Awakening

Chapter 10: Rina

Chapter 10: Rina

Rina still couldn’t believe what the Grand Mage had told her before she stormed out of the house. The lance is missing something. It’s missing that spark that will awaken the weapon… “Pah! What a bunch of crap!” she yelled out in the forest. “How the hell can I not awaken the lance?! I am the descendant of Herman the Strong, and I can defeat anyone in the village with ease! How dare you tell me something as obnoxious as that?!”

She was breathing heavily after her complaints but no one was there to hear her out. The forest only responded with the rustling of the leaves. Clenching her fist and looking down in anger, she furiously rubbed her perfect straight hair, screaming. “Dammit all!”

She managed to get out of the forest easily because no one had dared to feel her wrath. When Rina was angry, it seemed like nothing could calm her nerves, but with a few exceptions. Only the people that really knew her, like John or Tanya could subdue her anger. Stomping her way through the village, everyone was looking at her scared. Some even managed to close their windows and rush their kids into the house because she was feared that much among the villagers.

Rina’s reaction was the same every time she was angry coming back from any type of duty or a hunt. If things didn’t go her way, she would get furious because of what she does for the villagers. Rina wasn’t so sure if the villagers appreciate all of her hard work because she in fact, does a lot for the villagers and the people don’t respect her and treat her the way she wants to be treated.

Some of the deeds that could be a simple task such as giving some food to the unexpected villagers, especially for those who didn’t have anything to eat, helping out little children but the main reason that the villagers have stuck with her all this time was simple. It was protection.

There were countless times that there were skirmishes from local bandts where they stole many things but Rina was always there to stop the bandits in time. But the main event that the villagers seem to appreciate the most, at least she thought, was the time when the Kingdom of Zeal had sent knights for an annexation.

She remembered clearly what happened that day…

Tanya came bursting into her dojo while she was practicing her daily morning drills. “Rina! Please, come quick, the knights of the Kingdom are here!”

She kept swinging her sword, practicing. “Okay, so?”

“They’re here to take control of our village!”

Rina didn’t seem too interested in what the fuss was all about as she walked to the weapon rack to grab a lance. “So… what do you want me to do about it?”

“Rina, you don’t understand!” this time Tanya was on her knees and pleading. “I know you don’t care about the villagers… but I do! I would hate to see anyone captured… or worse, be killed! The villagers are innocent people and have done nothing wrong!”

Rina was silent and stared at Tanya for a little while. The damned villagers only come and seek help from me when they need it! Where was the help that I wanted when I asked?

Tanya had her head bowed down for a bit and looked straight at Rina waiting for an answer, with a little bit of tears in her eyes. Rina mistakenly looked back as she was a sucker for a person crying in tears. She closed her eyes with closing her fist. “Fine…” she put on her green cloak and grabbed  her lance and strapped it behind her back. She went over the next station and put on some gloves along with some accessories. “I’ll fend off the knights for you… but I owe the people of the village nothing!”

Tanya instantly got up and hugged her. She then grabbed her by the hand and ran towards the place of the event. The village houses were empty, as the knights called out everyone for whatever reason, Rina didn’t care. It was only after a while, that she saw that everyone was gathered in the entrance of the village, where she saw the knights silver armor being reflected off the sunlight. She put her hands up in defense to cover from the sun rays.