Silently, I try to grab the window's lock to unlock it, now with my usual strength. Upon closer look, the lock is already rusted, making it difficult to be opened. I decide to cut open the lock using my dagger with minimal sound as possible.
Clack
Finally.
Opening a rusted window will create a high-pitched creaking sound. Slowly opening it will lower the sound's volume, I hope.
Slowly but surely, I open the window large enough for me to get out from it. It is dangerous to simply just taking a leap out from the window since my room is located on the third floor. Carefully, I grab a nearby tree's branch that is large and strong enough to be used as a ledge to be walked upon or at least hanged on. Just as I reach the tree bark, the gruff knight loudly exclaims as he forcefully open the room's door to find things that he doesn't expect.
"What took you so long?!"
"What the ---"
"He, He's gone!"
"You! Quickly, down the stairs! I'm going to check the room!"
Using the tree bark, I quickly slide down to the ground. I won't let them catch me this time. My objective is to reach the school's fences. From there, I should climb my way out from the school yard. I should obviously avoid the main gate, although it is the nearest one.
"I found him!"
I look up to find that the gruff time managed to spot me in the darkness. Seeing no other option, I take a sprint into the area where the lighting is less to none, away from the dorm. I just have to reach the fence before the sunrise.
I run as fast as my feet can take me. To the eastern border of the school, there is a dense forest area. I think I can lose them there, given that the day is still dawn.
Many footsteps and lights from lanterns are following behind. I assume those are the knights along with their backups, whose purpose is to capture me alive. I enter the forest just in time to lose their sight on me in the forest's darkness.
Without resting for a bit to catch a breath, I keep running and running inside the forest towards my destination. I think I have been in the darkest part of the forest and almost reached the fence. It is almost pitch-black here. I barely can see anything here, even with these glasses. Given how difficult I see through this darkness, I figured my pursuers will also feel the same. They should be giving up by now. Best moment to rest for a while.
I lean against a tree, slowly slide down to land on the grass. Panting within each breath. I haven't got the chance to say goodbye to the others, I sadly just recalled. A shame, but there is no other way.
As my breath becomes steadier, I feel someone presence. One... Two... I suspected there are at least five people sneaking around behind the trees. Some of them are practically on top of the trees. All of them are spying on me. I'm sure of it.
Knight in a full armor set won't be able to sneak around so properly. So, the only possible explanation for this will be .....
Magick energy is concentrating on top of a branch. I managed to evade just in time as a sharp icicle has recently made its way piercing to a tree where I previously leaned against. Followed by another smaller icicle aimed at my leg, which I deflected with my sword.
"Who are you?! Show yourselves!" I shout to the darkness.
Lunya appears on top of a tree branch, holding her bow at ready. Another figure appears from the shadow. Richmond, with Roland following from behind. From another side, Castille appears. On a branch higher than Lunya is currently at, stands Dylan. His lean and formidable figure on the highest position gives him the aura of being the leader of this party.
"Jason, please." Dylan is the first one to speak. His voice is calm but demanding. "Do not escape. Remember, this is for the good of Brighthollow. We need everything we can get to deal with the Order. So please, come quietly now." It is becoming more like a request.
It took me awhile to think for an answer. "And being tested and isolated for a lifetime?"
"No. You got it all wrong." Castille turns to speak. "You'll be okay there. Trust me.... No, trust us. No harms will be done to you. We still can visit you someday..."
The others don't seem that they want to add their claim further. But their gaze is showing a plea that I should accept this offer. When I glance at Richmond, he lets out a silent nod.
I don't want to answer them by using words, it'll be meaningless. I drop my bag on the ground and tighten my grip on the sword.
"We don't want to hurt you. Just please, surrender now." Dylan offers his gloved hand, as if wanting me to accept it. "We're going to sort this out somehow. We promise."
"If I decline your offer?" I reply coldly. Eyes being watchful for every movements they make.
"Then," Dylan pauses to swallow a bit, like having a difficulty to say the next words. "We're going to stop you by force."
"It is settled then."
As soon as I finished that sentence. I sense and see the magick energy is starting to move and form by Lunya's bow string. Before an ice arrow is completely summoned, as quick as reflex, I materialize a throwing dagger in my left hand and launch it precisely at Lunya's bow. Throwing the bow off from Lunya's grip from the surprise attack.
A clash will be inevitable now. Five against one. Not an easy one, but it is not impossible.
Four of them pounce at me almost in the same time. Dylan and Roland as the front while Castille and Richmond in the rear. The front will be doing close-combat while the rear will prepare their spells. Easily predicted. I just need to stop them before it happens.
Steadfastly, I repelled the consecutive attacks from both Dylan and Roland, to let out a light-speed counterattack by knocking them out of my way to take a sprint on their rear side, just as magick energy starts to gather and concentrate by their palms. I aim at those targets, and quickly kick Richmond's arm and spin to slam my sword hand at Castille's, making them to lose focus and preventing their spell from being prepared. Ended by a back kick at Richmond's unguarded side and another strong punch at Castille's torso, staggering them backwards in the process.
I take a quick step backwards, now readying my stance and facing four staggered spec ops with their position reversed from the previous one. I think I can survive this.
A projectile incoming.
Without turning a head, I cast a barrier to deflect the projectile which turns out to be coming from Lunya, who has retrieved her bow.
Thanks to these glasses, what I lack in numbers, I make it up in accuracy despite the blackness. I shouldn't waste my time dealing with them. Right now, it is better to deal with them quickly before the reinforcements come to surround me.
"Do you even have anything to do once you're out there?" Richmond asks grimly, still in his stance.
Not really. But I hold those words from leaving my mouth. Instead, I ask him in return.
"And what would you do if you just stayed here?"
"We're going to wait for our next orders, which is coming from the progress of the research of yours."
"If you were the one who is in my position, what would you do?"
"I'm going to consent to it and accept the risks. This is for the good of the others too."
"Completely diminished from society and required to forbid your wants, desires, dreams, and future?"
".... If it is for the best."
"Too bad I'm not like that."
Letting them to know exactly my presence, I trigger Master Mode which glows red in the dark. In response, all of them also trigger theirs. Tragic, it may seems, but this fight will be a better farewell than none at all.
