14 Fire
I did promise to serve the country, but I vowed to love you.
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After arriving several meters away from the orphanage, Xael and her Uncles dismounted their horse. Sigvard and Sigfred immediately took their swords while Xael fished out a large silk fabric with the size of a shawl.
Even though Sigvard and Sigfred were clueless on what she's doing, they didn't question her as they trusted her enough to do that.
The orphanage was your classic two story building. Everything is made in bricks and stone though the window is not as secured as it was in the modern world.
It was a good thing that both her Uncles were familiar at this place's hidden passageways that they were able to quickly cross over.
As they entered the back door, Xael spotted a well toned man sitting near the fire place. It was not even spring but the man seemed to be enjoying the heat the fire place kept providing. Several of them were dozing off, while others would either be playing with cards or brandishing their weapons.
In the center of the room, the children including the nuns were on their knees while covering the kids from the eyes of the barbarians.
Looks like, the man near the hearth was in charge.
This mission would have been solved by a single person; needless to say, she only has twelve minutes left. Xael slowly leaned to one of the shoji* before tapping it lightly.
A skill she earnestly tried to master in one of her mission, she was able to produce a vibration of 20,000 hertz. A sound only kids or people with great healthy body could hear.
Like she expected, few of the children subconsciously turned their heads towards her. Though risky, as a distraction, Sigvard threw a vase outside the window.
While Xael was motioning the kids to move away, the man in charge slowly stood up aiming to walk near the kids. As if he was planning something, he stretched out his hand only for him to be grabbed by Sigfred.
As an intruder showed up, the barbarians were now on the move. Xael didn't step out in the frontline as Sigfred and Sigvard did the job, charging with their swords, they cleanly dealt with the barbarians one stepped at a time.
Unexpectedly, the man in charge actually has some capability as he slipped away from the brother's hands. He ran to the kids who were now near the altar, scaring them. Due to that, a girl suddenly knocked over a clothed table with a few lighted candles on top, sending all of it down.
A small fire has begun to set ablaze.
"Ouch! It hurts!" The girl exclaimed, it seemed like she received some burn from the candles.
The man, who's clearly in rage because of the scene, grabbed on one of the people near him before trying to commit some violence, his fist almost landed on the nun's chest until a strong forced hammer his hand away.
Xael who's only looking from the side stepped in. The fabric she held earlier were now soaked with water. She didn't wait for anymore stupid second as she charged towards the man sending a powerful kick on his chin.
She grabbed his wrist before flinging him like a sack of rice on the floor. Leaving the lackeys on her uncles, Xael unfurled her wet fabric before she kept on swatting the fire.
Taking her lead, the children and the nuns prioritized on extinguishing the fire before it spread even further. On the other side, Sigfred and Sigvard were not having too much of an easy time.
Sensing their vexation, Xael entered the fight to balance out the offense.
Before she could even react, the man from earlier attacked her with a sword that was heated with the fire from the hearth, pointing out to her as it aims on her head.
Damn! So that's why he's camping over there!
Though before his sword manage to even get closer, Xael immediately whipped the wet fabric on the weapon sending it in the air before whipping it again in the man's face.
Loud shriek was heard as the man grabbed his face while groveling on the floor. The melted metal that came off with the fabric was sent directly to his face, it's impossible to not react with that.
His agonizing demoralized his companion making the whole process a lot easier. With a minute before the time limit, both Sigfred and Sigvard subdued all the barbarians present in the area.
Tsk. Easy gain!
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" H I D D E N M I S S I O N "
"To Save the Children of the Orphanage"
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*M I S S I O N C O M P L E T E*
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" Rewards "
Reward 1: A great backer for the main mission.
Reward 2: An item to support you on the next world.
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〚 Accept 〛 〚 Decline 〛
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Hearing the completion of her mission, Xael gazed at the altar, seeing the burnt cloth and materials before moving her gaze away.
After the fight, the backup people Sigvard called out helped on assisting everyone in the orphanage. For some, it would be traumatic especially that the children that reside there were taken care in a quiet and almost peaceful surrounding.
Xael was wondering herself on where Marshell was, he was old enough to protect this kids. Aside from that, Father Ryuu didn't mention anything about him.
As Xael decided to wait for Marshell, the sun started to set yet even a shadow was not seen. He was then urged by her Uncles to leave, having no choice to do so, Xael left to go home.
Thinking that the show was over, Xael sighed only to find herself being directed in the hall by her Grandfather.
The hall was big enough to cater three hundred persons comfortably, the floor was covered in Chinese tiles while the wall was designed with carves that is pleasing to the eye.
As she walked inside, the one that greeted her was a solemn looking Grandfather and her ever beloved fiancé, Charles.
Looking excited on the outside, Xael continued to where her grandfather is.
"Grandfather, I'm back." Xael looked at Charles with expectant eyes yet his domineering atmosphere didn't even waver.
Charles cupped both of his hands, standing up straight. "Since the other party is here, then I'll be straight to the point." He looked at General Atticus' eyes before saying, "I'm here to cancel the marriage engagement between me and Xael."
