"M-monster!" The man shouted.
The figure in the shadows did not move. His eyes fixated on the knights. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the flashes of lightning illuminated him.
The shadow of a man whose eyes glowed red in the dark. Whose weapons weren't from this world. A man who had no magic but had his brains to aid him.
"Erik! Kill them all!" Wart shouted. The knights looked at him in confusion.
"Erik?" Were the man's last words before his head fell from his body and into the muddy ground.
"Eek!" The knights were frozen in fear.
The strange figure was now visible to them, albeit blurry. He was tall, had dark hair with a hairstyle that made the person's first mind on him as handsome, a body that was pale but muscular, he wore a strange suit that none of them has ever seen. A raven black uniform with the insignia of a state they have never heard of.
His two blades shimmered in the dark as fangs that were about to bite down on their chests. Two of the knights could no longer stand still and tried to run away.
Artemis' eyes moved to their direction. He jumped at the closest one and ran his blades deep into his back and came out on his chest. The man shrieked and died. None of the knights didn't notice his movements just by a single millimeter, he was too fast that none could even predict it.
The other man was no different. Artemis appeared in-front of him and stabbed his throat, he choked and fell on the ground. Artemis left him alone as his neck spewed his blood onto the forest floor.
As Artemis stared down the rest of the knights. Wart had taken the woman onto his arms and fled. The knights failing to give chase since their lives were at stake.
Artemis looked at them closely. They weren't hardened veterans, no, they all looked young. They were all young men in their twenties. Artemis could see the glimmer of youth in their eyes, the glimmer that signified that they yearned for adventure and glory.
But Artemis could not bear leave behind witnesses. If even one of them were to survive, they would report back to whichever Lord they served and brought more trouble.
And besides, he thought.
"I never cared about anyone's life outside of those I wish to protect," He whispered. The knights failing to comprehend.
Artemis dashed at the knights and slaughtered each of them in different ways. Severing their arteries, slicing their necks, breaking their joints, tearing their jaws. It was a bloodbath. Artemis felt nothing when he did what he did. He rip and tear all of them until it is done.
But something did bother him, however. Although he had no problem doing the heinous things he had done to them. What made him do so? Surely he could've ended them by just stabbing them like their leader, or slice them with just a single move.
"Hm," Artemis now stood alone in the middle of the forest. His blades shimmering in the dark while his eyes served as a warning to those who would want to ambush him.
Luckily, there were no more people beside the knights on the floor who laid dead or dying.
Whoever these people were, they were under the leadership of someone whom his master despised.
Artemis did not like serving under someone but he had no choice. He began his journey back to Wart's wooden hut. Leaving behind the bodies that littered the forest floor to the critters who wished to feast on them.
Wart is pretty fast, Artemis thought.
Meanwhile, Wart had just arrived at his hut carrying the woman in his arms.
He laid her down on the floor and took a sheet from his bedroom and made her lie there.
The woman was breathing but her eyes weren't open. Wart suspected that she was in a state of shock and thus must not wake for a while until she calmed down.
He chanted a phrase and placed his hands over the woman's forehead and out came a yellow circle.
"O holy maiden of the light.. heal this fellow maiden whom whose body had been violated by the evil hands and deeds of this world.."
He cast his signature healing magic. A magic so powerful that it could heal any sickness, like curing cancer, covid, powerful
curses, diseases that it was impossible to cure, and other diseases that Artemis' world couldn't cured, not even their most advance medicines. What was most unique about the ability was that ONLY he could do it. Not the archmages, the scholars, not the most powerful demigods no, only he could do it. However, what also so special about Wart is he is the only dwarf in his kind could perform magic. Dwarves don't perform any magics, not any. Wart on the other hand is very special, he has that gift ever since he was born.
Wart then took a pillow and placed it under the woman's head. Wart was tired and so he slumped down against the wall.
Artemis arrived soon after, all of them were drenched with rain water but got out unscathed.
"Did.. did you take care of them?" Wart asked.
"I did, milord," Artemis answered. He removed his blades from his arms. Surprising Wart because the blades simply disappeared and only two handles remained in their place.
"I have many questions but I know as a warrior you don't want to answer, but I am thankful for your service.. you've already proven yourself to me," Wart smiled at Artemis.
Artemis simply nodded. He couldn't smile, he had the ability to but chose not to. Besides, it would be awkward if he did.
Artemis took a closer look at the girl. She was a finely-shaped woman with pale skin, blonde hair, a pointy ears.
and..
Wait, Artemis was taken aback.
She had pointy ears.
"She has pointy ears," Artemis said.
Wart was surprised and he too took a closer look upon realizing what Artemis had just said.
"She.. she's an elf!" Wart said.
An Elf? Artemis thought.
So elves really did have pointy ears, Artemis thought.
The dress she was wearing was a typical maid uniform that was horrible torn on the nether regions. Artemis suspected that the elf girl was violated, or someone attempted to.
Artemis then suspected that it was the Lord of those knights that were chasing her that might have attempted such an act. It would explain why they pursued her but how long has she been on the run?
The knights all looked worn out when he arrived. They must have chased her for hours or so.