Chapter 4 : Friends or foes ?
Hey guys, Agithos here for another chapter, and since I don't have anything to say, enjoy.
WARNING : This is a rewrite. If you find something that you think is incoherent with later chapters. Please, let me know immediatly.
Present time, The cave, Mickael POV
Here we were, five versus two, four adventurers and a soldier against a woman archer and a little girl. Our opponent seemed to be really confident with her bow while the little purple haired girl was hiding behind her. By the way she was glaring at David, you could guess she was very angry at him for destroying her chest. In front of me, I noticed that David and Edun had already pulled out their swords and were facing the archer who still had her bow aimed right at us. One wrong move and one of us would receive an arrow staight in the eyes. I wanted to stop this before it gets out of hands.
"Hum...miss ?" I called her as I approached her very slowly.
For only answer, she fired her arrow and the projectile stuck itself just a few centimeters in front of my feet. I immediatly raised my arms into the air to show her I didn't mean any harm.
"Who said you were allowed to walk toward me ?" The archer finally responded after a few seconds with cold eyes.
"...Okay...Whatever, just...listen, we will go back to the entrance and no one will be..."
"I hope you are just kidding Mickael..." David interrupted me "We have gone too far into this cave to turn back now. Do you want the death of the others members of the group to be in vain ? No, I don't think so, so that's what were are going to do : We will get past those two mobs, take the ressources this mine has to offer and we will all get rich by the end of the day. We are not going to go and make friend with every mob we meet !"
"Mob ? Did he just say...mob ? In the game, the mobs were spiders, creepers and that sort of monster. What I see here are two normal human girls !" I thought before noticing something strange on the archer's hat "On second thought, the design on the hat of this woman make me think of a skeleton's face..."
My thoughts were interrupted by Edun pushing me out of his way.
"Looks like I was right after all. Bringing the baby-man into this mine was a waste. Let me take care of her. It will only take a second !" He spoke up with a cocky smile on his face.
Edun approached this archer. This time however, she didn't shoot her arrow and she simply held her ground. She didn't seem scared or even fazed by the imposent knight. She even went as far at smiling when Edun finally got in range. As I figured, this had the power to anger him.
"What are you smiling at, you pathetic insect ? Let's see if you will still smile cut in half !" Edun said as I saw him raising his sword above his head.
I really didn't want to see this. Don't get me wrong, I am not afraid of some blood but if that woman was going to be hit by that sword, it won't be pretty at all. The archer was still staying where she was and Edun brang down his sword on her with a laugh. The rest went almost too fast for my brain to understand what just happened. Like water flowing around an obstacle, the woman archer dodged the sword before doing a backflip, kicking Edun's chin on her way. The force of the blow made Edun's helmet fly of his head. Immediatly after landing on the ground, she drew her bow and fired her arrow. The arrow grazed his face, slightly cutting his skin and letting blood flow on his cheek. The wound was not deep but still...
"Damn it, she is fast !" I thought "She avoided Edun's sword and counter-attacked in less than three seconds !"
Then, a little girl's voice came into my ears. She was sitting on the ground, about a meter away behind the archer. Judging by the smile on her face, she was enjoying the fight.
"Impressed, are you ? That's normal, Ayumi's is the best archer I know. Even if you three fight her at the same time, you would stand no chance against her !" She said before bursting into laugher.
"We will see about that..." David murmured not long before pushing me into the battle with a big slap on the back "I think Edun could use some assistance, go help him !"
Because of David puching me, I arrived next to Edun staggering out a little. He and his rotten brain just had the greatest idea of all time : upon seeing me approaching, he put his leg in front of mine. This resulted in me tripping over his leg and making a beautiful fight. The archer, who wasn't really expecting this kind of ''attack'', didn't have the time to react. I crashed into her, making the both of us fall on the ground.
"Ouch !" Was all I was able to say. I opened my eyes to see I was on the top of her, really close to her face. Her face was going redder and redder with every second passing, either from anger or embarrassment...maybe both.
"GET OF ME, YOU DISGUSTING PIG !" She screamed at me before kicking me straight in my private parts with her left knee. Then she put her right leg under my torse and pushed me with enough force that I ended up flying behind her and hit the wall. If you want to know...yes it hurt like hell.
"I swear Notch. If you are watching me right now, you better not laugh or even smile. If not, I am going to kick your ass !"
Because of the pain, I was stuck on the ground, it was too painful to move. I could only watch David and Edun fight the woman archer who had clearly an advantage over them. Yes, hey had the number, the armor and the close fight weapons but she had the speed, the agility and a long range weapon. Each time, she would avoid their sword and counter-attack with a kick or a shot. Unlike my two teammates, I had a light armor, meaning I had more speed and agility than them. I was the only one in the group that coul put a fair battle against her. I just needed a plan B.
"My pistol...I think I put it in my bag !" I remembered.
While I searched in my backpack for my Five-Seven, the little girl slowly crawled toward, she was calmly eating a piece of bread. To tell the truth, I expected her to hit me with whatever she had. However, she simply stopped in front of me and began to ask :
"What are you searching for ? A bow ? A potion ? Some food ?"
"Well...huuuuh..." I tried to answer. I didn't think they would understand the concept of firearms and guns.
"Meh, don't bother answering, I don't really care. Whatever stunt or trick you are trying to pull, it will fail. Ayumi is too strong for the three of you !"
With that being said, she returned to her little spot, like if she was watching a movie in a theater. Shortly after that, I finally found my pistol and put it in a place in my armor where I could reach it easily if the worst was to happen.
"AAARG !"
That was David's screaming, an arrow stuck in his shoulder, he winced in pain before facing the archer once again.
"You little prick, you will pay for that !"
"Then show me what you got !" The confident archer replied with a cocky smile.
"As you wish. Edun, listen, with a combined attack, we will have her for sure !"
Edun nodded and, soon enough, the two of them charged the archer and tried to strike her, both with a different angle. Unfortunatly for them, the woman archer named Ayumi had a plan in mind. She also rushed the two men at full speed. Just as they wer about to slash at her, she slid on the ground between them. Then, she quickly went on her feet and released another arrow which arrived straight into David's right leg, between two armor plates. He screamed in pain and fell on the ground, unable stay on his feet any longer.
As for Edun, he turned back to the archer and intended to slash at Ayumi's legs. The woman archer jumped above his sword and kicked his nose while she was in the air. Edun's nose made a loud cracking sound which echoed in the cavern. He almost screamed in pain as he went on one knee and held his bleeding face.
At long last, the pain slowly fade away and I was finally able to get up. I saw the archer in front of my two other teammates, bow in hand and ready to finish them of. I could also hear the little girl cheering for her friend. I became angry. I promised Natasha that I would return with David being safe and sound and this archer was going to execute him right in front of my eyes. I couldn't let that happen.
I rushed toward them and shouted :
"LEAVE THEM ALONE !"
Hearing my scream, the archer stared at me with a shocked look on her face. She quickly loaded her arrow and shot at me. Time seemed to slow down and I avoided the arrow with ease. Seeing I wasn't slowing down, she repeated the process another time, one time, two times. Each and every one of the arrows she shot at me were avoided, thanks to my soldier training which granted me reflexes above average. When she was finally in range, I tried to punch her but she simply jumped above me and landed behind me. She tried to shoot at me one more time but I didn't let her. I raised my leg and tried to back kick her straight in the stomach. She managed to dodge it but by only a hair.
"Not bad...You are definitly more skilled than those two !" She said as she pointed a finger at David and Edun.
"Surrender, I don't want to hurt you !" I replied.
"Sorry, that trick won't work with me !" She responded before loading another arrow.
I quickly did a forward roll and the deadly projectile passed just a few inches above my head. I arrived in front of her and managed to smack her bow away from her hands before she could reload. Having lost her weapon, she glared at me and tried to punch me. Using what I learnt during my military training, I caught her hand and forced her to turn around. Then, I wrapped my arm around her neck and put her into a chokehold.
"Calm down, I said I wasn't going to hurt you !"
"I...don't believe...you !" She responded as she was having some difficulty to breathe.
"Ayumi !" I heard the little girl call her name. By the sound of her voice, I could tell he was becoming worried.
"Don't worry...Vanessa...I am not...giving up !"
As she said that, Ayumi raised her right leg and managed to kick me in the face. I released her from my grasp and took a few steps back. As for the archer, she gasped for air as she got on her feet once more.
"Ayumi ! Catch !" The little girl almost screamed at her as she threw the archer's bow at her as well as a few arrows.
"Thank you Vanessa !" The archer smiled as she picked the bow and an arrow.
"Damn..." I thought as she drew her bow in my direction.
"It's over !" Ayumi spoke up.
"RAAAAAAAAAAH !"
I just had the time to turn my head before seeing Edun rushing to the young archer. Without a second thought, Ayumi shot straight at the imposant knight. The arrow arrived in Edun's thigh and he fell on the floor, a meter away from us. Taking advantage of the distraction Edun provided, intentionally or not, I rushed to the archer.
She tried to kick me in the face, but I grabbed her leg. I saw her eyes widening when I threw her against the wall. She hit the wall at full speed and fell on the ground with a gasp of pain.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw me standing in front of her with her own bow aimed right in her direction. To tell the truth, I didn't even know how to use a bow correctly.
"It's over, surrender !" I said with a harsh voice.
She looked at the floor with sad eyes. Behind me, I could hear Edun helping David who had trouble getting on his feet. Even with an arrow stuck in his body, Edun was walking like he just had be bitten by a mosquito. He looked at us and said :
"The baby man may not be so useless after all !"
"I agree !" David nodded "You showed her to not mess with us, humans, now, finish her !" He continued.
"Please...You can do whatever you want with me but...please...leave Vanessa out of this, she is just a child !" Ayumi pleaded as she looked at her little friend.
"Ayumi..." The child known as Vanessa replied with tearful eyes.
"So...If I understand you right, if we let your little female mob friend, we can do whatever we want with you ?" David asked.
"...Yes..." Ayumi sighed after a moment.
"Mickael, since you are the one who beat her, why don't you begin ?" David replied.
"What do you mean ?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just think for a little, you are a man and she is a girl. Does your brain connect the two end ?" He facepalmed as Edun helped him walk toward me.
"Are you serious ?" I asked back, a little anxious about how things were turning out around here.
The archer looked at me with a sad and deppressed look on her face. Then, she turned toward Vanessa who had tears in her eyes.
"Vanessa, run...run and don't turn around. Remember what I told you and you will be safe. Now go before those humans change their minds !"
I looked at the little girl before she burst into tears and ran away in the darkness of the cave. Even though I couldn't see her anymore, I could still hear her cries in the cavern. I turned to look at the archer, she had some tears running along her cheeks, all her confidence were replaced by sadness and regrets. I must have been in my thought for a long time because Edun pushed me out of his way.
"Come on baby man. If you don't want to have some fun with that beauty, then let others have some !"
I felt nothing but pity for the poor girl in front of me, I knew will not go easy on her. However, she was smiling, knowing her sacrifice would not have been in vain. Edun picked her by the throat and threw her on the ground. Suddenly, we heard a scream of terror coming from the path the little girl took a while ago. A second later, we saw three figures emerging from the dark, the two men from the other group who were firmly Vanessa by the arms. She was struggling to get free but no avail.
"Let me go, you jerks. You chief said I was free to go !"
"Shut you, young mob. We weren't there, so we can't trust you !" The man at her right replied.
The two men went to David and asked him :
"Cheif, this mob claim that you let it go, is that true ?" One of them asked.
A machiavellian smile appeared on his face as he thought about something.
"No, absolutely not. This mob runned away when we were dealing with the other one !" He then took a good look at her face "A nice specimen, indeed, we could gain a beautiful amount of emeralds if we sell her as a slave !"
Ayumi, who was overhearing the conversation shouted with a voice full of anger and fear.
"Y-you BASTARD, YOU TOLD ME SHE WOULD BE LEFT ALONE !"
"Did I say that ? Oh yes, I said that I would let her go, but not for how long !" David chuckled
The woman archer was now crying out loud, so was the little girl. Tears were running along their cheeks.
"LET HER GO !"
"AYUMI ! HELP !"
I looked at my hand, they were sweaty and slightly shaking.
"What...What have I done ?" I thought. Suddenly, Notch's words came into my mind.
"Bear in your mind what you mother told you !"
17 years ago, Berlin, Mickael POV
It was near noon, I was walking in Berlin's street with my mother, near the remains of Berlin's wall. She planned on buying me some new clothes for the start of the school year. At one point , we came across an old man sitting on the sidewalk, his back leaning against the wall. His clothes were torn apart, his beard was long, grey and dirty. A hat was in front of him as well as a sign with ''I need help to eat'' written on it. Once my mom saw that, she stopped in front of the man, pulled out her wallet and gave the old man a 20 DEM bill. The man deeply thanked my mom and we returned to our shopping. I asked her :
"Mom ? Why we gave money to this stranger ?"
"Because, sweetie, in this world, life can be harsh. We need to give help to those who don't have the same luck at us, hopping, one day, they will get better. Do you understand sweetie ?"
"How can I help ? Do I need to find somewhere ?" I asked innocently...Hey, I was just four years old.
My mother laughed a little before answering :
"No, Mickael, you can help by doing what you think is right !"
"How can I know if what I think is right ?" I asked
"You need to follow your heart sweetie, the thing that is right here !" she said as she pointed where is my heart with a finger.
"Ooooh, I think I get it !"
"Very good, you are a fast learner !" My mother replied as she kissed my forehead "Now, let's get going, thoses clothes are not going to go into our bags by themselves !"
Present time, The cave, Mickael POV
"Follow your heart..."
"Do what you think is right !"
I couldn't take it anymore, these guys didn't have any honor "How can they..." They were ready to tear apart a family for their own business "How can they... There were going to rape a girl and surely kill her afterwards. Then her little friend will live all her life as a slave "HOW CAN THEY DO THAT ?" I never felt so much anger in my entire life. Not only did they want to rape a defensless girl but they also promised something to her, but betrayed her. I needed to punch something or...someone. I saw that Edun was pinning Ayumi on the ground and was trying to remove her clothes.
"LET HER GO, I AM BEGGING YOU !" She screamed with tears in her eyes.
"Shut up woman, no one wants to hear you !" Edun raised his fist and was ready to give the archer a piece of his mind. Ayumi braced herself for the impact and closed her eyes, but the punch never came. When she opened her eyes, she saw my foot making contact with the face of the iron knight. The imposant man was sent flying at David's feet who looked at me with a shocked face.
"Mickael, what in the Nether are you doing ?" David glared at me.
"I am doing what I feel is right !" I simply replied.
I pulled out my sword from its sheath and runned toward the two other guys to free the little purple haired girl. Seeing me rushing toward them, they let her go and unsheathed their sword to attack me. One didn't even have the time to raise his sword as mine was already going through his heart. The other one tried to strike at me but, thanks to my high reflex and the mobility with my armor, I successfully dodged his attack. Slashing at a perfect horizontal angle, I decapitated his head which rolled on the floor, followed by the body a second later. Exbarelyburn was now covered in blood and David and Edun were glaring at me with blazing eyes.
"David, let me fight this baby man !" Edun spoke up.
"Go ahead, I won't stop you this time !" He replied.
The imposant man walked toward me, his eyes full of hate and bloodlust. He surely wanted his revenge for the kick I gave him a minute ago.
"I'll make you cry baby man, you will beg me to end your life once I am finished with you !"
"Don't make me laugh, fatty !" I smiled.
We rushed at each other and the sound of our swords clashing boomed out in the cave. Like the first time we fought, Edun and I were fighting for dominance. He was stronger than me and we bot knew it. I quickly jumped away from him and his sword hit the wall, making a small crack into the stone. Then he tried to strike at me but I rolled underneath his sword. When I arrived on my feet, I found myself behind him. I took the chance and kicked the back of his leg, making him fall on one knee.
"Take this !" I said as I striked at his back
My sword went through his armor like butter and made a injury on his back. Edun groaned as he felt the sharp blade cut through his skin. I took a few steps back as I saw him get on his feet.
"RAAAAAAAAH !"
Becoming a sort of berserker immune to pain, he rushed toward me with a scream of rage. I was expecting that to happen like it did during our last fight, so I jumped sideway and Edun runned past me. However, to my surprise, he managed to grab the collar of my armor and I found myself pinned against the wall in a fraction of a second.
"I am going to make you suffer !" He said.
His fist collided with my face and my head hit the stone behind me. My vision became blurry and a sound began to ring in my head. By the time I regained focus on my surrounding, his sword was already above me.
"Time to die !"
"Oh crap !" I thought right before Edun brang down his sword on me.
I didn't have the time to react. I just raised Exbarelyburn, hopping to parry his sword. Unfortunatly, he put too force into this one that it completely broke my defence, the sword entered into my flesh and made a big cut in my left shoulder. I screamed in pain as I felt my skin being torn apart.
Edun removed his sword, not without causing some more pain on my side. I looked at my wound, it was really bad, I could see my muscle and a river of blood was coming out of it.
"Ah shit...if I don't finish this fight quickly, it may very well be my last one !"
My thoughts were interrupted by Edun who raised his sword one more time to kill me. I did my best to parry it with my wounded arm but it wasn't enough. The force of the blow made my loose my grip over my sword which was sent flying a few meters away from the battle. Edun smiled at me and said :
"You are dead, not a big surprise !"
I sighed as I realized I had no other option. It was either that or be killed. I put my hand in my armor and pulled out my pistol before pointing it in Edun's direction. He looked at me with a questionning eyes for a moment before he began to laugh out loud. David had also the same reaction. As for the two girls behind me, they still had that puzzled face, probably asking what I was holding and how it was going to be useful against an almost fully iron armored swordsman.
"You are funny little man. How are you supposed to kill me with such a small thing ? Are you going to beat me to death with it ?" Edun asked.
"No, I have another thing in mind !" I answered.
I turned my head to face the woman archer known as Ayumi.
"Thanks for the help, it will be much easier !" I spoke up.
"Huh ?" She simply asked.
I didn't respond and smply smiled. She didn't understand what I meant but, by knocking Edun's helmet of his face, she let me have a clear vision of his face, and no armor to stop a bullet. The imposant knight saw me smiling.
"What are you smiling about little man ?"
Without looking at David, I asked him :
"Hey, David, remember that moment when you told me that a small weapon can't do anything and that everything bigger is better ? Watch and learn !"
I pressed the trigger of my Five-Seven. In a fraction of a second, the bullet entered Edun's forehead, pierced his skull and went through his brain. Edun stood still for a second before falling on the floor, lifeless. David was shocked by the scene :
"What...What just happened ? What did you do ?"
"He won't get up, he is dead !" I replied, looking at Edun's corpse.
I walked toward David with eyes full of hate, he fell on the with a scared look in his eyes. I pointed the pistol at his face, almost at point blank range. He stared at it for a moment before saying :
"What are going to do ? Kill me ?"
"As much as would love to, no, I won't. I promised Natasha you would return alive. However, I'll make sure that you won't come back here to have your revenge on those two !" I said while pointing at Ayumi and Vanessa.
I took a grip on the two arrows stuck in him and tore them out of his body. He screamed in pain as I held the two bloody arrows in my hand.
"Now, go...And I don't want to see you here, ever again !"
He got up with difficulty and started to limp toward the exit. Just before disappearing into the darkness of the cave, he turned to us.
"I'll come back here with more men and this mine will be mine !"
Then, he vanished into the dark. I approached the two girls. The little girl was whimpering into her protector's arm who tightened her hug upon seeing me walking toward them. Ayumi looked at me with serious eyes
"Why did you do this ? You could have done what you were told and get out of here unharmed !" She spoke up.
"Because that's what a good person would do !" I answered.
A sudden pain in my shoulder made me remember that I was hurt. My adrenaline boost was coming to an end and I felt weaker and weaker with every second passing because of the blood loss.
"Hey human...Are you alright ?" Ayumi asked.
The last thing I remember before loosing consciousness was seeing Ayumi saying something to Vanessa
"Vanessa, quick. Help me carry him inside the cave !"
Present time, The void, Mickael POV
I opened my eyes to see Notch leaning above me, his face just inches away from mine.
"GAAAAAAH !" I screamed, surprised by this."
"Slept well ?" He asked with a sort of smile on his face.
"It would have been better if you didn't surprise me like this !" I answered as I looked around "I am in that place again...So, that means I died ? I didn't survive to my injuries ?"
"No, you are still alive, and those girls are taking care of your wounds. However, you are right, you are badly wounded !"
I sighed as I sat down on the ground and looked at the dark void above us.
"I saw what you did inside of this cave. While I believe there was another way, I don't think you have made a bad choice !" Notch said as he sat down next to me.
"I know, I was trained for this, but...I don't think it would have come up so soon...that moment when you have to take someone's life to save your own and those you wish to protect !" I replied.
"I understand, however, what do you think would have happened if you didn't act ?"
"I guess the woman archer would have been raped then killed and the little girl would have been sold as a slave. I know deep inside me I made the right choice. It's just that...it was my first time killing someone. I can't help but feel guilty, even if they were bad guys !" I answered
I heard Notch chuckle :
"Good, that's why you are different from them. Don't put aside this part of you if you don't want to end up like those you just killed !" He said before pausing for a second "Umm...It seems like your body is ready to be fonctional again. We will talk later !"
"Okay, see ya !" I responded.
"Oh, before I forget, watch you when you wake up !"
"What do you mean ?" I asked
"You'll see !"
Present time, The cave, Mickael POV
I woke up to see two red eyes staring straight into mine. I probably would have reacted pretty badly if Notch didn't warn me a minute before.
"Thanks for that !" I thought.
A second later, the eyes widened and the owner's eyes quickly walked away from me. She then exited the room and shouted :
"AYUMI, HE WOKE UP !"
I tried to sit on the bed but it was pretty difficult and painful. My shoulder hurt like hell but I managed to pull myself into a sitting postion. I looked around the place to see that I was in a sort of room, probably dug into the stone. The bed underneath me was mainly composed of cobblestone and animal fur to make to a sort of matress. I was topless with only a bandage made out of wool and attached by some cobwebs.
I heard some quick footsteps getting closer to the room. The little girl I remembered as Vanessa entered the room, closely followed by the woman archer from before. She was holding two bowls, one in each hands. One was full of water while the other was containing some food. Ayumi looked at me with a serious look on her face. She put the two bowls next to me.
"I see you are awake, good. I have something to ask you !" She spoke up.
"Sure, go ahead. I am listening !" I replied before drinking some water. Damn, it felt good.
"Why did you save us ?" She asked.
"I already told you that..."
"ENOUGH !" She shouted before drawing her bow at point blank range toward my face "Are you stupid or you just don't understand ?"
I can't say that I wasn't surprised by her sudden outburst. I could see her eyes slowly watering up and the hand holding her bow was slightly shaking. She calmed herself before continuing, even though her bow was still pointing toward me.
"We are mobs, everyone hate us and we have to hide in the dark to survive. To you, humans, we are abominations that must be exterminated. However, you didn't hesitate to kill your own teammates in order to save us. You killed three members of your own species, so I'll ask you one more time : Why did you do it ?"
"So...these girls are mobs ?" I asked myself "That doesn't make any sence but...at the same time...it does. Ayumi is using a bow as a weapon, she has a skeleton face sewed on her hat and all her clothes are grey. If she is really a mob, she could be a skeleton. As for Vanessa, she doesn't have a weapon, have four red orbs in her hair and her clothes are dark green. She could be a spider or a cave spider..."
"Why don't you answer !" Ayumi asked me more harshly than before.
I thought a little more before giving her what she wanted.
"You want an answer ? Fine, first of all, when I saw you for the first time, I didn't see any kind of abomination. I just saw two young woman. Look at you, you are almost like me. Second of all, I came from somewhere were people like me try protect eveyone from any sort of harm. No matter what you are or where you come from, you are a living that need to be treated with respect and dignity. The simple fact they wanted to have fun with you and sell her..." I pointed towards Vanessa "...as a slave made me loose all respect for them. I couldn't just stand there and let them get away with it. There, you have your answer !"
That being said, I looked at her. She seemed quite shocked for a moment, then she lowered her bow toward the ground. I saw a single tear coming out of her eyes and I heard a small ''Thank you'' coming out of her mouth. She made a small sign to Vanessa with her hand. The little girl sighed and exited the room, only to return a minute later with my sword, my armor and my Five-Seven.
"What is that ?" Vanessa asked as she carefully inspected my firearm "How did you kill this kight with that ?"
"This is a weapon from where I live, that's all you need to know !" I replied as I picked the pistol from her hands, earning a little 'Hmpf'' coming from her.
I then turned to Ayumi.
"I guess I must thank you for taking care of my wound. I would have probably bled out otherwise !"
"No problem !" She responded as she faced the exit of the room "You should get back to the surface and forget about this place !"
"I would love to but I don't live here. I come from somewhere very far away and I pratically know nothing about this place. Furthermore, after what I did to protect you two, I am surely considered a traitor by now !" I then started to laugh "Beside, who will help you if you are in trouble ?"
"You are a strange one, human !" Ayumi crossed her arms "You have nearly been killed three hours ago and you are already laughing about it...Anyway...I guess you could stay here. What do you think of it, Vanessa ?"
The little girl stared straight into my eyes for a few seconds before answering.
"If he repairs my chest, I'll think about letting him stay !"
"Deal !" I replied.
"Good, now that is settle, may we start the presentation ?" The woman archer asked "Maybe you know our names but we didn't really catch yours...Mickael...Is that it ?"
"Yes, Mickael Tabor to be exact !" I answered.
"Meh...too long. I'll call you Mike !" Vanessa responded.
"Alright, fine with me !" I smiled before getting up "Well, that chest isn't going to repair itself. How about you and me do it ?"
"Nah..." She replied, clearly uninterested "I am going to eat, I'll rejoin you later !"
I saw Vanessa exiting the room and picking up a piece a bread on the floor. She began to eat it with a grin on her face. I only had one thought in mind at this precise moment "DENIED !". I turned to face Ayumi and asked her :
"Do you have some wood and a crafting table I could use ?"
"Sure, we should have one in the storage room. I'll show you where to go, you'll find what you need !"
"Thanks !"
"Follow me !" She waved at me.
I exited the room and followed Ayumi for a minute through the cave until we arrived in front of a room with a sign. ''Storage room !" Was written on it.
"Go in there and take whatever you feel is useful. Then we will go to Vanessa's chest, so you can fix it !"
While searching in the dirty storage for wood and a crafting table. I replied to Ayumi :
"I saw that chest, it's unfixabe. David destroyed it when he tossed it aside. We will have to craft a new one !" I saw a few blocks of pure wood lying on the floor "AHAH, I got all I need. Let's craft this chest !"
I exited the storage room with all the blocks of woods in my hands. Ayumi led me to the place where we fought Edun and David. The corpses were still there, untouched. I stared at them with a sad look on my face, unfortunatly, Ayumi saw that and asked me :
"Are you okay ?"
"Yeah...It's just that it was the first I killed someone !" I answered as I turned away from the scene.
We saw Vanessa's chest, or more exactly what is left of it, a few meters away from the battle. Ayumi chuckled and said :
"You were right, it's unfixable. Now, it will take us a few hours to make a new one !"
"No, it should only take a minute if I use these blocks !" I replied
"How will you be able to build a new chest using only these blocks ?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, just watch !"
I grabbed one block of pure wood and threw it against the wall. When the block hit the stone, it made a little ''pop'' and four wooden planks blocks were dropped on the floor. I did the same with all the other blocks. Then I repeated this process a few more time until I had enough blocks of wooden planks to work with. I put the blocks on the craftiing table, one by square. There was a blinding light for a moment before it faded, leaving behind a small chest. I took the block and put it next to my crafting table. Proud of myself, I turned and said :
"TADAA...Why are you looking at me like that ?" I spoke up as she looked at me with a shocked face.
"H-How did you do that ?" She asked me.
"What ? You never crafted something before ?"
"Well, I already crafted a few things but we make our tools and weapons manually and not like...this. I never saw a crafting table or even a block act like this !"
Ayumi approached the table and picked it up. She looked all around it to see if there was some hidden machinery. She picked up some wood and tried to do the same as me. When she placed the block on the crafting table, nothing happened.
"Nothing..." She sighed.
"Sooo...this means I am the only one who can do this ?"
"It seems so..."
That being said, we began to clean the mess David made when he destroyed the chest. Vanessa's stuff was scattered on the floor.
While I was picking up ome food, something caught my attention, it was a small golden pendant with a heart in the middle. It also had a small button on the side. When I pressed it, the heart opened to reveal a very detailled drawing of two young girls. The smaller one was wearing a dark green sweater and short purple hair while the taller one had long purple hair and a grey sweater. They were smiling and hugging each other.
"They seem quite happy !" I smiled until I noticed something else.
On the other side of the heart, there was "Sisters forever" engraved into the gold.
"Ummm...The small girl is obviously Vanessa but, if the other girl is her sister, then, where is she ?"
My thoughts were interrupted by a yell coming from behind me.
"GIVE ME BACK MY PENDANT !"
I quickly turned around to see Vanessa snatching the pendant of my hand and beginning to run to the opposite direction.
"Geez, what is her problem ?" I asked out loud.
"Don't be too hard on her. She is very protective over what she claims and even more when it comes to this pendant. It is very precious to her !" Ayumi explained as she finished picking up the remaining stuff on the ground.
"That was her sister on the drawing of the pendant, wasn't it ? I still have not seen her around here, where is she ?"
I saw Ayumi looking at the floor with sad eyes and I instantly knew I messed up by asking that.
"We don't know. We were separated in a raid caused by some adventurers like you. That picture was drawn a few days before the incident, five years ago. That pendant is the last thing she has left of her family. Before we were separated, I promised her sister I would keep Vanessa safe, no matter what happens !"
"I see...I am sorry to hear that...W-What happened ?...I mean, if you don't mind me asking..."
"I will start at the beginning..."
Five year ago, Unknow cave, Ayumi POV
We were a happy famly. I had a great big brother and lovely parents who cared very much about us. Our family and Vanessa's were living very close to one another so I quickly ended up being friends with Ari and her little sister : Vanessa.
"Hey Ayumi, we are here, come out and play with us !" I heard Ari yell at me from outside our home.
"I am coming !" I said before saying goodbye to my mother and my father. Upon seeing me exiting my home, the spider sisters walked toward me.
"So, what are we going to do today ?" I asked.
A second later, I felt Ari touch my arm before they began to run away from me
"Tag, you're hit !" She laughed.
"Hey, not fair !" I replied.
I tried to follow them through our cave but, being spiders, they were faster than me and I lost their track as they disappeared into the darkness. I was left alone.
"ARI ! VANESSA ! Where are you ?" I called them but no one answered "Come on...that's not funny anymore..."
I continued doing that for a good five minutes. I was beggining to lose hope until I saw two small figures running towards. I smiled and went toward them.
"Hey, I found...you !" I said as I noticed one, two, then three, five and finally ten giant figures running after them.
"AYUMI, DON'T JUST STAND THERE ! RUUUUUN !" Ari screamed at me.
I didn't need to be told twice as I began to run in the opposite direction. While we were running away, we were screaming for our parents.
"MOM, DAD, HELP !"
Our parents quickly went outside their home to see what was the problem. I saw the pure look of horror in their eyes.
"Adventurers..." I heard my mother glare before she turned toward me "Ayumi, you, Ari and Vanessan run. We will take care of them !"
"But..."
"NO BUT, AYUMI, GO !" My brother yelled at me as my dad was already shooting at the group behind us.
We runned past our parents. I made the mistake of turning around to look back only to see my and my friends family's getting slained one by one. A second later, there was loud explosion and rocks began to fell from the ceiling of the cave. We continued to run, dodging them on our way. A lot of dust was flying everywhere making it hard to see the way. When it finally went away, what I saw terrified me : while Vanessa and I were alright, Ari was trapped under a rock.
"ARI !" I screamed at her.
I tried to lift the rock of her but it was too heavy.
"It's useless Ayumi...I am pretty sure my leg is broken. Even if you manage to...remove it, I would only...slow you down !" My spider friend spoke up between a few grunts of pain
"Ari...don't do this..." I responded as tears fell on my cheeks.
"Ayumi, please, we don't have much time. I can hear them coming. Take Vanessa with you and promise me you wll take care of her !" She replied with a small sad smile on her face.
"I...I promise !" I said, crying.
"Good, now GET OUT OF HERE !"
At my right, Vanessa was crying out loud, holding the hand of her dear sister. She wouldn't let go of her sister so I had to take her by force.
"NOOOOOO !" Vanessa screamed as the face of her sister went further and further away into the cave.
Present time, Ayumi and Vanessa's cave, Mickael POV
After we both escaped , we found this cave and called it our home. Vanessa cried herself to sleep for two weeks and even refused to eat from time to time. However, she managed to get better.
"I know what she felt..."
"Don't you dare to say you know what we were feeling when our parents were murdered by your kind. How do you have the right to speak when it's your race who are destroying our homes and kills our families ? You are like all those humans who think they know better than anyone else !" She finished as she glared at me and was poking my chest with her finger
I slapped her hand away from my chest.
"Yes, I know what she is felt because I have been through it too !" I snapped "Just for your knowledge, my parents died when I was at the age of six, even younger than Vanessa. I saw my mother agonize right in front of me and I couldn't help her. I was happy, I had a loving family but it went away..." I snapped my fingers "Just like that !"
"I...I didn't know..."
"No, of course you didn't !"
I got up and stared walking toward my room. I wasn't angry or mad but the sound of my voice made it clear I was really upset.
"I am tired. I'll retire into my room. Goodnight !" I said to the woman archer with a harsh voice.
I heard Ayumi trying to say something behind me but I didn't listen. I just walked toward my room until I passed next to Vanessa's bedroom. I could hear some small cries coming from the inside. I decided to go in and check what was happening. Thus, I entered and looked at Vanessa.
"Vanessa ?" I carefully called her.
She turned around and my eyes opened wide in fear.
"What the hell happened to you ?"
TO BE CONTINUED...Another rewrite... Those take longer than I thought, but I am not going to give up. So, as always, PM or review to tell me what you think of the story : good or bad. See you guys next time :D
