Chapter 2: Witches and Trolls

POV: Freddy

Well I can already tell the first night is going to be rough. Having three branded people in our 'party' is like throwing money into a crowd of poor people. And unfortunately my ward has lost most of its power. At the moment we are waiting for something to pop out. Guts, Isidro and Serpico are covering the front while Farnese is taking care of Caska and the fire. Behind the group is where I am at covering the back making sure nothing creeps up on us. "Here they come!" Guts said.

And the monsters finally show their face. It was a bunch of zombies that came out of the bog. Revolting creatures that seem more bone than flesh. I looked around to take in the number of enemies and it was a lot. Eventually one snuck up on me and grabbed my arm as another walked passed me. Good thing Farnese was there, or so I thought. She swung at him with a torch and ended up burning Isidro's ass. Soon enough they were all defeated. And with some night to spare. So i decided to go to sleep. Hopefully no nightmare's this time.

As I got up from the floor a few hours later I felt my head hurting. I still had that same fucking nightmare again. I saw Farnese cooking and apparently she used poisonous mushrooms. I laughed at that and went to go drink by the stream. I still had a few bottles so might as well get drunk now.

A few minutes later Farnese was being taught by Puck to wash clothes. And she ripped Isidro's shirt. "Aghhh! My best shirt!" Isidro cried over his ruined shirt. I started laughing again. Poor kid, first he got his ass burned by her now she ruined his shirt. If I didn't know any better I would say that she has a grudge against him. I stopped laughing once I saw her face get all depressed. That's my one weakness, a sad woman or child. I still had a heart you know. Even though it's been shriveled through traumatic experiences.

After getting a buzz I came back to the campsite and relaxed. "You know we're all doing something you should help around a bit you lazy ass." Isidro said.

"Well what about Guts he isn't doing anything hobo." I heard Puck giggling over where Serpico was cooking.

"Hey it's not my fault my shirt is ruined! Besides, Guts is going to be teaching me how to fight so he is going to be busy."

"Fine i'll go get some firewood or something." And so I left and heard Isidro saying something about Caska and Farnese already doing that. I walked around in the forest until I found a hollow tree. This would be a good place for a nap. And so I sat there resting for a few hours. I was awoken when someone sat on me. "Hey what's the matter with you can't a guy get some sleep." I was then hugged. Who the hell was this? More importantly the sun was setting. Damn I'll have to spend the night here. I don't really want to travel around at night, but if I have to then it's a good thing I remember the way back.

"I was lost, I didn't know where to go. Caska left and I was all alone and I was scared." The girl cried into my shoulder. Upon closer inspection it was Farnese. "I'm so useless! I can't do anything right." I got up and out of the tree ending the hug. "Look we can't head back to the camp right now since some monsters are about to come out soon so try to get a fire going. I'll protect you if anything comes near. Just get it done you can do this at least." And she did. She set the fire down in front of the tree and she sat inside while I fought off some ghosts.

By the time the sun was coming up I saw a nightmare demon approaching Farnese so using one of my throwing knifes I threw it killing the monster and Waking her up.

"Freddy is that you? Hey guys I found em!" I looked up and saw Puck flying towards us.

"Lady Farnese, you're safe. Can you stand?" Serpico said as he helped her out of the tree. "Thank you for protecting her through the night Freddy."

"Yeah when Isidro told me to go do something I came over here and overslept. Farnese woke me up and we had to stay here for the night."

"Geeze, talk about careless and selfish. Last night was no picnic. Even Serpico ran off to look for you. Thanks to that, it was just me and Guts strugglin' to protect Caska." Isidro said.

"Caska! Is Casaka alright?!" Farnese asked

"More or less." Caska then appeared behind him. "Hunger brought her back right before supper. Sheesh now we can probably sleep now that Freddy is here to help." Both he and Caska yawned. "Next time don't waste so much time. Whadda we do when our babysitter and one of the tanks go missing next time?"

As we continued on our journey we came upon a shepherd who was herding his sheep. He said that we should be careful of the armies nearby and also some trolls in the mountain pass. Haven't fought one of those in awhile. The old shepherd then sauntered off with his sheep.

We rested on the edge of the forest and Isidro and Guts were training and Isidro was showing improvement. After training Guts went to go collect firewood when suddenly I felt a sting in my hand, my brand was bleeding.

I took the bow off my hand and got ready for whatever was to come.

I heard screaming behind me and got ready to fire a shot but I saw Caska and Farnese getting taken away by a troll. I didn't fire because there was a chance I might hit one of them.

I ran after it and Isidro followed right next to me. "Hey put them down you bastard!" He said throwing a stone at the troll making it drop the girls and turn around around scaring Isidro and the girls. "What the hell is that!"

"It's a troll" I said firing a fire Od arrow striking the beast in the head killing it. Not too far I saw what looked like a witch, I also saw a horde of trolls around us not attacking. "Everyone be quiet, don't make any sudden movements."

Everyone noticed the enemy surrounding us and followed my orders. "When did they get here?" Isidro asked.

"Trolls never travel alone, they always move in a pack. Now everyone group up over here I'll keep you safe." the witch said. Now that I was standing next to her she was as tall as Isidro. She started a magic ritual to cast a barrier. "This is magic" Puck stated.

"That's right, she's a witch" an Elf said from underneath the witch's hat. "What she's casting right now, is a spell to protect you from these trolls."

She finished the ritual and when the trolls attacked they were repelled but despite the pain they still tried to attack again so I readied my bow but saw a tuft of hair in the witch's hand so I lowered it.

My guess was right when she blew the hair and it became fire scaring the horde away. "Fuckin amazing, what happened?" Isidro asked.

"I was unleashing the power of fire element with my hair as a catalyst by putting it on the flow of OD. Like his arrows." she answered pointing to me. "Except I don't know what his catalyst is."

"Blood" I said showing my bleeding thumb from when I pricked it.

"Foolish but effective. Now I don't want to seem rude, but you had better get away from here quickly" she walked away. But Isidro tried to catch up to her but fell and regained his footing by grabbing onto the woman's breast. She turned around to reveal her childish but angry face and hypnotized Isidro into thinking he was a monkey.

"Sorry about that" I apologized to the witch. "Name's Freddy, yours?"

"Schierke" She said shaking my hand. "So formal for such a little girl" I said patting her hat.

"Well I should get going." and she was off. A while later we regrouped with Guts and Serpico and continued on our journey until we found an injured old man. He told us the story of his village and how he was going to use the witch to fight the trolls. As we walked I noticed we had crossed the border and soon enough we were greeted to familiar sight, at least for me.

"We've finally arrived guys." I said.

"It wasn't a dream after all" the old man said.

But we were met with resistance, a bunch of golems of different shapes and sizes appeared. "Aim for the chest, inside is a doll that is its heart." I said. After defeating a few they retreated and at the entrance to the house stood the witch from earlier.

"Everyone, please come this way. My mistress is willing to meet you all." she said walking back in.

"What should we do?" Serpico asked.

"Don't worry she's a friend of mine." And we followed the little witch. On the way I got such a huge nostalgia trip, it brought a tear to my eye when i saw a carving in the wood of a heart that said F+F in side.

"So you're not the witch?" Isidro said.

"I am Schierke, I'm still an apprentice."

"And I'm Evarella, this child's supervisor."

"Ha you're not even a full witch, even though you caused me a lot of trouble turning me into an ancestor for half a day."

"That was because you hugged me in a weird place!"

"Weird place? You mean you're breast?"

"As I said weird place." Isidro kept teasing her so I decided to intervene and clock him on the head.

"Quit teasing her, please continue"

We finally reached our destination. "I brought the visitors mistress." There sitting her usual place was the woman I know very well.

"Ah welcome home Freddy."