121 Jump!

With a strong sense of where the winds blow and where the scent of the greens are ambrosial, they all trailed the footsteps of Haelan out of Brandenburg. They placed their faith on the celestial who's sharp enough to track down the open-air. Haelan led the way like she knew the place. Since she can sense anyone nearby, they were able to pause and hide when needed. It was then that they all realized how undeniably powerful Haelan is. Sneaking stealthily through the wooden floors of the Beorg castle, they managed to knock off some archers one at a time. They even stole their cloaks and armed themselves with bows and arrows, so they can easily blend in and breakout unknowingly. Fortunately, along the way, Atrius and Jacomus were able to retrieve their swords and bow. Such reunion made Jac simply joyous.

When they reached the foyer connecting to the main door, they stumbled upon three red-coated knights who were walking their way in. Nearing the exit doors, they tried to be calm as much as possible as they hide under the emerald coats that they stole. However, one of the knights seemed to have caught a whiff of their obscurity, given that one of the emerald cloaked men carries a staff.

"Stop right there", one knight said.

Haelan and the others stopped. But Ottis didn't want to miss the chance of getting out of Beorg castle, and there's no way he'd go back to that filthy oubliettes. Decidingly and fearless as he always was, Ottis took one arrow from his quiver, and shoot at the knights imposingly. The knights immediately drew their swords and managed to hit the incoming arrow with their blades.

Sprightly, Atrius and Jacomus drew their swords and exchanged blows in the sword fight that was provoked. Ottis continued to shoot them with arrows, however the knights were too highly skilled to dodge them without a single scratch. The swordfight eventually turned into a brawl. It became a bloody head-to-head fight with lots of punches thrown.

Instinctively, Haelan secured Umbriel in the corner as he handed over her staff. "Stay here", she impetuously said as she look back at her comrades fighting for their lives. Seems to her, there's very little chance to win in fighting against these seasoned and battle maniac knights.

Watching her friends get beat up, Haelan knew there's nothing more she could really do to protect them. Come what may, Haelan called the winds that violently moved its course inside the foyer. All the warriors kept their head down the floor, worried that they may be swept away by the winds. Drawing near the knights, Haelan took out her hilt and released her celestial energy making the sword blaze in pale blue. "Stop! One more move, you are all dead", she bluffed raising her sword. The knights stayed down on the floor, confused how a traveler of her caliber could have such power.

"Yeah! Don't mess with our paladin!", Jacomus dared as he keep his head down. Atrius thought Haelan might have taken a lot of pluck to walk down the dangerous path of gambling her life with a sword. Thankfully, it worked.

"Hands up where I can see them", Haelan ordered as she gradually lower down the strenght of the whirlwinds until it stopped. The knights cowered in fear as they put their hands up. "Stay down", Haelan said as she signaled Atrius and Jac to tie them up. However, Ottis had a different thing in mind. He knocked them all off with one hard blow each on the back of their heads. He thought it was better than giving these knights a chance to get back at them.

"Nice job, maybe you should have done that earlier before they beat us to pulp", Ottis said as he spit some blood while tying up the knights.

"You're welcome", Haelan replied as she extinguish the bluish blaze she channeled on her hilt. Then, she ran back to Umbriel who was too astonished to speak. "Let's go, Umbriel", Haelan gave him a comforting smile as she took her staff from Umbriel's trembling hands.

Ottis, going before Atrius, Jacomus and Umbriel, hurriedly stepped out of the doors and instantly shuddered at the icy evening breeze that touched their faces. It was only then when they realized that they are up in the mountains with nothing but cliffs all around.

Looking down, everything was pitch black. "Now what?", to Atrius, there's nowhere to go.

"Jump!", Ottis told everyone as he prepare to jump off the cliff. "Let's jump", he said as he scale the cliff below.

"What? No no no. I'm too young to die", Jac widened his eyes and felt his hands went cold when urged to jump to his apparent death.

"I prefer a noble death in swords", Umbriel frowned as he back away from the ridge.

"Trust me!", Ottis grabbed Umbriel by his nape, and ran swiftly before setting off like a bird. Unprepared,Umbriel screamed at the top of his lungs as he fall.

"Ottis, No!", it was too late before Atrius could stop Ottis. He looked down and watched the disappear in the dark.

Standing at edge of the precipice, Jac goggled at Atrius before looking down. He was so caught in between staying atop, and jumping after Umbriel. And then, with his eyes tightly close, Jac jumped off the cliff following the two of his friends.

Still inside the foyer, Haelan suddenly sensed someone that made her heart elate and nervous at the same time. She could hear Atrius calling her name, but it felt like her feet is nailed on the floor. Standing alone, Haelan held her breath until a figure of a man appeared across the entrance hall. With longing in his deep-rooted stares, Stellan was there standing with parted lips a few feet from Haelan. There were unspoken words that were screaming in the back of his mind, and piling questions he's yearning to ask. Right then and there, he wanted to runaway with Haelan… as far away as possible.

"Sir Stellan! The prisoners have escaped. Have you seen any of them?", an archer right behind him asked. A group of archers have been tracking the escaped prisoners for a while.

"They went that way", Stellan lied as he lead them on a different direction. Then, he looked back at Haelan who have already ran out. Stellan followed her, with that growing anxiety that he might not ever see her again. Outside where no stars and not even the moon were out, he looked everywhere until he saw Haelan and Atrius standing near the ridge. "Haelan, don't!", he said. As he walk closer, Atrius jumped off the cliff first which took the paladin knight by surprise.

Immediately, Haelan, who thought it was safe to jump too, gave one last look at Stellan. "I'll see you again", she smiled as she let herself fall down in the deep scarp.