Chapter 4: My Savior

(3rd Person: POV)

Struggling, Alfia worked to free her wrists from the ropes binding them.

While also doing her best to hide the terror in her heart as this very moment.

Since she was being carried over the shoulder of a disgusting man who reeked of alcohol, vomit, and blood.

A pirate.

One of the many who had launched an attack on her home Spades Town.

As well as kidnapped her.

An event Alfia never saw coming.

Her day started off as it usually did..

She woke up in her room at the orphanage, prepared herself for the day, had breakfast, and then began waiting patiently for her only friend to show up so they could play chess together.

Soren D. Roberts.

Alfia would never admit this out loud but she cherished her friendship with Roberts greatly.

Even if she is a young girl of only nine years old she knows full well her personality rubs other people the wrong way. But Alfia was fine with that. She was fine with being alone.

That is until one day everything changed.

The day Roberts spoke to her for the first time.

Alfia will always remember that day.

Since it was the day she made her first and only friend, even if she didn't know that at the moment.

Honestly Alfia is seriously confused as to why Roberts continues to speak with her.

During their first meeting she threw harsh words at him without any hesitation. But he simply shrugged it off and kept talking to her. Even when Alfia started ignoring him.

Roberts did the next thing the day after that, then the next, and then the next, etc.

No matter how many sharp-tongued remarks or harsh glares Alfia sent Roberts way he just kept on coming back and speaking to her after the first day he tried.

To be honest Alfia at first suspected Roberts was what the adults referred to as a masochists.

Given that he had a smile on his face every time he tried to start a conversation with her.

But as time went by Alfia realized that wasn't the case.

She soon realized Roberts truly wanted to be her friend.

At that realization Alfia decided to give friendship a try. If only so it might get Roberts to leave her alone. But once Alfia let Roberts in that was all she wrote.

Before the silver-haired girl knew it she and Roberts were talking practically every day. Mainly about books since they shared a love of reading. Then eventually they both learned how to play chess from one of the marines stationed at the base on the island and began having matches against each other.

Where Roberts won more than he lost.

But this only inspired Alfia to up her chess game. So she could take the lead in match wins against Roberts.

Now that chance may never come.

The moment the pirates began attacking the town everything began moving faster than Alfia could blink.

One moment she was rife with anticipation to play chess against her one and only friend. The next, she was being manhandled by several adults males.

Her and several other children were forcefully taken from the orphanage.

The pirates killing one of it employees when she tried to save them.

Remembering the lifeless eyes of a woman who had taken care of her pretty much her entire life bile began to rise up in Alfias' throat.

But she managed to hold it down.

She then went back to her task of trying to free her wrists from the ropes binding them.

For Alfia knew that if she was placed on board the pirates ship she would never see Spades Town ever again.

Nor Roberts.

'Roberts.' Alfia thought.

As she did so she suddenly found herself shifting.

Letting out a small yelp of surprise Alfia felt a jolt of pain run through her as her back hit the ground.

Quickly recovering she sat up and found herself in a semi-circle with the other children the pirates had kidnapped from the orphanage alongside her. The pirates themselves standing in a circle surrounding them all. Their weapons pointed at the group.

"Ok, listen up you brats." One of the pirates spoke it.

It was the one who was carrying Alfia.

"It looks like the marines have caught up to us." He spat. Clicking his tongue in irritation immediately afterwards. "Annoying fucks. Anyway, stand up."

At the pirates order all of the kids stood up.

The moment they did so each of the pirates grabbed hold of one of the kids and placed them in front of their bodies.

Since they had decided to use them as human shields.

The one who carried Alfia and spoke grabbed her left arm violently and placed her in front of him.

As this happened Alfia shot him a defiant and disgusted look.

Taking note of this the pirate leaned down to Alfia's right ear and whispered.

"Looks like you need to turn your place girl. Don't worry, when we are safely away from this place I'll teach it to you." The pirate spoke. He then licked Alfia's ear.

Feeling her entire body shudder Alfia began violently fighting against the pirates grip on her.

"Fuck off!" She cried.

As she struggled she managed to hit the pirate holding her in the nose with her arm.

A small crunching sound occurring right after this happened.

Simply put Alfia slightly broke the pirates nose.

"Fuck!" Little bitch!" The pirate roared.

He then let his left hand fly and struck Alfia across her face with a slap.

*Slap!*

"Agh!" Alfia cried out in pain.

Slamming onto the ground right after she did so.

The pirate looked at her, anger evident in his gaze.

"You know what I changed my mind. Looks like you need to learn some manners right now." The pirate said.

He then raised his left foot over Alfia. Intending to start stomping her.

But before the pirate could put his foot down an ethereal white energy began to leave his body.

The same with his allies.

As this energy began to leave all of the pirates bodies they quickly started looking pale and sickly.

"What the hell?" The pirate standing over Alfia said.

Before he realized it he dropped his foot to the ground and then started falling to his knees.

A tired look on his face.

As if all the energy he just had had simply vanished.

But it didn't simply vanished.

It was being drained.

The white energy from the pirates headed in the direction of the trees in front of them.

Then as soon as it stopped a figure burst forth from it incredible speed, and then a second later...

"Agh!"

One of the pirates cried out in agony.

Blood hitting the ground as he did so.

The same thing began happening to the other pirates.

Until eventually only the one near Alfia remained alive.

"Fuck!" He cursed.

But before he could actually do anything he fell to his knees, his features getting paler and paler until he looked as white as a sheet.

Soon the pirates arms fell to his side like limp noodles.

Then once this happened.

*Shink!*

A sword was put through his chest.

The culprit, Roberts.

Looking at the pirate with a cold expression on his face Roberts held his left hand on the pirate to drain his energy and vitality directly.

Since just as he theorized his power works better with direct contact with the opponent he is trying to drain from.

Though actually proving it makes Roberts extremely happy.

But he'll have more time to think about that later.

Removing his hand from the pirate he also withdrew his blade from his body.

He then moved to cut the pirates neck open.

Just in case he was still alive.

Since Roberts wants to make sure when he fights an enemy they end up dead. He is not some shounen protagonist after all.

After seeing the pirate and his allies were dead Roberts went about using his blade to cut the rope binding the children they kidnapped.

Cutting Alfia's ropes first.

After he did so Roberts lead the children back to the orphanage, where they met up with marines.

Shortly after that the island was given the all clear.

They had survived the pirates attack on their home.

Once this was settled Keith gave Roberts a massive scolding.

But the young reincarnate simply stood there and listened to it. Not objecting in the slightest.

Since he doesn't feel the slightest bit of remorse in his actions. His friend was in trouble and he had the power to save her. To Roberts the choice he had to make was a no-brainer and he would do it again without any hesitation.

Eventually the scolding came to an end.

Once it did so Roberts helped clean up the town a bit before returning to his treehouse home.

Alfia in tow.

Since ever since he saved her from the pirates she basically hadn't left his side.

As the two of them sat in Roberts treehouse they said nothing.

Just enjoyed each others presence.

Then eventually Alfia moved towards Roberts and wrapped him in a hug. Which he reciprocated.

Once the hug began both children began silenting sobbing, holding each other as they cried and released all their bent up emotions about today's events.

Roberts and Alfia eventually cried their eyes out.

Falling asleep embracing each other after they were finished.

Smiles on their faces.

Since they both knew they were lying in the arms of a friend.

But for Alfia Roberts was now a little more than simply a friend.

He had become her savior.