Chapter 139: Quarterstaff
A terrifying sound echoed through the swamp, soon followed by a powerful flap of wings. A shadow rapidly dove upon Sarin, tearing two wide gashes through his shoulders before the boy even had the chance to react.
“What the fuck?!” Bessinda yelled, staring at the silhouette of the monstrous bird as it flew away, disappearing into the dark canopies of the trees ahead.
There was something strange about the creature, its plumage glowing brightly for some reason, the wind swirling behind its wings leaving a green trail in its passing. Yet even these afterimages faded a second later, the boy’s bleeding body the only evidence of the encounter.
“Sarin, are you ok?!” Rodrick reached for his cousin.
His wounds looked nasty, but he should be conscious. Or so he thought. Tipping the boy over, the blood froze in Rodrick’s veins as he noticed Sarin’s lifeless eyes staring at nothing.
“H-How?!” he struggled to believe it. The injuries were serious, but not lethal.
“Run! NOW!!” the spectacled girl suddenly shouted, her frightened demeanour dropped like a bad act. She grabbed the other two by the wrists, dragging them along as she ran towards the town.
Rodrick tossed them a glance, debating for a second whether to stop them, before shaking his head. Their priority right now was to defend themselves against the mysterious creature. The peasants, they could handle later.
Standing back-to-back with Bessinda, they scanned their surroundings, on the lookout for the strange bird. It didn’t take them long to find it, as it didn’t even bother hiding. It was perched atop a thick branch a few dozen metres away, looking at them playfully.