The sun would be setting in a few minutes. I wasn't anxious about the bandits, though they would not hesitate to attack a young girl like me. I was only sixteen, but the amounts of knowledge and experience I have could never be possessed by a simple human. I had bigger problems to worry about.
How would you react if a dozen agressive AND big rock golem things that came to life were to suddenly burst wildly into your path and charge at you? I'm betting that you won't last ten seconds. But me? I was thrown painfully back and crashed into a huge bamboo tree (Trust me, bamboo really hurts) as a particularly large and aggressive one batted me away. Then, though heavily battered and bruised, I got up, furious, yet eager for the next challenge.
That golem thing, whatever it was, was sooo dead.
Over my years of training, I've learned to use countless types of weapons. Give me anything sharp and a target, and you can bet that the target will be dead in ten seconds. However, I decided not to use one right now, attacking only with my body. They did deserve a sporting chance. My lips pressed into a thin smile at that thought.
I shifted my body into a defensive stance as they wasted time doing the usual howling all monsters do. There was no way they could mistake my challenge, no matter how stupid they looked.
One swung an enormous arm towards me, aimed at my skull. I ducked under it, and thrust myself behind it's raised legs. After slamming a double punch (scraping my skin on the uneven suface in the process) at the creature's unprotected back, it immediately crumbled to dust. Pathetic.
As the others lumbered towards me, enraged at the fall of their comrade, I lost my footing and stumbled on the ground, head suddenly dizzied with pain. The world flashed red and black. Red and black.
"Earth, obey me!" I murmured, summoning my element. I felt the familiar rush of power, like my mind extending and melting into my surroundings. My senses were heightened, and I could sense and manipulate every piece of my surroundings. Every object, living or not; the ground at my feet, the bushes, the trees, even the fluttering leaves in the breeze- and the solid stone the golems were made out of- was under my control. With the slightest thought, they collapsed, moaning all the way, leaving behind floating dust and a few stray pebbles, all of which were quickly scattered by the wind.
"I win," I smiled faintly, then was hit with a sudden wave of nausea. My feet buckled under me, and I slumped onto the ground. I had overestimated my healing abilities, as well as my injuries. Blood trickled down the corner of my mouth.
Damn. Damn, damn, damn, DAMN! I hadn't been this injured for a long time. "The price of being too cocky," I muttered under my breath.
Luckily, I would only have to wait for sunset. When that happened, the shadows would heal me. But I wasn't sure I would make it that long
"How could you let them get away?"
"Did you see how many of them there were?"
Two voices. There was a violent rustling sound, as though someone was walking through the thick bushes that surrounded me.
"Dashi's not going to be – Hey! Are you alright?" the second voice demanded, alarmed.
"It's quite obvious she's not." the first voice said dryly.
I attempted to force my eyelids open. It would have taken more effort to defeat all the rock golems all over again.
Two figures came into my vision. One was a heavily-muscled man, about twenty-two years old; bald, save for a long black plait, wearing the orange robes of a monk and carrying a large spear. The other had a more slender form; a raven-haired boy of about nineteen years, dressed in the traditional blue martial arts clothing, who moved with a fluid and smooth grace.
It's amazing what your brain can register even when you're on the brink of death.
"Lea..Leave… me alone," I managed to gasp out. Even that took effort.
A face came into focus. A pair of glistening golden eyes, like two deep pools of molten gold, stared back at me, creased with concern.
"We'll better bring her into the temple. You carry her," the monk ordered.
"No, don't bother… I'll be fi-" I protested feebly, until a coughing fit came over me. My lungs were drowning in my blood.
The raven haired boy picked me up without effort. My dizzied brain was still able to notice -and appreciate- the well-developed muscles that showed even under his loose shirt, despite the fact I was almost dead.
No, no, what was I thinking I mentally shook my head, shocked at my wandering thoughts. I had never thought about men and affairs of the heart before. I had thought I had given up all my feminine matters a long time ago, when I set out to be a warrior.
The monk turned his head to look at me, and for a second, his eyes met mine. I was startled by the hunger I could see in them. I closed my eyes, trying to think straight. Maybe I had imagined it.
"Where are you taking me?" I barely realised I had spoken out loud. The words broke the awkward silence that had blanketed us.
The sun had already begun to set. As the glowing ball slowly disappeared and darkness began to creep in, I already felt rejuvenated, as my strength returned.
"Xiaolin temple," he smiled at me.