ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔪𝔦𝔱'𝔰 ℭ𝔬𝔫𝔣𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔰𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫

Mizuki's POV
Getting attacked?! How? The cabin is in the middle of nowhere, it shouldn't be easy for people to find us here UNLESS they are other hermits. This predator was probably a hermit..

Just as I was thinking about it, my head started to hurt. I was starting to get a stronger sense of a hermit than usual. No, this felt like a hermit but it also didn't? My thoughts started to not make sense as I fell to the floor, trying to control the headache. Ena quickly rushed to my side and Kanade kept her eyes on the target. Mafuyu had stopped cooking to see what's going on.

"Mizuki! What is it?!" Ena shouted, a hint of worry in the question. I didn't have time. That hermit could be attacking right now.

"It's not a normal!—"

Before I could finish my sentence, one of the windows broke clean and Kanade fell to the floor. What elemental power was that?

"Kanade!" Ena shouted. Mafuyu ran over to her side, checking if she was still breathing. She began to speak.

"I didn't even get to see what happened..."

"Shh," Mafuyu covered her mouth. "Save it when we are safe."

"Mizuki...can you get up? Can you move?" Ena shook me. I honestly couldn't answer over the pressure. Kanade was hurt, there was someone outside and I didn't know where they were, and anything could happen that would involve others getting hurt. I had to do something.

"I'm fine! Go help Kanade! I'll see whoever is out there."

Ena nodded. "But please be careful.."

I smiled, nodding as she went to Kanade's side. Really, who was out there? The power they used must have been from...some kind of different dimension?! I was pretty confident in that answer and I looked out the broken window. I was right, it was a hermit. A female hermit. Female hermits aren't that strong...from what I've heard. But the way she was easily capable of breaking our window...I shouldn't judge by gender anymore. (Pretty ironic)

She wasn't attacking at the moment but seemed very hostile. She had short brown hair, hazel brown eyes, and from what I see: more "masculine" to feminine clothes. Instead of a skirt, she wore pants with her elegant outfit. She had long painted red nails, looks like it could scratch anyone's eye out. She seemed to be holding a silver bronze balance scale and...A SWORD?! I was going to gasp until she started walking.

I went outside in front of our half broken cabin. "W-Who....What do you want?!" I shouted. I didn't want to be scared but I think my stuttering gave it away. I saw that she put her sword away, only holding her balance scale. I softened a little but went back to a more stern position. How are you just going to attack and then surrender?!

"Afternoon, Mizuki Akiyama," she spoke. How does she..well it's not surprising anymore. "I somewhat apologize for hurting your friend, but she was more than a nuisance to be in my way."

"Hey! She was protecting OUR territory that YOU invaded! What's your problem?!" I shot back. The woman sighed. Getting a closer look at her, she seemed more older than Ena and the others.

"Not important. Unless you don't want to cooperate, then I will have no problem finishing you and your friends off. Listen or fight me."

I wanted to beat her to next summer...but I couldn't. Only for the girls sake, I didn't want to risk anything right now. "What do you want?."

"For starters, I'm MEIKO. I'm not a normal hermit. Just like Ena, I'm a hermit watcher, but somewhat different. It's a long story so I don't want to explain it to you. I don't have much time bu—"

I started to hear...footsteps. God..what now?! I gasped and looked towards the direction. I heard MEIKO cuss under her breath before grabbing me for my attention.

"I don't have time. But you have to leave this place...NOW. I'll be back and I'll try to remember you," and just like that, it was like she disappeared in front of me. I was frozen for a moment until the noise got louder. Hermit hungers. Damn it!

I went back inside. "How's Kanade?! That doesn't matter, we have to go...now!"

"Huh? Why?" Mafuyu asked.

"Don't question! We have to go!"

Mafuyu quickly carried Kanade. She must have been very light or Mafuyu was just strong enough to carry her. I grabbed Ena's hand, dragging her out of the door.

"B-But Mizuki! What about—"

"We'll come back for it," I planned. I honestly didn't know if we would, but I know that Ena loved her art stuff so I had no choice. Ena faintly nodded.

"Over there!" Called a voice. I moved Ena forward, telling her to make sure the other two get to safety.

"You're still CRAZY?!" She tugged my arm. I know that it was a foolish request, but I wanted her and the others to be safe. Kanade that hurt, that was more than enough.

"Kanade is hurt! I want you guys to go somewhere safe to help her!"

"Mafuyu can do that! I gave her my med kit! I'm not leaving without you," Ena scolded. Jeez, she was really serious? I understand what she's coming from and that I'm somewhat doing the wrong thing, but I couldn't bare seeing Ena hurt. But she kept pushing it.

"Mizuki. We don't have time. Come on.."

I could hear the emotion in her voice, which caused me to slowly follow her out of guilt. Ena smiled and tempted me to move faster. Even if I was doing the right thing for her, I felt guilty.

I think I just want to show that I'm not a coward.

____________
Author's Note
HEY GUYS! I'm sorry that this was short, I was writing this during class. Next chapter, I will try to hit 2000 words (or the chapter after IDK I JUST WANNA REACH THAT GOAL BUT IT WILL HAPPEN).

But yeah. I'm also gonna try and work on other stories but I hope you enjoyed this part (i found it boring tbh).