Ch14
Keyaru swore as the fire around them grew stronger. The scent of smoke filled the air as the trees burned around them. "Freia just focus on putting out the fires in our path."
Freia nodded. "I'm on it." Her staff glowed a bright blue as it sprayed water from the tip. The water doused the trees putting them out. She had already casted a protective spell around each of them to prevent the smoke from bothering them but the forest fire was growing larger and larger.
"Come on lets get out of here," Naofumi said as they ran down the path.
Melty's face paled as she looked at the ground. "My foolish sister, I can't believe she would do such a thing. I never would've thought she would've tried and killed me."
"Well seeing how your sister acts it honestly doesn't surprise us," He said just as a large burning trunk fell in front of them.
"Watch out!" Freia quickly doused the flames with water and extinguished it.
"Good job." He quickly grabbed the smoldering trunk with his gauntlets. "Heal!" The trunk crumpled into a heap of burn woodchips. "Lets get out of here."
Freia continued to douse the flames as they made their way towards the end of the woods. It wasn't long before they saw the exit. As soon as they made it through they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well we made it out in one piece," he muttered as he looked at the burning forest behind them.
"Keyaru-sama should I put it out?" Freia asked.
He looked at Naofumi. "She can summon a rainstorm but we might have company soon."
The shield her looked at the woods and nodded. "If it doesn't take too much energy out of her. We don't' know who else might still be in there."
"Freia go ahead."
Freia nodded and began to chant. Her body became enveloped in a bright blue aura as she levitated in the air and raised her staff. The clouds above darkened as rain clouds formed over the burning forest and soon a strong rain descended upon the burning trees.
"There all done," Freia said with a smile.
"Good lets get going," he said.
They quickly made their way through the area but were soon stopped by a retinue of soldiers and some very familiar faces. "Stop!" Myne ordered as the soldiers drew their weapons. "Release my sister at once."
"That is enough!" A moustached man with brown hair and a fine suit with a bow in his hand appeared with a bow in his hand.
His eyes widened. Trist Organ. He swore and turned to Naofumi. "If he's here we're in trouble." Trist Organ better known as Hawkeye was the professional bodyguard of Norn, the sister of Flare.
Hawkeye notched an arrow. "Surrender the princess or else."
"Freia caste a shield spell now!" He yelled as the arrow flew through the sky.
The spell blocked the attack as Naofumi stood in front of Metly with his shield in hand. "One of the people on your list?"
"No but works for one of them." He turned and watched as Freia's spell took managed to block the series of arrows that were flying at them.
"Keyaru-sama what are your orders?" Freia asked. "I'm afraid I cannot maintain this shield forever."
His heart raced as he turned to Naofumi as an idea came to his head. "Lets split up. I have an idea."
Naofumi frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Setsuna get over here!" He knelt down and turned to face Melty.
"Keyaru-sama." Setsuna came over and bowed.
He activated his gauntlets and gripped Melty on the head with one hand and Setsuna with the other. "We'll have to change how you look. Freia caste a smoke screen to cover us and attack them with fire magic!"
Freia nodded. "On it!" She muttered an incantation and smoke then began to fill the air.
"Heal!" Melty opened her mouth but before he could say anything his changing heal took place. In a flash of light Melty and Setsuna swapped appearances even to their exact clothing.
Melty who looked like Setsuna and Setsuna who now looked like Melty. An explosion then ripped through the area as Freia launched various spells at the enemy soldiers. "Naofumi go!"
The Shield Hero met his gaze and nodded. "Good luck."
"You too." He patted Naofumi on the back and grabbed Setsuna by the arm. "Lets go Freia!"
With that the two parties separated. His heart raced in his chest as they ran through the grove of tress. Norn is a tricky one. His gaze darted around him as he heard the sound of footsteps and shouts of soldiers around them. He'd have to be extra careful with her.
"Freia caste protection spells around us. Setsuna whatever you do don't break your cover."
Setsuna, in the appearance of Melty nodded. "Yes Keyaru-sama."
"Shall we kill them all?" Freia asked as she unleashed another ball of fire at a group of soldiers.
He shook his head. "We'll need information."
It was then that an arrow grazed his sleeve. He swore as he turned around and saw Hawkeye with an arrow knocked in his bow. "Surrender the princess. I have this area surrounded."
His heart raced in his chest as he stood in front of Setsuna, his mind racing through the various plans he could take. "I imagine Lady Norn is around here somewhere, does she miss her sister?"
Hawkeye's gaze narrowed. "Where is she?"
He sighed as he scanned the area; if there were soldiers around they would be scattered around the place. A smile spread across his face. "She's closer than you think. Go Freia!"
Freia held out her staff and unleashed a torrent of fire. Hawkeye easily dodged it and fired some arrows at them."
"Heal!" he slammed one of his gauntlets into the ground causing it to shake as chunks of dirt flew at Hawkeye.
The archer swore as the dirt hit him leaving him open. He quickly charged and punched him in the gut. Hawkeye's eyes widened but he acted quickly as he drew a knife and tried to slash him.
"Flare caste a concealment charm around the area and prevent anyone else from interfering!" He yelled as he dodged Hawkeye's knife.
Freia nodded and raised her staff and muttered an incantation just as a translucent dome encircled the area. Meanwhile he blocked Hawkeye's attacks while trying to close the distance between them. You're a valuable person, I can't kill you yet.
The archer closed the distance quickly, fist cocked back as he moved with practiced precision, his movements silent but deadly. He barely dodged the first swing, feeling the breeze of it just graze his cheek. The next instant, he countered, his fist driving toward Hawkeye's ribs. But the archer twisted, blocking the blow and throwing his own punch, knuckles crashing into his jaw.
The sting flashed through him, and he gritted his teeth, retaliating with a quick, low kick aimed at Hawkeye's knee. The man dodged, faster than he'd anticipated, but not fast enough to avoid the punch that followed, slamming into his shoulder. Hawkeye grunted, staggering back a step.
"Where is Lady Flare?" the archer demanded, voice cold and clipped. His eyes were narrowed, calculating, not a shred of emotion breaking through his mask.
He smirked, ignoring the throbbing in his jaw. "She's where she deserves to be," he replied, voice laced with mocking calmness.
Hawkeye's face darkened, and he lunged forward, fist swinging in a vicious arc. Keyaru blocked it, feeling the impact reverberate up his arm. They grappled, hands locked in a brutal contest of strength, muscles straining. Hawkeye's grip was iron, unyielding, but he twisted just enough to drive an elbow into the archer's side, forcing him to break contact.
The archer stumbled, but he recovered almost instantly, rolling his shoulders before launching himself forward again. They traded blows in a brutal, relentless exchange, each one testing the other, neither giving an inch. He could feel the sweat running down his back, each punch and block wearing him down, but he saw the way Hawkeye's breathing had quickened, the glint of fatigue flickering behind his otherwise cold eyes.
"Still so sure of yourself?" he taunted, dodging another blow aimed at his ribs. "You must be getting tired."
"Where is she?" Hawkeye's voice was sharper this time, more desperate, even as he launched another fierce barrage of punches, each one calculated, aimed to wound. He blocked, dodged, and slipped around each one, refusing to give the archer the satisfaction of an answer.
One punch managed to connect, slamming into his side, but he used the momentum to twist, catching Hawkeye off balance. Before the man could recover, he drove his knee up, hard, into Hawkeye's stomach. The archer choked, faltering, and in that moment of hesitation, he struck again, a fierce right hook that sent Hawkeye reeling backward, feet skidding across the dirt.
Seizing the opportunity, he lunged, tackling the archer to the ground. Hawkeye barely had a second to react before he was pinned, his back pressed against the earth. He struggled, but Keyaru's grip was already at his throat, fingers tightening.
"Where's Lady Flare?" Hawkeye spat, glaring up at him, defiance burning in his eyes despite the bruises on his face
He leaned in, his grip firm, a cold smile spreading across his face. "You're not getting her back no one ever will," he said quietly in a low dark voice. "Heal!"
Hawkeye let out a scream as he slumped to the ground as the whites of his eyes folded over. Taking a deep breathe he maintained the grip on Hawkeyes' skull while he blankly stared at him. "Who gave you the orders to kill Melty?"
"Princess Myne in coordination with Lady Norn," Hawkeye muttered in a monotone voice.
It was one of his newer healing techniques, the brainwash heal which could be used to make a person's brain act in a way he wanted it to.
"Where is Princess Norn? Is she nearby?" He asked.
"To the north east," Hawkeye muttered before giving the coordinates.
He nodded as a cold wind passed by them. "Why do they want to kill Melty?"
Hawkeye stared at him with a vacant gaze. "They along with the Church of the Three Heroes wish her dead."
That church again. "Why does the church have to do with this?"
"I do not know for my lady has not revealed it to. I only do what I am ordered," Hawkeye said.
"True," he sighed as he gripped the man by the head. You never personally harmed me and it'd be a waste to kill you off. "Heal." He copied the man's skills and stats before knocking him out.
"Keyaru-sama shall we kill him for you?" Setsuna asked.
He shook his head. "We have better uses for him. I'll just remove the receipt from his mind." He'll be a good addition to our team. Non sexually of course. "Freia make sure there are no enemies nearby."
Freia nodded her gaze firm. "Yes Keyaru-sama
Kneeling down he maintained his grip on Hawkeye's skull. "Heal." With that he rewrote Hawkeye's mind and memories whipping them clean of Norn and the taint of whoever else ordered. Hawkeyes was a good soldier and he would make him his loyal dog.
When he was done Hawkeye's body fell to the ground. "Alright that should do it. He'll no longer be our enemy."
Hawkeye let out a groan. "Wh-Where am I?"
He cautiously offered a hand. "Are you alright?"
Hawkeye looked up at him and his gaze widened. "Keyaru-sama!" He quickly got up and bowed. "Forgive me I must have been knocked out."
He helped the man up and patted him on the back. "It's alright good friend. The enemy kidnapped you and turned you against me."
Hawkeye frowned and bowed. "Forgive me if I caused you any trouble Keyaru-sama."
A smile spread across his face. "No problem my friend. You could help make it up to me through another way."
Hawkeye fell to his knees. "Anything my lord."
A smile spread across his face. "We are going after an enemy of mine and I need your help."