As soon as their leader gave the command, they all scattered, trying to look for her. She focused on her task; before they found her, she would take out as many as she could.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled, hitting her target on their thigh. She was yet to make a killing shot.
"Up in the trees," someone shouted, "she's in one of them."
Even as they drew closer, Lyla did not stop shooting her arrows, even though some missed their target. She continued to pull on the string, and when the arrows were depleted, her magic came to play.
Remembering her practice, she used her Creation magic to fashion new arrows. It was easier, faster; her sleepless nights and relentless tries had made sure she could at least do this.
Without missing a beat, she worked between magic and physical skill, and if only their opponents took a second to wonder, they would have questioned why this archer wasn't running out of arrows.
The knowledge that Lyla was somewhere in the trees aiding them brought different emotions from her companions, Aeneas, for one was alarmed and angry, but he couldn't ignore the bit of pride that soared within him. Her strategic and quick thinking showcased her growth, which, paired with her remarkable aim, showed just how much she had worked to better herself.
Fear swarmed in him, though, especially when she heard the words of their attackers.
He had to find her before them, so he fought while searching for her. Because he was a Drakon, his sense of smell and sight were far better than those present. It took only a few seconds to spot her, but he kept his face neutral so he didn't give her away.
Rueben and Markus, on the other hand, were surprised by Lyla's action; they knew little about her, but gaining this new knowledge about her made them even more curious. All they knew was that she was to accompany them, for what reason they didn't know, that and the fact that they should make sure she was safe no matter the cost, an order not only from their leader Aeneas but their Legate himself.
It was a bit too late when Lyla finally noticed the man climbing up the tree she was in and by the time she did she only managed to move slightly lowering the damage his blade would have done to her leg, nonetheless she was cut, she couldn't stop the wail of pain that came from her.
The man took hold of that same leg and attempted to drag her down, but Lyla, trying to fight through the pain, held on to the branch. The trees' rough bark bruised her arms till they started to bleed.
She decided to let go, a move that caught the man off guard, making them both tumble to the ground. The man winced when his back hit the ground. He had taken most of the damage and broke her fall. Quickly, she grabbed her dagger and stabbed the man before he had the chance to get up.
Aeneas abandoned his fight the moment he heard the fall and saw her on top of someone, leaving his back exposed. His opponent's blade almost cut him, but by heaven's grace, it had missed. He rushed to Lyla's side, she sat a few inches from the man, staring at his limp body. Her eyes were blank as she looked to where her dagger had impaled itself in his chest. She then looked at her bloody hands.
He moved in front of her to block the view, and only then did she look at him. He offered his hand, and she unconsciously took it.
She had only taken a step when pain shot through her leg, and she winced
"Are you okay?"
"I…I'm fine," he moved his eyes to her leg
"You're hurt."
"I don't think it's that deep."
"Can you walk?" she nodded, "come." He moved her behind a tree, "Stay here, don't move."
Rejoining with his men, he nodded in their direction, and they knew what that meant; they were to unleash themselves with no mercy.
Code demanded that if faced with a similar situation, they were first supposed to try and avoid conflict, thus the handing over of their coin; if conflict came, they were to still give a chance for the opponents to back down. Still, if they insisted on battle, then they were to go all in. It was clear these people didn't care for the mercy handed to them, but what made matters worse was the fact that they had hurt Lyla. Her safety was more important than anything, and her life mattered more.
Lyla sat quietly behind the tree, her eyes lingering on her hands. The more she looked, the redder she thought her hands got. She had killed a man tonight, a man whose face she didn't know, a man who perhaps had a family, and no matter the lifestyle he chose, he was something to someone. It was self-defense, she knew this, he would have hurt her, and who knows what they would have done to her after
They did not deserve her guilt or pity; she had done what she had to.
Something brushed her arm, and she looked to find Lynx rubbing his fur on her. She did not know where he had gone, but seeing he was not hurt brought a bit of relief.
"And where did you go?" he meowed, a tiny meow that sounded apologetic. "Well, I'm just glad you're safe."
Lynx sniffed at her hand, then looked to her, "Not mine," was all she could say
He then moved to her leg where she had been hurt and meowed, "I'll be okay."
The cat kept her company while she listened to the sounds of steel on steel behind her. She had her fair share of battles today, and she would entrust the rest to her companions.
Minutes trickled by, and the sounds died down until there was nothing anymore. Aeneas came back and led her to the carriage as they remained outside to make sure there were no more threats. When he returned, he told her he had sent Markus to alert the closest Protectors outpost and find a healer.
She didn't know how long had passed, but Markus was back, and a healer entered the carriage to check on her wounds. She let the woman do her job, hissing when the tonics entered her wounds. The woman also took the liberty of cleaning her hands and face, to make sure there were no hidden cuts, she stated, but she knew it was also to spare her from the blood.
"How are you feeling?" Aeneas asked once he entered the carriage
"Fine"
"Do you want to go back? I'm sure they won't mind."
"No, you have a mission to fulfill. Let's continue. I'll be okay."
Aeneas slowly nodded, "Okay."
Somehow, along the way, she had dozed off and only awoke when she felt the halt of the carriage. She looked around, slightly alarmed, and only when she was sure nothing was happening did she settle.
"We're here," her friend announced, "we'll first go to the inn to bathe and have something to eat."
She simply nodded
Later, as she sat in the tub, Lyla scrubbed at her hands, trying to get rid of the feeling of blood on them. She scrubbed and scrubbed until her palms were sensitive with pain.
This was it, this was what her life would be: blood and death. They had told her they could be a way through peace, but she doubted it; she knew deep in her that war was imminent, whether they liked it or not, and she stood in the middle of it all.
Her chest felt heavy as the pressure of responsibility settled on her once again. Minutes passed as she curled up in the tub.
Today, something changed, not only in her but even the very atmosphere seemed to have shifted. This was just the beginning.