WARNING!:
If you DON'T have good reading stamina, STOP NOW! This chapter is EXTRAORDINARILY LONG! If you can't deal with long reading sessions, it is STRONGLY recommended that you read this in PARTS! OR have A LOT of free time on your hands!
THANK YOU! END ENJOY.
Encounter Number 4: Enemy Lawbringer
Emora came to be in the form of a huge gasp. She opened her eyes, gulped in as much oxygen as she could, and panted rapidly. She stared at the wooden ceiling above her, keeping her eyes fixed on one location as she tried to calm herself.
After about two minutes, the Warden finally took a deep breath. She was drenched in sweat and was...Somehow wearing her entire suit of armor. She sat up and immediately spotted Airi sitting up against the wall of the large wagon she was in, wearing her battle garments.
"Airi?" Emora called out for her friend, it felt strange to be in a wagon with her all alone.
"Airi! H-How are you doing? Are you feeling better?" Emora asked. But no response came. It was then that Emora realized that Airi was motionless. She had her head down, her hair covering her eyes. She had her mask on, and her hands were still at her sides. Her legs were spread out in front of her, but she lay still.
"Airi..? Hey, wake up!" Emora crawled over to the silent Nobushi and placed her hand on her shoulder. When she did so, Airi didn't do as much as flinch.
"Airi...What the hell is going on? Wake up!"
Emora began to shake the Nobushi back and forth, she still did absolutely nothing. She was like a doll. A lifeless, dead doll.
"AIRI! AIRI SPEAK TO ME!"
Emora then realized that Airi was missing her bandages. They were gone, but her skin was pale.
"FUCK!"
Emora grabbed the Nobushi's mask and tore it off of her face. The Warden let out a horrible cry as she threw Airi's body forward and staggered back, crying intensely.
"Airi! Airi what happened to you...What HAPPENED?!" The Warden cried, the Nobushi's face was streaked with fresh blood; one of her eyes was gouged out, the other eye was wide open. Her mouth was slightly wide, but her expression was dull.
Just then, someone opened the curtains to the wagon. Emora quickly turned to see who it was, and nearly had a heart attack when she saw.
Standing at the entrance, holding the curtains open...With her face bloody, mouth dripping blood, eyes wide open, and wearing a huge grin, stood Mariah. Her gray eyes shined, her grin was horrible, disgusting, and bloody. She had her head tilted at an angle, and she glared at Emora.
"Hello. Emora."
Her jaw was loose and seemingly unhinged. Emora backed up against the wall of the wagon, petrified.
"M-Mariah?! HOW!? I KILLED YOU!" The Warden cried, trying not to look at Mariah's crooked body.
"Or so you thought. I'm here, aren't I? I'm here to kill you now." The Peacekeeper giggled, she held up a bloody knife, it was jagged, and horribly bent.
"W-What...What did you do to Airi..." Emora begged.
Mariah slowly turned her head to the Nobushi.
"Oh...Her? I killed her. Gouged out her eye and made her eat it." Mariah laughed maniacally.
Emora's eyes widened, her heart stopped, and she couldn't breathe.
"No...No..That can't be! I brought her...I brought her back—I...NO! NOO!"
Mariah suddenly leaped forward, and thrust her knife into Emora's mouth, she laughed as she shoved it down farther and farther, watching as endless blasts of warm, red blood flushed out of Emora's throat...
"GAAAAHH—AHHHH!" Emora cried out.
She sat up from her resting position with a blinding speed, dripping with sweat, panting harder than she ever had before, and with a scarring scene in her head.
"Huh?! E-Emora! What's wrong? Are you okay—"
Emora threw herself into Airi's arms and dug her head into the Nobushi's shoulder. She began to cry with unrelenting horror.
"Emora? What's wrong with you?" The Nobushi, her tone was scared and confused.
The Warden couldn't speak. She only sobbed for a few long minutes. Airi tried to calm her, but it was no use. The Nobushi caressed Emora's hand and hugged her tightly until she had at least slowed down.
"A-Airi...It was horrible! You should've seen it...I couldn't do anything...I couldn't..."
Airi grabbed Emora's face and made her look into her eyes.
"Emora. Calm down. Please...You're scaring me. Breathe...And tell me what happened."
The Warden sniffed and shuddered. She slowly nodded her head as she began to take deep breaths.
"Airi...I had the worst nightmare anyone could possibly think of...Not even storytellers could come up with something so horrifying..." Emora said through sobs and moans.
Airi held onto Emora's face tightly. "What was it? What happened in it?"
The Warden shook her head, beginning to cry again.
"No! No...Come on Emora. Talk to me." Airi said firmly.
Emora looked up and gazed into Airi's dark eyes. They were fully conscious, clear, and beautiful. She suddenly felt collected.
As she wiped tears away and sniffled repeatedly, she calmed down and began to speak.
"I woke up...Wearing my full suit of armor. I couldn't feel my wounds; I was sweating really badly...But not as bad as I am right now. I saw you...And I called for you...But you wouldn't...You...You wouldn't..."
Emora paused, feeling more tears coming. Airi gently lifted the Warden's chin and fixed her gaze into her eyes, nodding slowly. Emora blinked, trying to continue.
"You wouldn't respond. I yelled and shook you...But you wouldn't say or do anything. It wasn't until I took off your mask...That I realized..."
Emora choked on a sob.
"You realized what Emora?" Airi inched closer to Emora's face, keeping eye contact. "Realized what?!"
"That you were dead!" The desperate Warden yelled out.
Airi opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She only looked down at Emora's hands resting on her thighs.
"Emora...I-I'm so sorry you had to see that. But I'm sure it was just—"
"NO SHUT UP! Airi you were dead for fucks sake! One of your eyes was missing, your face was bloody! And guess who killed you...Guess!"
Airi glared at Emora with a worried expression. "I...I don't know—"
"MARIAH!" Emora cried. "Mariah...Killed you...I saw her! SHE WAS STANDING RIGHT THERE!"
The Warden pointed at the opening of the wagon. Airi turned to look, frowned, and then looked back at Emora with a pitiful look on her face.
"Bloody...Smiling...Eyes wide open...Her head tilted to the side...Her broken jaw, dripping with her blood...Her crooked, broken body standing there! Holding a bloody knife! A knife that was stained with YOUR blood Airi!" Emora sobbed.
The Nobushi stayed silent.
"...Then...She jumped into the wagon. She stuck the damn thing into my mouth and down my throat. She killed me in my sleep." Emora said sternly.
Airi jumped a little bit. "Emora...That's horrible...I'm so sorry you had to dream about that...I truly am..."
"It felt so real...It hurt...So much...A-And I'm not talking about my death." The Warden said slowly.
"Huh? Then what hurt?" Airi asked.
Emora grabbed Airi's hands and clutched them tightly. "Seeing you dead hurt.."
The two Heroes stared at each other, keeping direct and powerful eye contact.
"Emora...I'm sorry." Airi finally said.
"I'm sorry too..." Emora replied.
The two girls pulled each other in for a long, tight hug. They stayed in that position for what seemed like minutes, both Heroes forgetting that they were in a moving wagon.
Emora was the one to pull away, realizing she was only wearing her undergarments.
"So...They took off all my clothes." The Warden sighed.
"No...I did." Airi corrected with a smile. "I wanted to check your entire body for any wounds that Peacekeeper might have slipped in while you fought her."
Emora felt herself get warmer. Her face flushed with a rosy red color. Her blush made Airi laugh.
"Hey shut up alright? It's not exactly every day that another woman sees you naked while you're asleep." Emora crossed her arms and frowned angrily.
"It's okay! I washed your bra and your underwear! So you're wearing clean undergarments. Be grateful." The Nobushi grinned.
Emora growled. "Wait...How did you have time to do all of that?! How are your injuries Airi!?"
The Warden jumped up to grab the Nobushi's chest, but Airi playfully pushed her back.
"Emora...It's been two days. The soldiers said they found us both knocked out. They worked on healing me up first and managed to stop all my bleeding. I watched as they patched you up as best they could, I promised myself I wouldn't fall asleep until I was sure you'd live." Airi said with a warm smile.
"Oh...I see." Emora replied.
"I slept for one day, and woke up in the afternoon feeling rested, and much better. It still hurts obviously, but I can move around now just fine. I decided to look after you by myself and told the soldiers to not worry about you. I cleaned your clothes, replaced your bandages, shined your armor, sharpened your sword, and I even poured water into your mouth to keep you from being thirsty." The Nobushi explained.
"Oh my god, I was asleep for two whole days?! Airi...Thank you."
"No problem—" The Nobushi smiled before something interrupted her.
A loud growl could be heard inside the wagon, coming from Emora's stomach. Airi laughed heartily while Emora only chuckled lightly and rubbed her stomach.
"Yeah...Kind of hard to feed a sleeping person huh? I'm all energized from all that sleep, but I'm useless if I'm starving..."
Airi smiled. "We have tons of food in the other wagons. We can get you something to eat from there!"
Emora nodded her head. "Sounds good! Now...If you'll please exit the wagon...I need to get dressed."
Airi smiled and sat still.
"In private!" Emora shouted.
"Okay! Okay!" Airi giggled as she jumped out of the wagon, leaving Emora alone in her thoughts.
"Airi Hakushi...What a gal..."
A few minutes later...
The convoy came to a stop as Airi suggested that everyone take a small break before continuing, and to give Emora time to set herself up.
"What's going on?" Emora scratched underneath her armpit while she walked up to Airi wearing a cloth shirt, and her underwear.
"You're not dressed up! Put something on your legs before our soldiers see you!" Airi squealed.
"Relax they're fine! There's a river over that ridge so I'm going to take a quick bath." Emora yawned.
"Ugh...Fine. The convoy is taking a break. We've been moving since yesterday evening, and the horses need a good rest. Go and take your shower." Airi leaned forward and sniffed the air around Emora.
"Ugh...Because you definitely need it after all that sweating." The Nobushi teased.
Emora rolled her eyes and grabbed her armor, which was washed and dried, then nearly placed into a wooden box. "I'll be back in about ten minutes. You better have something good to eat when I come back."
The Nobushi smiled and nodded her head. She watched as Emora walked away from the path, and disappeared over a small ridge. She bit her lip and used her hand to brush hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear.
Emora shuddered as she stepped into the cold water, she sighed at the sensation of her feet finally feeling relaxed, and not always running, dashing, and jumping inside her boots.
She grabbed a bowl and filled it with water. She grabbed a sponge, drenched it with flower oil, and dipped it in the water. She began to scrub her body down, and dump water all over herself using the bowl.
A few minutes went by as Emora unconsciously began to sing to herself. She ran her fingers through her long, loose hair that for once wasn't tied up in a ponytail, scrubbing any dirt and blood off. Her dark blonde hair glowed in the sun, making it look gold.
"Well. Ain't this a nice surprise?" A deep voice said, startling Emora and causing her to yell out in shock.
"AHH! W-Who are you?! What are you doing here!?" The naked Warden cried, scrambling backward and slipping in the water. She splashed onto her back and fumbled everywhere as she tried to stand back up.
"I'm merely taking a walk in the forest! The flower fields out here are absolutely beautiful. Don't you agree?" The man asked. He raised his hand out behind him, where purple, red, and yellow flowers littered the ground.
Emora covered her breasts using her hands and squeezed her legs together to try and hide the slit of her vagina in between her legs. She stared at the man, confused that he wasn't reacting to her lack of clothes at all.
"A walk? But what are you doing near the river?" Emora asked.
The man grinned. "Near the center of this river, where the water is deep, plenty of fish swim downstream. I go down here once every week to catch fish for my hometown, not too far away from here. Up towards the east, near the Myre." The man replied politely.
"Catch fish for your hometown? You...Don't look like a fisherman." Emora tilted her head in confusion. She observed the man's armor. It was...Thick, sturdy, heavy-looking, and had little places to slide a sword in through.
A good battle suit.
"Yes. I realize that. I am a Lawbringer." The man raised his helmet into the air, it was true.
"A Lawbringer. A Lawbringer going out and catching fish for his hometown? That's lunacy! I've never heard of that in my entire life!" Emora laughed. The Lawbringer narrowed his eyes and growled under his breath.
"Uh—S-Sorry...I didn't mean any offense. It's just that Lawbringers are feared in the places they protect. The ultimate force of justice that shoots down and eliminates anything that threatens the peace of the land!" The Warden smiled and raised her fist in the air, exposing one of her breasts. She squeaked and quickly covered her chest again.
The man laughed. "I belong to no Legion. That is the reason why I do this. I used to fight for a Legion, but I abandoned them for...Personal reasons. Since my home is near the Myre, the home of the Samurai, my village was attacked, and many people that I loved were killed."
"The Samurai attacked your village...Why would they do that? They already fight amongst themselves enough, why would they attack an innocent village?" Emora asked, immediately thinking about what Airi would think of her own people doing such a thing.
"I'm not sure. I guess it's because their civil wars drain them of supplies, so they come and take loot from small, defenseless villages. My hometown is no longer defenseless. They have me now. Not only do I protect them, but I also try my best to provide for them. I have a younger brother and an old mother to take care of as well."
Emora thought of her mother. Both of her parents were killed in battle, and she was left to live with her abusive aunt and uncle. Emora wanted to grow up and leave her home as fast as possible. As soon as she became a Warden, she left her hometown, never to return again.
Not having any siblings or close relatives, Emora has been independent her entire life. She frowned when she looked up at the Lawbringer.
"You're a good man. I never thought a Lawbringer could have such a sense of decency. I was proven wrong today." Emora nodded her head.
"Thank you. I appreciate your input." The Lawbringer nodded back.
Emora's eyes darted around, trying to find out what to do next. She looked down at her bare feet, which were getting numb from being in the cold water for so long. She shyly turned around and picked up her towel.
"S-Sorry for being...Y-You know...Naked in front of you. You caught me at a bad time." Emora stammered.
"Oh it's okay, I don't mind at all. I have to bathe woman all the time. They can't do it themselves because...Let's just say they don't really know how."
Emora laughed. "Who doesn't know how to bathe?"
"They don't. Many of them have never taken a bath up until a few months ago. It's saddening." The Lawbringer explained, he threw the net out onto the river after tying one end of it to a rock.
Emora sat down on a hot, dry rock and extended her legs out to dry them with her towel. Her feet slowly began to dry in the hot sun.
"Um. May I ask your name young lady?" The Lawbringer asked as he watched fish get caught up in the net.
"Emora. Emora Ryon." The Warden replied as she cleaned her feet, and began to dry off the top half of her body.
"Ah, a fitting name for such a beautiful woman as yourself. My name is Leon, Leon Mannering." The Lawbringer smirked, noticing Emora's attractive figure, as well as noticing how in shape she was.
"Thanks for the compliment. And nice to meet you Leon." Emora smiled politely. She ruffled the towel in her hair, drying it, and leaving it messy.
The Lawbringer saw that the net wouldn't be full for a little while. He scratched the back of his head in guilt.
"May I ask where you come from?" He asked.
Emora slipped on her underwear and tied her bra behind her back to finally cover her breasts. She sat down and slipped her socks onto her feet while she looked up at the Lawbringer, who was crossing the river using a bridge of rocks.
"I'm coming from Citadel Gate on a supply run. I have a convoy, and we're all heading back to our home-base. We're taking a small break to let our horses rest and eat before continuing." Emora explained. She stood up and began to put on her clean pair of pants, the cloth a little torn, but still sturdy.
"Ah, Citadel Gate...It is in ruins now, is it not?" The Lawbringer asked.
"Yep," Emora replied as she put on her cloth shirt, and fastened her utility belt.
"Hm...I am very sorry to be such an inconvenience, but...Do you have any food? I'm starting to feel awfully hungry, and I'll be able to haul this net full of fish back to my village easier with something in my stomach." The Lawbringer asked, his expression showed true honesty, feeling bad that he was bothering Emora.
The Warden looked at the Lawbringer with clear eyes. She blinked and smiled at him. "Sure, that won't be too much a problem. You can come back with me to my convoy while you let your net get nice and full."
The Lawbringer sighed with relief. "Thank you Emora, what you're doing is very kind...I appreciate it."
"Yeah, my pleasure. Just wait for a second while I finish putting on my armor."
The Lawbringer watched closely as Emora transformed. The thick brigandine covers, the layer of chainmail on her torso and arms, the solid steel gauntlets, shoulder pads, chest pieces, and knee guards. Heavy-duty boots and a pair of thick gloves.
The Lawbringer was speechless as Emora stood at her full height, looking powerful and strong. She smiled as she tied her hair back in a ponytail that rested on her shoulder.
"Alright! Back to the convoy then?" Emora grinned, looking smug.
"Y-You...You're a Warden..." The Lawbringer stammered.
Emora turned around and smiled. "Yeah, I am. Now come on! My friend is back at the convoy making me something to eat, so I'm sure she won't mind whipping you something up."
The Lawbringer nodded his head. "Okay. Let's get moving."
Back at the convoy...
The soldiers back at the convoy were startled by the fact that Emora was returning with a Lawbringer. She told them that he was an ally, and didn't belong to any Legion. The tension in the convoy immediately died down as the soldiers admired Emora looking fit and healthy in her armor.
"Hey, wait here while I go get something of mine. I feel naked without it." Emora told the Lawbringer.
"You weren't feeling naked before?" The Lawbringer joked, making the Warden actually laugh. She turned and ran to the medical wagon, where she reached in and grabbed her longsword.
She admired its sleek look. The blade was fresh, sharp, and shined. The handle was refined, and the hilt was sturdy and tough.
"My only true love." Emora giggled to herself as she jumped out of the wagon and ran to find the Lawbringer.
"Alright! What's for lunch Air—AHHH!"
Emora's heart nearly stopped when she spotted the Lawbringer holding the Nobushi by her neck and strangling her into the air. There were soldiers standing around the scene, too scared to attack the heavily armored Lawbringer.
Emora quickly grew angry. "Leon! What are you doing?!"
The furious Lawbringer turned to look at the Warden with a shocked expression.
"This? Is THIS is your friend?! The one that was going to make our food!? I KNOW HER!" Leon yelled.
Emora leaned back, her expression surprised, her eyes full of shock and fury. "What do you mean you know her? How is that possible?"
Leon raised Airi further up into the air; he tightened his grip on the Nobushi's neck, making her release choked moans that begged for air. Emora grit her teeth, trying to suppress the situation peacefully.
"This girl...Hakushi. She was one of the four Samurai that attacked my village...One of the warriors that brought my hometown to its knees...One of the quote on quote Heroes that killed those I love!" Leon yelled out.
Emora's eyes widened, she opened her mouth but immediately shut it. Her lips trembled as she looked at Airi, who was slowly shaking her head within Leon's grip.
"E...Emor..a..I...It was...The...P...Past..." Airi wheezed through the Lawbringers grasp.
The Warden looked at the ground. Then up at Leon.
"You...I killed all three of your allies...But you were the lucky one that escaped. I saw you limp away back into the Myre! I SAW YOU! I swore to kill you if I ever saw you again...I saw your face. I knocked it off when I fought you. But by the time I had arrived, it was too late. Your horses were already running off with carriages of food and supplies from my people." The Lawbringer growled. He glared at Airi with fierce eyes.
Emora watched in silence as Leon choke-slammed Airi down onto a small wooden wagon that shattered and broke into scrap pieces of wood from the caliber of the maneuver.
"AHHH!" Airi cried out, she was struggling to decide which to do. Yell out in pain, or gasp for air.
Emora took a step forward; she was holding her sword tightly in her right hand.
"Leon stop! Airi...Explain to me why you and your Samurai attacked this Lawbringer's village. Please..." The Warden said sternly.
Airi limped off of the pile of wood that was once before a wagon. She fell to her knees, and crawled towards Emora, holding her hand out.
"RAGH!" Leon yelled out as he stomped on the Nobushi's hand, causing her to cry out in pain.
"STOP IT! LET HER TALK!" Emora thundered, making the Lawbringer back off a little.
Airi held her hand close to her chest, which was beginning to bleed again. "T-The Samurai...Our land suffers from civil wars that our emperors and Daimyo wage against each other. My clan deeply needed supplies...We were protecting our territory as best we could, and our leader was getting desperate.
Emora listened closely. Leon clutched his fists tightly, glaring at the Nobushi.
"We were protecting innocent people, elderly, and even children. We desperately needed supplies...And we didn't want to steal from the peaceful tribes that live in the Myre. So...We decided to attack the small nearby villages in the borders of Ashfeld."
Leon began to grunt out loud, he held his poleaxe tightly, his entire arm shaking in anger.
"We only killed those who got in got in our way...Leon...I'm so sorry..." Airi turned to the Lawbringer with a hurt expression. She bowed down and cried quietly while her head was down.
Emora watched Airi lie there on her knees, bowing forward to Leon, a humble, honest Lawbringer who was out for vengeance. There is a difference between vengeance and justice. But in times of rage and conflict, people are blind. They lose their judgment; they lose their sense of humanity for a short time. They do things without a true meaning and are driven by strong emotions in the moment of impulse.
Leon slowly put on his helmet. He shut the visor loudly over his face.
"Today...Airi Hakushi..."
The Nobushi looked up at the Lawbringer with a gasp. He was holding his poleaxe in a battle stance.
"You die."
Leon let out a yell as he raised his axe over his head. Emora was at the ready and roared as she charged forward.
As Leon's axe was about to dig into Airi's skull, Emora thrust her longsword forward, barely stopping the axe. Airi cried out in panic and began to stumble backward on all fours.
Emora lifted the Lawbringers axe up using her sword; she flicked her blade up and used all her strength to force the axe up into the air, leaving Leon open.
"HAH!" Emora shouted as she swung her sword in a powerful left arc. Her sword made contact with Leon's armor and made a loud clanging noise.
"AH!" Leon grunted as he staggered back, his steel plate armor pierced by the freshly sharpened blade.
"You have quite the sharp sword there...Warden." Leon got into a battle stance. "You must get out of my way. Please, I'm asking you once. Let me take my revenge on the last Samurai that escaped my axe-head the day my village was nearly wiped out."
Emora shook her head. "I can't let you do that. She's hurt Leon...Why can't you spare her..?"
The Lawbringer looked at the ground, before turning back to face Emora. "You wouldn't be able to understand how I feel right now."
He dashed forward, taking Emora by surprise. He pushed her back using the shaft of his axe, causing Emora to stagger backward. He followed up with a swift light attack on Emora's cheek, making her start bleeding.
"Get...Out of my way!"
Leon swung his axe full strength in a powerful side heavy. Emora's hands tingled as she parried the attack.
"Holy shit...His stopping power is...Horrifying..." The Warden thought. She slanted her eyebrows in concentration as she charged forward in the form a shoulder charge.
She slashed Leon twice across the torso, then powered up another charge. Leon stepped to the side to dodge, but Emora stopped herself and elbowed the Lawbringer in the face.
"GAH!" He lashed out.
Emora uppercut the Lawbringer along his torso, cutting only his lower body. Her sword only scratched his strong upper-armor.
"Holy shit!" Emora yelled as she chained with a strong top heavy. She felt herself lose breath as Leon parried the attack, and returned with a light attack swing to her chin.
"OHAH!" The Warden's head violently cocked back, blood streaming from her mouth. The lack of a helmet was affecting her combat heavily. She watched as Leon chained his light with a heavy uppercut pierced clean through Emora's armor, and left a bloody scar along her ribcage.
He then thrust the front of axe forward like a spear and made contact with Emora's stomach. Leon yelled out in anger as he raised his axe over his head, and came down with a huge amount of force.
"WOAH!" Emora exclaimed as she barely managed to dodge the huge strike. She realized the Leon was open, and she took advantage.
She swung her sword across his metallic chest, piercing his armor, but only causing sparks to fly out. The strike did stun Leon though, long enough for Emora to raised her sword for a top-heavy, which she faked, and replaced with a low strike to the Lawbringer's waist, which managed to penetrate and send a trail of blood flying from the wound.
"HRAH!" Emora yelled as she kicked the Lawbringer in the stomach. He staggered back and crashed into a nearby wagon, stunning him. Emora landed a clean top heavy on Leon's chest, making a horrible gnashing sound as she tore through his steel plate armor, and made solid contact with his flesh.
"GRAAH!" Leon yelled out. He recovered from the blow angrily and attempted to slash Emora's chest with a light attack, which failed. He then thrust his axe forward, in an attempt to stab the Warden in the ribs.
Emora parried the thrust attack harshly; she struck the Lawbringer on the side of his head with a strong, sturdy hit from her hilt. She then used her momentum to whip her blade right, and snap a powerful side heavy into Leon's side, which made clean contact.
"AHHH!" The Lawbringer yelled out in pain, he doubled over to protect himself from further abuse.
"Don't turtle up!" Emora shouted as she grabbed Leon's neck, and began to thrust the tip of her sword into his stomach.
"NO! NO!"
Leon backhanded Emora with his gauntlet's knuckles, easily knocking her back and giving him time to recover.
Emora stepped back a bit; she held her hand up to her face, hiding her nose and mouth.
"Ggh...Fuck.." Emora growled through grit teeth. She wiped blood that was escaping from her nose and took a deep breath.
"We don't have to continue.." She panted.
Leon let out a short chuckle. "You're right...Just let me slaughter Hakushi...And I'll be on my way." He grunted.
The Nobushi was watching with worried eyes. She was being held by her fellow soldiers, a medic helping her replace the bandage clot in her stab wound.
Emora narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "I can't let you do that."
Leon scoffed. "Then we'll continue. After I kill you...I'll kill her."
Emora let out an angry growl that she quickly tried to hide, she then sighed. "Hm...That's too bad. You won't even get to lay a finger on her. You'll never get past me."
"We'll see about that!" Leon shouted as he charged forward, an unexpected move from such a big target.
The Lawbringer impaled Emora with the tip of his axe and drove her backward. He slammed her into a carriage that carried crates full apples. The Warden grunted out in shock as the crates fell all over her, and apples went spilling everywhere.
Leon swung his axe in a side heavy attack, managing to strike a fumbled up Emora, and then bashing her with a light attack to the face. He twirled around; his axe out in a straight line in front of him.
"HAGAH!" Emora shouted as she ducked underneath the attack, and charged into the Lawbringer's stomach. She swiped her sword upwards, but now with enough force, only denting Leon's armor. She scoffed as she feinted a top-heavy, and continued to grab her opponent's forearm.
"Get off of me!" Leon shouted as he crashed his knuckles into Emora's temple. The Warden's head snapped back violently, but she recovered swiftly and used her momentum to crouch down low and dig her spiked elbow into the Lawbringer's gut.
"GUHAGHLGH!" Leon scoffed, saliva escaped out of his mouth like strings of spider silk. Emora kept up her attack; she jumped up and smashed the Lawbringer's chin with a strong uppercut, knocking Leon's head upwards.
"You're a bit too tall! How about you give ME the height advantage!" Emora laughed as she bent down, grabbed Leon's leg, and launched it forward. She rolled sideways underneath him as he fell forward on his face, smacking his helmet on the dusty ground, making him break out in a fit of violent coughs and wheezes.
Emora raised her sword and thrust it downwards as hard as she could, right in the center or Leon's back.
"Surrender! This wound is too much for you to bear! Stop fighting, and return to protect your village for another day!"
Leon groaned as Emora's sword was stabbed into his back. The sharp tip managed to pierce his armor like paper and dig into his back harshly. The blade wasn't deep enough to hit his spine, so the downed Lawbringer still had a chance.
"I won't go down so easily!" He yelled out, full of anger.
"Uh oh."
Emora ripped her sword out, bringing out a short yelp from Leon. She watched as he reached for an apple with his right hand, and proceeded to whip it at her face.
"GUH!" The Warden cried out as the apple exploded on impact, apple mush flew everywhere, and the sticky juices drenched Emora's face and ran down her neck.
"You said you were hungry, weren't you? Eat that!"
Leon took the initiative while Emora struggled to claw apple guts out of her eyes with her metallic fingers. He swung his axe to the side, striking her on the side. She cried out in agony as the axe gouged her flesh.
"Down you go!" Leon cackled as he swept Emora's legs with the shaft of his axe, making her fall onto her back. He raised his axe in power.
"DIE!"
"RAGH!" Emora roared as she rolled out of the way, and swung her sword in an arc towards Leon's kneecap. A loud metallic bang could be heard as the Lawbringer fell onto one knee, disabled.
The Warden cracked her blade into the center of Leon's helmet, piercing through, and cutting from his nose, all the way to his right cheekbone. The Lawbringer lashed out in an agonizing shriek as he fell onto his back.
Emora raised her sword and brought it down in a loud smash as it made contact with Leon's thick chest. A horrible crunch rang out as her blade grinded through solid steel plate armor, and penetrated into squishy flesh.
"AAAHH!" The Lawbringer cried out, he rolled over on his side, grunting with a horrible pain. He watched as Emora raised her sword into the air again, ready to slam down for the second time.
He raised his axe above his head with one arm, which was barely enough to block the attack. The sharp blade of the sword got lodged into the wooden shaft of the poleaxe, rendering Emora stuck for a brief amount of time.
"Get over here!" Leon roared as he grabbed the blade of Emora's sword with his gauntlet, he pulled it back as hard as he could, making Emora stumble forward.
"HUAH!" The Lawbringer grunted as he thrust his fist directly into the Warden's gut. He jabbed it deeper, hitting more critically.
"GH—KUUAGHH!" Emora's body crippled, it was as if all the air in her body had suddenly been suctioned out of her mouth in a single second. She nearly fell onto her knees as blood squirted out of her mouth, and dripped from her bottom lip. Her bloated eyes were wide open in shock.
The two Heroes stayed in the position for a few moments. Everyone around them watching in horror.
"Ggh—Ugh...Guh...Hnh...Gha..."
Emora finally fell onto one knee, and eventually onto her side. She stared at her hand that was laid out in front of her face as she sprawled out on the ground.
Leon rose to his full height. He looked around, then straight at a frozen Airi.
"This...This is what is going to happen to you..." The Lawbringer panted. "I'll beat you down, and into a PULP when I kill you!" He yelled out.
"Emora...Emora no! Please get up...Please, Emora!" Airi cried at the Warden.
"She's not getting back up. It's over—"
Just as Leon was about to walk forward and kill Airi, he felt something stop his foot. He looked down, shocked to see Emora weakly grabbing onto his ankle, with a pained expression.
"Grgh...N...No it's not..." She moaned.
Leon scoffed. "Yes, it is!" He bellowed as he raised his foot to crush Emora's skull.
Airi cried out as she rushed forward and pushed the Lawbringer forward, making him stumble forward, his foot barely missing Emora's head.
"Huh!? You dare touch me?! Get over here you little—GAH!"
Leon felt a sharp pain in his ribcage that dug deeper and deeper, making his cries of pain louder by the second.
Emora hollered out in ecstasy as she ripped her sword out, twirled it back, and then swung it back around onto Leon's shoulder. Both attacks tearing through his armor and making solid impact.
The Lawbringer staggered back and turned around as fast as he could manage. He saw as Emora's sword cut through the air toward him at a shocking speed.
"HMPHH! He grunted as he knocked the attack away with his poleaxe, and spun around to deliver a devastating heavy to Emora's arm.
"AAAAHHH!" She cried out as she fell onto her side. Her arm felt as if it had just been cut in half. She dashed to the side as Leon missed a top heavy. She ran forward and impaled the Lawbringer through the stomach, and drove him back into a wagon. The horses neighed out from the shaking and rocking the impact caused.
"GAH!" Leon yelled as he grabbed Emora's sword, whipped it aside using his gauntlet, and grabbed ahold of Emora's face.
"GAAH—G-GET OFF—RUAAAAGHH!" Emora cried as she felt her head get crushed by the Lawbringer's tough grip. She felt herself get thrown away like a piece of trash, and fall on her back. She opened her eyes and wailed at what she saw.
"YOU DIE NOW!" Leon thundered.
"AHHH—GUGHAHAHH!" Emora gutted out. Blood shot out of her mouth and blasted out from her chest as Leon's poleaxe pierced through her steel plates and chainmail, and sliced into her torso.
The Warden breathed heavily, tears of despair and agony in her eyes. She slowly stood back up with the help of her sword; her torso was releasing streams of glistening blood.
"You..." Emora began. "You won't...Hurt..." The Warden looked to her friend, who was staring at her with heart-shattered eyes.
Emora gagged, tightened her throat, and then spat blood out onto the ground. She wiped her mouth, covered her chest with her hand, and frowned angrily.
"You won't hurt Airi..!" She said in a quivering voice. She raised her sword and glared at Leon.
"I don't get it...Why...Why do you defend her so? What does she mean to you...?" The Lawbringer asked.
Emora felt her chest begin to pulsate. Her heart rate increased as she began to think. She became fully aware of what she was feeling in her body.
The aching pain in her chest, sides, and arm. The throbbing waves of torment and discomfort form her facial injuries. The exhaustion in her muscles, her pumping heart, her slow and heavy breathing. She noticed her sweaty hands inside her gauntlets, her sticky skin because of the apple earlier in the fight, the sweat trickling down the sides of her face. That one annoying drop that tickled her nose as it dripped from the tip.
Emora looked to Airi, who was silent. The Nobushi's hands were together, her face drowned in sorrow, her eyes begging for Emora to come rest with her.
Leon shifted, he held his poleaxe out in front of him, pointed towards Emora. "Aren't you going to answer? Why do you defend her...Even after someone like you, a Warden, now know what she's done?"
Emora shook her head. "She did it in the past...And because she needed to do it in order to defend herself, and those she loved. She regrets it now, she cried in front of you because of it, you heartless moron!" The Warden yelled out.
Leon's eyes widened with sudden lunacy. "I'M HEARTLESS?! She...KILLED MY BROTHER! She killed...Children! She left mothers weeping in the streets! And she fled when she was losing her fight against me! She calls herself a Samurai?! She's a cold-blooded murderer, a psychopathic cynic, and the complete OPPOSITE of honorable! My hatred for her reaches limits that cannot be seen by even myself...And you stand in the way of my objective to avenge those she killed!"
Emora's head hurt when she heard Airi release a loud and desperate sob. She fell onto her knees, her head down, her face dug into her hands. She cried loudly as soldiers around her comforted and tried to stand her up.
Emora slowly turned to Leon.
"Don't you see...? She's scarred by those memories. They're a burden on her. Everyone has done something horrible. The people she killed were in the way of HER objective, and she was only doing what she was told to do. Those people she killed? Their deaths are something SHE has to deal with on her own. They'll stay on her conscious forever, but now...It's just something she has to live with." Emora said firmly, keeping direct eye contact with Leon. She took a deep breath.
"And just like everyone does...She has to move on from the past. And try to do better in the future."
Leon shook his head in annoyance; he had nothing to say in response.
"In a way...You're just like her right now. She only killed those people because they were in her way, trying to stop her from protecting those she loved back in her clan within the Myre. You...You only want to kill her...Yet right now..." Emora paused and made everyone look at the weary Lawbringer, who was in a flimsy, tired battle stance.
"Right now...You look like you want to kill me instead of her." She finished.
"It's because you're in my way! She's the one I want to kill, not you!" Leon yelled back, his eyes getting teary.
Emora nodded her head. "My point exactly. I'm in your way...Those people were in her way. People will do whatever they need to do in order to meet their objective. Especially if it's important to them. It's just how we are. And in battle, there isn't exactly much time to think about what you're sticking your blade into." The Warden frowned.
The Lawbringer groaned. He gritted his teeth in anger. "I...I don't care! Just step aside...And please...Just let me KILL HER!"
Leon charged forward at a speed way faster than anyone had expected from him. He thrust the tip of his axe into Emora's stomach, lifted her up, and then threw her over his shoulder.
"AGH!" Emora grunted as she landed behind him. Leon yelled out in anger as he thrust his spearhead into the Warden's stomach.
"GUHH! N-NAGHUH!" Emora cried as she grabbed the axe, and began to pull herself up.
"W-WHAT!?" Leon shouted out in shock.
"You won't get past me! I WON'T LET YOU KILL AIRI!" Emora shrieked.
"RAAAGH!"
"AUUUGH!"
Emora raised Leon's poleaxe using the hilt of her sword. She then cracked the pommel of her handle directly into the center of the Lawbringer's chest, rendering him stamina broken.
"W-WHAT THE—" Leon cried as Emora clanked his poleaxe out of his hands. He watched as the Warden powered up an upper-slash attack.
"NOO!" The Lawbringer yelled out as he used his thick forearm armor to block the attack, Emora's sharp blade dug into the thick steel, creating a loud screeching noise, and causing metallic sparks to lash out everywhere.
With a swift punch, he stunned Emora and snatched her own longsword from her. He seized the weapon and swung it using one hand in a wide arc heading to the right. The Warden managed to duck under the attack, and punch the Lawbringer in the face with her steel gauntlet.
"RGH!" Leon grunted as Emora harshly whipped her knuckles into the joint of his arm, making his entire arm vibrate and quiver. He felt his fingers become paralyzed as he dropped the longsword.
"AUGH!" Leon lashed out as he took another punch from Emora. His head cracked to the side from the impact. He staggered back, disoriented.
"COME HERE!" Emora ran forward and leaped into the air.
"HUH—AULGH!" The Lawbringer felt his ribcage seemingly collapse as Emora launched her legs into his body with a powerful, full caliber dropkick. He staggered back away from the convoy holding his stomach in pain.
"EMORA!" Airi cried out as she broke free from the soldiers holding her, and began to run after the Warden.
"NO! I'm sorry ma'am...We can't let you fight!" A soldier with a large shield stepped in front of her.
"LET ME GO TO HER!" Airi yelled out. She ran forward, but the soldier pushed her back using his shield.
"W-Wha..." Airi stammered, she panted as she watched Emora run towards Leon in a blind fit of rage.
"I'm sorry...Orders from Commander Ryon..." The soldier said quietly.
Airi stumbled back and fell; she caught herself with her arms and sat looking up at the soldier with tears running down her face.
"Please...She can't win without her sword and I know it! You have to help her...PLEASE!" Airi begged.
The soldier glanced at his allies. He nodded his head.
"We can't risk shooting Madame Ryon with our arrows. But we have something that might work if she can react fast enough...But it's risky."
Airi stood up at her full height; she put her hand on her chest and leaned forward. "Do it...Do anything, just as long as she lives!"
The soldier nodded his head in understanding.
"AHHH!" Emora charged forward, she jabbed Leon in his jaw with a strong punch. She began to pummel and throw punches in fast, quick bursts. She pushed him and walked forward as her punches rolled into his body. As she threw more and more, she developed a pattern, and her blows began to get sharper and harder.
"GH...GRAH! UGH!" Leon grunted as he attempted to block all the blows heading his way. Finally, he found an opening and launched his kneecap into Emora's stomach. He grabbed her neck and threw her behind him.
"AGH!" Emora exclaimed as she stumbled forward, and turned to recover.
"DOWN WE GO!" Leon yelled as he charged forward.
He tackled the Warden and leaped forward using his legs to throw himself forward.
"OH MY GOD! EMORA! NO!" Airi cried out as she watched the two Heroes disappear down the ridge. He voice cracked, and her ear-tearing cry rang throughout the entire forest area, scaring birds away from their nests, and rustling nearby trees.
Leon and Emora rolled down the rocky slope in each other's arms. At first, the two were grasping onto one another, trying to force the other underneath, and into the ground. But as they progressed down the ridge, they gained more and more speed.
"AGH—GUH—RAGH—HLGH—GLAH—OUGH!"
"UGH—URGH—CAH—GLGH—WAH—AUH!"
Both Emora and Leon rolled and smashed into the ground violently as they plummeted down the slope, releasing loud, short grunts as they collided with the ground.
"AUUGHA—KGUH!" Emora cried out as she smashed into the ground on her shoulder. She rolled over and landed on her side.
"RAUUGH—PUAHAH!" Leon grunted as he cracked the dirt beneath him when he crashed into the ground on his chest. He flopped onto his back and sprawled out on the ground.
"Ggh...H-Haah...Uh—Dh..." Emora moaned as she tried to move. Her entire body ached, and her armor was covered in dust and dirt.
"Uhh...Heh—Haha...Tsk—Tch..." Leon breathed through grit teeth as he managed to hold himself up with one arm.
One advantage Emora had this time was NOT having a helmet. After the bumpy, rough fall, having a helmet could potentially snap your neck on the way down. Leon got lucky, but that didn't mean he didn't have dust in his nose and mouth, and dirt in his eyes and helmet.
"Cah! Ugh—AGH! Stupid—AGHH!" Leon fumbled around as she stood up, he threw his helmet out and began to try and regain his vision.
Emora moaned quietly on the ground, unable to move at all. She wiggled her toes and moved her fingers. She slowly tilted her head on the ground.
"Nothing broken...How lucky can someone get..."
Emora yelped as she began to push herself up using her arms. She was an all fours when she looked up to see Leon limping toward her slowly.
"No...No..."
Emora stumbled around as she stood up. Her legs felt like jelly, her entire body felt too heavy to keep upright. She stumbled back and fell against a rock.
"You...You've lost Emora...I'm sorry it had to end this way..." The Lawbringer finished his limp; he bent down and reached for the weakened Warden.
"N-No...Leon, please! Please no!" Emora cried, she tried to stop his arm from touching her. But he pushed her hands aside and grabbed her by the hair.
He lifted her up, pulling on her hair, making the Warden yelp out in bursts of pain. She shut her eyes tightly, and grit her teeth shut.
"I'm truly sorry Emora. This would have never happened if you had just let me kill Hakushi." Leon said solemnly.
Emora only whimpered and sniveled in return.
The Lawbringer reached behind him and grabbed a small knife from his utility belt. It was sharp and scary looking.
Emora gulped. Leon watched as her neck pulse when the spit passed through her throat. He chuckled quietly.
"Yes...Get ready. Because I felt like at this point..."
The Lawbringer paused and looked at himself. His armor pierced, dented, dirty, and tattered, and battle-scarred.
"At this point, you've caused me enough trouble to have your death be worthwhile. It was a good fight Emora Ryon. But your time is over." Leon said firmly.
Emora's shoulders slumped, her arms fell limp at her sides, her hands unclutched and quivered loosely in fear. She prepared herself, just like what she had felt in her nightmare.
A knife in her neck, with her warm, perfectly colored blood splashing, pouring, leaking, spraying out of a large slit in her throat, and onto the ground. Painting the area with a spotless red color. When her body was left to rot, a large pool of her blood would surround her body like a moat around a great castle.
Emora inhaled sharply as she felt the sharp blade of the knife touch her throat, just then, Leon stopped.
Emora heard it; she heard her glimmer of hope, her miracle, her wish, her opportunity...To live...And see another day.
"EMORA!" Airi's voice made the Warden open her eyes in shock. Her pupils dilated and were large in her hazel eyes. She narrowed her eyes and grit her teeth as she looked up the ridge.
There was a small barrel rolling down the slope, a ton of soldiers, and Airi watched as it fell. Leon and Emora both realized what it was.
Gunpowder.
Emora yelled out in power, and used the last drops of her strength, willpower, and resolve to bash Leon's arm aside, knock the knife from his hand, and push him out of her way, and onto one knee.
She sprinted forward and felt as the Lawbringer's hand brushed against her ankle, barely missing the grab attempt.
She picked up the barrel and saw that there was a small fire flask tied to it.
"AH! Leon!"
"NO—AHHHH!" The Lawbringer got up and sprinted towards Emora at his full speed.
Emora's heartbeats made her chest hurt. She quickly punched the barrel with her gauntlet, making a small crack in it.
"STOP IT! STAY AWAY FROM ME! AND FROM AIRI!"
The Warden basically catapulted the barrel at Leon. It slammed into his chest, gunpowder spilling everywhere on him. The Lawbringer scrambled, dropping the powder stuffed barrel at his feet.
He looked up in horror. "Emora...Please..."
The Warden held the fire flask. Her face stern and her eyes closed.
"Leon..."
The Lawbringer shifted, too scared to move.
Emora opened her eyes. They shined with a golden flash.
"I'm sorry."
"NOOO!"
Emora threw the fire flask at Leon's feet; it cracked, spilling fire everywhere.
In his last seconds of life, he stared up the ridge at the Nobushi.
"YOU! HAKUSHIII—"
His death cry was brutally cut off as the fire sparked the gunpowder, and made contact with the rest in the barrel. A bright explosion sent a wave of heat outwards that hit Emora.
"AGH!"
The Warden fell onto her back, knocked by the explosion and the burst of hot air. She covered her eyes as she tried to see what had happened.
"Hah...Hah...Huh...Ugh...Hah.." The weak Warden panted. As she stood up, and slowly limped over, she spotted the remains of the Lawbringer.
His chest plate opened up wide in a scorched hole, revealing his bare, burned, charred chest. His shoulder pads had flown off, and his muscled arms were bloody and his flesh was open and incinerated. His face was burned off; only a deformed, bloody mess was left.
Whatever was left of his body was on fire. He lay on the ground, surrounded by fire, and black smoke that rose into the air.
Emora shook her head, a tear of pity rolled down her cheek. She lifted her head up to look at the now orange-blue sky. She slowly began to smile when she heard rapid footsteps behind her.
"EMORA!"
Airi threw her arms around Emora. She jumped onto her back and dug her face into her neck.
"Emora I thought you were going to die...I'm so happy you're alive..." The Nobushi cried.
The Warden sighed; she placed her hand on the Nobushi's arm that was wrapped around her neck.
"Airi...Do...Do you regret...What you did when you attacked that village...?" Emora asked.
Airi gasped as she felt her heart shatter. She crawled in front of Emora and stared at her.
"OF COURSE I DO EMORA! H-How could you...How could you POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT I DON'T! I do...And I always will! You even said it yourself...I have to live with that burden! With those lost souls on my conscious! I'll never forgive myself for what I did that day..."
The Warden nodded her head slowly.
"I believe you."
Airi gazed into Emora's eyes. The two sat looking at each other, the fire behind them providing a warm, fuzzy sensation in the air.
Emora suddenly let out a soft moan. She fell forward into Airi's arms, out cold.
"O-Oh my god! She passed out! Someone! Help me carry her back to the med-wagon!"
Emora was drenched in sweat. Her extreme exhaustion, combined with the heat of the fire was enough to wear her out completely and knock her unconscious.
A few hours later...In the night...
As Airi once again took off all of Emora's armor, clothes, and undergarments, she smiled to herself.
"Emora."
The Nobushi held a damp cloth; she began to clean the Warden's dirty body, and also began to apply medicine to her open wounds.
As she gently dabbed the cloth over the Emora's forehead and face, she began to tear up.
"I may have saved you once...But now...You've saved me three times..." Airi whispered, she admired Emora's face, she watched as her chest went up and down slowly with every steady breath.
She remembered when Emora stopped Mahron as he was about to kill her. She remembered a few days ago when Emora saved her from Mariah and carried her back to safety when she couldn't walk. And now this...Getting entirely protected from an angry Lawbringer out for vengeance.
"I have a feeling...I won't get to return the favor...I want to...But I feel like I can't..."
Airi gently grabbed Emora's face. She rubbed her cheek with her thumb.
"Emora...When will I be able to tell you..."
The Nobushi paused and sucked in a sob.
"To tell you how I really feel..."
Why was this so long? Because I LOVE LAWBRINGERS! Besides Warden and Nobushi, Lawbringers are another one of the classes I know how to play fairly well! Berserker too, but we haven't gotten to the Vikings yet, have we?
This story has...Actually developed into a story! I expected this just to be some fighting encounters, but I have...Accidentally made it into more than that! Oops?
Hopefully, someone made it to the end, and can leave a review on what they think of this long-ass chapter? Thanks! I'd really appreciate it.
