"There are three more approaching from behind." Lafral holds back the tone of his voice which comes out trembling.

  Miguel is the first to prepare for combat while his gaze drops to the ground and he searches for some air for his lungs.

  "Sarah, Bernardo and Iris. You will be responsible for the two in front. Sebastian and Lafral give me cover." While he speaks, his gaze rises and turns toward Miriane who already holds her long sword raised with both hands and eyes closed while she begins to whisper something.

  "A thousand nights and a thousand days.

  Infinite deaths and only one life.

  Before those who rise against me.

  I will use you for a single end.

  And when the blood is spilled.

  May this act be forgiven."

  When she finishes she opens her eyes and breathes more deeply.

  The white blade shines asking for blood while the golden details at its center seem too sophisticated for such an ending. At the tip of the hilt, a rustic reddish n2 core that more resembles a crystal calls for its moment of action.

  "You already know what to do!" Miguel releases the words while dropping a small first aid backpack beside Sarah and already turning toward Lafral.

  "Bernardo and Iris, you go down the left, I will go on the right. Sarah, when I pass the first tree, try to hit either one of the two, and then turn your aim back to the cornfield." Miriane explains already taking some steps to the side and leaving the shadow of one of the trees. When stepping at the beginning of the hill descent she throws a look to the other side and sees Iris right behind Bernardo already descending.

  Then she waits a few more seconds, until they reach halfway down the path. When they do, she bursts forward with a start that makes Sarah avert her gaze for a moment in the face of such power.

  At the exact moment that Bernardo and Iris pass between two trees, Miriane does the same on the other side. From her peripheral vision, Sarah realizes that her moment has arrived.

  When the first of them appears through a free space between the treetops, the first shot echoes across the entire plain below. While running toward the mercenaries, Miriane manages to see between the branches and trunks the one who is on top of a tree further ahead. He holds a long bow while turning his aim toward the top of the hill.

  At that moment she makes an abrupt stop that even pulls some thin low plants from the ground with one foot. Then she turns with her brow furrowed seeking to look toward Sarah, but all she finds are some trees casting shadows over nothing more than dry ground. When she sees a slight movement behind a tree, she releases the air she had been holding until now, and already turns back to her initial target, and with another burst she runs while holding the sword more firmly than before.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  After a few meters, when she scans the scene ahead, what she sees draws a slight smile at the corner of her mouth and makes her change the direction of her run toward the archer in the tree.

  One of the mercenaries in that stretch of forest is hiding behind a thick tree while holding a curved dagger in his right hand and a small round shield is attached to his left hand. He breathes heavily while looking at the corpse of his partner fallen beside him. Blood runs from a hole where his right eye should be.

  Without time to think, he turns his head toward Bernardo who, with calm steps, approaches with his visor closed and sword forward held with both hands. Through the openings in the metal visor, he attentively observes the trunk of the tree where the mercenary is.

  Iris is a few steps behind. She stares at the corpse longer than necessary while her steps, unlike Bernardo's, barely make noise.

  On the other side of the hill, on the steep side, Sebastian with his heart racing more than ever runs at full speed toward the mercenary coming through the middle. The man with a thin beard, stocky body and visible muscles holds a double sided axe resting on his left shoulder. With a calm look and a smile at the corner of his mouth, he continues walking with calm steps, even taking a moment to run his hand through his hair and throw the medium brown strands back.

  Miguel who is hidden behind a rock embedded in the hill first observes on one side Sebastian's rush and Lafral's positioning several meters behind and above Sebastian. Then further in the background another mercenary holding a wide scimitar moves in a way that clearly shows his intention of attacking Lafral the moment he enters range.

  And finally, on the other side of the rock, lurking, the third mercenary stands several meters down the hill. He holds a medium bow made of irregular brown wood. The arrow is prepared with white tones that contrast with his dark leather and cloth clothes.

  Miguel breathes deeply and places the dark green hood over his head.

  He takes an arrow that has a black flattened tip, but unlike common arrows this one has feathers only on one side of the base. Still leaning against the rock, he nocks the arrow and points to the left in the direction where the scimitar mercenary was going. He has not yet appeared in his field of vision, even so he shoots.

  The arrow begins its trajectory, but soon it begins to destabilize and change direction to the point of making a curve toward the mercenary who has no sight of Miguel. Even losing power, the arrow still hits directly in the man's calf who falls screaming in pain to the point of dropping his weapon.

  At that moment the archer below gets distracted and loses focus for an instant, time enough for Miguel already with another arrow prepared, this one with all the feathers in place, to position himself already shooting. When the archer realizes his mistake through peripheral vision, it is already too late. He is not even allowed to scream, because the arrow is crossed through his throat. Soon blood takes over everything inside, making him drown in the same way he has already done to so many others.

  In the next instant, a black arrow flies over Sebastian who only notices it when the mercenary in front blocks it with the blade of the axe.

  The man loses his smile while his gaze focuses for a moment on Lafral, and then on his partner crawling with the arrow still in his leg.

  He releases a puff of air with full cheeks and holds the axe with his right hand. Then he takes a step forward at the exact moment Sebastian enters his reach. With a movement faster and more forceful than expected from someone who uses such a weapon, he executes a horizontal strike directly toward Sebastian's head.