Chapter 3: 3
Screams erupted everywhere, carts of food tumbling over as armed soldiers dressed in black dragged the boys away.
***
The figure of Aiden sauntered towards the village, unbeknownst to the young man, the tumult that had befallen Lorwich.
Only upon drawing closer, did he behold the commotion in place.
Legs pushing back, his form went retreating at once, but perhaps, such ill-luck befell the young man, as one of the soldiers had taken sight of him.
And in a bellow, the man had prompted some soldiers to go chasing after that figure of Aiden, who in turn was already on the run, not daring to look back.
The young man caught the trots of horses coming his way, accompanied with the yells the soldiers poured.
The sound of their chuckles broke all around him, their laughters, only foretelling such mockery.
They enjoyed his trepidatious state. They were intent on having him break, so focused on getting him battered.
It was no secret the qualities soldiers of Cedric bore.
Quick to catch up, the men had blocked his path leaving him with not a chance of escaping.
One of the soldiers had stepped forward, just about grabbing Aiden by the arm, but he had responded with a kick to the man's gut, caused him to stumble.
The other two, found onlooking the scene, had at once pushed forward, drawing out their blades in the process.
Yet, the figure of Aiden was found remaining where he stood, ready to defend himself, no matter what it took.
He lunged forward in a swift movement, blade slashing the neck of the first soldier, and then came the silence, right as the other two were left with widened eyes, onlooking the body of their colleague slump slowly to the ground.
The fear which rested in their eyes made Aiden confident enough to stand his grounds.
They never thought he would fight back against them. No one stood up against soldiers of Cedric. It was like hugging death itself.
It was pure terror.
The eyes of the men remain fixed on the lifeless body of their mate, and with high screams and swords held out, they had lunged at Aiden.
His sword met with that of the soldiers, a loud clang breaking out, having his muscles rush with shock at the impact.
He had received a death-threatening blow from one of them, one which had brought his knees to the ground, but there was no giving up now, so the young man thought, and at once, he leaped forward, sword slitting the rough skin the men, causing him staggering back, with that scream leaving his lips.
"Let go of me. I warn you" Followed that voice belonging to Aiden.
"No, we give the warnings to you. Drop your sword, while you still have the chance to, peasant!" The man spat.
His eyes shifted to his mate who was laying on the floor wriggling in pain, and as if a message was being communicated just through the look of their eyes, the one sprawled on the ground, had grabbed onto the legs of Aiden, bringing him down.
The other soldier left standing, had retrieved the young man's sword at once, aiming it at him.
With clenched jaw and dark eyes, he had his hands bind, grabbing him roughly by his clothing, and soon taking him back to the village, but not before having one final look at the body of their mate which Aiden had mutilated.
***
Meanwhile, back in the village, a soldier was having a hard time binding the hands of Elpida.
He went grabbing her roughly, fingers digging into her arms.
"Leave her alone! You said you only wanted our sons"
The voice of a lady broke out, earning a low chuckle from the soldier who had turned to have a glance at the woman.
"Did we forget to mention our dire need for a few pretty girls to play with?" He responded with a husky laugh.
The rest of the soldiers had partaken in his glee, giving a nod in agreement, enjoying the whole scene.
"Please!" Cried the voice of Elpida.
Aiden soon went struggling to get his hands free, at the sight of a retrained Elpida, trying to reach to her, but the cruel hands soldiers were sent down on him, pinning him to the ground.
Bellona had pushed forward, aiming for that soldier who was found mishandling the figure of her friend,
but was caught at once, as he went grabbing her by the neck, shoving her to the ground.
She clutched at her neck, groans pouring out her lips, with eyes on the search for Pavlos, yet, nowhere was he to be found.
That look of horror had taken the face of Elpida, as the sight of the soldier approaching her.
On his lips, grew a devilish grin, with fists held tight.
Pulling out a whip from behind him, he advanced the figure of the girl.
Eyes shut tight, lips paused tight, Elpida waited for the impact. She had pulled her hands out in defense, all in hopes if avoiding the whips from lashing at her face, but all that came was a ear-piercing shrill, soon followed with the murmurs around.
There came a gust of wind, one so wild, it was accompanied with with a screech.
Now the focus of everyone was not at all centered on Elpida, but the soldier who been pushed back by such might of the wind.
The silence pulled, and all to be heard was the clopping of horses hooves, as they were found at an unease from the rush of breeze.
Even all of those mighty soldiers were left dumbfounded, gaze shifting from Elpida, to the man who had been sent flying across the village, and soon enough, that yell followed.
"She has magic. Get her!" Called the Commander, with index finger shot out at the form of Elpida, who was soon found pushing backwards, soft eyes pleading on.
"Do not hurt me. I beg of you" Followed her whimper, while she went dragging the dust with her feet, figure shuffling back.
Some soldiers had pulled forward, all eager to grab ahold of her, but there came a figure out of nowhere, coming to stand right in front of the men, preventing them from pulling any further.
That figure appeared so familiar to Bellona, and only at him moving closer to Elpida, did it dawn on her.
It was the same man she had come across in Pavlos' home. That very strange man.
This time, all eyes were centered on him, with the villagers left disturbed on whoever the stranger was.
"Get out of the way" One of the men spoke, with figure pushing forward, but was soon found thrown backwards, as that fellow stood in front, had pulled out two fingers at him, and the next thing he knew, he found himself connecting with a tree afar.
The eyes of the old man glowed brightly, gaze fixated on the formation of soldiers.
In a moment, a sword held in one of the soldier's hands, went flying, soon connecting with the guts of another one.
That man had fallen to his knees, sputtering out blood, with eyes rolling to the back of his head.
"Retreat!" Came that voice.
"There's magic here!" Hollered the commander, and with that, the lot of soldiers, were found running back to their horses, soon riding away, not sparing a look back.
Meanwhile, the villagers had burst into a fit of cheers, soon reaching for whatever they could find beside them, and throwing it on at the evading army.
Bellona left dazed, was soon hurrying to Elpida, calling out to her.
"You okay?" Came her voice, but no response followe from the girl, instead those soft pants poured out her lips, with fear-struck eyes shifting all through.
The villagers had soon turned their focus to the old man, whose gazed shifted through the faces before him, with figure found backing away.
"Who are you?"
The voice of Bellona broke out, with her soon approaching the man.
His eyes were warm on her, gaze holding onto uncertainty, but all of that could barely be seen through the portion of grey hair falling over his face.
He had turned around, soon hurrying away, while the voice of Bellona followed him.
"Where are you going?" Called Elpida, but Bellona went on, following after that figure.
"Bellona!" That voice called out, but the girl never took a stop.
The young lady chased after that, cutting through corners, following the same path he took, but lost him eventually.
Her eyes went searching around the silent woods, but there laid not a single trace of him anywhere.
Much perturbed, still she had turned around, returning to the village.
"He's gone" She called out to a worried Elpida.
Anessa and Michael, a middle-aged couple, the parents of Elpida, soon walked up to their daughter, their faces bearing looks of utter shock and disbelief.
"How did you do that?" Came the voice of Anessa, face held with worried eyes and droopy cheeks.
"I don't know" They heard the voice of their daughter, but every doubt lingered in their gazes, perhaps it was uncertainty, fear, whatever that look was which they bore.
"I've nursed you since you were a baby, and I know my daughter doesn't have magic. Tell me how you did that!" The voice of Anessa poured out into a yell, gaze shot at the figure of her daughter.
"That's enough!" Came the voice of Michael, speaking since his arrival.
The gaze of Bellona was burdened with worry, following the figure of Elpida, being led away by her parents.
"Bellona!"
Called a voice from behind, having her spinning around, only to find Pavlos helping untie Aiden's bind hands.
She had pushed herself forward, soon hurrying over to them, with eyes intent on that figure away.
"Pavlos!"
"Where the hell were you?"
"Let's focus on what really matters here, and that's no one being hurt?" Followed his voice.
"Well, Elpida almost got hurt"
"Thank heavens, she was saved" Bellona added.
She had taken a couple steps closer to him, eyes intent in his. "She was saved by the same man I found in your home"
"Don't start now" She heard those words of Pavlos.
He moved past her, grabbing a hold of the weapons he saw laying on the ground.
"I'm telling the truth, Pavlos. I saw him. Everyone else saw him" Bellona defended immediately.
"There really was an old man. He saved all of us. He's got magic" Aiden stepped in.
"And so does Elpida" Bellona soon let out that utterance, that had managed to snatch the attention of the figures away.
They stared on at her with strained eyes, brows furrowed brows, comprehending her foretelling.
Impossible! It itched so well inside of Pavlos, mind still not believing what his ears had caught onto.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone