MISTRESS OF FLAME

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

SOLLEL JUST watched Hakken face the bandits alone; even Cira was peeking outside the wagon to see Hakken fight. Since he boasted that he was an experienced hunter—an expert—and this was the first time they'd see Hakken's skills, Cira was excited, while Sollel was anticipating. And when the bandits saw that it was just one man fighting a dozen of them, they laughed at the absurdity.

"You better run, boy," the leader of the bandit sneered mockingly at Hakken. "What can one man do against a dozen of us? Just give us what we want, and we might spare your life."

Hakken's smile remained. "Sorry, lads, but not today. My lady is watching."

The claymore sword in the bandit's hand made a loud whoosh when he drew his sword from his back. "Be ready to die then," the leader of the bandits said as he grinned. "Men, chop him into pieces and paint the ground with his blood!"

"Don't play hero and just give us what we want, boy," said another bandit while walking toward Hakken. "Or we will show no mercy."

"I'm no hero," Hakken replied as he straightened his body. "But disappointing my lady is out of the question." After Hakken spoke those words, in a heartbeat, he stepped, lunging himself forward and slashing the nearest bandit from him, blood spewing from the bandit's neck.

All the bandits showed fear after witnessing the quick death of their companion by Hakken's hand, except for the leader who remained observant. And like a tide, the rest of the bandits attacked Hakken simultaneously, but no panic was seen in Hakken's eyes. He was calm, just observing the enemies as they neared him.

Sollel was impressed when no sword hit Hakken. His movements were fast and sharp. He wielded his war blades as if they were a part of him, arrogantly spinning his sword around his hand before slashing to get the right angle. His agile body easily evaded the swords coming at him, his swords repelling attacks like they were nothing. Blow after blow, the sound of swords clashing echoed in the forest, together with grunts and hisses from pain every time Hakken's sword would slash an enemy. And the longer Sollel watched, the more she realized that Hakken was not fighting seriously. He was like a master swordsman holding back while fighting novices.

"He's so fast," Cira commented.

Sollel had to agree with Cira: Hakken was indeed fast and agile. If they fought, even at full strength, Sollel was not sure if her sword skills could keep up with Hakken's. Even now that Hakken was just playing around, her eyes could barely keep up with his movements.

"J-just who are you?" the leader of the bandits asked with a shaky voice, gone the confidence he showed earlier after seeing his men sprawled on the ground, dead. It was too quick that the leader of the bandits didn't have time to run.

Swinging his bloody sword, Hakken turned to look at Sollel. To her, he seemed to be asking permission to give his name to the leader of the bandits, but she didn't know what to say, so she remained quiet.

"My lady, should I give him my name?" Hakken asked, stunning Sollel because her deduction of Hakken's expression earlier had been right.

Seeing how nonchalant Hakken was, the bandit leader's anger rose. He then quickly attacked Hakken. "Don't belittle me, boy!"

Hakken easily dodged the bandit leader's claymore and shrugged nonchalantly. "My lady owns me till we reach the capital of Treterra. Of course her permission is necessary."

Sollel just shook her head at Hakken's nonchalance. "Stop wasting time. We need to keep moving."

Hakken faced Sollel and slightly bowed his head, saying, "By your will, my lady."