Barren Cross
Ch.2 Exodus
Characters for this Chapter(CFTC): Yahiro, Yuni, Bandits, Goblins, Soldiers, Black Knight, Mysterious traveler.
"Yuni's P.o.V."
Morning has broken and we're just getting prepared to embark on this journey. I'm so excited about this mission, because it's the first mission I'll be doing, more importantly with him. Out of all the divine knights he could've chosen, I wondered, why did he pick me? Now the people are more furious at him. In this journey, the order has provided us with horses. I named my horse Jacob, while he named his after the third dragon God had created to insure order across the land, "Tristitia" he said proudly. According to the legends that they've been telling us in our childhood, God made Altera with 3 guardians, the Sentinel dragon, the Tempest Dragon, and the Dragon of Sorrow Tristitia. Evil had its ways and made a 4th dragon, the dragon of the Void. It wreaked destruction upon the land, and so the 3 guardians set to face the void dragon, they barely won, Tempest had been corrupted by the blood spilt on him while battling the enemy, with Tristitia mortally wounded, Sentinel had to fight tempest… at the end of the battle, Sentinel won, and Tempest's lustre had broken into pieces. Ever since, both Sentinel and Tristitia had disappeared leaving the Ancients as guardians.
My heart's beating fast, what is this excitement I feel? Is it because this is my first task in the field? Or maybe… no that can't be right… I need to clear my mind of such non-sense. It seems not long ago when we departed from Kaleon. An unusual fog was upon us… Yahiro gave the signal to stop, "are you afraid of the mist Yahiro?" I asked mockingly, and it was a bad omen, even I felt the chill of the scene. Something is off. We drew our maces and prepared for an ambush, the first blow came from an arrow that struck my horse down. I couldn't move out of shock, I fell. My body was in pain. I couldn't move. A voice was calling out to me… I tried opening my eyes, but everything was still blurry. I saw a person whom I definitely thought is Yahiro, "Yuni! You need to Wake up!" I heard Yahiro's voice. Everything became clear, Yahiro was fending off some hooligans, "Behind you!" he exclaimed, as a reflex, I grabbed my mace from the ground and swung it behind me just enough to knock the bandit out. I stood up ready for more peril to come.
[Yahiro's P.o.V.]
Good grief. I almost died from a heart attack back there, but now, I have my own problems coming up. Right and left bandits came attacking me relentlessly without a second thought, almost all of them I struck down. 2 more bandits left, Yuni's taking care of the one and I have the other. "Forsaken be your divine order clerics!" the bandit in front of me exclaimed as he charged into me. What did the divine order do? Is he a non-believer? I stuck him and he fell down to the ground, I kicked his weapon away. I looked at Yuni and the bandit had already left. All the other bandits have fled, all but one. I approached the man with a question, "what has the divine order done that you have such an enormous grudge against it?" I asked, "In your order's hands, mine sister's blood was spilt." He had replied in a low hoarse voice as he looks at me with great disdain and sorrow in his eyes. "Blasphemy! The divine order would never such a thing!" I answered… he let out a sigh, "I see… you are innocent, you're a new cleric, of course they wouldn't tell you." "Tell us what?" Yuni cut in and asked. "The Witch Hunt…" he whispered, "Forgive me, child for accusing you. I do not hold a grudge against those that do not know of the hunt, but I hold a grudge on your order." "Mind telling us what the witch hunt is or what the order had done to you?" I asked, then he smiled and said "gladly." And so he tells us the story. "It all began 3 years ago in the town of Tristan. I was living peacefully with my sister, a beautiful sorceress. I loved her so much, not only as a blood sibling, but also as a woman. However, fate likes to play with people's lives no? Of course being siblings, we could not be together. My sister went on a mission one day and came back with a cleric even though it was forbidden by Kasarana herself. However because of my sister's reputation, he was pardoned. Mine heart was troubled every time I see them together… Then came the day when priests' relics fell upon the town. Every sorceress in town was put in a bind spell; only clerics could've done it. Quickly the divine order charged in. A bloodbath of sorceresses, such a cruel and reverberating sight, but the cruelest sight of all, is being forced to witness her death as she was stabbed by the cleric whom she had loved. "You despicable witch." We the last words he said to her as she took her last breath. Ever since that day, I had nothing but hatred toward that filthy excuse for an order as my drive to live. I found out that they kept the hunt a secret form the people and those who spoke about it were silenced, that's when I realized that the new people joining the divine order did not know about this." "What about us?" I asked, "Me and my companion had been in the divine order for 5 years now, how come we didn't know of this?" I looked him in the eye with confusion. "As I said before, those who tried to speak of it were silenced." He said as he added, "I know I'm not one to ask, but please… don't let it happen again…" "Rest assured, I will try if God wills it." I replied in mercy. Silence befalls the scene.
I had no idea the Divine order spilt blood of many women and children… footsteps are nigh, the man pushed me aside as an arrow was shot from the woods. The shot was meant for me… he fell silent on the snow-laden earth. "Why would he save me?" I thought to myself, the shooter ran away as the footsteps faded. This man still had good tidings in his heart. We gave the man a proper burial and respects, I have caused the death of a suffering soul… may he rest in peace. We've gone on our way and approximately 3 hours have passed, we've been riding for so long we almost forgot about eating. We decided to stop at the nearest inn we could find, "Prayer's inn… seems like a decent inn." I thought to myself as I tied my horse to a pole. As soon as I walked in, most of the people fell silent as they turned to look at who was entering, and then turned back to what they were doing. We sat at the bar and requested for some bread and meat, and somehow this inn seems more decent than what I thought, the owner was a retired inquisitor. A soft voice from my right asked me, it came from a hooded traveler, "Are you clerics traveling to the south?" I was enchanted by the sweet soft voice that I couldn't answer immediately, surely this was a woman and not just any woman, she was an elven woman. Something was off about her I just can't put my finger on it and how did she tell that we were clerics when our clothing is covered? "I see, you guys are one of those who swore silence." She added, "No… we're only travelers." I replied. "I see…" we sat in silence, soon after we have rested; we departed again and went on our way to Carderock Pass.
[Yuni's POV]
I wrap my arms around him as he keeps on pressing the horse on going faster. I feel safe whenever I'm with him, I feel warm and comfortable just by laying my head on his back. My chest feels warm, I can't explain why, but I like it. Is this what they call love? I really don't understand. I looked behind only to see a hooded horse-rider was gaining distance on us. When I was about to warn him, he suddenly asked "how far?" I didn't understand his question, "How far is the pursuer from us?" he repeated, how did he know? He didn't even look back, "about 200 feet."
[Yahiro's POV]
I sensed something off from that elf in that inn, knowing that we were clerics was suspicious enough, but talking to clerics just locked my suspicion. "Hold on tight, I'm going to try and lose her." I beckoned, she held me so tight that I could feel her warmth over her tunic and mine… I shook my head and tried to focus. I lashed my horse to go faster. She tugged on my tunic but I ignored, she tugged again signaling me to look back, I look back and there I saw the pursuer getting ambushed by goblins. I was hesitating to either leave her behind or aid her; a distressful shriek came from her direction. My body slipped from my control, I turned the horse around and pulled my mace out and struck a goblin in the head. We helped her fight the goblins off, and as I suspected she was using a bow and arrow to fend them off. It was clear that she's the one who tried to kill me. A few minutes later the goblins have retreated, she gave out a relieved sigh. I pointed the tip of my mace to her throat, "So it was you who tried to kill me, state your name and reason!" I had exclaimed, "What are you talking about?" she replied in a confused tone as she removed her hood, I was once again enchanted. Yuni pulled me to the side all of a sudden, an arrow scratched my left arm, if she hadn't pulled me, I would've died. As a response, the elf shot a rain of arrows in the forest beside us, yet all we heard were quick footsteps fading into the woods. I made the wrong conclusion. "That precision… I see why you thought I was the one hunting you down. This is the work of another elf." The elf explained, "So it wasn't you?" I asked bluntly, she gave me a pouting look, "I maybe an elf but we elves have laws that I still follow and killing a human who hasn't done anything to hurt the elven race is against that law. And if I would kill someone I wouldn't do it in the shadows." She replied. I was ashamed for accusing her of something she hasn't done, "I apologize deeply, as a cleric and as a human, please forgive my hostility." I apologized as I bowed down symbolizing my shame. "I'm not going to blame you; elves shouldn't even kill humans in the first place. Oh, and before I go." She had said as she handed me a bag of gold coins, "You forgot it in the inn. Now then, I must depart to find my telezia." "Thank you… pala telezia. (May you find your destiny in elven)." Were my last words to her, then she giggled, "May you find your destiny." She replied as she mounted back on her horse and took off. "Shall we get going?" I asked Yuni, she nodded in reply and giggled. " someone has a crush " she sang in the most mocking tune as we mounted on the horse.
[Yuni's POV]
The words I spoke were only meant to tease him but, why is my chest aching? I guess this is what they call jealousy. Noon came to pass as we decided to have lunch by a field. He's so calm and collected, my heart skipped a beat. It was because we were alone together.
It's been 5 years since we saw his parents, I wonder if they survived? It was nice to have them as guardians; I never got to know my mother or my father. They told me my parents just left me by their door when I was still an infant. Well, it was sure nice of them to take me in, give me a new life, and protect me at times of need. So this time, I'm the one obligated to protect Yahiro… for their sake, and mine. I do hope we could get to see them again.
He laid down on the grassy meadow that we're on, looking up at the sky… such a magnificent sight; I could almost live here with him everlasting. We heard footsteps coming from the woods; we stood up and quietly snuck to see who it was. A night in black armor, the knight looked around to see if the coast was clear and pulled something. Carrots. He whistled to call something; a rabbit came out of its burrow with 3 of its offspring. The knight fed the rabbits, and it was too adorable to watch. Then soldiers came with gold-bordered red banners, this was "The royal army." We took a closer look so that we could hear their conversation.
"And here we thought the infamous black knight was a one ruthless bastard, but behold! The black knight I feeding little balls of fur with carrots." The captain said mockingly
"You lot think you threaten me?" the black knight replied as he gave a devastating look, like an evil entity's stare.
"You've killed my comrades and my friends, now in the name of the King, perish!" the captain had said as an order to attack.
In the blink of an eye half of the soldiers were killed. "Your recklessness will lead you to your own death, carry on." A warning came from the black knight. The soldiers pressed on yet again, and again the black knight swung his sword letting out a very formidable wave of wind and rubble so powerful that the blood of the soldiers were spilt all over the area. "You have witnessed my strength first-hand, do you lot want to join them in the grave?" he asked as looked our way. How did he know? Was the question I kept on asking in my mind, it's amazing that he has that much power, it's almost like he wasn't human… I was scared.
[Yahiro's POV]
I stood up from the bush that we were hiding in. "based on what we have witnessed, no. We are divine knights from the divine order." I announced, Yuni stood up shaking in fear. He smirked, "A female? In the divine order? Ha! They must have lost their noggins already… what's your business here eavesdropping?" the black knight asked. "We have none, just precaution when we heard footsteps."
"Your names?"
"Yahiro and Yuni, divine knights of Kaleon and survivors of the siege of Saint's Haven, and yours?"
He gave a frown and looked away, "Velskud, former knight of Kaleon. Heed my warning, do not dare meddle with my business and never, risk your neck for something that you don't even understand. Farewell." Velskud left.
We went back on our way after blessing the corpses of those that fell in the incident. We were nearing a town, however, my body was still at unease, it was quiet… too quiet. It was an ambush, the goblins that we fended off earlier suddenly popped out of the bushes. I immediately pulled out my mace, however, one by one they fell to the ground as arrows struck them coming from a very familiar traveling elf. It was the traveler; I had forgotten to ask for her name when we were back in the field. As she came closer, I lowered my guard down. Yuni and I dismounted from the horse, I took a step forward, but in a split-second, I felt a sharp pain. An arrow scratched my right cheek. The traveler dismounted from her mount and so the three of us were on high alert. While Yuni was tending my wound, the elf moved to our position to provide a watch. "Now we're even" the elf told me, I only laughed in reply, "Tell me cleric, what have you done to anger someone this much?" she asked me, but honestly, "I have no clue." Yuni slapped me at the back of the head, "Are you that daft?" she asked me, I just looked at her with a confused look. She gave out a sigh, "5 years ago, a boy and a girl was taken in by the divine order. The girl was the first flower to be in the order, then five years later, that boy took that flower with him on a journey. Now, who would that boy and flower be?" she asked, however I was still confused. "Ah so you're the rumored divine flower?" the elf asked, Yuni nodded in reply. After some thinking, I could finally comprehend what they're trying to say. So that means someone inside the divine order wants me dead for taking Yuni with me instead of them, but still, is something that little so much for them?
[Traveling Elf's POV]
I can't believe that one girl could bring the order to kill him; I didn't think that humans would be this bad in jealousy. It must be nice to travel with a companion. Well, I guess it's time to do them a favor. "Put your hoods on and ride as fast as you can, I'll follow behind and escort you to the nearest town which is Carderock Pass." I explained to them, and gladly, they heeded my instructions. I still have to figure out who's this elf that's trying to kill him and report it to the queen.
[Yahiro's POV]
We arrived at the gates of Carderock Pass safely. Finally, we can fulfill our mission. "I forgot to ask for your name." I asked the traveler, and then I remembered they are forbidden to say their real name to anyone until they meet that certain person. "You can call me Sunrise, since you're a cleric you should already comprehend that that is not my true name." she replied with a bright smile, I could see why that name was perfect for her; I continued the introductions for me and Yuni. "I have my own telezia to follow; I shall see you if mine permits it, until then, 'Pala Telezia.'" Those were her last words as she said farewell and continued to venture. As for me and Yuni, we can finally start our mission. At last we arrived at Carderock Pass.
