Please Don't Cry || Goldric

Hunter's POV

Big ol' TW for violence and child abuse in this chapter. Also blood, there is some blood/injury.

I opened the throne room doors reluctantly.

Belos turned to look at me. "That took a while," He noted. "Did you manage to get them this time?"

I fidgeted with my hands. "Well, you see..."

"Ah. You didn't."

"I-I tried my hardest, Emperor Belos, but-"

He gave an exhausted sigh. "Hunter, I gave you two chances. I think it quite generous of myself to have given you even one after the palismen incident."

"Uncle, really, I did try, but I'm going to need more scouts to help me, the witch guarding it is powerful and clever."

"Are you saying you aren't up to the task?"

I went silent.

"Well," He said, standing up out of his throne. "That truly is disappointing. I really did have so much faith in you, Hunter."

"Please, I just need some more time! I can do it, I know I can."

Belos gripped me by the shoulders. "You have the rest of the night. Fail one more time, and you won't be doing any more missions for a good while."

Chills pricked my skin. "Of course, I won't mess this up, I swear."

"We'll see."

...

The witch guarding the skullfern garden chuckled. "You pick a good fight, Goldie," She complimented me, spinning her polar bear palisman staff.

I growled, dodging her plant magic attack, "You pick a good palisman, the Emperor would love to take it."

A vine slashed my mask, chipping a piece off and catching me off guard.

I staggered for one moment too long; she hit me like a pro baseball player hitting a home run with her staff, and I was thrown into a tree with a sickening thud. I could've sworn the wood cracked. Or maybe it was my ribs.

I gasped, the air knocked from my lungs.

The wild witch smirked, twirling her staff. "You done now, bird boy? Or you gonna come back for another round?"

My staff. She knocked it out of my hands when she hit me. Panic swamped my senses, I was so dead.

I heard a chirp from a nearby bush. Flapjack! In a moment of desperation, I reached out my hand. The little cardinal palisman flew to me, transforming into a staff.

In a giant magic fist, I threw myself at the witch. I was not going back empty handed. Not again.

She shrieked, stumbling into the skullferns.

A fierce duel followed, and she finally seemed to take me as a serious threat rather than a nuisance.

I blasted stem after stem, so close to being able to get a good hit on her. I could win this!

Or not. A little root grew up from behind me and snatched my ankle and tripped me up, and a larger plant whacked me over the head and knocked me out.

...

I woke up in my room, a coven scout standing next to my bed.

"Oh, you're finally awake, Emperor Belos wants to see you."

"I just got beat up and he already wants to see me?" I complained.

They shrugged and left.

A sudden panic washed over me, where was Flapjack?

"Flapjack?" I whispered fearfully.

A tentative chirp answered me. I sighed in relief.

...

"Well, you did get a decent hit on her, and when the scouts found you they managed to finish her off," Belos drawled. "I'm almost impressed. Almost. Tell me, Hunter, why was half the skullfern garden crushed?"

"W-what?!"

"Now, I understand being at least a little angry with me, but such petty behaviour," He scolded.

"B-but I didn't!"

Belos sighed. "I-" He choked on his words, his ailment catching him. He coughed and went silent.

"Uncle, are you okay?" I asked nervously.

He looked up at me. "The skullfern was meant to be part of a backup to try to help the problem, and thanks to you, there isn't nearly enough."

"I had no idea! I really didn't mean to damage it! Maybe if I knew exactly what the problem was, if you could tell me-"

His muddy arm extended, slashing a deep wound in my shoulder. "You ungrateful liar! If you truly cared, you wouldn't have failed this mission! Maybe you don't deserve to be The Golden Guard."

No. No no no no no. This can't be happening. Terrified thoughts burned through my skull, pure, suffocating dread rising in my chest.

Belos put his hand to his face. "Go to your room, Hunter. I'll decide what to do with you in the morning."

The second I got to my room I grabbed Flapjack in staff form and flew from the window. I landed in the woods and started running. I ran and ran until I felt light headed and finally came to a heaving stop.

I collapsed under a tree and curled up, sobbing into my knees. A good hour passed, self hatred and misery aching far more than the bleeding cut on my upper arm.

A twig snapped from behind me, and I turned to look at the green haired boy standing behind me, looking nearly as miserable as I felt.