All for Scarlet

~Hero or Villain~

I know it's been nearly a month since I updated, I really apologize to everyone. I got caught and was constricted by homework, summer school, after school, Saturday and Sunday schools, and also homework. Sorry, please understand though! I made a bit longer, though. Thanks to erzashea1 for following and faving, and Nobody2012 for reviewing like YellowFan98 and HeavenlyDragonSlayer. Special thanks to my cousin in China for reading and reviewing. Resha Valentine, I finally persuaded you to give a try…sniff sniff.

Jellal's eyes narrowed in dismay as the darkness of the cave drowned him, it was quite soon before the light of the outside world was locked away from the craggy roof of the cave. Although the darkness was overwhelming at first, those pupils shrank to adjust to the dim light of their master's surroundings. He shifted those alerted eyes around for any sort of dangers or battles. Those hands remained somewhat uneasily in his prisoner's pant pockets, but they are sure ready at the first clue of a battle eruption. His lips formed a frown; this is all for that village girl's doing. Well, actually he must admit that it was not quite her fault, but still...

As he ventured deeper, he still did not find any signs of bandits or even human ever living here. Had he been mistaken? Surely this must be the place judging from the tracking, hasty footsteps leading from the village…

A sudden battle cry nearly made the unexpected, lost in thought man flinch with fear. Startled he suddenly gasped with enlarged eyes as he leaped away in time just before a swinging mace ball crashed into the area where he stood less than a few seconds ago. Turning around he found himself facing a smirking devilish man. He had a large beard, with daggers kept at his brown leather belt. Greed and slyness glowed from those tiny eyes. This is a bandit, undoubting.

Yet before he can act, Jellal suddenly found himself surrounded by at least twenty other men, who seemingly are this bandit's comrade. He narrowed his eyes, this is the right place. The first bandit, seemingly the leader smirked at what he thought as a prey. "Now now, how surprising to see a prey presenting himself up to the predators. Well, since you insist, we'll accept this generous offering!"

Jellal revealed his fists from his pant pocket with a growl. "I assume you are the bandit leader that had been causing so much trouble for the nearby village? Where is the girl, Auriel, which one of your men had captured?"

The leader only smiled sadistically, but Jellal can see amusement glowing from those tiny orbs. "Well, since you're as good as dead…I guess telling you wouldn't matter much. That village does not support all our needs, so…we occasionally capture some sweet ladies and then sell them to a couple of slave masters and wealthy members of the society. Although the village is poor, sometimes they pay good ransom.

Jellal growled as anger boiled within him, "How dirty. This is certainly a child no older than ten!" And yet just as those words left his lip, a sudden shock jolted through his body. Had he not been an even crueler and darker manipulator of the darkness? Does he even have the right to say such things, when his own victims and pawns was scattered all over the world? Biting his lip, his trance was broken as the bandit leader before him grew annoyed.

"Attack!" Instantly Jellal's eyes flew to meet the sight of a sudden flood of bandits rushing at him with their weapons all ready, a battle cry at their lips. This isn't good. Without any possible choice and with narrowed eyes, Jellal can only began his fight of self defense. He was uncertain of any of his Magic or spells, and therefore does not wish to risk anything. So he stayed on hand to hand combat in a melee battle with the pouring enemies.

Unbeknownst to him, a Saint does have its share of advantage in battles. Each of his punches, whether on jaws or on the stomachs, is enough to possibly break the bones. His agility was far pass impressive, where he can easily dodge even most of the surprise attacks. Some of his kicks are just of a master's, with deadly forces and accuracy but gentle enough to keep from a kill. But slowly he was overwhelmed by the numbers. Narrowing his eyes, he gently bit his lower lip. Sweat was forming at his forehead, and whenever some are fended off, others just swarmed in for replacement.

Occasionally he still failed to block a few kicks and punches from the attacks gifted to him at 360 degrees, as well as a few very, very dangerous slashes from battle axe and swords. Although no major wounds formed, he definitely does not welcome them with open arms. At this rate, he'd be in Hell before he can see that girl. He can also sense that the bandits are taking advantage of his lone figure, as he was one against many. The bandit leader knew as he does, that this is a situation against him.

Suddenly a huge swinging mace rapidly consumed the distance to his head. Fear glowed within his eyes as he realized that he had cannot block this attack at the back of his head because his arms and legs are too occupied for five other enemies before him. The mace ball was huge, and can seriously drill a hole into his head, he was sure of it. Sudden a suddenly burst of energy busted from his heart and then to his finger tips…

Before he even understood the situation himself, he was roaring angrily at the sneak attack as his palm flew to the mace wielder. A sudden, huge and powerful golden beam shot from his palm and blew the threatening object away. He himself was within great confusion as the ground trembled from the power of one from his many spells, Heavenly Beam. His opponent did not even have seconds to scream in agony as the beams hit him along with any other misfortunate soul by his side.

Startled and a bit dumbfounded himself, he along with the sudden frozen crowd watched the dust faded, several of the bandits was now lying on the cold ground, their dirty clothing tattered and torn. There are at least three or four of them, lying dead on the ground because of a single attack. Jellal fearfully bit his lips, had he…killed? He did not want this though and wondered, this is not the first time he had killed if the rumors of his past were true, why his heart still swung with guilt. In the pasts, he was said to laugh even when his loyal childhood friend died under his hand.

The remaining crowd suddenly whimpered in fear and shock before backing away from him. Fear glowed from those bright eyes, and Jellal sadly noticed that they viewed him as if a monster.

"He knows Magic!"

"We'll be killed!"

"Get away from this monster!"

"I'll kill no more, but if I must then I will!" Jellal growled with guilt, but his inner turmoil was yet to be displayed onto his face. It would be impossible to sense his remorse from his voice or expressions, but he did regret. Those fists clenched and somehow he had gotten his body sheathed into a golden light, just meant as a warning. "I came to fetch the abducted village girl, return her!" Those eyes locked to the suddenly cowardly figure of the bandit leader. "I do not wish to go the hard way!"

And that is how moments later he found himself standing before a small girl at the age of nearly nine or above. His eyes instantly grew red with anger as his eyes locked to the nearly unconscious figure of the poor villager. Her clothes had been torn and scratched, reduced nearly to rags and stripes of dirty fabrics. Those eyes are dull with fright and her hair messily curtaining her face. Already there are cuts, and her eyes are so dull with fear and depression.

Her eyes lifted to study him, her voice monotonous as if she had experienced too much already. "Who are you, leader of these filthy men?" Her eyes hardened bravely.

Yet Jellal does somehow understand, and can even feel similar pain as this girl. When he was brought to the Magic Council, he was even worse than these with Nadal even at his first few hours. He dared not use anymore Magic to break the chains, in case he may harm her. The bandits that lead him still here kept a ten foot distance from him. "Here to free you, and take you back to your village."

Her eyes enlarged and the slightest enmity escaped as he bended down and pulled out a dagger. Before she felt any fear, he had somehow skillfully inserted the tip of the blade into the chain's keyholes. The binding chains slipped free as the 'key' earned a satisfying click from the knot. Pulling the still somewhat skeptical girl to her feet, he made his way to the waiting bandit, who was eyeing him fearfully and cautiously, his hand at the curved dagger tucked at his belt.

Jellal released a growl, "I'll take her with me, and do not let me hear from anyone that you group are causing trouble to anyone anymore!" The bandit nearly fell to his knees before the mage.

"Yes…yes sir!"

Turning to Auriel, he smiled when he noticed the girl was staring at him in awe as if to a hero, although he certainly noted that he deserved none of this. It still felt great though, to have someone looking up on up. The way she looked at him was as if to an honored hero, even when he himself was a villain since childhood. Still, he pushed those thoughts away with a warm smile at the girl, "Come on, I'll escort you back to the village and to your mother."

Thanks for reading! Updating sooner than the last time!