Chương 19: Massacre in Sovan Avenue

Vanessa Diary log #13. 5 Divorce. It never once crossed my mind. I was simply following father's orders to marry a total stranger. I saw no escape. I resigned to a life as the carer of a sick man, which I had no issues with. Plenty of experience working in an infirmary placed in the slums had set me apart as the woman for the job. So you can understand how discombobulating it was to see a man with such vitality announce he was my husband.

Anyone who saw that show of mastery and power in person would make the same judgement I did. Dairy log 14 I tried on too many clothes since Jen and Tarion found my choices… undesirable. I don't think I dress badly. Do I? My husband's ruby eyes examined me as I tried each dress. I felt his gaze working down my body. Like a wolf looking at where to bite to bring me down. But when his beastly gaze left me, it felt lonely. My sister came into the store after Tarion left to work.

Servants she had brought from Hamber followed behind her. She avoided looking at me as if I were an eyesore, as usual.

"Do you normally invite commoners to this establishment?" Caroline asked the store owner. Posing as a noble. Typical Caroline. But as a merchant's daughter, she is richer than any normal noble, so does it matter? The owner quietly reminded her that I was the Duke's wife. And of course, my sister laughed.

"How unfortunate. To be shackled up with an illegitimate child like her. If he had working eyes, he could see a better option was nearby." She finally looked at me, then at my dress like dirt on the road, and chuckled. Held back Jen from calling her a bitch numerous times. Last time that happened, I had to get a priest to heal me discreetly. But I couldn't stop her famous glare that could ignite stone.

"Nothing?" Caroline sneered, "So you learned from last time not to open that mouth around me. Good. Know well that daddy isn't around to save his friend's daughter from punishment anymore."

"Enough." I closed my mouth as the word escaped. Caroline turned to me, anger on her childish face.

"What did you say-""Enough." My vision shook as my body did, but still I could control my stupid mouth.

"Please. Sister."

"THAT WORD AGAIN." Blood vessels bulged on Caroline's wicked face.

"Say it AGAIN!"

"Please..." I looked at where we were. Too many expensive clothes to be in my small room where no one could hear me. I pleaded with her.

"Not here... Father will hear-""Servant! Cane!" I became woozy as I saw a servant bring her small rod. Terrible memories arose just from seeing its shape. She brought it here... Plonk Tarion As I moved to a new avenue, I slowly limped down the street, pretending to be weak, exhausted and injured, and my bait was still working. Now the big dog had left the yard; these idiots that I hear scuttering about are looking for an easy kill.

From the sound of the equipment, these men were mercenaries with proper swords and chainmail, rather than the butcher-knifed, handmade blades of the gangsters. Whoever put out a bounty has the resources to spread the word wide and be trusted enough to pay forward. What I surmised seemed to be truer and truer each day. I found an open place, a grass poking out of a snowfield with some woman hanging clothes on the sides. I motioned for them to leave, an order they refused to adhere to untill they saw my eyes.

This park was clearly a place for families. A pity. Here they came, a dozen men surrounded me as I stood in the middle of the park. All ignited their blades with blue fire. The second circle's sword sparked and popped, and the four third circles had their fire controlled on the weapon. Young men, except one, who waited back to observe.

"Hold on." I unhooked my cloak, folding it nicely on the ground.

"One moment." I stretched my tense body.

"Wait-" Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"COME ON. We haven't got all day; bare your weapon!" I smiled.

"It's here." Like a meteor, my greatsword detonated the snow as it landed at terminal speed. I booted the end of the heavy long blade, flipping it. I kicked my greatsword's pommel to have it shoot forward. A bullet it became, breaking the sound barrier and the third circle blade as it skewered him. As the assailants gasped, my feet made it to my sword and pushed it deep into the enemy. Enhanced strength split a head as I arced the blade to a merc slashing at my back.

His broken head disappeared into the snow below as I used it as leverage to flip over two spears. Momentum carried me, spinning me and my greatsword through three necks as my mana armour around my right boot saved me from a cut from the ground. I used the attacker's sword as a platform, mana pulsing away. Enhanced by the mana, they jumped after me, bad judgement as I pulsed forward; my greatsword moved so fast I sliced a two across a stomach and another on their chest.

I parried a merc with a quick whack to his weapon and lunged with pulse on my back in a mouth. I sped away, feeling the tug of the deceased. A little wiggle freed the weight. A Third circle clashed with me in mid-air, looking absolutely terrified. I reoriented my body, using gravity against me to get close. A right elbow brought sparkle to the man's vision as it connected with his chin. With no barrier, I finished off the last obstacle in the air before landing on the snow.

Bodies rained down behind, flinging blood-soaked snow everywhere. I exhaled. A weaponless third and a witless second and a judging merc watched me. I saw that look in their eyes. One I have seen many times.

'The rumours are true, ' their frightened expressions say. Their movements are stiff, fight-or-flight. My blade makes them want to flee, and the money makes them stay. The three left, glancing at each other. Their mouths twisted as they made a decision. Deciding in silence. They spread out, with the second circle throwing a new blade to another. The two third circles howl with mana blazing from the weapons.

"Is it still worth it? Could have made good money hunting the cursed. Would be a more frugal life compared to mine but a life of luxury compared to the residents of this city." The ageing mercenary finally spoke.

"We are of the city. Because of you nobles, not even a rank S adventurer can live a good life." They slowly encroached as they circled me.

"This isn't just for the pay. Feels like duty to me!" As a unit, they strike. A kamikaze attack with a fortune on the line. A stupid gamble. I stabbed my greatsword in the ground. Three blades tinged my blade. I looked down. My hair wild, in free fall, I handstood on my pommel. Mid-air, I tore my sword from the snow-covered earth, slicing a man on the way up that was blocked. My body spun, and a mana-armoured boot pushed off the witless attacker.

I finished my spin with my greatsword lodged into the temple of the last man on the right who never got to use his new weapon. I landed softly. A merc's head; a fountain. I looked around, finding no one. I tapped more points into sense and rolled away from a mana slice, cutting the air behind me. I jumped back and let the old man crunch the ground with a blazing blade. As snow turned to steam, I found crescent blue flying light flying at me from the second circle. My sword managed to hit each.

The old man pounced; I weaved, ducked and leaned past practised strokes and jabs by a hair, and the old merc bent down. I braced against the biggest mana slash yet. Enough to knock me away; snow helped me endure. I forced the blast to the bending merc, burning him with remnant energy. With the growling from his skin melting, I heard steel cut the air, and spun backwards to intercept with a burning sword.

"DIE, YOU DAMN NOBLE!" An ageing fool went for a stab at my back. Always the back with these lot. Ting. And an elder merc's sword scraped a transparent blue shield. A second circle's body lay on the snow bisected with a clean cut. I turned around to watch his face. Acceptance. A head rolled down on the ground, and I remembered. Windows around me. Families watching me. I should clean this after. Plonk, Plonk Plonk Nice. I tested it immediately, pushing mana off different parts of my body.

Its proficiency has increased dramatically. A pulse that took intense concentration became less taxing. Levelling up really did improve the rate of my skills. I looked closer at the blue boxes. Real-world experience really does give more exp. Risky, but I understood. Nothing like life and death to etch experience into your soul. Footsteps had me grip my blade again. A fighter, but light on his feet. I relaxed as the valet ran to me.

"Your Grace!"

"Thanks for the sword, by the way." I gave him my weapon and showed him my cloak, which had snow on it. But the boy looked troubled.

"What has happened?

"Caroline came to the store, caused problems and brought a rod." All points to agility.