RAIN

CHAPTER FOUR:🌔

I jolted awake, droplets of warm liquid splashing onto my face like a vile baptism. My eyes snapped open, and I recoiled, gagging on the acidic stench that filled my nostrils. A tiny, cherubic face grinned at me, legs spread wide as the child continued to urinate on me with an unblinking gaze.

"Ahhhh, gross!" I screamed, scrambling to wipe the foul liquid from my face. My hands instinctively went to my cheeks, as if trying to scrub away the humiliation. The child's giggles echoed through the room, a high-pitched, maniacal sound that sent shivers down my spine.

The clinking of coins followed, a sound that seemed to ignite a spark within me. My instincts kicked in, and I lunged for my sword, its familiar weight a comfort in my hand. The leather-wrapped hilt felt solid, reassuring, as I grasped it tightly.

"Not so fast," a gruff voice warned, the cold edge of a blade pressing against my neck. I froze, my gaze darting to the innkeeper, his eyes glinting with malice like a snake's. Five others flanked him, their faces twisted into cruel smiles that seemed to revel in my misfortune.

"Hand over your valuables, and we might let you live," one of the women sneered, her eyes raking over me like a vulture searching for carrion. Her voice dripped with venom, each word a calculated insult.

I laughed, the sound echoing through the room like a challenge. "You think the six of you can take me down?" I taunted, my voice dripping with amusement. I leaned into the blade, my neck pressing against the cold steel. "I'd love to see you try."

The innkeeper's face darkened, his blade pressing harder against my neck. A trickle of blood slid down my skin, warm and sticky. "We'll see about that," he snarled, his breath hot against my ear.

I smiled, a plan already forming in my mind. This was going to be fun.

With a swift, economical motion, I knocked the blade away from my neck and sent it clattering to the floor. The innkeeper's eyes widened in surprise, but I didn't give him time to react. I sprang into action, my sword flashing in the dim light of the room like a streak of molten silver.

I weaved between the attackers, using their momentary confusion to my advantage. My blade sliced through the air, striking true time and again with a rhythmic whoosh. The sound echoed through the room, a deadly melody that seemed to mesmerize my foes.

The first to fall was the woman who had sneered at me, her eyes widening in shock as my sword bit deep into her shoulder. She crumpled to the floor, her cry of pain mingling with the sound of clashing steel.

The others closed in, but I was a whirlwind of steel and fury. I disarmed the innkeeper with a swift kick, sending his blade flying across the room to land with a clang on the stone floor. One of the men lunged at me with a dagger, but I caught his wrist and twisted, using his momentum against him. He crashed to the floor, his dagger slipping from his grasp as he howled in pain.

The remaining three attackers faltered, their confidence shaken by my swift and deadly efficiency. I took advantage of their hesitation, striking down two of them with swift, precise blows. The sound of steel meeting flesh was sickening, but I didn't flinch.

The last attacker, a burly man with a cruel grin, charged at me with a meaty fist. I sidestepped his clumsy blow and struck him down with a single, elegant stroke. The blade sliced through his defenses, biting deep into his chest. He fell to the floor, his eyes wide with shock and pain.

As the last attacker fell, I stood tall, my chest heaving with exertion. The room was silent, except for the sound of heavy breathing and the faint rustle of clothing. I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction and pride. Six attackers, defeated with ease. It was almost...fun.

As I stood tall, surveying the c*****e, a sudden sound pierced the silence. The little child, who had been watching the battle with wide eyes, began to laugh and clap. The sound was infectious, and I found myself smiling at the child's antics.

The child's laughter grew louder, and they began to clap their hands together, their eyes shining with excitement. "Bravo!" they squealed, their tiny voice filled with delight. "Bravo, warrior!"

I chuckled, feeling a sense of amusement at the child's reaction. I walked over to the child, who was still clapping and laughing, and gently ruffled their hair. "Glad you enjoyed the show, little one," I said, smiling.

The child's laughter began to subside, and they looked up at me with wide, admiring eyes. "You're the best warrior ever!" they exclaimed, their tiny chest heaving with excitement.

I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction.

The innkeeper's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back, his face pale. "Where did a little girl learn to fight with a sword?" he asked, his voice trembling.

I smiled, and the innkeeper's eyes locked onto mine. "I'll teach you," I said, my voice dripping with temptation.

The others leaned in, their eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yes, teach us!" they chimed in unison.

I raised a hand, and they fell silent. "But first, you have to meet my conditions," I said, my voice dripping with malice.

"What conditions?" the innkeeper asked, his voice laced with trepidation.

I leaned in, my eyes glinting with intensity. "You have to sell your soul to me," I whispered. "Serve me, and sacrifice the person you love the most...by killing them yourselves."

The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the innkeeper and his cohorts. They exchanged nervous glances, and I could see the fear creeping into their eyes.

They all stood to their feet, their eyes fixed on me with a mix of excitement and trepidation. As they did, the innkeeper's eyes widened with shock, and he took a step back, his face pale. "Where did a little girl learn to fight with a sword?" he asked, his voice trembling.

I smiled, and the innkeeper's eyes locked onto mine. "I'll teach you," I said, my voice dripping with temptation. The others leaned in, their eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yes, teach us!" they chimed in unison.

I raised a hand, and they fell silent. "But first, you have to meet my conditions," I said, my voice dripping with malice. The air in the room seemed to thicken, heavy with anticipation.

"What conditions?" the innkeeper asked, his voice laced with trepidation. His eyes darted nervously around the room, as if searching for an escape.

I leaned in, my eyes glinting with intensity. "You have to sell your soul to me," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Serve me, and obey my every command."

The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the innkeeper and his cohorts. They exchanged nervous glances, and I could see the fear creeping into their eyes.

"I was just kidding," I said, and they all let out a collective sigh of relief. The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"What kind of joke is that?" the other lady asked, raising an eyebrow. "You must be more deadly than I expected."

They all started laughing at me, teasing me about my joke. "You're a terrible joker!" they chimed in unison. Their laughter was infectious, but I didn't join in. Instead, I stood calmly.

"Okay, okay, enough," I said, holding up my hands. "The usual me would have killed you all for trying to steal from me and laughing at me, but I've changed." My words hung in the air, and they all looked at me with a mixture of surprise and intrigue.

They all murmured in surprise, their eyes locked onto mine. "Hmmm, interesting," one of them said, her voice laced with curiosity.

I smiled, serious once again. "I'll teach you my skills, but on one condition only." My words were met with a chorus of eager nods and curious glances.

They all leaned in, their faces inches from mine. "What's the condition?" they asked in unison, their voices barely above a whisper.

I paused for dramatic effect, savoring the moment. "You'll help me find the Milar witch," I said finally, my voice low and mysterious. The room fell silent, and they all looked at each other nervously.