Ficool

Chapter 23 - 22

The horses galloped into the unknown. Felmer was ahead of everyone, and the rest followed. He slowed down a bit, and the five were now together, moving towards the eastern hills. As the horses ran, they entered a forest. Elna opened the local map and took the lead of the group.

"Don't be hasty, boy…" She said while looking at the map.

"I am trying to enjoy the new air…"

"There is nothing new in the air…" Elna smirked.

The party rode through the forest. As they moved, Captain Irnik felt someone following them. He stopped and looked at the road and the forest. The rest stopped as well.

"Something's wrong?" Elna asked.

"No," He replied, looking at a bush.

They continued their journey. The captain slowly turned, but his intuition was telling him that they were being followed.

Before midday, the party reached the hills. The hills weren't high. They ranged from small to medium. There was almost no greenery on them. Dry hills.

"I don't think we may find something here…" Felmer said, looking around.

"We came all the way here. So we should look around." Elna replied.

They got off their horses and tied them to a nearby tree. Then they grabbed their weapons and climbed the nearest hill. On top, the air felt different, fresh, and cold. The distant plains of Qaeristisk were visible on their right. Amidst the clouds and fog, the Alcoz mountain range was visible on the left.

Elna stood still and looked around. The hills were diverse in size and shape. None felt like something they were looking for. Beyond these hills and the forest, a mountain was visible in the east. It was faraway.

"Well…Let's divide and search around…" Elna ordered and moved towards a nearby hill.

They began to look around and check every hill. They searched the hills, circled them, and looked for a cave or any opening. But there was nothing. The shadows were changing as the sun rose and was now directly above them.

It was noon. They had been searching for quite a time, but it was all in vain. They gathered near their horses and sat on the grass to eat. Elna took out the food and distributed it among everyone. 

"There won't be anything here…We have been searching for a while." Melfer said as he took a bite from his apple.

"Yeah…It seems so…" Elna replied. "There is a mountain visible ahead. I think we should move towards it."

"We need to be fast…The days are fast in these regions. And moving in the dark isn't feasible." The Captain advised, and then he suddenly got up.

"What??" Felmer asked.

The captain didn't answer. He walked down the return path and stopped near a tree. He was sure this time that something was watching them.

'It's impossible that there is nothing here.' The captain thought.

He sighed, and then he returned. He didn't see anything.

"Nothing…" He looked at Felmer.

Felmer knew what he was looking for. The face of the man he saw this morning was stuck in his mind.

The party ate their lunch and then got on their horses. They decided to go to the distant mountain visible from here. They entered the forest and headed towards the mountain. The captain remained at the end and kept a check on the rear. He has always been alert. But this time he was more attentive. The reason he was quiet most of the time.

The party moved slowly. They didn't want to tire their horses. They slowly moved and looked at the environment around them. The fauna and flora were diverse here. With every passing moment, they saw a new plant or a new insect. Elna and the captain had seen plenty. But it was new for the three young boys.

"Wow…The plants are beautiful," Flexin commented.

"Yes…" Melfer was in awe as well.

Elna got near Felmer.

"You not enjoying?"

"I am…Do I have to do the 'WOW!!" as well?" Felmer looked at Elna.

Elna smirked and then got ahead. Felmer's smile faded.

'I have grown for these things,' Felmer thought.

The party had been riding for quite a while, and the sun had begun to set. But they nowhere looked near the mountain.

'Is it that far?' Felmer thought.

As the party moved, both the captain and Elna suddenly stopped. The rest came to a halt as well.

"We have been through here…" The captain said under his breath, looking at a marked tree.

He had marked a tree when he discovered the loop they were stuck in. Now, he was sure.

Without any notice, they continued their journey again. Soon, the night came, and the forest around them was filled with darkness.

The party found a big area in the forest, near the road and decided to rest there. They didn't talk. Felmer and Melfer had understood. Only Flexin was confused. He tried to ask, but Felmer signalled him to keep quiet. The night passed, and it was midnight. They had eaten their dinner and were still awake. The prey was waiting for the hunter to arrive.

As they sat around the fire, they heard a rustling in the bushes behind them. They got up swiftly and saw the hunter. The same man Felmer had seen that morning was standing in front of them.

"Oh…Did I disturb you?" The man said.

"Who are you?" The captain said with a commanding voice, his hand on his sword.

"A seeker of two costly heads," The man said and looked at Felmer and Flexin.

Felmer gazed back at the man. He didn't flinch. As they looked at the man, they felt a movement on their left. Flexin had been caught by one of their men. The man pointed the sharp blade at his neck and looked at them.

"The first head is caught…Will the second wait or come himself?" Their leader smirked at Felmer. Felmer still wasn't moved.

Flexin moved here and there. He was caught by surprise. He was slightly shaking.

As the rest of the group got close to each other. There was another voice, and the enemy increased to six from two. They were surrounded.

Felmer looked at Flexin. He could see the tension on his brother's face.

'Calm down…They are all weak," Felmer told himself.

Felmer was never open. He always hid his feelings. He thought that it was a weakness to openly express one's emotions. He was in tension, but he made sure no one spotted that. He had changed a lot as he grew.

Flexin looked at his legs and thought of something. He looked at Felmer and pointed at his legs with his eyes. He constantly moved his eyes down, trying to signal. Felmer looked for a while and understood.

Elna tried to grab his bow, but an enemy archer shot near her hand.

"I wouldn't do that, lady…" The leader spoke.

Flexin tried to free and moved right. The man, grabbing him, jerked him and tightened his grip. Flexin inhaled and then moved his left leg backwards, hitting the man's groin. Flexin moved forward and punched the man in the face. At the same moment, the captain drew his sword and shoved it into the ground. The sword was glowing. He had been manifesting magic. Suddenly, a magic orb emerged and spread in all directions. The orb pushed all the enemy personnel backwards with immense force.

Then they ran to their horses. They untied them and rode them. And then they rushed towards the mountain. Elna took out an arrow, manifested it with magic, and fired it towards the sky. The arrow hit an invisible barrier, and the barrier broke. They were out of the loop.

The barrier stuck them in time as well. They thought that it was night, but actually, dawn was approaching them. As the horses rushed forward, two horsemen emerged behind them.

Felmer looked behind at the enemy, and then he looked ahead. As he did, the sun emerged and blinded him.

"Felmer, watch out!" Melfer shouted.

Felmer was blinded, and when he saw, there was a branch ahead of him. He had no time to react. His head hit the branch, and he fell sideways. He fell, and his head hit the ground. When he opened his eyes, he wasn't on the ground. His right leg and arm were stuck. His other half was getting dragged alongside the horse. The horse was running at immense speed.

"Damnit!" Felmer shouted. His head was constantly hitting the ground.

"Felmer!" Melfer shouted again and got near his horse.

Felmer grabbed the reins with his stuck arms and pulled himself a bit upward. With his left arm, he drew out his sword. Then a dagger came at him, and he dodged it.

"Melfer, do something…They really want my head." Felmer shouted.

"I can't…they are attacking,"

Then the enemy began to target Felmer's free leg. Felmer was trying his best to dodge.

"My leg now? Wasn't the bounty on my head?" Felmer shouted.

The whole party was out of ideas. Then Elna's mind struck with one. She grabbed her arrow and got on the horse. Slowly balancing herself, she stood on the horse, facing backwards. She placed her foot on the horse's head.

"Sorry…" She said to the horse.

She stood straight, drew an arrow and fired at one of the horsemen. He dodged it. Then she aimed at the other; he dodged as well.

"Cheeky bastards…"

Then she gathered some magic, aimed at their middle, and then fired. The arrow hit the ground and created an explosion. The shockwave blew away the horsemen, lost their balance and fell.

Then Melfer grabbed Felmer's horse's ropes with his left hand and extended his right arm at him.

"Grab it!"

Felmer placed his sword inside the sheath and grabbed his arm. He pulled, and then he was on the horse again. He grabbed the reins and controlled the horse.

Felmer nodded at Melfer. Again, hiding his emotions of happiness.

Then the party rushed towards the mountain. They were away from the bounty hunters for a while.

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