PROBLEMS
1937 Words
Knight Nicholas, captain of the wall guard. An extravagant man, to put it mildly...
- Do you have something to discuss with me? - Andrey asks nervously.
- No. Although you are pushing your luck, staying out of town for long hours. Wolves, monsters and criminals love to pick up lonely young people. And you, well, who would pay for your ransom? A dog perhaps?
Some of the knights listening to the captain start laughing.
- Thanks for the warning... - Andrey replies nervously. - I'll be more careful.
- Hm... Good. Now get out of here, you're distracting my men, we're not babysitters like your "mistress".
- Tsk...
Andrey keeps walking and crosses the gate in the wall and continues on his way until he reaches the center of the city.
A building with no sign or identification. As he enters, Andrey comes across a woman sweeping the floor with a well-worn broom. Her crumpled clothes, dirty and stained hands and tired look only demonstrate the long work Lilian has done during her day.
- Lilian, I'm home.
- Ah, Andrey. Welcome. - She replies with a sweet smile. - You weren't hurt, were you?
- No, Lucius and I chased a deer, but we couldn't find it.
- Oh, that's all right. I'm sure you'll manage next time.
Andrey lowers his head, frustrated and saddened, because Lilian always says the same things to him.
For Lucius, hunting is always fun and just a hobby.
For Andrey, it's the way he can help Lilian put food on the table.
- I promise, next time I'll do it! - Andrey says, determined.
- Andrey... You don't have to put so much pressure on yourself. - Lilian says, putting the broom against the wall. - Come here.
Andrey reluctantly approaches Lilian and she hugs him, resting the young man's head on her chest.
- Lilian? - Andrey asks, confused.
- It's all right. You're brave, courageous and an incredible boy...
- I... - Andrey whispers as his eyes fill with tears.
- I feel honored to have raised you... My little Andrey. One day you'll be a great knight, I'm sure of it.
Andrey and Lilian remain there, in the corridor, for long minutes...
A few hours later, when the day was already dark, Lilian and Andrey were eating soup while listening to a racket coming from the end of the street. It was the "Cabeça de Bagre" bar, the busiest place in town.
- They're very lively today. - Lilian says, smiling.
- How was your day? - Andrey asks, finishing his meal and remaining seated at the table.
- My day? Well, I worked hard. I managed to help out in five houses this time... - Lilian replies, smiling.
- Do you want to rest? Let me do the washing up!
- Oh, thank you very much Andrey... - Lilian says with a cheerful smile. - Aaaah... I really need to rest. Tomorrow will be a new day!
- Yes! Tomorrow I'll bring a deer for us to eat!
- I'm counting on it! So be strong!
- I will!
After long minutes, Lilian fell asleep in her room while Andrey washed the cutlery and pots they had used to eat.
- Hm... Appeared again? - Andrey says, looking at his right hand.
On the back of Andrey's hand is an all-purple symbol of a sphere with an eye in the center, an eye that resembles the eyes of a lizard. Surrounding the sphere are fire-like roots that wrap around it.
- It's been three days since it appeared... Why? I need to find out. To do that, could Lilian teach me to read? Then I can go to the library and learn about magical symbols. But I don't want to stress her out more than work. So I'll have to learn on my own... Wait! Lucius! He can help me. I'll ask him tomorrow! From tomorrow! My life will change!
*BOOOOOOOM*
The whole house shakes with a tremor. The sound of an explosion echoes throughout the Kingdom! This means only one thing: The City is under attack!
Andrey takes his bow and arrows and opens the door of the house and is surprised to see dozens of people running through the streets.
- MEN!!! TO THE NORTH GATE!!! - A knight shouted, while several others followed him.
- An attack? A monster? - Andrey said nervously.
- ANDREY!!! - Lilian shouted, coming out of the house and grabbing the boy's shoulder. - Come on! Let's go!!
Lilian holds Andrey by the wrist and she runs in the opposite direction of the Knights.
- Lilian! Where are we going?! - Andrey shouts nervously.
- To safety! Someone is attacking the city! - Lilian shouts, in a cold sweat and nervous.
- AAAAAAHHHH!!!! - Several riders shout down the street.
Andrey looks back and is startled...
A humanoid being dressed in a white overcoat. Underneath the overcoat is an unusual suit of armor that no one has ever seen before. His helmet completely hides his face and not even his eyes can be seen.
However, he seems to look in Andrey's direction and Andrey's body instinctively shivers from head to toe. This strange being points his left hand at both of them and Andrey is startled.
- LILIAN!!! GET DOWN!!! - Andrey shouts, jumping on Lilian and falling on top of her.
A group of Knights pass by with their swords at the ready and Andrey looks back again.
A purple flame hits the group of Knights, tearing them apart almost instantly.
- What... Hell... Is that thing? - Andrey says, his eyes wide and trembling with fear. - The knights' armor is equipped with magical defense runes, but he tore them all apart with a single spell? And he doesn't seem to have recited any incantations...
- Andrey! Come on! Let's go! - Lilian says, holding the boy as he gets up from the ground. - We have to-
The pair get up from the ground and...
They are both paralyzed when they see the figure in front of them. That being, who was at the end of the street, was already in front of them in the blink of an eye.
- Please... Please... - Lilian says, trembling. - Spare him... He's just a child.
- If I kill you...
- Did that thing speak? - Andrey thinks nervously.
This being's voice echoes like a roaring dragon, but at the same time it is extremely calm. It's confusing to know whether it's angry or calm.
- He'll come after me. Death begets more death. Hm... But you, human woman, seem to be a good person, unlike the owner of these lands.
- Owner? You mean the King? - Andrey asks in a cold sweat.
- Hm... Kid, you...
- MAXIMUS!!!!!
A fully-equipped knight with a large sword screamed running towards the three of them and Lilian quickly picked Andrey up and carried him down the street.
- YOU BASTARD!!! - The knight continues shouting.
- Sir Henrich?! - Andrey thinks surprised to see the man. - Lilian, we have to help him! - He shouts, letting go of Lilian.
- ANDREY! WAIT! - Lilian screams, desperate.
- HOW DARE YOU ATTACK A COMMERCIAL CITY!!!? A CITY PROTECTED BY THE LAW OF WAR!!!
- Fool. - The being says, waving his arm.
Suddenly, several spikes of purple Mana emerge from his left arm and rush towards Sir Henrich.
- Aura technique... - Henrich says, taking a deep breath and his body is enveloped in red energy. - Wall!
Henrich begins to throw several blows in the air, easily destroying the thorns while dodging the others.
- Aura Technique: Heavy Blow!
Henrich strikes a horizontal blow and the being dodges, tilting its body backwards and Henrich's blade passes close to its neck.
- Not bad. - The being says, impressed. - For a human.
Henrich is surprised by a kick to the chin, which the being throws backwards.
Henrich staggers backwards with the impact and is bewildered by the kick.
- What's your name? - The being asks, dusting his shoulder.
- My name is Sir Henrich Von Vieira!
- The first name alone is enough. - The being replies firmly. - Sir Henrich. I'll remember your name! Be honored to die at my hands! The First General of the Gaius Empire, Maximus, the Herald of Destruction!
- Come! Maximus! This month the Empire will fall for committing a war crime! The other kingdoms won't let it go!
- What do you care? You'll be dead anyway. Aura Technique! - Maximus shouts, enveloping his body in the same red energy as Henrich. - Divine Body!
- COME!!! AURA TECHNIQUE!!! DANCING BLADES!
Maximus lunges at Henrich.
- SIR HENRICH!!! - Andrey shouts nervously.
- FATHER!!! - Lucius shouts, emerging from the other side.
Maximus throws a powerful punch at Sir Henrich and the man defends with his sword, but the impact is so powerful that he is thrown backwards.
- Urgh! - Henrich mutters, spitting blood as his body hits a brick wall.
- Father! - Lucius shouts, worried. - YOU BASTARD!!! - He shouts, charging at Maximus.
- Like father, like son. - Maximus says, moving his right arm.
A great invisible force throws Lucius against a wall and he falls to the ground unconscious.
- Lucius! - Andrey shouts, worried. - This guy, can he use Magic and Aura? So that's the level of one of Emperor Gaius' four generals...
- Andrey! - Lilian shouts, approaching the boy. - Oh my God! - She screams, seeing Henrich and Lucius wounded.
- LILIAN! - Sir Henrich shouts, getting up. - Take Lucius and run away with Andrey!
- Sir Henrich... - Lilian mutters, nervously.
- NOW! IT'S AN ORDER!
- Right! I'll do it! - Lilian shouts, running up to Lucius. - Andrey! Help me!
- What incredible strength... - Andrey thinks, while lost in thought.
- ANDREY!!!
- Huh? - Andrey mutters, looking at Lilian.
- HELP ME! FAST!
- Right! I'm sorry!
Lilian puts Lucius on Andrey's shoulder and the boy manages to get up with his friend and they start running away.
Maximus turns his face to look at the Trio, but is surprised by Sir Henrich's sword close to his face.
- I'M YOUR OPPONENT, YOU BASTARD! - Sir Henrich shouts, as he increases his Aura.
- Opponent? - Maximus says, holding the sword with the index finger of his right hand. - You're not worthy to call yourself that.
At that moment, Lucius opens his eyes and raises his head.
- Father...? - He mumbles, without strength.
Maximus breaks Sir Henrich's sword with his fingers and pierces the man's body exactly in the stomach with his left arm.
- No... - Lucius says, falling unconscious again. - Father...
After continuing to run, Andrey falls to the ground with his friend falling on top of him and Lilian goes to help them.
- Get up! We need to run! - Lilian exclaims nervously. - Andrey!
*CRACK*
The sound of snapping twigs catches Lilian's attention and she stands in front of Andrey and Lucius with her arms outstretched in a cold sweat.
- Who's there?! - Lilian asks nervously.
Just then, a lamp flares up in the darkness of the forest and a man with a severed left arm appears with a terrified look on his face.
- It can't be... - Lilian says, shocked.
- Miss Lilian... - The elderly man says in a tired tone.
- Duke Dmitri? - Lilian shouts nervously.
- Writer
