Chapter 4

Sebastian gritted his teeth. His body trembled. He was pushed back for a few centimeter from the impact.

He caught a glimpse of his previous fight, where he almost lost his life.

"You've turn weak," said a man with dark green hair.

"Better than following a snake as a master."

"You should've stay far away."

"I didn't know a person could become stupid after being used. Do you really think he would let us go if we stay away from his sight."

The man was silence.

"He was a kind of person that would never let go of his prey unless they die."

"You could just, not stand in his way."

"Pft… Hah! He could have just do nothing and enjoy his life, didn't he? It's not like he was suffering or had a bad life. That person is too greedy."

The man leaped forward and swing his sword. Sebastian dodged.

Sebastian smirked. "He will pay for what he did, and, so do you. Don't say that I never warned you."

Sebastian took a step backward and dashed out from the scene, with his chest cut opened and the bone in his arm popped out.

"You seem distracted." Wayne pulled out Sebastian from his memory.

Sebastian took a deep breath and gathered his mana. Purple light surrounded his body. He pushed Wayne with all his strength.

"You're an aura user." Wayne voice filled with excitement. His eyes widen in amazement.

Wayne dashed forward, aiming for Sebastian right side of his rib.

Sebastian dodged. He jumped out from his spot. He could felt his body was a little heavy. His movement was not as sharp as it used to be anymore.

"You're quite strong, old man." Wayne chased after him and keep swinging his scimitar.

Sebastian clenched his jaw. He tighten his grip on the hilt of his broadsword. He focus on his mana flow and pour it into his sword. The aura circulate around his broadsword. He took a deep breath and swing his sword.

"Just because I'm old, doesn't mean I'm weak!"

Wayne hopped away from the spot he was standing. He laughed loudly. "Old man, you really should just join my group. We welcome strong people, you know. Better just leave these weakling, they're not good for your growth."

"Strength is meant to protect, not to flaunt around."

Wayne took a deep breath and concentrate his mana on his scimitar sword. Flame slowly swirl around his scimitar and flare up creating more bigger flame. He tighten his grip on his scimitar and lunge toward Sebastian.

"What a noble way of thinking. It's really such a pity to kill you."

Their sword clashed.

Sebastian used his aura to repel the flame. He scowl, with a twisted expression of his face.

"It's either you kill me or I'll kill you!" Sebastian changed his stance and aim for the opening at Wayne's leg.

Wayne jumped backward to avoid the hit. His face darkened. "You? Kill me?" Wayne snort. "Sure, you're strong, but do you think you could kill me?" He smirked. "You could try."

***

The town hall was filled with gruesome sound of people shouting in rage, groaning in pain, and the sound of slashing and clashing from the sword. There was blood splattering everywhere in the town hall.

Some of the villagers were exchanging fist and sword with the pirates, while some work as support, healing the injured.

Andrea feed the bottle with sparkling blue liquid to a man. The opened wound on the man's arm recovered.

"Thank you madam," he said. He hurried to the front, helping his comrade fighting with the pirates.

Andrea look at the mountain of potion. Her heart tighten. She bit her lower lip. 'If only I could use my power.'

A lady was supporting a young man, covered in red, with a big wound on his stomach and a cut on his leg. She called out, "Madam!" She laid the young man.

Andrea gave a bottle of potion to the lady. "Feed him. His injury was too heavy, I need to pour some on his wound."

The lady carefully bring the bottle to the young man's mouth and pour the liquid. Andrea opened another bottle and poured the liquid directly on the wound.

The wound slowly closed and the young man's breathing was stabilize. "Thank you, madam," he said. Few second after he healed, he stood up again, grabbed his weapon, and rushed toward the front line.

"Mel, bring some of the healer out and help the people outside the town hall." Andrea

The lady nodded and instructed few other healer to go with her.

A man with scar on his face kneel on one knee. He squint his eyes, and released the bow string. 'Swoosh'

Andrea staggered. She felt a throbbing in her chest. She looked down and saw a broad head point of an arrow pierced through her chest.

Red blood trickled down from her chest and slowly soaking her clothes. She smelled a sickeningly dry, sweet metallic scent, fusing with the aromatic scent of a flower.

"Poison?" she murmured.

Mir stared at his target. He put his hand on his chest. 'Nothing' He feel nothing. Not a single guilt nor fear.

A young man threw his knife toward the archer. Mir dodged. Mir aim at the young man, but before he let go the bow string, an arrow was shot at him. He managed to dodged. He searched for the archer. It was a young lady from the village.

The young man signal to a healer. The healer went to Andrea's side.

Andrea stole a glance at the severity of the fight. She stop the healer. "I'm already old, I'm meant to die anyway. Go and help those that are severely injured."

"Madam, your injury are severe. None of us will let you die here. What about Aretha?"

Andrea bit her lower lip. She also want to save her life and watch over Aretha. But the poison that was used was fatal.

"It's already too late, for me. Go… Bring my granddaughter and the other children out from here. Find an old man name Frank in the deep mountain at neighboring village. Tell him, Argus send you."

"But…"

"There's not much time. Go! Make sure none of them noticed you. Now!"

The healer hesitated for a moment, she peeked at the sight of people fighting, then slowly nodded.

Her hand was trembling and her legs was shaking. She clenched her fist and took a breath. She hide among the people so her presence would be unnoticed and secretly grabbed few other people with her.

Andrea watched the healer go. She clutched the bracelet on her wrist. 'Aretha might be at the basement. The protection barrier is fading. I pray that she arrived on time.'

She looked at her husband. He was struggling. That pirate leaders was no ordinary pirate. His strength could rival the knights from the empire.

Her body slumped on the ground. Andrea focus on circulating her mana to stop the poison from spreading throughout her body. 'I need to hang in there, my granddaughter will be in danger.' Her vision was blurry and her mind was hazy. '… need… to… hang…' She throw up blood. Her mana was in chaos. She lost her concentration.

There was ringing in her ears. She saw a figure was trying to reached for her.

"REA!"