Rain of Arrows

Arga gave a faint smile, understanding that beneath her tough exterior, she might feel safer than she let on. In the back of his mind, a question lingered: Who is this headstrong woman?

Arrows continued raining down from the sky, a deadly storm refusing to let up. Yet Arga remained focused on one thing: ensuring the woman's safety. His trembling hands never loosened their grip, even as fear etched itself onto his face. Each breath he took felt heavy, but he positioned his body as a shield without hesitation.

On the other side, Nico, still with his eyes shut, slowly tried to take a deep breath to steady himself. His hands stayed tightly clasped around Sana, as if her presence was his lifeline. Though his face was pale, the strength in his hold revealed an unyielding resolve.

The battle was nearing its end. The rain of arrows gradually subsided, leaving only a handful of terrified enemies still standing. Among the chaos, a man who had earlier tried to harass the woman now lay on the ground, blood streaming from his hand where an arrow had pierced through. With a hoarse and furious voice, he yelled, "Hey, you lot! Finish him off and get me to a healer! Fix my hand!"

But before he could finish his sentence, his body weakened, and he collapsed unconscious from the blood loss. His remaining men scrambled to lift his body and fled, leaving behind a trail of uneasy silence.

As the tension finally eased, Arga remained lying on the ground, still holding the woman close, ensuring the danger had truly passed. The woman stared blankly, her emotions a whirlwind of awe and confusion. Her usually cold expression softened slightly, though her face was still hard to read.

Elsewhere, Nico and Sana stayed low, unmoving, as if afraid that standing up would bring the danger rushing back.

"H-Hey..." Nico finally broke the silence, his voice trembling. "Are we still alive?"

Arga turned slightly, his breath heavy as he glanced at Nico. "I think so. But... don't move yet."

Sana slowly lifted her face from Nico's chest, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "It seems they're gone," she murmured. But her gaze fell on the woman in Arga's arms. The woman appeared far too calm—too composed for someone who had just faced a life-or-death situation. Sana sensed something unusual but held back her questions.

Arga exhaled deeply, finally releasing the woman from his hold. Carefully, he helped her sit up. "Are you okay?"

The woman averted her eyes, her expression unreadable. "I'm... fine. Thank you," she replied shortly. Her voice was soft, but her tone carried a hint of indifference, as if trying to hide the turmoil within. Her eyes darted elsewhere, though for a moment, they lingered on Arga's face.

The atmosphere shifted abruptly. Just as the calm began to settle, Arga's body suddenly collapsed to the ground. An arrow was lodged in his left side, blood pouring out and staining his clothes.

The beautiful woman, who had seemed so composed moments earlier, instinctively caught him before he fully hit the ground. "Hey! You're bleeding?! Stay with me!" she cried out, her voice laced with panic as she shook his body, trying to keep him conscious. Her elegant face twisted with worry, every movement betraying her desperation.

Amid her frantic efforts, she muttered under her breath, as though trying to mask her concern. "How foolish... Why would you protect me like that? I can take care of myself..." she whispered, yet her hands never stopped trying to stem the bleeding. Her expression was a blend of steely determination and deep guilt, as though harboring a secret she refused to reveal.

Sana, who had been standing not far away, approached with a worried expression. "Arga? What happened? Why didn't he say anything earlier?" She knelt beside the woman, her gaze fixed on the wound that kept bleeding. "We need to stop the bleeding!"

Nico, who had been preoccupied checking himself for injuries, ensuring his own body was unharmed, finally noticed Arga's situation. Seeing the amount of blood, Nico's face turned pale. "Arga! Why didn't you say there's an arrow stuck in your body?!" he exclaimed, rushing over and kneeling on the other side of Arga's body.

The woman held Arga's body tighter. Her expression turned resolute, as if there was no time for small talk. "I will treat him," she said firmly, almost like a command. "He needs immediate care, and we have nothing here that can help."

Not long after, the woman's subordinates approached, observing the situation respectfully. The woman lifted her face, still cradling Arga's weakened body. "I will take him to my place," she said coldly.

"Understood, Ma'am," her soldiers replied in unison. One of the commanders stepped forward and cautiously asked, "What about them?"

The woman glanced sharply at Nico and Sana, seemingly weighing her decision before replying, "Leave them." Her words carried an emotionless finality, a decision not open to debate.

Hearing this, Nico protested. "Hey! What are you doing? Why are you taking Arga?!" he shouted, his emotions flaring. Sana, equally shaken, joined Nico in protesting, her distress more apparent.

Nico and Sana tried to follow the woman, but their path was quickly blocked by sword-wielding guards. Undeterred, Sana attempted to push past, but Nico grabbed her, pulling her into a tight embrace to stop her.

"Sana, get a hold of yourself! Don't act on impulse. We need to think clearly," Nico whispered firmly. "What happened earlier is a warning of how dangerous this city is; you know that." Sana, still sobbing, tried to calm herself, though her body trembled with anger and worry.

After the soldiers departed, one of their commanders turned back and approached Nico and Sana. With a calm demeanor, he handed them a piece of paper. "No need to thank us," he said with a faint smile before turning and leaving, leaving Nico and Sana in stunned silence.

Sana looked at the paper in her hand. The address written on it was simple but unfamiliar. She bit her lip, then looked at Nico with eyes full of unease. "We have to go. We don't know who that terrifying woman is, but Arga is in danger. I can't stay calm!" she cried, almost shouting.

Nico took a deep breath and nodded hesitantly, his gaze still fixed on the shadow of the woman slowly disappearing into the distance with Arga. "Who is she, really?" he muttered under his breath.