F L A R E

"Unhand me this instant! You audacious, poor, and uncultured muppets!" They pushed the child violently, causing him to fall on the ground with his face covered in mud.

"Quiet down! Do you see this?" Goro menacingly lifted the glinting dagger on in his left hand.

"Oh, absolutely! What, do I have 'blind' written on my forehead or something?" I tilt my head to glimpse at the person sitting beside me. Her hands are pressed against her mouth, stifling her laughter and preventing it from spilling out.

"You little—"

"If you dare to lay a hand on me, the Water Tribe won't stand for it!" The child retorted with unwavering confidence, silencing Goro's remarks.

"Just a heads-up, kiddo. You're on our turf now, like a tiny lamb lost among the big bad wolves." I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and snicker to myself. Him, a wolf? That's hilarious. He's giving off major wild boar vibes.

"And who's to say you'll even get to speak? Especially if we decide to end you right here and now?" He said with a maniacal grin. At that moment, I caught a glance of fear in the child's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

For a child like him to be caught in the hands of bandits, he got the nerve to act proud and dignified instead of begging for his dear life.

"Wait. . .Why does he look familiar?" My attention shifted to the person behind me. She knows the child? But again, maybe she does. She wanders around the city more often.

"Oh my—!" Before she could shout her lungs out, I covered her mouth with my hand. Her eyes were fixed on the child, facing a sharp dagger at his neck.

"H-he's Ice Yves Alcastrair! The second prince of the Water Tribe! H-how did he end up here?" She uttered, dazed and confused. I look at the child's direction.

Oh, he's a prince? Well, that certainly clears up the whole fancy-talk mystery. But seriously, how does a prince end up lost in the woods? Did his royal map come with a "get lost" feature?

"Can't we help him, Flare?" I shook my head, indicating my reluctance. Her brows furrowed in concern as she gazed at me, questioning my decision.

"If he dies, it's not our problem. The blame lies with his sloppy maids who failed to babysit him." I replied, resting my head on the tree trunk as I closed my eyes. She remained silent, and I thought she agreed, but I was wrong.

"Hey! Let go of him! Pick someone your own size!" I gritted my teeth. I opened my eyes and took a peek at the current situation. When will she ever listen? Seriously!

Ah, crap.

"What a lucky day! A beautiful maiden invited herself into the den." Goro's associate murmured, casting a lustful gaze in her direction. My eyes dilated with their infuriating, disgusting faces.

Unsightly insects!

"You're undoubtedly pretty, a body of a woman that every man would die to have. What could go wrong?" I hissed in my mind. I remembered busting his balls. I heard he had a fever for a week due to his swollen nut and inability to walk straight. I should've done worse than that.

"Leave her alone!" The child shouted. "You! Remove yourself from my presence! I am in no need of your assistance!" He added.

I rolled my eyes. What a twat! She's nosy enough to be in his business to help him, but he refuses to be helped?

"Shut up, you moronic child!" She fired back, irritated by his response.

"Hey! You have no right to call me whatever you want! Moronic woman!" He countered with his brows frowning in annoyance.

"Moronic woman, my ass! My name is Icca, moron!" She shouted back. And yes, her name is Icca Nichole Caari, the woman who nags at me like a mother. The woman who claimed I was her friend.

"Ugly name for a stupid and moronic woman like you!" I inhaled a sharp breath. They've been bickering for quite a while now, and they overlooked a paper incantation glued on their back. The incantation that will nullify their ability to wield any elemental powers.

These two are complete whackjobs! They're both morons!

"Oh, come on! Let's get things started! I crave some women's meat!" Icca waved her hand to conjure her fire elemental power, but it was in vain. She tried multiple times, but the nullification caused by the paper incantation was already in full effect.

"What did you do to me?!" She yelled, but instead of answering, they just laughed at her. They began walking towards her, eyes howling like predators ready to devour their prey.

Helpless of the situation, Icca turned in my direction, probably asking for help. I bit the skin inside my left cheek while massaging my neck. Here I am, trying my luck to rest in a quiet forest, and there she went, playing a hero, only to end up caught in trouble. Where's my peace?

If you want to assist, at least ensure you are helpful instead of becoming a burden.

"Let me go!" They dragged her in the mud while pulling her hair. As much as I want to save myself from being entangled with the drama they're diving into, I have no choice but to jump in and join the circus.

"Oh, Goro. We haven't seen each other for a long time," The two individuals abruptly stopped dragging Icca and the child as soon as they heard my voice. As I stood behind the tree, I leisurely ate the last grape in my possession before revealing myself.

My eyes bored into them as if I was looking straight into their souls. Their eyes narrowed, trying to remember where they'd seen me. I hope they remember the woman who discombobulated their minds and broke their limbs after posing as a squad of divas, turning the marketplace into their personal runway of stealing and collecting illegal fees from the public vendors.

A twisted smirk curled my lips when shock and fear painted their pitiful faces. Looks like they remembered.

"Still playing the broken bone symphony with your arm and leg? Or has the grand finale of healing finally happened?" He gulped. My smirk widened even more.

"Do you want another broken bone? Maybe in the ribs? Or on your fingers?" I suggested. Without any word from him, Goro threw his dagger with precision. I swiftly moved my body to the side, effortlessly raised my left leg, and executed a frontal kick, sending the dagger reversing its trajectory back to where it came from.

I stretched my arms, cracking my fingernails. He managed to dodge the dagger. Well, good for him. That kick wasn't meant to sever his neck, anyway. "Charge! I swear, I'll have my vengeance upon you! You beast!" He roared with a livid expression on his face.

"If I'm a beast, then what delightful creature does that make you?" I teased. I gestured my left hand, challenging anyone brave enough to fight against me—but none of them ever dared to.

Goro once again lifts his hand, revealing another paper incantation. I didn't know he could be this dumb, but sure, I will play his game. I acted as if I missed the incantation plastered on the back of my shoulder.

"Make sure I will limp and die, Goro. If I get back on my feet, rest assured, you and your friends will be nothing but served emergency food for the wild animals in the forest." Their eyes widened, a visible tremor of fear running through them as they stood frozen, hesitant to move against me.

"She's bluffing! She's powerless! This is our chance to beat her!" Goro's confident remark brought his underlings' pride and courage back. They all began attacking me at once.

Fools! I didn't use any of my elemental powers while breaking your bones!

I ran towards the nearest tree to use its trunk to support my weight. I leaped and stepped my left foot on the tree before pivoting my body to kick the nearby enemy. The blow landed squarely on his jaw, and he flew meters away—crashing on the ground and passing out. As I gracefully touched the ground, I bent my body to evade the simultaneous assaults of kicks from two of Goro's men who were about to hit my face.

I balled my hands into fists and punched them in the stomach. They fell on their knees, spitting blood from their mouths—crouching in unbearable pain. I stepped aside and swatted another man's neck to put them into his sweet dream.

For now, Goro and his last two underlings remained. I was about to give them the best beatings they'll have in their lives when his men chickened out and ran. I saw panic in his eyes, realizing he was all alone now. In desperation, he pulled the defenseless child to the ground and threatened him with another sharp knife on his neck.

"Take a step closer, and I will not hesitate to slit his throat." I chuckled at his threat. Really? A classic hostage scenario?

"And what made you think I care?" The shock was entirely written on their faces, and even Icca was stunned to speak. They're probably thinking I'm beyond saving. I mean, a child is about to die in front of you, and you don't care.

Goro pressed the blade on the child's fragile neck. I saw the amount of tears attempting to escape from his little eyes, thinking he wouldn't make it out alive.

"W-what?" I shrugged at his dumbfounded reaction. I walked towards Icca's direction and helped her stand up. I pulled her close and hid her behind me while the child was still on the muddy ground, looking at me with his begging eyes.

"Oh? What's the matter? Do you want me to do the honor of slitting his throat for you?" Icca struggled within my grasp. I can hear her screaming curses at me at the back of my mind. I know she wanted to save him, and she must have thought I had lost my sanity for urging him to kill a kid.

"Flare, what are you—" I whistled. A wild tiger came to my rescue in the blink of an eye. It pounced on him, growling hungrily like it was ready to devour him.

I took that opportunity to tug the child's hand and run away with Icca in the opposite direction.

"I-is that a tiger? Flare, that was a tiger! Are you out of your mind? Why in the name of hell did you call a tiger?!" Her panic was evident, but I did not pay any attention to her blabbering mouth. Instead, I told her to run as fast as possible before the tiger decided to make us his next meal.

"A-aw!" The noble child winced in pain. We stopped from sprinting to check his wound. He rested in a tree, holding the left side of his stomach in, which appears to be a stab. There were stains of blood all over his clothes, and I'm pretty sure it was that lowly piece of shit that caused him harm.

That despicable swine! I hope he gets feasted by the tigers in the woods.

"Does it hurt?" Icca asked worriedly.

"Do you have a few screws loose in the head? If you get stabbed, do you think it feels pleasurable?" He replied sarcastically. I mentally snorted. I think I will get along with this child. He sticks with his common sense, which isn't usually familiar to stupid people.

I held him on his shoulder and guided him to be in a secure position that would lessen his pain. I knelt on my left knee to take a closer look at him before pressing my hand in his wound. His lips were a bit parted. It was obvious that he was only trying to endure the pain.

We may be from different tribes, but I am not that bad to leave a child alone. My conscience will bother me for as long as I live. Besides, I wasn't really trying to get him killed. I just had to do that to confuse the hell out of Goro's mind games.

"Insolent!" I lifted my head when I heard someone's voice. I stared down at my neck and wasn't surprised to see a sword pointed at me. When my eyes landed on Icca, she was in the same situation as me.

The guards are here for us, and about seven of them hold their swords in our direction as if we're wanted criminals with bounties on our heads. Judging from the armor they wore to the intricate designs of their swords, I can conclude that they are from the Water Tribe.

My eyes returned to the child, who happened to be their prince—he passed out. I look at my hands, covered with blood. I let out an exasperated sigh when I understood the situation. Damn it!

Insanely enough, I managed to laugh. Great!

"Your actions against the Prince of the Water Tribe will not go unpunished. I will ensure that word reaches the King and Queen of your continent. Expect to face severe consequences for your deeds!" The head of the guards warned.

Goro kidnapped him in the Water Continent and dragged him into the Fire Continent. Maybe he wanted to sell him as a slave but never expected him to be born with royal blood.

"If the prince's life were put in harm's way, your insignificant life wouldn't be enough to atone for your sin!" They grabbed my arms and forcefully pinned my body on the ground with my hands on my back.

Should I fight them back? I could easily do that, but I can't, can I? If this problem escalates, it may lead to war between the Fire and Water Tribe. I can't risk that.

Seconds later, I felt a cold pair of chains encircling my wrists. "If you tried to break the chain using your elemental power, you will be frozen to death." I lick my bottom lip, not giving in to his puny threats. He should learn more about trying to assert dominance from his prisoners. He sucks.

I shifted my attention to Icca, who looked lost. She had this chaotic expression as if her mind was full of storms of thoughts she could not put into words. I can see regret, maybe because we had no idea what would happen to us once we arrived in the prison, and yet, there's relief as if another burden was lifted from her shoulder—which I think is because of the prince's safety.

"Bring them to the Snowlake City under the king and queen's command!" They sheathed their swords and carefully picked up the prince's body, like a fragile glass they could not afford to pay when broken. In contrast, they were callously dragging us along like we were animals.

Is this what you get from helping someone? How nice.

This is why I avoid assisting others, even when they require help. I know that at some stage, I will be misinterpreted and end up disadvantaged, just like what happened today.

And I will probably regret this for as long as I'm alive.

𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄: 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓
ᴮʸ ᴳᵒˡᵘᶜᵏʸᶜʰᵃʳᵐ