User blog:Nuka Kazan/A Fake Wolf: No-Win Situation (Part 1)

Author's Notes
Not Dead Yet :I

Very sorry for the lack of updates, guys. I've been extremely busy. The workforce is a taskmaster when you can't get a really good-paying job... I think I have some time for a while, though, so I'll try to update as often as I can while I still can...

Also here's a link to the archives for everybody who has no clue what this story is. Click the link to start from the beginning.

---

'THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS COMBAT, ALBEIT IN LIGHT DETAIL. REST ASSURED THERE WILL BE NO VIVID DESCRIPTIONS OR GORE, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE A FIGHT.'

If you're okay with that, please enjoy this chapter :I

---

I May Have Made a Mistake...
At the time of this writing, I travel towards the seaside city, en route to Zipangu. Also, I no longer travel alone. Yes, I have a travel partner for the duration of this trek. This ally has agreed to accompany me until I can safely board a ship to leave this continent. However, in exchange... ...

Before I board, we must fight. Again.

And it's no riddle what will happen if I lose.

Yesterday...
"Bwah ha ha ha~! That's quite the story, laddy!"

I once again find myself entertaining my fellow stayers at an inn dining hall with a recent tale. Much like the previous inn, I have come across a Monster-friendly neutral area. In the dining hall, I see Humans and Monsters alike speaking, eating, and showing no loss of self-control whatsoever. In fact, I believe most of the Monsters I've seen here were rather close to a male Human, sometimes locking arms with him. I assume many of these Monsters had already claimed a husband. Lucky break; maybe I won't have to worry about another sudden challenge by a resident here...

The group of Human travellers at my table had been a little tipsy for the past hour, as I had been keeping them thoroughly amused by my story about the large Holstaur ranch I visited. Once I brought up the stampede, many of the men doused the tables and curtains with the ale they spit out from laughing.

"And ye didnea stay and have a little fun?! I'd call ye a coward, but I doubt I could handle even two Holstaurs in a row~!"

I must admit, despite their obnoxious behavior, these loopy men took a lot of stress off my shoulders. What with being hunted to almost being raped by my own brethren, I needed to just relax and have a good laugh... ...

Although, I wasn't laughing when I noticed that one of their spit takes left their beer all over my meal. And I had just gotten it...

---

In my quarters, I had taken a quick look at my map as I planned my next move. I needed to leave soon; the sounds of battle back at the forest not too long ago fills me with paranoia. I couldn't help but feel like whoever was fighting the Werewolves were not Werewolves themselves. With the sounds of metal scraping back then, I fear that my "allies" may had come across someone with a sword...

And speaking of swords...

"Cut them all down!"

A voice boomed from outside, shaking me from my thoughts. I head to the window and peel the curtains back, just enough to peek outside. What I saw had confirmed my paranoid thought... ...

Nolte.

That vengeful cobalt knight, Nolte, was riding into town on an armored steed. Surrounding him were at least a dozen fellow knights. Upon his order, the other knights dashed ahead on their horses and drew their swords. The villagers walking the town square had all begun to run and make for their homes. I wasn't sure if all of them could make it in time...

From the other side of my door, I could hear many people clamoring about shelter for the women and children, and some men sounded determined to go out there and fight. I don't know what this raid was all about, but I definitely agreed with the men willing to fight.

This was a neutral area; Nolte and his men needed not arrive, and as far as I care, had no right to come here... ...

I am well rested, and somewhat fed. I won't be hauling ass and escaping this time.

---

"Spare us! We mean no ill will to the King!"

"No, don't! Don't!!!"

"Open up, let us in! They won't listen to reas--augh!"

Innocent people, Humans and the more peaceful of Monsters, were being systematically taken down and detained by the knights. Nolte sat on his steed at the water fountain at the center of the town square, watching the whole thing unfold. Some people tried to stand and fight, but a number of them were shot down before they could do much by the archers perched on the roofs.

After sneaking out from the back exit of the inn, I climbed to the roof--a very advantageous spot to plan an escape at night, mind you--and noticed that there were archers on roofs long before I got there. After a quick scanning, I spotted only four of them, and brandished my blades, preparing to give the villagers a better fighting chance...

After a few moments, I'm sure Nolte noticed the lack of arrows and looked up at one of the roofs. He noticed that three of the four archers were down, and I had just scared the fourth one to jump from the roof... and into the grips of some of the villagers.

Nolte grabs the reigns of his horse and quickly darts towards the house whose roof I was stading on. As our eyes meet, his voice roared louder than the ruckus happening:

"HUUUUUUUUUGHS!"

Still calling me that, huh?

I make a quick jump to the next rooftop, on my way to the center of town square, as I hear the heavy sound of metal crashing along the brick road. When I climbed down to solid ground and made it to the fountain, I turn to see Nolte coming after me, his face now no longer hidden by his helmet. His hair was light brown and cut to ear length. His face was square and rugged, yet cleanly shaved. Just by his face, one would not think he were a man who knew war. But his eyes, his sullen, fierce eyes told me that he had seen perhaps as much conflict as I had.

"I knew you would be here, Hughs! 'Twas only a matter of time before I caught you before you could run!"

"... ... ..." I merely glared. I would not acknowledge that name.

"I won't arrest you. I no longer care about that! I want your head!"

"... ..." I respond only by showing him my blades.

"Those are what killed my friend, arent' they?!" Nolte roared, unsheathing his sword. "DIE, SAVAGE!"

In his blind fury, Nolte charged at me atop his horse, aiming to rend my head from my shoulders with one swing of his mighty blade. I felt pity for his steed, as I rolled under the swing of Nolte's blade and slashed into the right front leg of the horse. It immediately stumbled foward and flung Nolte off of his saddle and onto the ground. His sword had nearly fallen into the fountain.

As he rolled onto his knees to get up in that cumbersome, heavy armor, Nolte could see me make my way towards him, bringing my blade to the neck of his stallion. With a quick push and twist, I put the horse out of its misery as painlessly as I could, my eyes focused soley on its former rider.

"... ...?" Nolte looked confused as to why I didn't immediately do the same to him.

"What, then? Is that my future? Do it now, if you dare!"

"... ...Nolte," I finally decided to break my silence. "Pick up your sword."

The look of shock on his face told it all. He expected a coward. He expected a quick kill. And believe me, I wanted to kill him for this nonsense, but for some reason... ...I wanted to get this through his thick skull.

Slowly, he grabbed his sword and after a few step away from the dead horse, we get in our respective fighting positions.

"Trying to imitate a sense of honor, now?" Nolte questions. "What does a savage know of honor?"

"Ugh, a man whose culture is not your own is not necessarily a savage, knight. If only you took the time to learn the ways of your fellow man. Those fellow Humans your kingdom orders you to eliminate..."

"SHUT UP, YOU! WE ARE MEN OF GOD!" he insisted. With a wild downward swing, he buries his sword into the road; I barely had enough time to dodge. "We fight for ALL men who wish to be saved! We fight for our God! Your God! What do you fight for, Hughs?! If not God, who do you serve?! The Demon Lord?!"

His swipes were furious yet precise; one clean hit could remove a limb with ease. But like a few weeks ago, my opponent underestimated my ability to read a fighter's body and predict which move would come next. And unlike that last opponent, Nolte was far slower with all that armor.

That, and he didn't have a tail.

That armor, however, covered him completely from the neck down. His guard also protected the only weaknesses in that armor; the joints. But with that heavy armor, it was only a matter of time before he wore himself out, especially with his rage pushing him past his limits.

... ...Just a little longer, and he'll leave himself open.

Nolte had slowed down to the point where I could occasionally peek behind him and see the condition of the villagers. The town square seemed rather quiet, despite the random fire here and there. The soldiers seemed to have been subdued--we had the numbers advantage after the archers were dealt with--and some villagers, and even a couple of knights who had just stopped their assault, seemed to be watching our duel.

Another minute passed, and Nolte finally stopped swinging his blade. He reared back and took a more defensive stance, breathing heavily and seeming to wait for my next move.

... ...well, if he was done, I don't mind finally attacking.

With both blades in my hands, I dash forward. Nolte guards up with his sword, not paying attention to his legs, which were spread wide to keep him steady. I slide between his legs and aim for his back. Before he could turn around, I bring my left blade around the front of his throat. With my right arm, I wrap and lock his right shoulder so he could not raise his sword.

"A wolf is patient, Nolte... ..." I began to educate. "Brute force can only take you so fa-- AGH!"

A sharp, piercing sensation ran right through my back. As I rear my head back, I hear a scream from a female villager. Another villager took a large brick and broke it upon that last archer who had jumped from the roof. My vision suddenly blurred as I was whipped around and thrown to the ground by Nolte. I landed right on my back, snapping the arrow that was lodged in my flesh.

Looming over me was Nolte, sword tip aimied at my head. He began to slooooowly raise it for the final blow...

"You are no wolf. You are not even a dog... ..."

CLANG!

A quick flash blinded me, but the sound that accompanied it was of metal meeting metal. I had already dropped my blades when I was thrown, so whose blade did I hear?

As if to answer my question just as I had thought it, another familiar voice calls out.

"He's mine!"

The flash fades from my eyes and before me is a glare of rage at Nolte slowly turning to a look of concern towards me. I can't believe I'm saying this, but... ...goodness, am I glad to see you...

Emelyn.

-To Be Continued