Chapter 4: Pneuma
Maxell so kindly took over my watch so I could get some rest in the prisoner's ward, and I awoke to the bright sun pouring in through the window, splashing onto my face and painting pictures of red in my otherwise blackened vision. I groggily woke up, rubbed my eyes and stretched. I pulled my gauntlets on, ruffled through my hair and grabbed my helm. Wait just a moment. I took my gauntlets off not, nor my helm as well. I felt for my weapons, but all were still there. Nothing had been taken from me, but I now found myself not in the prisoner's ward, but inside of a dilapidated shelter. I heard leaves rustling outside and some voices. I jumped to my feet, slowed my breath and unsheathed my sword, the sparkling light dancing off its holy blade. The voices were few in number, but they sounded very apathetic, like professional killers? Has the Assassin's guild made their move? If only I had my peco, I could race out of here. I crept steadily towards the entrance of the hut to have a look.
The sun shone even brighter and I crouched there dumbfounded and helpless as my eyes adjusted to the level of vividness. I saw lots of lush greenery. More importantly, I saw a white tower poking through the foliage of the forest. Now it all began to make sense. Something must have happened, perhaps the jail was under siege and I had to be moved to a safer location. The voices must be the rescue party then, since I was still near Prontera. I walked into the woods fearless now, awaiting the search party. Indeed, they were searching for me.
I noticed one of the party members motioning towards his party member. Why they kept silent now I did not know. Perhaps there were still enemies lurking around, so I ducked a bit lower and knelt to the ground. I went down faster than expected. I grunted a bit and inspected my knee, where a treated wound lay. The party members then disappeared from sight altogether. I felt uneasy. Something was very out of place. Suddenly, I felt something intensely cold behind me. I raised my sword and in the reflection on the blade I saw a fierce looking storm gust cast. Before I could look any further my left arm instinctively brought my shield up, protecting me from a barrage of arrows repelling me towards the icy cage. I endured and avoided being sucked into that vortex of crystalline death, but I felt another icy pain in my back. I swung around to notice a wizard frost diving me, but he must not have realized that I had a high resistance to status due to my high vitality. I ignored him and leapt out of the way into the underbrush where I could dodge their ranged attacks more easily. There was no time to rest, as I soon became trapped inside a wall of flame. The fire scorched at my skin and the armor was beginning to heat up at an insane alacrity. I wrapped my cape loosely around me and dove through the fiery hell, landing in a carefully placed array of traps. I swore to myself. I equipped my spear and readied myself to boomerang any hunter or wizard I could find in my field of view. Arrows barraged me still due to their superior range, but at least the wizards were being wary. I could handle the arrows for some time because of my improved defense and armor, and I soon broke free from the clutches of the hunter trap and sprinted to safety. I took off my immune manteau and donned my guard manteau and cloaked myself. I hope they did not expect this, as both wizards and hunters could easily detect me if they were any smarter. I was betting on them being only pawns.
My first break of the day! I tunnel carefully through the thicket of hunters, and I stop several hundred yards from them now. I can hear them devising a plan faintly as I uncloak myself and dash towards the darker and denser parts of the forest.
Suddenly I find myself regretting uncloaking because I see, in the distance, a great shield. The shield moves towards me a steady and frightening pace, and I realize that I would have to square off against him. I am definitely at the disadvantage given my choice of equipment. The shield became clear enough for me to see the brazen crucifixes upon it, and a threatening ring pommel saber thrusting out from the crusader's side. I had no idea what was going on still, but all I knew was that I was in danger and I had to flee for my life at the moment. I draw my spear and hope to knock off some health before he gets too close for comfort.
The crusader saunters closer until we are within a few yards of each other. How fitting it is however, to have my last enemy on the field be a crusader. Crusaders and knights never got along well despite their similarities and roles in the kingdom of Prontera. Knights saw themselves as the holy protectors of the castle and king, and crusaders saw themselves as divine guardians of God and the church. The two guilds were almost like rivals, always trying to show how they were the correct choice for a swordsman to job change into.
My thought shatters as the crusader makes a move towards me. I spear boomerang him to no avail, as he guards against it easily. This is going to be a tough fight. I move in as well, trading blows with the crusader. I have already switched to my sword so that I could block with my shield as well, but I was clearly losing already. The crusader was massive and almost twice my girth, and his blows were so vicious that I had to take an offensive stance just to stay on my feet. In one swoop I slashed at him with my sword while letting go of it so I could quickly reach for my spear. While the sword's momentum carried his shield over to the side I had taken hold of my spear and my pierce came down upon him. I had never actually fought a crusader for real, and although I knew of their resistance to holy attacks, who knew their resistant soul was this shielding. Despite the power in my thrust, the piercing of my brionac did only minor damage to him, although it was enough to startle him and send him taking a few steps back. I picked up my sword immediately and charged in to bash him. Bad idea! He guarded against it and before I knew it in the corner of my eye I could see his ring pommel saber ferociously approaching me from the side. I turned to parry and leapt away, but once again my judgment was incorrect. The saber was merely a distraction for the crusader as he heaved his shield at me. I was in the air and I could do nothing to stop it. I raised my sword but it did not matter at all since I was airborne. The brute force of the shield sent me flying back several yards, somewhat stunned. I was trying to get up but the colossal shield came down again, raining the crusader's punishment onto me. My armor was undamaged, but the shock of the strike was enough to fracture a few of my ribs. He did not stop however. Another hoist and the shield came bearing upon me again, this time hitting me square in the stomach, making me cough out a river of blood to accompany the cacophony of yells I was letting out. The crusader stopped and his apathetic look turned to his side, where another figure approached. I could not make him out; I could barely keep my eyes open. The world was engulfed in darkness and all I could feel was pain.