Bab 2: Departure (1)
"Stop running brat, you'll get off easier if you don't resist!"
Looking back Issar watched the guard struggle to give chase, his armor weighing him down significantly. With a burst of speed, he cut left before slipping behind a particularly large tree to catch his breath.
That guard's not the one I need to worry about anyway, thought Issar.
It had been the border guards that caught him previously, just as he was about to escape the woodlands. To avoid meeting the same fate he needed a plan, and soon since the guard who spotted him was likely to alert others.
I'll run till I find the river, he thought to himself, then I'll travel upstream and use a tree to hop the fence.
Just as Issar was about to move a searing pain overcame his body, he was struggling desperately to avoid screaming and alerting the guards of his presence.
Fuck! What the fuck is happening to me.
It felt like a thousand molten brands were being pressed against every inch of his body.
"AAARRRGH" Issar felt his mind go blank as a bestial groan escaped his lips. His vision was blurred as he fell to one knee. The pain ended as quickly as it came but he was still reeling from the shock. In the distance, he could hear the footsteps of the pursuing guard drawing closer, he was likely only a few paces away.
Well, there goes my chance of getting out of here unnoticed, Thought Issar, is this a side effect of going back in time?
Steadying himself he turned to face the charging guard, he was similar in height to Issar but the arming sword on the man's hip gave him a clear advantage in reach. Issar decided to strike first, his time living on the streets told him offense was the best defense in a situation like this.
As Issar lunged forward the guard's face betrayed his shock before quickly giving way to anger as he fumbled for his blade. However, Issar didn't give him a chance to take it out of the sheathe, tackling the man to the ground. As they wrestled in the dirt Issar tried to find an opening to strike the guard's head but the difference in strength between him and a grown man was too much. With a grunt, the guard threw Issar off him and staggered to his feet, sword now in hand.
Issar scowled, knowing he had missed his chance, he considered running again but that would leave him exactly where he started.
No, my best chance is to take down this guard and steal his uniform, if Fate is willing they won't notice the difference.
"You realized it's over didn't you?" the guard asked, clearly mistaking Issar's hesitation for fear, "If you surrender now I won't have to kill you."
"Heh, if I surrender now the judge will sentence me to hanging, better to go down fighting," replied Issar.
As if I'd let myself die the same way twice.
With nothing left to say the guard charged, his sword swiping diagonally forcing Issar to retreat. Blow after blow was rained down but Issar was too quick to be caught by an untrained sword.
Still, I can't get close to him, and even if I could my fists won't do much damage to someone with leather armor, noted Issar, I need to strike his head.
At that moment Issar saw his chance, a lazy stab by the guard, one that even he wouldn't have expected to make contact pierced through Issar's left shoulder. The guard had a triumphant smile plastered on his face, unfortunately for him, this was part of Issar's plan. Shifting his feet Issar's left hand grabbed the man's elbow and his right came down the guard's forearm. A resounding snap wrang through the forest as the guard's arm hung limp, his sword falling to the ground in front of him.
"You fucking brat!" the guard screamed, tears welling in his eyes as he tried to grab Issar with his remaining arm.
Issar ducked the blow and struck the guard right on the sternum, dropping him to the ground. Reaching down Issar grabbed the fallen sword, swinging it leisurely to get a feel for the weight.
"Wait I'm sorry, just let me go, I'll pretend I didn't see anything, I'll help you get out of here, just let me live," The guard begged, "I was just doing my job man, I have a family"
Issar watched the man's display apathetically, why should I pity this man, he would have consigned me to death.
"it's nothing personal," spoke Issar, "but I don't want to die again just yet," he said as he drove the blade through the man's head.
Issar quickly got to work replacing his ragged clothes with the man's guard uniform, he used his shirt to wrap his bleeding shoulder but it was only a temporary solution.
Leather armor, a short sword, a dagger, a water canteen, and a mana stone, Issar thought as he pulled a glowing gem out of his shirt pocket.
This gem had been the reason Issar risked trespassing on the estate in the first place, even the lowest-tier mana stones were worth more than most people would ever own.
That bastard Nakaris told me stealing the stone would be easy but didn't tell me how the hell to get out of here.
As he began making his way towards the gate Issar felt the adrenaline giving way to fatigue, his wounded shoulder ached and his head was pounding. In the distance, he could just barely spot the wall encompassing the Lakanis estate.
If I can just make it past there, I'll be free.
Sauntering out of the trees and into the clearing Issar approached the gate, there were two in front of him and two more standing atop the wall.
"Hey there," Issar shouted, "the lord sent me to grab something could you let me through."
"Yeah we'll open it up," replied one of the guards.
"The Lord has you running errands eh?" asked the other guard.
"You know how it is," Issar responded, watching them pry the iron gates open.
I actually made it, his mind was racing as he walked through the gate.
"Wait," a voice called out from on the wall.
Issar froze, Shit, am I gonna have to run?
"What was your name again? I don't think we've met before."
Breathing out a sigh of relief, he looked up to face the guard who asked the question, "Issar, I'm new around here."
"I see, well I look forward to working with you Issar."
"Likewise."
Issar kept walking until the Lakanis estate was but a speck in the distance.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone