The Cursed Knight (Blue Triangle Series #1)

Chapter 17: The Half-Blooded Demon

It was early in the morning and the air in the white forest was still cold as ever. Thin fog lingers the area around the hideout of the Forgotten Winter guild.

Amidst the coldness, Arth was already outside sparring with Robert on their swords. Training before sunrise was the perfect time before they could work on their chores for the day.

“More strength, Arth!” Robert told him as their swords clanged several times.

Arth was already catching his breath as the white mist was coming out from his mouth. He held his sword tighter and charged again aiming a full swing of his sword. His wounded arm was still hurt but this was no time to rest. He needs to train hard knowing that their enemy could show up at any moment.

Robert blocked and stood his feet hard on the ground to support the weight Arth was exerting. “Give me more,” he said as he pushed Arth away.

Arth was forced to jump backward and then he made a stance. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Robert who was preparing for Arth’s next attack. He stomped his foot and dashed towards Robert.

He plunged his sword aiming at Robert's chest but it was immediately swiped away with Robert’s reflex using his sword. Arth almost lost balance as his sword was blown away and didn’t notice Robert’s elbow striking his face.

Arth groaned in pain as he fell to the ground and massaged his jaws.

“Don’t just mindlessly put all your attention to your one hard attack, Arth,” Robert told him as he pointed his sword to Arth’s face. “You must be open and aware first of what your opponent could counter. If not, you might just end up worse than what you’ve got now.”

Arth sighed and stood up while still holding his jaws. “I still have a lot to learn,” he said as he looked down to the snowy ground.

“Don’t be disappointed, I can tell you improved a lot ever since you joined the guild. Our last fight yesterday really pumped you up now!” Robert tapped his shoulder.

Arth just shrugged and picked up his sword. He knew that Robert just said that to cheer him up, but even if it was true that he improved, he has still a long way to go.

They noticed that the sun was already rising so they need to prepare breakfast now for the team.

***

“Damn it. I can’t believe that was already my last time to enjoy walking around the capital on daylight!” Robert sighed while he was cooking. “Now we’re all wanted in the whole region of Northrend.”

“At least we came back in one piece,” Arth replied as he was chopping the vegetables on the kitchen counter.

“Yeah, we’re close to our goal anyway. We just need to kill the last councilor before we take our step in taking down the king,” Robert said.

“Do we really have to kill all the councilors? I mean are all of them really that bad?” Arth furrowed his brows.

“The good councilors before were now replaced by the corrupt ones. King Terrowin was the one who appointed them. That’s when evil and corruption began in the kingdom,”

“So if we eliminate the fourth councilor, we can now kill the king?” Arth asked.

Robert raised both of his shoulders. “That’s what I’ve been asking the boss. But he always says that we’re not yet entering the real battle unprepared. So I guess there’s still something he’s planning for us to do before we take down the king.”

Unprepared? Does he mean power and strength? Arth thought.

He slowly leaned towards Robert and whispered, “Do you think he’s referring to the legendary cursed blade he’s been searching for long?”

Robert turned to him with furrowed brows. Then he looked up to the ceiling to think first before answering.

“Could be,” he shrugged.

“What are you two whispering there?”

They suddenly turned towards the doorway where they saw Alice crossing her arms while looking at them. She was wearing her white blouse and her short hair was in a ponytail.

“Nothing, just about girls. Right, Arth?” Robert replied as he elbowed Arth beside him.

Arth suddenly looked at him and then shook his head. He bit his lower lip to stop himself from smiling as he returned to chopping the vegetables.

“Perverts,” Alice whispered as she went towards the sink and washed her hands. “The team is already on the table so hurry up.”

Arth and Robert nodded and worked faster. When they were done, they served their rice with roasted meat on top for their breakfast.

“Thanks for helping me cook, Arth!” Robert said with a smile.

“Sure. I don’t have any assigned chores yet anyway,” Arth replied as he sat on the chair beside Luna and Robert.

Arth noticed that Janshai wasn’t on the table with them now. He’s probably still on the scout at the west side of the forest. Arth thought that it’s a really tough job.

“How are you?” Lucas suddenly said to his team.

“A good night's sleep was all I needed to recover, boss,” Alice said.

“Me too,” Luna added in a low voice.

“Good,” Lucas nodded. “Cause I will need you to be ready at any time now.”

“Why, boss?” Robert said curiously.

“They’re already on their search. Janshai reported earlier about another beast attempting to track us here in the forest,” Lucas replied. “He killed it but he knew they’re already coming.”

“That summoner lady, huh?” Robert scoffed.

“We have to prepare for what could happen,” Lucas said. “I know you’re still recovering from your fight. But we are now close to achieving our goals. We have to keep moving forward.”

They all nodded in response. “What our next move now, boss?” Alice asked.

“As much as I want for us to go to Winterrun, I know that we’d still be tracked by that summoner,” Lucas said. “We need to take her down. She will be our next target before we assassinate the last high councilor.”

“I guess killing that lady won’t be much of a problem, right?” Arth suddenly spoke up.

“Arth, I told you. You gotta open your mind at all times. We don’t know what she could be capable of that it might take our whole team to fight her,” Robert said. “When you don’t know much about the opponent you’re dealing with, expect for the worst.”

“Fine,” Arth shrugged and then drank on his glass of milk.

“Anyway, Arth I will assign you under Janshai for today,” Lucas said.

Arth suddenly choked on the milk he’s drinking after hearing what the boss just said.

“What? Me?” he pointed at his chest.

Lucas nodded. “He’s the only one left whom you haven’t worked with, right?”

“But-“

“Good luck,” Robert tapped Arth’s shoulder with a smile plastered on his face.

“Don’t worry, he won’t kill you if you just keep quiet and not piss him off,” Alice chuckled.

When they were done eating, Luna immediately went to her scouting task and replace Janshai. Arth stayed outside the hideout and waited for Janshai to come. He was shaking his hands and kept on looking around nervously.

This is a bad idea. Arth thought. The hell am I gonna do with that weirdo?

A few minutes later, he finally saw Janshai walking towards the hideout. He was still wearing his usual black coat from what he wore last night. Even though he’s been up all night, Arth could see that he was still actively moving.

“He really is not human,” Arth whispered in conclusion.

“Hey, I’m assigned to work with you today-“ Arth stopped speaking when Janshai just walked past him and never gave any expression. His red eyes haven’t even taken a glance at Arth.

Why the hell is he always like that? Arth thought as he scratched his head. He just looked at Janshai climbing up the wooden staircase and going inside the house.

Arth decided to follow him inside. He looked for him and found him in the kitchen, getting the huge raw bird meat that Robert saved for him.

Arth just leaned on the wall while Janshai was tearing the skin of the bird using his teeth like a beast devouring its prey. It was too gross for Arth so he just looked away. How can he eat that with still has blood in it? I swear to god!

When Janshai was done, he just put the bones on the kitchen counter. He washed his hands and his mouth before walking out of the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Arth said but the red-eyed man just ignored him.

Is he going to bed now? Arth thought as he followed Janshai.

He saw the young man going outside the door of the house. Arth furrowed his brows wondering where he’s heading to. When he stepped outside of the treehouse, he saw Janshai walking away towards the depth of the white forest.

“Hey, wait!” Arth yelled as he immediately went down to the snowy ground and followed him.

Janshai just kept on walking while his hands were on the side pockets of his black coat. Arth didn’t have a choice but to go with his mentor today. But the problem is that his mentor doesn’t even know if Arth existed at all.

“So are you just gonna ignore me the whole day?” Arth placed his hands on his hips while walking. “You’re supposed to teach or make orders to your subordinate here, hello?”

“Shut your damn mouth,” Janshai finally spoke but he didn’t turn around.

Arth just sighed and still followed him, not having any idea where they’re going. He just kept silent, knowing that he could piss Janshai off at any moment now. He didn’t want to die early.

A few minutes later of walking, Janshai suddenly stopped. He turned around to face Arth.

“Give me your sword,” he said.

Arth furrowed his brows in confusion while looking at Janshai’s red-blood eyes.

“What? Why?” he asked while holding the hilt of his sword.

“You’re my slave now,” Janshai pointed at Arth’s face. “You’ll follow everything I order you.”

Arth was about to talk back but he didn’t want this short-tempered guy to be mad. So he just sighed and nodded. He took his sword on its sheath and gave it to Janshai.

“Now...” Janshai continued as he took Arth’s sword. “Take down that beast.”

“What beast?” Arth looked around them.

Janshai turned his back to him. “That beast above you.”

Arth’s lips parted as he looked up.

He saw a white huge beast that looked like a white gorilla. It was standing on the high branches of the tall trees of the forest. Arth never noticed that there could also be beasts staying up above. The white gorilla’s eyes were now locked on to Arth on the ground.

Oh s**t. Arth immediately stepped back as the beast jumped from the branches. The wind blew hard and the ground shook as the beast landed.

“Oh and if you use magic, you might kiss this sword of yours goodbye before I destroy it,” Janshai said walking away already as he waved Arth’s sword in the air.

Seriously is he trying to kill me?! How am I supposed to beat this bulked up beast without using a sword or magic? Arth thought.

He almost flinched when the gorilla roared with its wide mouth and sharp fangs while punching its hard chest like a drum. Arth realized that the beast was taller than him by a meter. It’s muscular and strong arms made him gulp hard on his throat.

The beast began to charge towards him. Arth’s chest was pounding so hard but he stood on guard. He couldn’t run at this pace judging by the movement speed of the beast.

Arth took a deep breath while watching the beast rushing head-on to him. The white gorilla started trashing him using both of its strong fists. Arth was blocking every punch attack using his arms but it was too powerful that it was almost crushing his bones.

He jumped backward but the beast charged again. He dodged another of its powerful blow and leaped into the air. He struck the beast’s head using the spinning kick he learned from Chief Gregor.

Arth managed to land a direct hit to its face. The gorilla has a huge body so it’s not fast enough to dodge or block Arth’s attacks. The beast just shook its head after taking a hit from Arth’s kick.

“You might have a tough body,” Arth said as he landed on the snowy surface. “But your fragile head is what I’m aiming for.”

The beast roared, getting pissed off now. It was now enraged and its attacks became more vicious and deadly. It’s like one direct hit and Arth could be crushed in an instant.

He was struggling hard as he blocked every heavy punch the beast gives. His wounded arm was also getting hit now which made him grunt in pain.

“Enough!” he bent his knees and jumped as he gave a powerful uppercut against the chin of the gorilla.

The beast’s head was forced to face up. As Arth was up in the air, he clasped both of his hands and raised it above.

Arth yelled as he swung down his clasped hands against the beast’s top head.

A loud bone c***k was heard as Arth bashed its skull from the top. The beast lost consciousness and its huge body slammed to the ground. A few seconds later, its body slowly moved again but then Arth finished the beast with another bash from his clasped hands.

He breathed shortly as he stood up and shook his hands off to relieve the tension. His arms were already hurt after taking hits from that damn gorilla.

Suddenly, he noticed Janshai walking behind him so he turned around.

“I killed it bare-handedly without using any magic,” Arth said confidently while wiping his shoulder.

Janshai raised an eyebrow as he looked at the beast and then to him. “You failed.”

“Huh?” Arth’s face suddenly changed. His eyebrows stormed and his jaws dropped slightly. “What do you mean?! I killed the beast!”

“You failed the time limit. It took you longer than what I’ve expected,” Janshai shook his head in disappointment. “You’re still slow as a turtle, amateur,” he threw Arth’s sword back to him.

Arth caught it and held it tighter. Amateur? Right. He always thinks of me that way. Arth looked down and sighed heavily.

“You can’t even sense anything in your surroundings. Now I’m more certain that you’re never gonna last in this guild,” Janshai said bitterly.

Arth clenched his fists. “I know I’m still inexperienced compared to all of you in the guild. But still, I have to keep moving forward to protect the ones I care the most.”

Janshai raised a brow at him. At all of a sudden, he turned his head towards the huge tree trunk on their right.

“You there who just hide,” Janshai called out in a loud voice. “Come out or I won’t hesitate to attack in full force!”

Arth didn’t know what’s going on. Someone’s here? How come he just easily sensed someone hiding from that distance? He really has very keen senses.

They suddenly heard a lady’s chuckle behind the tree. “It seemed like I couldn’t hide myself from a half-blooded demon.”

Half-blooded what?! Arth saw a red-haired lady wearing a sky-blue cloak with a frozen shield badge on her right chest. He realized that she’s one of the members of the Frostguarde. She was holding a long brown staff as she stepped out from hiding.

“Any intruder who enters the forest needs to be eliminated,” Janshai said as he was looking sharply at her.

“Don’t worry. My companion already took care of the rest of your team,” the red lady smiled as she pointed her staff towards the two. “And you’re the next one to suffer the wrath of my  beloved children.”

The green gem on the point of her long brown staff glowed brightly. “Rubrum Portalis!”

At all of a sudden, a wide circular light glowed from the ground to where Arth and Janshai were standing on.

“What’s this?! A portal?!”

Arth screamed as the red circle slowly went up from the ground. Their body was being absorbed by the radiating light starting from their feet up to their head. The pressure Arth felt on his body was so intense like he was being dematerialized.

The bright red light forced Arth to close his eyes. The moment he opened them again, he saw himself standing on a deserted terrain.

“What the hell is this place?” he took a glance at his surroundings. He even tried to touch his body to make sure if it was real.

Everything around him was open plains and grounds. It was like a desert only that the ground and the sand or dust has more orange-red color. He’d never seen anything like this before. He didn’t even know if they’re in Earthos or if this is a different world. He looked up to the sky and saw thick dark clouds that almost seemed like a thunder storm.

“Damn it, we’re transported,” Arth heard Janshai’s voice behind him. He turned around and was relieved when he saw his companion here. He didn’t want to be alone.

“Where are we?” Arth asked him.

“It can’t be…” Janshai shook his head as he looked around them.

“We’re in the Outland.”