Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online. This story, however, is completely mine and may not be redistributed or used without my approval.
Chapter 4
It was almost midnight and I awoke from a nightmare. Sweating and panting I sat on the bed, my back leaning on the wall. After moments of silence, I heard something OTHER than Crono's snoring. It sounded like footsteps…about ten of them. Very silent footsteps, but I could tell that they were heading out way. The inn was supposed to be closed and these footsteps were way too silent to be natural walking. I quickly slipped into my armor and woke Crono up.
"What's-" Before he said more, I put my hand over his mouth.
"Listen…" We stayed motionless and silent for a long while. Crono's face showed worry but he took a deep breath and nodded. Crono look his arc wand and readied to strike the intruders with any spell he could think of. I, however had lost my flamberge and buckler when Tobie took me away, therefore I prepared myself to defend with bare fists. The footsteps slowed and quieted. That was when I remembered something.
"Crono…" I said, my heart thumping faster. "Did you notice the posters up on the walls around the buildings?"
"I-" He started but went silent. We both knew now. They had prepared us to be outlaws way before Crono helped me out of Prontera. Suddenly, our room door flew open and I was hit with an Assassin's dagger in the shoulder, right between my armor pads.. "Shit!" Crono saw the Assassins flood into the room and panicked. "F-FIREWALL!" He chanted and the room was engulfed in flames. I pulled the dagger out of my shoulder and ran for the window while the Assassins were confused and blinded by the fire. Grabbing Crono's arm, I jumped out of the window, breaking the glass. We landed on the floor and when we got up, we could see the Assassins coming out of the window.
Lights were lighted in the surrounding buildings and shouts were heard from inside the inn. It was catching on fire fast. My natural instinct told me to run in and save the people, but now was not the time. If we didn't get out of here, we'll be killed. Untying the grand Peco and pulling Crono up, I was then jumped by another Assassin. Falling to the ground, I was also met with many thrusts of the Assassin's katar. One of them nearly hit my head. Kneeing the ambusher in the stomach, I pushed him off. I looked around and Crono was nowhere to be found. The grand Peco was gone too. Yet the ten assassins surrounded me like a pack of wolves ready to take down their prey. Taking a deep breath, I put my hands up and readied to fight.
'GC is my only option…' I thought hard on the decision. The power of my Grand Cross was weak and it takes energy and my own blood to activate. 'Lets…rock then!' One of the Assassins attacked first and one by one they flew onto me, stabbing and thrusting. "GRAND….CROSS!" I shouted as soon as all ten of them were on me. A huge light, drawn in the shape of a cross emerged from the ground, hitting the Assassins and sending them flying back. I panted and was bleeding internally. The Assassins got up to strike again. I would be down if I used Grand Cross again. Putting up my fist, I took a deep breath. 'At least I won't die will in berserk.' I closed my eyes and waited to be stuck down. I heard the Assassin's move and held my breath.
"HIKARU!" I heard a familiar voice shout. "STOP SLEEPING!" I open my eyes to see the grand Peco trampling over two Assassins and Crono Fire Bolting and Fire Walling the others. He stopped casting his fire spells and threw a Tsurugi towards me. I caught the sword in time to catch the shield he also threw towards me. "Sorry I took so long, the shopkeeper was nagging me to get better stuff." I smirked and ran past the firewall, surprising the Assassins behind it and swung my sword at them. Two fell unconscious by the deep wound I caused them and the others panicked, which gave me a chance to do some damage before they were organized again. Crono rode the Peco to where I was, leaving the two others unconscious oh the ground with severe head injuries. The last six were now wounded also. Crono readied another fire spell and I was ready to strike with the blade again.
"Sonic blow!" one of them lunged at me. I blocked the majority of the attack with my shield, took some hits and hit him hard with a Holy Cross. The Assassin fell to the ground groaning in pain. His companions backed away shocked as I was. Holy Cross…wasn't supposed to do so much damage, at least not at my stage. Within moments, the rest of the Assassins fled and Crono had cast a firewall behind them.
"We can't stay here." The Wizard said silently as we looked at the gathering crowd. I covered my face with my cape as Crono did with his cloak.
"Let's go then." I climbed onto the grand Peco and rode away from Morroc, exiting through the north exit, towards the great pyramids.