Mistakes (part 2)

The sun is already very low. The skies have turned dark red from the light gradually disappearing, and soon, we will have to rely on man-made lights to light the path.

The sprint there took me only five minutes, which was much longer than I thought. But, I arrived just in time.

I arrived just outside the front gate of the orphanage, and I immediately understood the situation. The children and Miss Rina are okay. But, only to an extent.

Some of the children had wounds on them, with most wounds being bruises. No one is really badly wounded like Roy, but it's clear that the knights used violence on them.

Miss Rina, Luca, and the other children are being tied and sat down at the front yard of the orphanage. Surrounding them are the very knights who were hunting me down.

Seeing me arrive just outside the gate, all by myself made the knights be on guard. Every single one of them are armed with swords and maces, and they can maul the children to death at any time they want.

"Well, well, well. Look who finally shows up."

The yellow haired bastard said as he stepped closer towards the gate. From his grinning expression, it's clear that things have truly gone his way.

How I came here, after hearing that the orphanage was attacked.

They used Roy as the lure, and the tied up children as the bait. And I am the fish they want to capture, no matter what.

But, I can't just stay put knowing that this is a trap. I can't just stand still knowing that Luca and the others got hurt simply because they are close to me.

I took out a sword and the sheath from my storage bracelet, and it arrived on my hips. I unsheathed it, and surprised everyone who saw me doing it.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Aren't you forgetting something?"

The yellow haired knight said while pointing his thumb at the tied up children in the front yard. From the looks of it, the other knights are also very ready to use their weapons.

It's a pinch for me. I can't do anything.

This is so annoying…

"… Fine."

CLANK!!

I threw the sword far to my left, away from reach.

Seeing this act, the yellow haired knight grinned. He then chuckled, and used his hand to comb his hair. The other knights too, have eased up.

"Oh, dear… to think it was truly this easy…"

"What is it that you want?"

I asked him coldly, and he turned his eyes back to me.

"What do you think? Take your mask off, right now."

He said to me coldly as well, and I let out a pissed off sound from my mouth. 

I placed my hand on the hood on my head, and began pulling it down. The hood reveals the long black hair that was hidden underneath, but this is not what they wanted to find.

I placed my hand on the mask, and I pulled it off. Slowly, the cat-like mask was moved, revealing what I truly look like.

With the mask on, it looked like the mask that I wore had two horns on the forehead. But after taking the mask off, everyone can see that those two horns were still there in my forehead. The mask itself was actually drilled, creating a hole so that the two horns can fit inside it.

Now that the mask is off, everyone can see the pitiful angry expression that I am wearing.

"Heh. It really was you… Ethelen princess."

Ethelen… princess?

How did he know that I am the princess? Has he seen my face before?

I'm not sure if I have ever seen his face before. Was he there, back at the capital? He does not look familiar, even one bit.

"Those people really didn't believe me when I said I found you… And look where we are."

Those people…? He must be talking about his higher ups. The officials from the kingdom, I assume.

"Now then. Let us take you… peacefully. And--"

"Wait, Jacob."

From the left, a knight walked forward and stopped the yellow haired guy from continuing.

"What about the hero?"

"… Right."

Jacob, the yellow haired knight turned his gaze back to me. Using his eyes, he studied my appearance and came to a conclusion.

"It doesn't seem like she is close with the hero anymore. Yesterday too, she was all alone when we chased her. It must be because the hero was away."

Jacob analyzed, and his knight friend understood.

Looks like this Jacob guy guessed that I have been alone for a while. He must've thought that since I was alone during the chase yesterday, the hero who was supposed to be with me is currently away.

It's not that he is fully wrong… but it just sucks since he is right.

Rake… may not be helping.

"Then, now is the best time to apprehend her. While the hero is away."

"Yeah… that is what I am planning to do."

Jacob the knight quickly unsheathed his sword, and he walked backwards slightly. He then placed the tip of the blade right next to Miss Rina's neck, who was closing her eyes while praying.

"Surrender yourself… peacefully. And we will let go of these… filthy traitors."

Filthy…?

How bold of him.

I have no plans on getting captured. But, I also wouldn't want Miss Rina or the children getting hurt.

So the only thing I can do for now… is comply.

At least until that guy arrives. I just have to follow along whatever these knights are asking, as long as it is nothing too ridiculous--

"Yooo! You guys seemed to be having fun."

A sudden cheerful voice of a man can be heard from behind the knights. 

The knights turned around to find the source of the voice, but they couldn't find anything. It was then I noticed that the source came from above, and everyone else also looked upwards.

Sitting at the rooftop is a single man wearing a brown waterproof robe with short sleeves. His hood is taken off, revealing the white hair that is spiked up. The higher half of his face, including his eyes, was covered by bandages, tied on the back like a ninja's headband. And his face is wearing the cheekiest grin one can wear.

It's the very hero these knights are afraid of.

"I-It's him!!"

One of the knights said loudly, and the other knights began to grow wary. 

They began to group up closer, not minding the tied up civilians at all. Jacob especially, being the only one without their helmet on made everyone notice the amount of sweat this guy is dropping from his head. 

After all, the very existence of Rake Ignicius simply means danger for them.

"Sir hero, Rake Ignicius!! On behalf of the entire kingdom of Ardjestyn, please surrender yourself--"

TAP!!

Rake jumped from the top of the roof, and landed right in front of the orphanage's front door. The way he landed was so calm and soft, as if he was floating down slowly when he fell.

"Then? What will happen after I surrender myself?"

Rake asked coldly, but with a grin worn on his face. Jacob and the other knights do not know how to answer his question, but one thing for sure is that they cannot let the hero get away.

But, Rake is certainly hasty.

He lifted his hand up, and immediately the air turned tense.

I, who has seen a few of Rake's moments, immediately knew what he was about to do. The panic inside of me grew larger, and I quickly rushed forward as I shouted.

"No, Rake!!! Stop!!!!!"

But, it was too late.

SHRESSHHH!!!!!!!!

It all started with Jacob. He was the most annoying one, since he is iconic with his yellow hair and stern face. He is the one who will be remembered the most, and so he received the first treatment.

His head rolled on the ground only a second after I shouted.

BRESSHH!!!!!!!!

Blood shoots out from his neck like a fountain, and his body falls to the ground powerlessly. Blood colored the air, and managed to land on the armors of the knights previously around Jacob. Some also landed on the faces of the children and Miss Rina.

Meanwhile, I continued to run forward.

"Rake, you fucking idiot--!!!"

"Silent."

ZRRIINGGG!!!!!!!!!!!

All of the sudden, a large white blast appeared right in front of me.

It struck from above, as if it fell from the sky. The size alone was enough to eat the entire front gate of the orphanage. And by the time the blast stopped, nearly nothing was left of the front gate, along with a little bit of the walls next to the gate. The depth of the crater from the blast was a meter deep.

I could have jumped over the crater, but I didn't. I was too taken aback by the sudden white blast that appeared right in front of my nose, and I didn't want to imagine what would have happened to me if it did land on me.

White… Light magic? So that's his powers?

My eyes turned back to Rake, who was already lifting his other hand.

"No… Stop!!!"

Every single person… has made a mistake before in their lives.

Me, Miss Rina, and even the children.

But right now, the one who made the biggest mistake are the knights.

They have challenged… a psychopath.

The knights saw how powerful that light blast was. Even though they were away from it, they knew exactly what would happen next.

Rake… is merciless.

SHRREEESSSSSHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

ZRIIINNGGGG!!!!!!!

SHRESSHHH!!!!!!!!

"Ghaaakkk!!!--"

SHRESSHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

.

.

It all happened in less than a second.

Every single knight… has died.