Seven Years Later

"ARE YOU AN IDIOT?!"

Who hits a monster with a bow, tell me, WHO?! My idiot brother that's who. We'd had a pretty much peaceful journey thus far causing us to lower our vigilance. Terrible idea, really. Because that's the EXACT moment they attacked.

It still wasn't so bad cause Aron (my brother), could have shot them of. But nooooo, he panics and HITS THEM with his BOW!

I grab the idiot's arm and sprint but of course, I trip. I face plant, my already worn dress is now covered in mud, and lift my head just in time to see the demon lift his large meaty paw to swat down...

I pinch my eyes shut and hear Aron call my name. Well you big dope, I won't be with you much longer. Don't get lost, knowing him he'll probably be stuck in this place until a kind passerby helps him out. I distract myself with these thoughts while waiting for my impending doom.

...

The expected blow doesn't come, instead, a loud BOOM. I open one eye. Boots, legs. Below a body, below a head, of black hair. I scramble to my feet.

Someone-I can't determine the gender yet it standing in front of me, blocking the creature with...a silver rod? It's gleam under the sun's rays makes it obvious that it isn't wood.

CLANG! BANG! BANG! CRASH! She, as I've now determined, fights with amazing grace. Hitting and kicking up a whirlwind of pure ferocity. Finally, she raises her stick above her head and plunges it into the monster's chest, cutting upwards and slicing it cleanly in half.

I rush forward just in time to see her pull out the rod out. Curiously, at the end is a small sharp blade that folds into the rod. I watch her in awe as the takes out two other demons and my brother finally regains his sense enough to shoot the fourth.

As soon as she's done my brother and I run to her and grab each of her hands.

At the same time we say, "Will you marrybemymasterbrother?"

The poor girl looks confused by our assault. Now that I'm seeing her face up close she's actually quite pretty. Her skin is like very light milk chocolate, her dark hair just above her shoulders. She's dressed all in black from her neck down to the shiny boots I first saw.

I turn to Aron, "you be quiet this is the perfect time to get you an ideal wife."

"What! He's gonna be my master!"

"IDIOT! LOOK at her she's a GIRL!"

"Girl, what girl?"

"Idiot LOOK!"

I grab his arm and force him to turn towards the girl...who's already several steps away.

"Wait!" Aron and I cry at the same time.

She stops and lets out a barely audible "what". Despite the softness the words carry a piercing intensity. She's not someone to easily be messed with. Exactly why...she needs to be my sister in law! But seeing my brother's idiocy and gender blindness that's seeming highly unlikely.

"Sister in l-ah, I mean big sister could you please let us travel with you? We are all alone and if more demons come I don't know what we'll do!"

"That brother of yours seems pretty proficient with that bow."

Ah, she must have seen my brother shoot the fourth demon. Okay, pity tactic failed. Time to try something else.

"Yes, my brother carries the ancient bow Kodandam. He is one of the legendary wielders! You must have heart of them?"

I look hopefully at her expression. She doesn't seem the type to be easily impressed but you never know. Her expression isn't awe but nor is it complete indifference. It's rather...strange.

"...Really, a wielder"

"Yes! In fact we were on our way to find the other four!"

"...fine".

"What?"

"You guys can come with me. I'll escort you. But after this, we're done with each other."

I feel conflicted, I'm not sure if my idiot of a brother can win her over in just this journey. But her expression warns me not to test my luck. Well, at least she relented.