Barbarian Knights

Nineteen years, it had been a long time. A really really long time, thought Estelle to herself.

She covered her arms with her fingers and gave herself a gentle rub. Lifting her face to the sky she smiled softly, leaving a tint of sorrow mixed with happiness on the corners of her lips. Despite the sudden emptiness she felt in her heart now that she had let go of her job as the phantom thief, her golden eyes appeared like one of the stars in the sky that was quite solemn tonight.

The slum was unforgiving for children.

Ever since her mother died after giving birth to her, Elle grew up alone and live like a wild animal. She would steal, beg, and get beaten up all for a mere molded bread. They didn't care if it was a hungry orphan around them begging for food, they wouldn't even think to help each other. Elle didn't blame them either as she knew so many of them needed to help themselves before the others and in the world of the fittest, caring for yourself tend to be your best choice.

It was until she met Grandpa John and Lucas' mother did she learn there could still be kindness even in such a hell like the slums. Seeing their selflessness, she swore to her own heart to become an adult who can help the weak but when she grew older she realized it wasn't as easy as she imagined. Working wouldn't be enough to cover their living expenses and that was only if she would ever find a place that would hire her. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't hide the fact her address is in the slums and would usually get rejected on the spot.

She exhaled a breath, wondering what kind of job she should do now. A maid would be great, she thought to herself but she wondered which household would hire a slum residence like her. The last time she tried to buy a property outside the slums so she could have a better life for Lucas and Marcie, it ended with her money being stolen away by the house dealer. Because she was a slum child, they never once took her seriously, instead they see her as the delicious prey for them to steal her money from.

Perhaps she could move town? It would cost her a great deal of money but she could try using the leftover jewelries she had stolen from her last haul. But that would only be enough for her and the children— what about her grandpa and Timmy? They are her family and she cannot imagine a life with their absence.

"Oh saintess," whispered Elle while staring at the sky, "Can't you ease the worries of this humble peasant of yours?"

She wasn't quite the religious person who believe in the great saintess who was foretold to hold power that could save humanity. But she didn't see harm in praying to the last person who might help sprinkle some blessing to her life.

After thinking how stupid her actions are, Elle lifted her cheeks into a wider smile and softly chuckled alone. She decided that it was already too cold for her to stay outside. Lucas and Marcie must have finished their bath and with the flow, she thought of reading the bedtime stories which they love—

"ELLE! RUN AWAY! ELLE!"

Estelle's entire body shivered as she heard the shrilling cry coming from Timothy's voice. The once silent night was quickly quaked by shock when Elle snapped her eyes behind and find herself cornered on her door by knight dressed in the silvery armor. Her eyes settled in panic upon seeing Timothy who had been dragged by his knees with his ace covered in black and blue bruises.

Anger switched to her eyes as she glared at the knights, "What do you think you are doing to my brother! Release him!"

Her head reeled faster that the blood that coursed to her veins. Elle combed through her mind, trying to find answers on why these scary lookin knights have gathered around her house.

Did they— did they found out she was the phantom thief?!

But they aren't wearing those uniforms belonging to the churchmen. She could tell as the churchmen despise wearing armor, saying that the saintess they worship do not wish for bloodshed and armor is the prime uniform of bloodbath.

Then they came from the families she had stolen from? No- that's also a no, Elle denied her own guess. She knew well who she was stealing from for the exact fear of inciting anger from the wrong people. Although the people she stole from are indeed the wealthy nobles, they aren't capable enough to send knights to hunt for her— a mere phantom thief who only stole less than a quarter of their wealth.

Then if they aren't related to the phantom thief— why are they here?!

"Elle run no— Ahhhh!!" Timothy shrieked in pain as the knight had threw him to the ground and pressed his feet on the young man's shin.

"Release him!" Elle yelled. She wasn't holding any weapon on her but she couldn't keep her cool seeing Timmy's face squeezing full of pain. Out of alert, she could only ask the knights who appeared to be prepared to kill with a pallid face, "What do you want? What is it that all you want? I will provide you with it so please release him! He's just a weak man!"

The knights face were covered by their thick helmet and only a single gap was carved for their piercing blue eyes to stare back at Elle's golden ones. She couldn't see the man's face but she could be certain of the ice cold gaze the knight has which held no warmth or whatsoever. She would instead described his gaze as demanding, as though being here had wasted his time but he had no choice but to come. She could feel that if she didn't give what the man want, he will have no hesitation but to kill Timothy.

"I need to find the woman named Estelle," said the knight before he pointed his finger rudely to her direction, "And I heard this is her house."

Elle shivered, understanding that they had really came for her. "I'm her," she replied at once despite feeling the fear that set in her fingers. "I'm here alright? So leave him alone."

"No Elle!" Timmy snapped his eyes to the knight and yelled instead, "She isn't Estelle, she is lying. That girl named Estelle died two days ago from pneumonia."

The knights didn't reply and for a moment Timothy thought he had fooled the knights only when the man lifted his unsheathed sword to his spine. This time a real bellow full of nightmarish agony escaped from his mouth.

Elle ran forward when two knights had grabbed her roughly by her arms, tugging her aside as though she was a doll made up of straws.

"Did you think you can lie to me brat? You're a hundred years too early." The knight's gruff voice was simply unforgiving. He could tell Timothy was lying despite his convincing words as if he was certain Estelle was alive and well.

"Unhand me!" Elle kicked the knight between the leg, startling them who quickly curl in pain. Fore she could rush forward and pull Timothy away from the frightening knight, the silver armored man who seemed to know this released his sword heavily again to the ground and stared at her,

"If you would like this pathetic being to not lose a single limb, I would recommend you to remain obedient and follow us, Miss Estelle."

"And if I not, you will kill him?" Elle asked with a faint spiteful tone.

The knight seemed to have laugh faintly much to her bitterness as he replied with a tone she was somehow familiar, "I won't kill him," at first she was relieved she had a choice but it was short lived when the knight added, "But I will make him suffer a pain even worse than death itself. It's something that isn't pretty."

Elle clenched her fists as it seemed she really had no choice. "Are you sure you're a knight?"

When the knight lifted his sword again a heavy swoosh could be heard, proving that he really did store a heavy blade inside his scabbard. He looked at her blankly, "I am, I was knighted three years ago."

"Yet you act like a barbarian," commented Elle and in a snap of second all eyes of the knights surrounding her turned bloody. They stared and glared, one of them even tried to move forward as mocking their knighthood means death but the head of the knight who had been stepping on Timothy glared to put a end to their agitated behavior.

The cold wind made her shiver as she didn't want to confirm it was fear of death that had made her shudder. The last thing she wanted to do was to act weak.

She sighed and finally lowered her glare, "I will follow you only if you can promise your knighthood that you won't touch anyone in the slums."

The knight seemed to have turned relax that she showed her obedience, "I will swear on my knighthood that everyone here should be spared to live their life for more days to come."

"Before that, can I just give my farewell to my siblings—"

"—That won't be unnecessary," the knight lifted his hand and Elle was startled upon seeing fire that suddenly appeared from his finger. The fire danced before it lounged itself to the sky and disappeared in eagle speed. "It's not too important to do so."

"Elle, don't do it," Timothy begged but his body was in so much pain after being trashed, hit, and abused by the knights. They had played foully, attacking him on his spine and bones to make sure it hurts to the point he couldn't bring himself to stand up. "Don't leave. You will be in danger!"

"I'll come back," Elle tried to put a brave smile on her face. She doesn't know why the knights demand her to follow them but if it could save Timothy first, she didn't think much of it and thought it'd be best to comply and think of a way to escape later.

When the two knights came again to grab her arms, Elle swatted their hands, "I can walk alone."

The knights seemed to have spat upon hearing her clearly still mad by her earlier remark or perhaps disgusted to touch someone from the slums— or it could be both which she didn't care much as long as Timothy was released. Judging by how the head of these knights appeared to be ruthless, she could imagine him breaking Timmy's bone until she gives her consent to follow him.

She clenched her jaw and overheard the conversation the head knight had with his subordinates. The smaller one speaking to him first, "The carriage have been prepared, Sir Mikail."

"Great job, send an owl first to send the letter to the Marquis. He should receive the news first."

Mikail, noted Elle in her mind. This bloody knight has quite an angelic name in comparison to his menacing actions.

"You should be happy, Miss Estelle," the frightening knight Mikail spoke in sarcasm, "You don't know how today is your luckiest day."

Lucky? Elle wondered if the man thinks death is a beautiful action done by the saintess for him to think his savage behavior was something she should desperately be grateful of.

"The carriage," uttered one of the knights, urging her to walk forward and enter the oddly luxurious carriage which made her stood out even more like a sore thumb.

She slowly lifted her legs, carefully looking at Timothy who had chased after her when the carriage was ordered to move....