Reign of the Wicked

Fleeing

All three of them were standing up.

"And for what crimes?" Asked Luce.

The knight continued as if Luce hadn't even said a word. "You will face trial in a period of 2 to 5 weeks. If you are found guilty your punishment will be death. If found innocent, you will be exiled."

I wanted to jump out and use my sword to kill them. These three women are the most important people and my life and I can't let them be taken away. My hand touched the hilt of it.

Right when the knights had come in I was shoved into a wardrobe. I had a fresh wave of deja vu. As if sensing that I was going to attack, Luce glanced over and shook her head slightly. What was I supposed to do?

I wold never deliberately go against their wishes but I can't let them be arrested for a crime they undoubtedly did not commit. The knights grabbed them and binded their wrists.

"Don't resist," hissed a knight.

They soon left. Leaving nothing behind except my confusion. This had to be the doing of the people who attacked those years ago. I massaged my temples and waited a few heartbeats before finally coming out of the wardrobe.

I had to leave. I already had my bag, sword, and note. All I needed to grab was a few changes of clothes. I tied my hair in a tight ponytail, threw on the most appropriate clothing for battle, and put my combat boots on.

I need to get Lucy, Katilyn, and Marie back. I quickly fled the house and into the woods. Usually if I was going to the castle for work I would take the main road and by carriage. That's too dangerous. I need to take the secondary route and I need to go by foot. I must trust nobody. In total, if I take moderate breaks only, it should take about 2 days and a half.

The woods behind the hut are usually very lovely. Birds are singing, flowers blooming. But now I don't see that. I see prey being preyed on and things dying.

I've never quite wandered past the point I was at now. There's a first time for everything. After an hour or two I stopped for some lunch. I cut myself a slice of bread and started nibbling in it. To be honest, I didn't really have an appetite but I really didn't feel like stopping later so I might as well eat now.

"Stop it," I heard a voice sound a few feet away.

I froze. My heart started thumping quickly in my chest. I hastily put everything back in my bag, stood up, and unsheathed my sword.

I looked around the tree that was in front of me to see a girl with light brown hair that was pulled into a tight bun. She was wearing a apprentice dress. She had to be a wizardess. She was frantically trying to pull away from a guy who was clearly intoxicated.

"I don't want this," She cried.

If she was a apprentice, why wasn't she using her magic to stop him. A part of me wanted to leave her. She could just be having a lover's spat with her fiancé but looking at the situation it definitely didn't look like that. A part me wanted to go help her. Nobody should be defiled like how she could be if I just walk away.

I don't walk away from those in need.

I walked from around the tree and pointed my sword and glared at the man. Both the girl and guy were suprised by my sudden appearance. The man, after getting over his confusion, laughed.

"Ooh, another cutie has come to the joined the party. Don't worry after I'm done with her it'll be your turn," He slurred quite a bit.

"No, leave her alone. She has nothing to do with this," pleaded the girl.

I stopped close and sheathed sword. I needed to communicate with him. Clearly he's too ignorant to understand what I'm trying to tell him.

Let her go. I signed.

He laughed once more. "Looks here we have a mutie! A poor one at that. At least you're cute. Sorry, but I don't understand sign language."

"She said to let me go," said the girl softly.

"Or what," Asked the man.

I jumped him. He hit the floor
I clearly had the upper hand with all my training and with his intoxication. I didn't want to kill him so I had to knock him out. I got a few punches in before I hit him with the hilt of my sword, knocking him out.

I stood up and brushed the dirt off of me. I looked at the girl, who was looking at me.

What's your name? I signed.

"My name? Um, Julia. Who are you," She replied in a startled tone.

I just shook my head. I need to go. I don't have time to stop and make friends. I gave her a smile and started to walk off.

"H-hey! Wait up! Where are you going," said Julia from behind me.

I shook my head once more.

"I don't have anywhere to go! Can you point me in the direction of the nearest town please," She asked.

Curiosity got the best of me.

You're a apprentice, are you not?

She scratched the back of her neck and a light blush came across her cheeks.

"Well...." She trailed off.

I looked at her expectantly.

"The thing is, my magic isn't very strong as of right now. I got kicked out of the Academy. I know I'd I had a chance I could fully unlock my powers! Like the mage in the story," She exclaimed.

Story?

"Well, some people say it's a prophecy. It's about a girl who's actually a princess. However, nobody knows she's a princess because an imposter took her place before anyone could see her. She has to team up with a novice wizardess, who fully unlocks her powers in the end and becomes the most powerful wizardess, a huntress, who becomes captain on the princess's royal gaurd in the end, and someone with the sight, but there's not really much on them," She told me.

I shook my head. That's definitely fake. I continued walking away from Julia. Hopefully she could get back to the town on her own because I just don't have time for her stories and troubles. I'm not a mercenary.

"Ooh! Could I venture with you? I think that would help me with unlocking my powers," Exclaimed Julia, excitedly.

I shook my head. She would pull me down and possibly get herself killed. I don't need that on my conscience.

"No matter what you say I'll just follow you!"

I stopped in my tracks. I glared back at her.

I'm on a dangerous mission, I could possibly be killed. Trust me, you don't want to be part of that.

She rolled her eyes. "It can't be that bad. You look about my age and I'm 18. What type of trouble could you get possibly yourself into?"

You have no idea. Go South and you'll reach a town.

I walked away from her. I didn't dare look back to see if she was still there. Nobody could be so stupid as to actually follow me. Nobody.