Rescued Mistake

Chapter 5: The Orc Lord and the Water's Child

The Iron Hawk Guild's camp buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. The mission had come down directly from Garrick himself—Elias was to lead a small team to take down an Orc Lord who had been terrorizing the villages on the fringes of the Blackthorn Woods. The Orc Lord was known for its brutality and cunning, having survived countless hunts by using the terrain to its advantage. The mission was clear: kill the Orc Lord and bring back its head as proof.

Elias listened carefully as Garrick outlined the plan. "This is no ordinary mission, lad," Garrick said, his gaze fixed on Elias. "The Orc Lord is vicious, and it's smart. But if you succeed, this will solidify your place in the guild. Don't let your guard down."

Elias nodded, his jaw set in determination. He had been with the guild for three months now, training, fighting, learning. The battle against the Demon Knight had shown him just how far he still had to go, but it had also ignited a fierce drive within him. He wanted to prove himself, to become strong enough to stand on his own, to be someone who was respected, not just pitied or underestimated.

He set out with a small team: Alyndra, the young archer who had saved his life against the Demon Knight; Fenric, a burly fighter with a reputation for his strength; and Liora, a mage who specialized in elemental spells. It was a small, diverse group, but each of them was skilled in their own way. Elias felt a mix of confidence and anxiety as they moved through the dense forest, following the trail of destruction the Orc Lord had left behind.

The Orc Lord was clever, but it was also overconfident. It had left signs of its passing everywhere—broken branches, deep footprints, the carcasses of animals it had hunted for sport. Elias felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. He could feel his senses sharpening, his body moving in tune with the forest around him. For the first time, he felt like he was truly part of the guild, not just an outsider trying to find his place.

They moved quickly, silently, their eyes scanning for any sign of their prey. Hours passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Elias's senses were on high alert, every sound and movement scrutinized. Then, as they reached a small clearing, they heard it—a deep, guttural roar that sent a shiver down his spine.

"There!" Alyndra whispered, pointing ahead.

Elias squinted, following her gaze. At the far edge of the clearing, partially obscured by the underbrush, he saw it—the Orc Lord. It was massive, standing nearly twice the height of a normal man, its muscles rippling beneath its thick green skin. Its eyes glowed with a savage intelligence, and its tusks protruded from its snarling mouth. It held a giant club in one hand, the other gripping a crude, jagged blade.

"Remember the plan," Elias whispered to his team. "We surround it, cut off its escape. Alyndra, Fenric, you draw its attention. Liora, be ready with a spell. I'll try to get behind it and aim for its weak points."

The others nodded, and they moved into position, carefully and quietly. Elias's heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his breathing steady, his focus sharp.

Alyndra and Fenric struck first, emerging from the brush with a coordinated attack. Alyndra's arrows flew, each one aimed with deadly precision, while Fenric charged with a battle cry, his massive sword swinging. The Orc Lord roared in fury, swinging its club wildly, its movements fast and brutal.

Elias circled around, keeping low, waiting for the right moment. He could see the Orc Lord's attention focused on Fenric, who was blocking a powerful swing with his shield. Alyndra moved to the side, her arrows finding their mark in the creature's shoulder and leg.

"Now!" Elias shouted, rushing forward.

He leaped at the Orc Lord, aiming for the back of its knee, where the armor was thin. His sword struck true, cutting deep, and the Orc Lord howled in pain, staggering. But just as Elias was about to follow up with another strike, something caught his eye—a flicker of movement to his left, deeper in the forest.

He turned his head, distracted for just a moment, and that was all it took. The Orc Lord swung its club, catching Elias off guard. The blow sent him flying backward, crashing into a tree. Pain exploded in his side, and he gasped, struggling to breathe.

"Elias!" Alyndra shouted, firing another arrow to cover him. "Get up!"

But Elias's eyes were fixed on the movement he had seen. There was something there, something small, glinting in the shadows. He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain, and stumbled toward it.

The sounds of battle faded into the background as he moved through the undergrowth, following the flickering light. He pushed through the dense foliage, his breath coming in ragged gasps. And then he saw it—a small, shimmering figure lying on the ground, half-buried in the leaves. A baby, wrapped in what looked like a robe made of water, its skin glowing faintly with a blue hue.

Elias's eyes widened. A newborn child? Here, in the middle of the forest?

The baby let out a soft, gurgling cry, its tiny hands reaching out, its eyes bright and blue as the clearest river. Elias's heart raced. This was no ordinary child. He could feel the power emanating from it, a pulsing, rhythmic energy that resonated in his very bones.

Without thinking, he scooped the child into his arms, feeling a strange warmth wash over him. The child stopped crying, its tiny fingers curling around his thumb. Elias felt a rush of emotion—an instinctive urge to protect this fragile life.

Behind him, the battle raged on. He could hear the Orc Lord's furious roars, the clash of steel against steel. He knew he should return to his team, but he also knew he couldn't leave the child here, unprotected.

He turned and started back toward the clearing, the child held close to his chest. As he emerged from the undergrowth, he saw the battle still in full swing. Alyndra and Fenric were fighting valiantly, but the Orc Lord was relentless, its movements filled with raw fury.

"Elias!" Liora shouted, her hands glowing with magic. "What are you doing?"

He didn't have time to explain. "Get ready!" he shouted. "We need to finish this now!"

Liora nodded, her hands beginning to move in intricate patterns, gathering energy for a powerful spell. Elias darted forward, his mind racing. He needed to distract the Orc Lord, give Liora time to cast.

"Hey, you ugly brute!" he shouted, waving his sword. "Over here!"

The Orc Lord turned, its red eyes narrowing. It roared and charged at him, swinging its club with terrifying force. Elias dodged to the side, barely avoiding the blow, and struck back, his sword glancing off the creature's thick hide.

"Liora, now!" he yelled.

Liora released her spell, a blast of water and ice surging forward, striking the Orc Lord square in the chest. The creature staggered, its body encased in a thick layer of frost. Alyndra fired a final arrow, hitting the Orc Lord's eye, and with a deafening roar, the creature fell to the ground, defeated.

Elias panted, his chest heaving, the child still cradled in his arms. He looked down at the baby, who gazed back up at him with wide, curious eyes.

"What… is that?" Fenric asked, bewildered.

Liora's eyes widened in recognition. "That's… that's a water nymph child," she breathed. "A newborn. Elias, do you know what you've done?"

Elias shook his head, confused. "I… I found her in the forest. I couldn't just leave her."

Alyndra approached, her expression a mix of concern and awe. "This is no ordinary child," she said softly. "You've rescued the newborn child of the Lord of Water, Rani. She's a being of immense power, even in her infancy. The Lord of Water will not take kindly to her being lost… or found by humans."

Elias's heart sank. He had no idea what he had stumbled upon, but he knew one thing: this was just the beginning of a far greater challenge than he had ever imagined.