Soul Cursed Protector

Three days had passed since Master Gawain and his students started their mission for Alistair. And so far they had yet to encounter any dangers whatsoever, just lush green scenery, along with the friendliest travelers you could ever meet along the way. Regardless of the fact, that would soon change, for something sinister was on its way.

“Hey old man. What happened to all the so called danger? I’m ready to test my skills, yet there has been nothing. Three days of absolute nothing.” Ulrich snarled.

Gawain laughed, “Don’t be in such a rush to do battle, Ulrich. You are still young and have

much to learn. It would be a waste to see one of my best students parish by rushing into battle foolishly.”

“You have no idea what I can-” before Ulrich could say another word he was interrupted. “Look, there’s something on fire.” Leon shouted, pointing straight ahead.

“Calm yourself, young Leon. I’m sure it is nothing, but we shall investigate regardless.” Gawain said calmly. They spurred their horses on steadfast, minutes later Gawain and company arrived to see a caravan under attack by bandits. Without thinking Gawain jumped off his horse, unsheathed his sword, and rushed into the middle of the attacking bandits. Leon wasn’t about to let Master Gawain fight alone, he dismounted from his horse and was poised to do battle. Ulrich didn’t see things the same as Leon and Gawain though, and refused to help out. Even though this would be his first chance in testing his metal.

“What do you think you are doing, Leon?” Ulrich questioned, watching Leon scramble through his bag looking for a blade.

“I’m going to help Master Gawain. He needs us.” Leon shouted.

Ulrich looked back up ahead, watching Gawain fight the bandits alone, “Why risk your life for a bunch of peasants?” he questioned. “Just let the bandits have them, it is better that way.”

Leon couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “Do you not hear yourself my friend, at how awful you sound. They may be looked at as peasants by the nobles, but they are innocents none the less, and do not deserve to die by the hand of another. ” Leon had finally found a sword and turned in the direction Gawain was fighting the bandits.

“You are a fool, Leon. I just hope you don’t get yourself killed.” Ulrich scowled.

“Only a fool would let innocent people die, Ulrich. Besides, this shall be my first test to see just how good I really am with a Blade.” Leon then ran off to aid Master Gawain in battle.

Gawain was just up ahead from Leon, fighting masterfully against the bandits, taking one out at

a time. Leon stopped for a moment and watched in aw at how his teacher fought, it was like watching a skilled knight tear through his enemies with grace. One after another fell to the blade of Gawain, none had a chance against him. The sounds of steel could be heard clashing against one another, but it did not matter how hard the bandits fought. Gawain’s blade would always find its way to the flesh of another bandit causing blood to spew.

Leon’s enjoyment of watching his masters skillful moves in battle would be short lived, because he now had two bandits of his own to deal with. “What’s a kid doing way out here?” one asked. “I bet he is with the warrior that is killing off my men as we speak.” the other answered.

“I am no kid, and that man that is handing your men’s asses to them, is none other than Master Gawain. Only cowards such as yourselves would attack an unarmed caravan, but that is to be expected from filth like yourselves. Looks like fate has different plans for men such as you.” Leon snapped.

“Shows how much you know kid, you and that master of yours has stumbled upon something much bigger. Question is, what should I do with you?” the man replied with a smile on his face, it seemed like he was the one in charge. “Wait I know, we will use you to make the warrior stand down and drop his weapon. Then after that, we shall kill the both of you.”

Leon wasn’t afraid in the slightest, he actually welcomed the challenge and was all smiles. “That will be easier said than done, cowards.” Leon lifted up his sword, “What are you waiting for? Come deal with the kid, if you have the guts.”

“I think you’re bluffing, still yet this could prove entertaining.” the leader of the bandits unsheathed his sword as he walked closer to Leon smiling, showing all of his yellow rotten teeth. “You make the first strike child, I say that is pretty fair of me don’t you agree?”

“That’s fine with me, just don’t argue with the end results.” Leon smirked, taking a fighting stance. With blinding speed he slashed his blade upward at the bandit, the cold steel connected with the mans chest, blood spewed into the air before the bandit leader fell to the ground. Leon stood over the

man, looking down at him like he was in some kind of trance like state.

The bandit leader now lay on the ground, holding his hands over the gash upon his chest hoping to slow down the bleeding. Leon lifted his sword up in the air getting ready to deliver the final blow. “Wait. Please spare my life. I beg of you.” the man pleaded. Though it did him no good, Leon drove the blade down and through the bandits throat killing him instantly.

Seeing his leader go down in such a way, especially by the hands of a mere child made the other man irate and somewhat fearful for his life, “You little brat, you’re going to die for that.” he charged at Leon with blade in hand, while Leon just stood there emotionless. The second bandit was rapidly closing in on him, yet Leon still refused to move a muscle. You could hear the crazed man screaming as he lifted his sword high above his head. “That’s right you little shit, I know that you are scarred to death. Do us both a favor, stand there and d-” but his breath was cut short. Ulrich, had stabbed the man in the back with his sword before the man could finish his attack on his friend.

“Lucky for you I showed up when I did, or you would be taking a dirt nap.” Ulrich joked. “Since I now find myself drawn into this unneeded battle, we should go ahead and help the old man.” he turned to look at Leon but he was still standing there, not moving, nor talking for that matter. “Come on Leon, stop goofing around with me. Lets get a move on.” still Leon stood there motionless. Ulrich walked up to his friend and shook him. “Leon, snap out of it.”

Leon shook his head a little, slowly coming out of the trance like state he was under. “Ulrich, what are you doing here? I thought that you didn’t want to fight.” with a dazed look on his face, Leon looked down at the two dead men laying at his feet. “Did you do this?”

“I killed one, yes. But you killed the other, not I.” Ulrich answered. “We should talk about that later, right now we need to get out of here.” Leon still not realizing what had happened yet, made the choice to save the questions for another time, and go help Master Gawain. All he could remember at that point, was stopping to watch Gawain fight, after that, nothing.

“Master Gawain is surrounded. We must help him, Ulrich” Leon hurried over to help out, even though he was still somewhat dazed and confused. Ulrich followed in pursuit but was in no hurry to be of any help to anyone. The only reason he was fighting, was because he feared for his Leon’s safety, he may not have cared what happened to Gawain, still yet he fought for his friend.

Gawain had seen both Leon and Ulrich running his way, afraid that neither of the young teens were ready for such a fight as this one, he warned them to stay back. Regardless of his warnings, neither of the young boys listened to a word their master had said. Before Gawain knew it both Leon and Ulrich were standing beside him, ready to fight. “I thought I told you both to stay put.”

“Shut up and accept our help old man.” Ulrich snarled. One of the bandits lunged forward at him while he was distracted. Ulrich was more skilled than he had let on, and easily side stepped the oncoming attack plunging his sword into the bandits chest. “Never, ever, try and get the jump on me fool.” Ulrich kicked the dead body laying at his feet.

Gawain was impressed with the ease in which Ulrich had dispersed the bandits attack and countered with his own. But something was a miss, he had never taught Ulrich such moves, yet he knew such advance techniques regardless of training was troubling. But the time for thinking of such things had to wait, there were still a hand full of thieves that had to be dealt with. “Not bad Ulrich, but the fights not over yet. Do not let your anger get the best of you.”

“Mind your own, old man.” Ulrich grumbled. “Just worry about your own skin.” Ulrich replied, as he was now fighting back and forth with another bandit. To further show off his skills Ulrich started chanting a spell of sorts, once done he lifted up his hand and fire erupted from his fingertips setting the man he was fighting, on fire.

Gawain not wanting to be out done by his student, swung his blade with a mighty force taking down two bandits that were just about to attack him. Only two left standing, he thought to himself. The odds

are not in their favor, and I do not wish to continue such savagery. “Listen to me, I am not a blood thirsty killer. I will give the two of you a chance to flee, or you will die here, choice is yours.” Ulrich on the other hand was bloodthirsty and took it upon himself to drive his sword through the last two bandits left standing. Gawain filled with anger pushed Ulrich to the ground for what he had done. “What have you done? I showed those two men mercy, and yet you take it upon yourself to be their executioner. Why would you do such a thing? Answer me, damn you.”

Ulrich laughed while looking up at Gawain, “Look at you, so bent out of shape over me delivering justice to those scumbags. You’re so weak, old man.”

Gawain placed the edge of his blade up against Ulrich’s throat, “Is this, justice? If I killed you now for what you have done, would that be just?”

“Master Gawain, you can’t.” Leon pushed Gawain away from his friend. Causing him to stumbled forward barely nicking Ulrich’s neck with his blade by accident.

“What are you doing?” Gawain hissed.

Leon had his sword in hand, standing in between his friend and master. “I won’t let you hurt Ulrich, Master Gawain. He is the only family I have left. ”

“I wasn’t going to hurt him.” Gawain calmly sheathed his blade. “See.” he raised his hands up in the air. “I was trying to teach him a lesson in mercy, before you pushed me away almost making me kill him.”

Leon sheathed his blade, “Just promise me that you won’t hurt him.” “Okay, okay. I promise not to hurt him.” Gawain said.

“Why would you do such a thing?” Leon asked, leaning over to help his friend to his feet, making sure not to keep his eyes of Gawain.

“Like I said before, I was trying to teach him a lesson, not trying to bring harm. Did you not see what he had done?” Gawain responded calmly, before trying to approach Leon.

“Don’t take another step, Master Gawain.” Leon shouted. “Please, just stay where you are.”

Ulrich knew he had to clean up this mess, the mission had to continue on, he did not want to be the one responsible for failing, Lord Alistair. “It is okay, Leon.” Ulrich walked up beside him. “The old man here is just pissed off about how I dispersed of the last of the thieves is all.”

Gawain turned his attention away from Leon and back towards Ulrich, “I showed them mercy, do you not know what that means?”

Ulrich walked closer to Gawain and started yelling, “You showed them mercy, the ones that attacked this caravan that you so desperately wanted to save. I know men like that, you let them go only for them to come back with more men to finish what they started. The same as they did to my family, so spare me your mercy speech, old man. For it falls on deaf ears.” Ulrich stood there fighting back his tears.

The raw emotion that poured out of Ulrich was all Gawain needed to make him realize that he was in the wrong. The young student was right, if the bandits had gotten away they would have only recruited more evil men like themselves. Killing more innocent people all in the name of greed, and it would have been all his fault. Gawain also realized that if he was going to train Leon the way he needs to be trained to prepare him for the fate that awaited. Then he needed to open his own eyes to the hard truths of the world, and not ignore them the way he had been doing all this time. Gawain approached Ulrich placing his hand on the young boys shoulder, “I am sorry. Please forgive me, you did not deserve it. You were right in the way you handled the bandits, forgive me for I am still learning the ways of being a master.”

Ulrich shoved Gawain’s hand off of his shoulder. “We do not need to waste any further time here, lets check for survivors then get out of here. Or did you forget about your duties?” he coldly said, turning his back on Gawain before walking off towards the chard caravan.

Leon was concerned for Ulrich, he began to wonder what filled Ulrich with such hate that his

whole demeanor would change the way it has lately. Honor and helping others meant so much to him, but that seems a lifetime ago, though it seems to mean so little to him now, that much Leon could tell by his actions. He could not talk to Ulrich about such things though, but he could at least try and make things right with Master Gawain. “I am sorry for what I did, Master Gawain. Its just Ulrich is really the only friend I have, and I thought you were going to hurt him.”

Gawain turned to face the young teen that was starring at him apologetically, “It is alright, young Leon. You were only protecting a friend that you thought was in need, that was very noble of you. But be warned, things are not always what they seem, keep that in mind on this journey.” he turned to face the caravan, “Lets go and look for any signs of life, hopefully not all our efforts were in vain.”

Gawain, Leon, and Ulrich, searched the charred caravan over for any survivors, what was odd is the fact that there was only a handful of dead bodies. With that size of a caravan there should have been several more to find, but there was not. As the search continued, a voice out of nowhere caught them off guard, “Die.” a female voice shouted. Leon turned just in time to side step a steel blade that was being plunged at him by an unknown assailant. Ulrich grabbed the person and threw them to the ground. His sword was now unsheathed and pointed straight at the unknown assailants helmet, “That was not a smart thing to do, and here I thought we killed the last of you bandit scum. Guess we missed one.”

“I’m no bandit. You’re the scum not me.” shouted the female assailant.

“Then take off your helmet and let me see your face, so I can decide for myself.” Ulrich hissed. Gawain stepped in, “Ulrich, don’t do this, this person may be an innocent.”

“Shut up old man, let me handle this.” Ulrich snapped. “Now take off your helmet.” the assailant did as Ulrich demanded, revealing that it was in fact a young lady with long black hair and green eyes, with the fairest skin you could have ever imagined. To Ulrich, she was the most beautiful

creature he had ever laid eyes upon, without even realizing it he had lowered his sword. “There, are you happy now?” she hissed.

Ulrich had no idea what to say to her, it seemed Gawain had to speak for him, “What is your name, young lady?”

“Why should I tell you?” she snarled.

“We are the ones that fought off the bandits, trust me when I say, we are not going to hurt you or we would have done so by now. Is that what you wish to hear?” Gawain calmly responded.

“My name is Ellyn, I am hand maiden to Princess Mina from the kingdom of Bosta.” she explained.

“What are you doing this far away from your kingdom?” Gawain questioned.

“I was on my way to the market place to gather goods for my lady, next thing I know I awoke inside this caravan. I was lucky to escape when bandits showed up and began arguing with the people of this caravan, next I know a fight ensues. In the process I managed to take this sword and helmet along with me for protection.” her story was an odd one indeed, but if she didn’t want the whole truth to be known it was her right to keep her secrets her own.

“Tell me. If you had escaped, why did you return?” Gawain questioned her again.

Ellyn sighed, “People were being taken away in shackles and chains, others were killed for reasons I don’t know. I felt as though I had to do something. But I failed, and by the looks of things I am now all alone out in the middle of nowhere.”

Ulrich snapped out of the spell he was under and joined in on the conversation, “You can come with us.” he said excitedly. “I mean, that is if you want to.”

Gawain and Leon both were surprised by Ulrich’s response, it has been a long time since he had shown any kind of emotion towards another except for Leon. “I think that is a fine idea, Ulrich.” said Gawain with a big grin on his face. “What do you think, Leon?”

“If Ulrich wishes it, and Ellyn wants to tag along, then it is fine by me.” Leon smiled.

“Then it is settled, you are coming with us Ellyn.” Ulrich happily exclaimed as he reached out his hand to help her to her feet.

“I never said anything about joining a group of travelers.” Ellyn grumbled, slapping Ulrich’s hand away.

Usually that would be enough to piss Ulrich off, but this time he brushed it off like it wasn’t a big deal, “Do you not need help? Or are you oblivious to the dangers that await you out here?”

“I can take care of myself, and I do not need the help of others.” Ellyn replied with such confidence.

Gawain smirked and would call the young lady’s bluff, “You two heard the lady, go and get our horses. We shall report this to the knights of the next town we come across, there is nothing more we can do here. As for you young lady, there is a horse with a saddle just over there, I suggest you get yourself to safety before nightfall. Remember this, there are worse things then bandits that wonder the Bad Lands at night.”

“You can’t just leave her out here, old man.” Ulrich protested.

Gawain stopped and whispered in Ulrich’s ear, “If we pretend to leave she will want to follow out of fear of being alone, you can see it in her eyes. Learn how to read others emotions, Ulrich. Now watch and see how this works.” this time as Gawain walked away, Ulrich followed, and so did Leon. None of them bothered to turn back around to give Ellyn a second glance. It was a harsh treatment, but it worked out as Gawain predicted.

“Wait.” Ellyn yelled, giving chase.

Gawain had stopped but told Leon and Ulrich to go on ahead and mount up, and be prepared to leave at a moments notice. He then turned back around to face Ellyn, “What is it, young lady? I thought you did not need the help of others.”

“I think I should come along.” Ellyn said. “You know as a thank you for saving me, besides I am quite skillful, you just may need my help. Its okay, you don’t have to thank me.” she told him as she ran over and mounted one of the horses from the caravan, “What are you waiting for? Lets be on our way.”

Ulrich watched in aw, he could not believe how easily Gawain had manipulated Ellyn into joining them. Gawain allowed her to think that she was joining to help them out, not for her own safety. On that day Ulrich learned something of value from the old man, and it would be of great help to him in the future. For he learned how to manipulate the weak into doing his will.