Choice of foes
Chapter 3
Aelle sighed softly as she laid herself in bed. Her body felt tense the whole morning as she was told of bitter news. The Alliance was to attack their guild castle.
Another sigh escaped her lips. She had been warned the other day by a friend. Someone will attack. But she didn't expect her friends to go to such extent.
"Aelle, you have a visitor!" a gentle baritone called for her.
Again, she sighed and got up.
"Who is it?" she called back, smoothing her clotes as she walked out her room and down the stairs.
"It's me, Eadric."
A green-haired man smiled at her from the doorway. With smile returned, she ran to him in a hug.
"Eadric! How good to see you!" Aelle cried as she pulled the man into the living room.
"It's good to see you too." the hunter smiled grimly, allowing the girl to pull him indefinitely.
The smell of tea rose through the air as Eadric seated himself on the couch.
The scent brought relaxation to his tensed muscles. It was the best feeling he had encountered since morning.
"Care for some tea, Eadric?" the gentle baritone called again.
"Yes, please, Sarabande. Thank you. Your tea has always been something to look forward to." he smiled wholeheartedly, straightening his training-ailed posture.
A man came into the living room carrying a tray. On it were three china cups and a kettle with steam coming from its spout. The man placed the tray on the table and took a seat across them.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, fool." the priest chuckled and poured some tea in the china.
The hunter chuckled along with him, taking the cup to his lips with an inaudible sip.
"So what brings you here, Eadric? This is the second time you've come to our house and the first time was bringing tidings of Sarabande's disappearance. What ails you, friend?" Aelle smiled expectantly as she watched the fellow hunter put down the cup gently.
Eadric took a deep breath and exhaled as if taking the plunge.
"You know we will attack your castle this afternoon, right?"
The couple nodded grimly.
"Aelle, stay here. Go to the dungeons or whatever. Just don't go to defend your castle." his voice as if begging.
The request stilled the two. It was not expected of the other to put another aside.
"E... Eadric... I am a Maiden. You know I have a duty to fulfill," she spoke, her heart troubled by the selfless gesture.
The hunter sighed in exasperation. He knew the girl was hardheaded and it would take more than a request to stop her from going.
"Elf child..." he sighed again as he called her with his pet name for the endeared girl.
"I don't want to see you in a battle of this sort. I don't want to see you fight against your friends."
"I have no choice. They chose to raise in arms. Much more, against my only family," the reply came coldly.
"I can't hurt you. I can't stomach confronting you in the battlefield."
Aelle winced as she saw the hunter exasperatedly. She couldn't give up the principles she had been standing up for quite some time now. She strived to fight for her beliefs. She was not going to stand down now. As she opened her mouth to speak, a sharp stabbing pain coursed across her chest.
"Elf child?" Eadric spoke, rising from his seat.
The girl closed her eyes, a gasp escaping her lips. Sarabande pushed her back gently with a hand on her chest, silently muttering an incantation.
"Sarabande, what is wrong?" he spoke again, taking a step forward towards the couple but is pushed back by the priest's restraining hand.
She winced again and grit her teeth in pain. Her complexion has turned pale, cold sweat beaded across her forehead.
"Aelle..."
"Her heart is weak. These days, the company at the Tavern has troubled her more and more. They have become so full of themselves they refuse to see reason."
Eadric took another step but was taken aback when the girl choked on a sob.
"I will fight, Eadric. Even if it means killing you in the process." She half-spat her words as she gasped for more air.
"Elf Child, you think this is the main issue? I don't want you to suffer the anguish."
"Go away!"
"Eadric, please leave us." Sarabande spoke calmly amidst the rising voices.
"I will not leave until she decides not to join today's siege!" the hunter, enraged, grabbed the girl by the arm and pulled violently.
She grunted and glared at the hunter but had no strength to fight back. An angry flame burned in her eyes as she looked him straight.
"Sarabande, she must stay."
With a grim expression, the priest brought out a blue gem from his pocket.
"She has already made a decision. And this gem will decide for you."
The precious stone glowed in his grasp, a white circle glowing around the hunter's feet. Before Eadric could react, tendrils of the white spell crept up his knees and engulfed his whole body. In a flash of white light, the hunter was gone.