Chapter 239: Fracture XLIV
My body moved before my mind could process, and in seconds, I'd leapt down the steps of the apothecary and positioned myself in front of her, shielding her from any threat.
Our threat came in the form of possessed soldiers. And no small number. There were five, each with glowing eyes and mouths that lent a ghastly visage, one out in front of the others, sword out, approaching Lillian before I'd stepped between them.
Their uniforms strummed an odd chord in my mind. Something I should have remembered, but couldn't.
"Unexpected guests?" I asked, feeling a frigid chill as Lillian huddled behind me.
"They're trying to hurt me," she hissed, terrified.
The possessed soldier at the front raised his sword, glinting steel pointed directly at Lillian. "The soul means to escape its cycle. This is forbidden."
"Oh," I responded, keeping careful watch on the soldier. Other than the one in front, the other four were oddly passive. Nothing like the way bandits aggressively positioned, looking for any opportunity to stick a blade through. Their weapons were drawn, two bows among them raised and pointed, but the posture among the melee fighters was decidedly defensive.
"Draw your blade. Draw it. They could attack at any moment!" Lillian urged.
I appraised the group again. "Why? They haven't advanced. Our friends seem more wary of us than we are of them."