Not A Hero But Not A Coward

{I was no mage yet I was determined to unite the lands but it backfired. Where did I go wrong?}

….

Another ball of fire landed.

Narene watched as houses burnt, scattering as the fire surged among them. The people wailed as they witnessed the horror. They stood by, watching their own homes get burnt down. Narene felt a different level of hatred for the Shattered Knights.

Before she had hated them based on what others had told her and for what they did to mages but now—after seeing their brutality—she hated them even more.

The earth trembled as another fire ball landed, burning down a few more houses. The Shattered Knight turned to the people again. "I can keep this up all day. Bring me Sharen and your suffering ends!"

Sharen huffed, charging like an enraged animal. He made to burst out of the house but Khlen held him back. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I can't stand by and watch them destroy the houses," Sharen shook his head, his voiced set as if he'd drank vinegar. "The people have suffered enough."

Khlen shook his head. "You can't fight the Shattered Knights and you can't afford to let them take you."

"You were the one who told me to be something more than just a hunter to this people. You told me to be their hero yet you would stop me?"

Khlen shook his head. "The people need you here. Not with the Shattered Knights."

Sharen sighed and turned back to the shutter but Narene could see the regret in his eyes. At that moment, she didn't know what she felt. What was the essence of the gods blessing her with magic if she couldn't use it to protect her village?

Was she not akin to a coward as she hid in the house, watching as houses burned under the fire of the Knights? She sighed. If Sharen couldn't take them then how could she take them? She had never fought with magic before.

As she turned, another wave of fire erupted, bringing down more houses. The village was now brightly lit and dark flames danced along as they travelled up. Narene wondered if they'd destroy the village.

Then she realised something. The Knights were casting spells without chanting magical words! How did they do it? Was it the purpose of the metal that wove into their lips? She turned to Sharen, "They aren't chanting the spells."

Sharen nodded but kept his eyes off her. "They have reached the blue of core of sustenance and no longer need to chant magical spells to achieve the results. They cast silent spells."

Narene cringed inwardly. "Doesn't that make them the most powerful people?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Sharen said, glancing over at her. "I have never fought a Shattered Knight before but they are said to be capable of killing a 5 year old Haklaran within five minutes."

Narene could measure the strength in her mind. Haklarans were known to grow intelligent and powerful as they aged and for a Shattered Knight to kill one in such a short time meant they had unparalleled power. It made her wonder just how powerful the Holy Emperor was.

She turned to the shutter again, her eyes reflecting the surging flames that lit the village. The female Knight chuckled as she swept her gaze over the villagers who were crying yet unwilling to betray their Hero.

"Bring out Sharen or worse will follow!" the Knight declared with a powerful voice that reverberated in the air.

A villager stepped forward, his face resolute and firm. He looked at the Knights with a contemptuous gaze. "We will never betray our Hero!"

"Even if you burn down our village, we will never betray the one who has kept us safe for all these years!" another stepped forward.

Another villager followed making Narene slack-jawed at the number of people who were willing to put their heads in the lion's mouth for Sharen. She now understood how much the people valued him.

More villagers stepped forward. "Where were the Shattered knights when Samak suffered under the attack of the beasts?"

The female Knight smiled, stretching the tightly knitted lips a bit. "You won't betray your hero?"

The villagers nodded as one. "Sharen stays with us!"

"Why hasn't he retaliated despite the destruction if he cares so much about your welfare?" the Knight asked.

Narene glanced at Sharen and noticed that he had his fists clenched tightly by his side.

The villagers roared with a defeaning cheers. "Sharen will fight for us. He will keep us safe even from Shattered Knights!"

"Very well," the Knight said, letting his white eyes travel over the group of villagers who had stepped forward to protect Sharen.

One man began to twist, trembling as he fell to the floor. Another's body was thrown back a few feet by an invisible force and his head snapped to the side, spraying blood all over the place. The villagers gasped, stepping back. Most made to run but the Knights weaved a fire spell that made the whole square light up with a fiery boundary. No one could get through it without getting burnt.

There was chaos and Narene watched it with horror. "They'll kill those people!"

Sharen turned sharply, rushing to the door but Khlen caught his arm again. "You don't need to go out there."

"Aren't you seeing what's happening?" Sharen swatted his hand away, glaring at him with killing intent. His eyes were glowing yellow. "The Knights will kill them off if I don't do something!"

"Those men," Khlen gestured to the villagers who were being killed one after the other in the square. "They were ready to lay down their lives for you. You don't need to put their sacrifice to waste."

"Those people trust in me to save them and so will I."

"Can you fight three Shattered Knights at once?" Khlen asked quietly.

Sharen avoided his gaze, turning to the shutter. He said, "I might not be a hero, Khlen, but I'm not a coward!"

With that he shot up, towards the ceiling, spinning as he went, like he was propelled up by a spring. The roof crashed, creating a crack large enough for Sharen to pass through with ease. Narene watched in shock as Sharen flew out using an air spell. He landed at the centre of the square just as another villager was getting choked.

The villagers cheered, looking at him like a god who had just descended into the mortal world. Sharen's eyes were glowing too.

Narene turned to Khlen with a sense of urgency. "Quick, we need to help him!"

Khlen nodded and led the way.