Two Sides

As the three-headed yellow dragon troops tightened their barrier, one by one started to pull out the swords from their sheaths. Ahli and Sharon put their back sticking to each other, guarding each other from all directions.

"We only need the guy. If anything happened with the female knight, it's not a problem." One of the three-headed yellow dragon soldiers, who looked older than the others, seemed to be the leader of the troops. He also looked a little older than Sharon, with a thick mustache fashioning his face.

"Why do you want me?" Asked Ahli to the mustache man.

"Order from Lady Anzu. You are a card mage, therefore, Lady Anzu needs to meet you."

"Why should I meet her? I don't even know her. And, isn't it card mage ruined this kingdom? Why do you guys side with them?"

The man with the thick mustache did not answer at first, then he inhaled his breath and looked at Ahli with an intimidating stare.

"She needs to know where your allegiance is, Mr. Card Mage. And as for why we help them? Well…" The man stepped toward and lowered his sword. He looked around, and then after that, he looked at Ahli.

"...Because we want to have a better life. It's that simple."

"Better life? What do you mean?" Sharon became furious for that reason seem not content with her own opinion. Which was why she demanded an explanation from the man. The man himself did not answer immediately as she looked at Sharon, and seemed fixated with her.

"Your family is a noble, aren't you miss?" Ahli did not know for sure about that part of Sharon's information, as he never delved deeper into it. Sharon did not answer the question immediately, but when she did, Ahli could see how annoyed she was.

"Yeah, what if I am?"

"Then that's why you don't see why the rise of the card mages was a blessing."

Ahli got even confused with more and more words coming out of the man. He knew about the problem of the rise of the card mage, and it might now be a one-side of the story.

"All of us used to be soldiers of the kingdom. We fought for the kingdom in the war against the demon king's army. We knew we had to defend our land, for the sake of our family."

"If it's so then why do you betray your kingdom?" Asked Sharon who seemed to be impatient with the answer did not appear soon.

"Because they betrayed us first."

The man stared at him with an intense look and Ahli could feel the deep hatred growing from those. A push in his back made him look at Sharon, and it seemed she felt the piercing eye, as Ahli saw how intensely her face had become.

"We returned from war and our payment was reduced, making us hard to provide for our family. Many of us were forced to quit the army without compensation. And even though after that they had jobs as farmers, they do not own the land they worked hard for. Making the produce unable to be given to their family, not it gave them any extra income. It was also the same with other jobs. Nobody was able to make any proper living anymore."

Ahli did not realize that the situation was much worse.

"Which is why, when the card mages revolt. We saw it as a chance to make us better."

"But, it isn't better! Everyone now lives in fear!" Argued Sharon.

"However, they are able to eat every day right?"

Sharon did not rebuke the question, and Ahli knew, that she might have thought that it was true as well. Ahli then looked at one of the soldiers at his 10 o'clock, which seemed to move his head weirdly. From his guess, the soldier might be trying to get a clear view of Sharon.

The soldier seemed to have a revelation in his head when his facial expression quickly change. He then said with a loud voice.

"Commander Steve, we might have to keep her alive as well. That's Lady Sharon of House Mendua. She's Commander Aaron's widow."

As the soldier said that, Ahli saw some of the soldiers there expressing their disbelief, including Steve. Ahli looked at Sharon and her face also showed disbelief.

"Don't tell me. Some of you are…" Sharon was unable to continue her words as she seemed to be afraid of knowing the truth.

"Yes, some of us used to serve your husband." Answered Steve calmly.

"Why? How? Weren't you all supposed to die along with my husband in the attack of Pogup?"

"Yeah, we should have died. However, Lady Anzu gave us a chance, for us to stay alive and therefore we can provide our family further."

"You…" Sharon's voice was trembling, yet, Ahli could sense that it was not fear that filled it, but a wave of growing anger.

"Unfortunately, your husband was not fond of that idea. It was truly a sad thing."

"AAAAHHHHHHH!" In her rage, Sharon dashed and swung her sword at Steve. Which quickly he blocked with his own sword.

"YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND! ALL OF YOU TRAITORS!"

Multiple slashes were rained upon Steve who blocked it intensely. Two of the other soldiers came for helping him, yet, Ahli could see how dangerous Sharon is in her anger, as she overcame the help with speed. With just two moves, she was able to land her sword piercing one at the neck, before making a spin that made her sword chop the head of the other one like butter.

"NOBODY INTERFERE! I'LL HANDLE HER! YOU GUYS TAKE CARE OF THE CARD MAGE!" Ordered Commander Steve who seemed to understand clearly how benevolent the woman he was facing was.

As the order came out, all the other soldiers shifted their attention immediately to Ahli. Seeing that, Ahli took out his short sword, preparing for any incoming.

"Give up, card mage. We are trained fighters. You think that short sword would be able to protect you?"

Ahli hated to admit it, but what that soldier had said was true. The short sword would not be able to make an escape for him. He needed to activate the card mage system. However, he knew that he needed to buy some time as well, for him to have enough mana to battle.

As Ahli looked in Sharon's direction, he saw how faster and more aggressive she had become. However, Commander Steve was an opponent that is fit for her. Both of them exchanged blows after blows, and each of them was able either to block the other or dodged the incoming attacks given by the other.

"SWORD ART! PIERCING DRAGONS!" Shouted Sharon who put herself in a stance ready to pierce.

"SWORD ART! TIGER'S POUNCE!" Shouted Commander Steve who jumped into the air giving out his own attack.

The moment they both shouted their skill name, all heads turned to see what would happen in that clash. And their time was not wasted as the two master swordsman unleashed their skill onto each other.

Sharon moved in lightning speed with a piercing attack, aimed at all the vital points of Commander Steve's body. He himself was ready to do a drop slash at Sharon. And Ahli who saw it knew that it was not any ordinary drop slash. As the slash was dropped, came with it an energy that covered the sword. On the other side, Sharon's attack had turned into multiple energy blows. And when the two opposing energy clashed, it created a loud bang and bright light, which its shock waves could be felt by everyone at the town square.

As the bright light gone, Ahli could see how both swordsmen had their swords glued to each other, pushing in each other's direction.

Everyone there was in awe of what they had witnessed, but the yell from Commander Steve then awaken them from their trance.

"WHY ARE YOU STOPPING? CATCH THE CARD MAGE!"

With the soldier paying attention to him again, Ahli was on his guard again. As they started to move toward him, Ahli reached to his deck box. However, before he was able to give his command to Carta, he saw someone rushing toward the soldiers that were the closest to him.

"Mr. Granger!"

Ahli was happy that he was not alone and glad that Mr. Granger was on time to rescue him.

"Sorry for being late. I was not sure if I could pass safely with those two intensely clashing." Said Mr. Granger while pointing at Sharon and Commander Steve who had made a distance between them again, and fully engaged in another sword clash, block, parry, and dodge.

"It's okay. With you here, I can set up my system for battling them. Can you buy me some time?"

"Sure. How long?"

"Around 3 minutes."

"Understood. Be at ease, I'll protect you for 3 minutes."

Mr. Granger turned his body to face the rest of the soldiers that were still ready for combat. Those that were hit by his tackle were seen laying on the ground unconscious. Ahli himself saw how a wall named Granger had erected in front of him, and that big wall had a sense of safety coming from it.

With that, Ahli reached to the deck box at his left waist.

"CARTA, Activate System!"