It was an ordinary day. As always, Klim and I had our daily training session.
Alex and Klim stood in the backyard of the house in Eldor village, surrounded by wattle and old trees, preparing for another training session. The sun rays penetrated through the crown of the trees, playing on the surface of the grass and giving the yard an atmosphere of privacy and peace. The villagers knew that here, in this secluded corner, the young warriors were tempering their skills.
Klim, who had already adopted a fighting stance, watched Alex, who was tensely preparing for the start of the fight.
- Ready? - He asked, smiling slightly.
- Ready - Alex replied, clenching his fists and taking a stand.
Without wasting time, Alex was the first to rush forward, trying to land a quick blow to Klim's chest. Klim easily deflected, leaving Alex's blow in the void. He immediately counterattacked with a quick and accurate punch to Alex's side. Alex groaned, but quickly regained his balance and took a step back, preparing to attack again.
This time Alex decided to change tactics. He started a circular movement, trying to outflank Klim. However, Klim, as if reading his thoughts, immediately moved, closing the direction of attack. Alex rushed forward again, delivering a series of quick blows, but each time Klim blocked them with precision, not giving a single chance for a successful hit.
The grass of the courtyard crunched softly under the fighters' feet. Alex, feeling the growing tension, decided to take a risk and made a leap to the side, trying to hit Klim from the turn. Klim, as if anticipating this move, dodged and tripped him. Alex almost lost his balance, but stayed on his feet and attacked again.
Their fight became more and more fierce. Klim, without losing his composure, threw powerful but controlled blows, while Alex tried to use his agility and speed. At some point, noticing a gap in Klim's defense, Alex struck a strong blow. But Klim, as if expecting it, blocked the blow and instantly counterattacked with a sharp blow to Alex's knee.
Alex collapsed to the ground, feeling a sharp pain. He tried to get up, but Klim was already there, holding him by the shoulder.
- You're too predictable, Alex," Klim said, helping him up. "Every movement should be meaningful."
Alex, breathing heavily, nodded. - I know, Klim. I'm trying.
Klim smiled and patted Alex on the back.
- You're good. But don't forget that every stroke must be precise and well thought out. Let's rest and then we'll continue.
Alex smiled tiredly, feeling his strength gradually recovering. This fight was just another step on the way to perfection, and he knew that he would fall many more times before he became a real master of hand-to-hand combat.
I went into the house to get a flask of water. When I found it, I drained it in no time. When I came out of the house, I was struck by a sight I had dreaded with all my soul. A crowd of soldiers on horseback were stationed in the central square. The soldiers were menacingly looking down on the residents from above, showing their authority. It was a nightmare for every villager that had become a reality. The Frousal soldiers returned. Leading the column of soldiers was the same leader I saw last time. His face was just as ugly and proud as before, except that a few new scars had been added. He was once again talking to Earl, the head of our village.
- I see you've survived. I thought you were all dead," said the leader of the soldiers on horseback.
- God is on our side, he saved us," Earl replied, trying to stay calm.
- He's obviously not on your side, now that we're back. We will leave no one alive this time," the leader said and signaled his warriors.
I didn't have time to think. He'd obviously signaled his soldiers to massacre the place. I walked up to Earl, pushed him away, and pointed my hand at the ringleader. Gathering as much mana as I could in my destructive technique, I concentrated all my hatred into a magical burst and aimed it directly at the scum. A blast of light flew at the man on the horse, and at the same moment, he was nothing but bloody scraps.
I didn't stop there and built up a charge for the next attack. This time I aimed at the soldiers. Attack after attack left the soldiers nothing but a pile of flesh, bones, and chains from their armor. Blood was everywhere.
When I came to my senses, there was nothing but a bloody mess around me. The armor, clothes, weapons, and other paraphernalia of the soldiers were scattered around, and some were stuck into the walls of houses. A horrible sight engulfed the villagers. I turned around and saw Klim's face full of horror. In the distance stood Falco with the same expression on his face. Only Earl had a face that did not reflect fright or horror, but full of pain and chagrin. I looked around at the villagers who had come out of their houses to see the soldiers. Their faces were the same: a mixture of animal fear, terror, and something else. A moment of silence and shock was interrupted by the screams of children. The little children were roaring with fright, and the adults with them.
I hurried into the house. On the way, I bumped shoulders with Earl and was able to get a little glimpse of his face. When I entered, I hurriedly began to change my clothes. Changed my clothes, tried to wipe the blood off my hands and face. I quickly gathered up my things: my backpack, a gift from one of the women I had helped repair the house, the old dagger Klim had given me, and my old cloak. Earl came into the house. He was silent at first, but then he spoke to me, forcefully.
- I know you're not a bad man. You saved us, but the villagers won't understand.
Earl walked over to me and hugged me tightly, as if for the last time.
- Good luck on your journey. Know that Eldor Village will always be your home," Earl said through the pain.
I headed for the door and took one last look at my house. I looked at Earl, who was smiling at me, though his face was clearly bitter. Before I left, I said:
- By the way, I'm the one who nurtured the fields in 12 villages.
- I know.
I opened the door and I was immediately bombarded with utterances of fear. I was called a beast, a monster, an inhuman, and chased away. Blurred faces, some familiar, some full of malice. A group of men grabbed shovels and hoes and tried to attack, but I ran away from the village. I ran without looking back, and soon found a path I hadn't traveled yet. I followed it until I was far enough away from the village.
I sat down beside the path, face down. It would have been the perfect moment to cry, but no tears came. My face expressed nothing but a vague bitterness. I wasn't even sure why they'd kicked me out, but I knew I'd scared them, and I couldn't go back there. I'd have to find a new home. It's the perfect time to move to the city. I've always wanted and prepared to go to the city. I had only seen meager villages before. I knew that a real life full of colors was waiting for me in the big city.
Walking slowly down the path, I pondered what had happened. I had turned an entire column of soldiers into meat, but how many were there? I think it was about 50, maybe 100. But what if they send new soldiers? What then? Do I stay and live in the woods? Sit around for years waiting for more soldiers? I didn't understand what I should do. It was a very vague and unpleasant feeling when you don't know what to do. How to act, how to feel.
My feet moved on their own, leading me down the path. My indifferent face was pointed at the ground, and bad thoughts rushed through like the flow of a river. This was the end of my village life.