4 The Orc

Abe and I follow the trail of the wind that Keida leaves. He explained to me that Keida used her skill, a dashing ability that boosts the agility of the user.

I look at Abe, whose running like it was a normal thing for a mage user like him. He's fast and I'm falling behind luckily, I could just follow the trail that Keida leave behind.

''Hoo…Haa..'' I stop and breathe for a moment. I'm already tired from just running for a half minute.

Goddammit… My stamina still didn't recover and my right thigh… Every step that I took it stings the hell out of it, but he said that my wounds are close, so does it mean that it already healed right?

I just look at the trail, ''This path is toward to north.'' As I said those, I realized that Abe is already out of my sight. I didn't realize earlier that Keida is going to save the girl.

Is this forest is part of the border of the Aresian kingdom?

I couldn't tell anymore.

I'm still wary of my surrounding. That talking goblin asshole might show up again… I need to get up and start running to keep up with Abe.

I slowly stood up while looking above at the sky. The sky was beautiful it's blue like the ocean and the waves of white clouds enhance its beauty, but the branches of the trees cover the sky above. I feel bad for not seeing the full view of the sky I couldn't blame nature either.

I let out a sigh and start running, following the trail.

-----------------------------------

''Hoo…..Haaaaaaaaaa…'' I breathe for a moment while sitting on the ground. I'm sweating and my feet hurt, and it feels like my right thigh is swollen.

I've been running for an hour, but I didn't see Abe.

It feels like Abe didn't rest at all, I saw his footprints which is a good thing that I'm still following the right path. I lean my head on the tree and I'm thirsty and hungry… but I couldn't just eat any fruits in here I have no knowledge whether they are edible or not.

''How far are they…?'' I ask myself while looking at the path that I follow.

The environment didn't change at all, but I did notice something about the trees. Unlike before they were not this big nor thick at the same time. Even the branches also thicken the light from the sun barely touch the ground.

I could smell something... My nose twitches immediately following the scent in the air.

Is this a roasted meat? A chicken? I couldn't tell but one thing for sure that someone is cooking something. I am quite familiar with the smell of burning wood coal.

Maybe this is Keida and Abe celebrating?! And cooking in the middle of the forest!

I stood up and now slowly following the smell, and I'm sure this is the right track since I could still see Abe's footprint.

I keep walking and walking until I saw a campfire and a tent.

''Finally—HMMM!'' someone---something! covered my mouth. I look at it and it's brown and thick? and taste like soil!

Is this a root?! It just spurted out of nowhere!

I use my hand to pull it, but it won't budge!

''Stop moving.''

I look to my left where the voice came from and it's Abe. His eyes are glowing in dark green 'Calm' he mouthed at me. I slowly tried to stop resisting and calm myself. The roots loosen, and they go back from the ground. Abe's eye is not glowing anymore.

Is this his magic? his a druid?

I thought---

''It is true.'' Abe suddenly said I just look at him confusingly.

''The talking low-rank monster the troll and the orc.'' Abe continued.

''W-where's Keida?'' I ask but when I look at him. It feels like he doesn't know what to answer… he's just looking carefully at the camp.

''The good thing is she's not dead, but I couldn't find her…'' I could feel the sadness in his voice when he mentioned that he couldn't find Keida.

I just looked at the camp and they are roasting something. I look closely at what are they cooking--

''is that a h---h—human--!'' Abe suddenly covered my mouth.

''Shut up or you will end up like the girl that you mentioned!'' He angrily whispers at me. I could feel that my stomach is twisting, and I could feel that my vomit is going to come out of my mouth.

Abe immediately removes his hand when he saw my face and realized it ''Don't even try to vomit.''

I'm trying not to vomit you know…

I immediately looked away, but the scene is just stuck in my head. The woman's body was pierced in the wood, and she was roasted like a pig. Now I could tell what kind of smell this is, I thought it was a roasted pig, but it was the smell of burnt crisp of human skin.

I—I just couldn't handle the smell, it suddenly becomes an awful odor that I wouldn't forget. My body suddenly becomes weak, as I sat on the ground.

I'm still covering my mouth and preventing myself from vomiting…

''Here they come…'' Abe's whisper. I could tell the worriedness in his voice not just because of Keida, but our current situation as well.

I could hear the big steps walking in the forest; it was so loud that the sound that they make just echoes in the field. Then suddenly an orc and a troll appeared and their muscular body is enough to frighten me, they're much taller and bigger than the average orc and troll and their eyes… it was red… Then on their behind theirs a big shadow---

''TELL A'MROK THAT WE CAPTURED ANOTHER HUMAN!!'' A voice suddenly boomed in the forest. It was so loud that even the birds in the trees start to fly away out of fear.

I would run away too if I ever heard one, but I can't in my situation… We're just hiding in the bushes below the big tree. A slight movement will create noise and that will be the end of me… or us.

A huge black aura suddenly lingered in the forest...

W-what the hell is this! I couldn't move my body the pressure from the aura is enough to paralyze my own body!

''What the fuck…'' I heard Abe cursed. When I look at someone who emitted that aura it was another orc.

That's the one that could talk… The orc is huge… much bigger and taller than the other two. It's wearing iron armor with a giant axe on his behind, it's a bloody one.

I didn't feel any shiver this time, but the aura that orc emits… is enough to wet myselff.

This is a bad idea!

Maybe I should run?

Maybe escaping is the only option…! I already knew that we can't kill this orc! I look at Abe and I could tell that he's trying to resist the fear that the orc emits, but his body is slightly shivering.

His gaze suddenly met mine, it feels like he's trying to say that 'don't move no matter what.

''Also tell him that we're eating one! HEHEHEH!'' I couldn't tell if that was a laugh or a growl… The smaller orc bows its head and starts walking to the western side of the forest.

The western part is headed to the Kingdom of Aresian…? Are they part of the Kingdom?

There is no way…

They like monsters but in a way to use it as a testing of their power… but using them to create power?

''Ahhhh… The beautiful smell of a burnt skin of a human, especially of a woman…'' The orc just grabs the woman in the stick like it was a barbeque. The orc suddenly took a bite he just pulled the arm with his mouth ''Uhmmmm…!''.

The way the orc chewed it and the crisp sound of the arm getting eaten by the orc is disgusting.

I just close my eyes and cover my ears with my hands.

*crunch* *crunch*

I could still hear it…

With the sound of the human body getting eaten by the monster, my mind starts imagining things like it was my body getting eaten by the orcs.

I want to get out of here…

I don't want to die either….

''Marvis, you need to help me.'' Suddenly I heard Abe whispered at me.

''I know you're scared…''

I covered my ears with my hands. Out of fear and shame, I just don't want to do anything that could lead on my demise or theirs…

''This is a do or dies situation, you need to help me or I'll use you as bait.'' A sudden change in the tone of his voice, "If you don't help me… I'll make sure to use you as bait.'' Abe's voice becomes cold.

This fucker… I look at him and he was looking at me intensely.

I have no choice, right?

I'm still going to die even if I accept it.

This is my fate, right? A low-rank Healer's fate is to become bait from the monster to save someone.

''VU'IN!'' Both of us suddenly looked at the orc who is halfway through finishing eating the woman's body. The blue troll suddenly kneels in front of him.

So, that's 'Vu'in,' a monster that has a name…

''Scout the forest. Maybe there is still human wandering in the woods like the other human that we captured.*phew*'' He suddenly spits something from his mouth and it was a piece of bone.

The troll suddenly grabs its wooden club on the ground.

Then it suddenly looks at us!

Shit!

''Don't move. It's not looking at us.'' Abe whispered. I almost flinch and stood up out of fear, but he was right the troll just look in our direction.

if that troll is heading this way, it could track us and that would be problematic.

The troll starts walking in the southern part of the forest-- our direction. As it comes closer the bigger it gets and the more my body shiver.

I'll die if I move…

I just hold my breathe and hug my knees.

Don't move Marvis!

I just look down in the ground and avoid looking at the troll. I could hear the footsteps of the troll are getting closer. The way the troll's feet thump in the ground make my heartbeat stop.

It suddenly stops walking and I could feel that the troll is next to us. We're lucky, the thick bush is enough to cover both of us and the big tree also helped us to create more concealment.

*sniff* *sniff*

I could hear the troll sniffing.

''Hachooo!!''

Holy… Was that a sneeze? That scared the shit out of me!

The troll just starts walking again, away from us. I let out a small sigh of relief.

''We need to attack that orc…'' I shockingly look at abe. How did he even think of that after that orc emitted that dangerous aura!

''C-can we even kill it?'' When I ask, he just closes his eyes and sighs for a moment.

''We don't need to kill it and I don't think that we can either.''

Abe suddenly pointed his finger in one of the tents. ''We need to find Keida in there. Since you're a healer you just need to pour every healing ability you got.'' He looks at me.

I realize something is he going to use me as bait?

''S-s-o I-I'll act as a b-bait?'' My voice just stutters.

Abe just rolls his eye on me.

''You are not worthy to become a bait.'' He just bluntly said.

I wonder if is that a compliment or not...

''You can't do anything to that Orc. Even I can't do anything, but I just need to provide enough time or damage to that orc until Keida woke up and we're out of here.'' He explains to me. ''That orc—Monster is dangerous it could talk, and it could even emit that dangerous aura. Even though the three of us is not enough to beat that monstrosity…''

I suddenly realized that Abe is also worried about me. He created a plan that could potentially save all of us instead of saving just him and Keida. I could feel that my eyes are getting wet, but I just wipe them with my hands.

''I'll go first, and you just need to dash your way to the tents and find Keida.''

I could feel that my heart is beating faster… I've never experienced this and I don't know how to feel either be afraid or get excited.

''Be ready,'' Abe said as he tighten the grip of his wand? It just suddenly appear out of nowhere did he create it with magic?

Abe jumps from the bushes and the orc instantly notices him. The orc just looks at him with a smile thinking he would be its next food.

''A Cheeky human.'' The orc just stood up and threw the stick and the woman's head is the only thing left. ''You have guts to fight me huh heheheheh!'' the orc let out a laugh.

Can Abe even do it? By just looking at the orc its presence and size are enough to dominate us.

I'm not dying in here. I slap both of my hands on my cheeks.

''Shut up you disgusting orc.'' Abe just snorted.

The orc just chuckles ''That will be your last word. YOU PUNY HUMAN!!'' the orc dash forward to Abe.

Abe looks down and mumbles something ''Forest help me fight this monster.'' I couldn't hear but when he looks at the orc the color of his eyes glows in green. ''Root entanglement!'' He shouted.

The ground suddenly shakes, and the orc stops moving and grabs its axe from his back. The large root suddenly appears from the ground below and it's moving towards the orc.

''FINALLY!'' The orc shouted when the roots hit it. He just swings its axe, and everything just gets sliced, but the roots won't stop appearing from the ground. I prepared myself because I knew this will be---

''MARVIS NOW!''

When I heard Abe command my body just jump on its own. Of course, the orc notices me and looks at me with a grin on its face.

''START RUNNING IDIOT!''

right… my bad.

I dash towards the tents, and I didn't look behind, but I could hear the slicing of the axe and roots spurting in the ground. ''I need to find Keida!''

The two tents are quite far from each other, one to the left and one to the right.

I'll go to the left first. As I walk closer to the left tent, the smell in the air is getting worst… It smells like a rotten body.

There is no way… I rushed to the entrance of the tent and open it.

''Holy---'' I immediately close the tent.

It was a pile of human bodies stack together like a pile of meat. I didn't look properly at it, but I was sure that the people in here are the ones who are in the carriage with me. My stomach just twists and my brain just stops working for a moment.

I rushed to the other tent when I saw that the fighting between Abe and the giant orc didn't stop.

''Whirlwind!'' The orc suddenly shouted and start spinning towards Abe.

All the gigantic roots are getting destroyed, but Abe didn't move, he just stood there and look at the giant orc coming at him.

''Wind of the North!'' He raises his wand and the wind suddenly gushing in their direction. It's so strong that even the orc stops from spinning and covers its head.

This is not the time to watch him.

I rush towards the other tent, and when I open it…

''Keida!!'' I shouted and rush towards her. She's just lying on the ground helplessly, and it feels like some part of her body is broken, even her face is full of bruises.

Can I even heal her?!

I've never healed someone with this condition. I scan her body, there is a lot of bruises and her left arm is dislocated.

I can do this…

My maximum usage of Holy light is five before I run out of mana. I place both of my palms in her chest.

Here goes nothing…

''HOLY LIGHT!!''

A light burst from my hands, it's warm and delicate. It's been a while since I use this ability. The light hit her, and I could see some of its bruisers are healing.

Not enough… please wake up!

*BOOM* The ground suddenly grumbles.

''Abe…''

The fuck is happening outside.

I need to heal her again.

''HOLY LIGHT!!''

All of her bruises disappear, but her left arm is still dislocated.

AGAIN!

''HOLY LIGHT!!!''

A much intense light release from my hand, but it eats a large amount of mana in my body. When I look at Keida she's still unconscious, but her left arm is healed.

We need you Keida!!

''WAKE UP!! HOLY LIGHT !!!!!''

Arghhhh!!!!

A much intense light let out in my hand draining my mana and burning my skin for some reason.

This is not supposed to happen! But my hands were shaking after that heal. I'm sweating so hard and I'm starting to lose my breath.

If I use it again… I'll be in fatigue at this rate… but--!

AGAIN!

''HOLY L---'

Suddenly Keida held my arms, when I look at her she's awake looking at me with a smile on her face.

''I'm sorry Marvis'' She suddenly said. She slowly stood up and sit beside me.

Even though we just met yesterday it feels like we've been friends for a long time. ''Y-you need to help Abe'' my voice we're cracking. My vision is blurry and I'm having a hard time to stand up

*Boom!*

Another explosion shakes the ground; even the tents were almost destroyed. Keida carried me outside of the tents then we saw Abe and the orc.

''ABE!'' Keida shouted.

Abe was…

Abe is going to die, he's bloody injured, but the vines and the roots from the trees of the forest protected him. The orc looks in our direction its eyes were red…

It's the same as the goblin who attacked me… Bloodshot red-eye like it was in berserk.

It is just me or the orc just suddenly got bigger…

''RUN!!'' Abe shouted.

''Another puny human?! HAHAHAHAHA!'' The orc voice boomed in the forest. ''All of you will die in here!'' The aura that it emits is much intense. It feels like it lingers in the air a quick sudden attack of this monster could lead to our death!

Keida just gently places me on the ground.

''We just need to escape and save Abe at the same time.'' She said while looking at the orc.

That plan is difficult…

''ROOTS OF THE FOREST!'' Abe suddenly shouted. The ground grumbles and much larger roots spurted attacking the orc. The orc just smirked and block the attack with a slice of its axe, but the root connected and bind the arm of the orc.

''I need to hit its head…'' I just look at Keida. Her stance suddenly changes and the wind suddenly flowing in her body like it was a part of it. Then she disappeared, it's the same skill that she used before.

I can't see her…

''SHOCKWAVE--!'' Keida suddenly appears at the upper head of the orc. The orc tried to defend itself, but the roots still connected to it preventing it from moving. ''—BLOW!!'' A swirling pressure of mana in the right hand of Keida hit the head of the orc.

*Vhoosssh!!!*

''U..wardghhh!!'' The orc shouted in pain. The bind of the roots loosens and the orc suddenly loses its balance and fell down!

It's dead!

FINALLY!!!

''MARVIS RUN!!!'' Abe and Keida shouted in unison and I couldn't understand it, but I knew that something is going to happen.

My body just moves on its own and runs towards the forest. I saw Keida carry Abe and start running in my direction and signal me to run as fast as I can.

Just keep running!

''UWARGGHHH!!!'' The orc shouted it was mad… No, it's angry and it's going to attack!

I didn't look back and keeps running.

Running and running until i could feel something

God…. I'm losing my sight again… out of stamina?

I still didn't recover yet… Crap…

I could feel that a huge amount of mana was about to hit me, but my vision went blurry.

Damn this weak body… Then I fell to the ground.