authorities in a city about our disappearance?"

"I would if I could but I was kicked out for not having ID..."

The lady had a weak look in her eyes with a hint of determination.

"I see that's disappointing..."

It was awkward for a few seconds, till a couple of kids nudged from behind her and she knelt to listen. Her expression warmed up a bit.

"Sigh, alright kids."

She seemed a bit awkward yet she put her hand forward.

"My name is Scarlet... Just Scarlet. We're glad that you have good intentions but we still need proof to trust you..."

"Well, I'm sorry Scarlet but I don't have anything to prove my intentions..."

Serus felt downcast he genuinely wants to help these people but how can he do that if they don't trust him? However, his worries were useless because he heard a dry laugh.

"Haha, sorry, but you don't need to prove yourself. We're not exactly in a position with a lot of choices..."

Serus remembered the place they were and understood that what she said is true.

"Did you have any plans? To help us escape?"

"Sorry... Not really, I came here somewhat winging it."

"Winging it? That's a funny phrase have I been gone for that long..."

Serus could infer that it was not something spoken in this world but he didn't correct her.

The two of them discussed potential ideas for escape. Others listened in silently...

"What magic can you use?"

Scarlet asked and Serus didn't know. He still wasn't aware of what happened before he entered here.

[System recommends that the user looks at the skill.]

He received some unexpected help from the system, to which he did as told.

[[Serus Lumens status]

Race: Human | Otherworlder

Titles: N/A

Rank: E-

Variable stats

...

Invariable stats

...

{Skills}

Water magic (Rare)

-Water ball

{Blessings}

>Partial blessing of the balance goddess

>Partial blessing of the reincarnation goddess

...

Serus didn't even question the updated status and read it out.

"I'm able to use water magic..."

"Hmm, that can be useful."

'System I'd like an explanation please!!'

[Host earned [Rare skill] [water magic], the host can use second circle water magic when sin is activated...

The host was able to learn the skill to due [Body of balance] that comes with [Partial blessing of the balance goddess]... ]

The system provided a rather long-winded explanation, but the basic gist is that one part of the Aequitas' blessing lets him learn skills at immense speeds by "Experiencing" them.

In this case, getting hit by the spell was the trigger.

'I should probably keep it secret...'

"... And that's how I think we escape. What do you think?"

Scarlet seemed far more stable than the rest of the people in this shed. She worked at a museum and is a war strategy enthusiast of sorts...

Incredibly convenient for sure, but she ended up overcomplicating the whole plot. To the point that only Serus who was also rather cool-headed could get it.

He added a few touches and removed a lot of her involvement. She laughed a bit wearily, but she did pretty well besides that...

"Haha, you're pretty passionate about this huh? Well, I think it'll work."

"Reall-?!"

"Shhh! Quiet..."

From outside heavy footsteps shake the very floor below them. A grunt could be heard. Serus hid behind a barrel.

-Hrrik, hrrik

Serus couldn't look behind... Afraid of being caught. He heard someone suffering voice.

"Mmmhh! No, no, no! Please... Please spare me."

She was dragged away screaming horrifically. Scarlet came to behind the barrel.

"Serus now's the best chance!"

"What? But someone just got dragged away, we can't leave them behind!"

Scarlet looked at Sersus like he was an idiot.

"Serus this is our ONLY chance, while they're all... distracted. We can make a move."

Serus looked at her in disgust, as if she was a monster. To which Scarlet noticed was extremely offended.

They argued with their inside votes for a few minutes till it ended with Serus having to back down. Because the rest supported Scarlet's decision.

"... Fine, but I'll try to save her if and WHEN I get the chance."

"... Suit yourself."

Everyone got into position, they didn't seek to wish to complain. Some had been there for months, the others bit a few days. Scarlet herself had been taken 3 months ago.

She's somehow managed to stay strong all this while...

-Shh

-Creeeak

Group 1 they made, took a peek outside the door that Serus entered from. They took the people that have experience fighting, or we're unafraid to try...

The area had 2 large orcs investigating the area. There was a large crater and the body of the orc, that Serus took care of was moved.

The plan was simple, they all knew the general layout of the base. It's a classic distraction tactic and they'll hit from the flank...

Using fire arrows!

They shuffled silently and avoided orcs carrying boxes of supplies and other goods. Two women managed to knock out.

They were brought along because they had experience guarding some recently wealthy merchants. They skillfully took out the two orcs. Before Serus could get a word in they cut the neck of the two orcs with the spears they had...

-Hmp!

Serus put his hand to his mouth to avoid looking in disgust. The two of them didn't see this action. And they moved on.

One of the two was a dark skin, white-haired woman. She had a malnourished appearance... well they all did.

"Serus c-could you hit the o-orc from here."

A few of them had developed stutters from the physical traumas they had experienced. It created speech disorders amongst a few of them.

Serus nodded he got the idea of how to use his skill from the system's description.

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he chanted activate water magic, and to experiment he changed it to a water spike...

Needless to say for an Earthling who had never used magic it isn't exactly intuitive... However, while the two girls went to hide in bushes.

-Whisshhh

In mid-air, in an expanding manner, a shape of water took form. Its width was only the size of a palm swirled at high speeds.

Serus couldn't be in awe of his ability he aimed... And fired!

-Splash!

Despite its weakness, it landed a solid hit on the orc standing guard. Making them stumble. The two jumped out from the bushes and attacked. It blocked both of their attacks with two daggers!

-Splash!

However another shot, this time a water ball flew towards its head. Binding its eyes for a split second. Enough for the two women to get a good strike in, killing it.

...

Back at the shack, the ones who stayed back made an erupting chorus of a ruckus.

This caught the attention of the orcs, who found two dead bodies in front of the shack.

"Hrrk, hork hork!"

This alarmed the rest of them and they rang the bell. Before they could react however a bunch of orange lights lit up the sky from a hill, a fair distance away.

When they landed the shacks were lit! Orcs organized themselves to put out the fires. In the process, more arrows cake hiring down taking out more orcs.

Serus was shocked by the gruesome sight of orcs, of all ages, getting hit with fire arrows. He was feeling sick to his stomach but watched on as the women and even the kids exacted revenge.

They would kick and desecrate the bodies of these filthy orcs, while they ran to safety. A great fire lit up the evening sky...

-Crackle, crackle!

-Crash!

Buildings crashed down, and everyone screamed. Even some of the people got killed. Serus was back down in the village with a cloth on his face to protect him from the smoke.

-Crash!

He was looking to save that woman, at all costs. He couldn't bear to look at the other dead bodies but he pressed on.

In a single building, he found who he was looking for. In the nude, the woman curled up in a fetal position while crying.

Serus took a cloth that he found on the floor and wrapped it around her. She was scared by the sudden contact. He didn't see him and was prepared to die in this fire.

"Aghh!! No, no please let go of me. I won't fight, I won't I promise!"

"Shh, shh. It's okay I'm here to help you just relax."

She didn't hear him but she continued to spasm like a child. The fear in her eyes was unfathomable.

Serus clicked his tongue, he lifted her anyways and she continued to stir around chaotically.

He ran and ran till he reached a safe spot. He saw one of the kids in another shack get rubble fall on them, he shut his eyes in guilt.

...

"Huff, huff alright were safe..."

The lady had fallen asleep in his arms, he reached the top of a hill far enough away from the fire. He got a few burns here and there but they weren't impossible to heal.

Serus gently placed the woman down in the grass. Looking for anyone else in danger. He'd run back in no problem.

-Heeek!

Serus heard a squeal in the distance and saw a young orc. Under the rubble, by this point, many had failed to survive. They were burnt to a crisp or died from suffocation.

"Shit!"

Serus ran down without hesitation to save it.

"Heek! Heek!"

-Crash!

Serus pulled it out from under the wood and it couldn't tell who saved it. Nearly passing out from exhaustion.

"Huff~"

Serus set down the little orc who had gotten its senses back. It glared in both fear and anger at Serus. Serus quickly waved it off.

"Go! Quickly otherwise they'll kill you too!"

It didn't understand Serus' words but it got the gesture. It was too tired to question his compassion and ran off into the darkness of the forest.

"Serus! Serus!"

Scarlet had found him and so had what remained of the group that wasn't caught by the orcs or the fire.

"Serus we did it! Thank you!"

Serus blushed a little he like getting thanked for his good deed. However, he was also feeling an extreme sense of guilt almost wondering if choosing to save these people was the right choice...

He couldn't regret his decision now though, he had to live with the blood of these people on his hands.

Scarlet tilted her head and took a peek behind him.

"I see you saved Estella... Well, you did as you said you would. Good job."

"No... It's okay..."

Serus was tired and just wanted to finally head to the city.

"Let's rest for the night, shall we? We can go to the nearest city tomorrow."

"Sure..."

Serus choked on his words, as the fires reflected in his eyes slowly turned to ash...