Hope you guys will enjoy this. Have a great read, bye.

A Shattered Life

Chapter 3: A Shattered Promise

A shadow swirled through the air and materialized under the sunlight's glare into an oak leaf that plopped into a deep pool of green-ambient crystal and the exotic wet soil scent. Dancing, it etched down waving patterns in the water till it settled, reluctantly, and allowed wind to push it away to the dark brown sunbaked shore at the edge of a water pool wide-spread beneath a gnarling root of an oak tree whose top climbed far into the pristine blue skies. There were many beautiful and tall trees around this area, but none of them were as tall like this one.

The wind whistled and swung between branches weighed down with hanging acorns, inciting their leaves into a pivoting storm. Infant birds squealed when their nest tethered back and forth. Dozens of neighboring trees joined in conspiring murmur, and morning's hubbub settled for good in the heart of the Glypemm forest. Wind blew full-force and oaks wept acorns that dived into the water. Leaves followed behind, parachuting midair. The pool awoke and gurgled in famished anticipation for nourish which came in green shapes raining that danced a while and settled, sinking or allowed themselves to be swept ashore.

On the level below, honey bees rushed out from their hives. Dividing into small groups, they buzzed along the pathways of fragrance to mark scattered networks of poppies and wild roses with an ambience of all-colored blossoms. Eagerly they burrowed their fuzzy busy bodies of chitin and yellow in sweetness-filled flutes. Sometimes a spider came out of its camouflage in the flower, skittered on tip-toe and assassinated the bee in the middle of its gathering ritual. But most foragers made it out with their prize and those rushed towards home and laid their pollen in the honey combs and buzzed by, admiring the gradual growth of their worshipped sweetness until a bear came along and torn their temple to asunder with a single strike from its razor-sharp claw. Fortunately, other hives that were in higher levels continued happily buzzing.

"This place sure is beautiful and calm." Ruby smiled as she looked at her surroundings. For her this forest was far better than the previous one she had been. "I wonder if there are any deer's around here somewhere. I never saw one before with my own eyes, but I always found them quite cute when I watched them on TV." Her silver eyes shined as she admired the forest she was in.

"Speaking of which, look over there." Geo pointed to the side, and there it was, a deer nibbling on the fresh green grass and the newly blooming flowers. "I guess today is your lucky day Ruby." Said Geo.

"Oh! It's so cute and adorable. I wish I could pet it." Ruby couldn't stop staring at the magnificent creature. The young boy noticed how badly she wanted to touch the deer and ran her fingers across the creature's soft fur, so he reached to his backpack and took out a slice of bread. He divided it into small pieces and touched her shoulder to gain her attention. "What is it?" She asked.

"Take these and extend your arm, I'm sure he will come to you."

"Okay." She scattered the tiny pieces of bread on her hand and walked slowly towards the deer's position. "Hey there friend. Are you hungry? I have some food for you." She extended her arm. The deer looked at her face and then her hand. "Come on, don't be afraid I won't harm you." Ruby carefully approached the creature, as she didn't want to scare it away.

The deer began to smell Ruby's hand for a quick moment, making the young girl giggle, as she felt the deer's wet nose rubbing against her skin. "Haha! Your so cute." Then the creature started to eat the bread on her hand, and now she was able to pet him. "The fur is so fluffy and warm. Oh, if only I could hug you." A smile spread across her lips. "Don't you want to pet it Geo?"

"Sure." He nodded. "Such a beautiful creature." Geo placed his hand on the deer's back and ran it back and forth. Both Ruby and Geo enjoyed themselves for a while with the animal, but their time was short as they needed to get to the old mansion to search for the villagers that ran away during the Grimm attack. "I know you want to continue playing with it some more but we must go, and find the others before it gets dark."

"You're right." Ruby finished petting. She then softly kissed the deer on the nose and said. "Bye." The deer stared at the red girl as she walked away, but soon enough it went back eating the grass like nothing had happened.

With that done, Ruby and Geo resumed their path through the forest. Multitude of birds saturated the air with song and color as they care for their young or dart from tree to tree, and glide through the air. Rainbows of butterflies past by Geo. "In all the forests I've ever been this certainly is the most marvelous one." The butterflies danced in the sun strewn clearings that dot the forest from one end to the other.

Ruby glanced at the young Lord, she wanted to ask him a certain question that's been stuck in her mind since she met a woman named Sunny back at Perlshaw. "Can I ask you something Geo?"

"Go ahead."

"Why did you release Sunny from her duty as your bodyguard?" She asked intrigued. "I know it's none of my business but you are the son of a very rich and powerful man aren't you? So you should need protection because there are a lot of people that could use you to get to your father. Not to mention people that want to see you dead."

"Interesting." The boy was surprised, he didn't expected such a question. "Well, I released Sunny from her duty because I believe everyone should be free to decide their own path, and not follow some stupid old traditions. Besides, I don't need to be protected, I can take care of myself." Answered Geo. "I may not be able to break the chains from the path that was decided for me, but at least I can give others a chance to live their own lives as they see fit."

Ruby could feel the burden of being heir to the throne of Gwain was something that Geo didn't desire. "The way you said that, it seems you don't want to rule."

Geo turned to her. "You have no idea how it's like to be the son of Lord Aiden. Everyone expects me to be just like him if not better, they want a strong minded ruler that has the capacity of facing difficult challenges without showing fear or hesitation." He replied. "But I'm only sixteen, I have no frigging clue how to rule a town or its citizens, I have no idea what type of problems I'll face when my time comes to assume the throne." Geo looked at his family's crest. "What if I mess it up for everyone? I don't want to be the downfall of my family."

Ruby placed her hand on his shoulder. "I understand if you are nervous that's normal, but from what Sunny told me you are a good leader, and I believe her because when I arrived at Perlshaw. You were the one who came up with the plan to defend the village from the Grimm and thanks to your leadership Perlshaw was saved." She said. "Those people are alive because of you."

"...I guess what you say is true, but I still have a long way to go." Geo felt more confident thanks to Ruby's words. "Thank you for your kind words Ruby, I won't forget them." He bowed his head.

"There's no need for thanking me, I was just saying what was true." She smiled. "Look! That must be the mansion we are looking for." Ruby pointed.

"Indeed it is."

Both of them walked to the broken, rust filled gates that led to the courtyard. "Wait...I hear something." Geo pushed the gate gently to make sure he didn't made too much noise, and alert whatever was inside roaming around freely. Then, he and Ruby saw several Beowolves together enjoying a nice meal. "I have no idea what they are eating but it doesn't seem to be human."

"Ew! That's so gross." She avoid looking at them. "So what's the plan?"

"Give me a moment." Said Geo. "Okay, this is what we are going to do. I will face them head on, while you cover me with your amazing marksman skills."

"Why do you have all of the fun?"

"Must I remind you are still injured? If you go to battle in that condition there's a chance your body will start to hurt again, causing you to lose focus on your enemy and leave you open for an attack that might take your life." Geo said. "So for safety reasons you will stay here and cover me with your weapon."

Ruby sighed with a bored expression. "Fine." She released Crescent Rose in rifle form which it was a medium-length, bolt-action rifle used for long range combat. "Okay my sweetheart let's show these Grimm why they shouldn't mess with us." She ran her hand along the weapon.

"Are you talking to your scythe?"

Ruby got embarrassed. "I-Is it weird?"

"Not really, I do the same thing sometimes." Geo walked away, leaving Ruby behind with a smile on her face. While he walked through the courtyard some of the Grimm heard his footsteps and stopped eating. Their mouths were dripping blood as they stared at him with their red glowing eyes. "Come and face me creatures of darkness." Geo released his sword.

The Beowolves let out a bloodthirsty roar and charged at him with a ferocious look on their faces. Geo held up his blade to block an incoming strike from a Grimm, then he brought it down, slicing right through the chest of the Beowolf. Then two Beowolves jumped at him, but he dodged them by rolling to the left, after that he slashed both creatures in half with a single swing.

Each of his strikes and attacks completely overcame the Grimm as they were cleaved into pieces from the attacks of the blade that was in his hands. "Just a few more." As those words left his lips, a barrage of bullets whizzed past his ears and all of the sudden every remaining Grimm was dead. "Really? I was actually enjoying myself."

"I know but you were taking too long. Besides, your fighting technique could use some improvements."

"Ha! Is that your way to tell me you are better than me?"

"Yes."

Geo smiled. "Someone is feeling pretty cocky of herself."

Ruby giggled as she walked past him. With that done, they made their way to the mansion's main entrance. When they approached the door they noticed a lot of blood on the ground. "I don't like this." Said Ruby.

"Neither do I." Geo placed his hand on the door's knob, he turned it around and opened it. The sight that stood in front of them was gruesome. Men, women and children were all dead with deep wounds spread across their figures caused the Beowolves teeth's and claws. Tears of pain were still wet upon their lifeless cheeks. "This is horrible." Geo looked at the walls and they too were painted with blood. "These people didn't even had a chance." He then turned to Ruby. "Are you okay? You don't look well."

Ruby's eyes were wide open as she couldn't believe what she was seeing at this moment. Then a warm putrid feeling began rising up to her throat, she did her best to hold what was coming by covering her mouth but it was of no use. In the end she threw up, tears streamed down her face, as her body shivered all over. A tingling almost burning sensation was left in her throat and mouth. She felt weak and fell to the floor. "...I...I..." She looked at her hands covered with blood that wasn't hers.

Geo quickly wrapped his coat around her. "Let's get out of here." He grabbed her legs and pulled her up. He left the mansion with Ruby in his arms. "Ruby...Ruby? Are you okay?"

Ruby leaned her head against his chest and started to cry. "T-They...even the children."

"I know...I know."

"I-I promised the old man that I was going to bring his daughter back alive, but she's...dead. I-I don't have the courage to tell him what happened."

"Don't worry, I'll tell Captain Solomon to inform the villagers of what happened here." Geo replied.

"T-Thank you." Said Ruby.

"You are welcome." He said. "Listen, my ship will be here in a few minutes to pick me up, if you wish you can come with me back to Gwain. There you will be able to recover your strength and get some rest."

"I don't want to bother you."

"You won't bother me."

Ruby looked at him. "You are too nice you know that?"

Geo smiled. "You are not the first one to say it."