「Ashna」Father

"You are the daughter of someone powerful among your people. The great mother has told us to capture you alive, but she has also permitted us to kill you if you resist. As long as we don't damage you too badly, your body would make a good puppet for the great mother." The archer grinned as she said this.

"I refuse to come with you, and I refuse to be a puppet!"

I released my warhammer and let it fly towards the twin Alorae, who were still firing spheres of magical energy at my location. The twins split off in opposite directions to avoid my attack, which forced me to choose one or the other.

I smiled as I decided on a third option. My hammer flew directly at the archer, who was threatening me. She flinched as she saw the hammer fly her way, but one of the Alorae by her side stepped in front of her and met my hammer with their fist, deflecting my weapon into the ground. This Alorae was larger than the rest, but still small when compared to a Veldan.

"It looks like we'll have to kill you, child."

At this moment, the rest of the pursuers revealed themselves in the forest. There were ten of them in total, including the archer. It would have been eleven if I had not killed the one who arrived before the others.

My father's energy was not far off; I knew I had to stall for just a little longer.

"Who are you?"

The larger Alorae stepped closer and was revealed better by the light from an opening in the canopy above. It was a male Alorae, beautiful with fair skin and long, silky white hair. He was very masculine compared to the rest of the pursuers, enough to be an acceptable mate for even a Veldan such as me.

He spoke with a smooth and deep voice that carried strength and confidence. "You do not need to know our names. We have been called to extract you or terminate you by our elders. They foresaw that you would become a very painful thorn in our side one day, perhaps even more so than your father."

I felt stunned; they knew me and my father. "Your witches should not peer into our lives." I extended my hand and summoned my hammer to me, catching it and pointing it towards the Alorae male. "I challenge you to an honorable duel between warriors!"

The man laughed. "An honorable duel between warriors? Why should I accept? There is no benefit in me fighting you alone, although I do not fear losing." He smiled and took a step forward.

"Are you a coward, then?" I smiled, attempting to provoke him.

He laughed again. "I could care less what you label me as. I am the one the elders call when they need a dangerous task completed."

The man motioned for the rest of the Alorae to collapse on my position as he darted forward. I held out my shield, believing it all to be over. There was no way I could face this threat alone. I channeled shield energy outward and attempted to block what I could.

A barrage of magic attacks slammed into my shield energy and shattered it immediately. I was blown back about three meters, sliding to a halt as I saw several Alorae swordsmen that had gotten within striking distance. Two of them slashed at me vertically, while a single one went for a piercing strike aimed at my left thigh.

It seemed as though they were not going for killing blows straight away, which was going to be in my favor during this fight. I regained my footing and charged into the three Alorae without fear. I activated my skill, Thick Hide of the Jabak, a power I had obtained before entering the five seasons. My body coated itself in energy that hardened my skin enough to deflect all of the attacks made at me.

Having gotten in close to my attackers, I threw my hammer at the swordsman to my left, blowing him out of the fight. I could not look to check my blow, but I was certain I dealt a crippling strike to his knee. I continued my push and angled my shield to pierce the swordsman to my left with the sharp top right corner of my shield, which cut into his neck, leaving a fatal wound.

The swordsman directly in front of me held out the broken sword that he used to try to pierce me in my thigh. I thrust my hand forward to grab his neck as he tried to defend himself. My hand broke through the small Alorae's sword and held a tight grip on the man's throat. At this point, a barrage of magic strikes came towards me again, along with the larger Alorae man, who was less than three meters away from me, but I didn't care. If anything, I was going to take a few of these cowards with me.

I squeezed and heard a satisfying snap as the man's body felt limp in my grasp.

I closed my eyes, expecting to be blasted in some random direction by the barrage of magic attacks, followed by the swift strike of the stronger Alorae that was among them. I heard the magic strikes land but felt no impact. There was also no definite blow from the stronger Alorae, so I opened my eyes and looked behind me.

"Daughter, what is this?"

I couldn't hold back my joy as I saw my father. His arm was extended, having caught the fist of the larger Alorae man within it. His other hand was extended, maintaining advanced-tier shield energy around me to block the magic attacks made against me.

A few tears rolled down my eyes as I looked at my father. Now that my father was here, there was nothing left to fear. "They are Alorae; they have come to kidnap or kill me. The human, Ronan Wilde, warned me that these pursuers would be after me."

My father raised an eyebrow and looked down at me as he casually tossed the male Alorae away. He paused for a moment and furrowed his brows as if he had entered a state of deep thought. "Ronan Wilde?"