Forever Destiny
0
This is a story about a young mercenary who fights to keep the promises of those he loves.
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Forever Destiny
Chapter 1: Lyle Granford
Lyle burst through the darkness of the surrounding forest and into a wide clearing. His chest heaved up and down as he gasped for breath. He quickly shifted his gaze from side to side in a vain attempt to find any familiar landmark that would tell him that he was getting close to the city.
Lyle had been running through the woods blindly since nightfall, and if it was under any normal situation, Lyle would have taken a moment to wonder how he had managed to avoid running into a tree or trip over an overgrown root or stone. But at the moment, this situation was far from normal and time wasn’t a luxury that he had to waste.
The young swordsman drew in a deep breath, steadying himself before looking over his shoulder, and into the face of an unconscious blonde haired girl that he was carrying on his back. Her cheek was nestled against his shoulder, but the expression on her face didn’t share the same peacefulness that most people have as they slept. Her brows were knitted slightly and the tightness around her closed eyes almost made it look like she was in pain. It looked to Lyle that she was having a nightmare, but after the things she had witnessed he didn’t blame her.
Lyle was about to continue onward when the girl suddenly groaned quietly and began to stir. She’s going to make it. She has to.
Lyle knelt slowly and gently set the girl against a nearby tree as carefully as he could. “Hey, are you alright? Sophia, how do you feel?” Lyle asked as he turned around to face the girl. He felt relieved that she was finally showing signs of life. She had been unconscious for quite a while now, and he was beginning to worry for her.
“Mm…where am I…?” Sophia murmured quietly, while she placed one hand on the side of her face as she slowly shook her head. The young girl opened her eyes slowly and lifted her head a bit as she looked up at the swordsman. She tried to speak twice, paused, and then asked in a dry and hoarse voice, “Who are you?”
“My name’s Lyle. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. I was sent to bring you home. Are you hurt at all?” Lyle replied as he untied a flask of water from his belt and offered it to Sophia.
“I… I’m fine… thank you.” Sophia said quietly as she took the flask. Lyle waited as she took several large gulps of water, and as she lowered the flask from her lips her gaze turned to the ground. “I can’t remember very much… what happened? How do you know my name?”
“It’s a long story.” Lyle said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm. He knew that they shouldn’t stay still for very long, but the break was a very welcoming one after hours of nonstop running. “We should be very close to Atria now. Once we get there, I’ll explain everything to y-“
Lyle’s sentence was cut off as a deep roar suddenly resounded through the cold night air. Lyle stood up quickly, as his hand reflexively moved to the hilt of his broad sword at his waist. A deep sinking feeling of dread swept over him, not because he was afraid for himself, but for Sophia. He knew what creature the roar belonged to, and he couldn’t imagine how it had caught up to them so quickly.
“Sophia. Get out of here. Keeping going north. Atria should be up ahead.” Lyle said quietly as he stared into the shadowy gloom of the forest whence they came. His shoulders tensed. It was close. Very close.
“N-No… not that, no…” Sophia stammered as she followed Lyle’s gaze. She had stood up the moment she heard the roar, and had quickly moved close behind Lyle.
“Sophia! Get going! You have to…” Lyle yelled urgently as he turned toward the girl, but he stopped as he saw the fear reflected in her eyes. He sighed quietly, relaxing a bit as he placed both hands on Sophia’s shoulders reassuringly. “Look, I know you’re scared, but you have to trust me. I’ll be fine. You have to reach the city and get help, okay? I need you to do this for me. I know that you don’t want to be alone, but your father is waiting for you. If you don’t go now you might get hurt, and it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen. Do you understand?”
“B-but what about you? I can’t leave you by yourself!” Sophia protested. She was trembling with her hands raised, partly covering her mouth. Lyle knew that she wasn’t shaking from the cold. He couldn’t imagine what was going through the girl’s mind, and hell, what had been going through her mind when he found her. She was afraid and things were happening so fast. The last thing she needed was for him to start showing her how… hopeless things really were.
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Lyle replied calmly in a controlled and gentle voice. He gave Sophia a confident smile as he ruffled her hair with a gloved hand. It was an affectionate gesture that he had done to his own younger sister many times. He hoped it was enough. “You can help me by getting some people over here. There are guards at the gate. Just run in that direction, okay? I’m depending on you.”
Sophia frowned, falling silent as she thought about Lyle’s words. She nodded reluctantly as she looked down. “Alright… Lyle… you better take care of yourself, okay? I’ll come back with help as soon as I can!”
With that Sophia turned and started running in the direction Lyle pointed out for her from as fast as she could. The young swordsman stood in silence as he watched her disappear into darkened forest ahead. His smile faded away slowly as he looked down, feeling guilty about what he said. Lyle never liked to lie to anyone, but there wasn’t any other way to make her leave quickly. True, during his travels his skill with the sword had definitely increased, but against the thing that was chasing them, he knew that he didn’t have a chance. Good luck, Sophia...
The trees behind Lyle suddenly exploded outward, raining chunks of broken wood and leaves all over the clearing. Lyle lifted one arm to protect his face as he jumped away from the clearing’s edge. His body turned around in mid air to face his pursuer. Lyle braced himself as he drew his sword, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the source of the destruction.
The ground trembled slightly as a giant orc stepped into the clearing, the weight of the step completely crushing the trunk of a shattered tree that had fallen. It towered a couple of feet above Lyle’s own height and growled deeply as its beady eyes fell upon the swordsman. Lyle never had a problem fighting orcs. They were clumsy, slow, and not the brightest monsters around, but this one was definitely different from the rest. The orc before him was much larger than the others, with muscles that swelled and strained beneath its dull green skin as if it would rip right through it if it flexed too much. Two thick, spike-like teeth rose from a heavy under bite jaw, and stopped just under the orc’s eyes. Not only that, but it was also very well armed. It carried a heavy bronze shield in one arm, and a large sword the length of Lyle’s own body in the other. To top it off, the monster also donned a large feathery headdress as a symbol of power.
Lyle smirked challengingly at the orc as he lifted his own sword with both hands. “You must be the Hero. I’ve heard stories about you, but I never would have thought that I’d actually face you myself. Unfortunately, I can’t let you advance any further.”
“You can’t have her.” Lyle said.
A deep grumbling growl rose from the Orc Hero’s throat as it bent its knees slightly, and without a second’s hesitation, it burst forward in a blur. Lyle’s eyes widened as the massive beast suddenly rushed at him, the span of fifteen feet closing in the blink of an eye. It’s… fast...!!!
---
The sharp squeal of steel scraping against steel pierced through the still night air, followed by the spray of crimson blood which doted against the star-filled sky.
---
Forever Destiny
Chapter 1: Lyle Granford
Lyle burst through the darkness of the surrounding forest and into a wide clearing. His chest heaved up and down as he gasped for breath. He quickly shifted his gaze from side to side in a vain attempt to find any familiar landmark that would tell him that he was getting close to the city.
Lyle had been running through the woods blindly since nightfall, and if it was under any normal situation, Lyle would have taken a moment to wonder how he had managed to avoid running into a tree or trip over an overgrown root or stone. But at the moment, this situation was far from normal and time wasn’t a luxury that he had to waste.
The young swordsman drew in a deep breath, steadying himself before looking over his shoulder, and into the face of an unconscious blonde haired girl that he was carrying on his back. Her cheek was nestled against his shoulder, but the expression on her face didn’t share the same peacefulness that most people have as they slept. Her brows were knitted slightly and the tightness around her closed eyes almost made it look like she was in pain. It looked to Lyle that she was having a nightmare, but after the things she had witnessed he didn’t blame her.
Lyle was about to continue onward when the girl suddenly groaned quietly and began to stir. She’s going to make it. She has to.
Lyle knelt slowly and gently set the girl against a nearby tree as carefully as he could. “Hey, are you alright? Sophia, how do you feel?” Lyle asked as he turned around to face the girl. He felt relieved that she was finally showing signs of life. She had been unconscious for quite a while now, and he was beginning to worry for her.
“Mm…where am I…?” Sophia murmured quietly, while she placed one hand on the side of her face as she slowly shook her head. The young girl opened her eyes slowly and lifted her head a bit as she looked up at the swordsman. She tried to speak twice, paused, and then asked in a dry and hoarse voice, “Who are you?”
“My name’s Lyle. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. I was sent to bring you home. Are you hurt at all?” Lyle replied as he untied a flask of water from his belt and offered it to Sophia.
“I… I’m fine… thank you.” Sophia said quietly as she took the flask. Lyle waited as she took several large gulps of water, and as she lowered the flask from her lips her gaze turned to the ground. “I can’t remember very much… what happened? How do you know my name?”
“It’s a long story.” Lyle said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm. He knew that they shouldn’t stay still for very long, but the break was a very welcoming one after hours of nonstop running. “We should be very close to Atria now. Once we get there, I’ll explain everything to y-“
Lyle’s sentence was cut off as a deep roar suddenly resounded through the cold night air. Lyle stood up quickly, as his hand reflexively moved to the hilt of his broad sword at his waist. A deep sinking feeling of dread swept over him, not because he was afraid for himself, but for Sophia. He knew what creature the roar belonged to, and he couldn’t imagine how it had caught up to them so quickly.
“Sophia. Get out of here. Keeping going north. Atria should be up ahead.” Lyle said quietly as he stared into the shadowy gloom of the forest whence they came. His shoulders tensed. It was close. Very close.
“N-No… not that, no…” Sophia stammered as she followed Lyle’s gaze. She had stood up the moment she heard the roar, and had quickly moved close behind Lyle.
“Sophia! Get going! You have to…” Lyle yelled urgently as he turned toward the girl, but he stopped as he saw the fear reflected in her eyes. He sighed quietly, relaxing a bit as he placed both hands on Sophia’s shoulders reassuringly. “Look, I know you’re scared, but you have to trust me. I’ll be fine. You have to reach the city and get help, okay? I need you to do this for me. I know that you don’t want to be alone, but your father is waiting for you. If you don’t go now you might get hurt, and it’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen. Do you understand?”
“B-but what about you? I can’t leave you by yourself!” Sophia protested. She was trembling with her hands raised, partly covering her mouth. Lyle knew that she wasn’t shaking from the cold. He couldn’t imagine what was going through the girl’s mind, and hell, what had been going through her mind when he found her. She was afraid and things were happening so fast. The last thing she needed was for him to start showing her how… hopeless things really were.
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.” Lyle replied calmly in a controlled and gentle voice. He gave Sophia a confident smile as he ruffled her hair with a gloved hand. It was an affectionate gesture that he had done to his own younger sister many times. He hoped it was enough. “You can help me by getting some people over here. There are guards at the gate. Just run in that direction, okay? I’m depending on you.”
Sophia frowned, falling silent as she thought about Lyle’s words. She nodded reluctantly as she looked down. “Alright… Lyle… you better take care of yourself, okay? I’ll come back with help as soon as I can!”
With that Sophia turned and started running in the direction Lyle pointed out for her from as fast as she could. The young swordsman stood in silence as he watched her disappear into darkened forest ahead. His smile faded away slowly as he looked down, feeling guilty about what he said. Lyle never liked to lie to anyone, but there wasn’t any other way to make her leave quickly. True, during his travels his skill with the sword had definitely increased, but against the thing that was chasing them, he knew that he didn’t have a chance. Good luck, Sophia...
The trees behind Lyle suddenly exploded outward, raining chunks of broken wood and leaves all over the clearing. Lyle lifted one arm to protect his face as he jumped away from the clearing’s edge. His body turned around in mid air to face his pursuer. Lyle braced himself as he drew his sword, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the source of the destruction.
The ground trembled slightly as a giant orc stepped into the clearing, the weight of the step completely crushing the trunk of a shattered tree that had fallen. It towered a couple of feet above Lyle’s own height and growled deeply as its beady eyes fell upon the swordsman. Lyle never had a problem fighting orcs. They were clumsy, slow, and not the brightest monsters around, but this one was definitely different from the rest. The orc before him was much larger than the others, with muscles that swelled and strained beneath its dull green skin as if it would rip right through it if it flexed too much. Two thick, spike-like teeth rose from a heavy under bite jaw, and stopped just under the orc’s eyes. Not only that, but it was also very well armed. It carried a heavy bronze shield in one arm, and a large sword the length of Lyle’s own body in the other. To top it off, the monster also donned a large feathery headdress as a symbol of power.
Lyle smirked challengingly at the orc as he lifted his own sword with both hands. “You must be the Hero. I’ve heard stories about you, but I never would have thought that I’d actually face you myself. Unfortunately, I can’t let you advance any further.”
“You can’t have her.” Lyle said.
A deep grumbling growl rose from the Orc Hero’s throat as it bent its knees slightly, and without a second’s hesitation, it burst forward in a blur. Lyle’s eyes widened as the massive beast suddenly rushed at him, the span of fifteen feet closing in the blink of an eye. It’s… fast...!!!
---
The sharp squeal of steel scraping against steel pierced through the still night air, followed by the spray of crimson blood which doted against the star-filled sky.
0
Forever Destiny
Chapter 2: Reminiscence
The stars were consumed greedily as dark clouds glided through the sky. Their ominous presence dominated the world above, with their forms only recognized through various shades of black and gray. Occasionally, pale moonlight would shine dimly through the smoke-like wisps of darkness, as if it truly was an omen of evil.
Far below, the capital city of Atria was silent. No lights shown through the windows of most of the buildings save for the taverns, and the only other source of light came from the torches that the night watch guards carried. Usually, drunkards would still be roaming the streets, and the taverns would be bustling with noise, merchants would gather together to continue business till all fell asleep, and the gamblers would have crowded into dark alleys to take their chance with lady luck. However, tonight the entire city was silent. The streets were deserted, and the taverns empty. It was almost as if a curse had been cast on the great city.
Somewhere in the southern part of Atria, the darkness was finally interrupted as a young man departed from a building. Light poured into the wide stone-paved street as the young man opened the front door of a house. He paused in the doorway for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the building’s occupants before stepping outside and shutting the door behind him. He shuddered slightly from the cold night air, as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. He was just about to head out into the night when a smooth feminine voice called out to him from the shadows across the street.
“I spoke to the acolytes and surgeons. He’s not going to make it, is he? It would be a miracle if he survives the week. The odds are against him, so I don't see why you insist on wasting your time here anyway. You’re not going, are you?”
“Yeah, I am. I owe Brawn my life you know. This is the only way I can repay him before he departs… I have no choice.” The young man replied as he turned his head toward the voice.
A woman stepped out of the shadows and into the dim light with her arms folded over her flat stomach. Her shoulder length blonde hair was brushed to the side slightly as a cold breeze passed through the lonely streets, but she didn’t flinch at all from the sudden chill. Even though there was hardly any light, the young man saw her perfectly. She wore a thin silver robe which fitted nicely with her slender body, and a muffler which she kept pulled back over her smooth shoulders. Even though it was close to winter, she didn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest by the cold.
“The girl is probably dead by now", she continued, "It’s been a day already. Besides, we still have a job to do. We’re still days away from Aether, and weeks away from Hildegarne. Lyle, going alone is too dangerous and unnecessary. There is nothing you can do.”
Lyle just stared at the woman silently. Her name was Yuna Katsuya, a mage that was accompanying him on a job. He had been traveling with her for a few months, and although she was a bit bossy he secretly developed a liking to her. He admired the piercing look in her hazel brown eyes that told him that she was a woman who knew how to take care of herself. Besides, she was a real looker at that. More than one occasion he found himself looking at her without even trying, and for once, he actually felt nervous around a woman. “Perhaps she’s dead, but I have to try. This is a matter of honor, Yuna, surely you understand that. If I don’t go now, I’ll never be able to live with myself.”
Yuna continued to stare at him, bending one knee slightly as she shifted her weight onto one leg. The fabric of her clothes shifted upward, and Lyle soon found himself staring at a long slit on the left side of her robe, which was showing more and more of her long slender leg.
Lyle turned away as he felt a flush of embarrassment come to his cheeks. If it wasn’t for the shadow of his hood, Yuna probably would have slapped him silly. “I know you want to stop me, but you can’t change my mind.”
“Let me come with you then. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone back you up. I know that orcs aren’t any trouble at all, but word has been going around that an orc had risen to the status of a Hero.” Yuna replied calmly.
“…I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that. You have to finish the job, Yuna. You’re the only one who can lead the rest while I’m away. If the two of us go, those kids are going to mess up. You’re the only other person who knows the safe route back to Hildegarne.”
A thoughtful look came to the mage’s face as she shifted her weight again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll catch up to you before you know it. Babysitting is definitely going to slow you down, so I’ll meet up with you in Aether,” Lyle continued, trying to sound as reassuring and convincing the best he could, “If I beat you there, you’ll have to buy me a drink. How about it?”
Yuna looked up at Lyle, unfolding her arms as she stood up straight. The corners of her lips curled up into a small smile as she placed one hand on her hip. “Alright… and if I beat you there, you’ll have to wear a dress for the remainder of the trip. Deal?”
Lyle smirked as he turned away from Yuna. “Alright. Deal.”
The young swordsman was about to start off towards the city gates when Yuna interrupted him once more, and the words she said was something that Lyle would never forget.
“...You better come back, Lyle.”
---
Several days had past since Lyle left Atria. He had arrived at Atria with Yuna and his group, while on their way from magical city of Lenne. They were on a job to recover some stolen crates that were taken from Hildegarne in the deserts far to the south by so-called “rebels." What were in the crates, and why they were taken to the outskirts of Lenne, he did not know. Mercenaries weren’t suppose to ask too many questions unless they wanted to risk their lives by getting into matters that were too large for them to handle.
However, things changed since they reached Atria. Lyle had received word that his old sword master, Brawn Daman, had been seriously injured just prior to their arrival. Apparently, he was traveling back to Atria from a distant city with a caravan of merchants, when they were suddenly attacked by a large band of orcs. The battle was a brutal one, but standing alone against an orcish horde, the aged man couldn’t fight them all off, no matter how skillful he was. Many were either slain or taken by the orcs, including Brawn’s only daughter, Sophia. Several survivors managed to help Brawn escape to Atria, but by then it was too late. Brawn’s wounds were beyond the reach of medicine and magic.
Lyle wasn’t the type that abandoned his duties for his own personal agendas, but for the first time, he broke that rule. Brawn had saved his life when his family was attacked by bandits when he was a child, and since then, he pledged his life to aide the veteran swordsman whenever and wherever he needed it.
Lyle had tracked the orcs down easily enough, and had caught up to them in the marshes in the southern region of Atria. He had handled orcs before, and it was fairly easy to dispatch the remainder of the horde. The other merchants that were kidnapped had already been killed for food, but thankfully, Lyle found Sophia unharmed.
However, time wasn’t a blessing. Before Lyle had the chance to wake the girl up, the rumored Orc Hero had burst out of the foliage and attacked. Luckily, Lyle had managed to summon a lesser dragon with a magical sphere he was carrying with him, courteous of a certain pretty mage. He had hoped that the monster would fend off the legendary Hero, but he didn’t wait around to find out… but now, all of that didn’t matter.
---
A deep grumbling growl rose from the Orc Hero’s throat as it bent its knees slightly, and without a second’s hesitation, it burst forward with alarming speed. Lyle’s eyes widened as the massive beast suddenly rushed at him, the span of fifteen feet closing in the blink of an eye. It’s… fast...!!
Lyle leapt to the side, swinging his sword horizontally at the Orc Hero hoping that the brute would run into his blade, but compared to the Orc's speed, he felt as if he was moving as slow as molasses.
Lyle felt the Orc’s sword collide with his own with a sudden high pitched squeal of metal. The sheer force of the Orc’s blow, combined with its incredible forward momentum, easily deflected Lyle’s attack and sent him careening through the air and into a tree with enough force to splinter its tough surface. “Guaaah!”
Lyle winced sharply as he collapsed on the ground. He clenched his teeth as stinging hot pain shot through his left arm, which seemed to spread through the rest of his body. A brutally deep gash had ripped its way through Lyle’s left bicep, and already large amounts of blood began to pour out of it, quickly drenching his entire arm in crimson.
“Damn… you really are a tough one…” Lyle spat as he slowly rose to his feet. Every movement brought a new wave of pain, but he couldn’t give up just yet. It was still too early into the fight, and giving up now would be an insult.
Lyle’s left arm hung limp and bleeding at his side, and now he only had his right arm to hold up his sword. The blow from the Orc Hero had done ruin to his blade. Already, one side of Lyle’s sword was notched up badly, rendering it pretty much useless, but that wasn’t enough to crush Lyle’s spirit. He wasn’t about to give up. He had a vow to withhold, and a promise to keep.
“It’s not over yet.” He said challengingly.
Chapter 2: Reminiscence
The stars were consumed greedily as dark clouds glided through the sky. Their ominous presence dominated the world above, with their forms only recognized through various shades of black and gray. Occasionally, pale moonlight would shine dimly through the smoke-like wisps of darkness, as if it truly was an omen of evil.
Far below, the capital city of Atria was silent. No lights shown through the windows of most of the buildings save for the taverns, and the only other source of light came from the torches that the night watch guards carried. Usually, drunkards would still be roaming the streets, and the taverns would be bustling with noise, merchants would gather together to continue business till all fell asleep, and the gamblers would have crowded into dark alleys to take their chance with lady luck. However, tonight the entire city was silent. The streets were deserted, and the taverns empty. It was almost as if a curse had been cast on the great city.
Somewhere in the southern part of Atria, the darkness was finally interrupted as a young man departed from a building. Light poured into the wide stone-paved street as the young man opened the front door of a house. He paused in the doorway for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the building’s occupants before stepping outside and shutting the door behind him. He shuddered slightly from the cold night air, as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. He was just about to head out into the night when a smooth feminine voice called out to him from the shadows across the street.
“I spoke to the acolytes and surgeons. He’s not going to make it, is he? It would be a miracle if he survives the week. The odds are against him, so I don't see why you insist on wasting your time here anyway. You’re not going, are you?”
“Yeah, I am. I owe Brawn my life you know. This is the only way I can repay him before he departs… I have no choice.” The young man replied as he turned his head toward the voice.
A woman stepped out of the shadows and into the dim light with her arms folded over her flat stomach. Her shoulder length blonde hair was brushed to the side slightly as a cold breeze passed through the lonely streets, but she didn’t flinch at all from the sudden chill. Even though there was hardly any light, the young man saw her perfectly. She wore a thin silver robe which fitted nicely with her slender body, and a muffler which she kept pulled back over her smooth shoulders. Even though it was close to winter, she didn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest by the cold.
“The girl is probably dead by now", she continued, "It’s been a day already. Besides, we still have a job to do. We’re still days away from Aether, and weeks away from Hildegarne. Lyle, going alone is too dangerous and unnecessary. There is nothing you can do.”
Lyle just stared at the woman silently. Her name was Yuna Katsuya, a mage that was accompanying him on a job. He had been traveling with her for a few months, and although she was a bit bossy he secretly developed a liking to her. He admired the piercing look in her hazel brown eyes that told him that she was a woman who knew how to take care of herself. Besides, she was a real looker at that. More than one occasion he found himself looking at her without even trying, and for once, he actually felt nervous around a woman. “Perhaps she’s dead, but I have to try. This is a matter of honor, Yuna, surely you understand that. If I don’t go now, I’ll never be able to live with myself.”
Yuna continued to stare at him, bending one knee slightly as she shifted her weight onto one leg. The fabric of her clothes shifted upward, and Lyle soon found himself staring at a long slit on the left side of her robe, which was showing more and more of her long slender leg.
Lyle turned away as he felt a flush of embarrassment come to his cheeks. If it wasn’t for the shadow of his hood, Yuna probably would have slapped him silly. “I know you want to stop me, but you can’t change my mind.”
“Let me come with you then. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone back you up. I know that orcs aren’t any trouble at all, but word has been going around that an orc had risen to the status of a Hero.” Yuna replied calmly.
“…I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that. You have to finish the job, Yuna. You’re the only one who can lead the rest while I’m away. If the two of us go, those kids are going to mess up. You’re the only other person who knows the safe route back to Hildegarne.”
A thoughtful look came to the mage’s face as she shifted her weight again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll catch up to you before you know it. Babysitting is definitely going to slow you down, so I’ll meet up with you in Aether,” Lyle continued, trying to sound as reassuring and convincing the best he could, “If I beat you there, you’ll have to buy me a drink. How about it?”
Yuna looked up at Lyle, unfolding her arms as she stood up straight. The corners of her lips curled up into a small smile as she placed one hand on her hip. “Alright… and if I beat you there, you’ll have to wear a dress for the remainder of the trip. Deal?”
Lyle smirked as he turned away from Yuna. “Alright. Deal.”
The young swordsman was about to start off towards the city gates when Yuna interrupted him once more, and the words she said was something that Lyle would never forget.
“...You better come back, Lyle.”
---
Several days had past since Lyle left Atria. He had arrived at Atria with Yuna and his group, while on their way from magical city of Lenne. They were on a job to recover some stolen crates that were taken from Hildegarne in the deserts far to the south by so-called “rebels." What were in the crates, and why they were taken to the outskirts of Lenne, he did not know. Mercenaries weren’t suppose to ask too many questions unless they wanted to risk their lives by getting into matters that were too large for them to handle.
However, things changed since they reached Atria. Lyle had received word that his old sword master, Brawn Daman, had been seriously injured just prior to their arrival. Apparently, he was traveling back to Atria from a distant city with a caravan of merchants, when they were suddenly attacked by a large band of orcs. The battle was a brutal one, but standing alone against an orcish horde, the aged man couldn’t fight them all off, no matter how skillful he was. Many were either slain or taken by the orcs, including Brawn’s only daughter, Sophia. Several survivors managed to help Brawn escape to Atria, but by then it was too late. Brawn’s wounds were beyond the reach of medicine and magic.
Lyle wasn’t the type that abandoned his duties for his own personal agendas, but for the first time, he broke that rule. Brawn had saved his life when his family was attacked by bandits when he was a child, and since then, he pledged his life to aide the veteran swordsman whenever and wherever he needed it.
Lyle had tracked the orcs down easily enough, and had caught up to them in the marshes in the southern region of Atria. He had handled orcs before, and it was fairly easy to dispatch the remainder of the horde. The other merchants that were kidnapped had already been killed for food, but thankfully, Lyle found Sophia unharmed.
However, time wasn’t a blessing. Before Lyle had the chance to wake the girl up, the rumored Orc Hero had burst out of the foliage and attacked. Luckily, Lyle had managed to summon a lesser dragon with a magical sphere he was carrying with him, courteous of a certain pretty mage. He had hoped that the monster would fend off the legendary Hero, but he didn’t wait around to find out… but now, all of that didn’t matter.
---
A deep grumbling growl rose from the Orc Hero’s throat as it bent its knees slightly, and without a second’s hesitation, it burst forward with alarming speed. Lyle’s eyes widened as the massive beast suddenly rushed at him, the span of fifteen feet closing in the blink of an eye. It’s… fast...!!
Lyle leapt to the side, swinging his sword horizontally at the Orc Hero hoping that the brute would run into his blade, but compared to the Orc's speed, he felt as if he was moving as slow as molasses.
Lyle felt the Orc’s sword collide with his own with a sudden high pitched squeal of metal. The sheer force of the Orc’s blow, combined with its incredible forward momentum, easily deflected Lyle’s attack and sent him careening through the air and into a tree with enough force to splinter its tough surface. “Guaaah!”
Lyle winced sharply as he collapsed on the ground. He clenched his teeth as stinging hot pain shot through his left arm, which seemed to spread through the rest of his body. A brutally deep gash had ripped its way through Lyle’s left bicep, and already large amounts of blood began to pour out of it, quickly drenching his entire arm in crimson.
“Damn… you really are a tough one…” Lyle spat as he slowly rose to his feet. Every movement brought a new wave of pain, but he couldn’t give up just yet. It was still too early into the fight, and giving up now would be an insult.
Lyle’s left arm hung limp and bleeding at his side, and now he only had his right arm to hold up his sword. The blow from the Orc Hero had done ruin to his blade. Already, one side of Lyle’s sword was notched up badly, rendering it pretty much useless, but that wasn’t enough to crush Lyle’s spirit. He wasn’t about to give up. He had a vow to withhold, and a promise to keep.
“It’s not over yet.” He said challengingly.