Disclaimer: do i even need to say it?

Haven't had many hits so far so I'm going to speed it up a bit.

Chapter 3 'Darkness Strikes'

Nina and Emand had been travling for two weeks now, with a three day hike until they reached Alberna. They traveled every day, talking of Nina's parents, or at least what Emand knew of them. From what Nina had heard they were great people, plain and simple, and didn't deserve the fate dealt to them. Emand thought it was strange that no scouts had ran into them as of yet, but didn't voice this to Nina, she had enough on her mind. More so, than he would of thought.

'That voice hasn't come back, but I don't know how I feel about it. At first I was scared and didn't really aknowlegde it, but know I kind of wish it was there, so I can voice my thoughts to it without worrying Emand.' The fact that training was tough also pointed Nina away from really talking heart to heart with Emand. When in training fights Emand didn't even attempt to hold anything back, the bruises and welts all over Nina's left arm was prove of that. Despite that, or mabye even because of it, Nina was advancing very well in sword skills. She had the basic stance and even a few defensive ones down and could succesfully parry and return Emands attacks, not that her efforts really seemed to injure the large man.

Two days away from Alberna, Nina was in a bit of trouble. She awoke after her training with her guardian like usual, only to find she was alone and most of what was left with the supplies had disappeared. Nina wouldn't have been too worried if not for one detail.

Emand's axe was left discarded. Covered in blood.

Nina did the only thing she could think of at the time. She paniced.

"Oh no, what do I do? I should continue on, like Emand would've wanted but I can't just leave. What if he's still near?" Nina calmed down, then decided to look around the immediate area. Just to be safe she pulled Oscuriluz out of it's shealth.

'Just in case.'

After a quick look around, Nina found a trail of blood leading out of the camp and followed it. After many yards Nina had to climb through some thicket and stumbled upon a sight she could never prepare herself for.

Emand was lieing face down, an arrow sticking out of his back. The worst part was he was still breathing, it was bad because while he was still alive, there would be no way to save him. Nina didn't know any way to heal him yet and Alberna was still a good two days hike away.

Nina gasped after recovering from her shock and ran up to Emand.

"Emand! What happened? How did you get shot? Are you going to be okay?" Emand looked up to Nina weakly.

"I-I heardcoughsomething outside of camp and went tocoughinvestigate. They snuck up on mecough Luckily it was just bandits so they were easy to deal with, but when I finished them I was shotcoughcough I tried to follow them, but they got away. I think they posioned the arrow, because when I went to leave I felt dizzy and passed outcough" Emand related the story to Nina, despite her attempts to make him stop talking to save his energy.

"Emand, your going to be okay, just stop talking and I'll get you back to camp." Nina tried to make her godfather stand up, but do to his size, she couldn't.

"No princess, I think this is where I have to say goodbye. Before I go I must tell you, go to Alberna and find a woman named Yana. Tell her that I sent you and that you want to learn magic. You musn't stop until you arrive, I won't be there to protect you, but remeber I will always be in your heart." With a final fit of coughs Emand's eyes glazed over, his body went limp, and he stopped breathing.

"Emand? Emand. Emand don't leave! Your all I have left, mother, father, my home, and now you? What else will they take from me?" Nina sobbed over the dead form of her godfather.

In the back of her mind, a place she didn't often notice, was a burning fury.

Don't worry princess, I will personally destroy the one's who did this to you, I promise.

Nina had buried Emand's body, and was saying her final farewells.

'I will do as you ask, but I will also find who it was that did this to you, and when I do they will wish they had never been born.'

Nina packed what was left of the supplies, along with her belongings and made a nonstop course to Alberna, The Mage City.

'Yana, huh? I hope she won't be hard to find.'

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End chapter 3

Well Emand was killed, but by whom? And for what reason?

Has the darker side of Nina finally shown through, or was it just her rage overwhelming her?

More answers(mabye) and more questions(most likely) in Chapter 4 ''The Message, Master, and Partner'

R&R pls.