Chapter 3: Scarlet

The three men rushed toward Orson slashing with their daggers and katars while the unarmed assassin tries hard to defend himself.

pak pow thud

Fist against steel, that is hardly fair, but Orson is not to be defeated that easily, his agile reflexes dodged the three assassins' attacks. "Father… " Will whispers in his mind. He breathed deeply, trembling from the sounds of battle. His mother quickly went near him and pulled him away from the door.

In their bedroom his mother told him in a weak voice "Stay here dear, your father will take care of those bad people…" she started crying.

"I must do something… Father… Father… " the child thought.

He glanced at the lone sword by the door, glowing bright red. It was his Fire Blend, his father's gift to him. It was like calling to him, the warm air reaches Will and he stands up, approached the lone sword and holds it in his hand.

"Will, what are you doing?" his mother spoke, tears rolling down her eyes.

The boy didn't hear what his mother said, "Father needs me…" he whispered and runs outside.

"It's too dangerous, Will, come back!!"

"I pity you, Orson… Your skills have dwindled much since the time you left the guild." mocked an assassin, licking the blade of his bloodied katar.

Orson is tired. The enemies came from three sides, his back to the wall. There is no escape.

"Orson Eastwind of the Origins, you die here… " one of the assassins muttered.

The assassin swings his katar aiming for the man's neck.

chink

"What?" a surprised assassin whispered. A crimson blade defended against the attack. "I'll never let you hurt my father!" exclaimed Will with fire burning in his eyes. He swings his sword creating a current of flame and the assassins staggered backward.

"What are you doing here, Will…!" his father said, looking at the boy. Will charges at the enemies with his burning sword. The assassins were surprised at Will's attacks, but it was not enough, he is a boy nonetheless and is easily defeated.

"Uaaah!!" Will cried out as one of the men stuck his sword with great might causing him to fly backwards.

"You've taught him well, Orson… But it's not enough. He dies here, along with you!"

Orson quickly gets his son out of harm's way by a few inches. "Father" the trembling child muttered. "You fool… You should've stayed home as I told you…" his eyes were back to normal. That warm kind spirit is back. Willis felt comfort in his arms. "Hang on to me." The man said, as he jumps to the roof and flees with the three assassins after him.

On the plain where the lone tree stands, the assassin jumps to the branch and settles Will down. "Stay here and leave everything to me." Will nods to his father's command. The assassin jumped down to engage the three in combat once again. "Be careful… father…"

"So you decided to fight huh?" sneers one of the assassins. "The child has nothing to do with this, leave him alone." Orson responded, his eyes became cold once again.

They started to fight. The sound of fighting reached the boy's ears. His breathing became heavy, heartbeat, faster. He is scared. Scared at the fact his father might die.

"Aaaah!" Orson cried out as a blade sank into his right arm. He was forced to crash on the trunk of the tree. The assassins approach him. "This is the end… comrade… or should I say… traitor…"

Will held his sword tightly, closing his eyes. He whispers and tears started rolling down his cheeks. The sword seeming to heed the boy's wish glowed bright red. A voice entered Will's mind. "Don't stop practicing okay? I just know you'll be good at it someday."

"I can do it… Father, please hold on…" He wiped his tears with his sleeve, closed his eyes and chanted.

Orson can barely defend himself. The assassins have ganged up on him. Their attacks he can barely dodge. "Die!" and assassin shouted out as he appears behind Orson, preparing to thrust his dagger at the man's back.

"Please!" Willis said as he opens his eyes. "Save father!"

"Gaaaaaah!!" the assassin cried out as flames consumed his body. He dropped his dagger and fell on the ground, body burned to a crisp. Orson marveled at what he saw.

Multiple balls of fire rained down from the skies and struck the two remaining enemies. One survived. "You… argh… I'll… be back… err…" He flees from the injured assassin.

Orson came back to his senses. He looks up at the tree branch and saw Will holding the Fire Blend tight in his arms. "It's alright now… Will… They're gone. Come, jump down, don't worry… I'm here." He spoke in a soft voice, stretching his arms to catch the boy.

Willis jumped down, his father catching him. He looked at the two charred bodies of the enemies he killed. He was afraid, tears started to roll down his eyes again. He trembled at the fact that he killed someone, a living person. "Father… I… I… " the boy sobbed.

His father held him tight. "Let's go home… Will…" The boy continued crying, but he was thankful that his father was saved. He whispered… "Thank you… Scarlet…"