Chapter 6: Speed and Luck

He fought hand and sword to save those from a horrific fate of dreadful torment. His great gamble caused him to put his life on the line for the first time as he cast aside all hope for survival as if his body moved without letting him think during the moment. Jushiro stared down his blood-lustful opponent with conviction he would save the hostages.

Both clashed weapons, with neither gaining ground. The goblin chief towered over Jushiro by a few feet, swinging his ax like a crawler crane. He struggled to find an opening, and the goblin suddenly kicked Jushiro to the ground. The power from the blow cracked two of Jushiro's ribs and separated him from his sword. He grunted in pain and coughed out blood. The goblin chief raised his ax and brought it down toward Jushiro, who rolled away before it could strike his back. Jushiro grabbed his sword and stood up to face the goblin chief again.

"I won't die that easily. I refuse to die. Come at me, monster! I'll claim another goblin head!" Jushiro said in a taunting tone.

The goblin chief raged and roared. The noise was loud that the birds flew in fright.

Jushiro's fight with the goblin chief dragged on as another battle was waged on the southern side of the camp. Horns sounded throughout the woodlands, and goblins scrambled from their sleep to face the intruders. Thunderous hooves and horse sounds caused the goblins to tremble as they readied themselves.

Soon they came from out of the treeline, hurling arrows and piercing with their lances. Armored knights poured into the camp, cutting down any goblins. The skirmish ended in less than a minute and the captured people rejoiced to see their saviors.

The two farmers felt worrisome after waiting so long for Jushiro. One knight approached and broke the wooden cage open with his mace. Bryant spoke to the man and begged in a frightful tone, "Please, sir, save him. Save Shiro!"

"Please, mister. Calm down. What are you talking about?" The knight asked.

Before Bryant could answer, the goblin's roar echoed throughout the area, and the farmer told the knight there was another person in the camp.

"My boy, Shiro. Please, you must help him. He's somewhere here in the camp,"

The knight acknowledged the man's plea and turned his gaze to the three riders behind him.

"There's another resident unaccounted for in the camp. Let's make haste,"

Bryant watched the four knights leave. His hands clenched with apprehension until someone gently grasped and held them. Sivf looked at him with a confident expression. "He's strong, just like our son. He'll be fine until the knights arrive. So have faith, darling," Sivf said calmly.

The fight between Jushiro and the goblin chief continued as Jushiro landed a few hits and sliced off a finger from its left hand. Both men were tired from the struggle, but Jushiro was near his limit. The goblin lunged for another attack, and Jushiro blocked in time but lost his balance from a protruding tree root.

The goblin seized the chance and slashed Jushiro's right arm. His arm drenched in deep crimson, Jushiro stumbled against the tree's base in immense pain. He struggled to hold his sword up, and his legs trembled until he fell to his knees. The goblin chief saw it as his moment of triumph. He walked toward Jushiro while mocking him.

"Foolish flesh. Thinking you can kill me? It's over now..."

Suddenly Jushiro splashed his blood into the chief's eyes. The goblin chief tried to wipe the red substance from his eyes, but a blade pierced the chief's chest, and he saw Jushiro stare him in the eye with wrath. Jushiro pulled his sword out and cleaved the chief's head in one swing. The headless goblin tumbled, and Jushiro collapsed from the blood loss.

"Damn, at this rate. I'll be dead for sure. No, I (cough) I can't let that happen,"

He ripped a piece of his coat to wrap around his injured arm. Unable to stand, Jushiro remained against the willow tree. His sight nearly faded, and he wondered if he'll die.

"It was at that moment when I thought my gamble ended. So sure I thought I would leave this world the other way and possibly see her again,"

His eyes closed as four riders approached. He could hear a feminine voice call to him. He was too weak to respond. Thus one rider addressed the other, "Vin, give this man a potion. Hurry, we're going to lose him!" The man acted swiftly and opened Jushiro's mouth to pour a bottle of red liquid. Jushiro coughed, but he soon swallowed the substance, and his wounds immediately healed. His eyes opened to see four armored people before him. "Knights? Or are they adventurers?" He thought to himself.

They took off their helmets, and Jushiro knew they were of noble descent.

"One was a man with tan skin and dark hair. His eyes were gold while complemented by a trimmed goatee. Behind him were three other riders. All three were girls, sisters, all gilded with golden blond hair and bright sapphire-colored eyes. The three girls wore outfits much more decorated than the man. A higher title than him, I believe,"

The man asked Jushiro once he fully opened his eyes, "Young man, what is your name? Speak if you can. We're here to help,"

"Jushiro... My name is Jushiro Motoshita, mister, I..."

"Easy there. The potion worked, but you lost a lot of blood. Take it slowly," said the knight.

The man grew curious and asked Jushiro if he slew some of the goblins, "I noticed goblin guards that were dead before we arrived. And seeing two more dead goblins here, I take it that was your doing,"

"Ye... Yes, sir, I killed some of the goblins. Including the goblin chief over there," Jushiro admitted.

"Oh? A simple farmer infiltrated a goblin camp and took out the goblin guards along with the chief, eh? I must say you are full of surprises, young man! Ha ha!" The man complimented.

One of the girls, however, mocked and called Jushiro a green fool. She ranted and implied that a lowly farm boy shouldn't engage himself in a knight's or adventurer's responsibility.

"Those who don't think and only move are among the first to die," She said.

An irritated Jushiro talked back, "So what? So what if I dared to risk my neck for another's life? Who are you to judge another's motives? I chose to do the right thing. My choice! Did you believe I would go through all this if I didn't prepare myself..."

The ruffled girl shot back at him, "It doesn't matter, prepared or not. You nearly died despite it all. Not only that but you also..."

"Enough! Both of you!" said one of the other girls.

The man unwrapped Jushiro's makeshift bandage and helped him to his feet. He helped walk him back to the main camp, where the knights and people were ready to leave. Jushiro found Bryant and Sivf, who were thankful to see him alive. They hugged and expressed their relief to see him alive and well. "Seeing how their grateful smiles were, I could also see guilt. Like a mother and father who felt devastated seeing their child endure so much pain. I noticed how liable they felt as I nearly died trying to save them,"

They noticed the blood covering his arm and how he limped as the knight supported him as a crutch. Bryant apologized for not telling him the truth the other day. He lowered his head in regret, followed by Sivf. Jushiro tried telling them all was alright and that they shouldn't worry about it.

"I understand, sir. There's no need to worry or apologize to me. The fact is that I alone chose to rescue you all. Even though it was hardly long, I've grown fond of you two. You've become like family to me. I was so scared that I didn't want to lose you,"

They felt the truth behind his words, causing them to embrace Jushiro and cry their hearts out. The sensation Bryant felt as he held Jushiro tightly was the same he had for his deceased son. Sivf felt the same as she remembered being a mother after the nostalgia. Having Jushiro in their lives made them remember their son, Aregul, before his end.

Soon the knights approached Jushiro to present themselves. The man introduced himself as Vinbror of house Larath. Behind him, he announced to everyone,

"Attention, all! For who you see are the princesses of the kingdom of Aredain! First princess, Arthoria Daemein. Second Princess, Lashida Daemein. And third princess Margeth Daemein,"

Jushiro saw everyone bow their heads and professed surprise before Bryant grasped the back of his head and nudged it downward.

"Bow, you fool! We're in the presence of royalty," Bryant said.

Jushiro sighed and relented until everyone started to raise their heads. Jushiro introduced himself again along with the two farmers while thanking them for rescuing them.

"If it weren't for you, we'd all be dead..."

"What do you mean, pal? If not for you, the mission would've been harder than predicted," said a voice from behind Jushiro.

Jushiro looked beside him to see Josarth with his party. He elaborated to Jushiro how they received an urgent letter stating a group of goblins infested the lands near the town. They lacked sufficient personnel and called on the knights to assist. The princesses, who were in town, organized a strike force to exterminate them but were surprised to see someone else was in the camp killing the goblins.

"Yeah, that was me. I couldn't sit back and let these people die. So I chose to do the unthinkable. I don't regret my actions in the slightest," Jushiro said.

"Ha! You've got balls indeed, buddy, no joke. You'd make a great adventurer," Josarth said.

Vinbror chimed in, complimenting Jushiro for his actions, and asked him to accompany them. He nearly declined until the old farmer stepped in. He asked Jushiro to go with the knight as they could help him find his way home. Knowing he can't keep him forever, Bryant tried with all effort to persuade Jushiro.

"I don't want you to see your current situation nor us as a burden. I promised to help you get back home. These nice folks here come with an offer you shouldn't refuse. Please don't make me feel I'm holding you back,"

"Sir, I... I understand what you're trying to tell me. But not once have I ever thought of you as a burden. Nor your wife, Sivf. Not even now,"

They see a smile on his face as they barely saw a genuine expression until today. His words lifted a great weight from their chests. They needed no remarks to convey their relief and joy to Jushiro's mind made up.

Jushiro turned to meet Vinbror's gaze and audibly accepted his offer. The knight spoke his gratitude. Yet curiosity soon came to him after overhearing about Jushiro's need to return home. He chose not to question for the moment as it's been a long day for all of them. Everyone returned to Archhill, but a tired Jushiro passed out during the trip.

The knights offered to take Jushiro to recover in the lord's castle. The farmers agreed before parting ways. They lay an unconscious Jushiro in bed as Jushiro slept the rest of the day as the sun slowly set behind the mountains.