A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 13 (Part 2)

     Before the present moment, Sophia found herself with her family, walking down the sidewalk while carrying their luggage. As Sophia marched between her parents, she kicked random rocks and pebbles on the road. Suddenly, a loud sound caught everyone's attention.

     The sudden sound of a gunshot shattered the tranquillity of the street. Horses whinnied in fear and bolted, pulling their carriages along behind them. People of all ages scrambled for cover, including Sophia and her family. Then, an eerie silence settled over the area. Moments passed, and then another blaring bang echoed through the air.

     Sophia rose slowly to her feet. Her father, Evan, tried pulling her back to the ground. But, she urged on standing upright to scan the surroundings.

     A grand carriage screeched past Sophia and halted. The ornate door swung open, and a figure emerged from within. It was none other than the mayor, Frederick. When his gaze fell upon Sophia, their eyes locked on each other.

     The bright, clear sky suddenly bellowed. With a blinding flash of light and a crashing roar, lightning struck the earth, hitting the woods. The impact reverberated through the ground, causing the ground to quake.

     Sophia's eyes fixed on the dark, gloomy woods where the lightning had struck. She quickly turned her gaze back to the mayor. Then, their eyes widened, and their jaws dropped onto the ground.

     The sound of clacking boots filled the air, shattering the stillness of the surroundings. Guards and curious onlookers rushed through the woods where the lightning had mysteriously struck. They softened their pace, trying not to draw attention to themselves.

      Sophia hurriedly trailed behind the guards. Every time her steps landed on the soil, she crouched behind a nearby tree and peeked on the other side. Then, she resumed pacing forward until she saw the guards ceasing.

      Sophia swiftly ducked behind a bush. While crouching, she peered over the distance. Sophia then saw a man with grey hair with her friend, Gregory, lying on the ground. As her eyes trailed to the corner, she saw another group of men standing nearby, and one was holding a gun.

     Upon noticing the danger, Sophia's eyes fell upon a group of armed guards. Some carried rifles and pistols, while others wielded crossbows with deadly projectiles. With a calm yet swift hand, Sophia opted for a silent bow and swiftly snatched one from a guard. Then, she pulled the trigger.

     Sophia finishes her narration as she opens her eyes. She then takes a deep breath and sighs through her mouth loudly. Sophia looks at Oliver and Gregory, then smiles at them.

"...Wow... I must express my deepest gratitude to you for saving our lives, Sophia," Oliver said, placing a hand on his heart.

"Indeed, we are most grateful to you," Gregory added and smiled.

"You're welcome," Sophia nodded.

     Unexpectedly, Frederick emerges from the bushes. Sophia and Gregory quickly lower their heads, bowing at him. Meanwhile, Oliver stands steady, smiling at Frederick before stepping forward and lightly nodding.

Frederick approached the group and spoke in a curious tone. "I may be late to the scene, but I heard you two saved this young man," Frederick glanced at Oliver and Sophia. "I want to commend you for your courage and boldness. You will be honoured," he told Sophia. Frederick then turned to Oliver and said, "And, as for you, I shall order the military to promote you at once. May I have your name, good gentleman?"

Oliver giggled as he glanced at his friends before revealing himself. "Oliver... Oliver Podeshire."

"O-Oliver?" Frederick gawked at Oliver. "I thought you were nineteen!"

"I am," Oliver replied with a chuckle.

"How did your hair turn grey?" Frederick asked as he stared at Oliver's silver hair. "Aren't you ginger?"

"Honestly, I don't even know. All I know is I transformed. And it changed my hair and eye colour. Oh, and my outfit, too," Oliver shrugged.

"How did you transform?" Gregory inquired.

"Using my power," Oliver responded with a grin.

"With your sole power?" Sophia gasped.

"I guess."

"I thought you only had 'elemental' powers," Sophia said.

"Well... it seems my power is more versatile than we thought. It's truly a gift," said Oliver.

"How wonderful for you to discover your true potential," Frederick said. "But shall we make our way to the open streets? We wouldn't want to linger in this dense forest."

"Sure, let's go," Oliver agreed eagerly.