We made our way back to town in front of the church. The journey was silent; I was way too shy to say anything. Is this how virgins act? Is that how she knew?
Actually, I wanted us to take things further, and I tried, but she shut me down. I tried, right?
It was the end of the day, so before I forget, I need to complete my mission.
"Hey Maya…we need to go."
"I hate you people so much, ugh, just when I thought I could run away fine."
"You were gonna run away?"
"Of course, this place is not my home. Right now, I have no home. So why take their pity and be what they want me to be when I can be free?"
Now it makes sense. She's constantly escaping, even back home. She always insults us commoners, but all the fun in her life came from living like a commoner.
Maya…she knows what she wants for her life. She always has, unlike me.
It's pretty late i'm guessing, because the streets are almost empty. The bird is still there, though.
I grabbed her hand." Nero…"
"I will help you be free. Let me try to bring your dream to life."
She froze. Looking at me with pleading eyes as her mouth trembled.
Why? I don't love her. So why is the realization of her dream enough to bring me to this?
"Maya, I can—"
"Nero! Watch out!" Maya yelled as she pulled me away. In an instant, something flashed by my head. I couldn't see it, I only felt the strands of my hair falling from my head.
Quickly putting myself in front of Maya, I readied to draw my sword as I scanned the area. "What was that?"
"Nero, there…" Maya pointed at the fountain at the center of the square. A man, clad in full armour—a golden knight stood on top of the fountain, at its very tip. It held a bow towards us. Ready to fire.
Behind the fountain, another knight stepped out. This one drew its sword swiftly and got into an offensive stance. Looking me straight in the eyes.
My legs began to shake ever so slightly. This feeling, it's fear i am no match for these guys, but I can't run. Not now.
Maya desperately grabbed me, "Run! They're here for me nero. They probably overheard us, leave me and run. Please, if they think you're a threat, they will not hesitate!"
"Maya…"
"Nero! Please!"
"I refuse," since they can hear me and think I am a threat. They can come and take you away from me. In my eyes, they are the threat. "I will take you to where you belong maya"
Maya began to tear up.
The knight with a sword bent over lightly.
"It's coming."
It took one step. And another. Then, with its third step, it raced towards me and went for my head. It is fast, the fastest thing I have seen with my eyes. Too fast for my body to react, but I didn't need to.
I only needed to time my escape properly. Before his sword reached me, inches from my neck. I switched places with a barrel and escaped to the other side of the square.
Because Maya held on to me, she was teleported with me.
"Nero, your eyes. They're red," Maya muttered.
Quickly sensing an attack, I threw Maya into the alleyway in front of us and turned to deflect the arrows sent my way.
I cut down three, but the archer kept firing. Its speed is incredible.
I didn't think of how to counter the archer; I didn't know how to. I just thought of running, damnit.
In that moment, my body froze again. This pause led an arrow to pierce through my left leg, but I didn't even bother about that.
While I dealt with the arrows.
An overwhelming amount of blood lust snuck up on me. I can't escape.
Glancing to my right. I see it.
The other knight had snuck up on me.
I had no clue. How fast can this guy move?
I have no way of defending.
He swung with zero hesitation. An attack that would otherwise kill me in a single strike.
However, it was blocked—no, countered, by another attack with precise technique.
The two blades clashed, sending a cut slicing through the air. It cut two carriages in half as I remained unharmed in the middle.
A man stood in front of me. He had sharp, silver hair and wore a white-and-black coat. He turned to me, and that's when I realized where the overwhelming bloodlust was coming from.
It was him. Who is this guy…
"What just—"
"Nero, not completing your mission on time can happen," he said as he turned to face, staring down at me with his glowing white eyes. "However, trying to elope means death. We will be the ones hunting you down next time."
That's Siri. How does he know about that?
The two knights came up to Siri and bowed their heads. "Sword saint Siri, we apologize, we did not know he was with you," they both said in unison.
"He is new, it is only natural. No matter, take her, and we will be on our way."
Maya, at this point, was as pale as a ghost. Listened and followed the knights back.
She glanced back and waved at me with a smile.
I wonder if I will get to see her again. I want to
Placing his sword back into it's sheathe, Siri said, "Let's go," then began walking off.
I said nothing and followed behind him.