Chapter 39: Moving On (2)

With Marium's hand in his, Marx made his way out of the cave. Every step hurt, but he had to continue pushing on. If he allowed himself to relax, it would be too easy to slip into unconsciousness. Mouth agape with shock, he scanned the forest clearing. He saw the bodies of the four bandits. Each one had a gash in either their throat or body.

"You did this?" He asked, turning to glance at his daughter.

"Yeah. I did it to save you!"

Marx couldn't help but shiver at her expression. Her lips were curled into a smile and her demeanor was very joyful. He took a deep breath, before stopping his walk, getting down on one knee. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you…" Those were the only words he could say at this moment. He was grateful to be alive, as that meant he could continue his work on behalf of the village. But past that, he was ashamed and saddened. He never wanted Marium to be in danger like she was. The same could be said for the rest of his family. The fact that at her age, she killed… She would never be the same, yet, she didn't seem bothered by it. It was as if she didn't process the fact she killed living beings. Also, a part of him didn't understand where she drew the strength capable of such a feat from in the first place.

"That was really stupid you know."

Hearing an unfamiliar voice, in confusion, Marx let go of Marium. He glanced around until his eyes stopped on a girl, the size of a hand floating beside him.

"A spirit?"

"Yep. It is thanks to me that you are alive, you know that?"

"Wait…" Marx glanced toward Marium. "Did you form a spirit contract?"

Marium, glancing between Annerose and Marx could only shrug. "I don't know what that is, but this lady said if I took her hand she would help me to save you!"

Marx, with a grim expression on his face, turned to look at Annerose. "You… What was the condition?"

"Condition?" Annerose asked, tilting her head to the side. Did she state such a thing?

"I'm talking about whatever payment you seek in return! You damn spirits…"

Annerose, taken aback by the sudden hostility, scowled uncontrollably.

"Okay, first of all there is no need to be rude. I have no clue what you're talking about, seriously?" She paused, searching the man's expression. Then, her scowl lessened, and a smirk grew on her face. "Actually, now that I think about it, shouldn't you be thanking me first? It is because of me you even have the ability to be rude you know? You would be dead, like these men around us otherwise."

Marx released an impatient sigh. This spirit was really laying it on thick huh? There was no way that a spirit would make a contract without conditions. From hearsay, whether it be from a friend of a friend, or someone in the person's bloodline, he'd found out for spirit contracts there would often be harsh payments.

Some would be required to kill a certain amount of humans or they themselves would die, or destroy nature, allowing the spirit to take in its energy. He rarely heard good things about such an exchange. He couldn't help being concerned, especially when the one who underwent the contract was his little girl.

"Alright… Thank you." He said, a slight grimace on his face as he did so. His voice was also tense, clearly being forced.

"Oh, come on. You can do better than that, right?"

"Why you…"

"HEY!" Suddenly, a voice shouting from a distance interrupted the two's back and forth. Further ahead, a man was running towards the three. Raising his guard, Marx clenched onto his pickaxe tightly, however, his hold softened when he saw the individual. The man in his sights was one of the warriors, a town guard. In his hand was a spear.

Once reaching the group he froze. His eyes were wide, as his gaze combed over the multitude of bodies strewn across the field.

"I came because there was a report that bandits may have scaled the mountains. What happened here?" He asked, his eyes naturally falling on Marx, the person most fit to answer his question.

"Well…" Unable to find the proper words to explain, he simply motioned to Annerose, who was floating beside him.

"A spirit!?"

"Yes. My daughter took on a contract... She handled these bandit men."

The guard, dumbfounded, could only stare at the little girl. Nervous as the man's silent yet tense stare, she stepped behind Marx. Luckily for her, his figure was wide enough for such a movement to succeed, as she was now out of view.

Everything that happened next felt like a blur. For Annerose as well as Marium. Upon their arrival at the village, whispers of disbelief and curiosity rippled through the air as the villagers watched them. They were quickly brought to the chief's home.

The chief, the one over their entire village, had a particular aura about him. Multiple scars lined his face and his left eye was covered by an eye-patch. His right eye was a deep amber, flat and devoid of emotion. Vatur. He had been in many battles, several when survival was low at best yet here he stood, alive.

As Marx and Marium approached, he raised an eyebrow, his gaze scanning the duo. He was already given word that bandits had indeed passed over the mountain but the one to end them was this little girl standing before him. As Marium stared back at the Chief, a thought passed her mind. She didn't know where it came from necessarily but it emerged nonetheless.

"This man is the Chief… The lives of everyone rests on his shoulders."

From his appearance which was weathered to say the least, it was clear he'd experienced a lot. She had never spoken with him personally before, but she heard many stories. How he was such a kind and wise chieftain but on the battlefield was nothing short of a demon.

She glanced over at her Father, seeing the many cuts and injuries lining his body. That's when it struck her. Her father almost died today. And if it wasn't for the sudden spirit appearing and forming a contract with her, she would have lacked the strength to protect him.

That realization scared her, but what scared her more was the thought of more men, like those bandits winning this war. If the warriors of their clan lost, more vile men like them would attack their home, destroying and pillaging everything they had.

Marium stepped forward, her voice steady and resolute. "Chief, I request you grant me the honor of becoming a warrior for the Sun Clan. I don't fully understand how spirit contracts work but it was because of it that I defended my Father. This strength I have, I would like to use it to protect our home… This peace we have."

""M-marium!? What are you talking about?" Marx coughed up, confusion and denial in his voice. "You can't do that! First of all only men are allowed to be warriors and you're way too young anyway!"

"Marx. Silence." Those two words from Vatur's mouth instantly silenced Marx. He lowered his head respectfully.

Vatur's gaze fell on Marium. "Why would you ask such a thing of me? You don't believe the battlefield to be a joke do you?"

"Absolutely not, sir. I just want to help."

Vatur scanned the girl's face. He didn't detect a sign of doubt or even hesitancy in it. This would be the test however. Suddenly, he pulled up his shirt, and a gasp of horror uncontrollably fell from Marium's lips. His abdomen was completely scarred. There were at least a dozen cuts and some of the skin was disfigured. The shirt only revealed his abdomen but Marium thought she could also see the ending trail of a scar across his chest.

"I have many more injuries across my body." Vatur said as he lowered the shirt. "In all honesty, it is by the grace of Astrea that I still draw breath. Many times I should have died, yet I didn't… I believe my ancestors are giving me strength, at least until I see through the end of this war. Now, could you still say you will fight? There's no guarantee you will be as fortunate as me. Anything can happen."

As he finished his speech, a silence befell the room. A conflicted expression was on Marx's face. In one aspect he admired that Marium suggested doing something so selfless but at the same time, she was his little girl. He didn't want her to be in danger, but from what he'd learned today it seemed that danger would find her. Also he wouldn't be able to answer for her, as the chief asked her directly.

Marium clenched her fist. Her gaze fixed onto the ground. What could she say now? Of course, her desire to protect outweighed her fear of the fate Vatur alluded to, but she didn't know how to explain herself. For a seasoned veteran like him, something naive like "I still want to!" or "That won't happen to me!" Would likely dissuade him from accepting her offer. Also, in the first place, only men were allowed to be warriors, it was tradition from the inception of the clan. Men were meant to fight and protect, and women were expected to nurture the children.

A bright flash of light spread throughout the room suddenly, coming from Marium. Annerose was floating beside her, a determined glint in her eye. "I speak for both of us when I say there was thought given to this. There is no guarantee we will live, but there is also no guarantee you will win this war. At this point, there has been a deadlock, despite your strength, so, if a new element such as ourselves were added into the mix, the balance would be upset."

For a moment, when Annerose had appeared, Vatur's one eye widened, however it returned to its natural state of calm. He tilted his head to the side, a gaze that could only be described as scrutinizing came from him. "So, you are the spirit… What do you gain from this contract? What was the condition for it?"

"That is the second time I have been asked that… In all honesty I do not remember having one but I can tell you a desire of mine. I want to see every weapon possible. It was the first thing I remember. That metallic clink that repeated, followed by the sparks that would fly. Weapons are dear to me… So, show me more and I will be satisfied."

A deep silence followed Annerose' words. Marx's head raised for the first time since being silenced. A wide and warm smile was plastered onto Annerose' face. It was a truly genuine one, the kind that couldn't be faked or used for manipulation.

"Spirit… I want to apologize."

Surprised at Marx's sudden statement, Annerose turned to him. At first her gaze was addled in confusion, but it quickly cleared up, being replaced with a smug one. "Well, thank you for the apology."

"Yes… You didn't mean any harm by forming the contract. I heard bad things about your kind so I just assumed you would be the same."

"Yeah? Well next time cut that out. Not all spirits are the same you know!"

"Even though I do not know any other spirits…" She thought to herself.

Vatur released a light cough, drawing the attention of everyone back in the room on him.

"Well then, am I right to assume that was your reasoning?"

Both Annerose and Marium nodded in agreement.

"Alright. You may become a warrior."

A smile was on Marium's face, however it quickly faded. She clasped her hands together tightly, giving a respectful bow. Annerose, seeing her actions, followed suit.

Marx released a sigh with a bitter grin on his face. He was proud. Even if he didn't want this, he had a feeling this was the best thing for her. It was something she wanted to do, and given her partner, at the very least she wouldn't be alone.

"By the way, what is your name, spirit?" Vatur asked.

"It is... What is it?" Annerose asked, turning to Marium with a clueless look on her face. The young girl, unprepared for the sudden question, simply shrugged. She then glanced toward her father, who also was unprepared.

"How about… Annerose? Anne for grace, and rose for favor."

The suggestion came out almost effortless from the lips of Marx. As she stared at the man in silence, inside her head she repeated the name. "Annerose…Annerose….Annerose!"

"I love it!" She shouted suddenly, startling Marx who'd been waiting on a response. He could only release an amused chuckle. Her face was all smiles, as her eyes seemed to sparkle in satisfaction.

Vatur walked toward the trio. "Well, before fully becoming a warrior you must train. Afterwards, you may come to the battlefield." He then proceeded to walk past them, exiting the home with the rest of them following from behind. As they walked, Marium glanced toward Annerose, who was floating alongside her.

"Thank you for earlier. I did not have the proper words to say in response to the chief."

"Don't mention it." Annerose replied in a nonchalant tone. "It was the least I could do. We are together now after all."

"Together…" Marium placed her hand under her chin, a thoughtful look on her face.

"What is the matter?" Annerose asked, with a curious glance at the expression Marium was making.

"Nothing. I guess I'm just happy. In all honesty, I'm really scared to fight. Earlier, with those bandit men, in the heat of the moment I didn't process what happened. I could have died. Really. But, the reason I am fighting anyway now that I'm safe, is so for the others here. Annerose, thank you for helping me."

Annerose only smiled, nodding adamantly in response. No other words were needed between the two of them. Even if they were scared, or uncertain for the future, they would tackle it forever.