The Boar Attack (1)

The group continued to press onward bound on their quest to reach Odelle City, where the rhythmic percussion of hooves and wheels against the ground created a soothing serenade through their path.

Sitting in the carriage beside Nicolaus, Mikael found himself peering out of the window. With unyielding attention, he stared at the thick woods that sprawled out ahead.

Nicolaus remarked that they were still quite a distance from Odelle City. Presumably, they were likely to reach the city's border by evening if the trip was smooth.

As the hours passed and the sun began its descent towards the horizon, the air grew cooler, and the sounds of the forest changed. Owls serenaded with their evening melodies while the rustling leaves weaved along to contribute to the song.

But during this soothing orchestra of the wilderness, a rude, uninvited disturbance abruptly pierced through, momentarily stealing the spotlight.

The smooth ride of carriages and carts came to an abrupt halt, and its passengers were startled, leaving them disoriented. The alert knights immediately readied and drew swords from their sheaths, on the lookout with their resolute faces.

Moments later, the source of the commotion revealed itself. Wild boars made their way out of the dense underbrush, in the size half of the horses, with spectacular tusks looking ominous under the moonlight. 

Mikael could not help but tremble at the sight of them, his chair feeling the strain as his fingers clenched on its edge.

Outside, Sir Daelan, assertively composed and under commanding control, signaled the knights to remain vigilant. There were many of them, presumably surrounding them in number of fourteen. 

The boars' noses twitched as if smelling a faint scent on the break. Their ears perked up like an alarm, sensing the presence of intruders in their territory. They eyed the group warily, their bristly fur standing on end in a defensive posture.

It was a tense standoff, and neither side dared to break the silence.

However, as if struck by an impulsive frenzy and madness, one of the boars let out a guttural roar and charged towards the servant's carriage with no forewarning. 

And evidently, it was no explanation that panic rippled through the passengers, resulting in the choir of high-pitched squeals from the maids echoing through the dark woods.

The manic beast seemed unstoppable, its charge directed straight at the master carriage, where Nicolaus and Mikael were. The carriage rocked violently as the boar rammed into it, its sharp tusks scraping against the wooden frame.

The collision threw Mikael off balance. He was suddenly jolted forward, his body flying to Nicolaus. But with quick reflexes and an almost effortless ease, Nicolaus managed to catch him before he could be thrown into harm's way.

Mikael's heart raced like a frantic drum, fear coursing through his veins as the shouts and chaos intensified. Outside, the other boars joined the attack, their grunts and snarls mingling with the knights' slashes on their bodies.

As it seemed that the situation might spiral out of control, Nicolaus sprang into action. He placed Mikael on his seat before leaping from the carriage to approach the rampaging boars.

With his resting expressionless face, Nicolaus snatched a blade from a knight who was in the way and confronted the boars. Mikael, his limbs still shaking, peered over the window.

Nicolaus moved in measured speed, his feet pounding on the ground as he swung his arm, extending on one boar to slit its snout. As a response, it squealed and stepped back with a wound sculpted on its face.

The poor boar was about to stand in an eye-to-eye exchanged against Nicolaus, but it shrunk in fear as it sensed an invisible force emitting from the cold-blooded man.

Not wasting on the pissing creature out of fright, Nicolaus charged at the other boars. He showed no mercy to these wild animals that had dared to attack his group. He severed their limbs, and in a matter of moments, their lifeless bodies fell to the ground.

Mikael watched in awe and dread as he took nine wild boars alone while the knights dealt with the others. His movements were fluid that belied the chaos surrounding him.

Mikael, despite being a rookie sword master, had a keen eye for distinguishing an expert.

The way Nicolaus seamlessly strikes, his muscles release controlled power in the precise curve of his limbs. His footwork was with no room for error, placing him flawlessly in the right position to counter and defend, side-stepping slightly when dodging.

And once more, the forest descended into somber silence, as if nature had paused to witness the brutality that had unfolded. The aftermath lay a stark picture of violence across the forest floor from the confrontation that had taken place.

The ground was stained with thick, crimson blood, and nearby bushes bore the gruesome marks. Even the tree trunks, which had stood tall, were marred by the same evidence.

Only when Talon rushed to Mikael's side did he snap back from reality. "Are you alright?" he asked after opening the carriage door.

"Y, Yeah." Mikael nodded, though his voice wavered slightly.

As they spoke, their attention was drawn back to Nicolaus, and they witnessed him whipping his sword through the air to remove the boar's blood.

As Nicolaus, his clothes stained with small and large splotches of red, made his way back to the carriage, his expression remained impassive. 

Briefly, he locked eyes with Talon, the golden irises of his gaze gleaming with the primal, feral intensity. Without a word, he climbed into the carriage. And with a swift arm, he closed the door on Talon's face.

…

Their arrival at the inn was in contrast to what had happened in the forest. The welcoming warmth in the inn offered a haven for their tired bodies and aching feet they desperately wanted.

The meats of the boars they had hunted were too valuable to go to waste. So, they decided to take them and made a deal with the innkeeper. In exchange for preparing a hearty meal for the group, they offered him a substantial amount of meat in return. 

For which the innkeeper agreed.

As the knights who had been covered in boar blood eagerly took their turn to bathe, the scent of cooking meat wafted through the inn's corridors. Nicolaus, too, took the opportunity to wash the remnants of the boar off his body in a private room.

While Nicolaus luxuriated in the warm bathwater in the wooden tub, a sealed letter marked with the insignia of his trading company arrived through the window, delivered by an eagle messenger.

"Tsk." Upon reading the message, his face soured. The corner of his lips turned slightly downward, and his brows pronounced a furrow on his forehead.

Mikael did not know this reason. 

During the dinner, he could not help but notice Nicolaus looking tense, only sharing little when Sir Daelan talked to him, seemingly consumed by his thoughts.

And as the time passed after dinner and the night fell deeper, everyone had already retired to their rooms.

While all were asleep, Mikael fought against his drooping, exhausted eyes after having the great bath he had from days of travel. He peered and checked Nicolaus if he was sleeping before he rose from the bed.

He silently slipped out of the shared room with Nicolaus, threading through dimly lit inn corridors. He was careful in each step as the floorboard beneath his feet whispered creaks.

Finally, he arrived at the backyard, a small space enclosed by a low wood fence wall. It was there that Talon stood waiting, cloaked in shadows.