Protecting Communication

Task 6:

Merrze had been walking for a long time now. She had the task to protect an important informant while he was on his way to deliver and important message. She had never fought to really protect anyone which gave her an odd feeling. She's only really ever fought to kill. She had a lot of confidence her in her abilities but she didn't have much confidence when it came to things like this. She wondered if she could really protect anyone, sure she could fight but what if she didn't pay attention and he got hurt during their traveling. She had hope she would be able to protect him, no she had to protect him incase they were to be attacked. They had at least a full day of travel before they would arrive at their destination. She and the man had only just departed from Reim about a hour ago. They still had a long walk ahead of them before they would reach their destination. She just pursued onward. She knew they were probably going to get attacked probably at some point the next day, they wouldn't be ambushed just yet, most likely, her reason for thinking this is because they would be more wary today and the next day they would probably be off guard. This is just what she thought they would probably do though. It would be a good plan but she was always on guard so she would be ready whenever they decided would be the best time for them to attack. The messenger was very quiet and didn't offer much conversation, but then again what would they talk about at a moment like this? She thought it would be better for them to just walk and be silent for now. The sun was starting to set to Merrze said to the messenger. "I think we should set up camp now." He nodded in agreement and Merrze pulled some stuff from a pack she was carrying, here was some food and wood to create a fire. She started the fire and cooked the food that they had and gave the majority to the messenger. "Oh it's okay you can have most of the food." She gave it to him nonetheless and he accepted it in the end. She didn't think she needed it that bad, she just ate the food that she had left for herself. She had wondered what information he was going to deliver but she wouldn't ask him that, it wasn't her place to know so she wouldn't ask. The man went to sleep not much after he had eaten his food. Merrze was going to stay up a little longer and keep guard. She had liked the night time, she thought it was very beautiful, the stars were so beautiful that she just gazed at them while she sat there. She wondered what was out there, she wondered if there was anything out there in that open space. After these strange thoughts she had noticed a few hours had passed so she had decided that she should get some shut eye.

She woke up in early morning and had prepared her things and destroyed the fire pit. She walked over to the messenger and woke him up. They had a long way to travel still so it would be best to wake him up early so she could get back by tomorrow to report the results of the task. She wanted to cover as much ground as she could today, when she went back on her own she would probably walk even when it gets dark. She had looked around at their surroundings as she was waiting for him to get his stuff reay. While he was doing this she grabbed some fruit from her bag and gave him some so he could have some food in his belly because they wouldn't get anymore food until they arrived at their destination. After he had gotten his stuff ready they had started to walk. Since it was early morning it was just starting to get hot out. She hoped that they would cover most of their ground before midday so they would have enough energy to finish their journey even when the day reaches its peak of heat. She looked around the scenery as they were walking, she noticed a dead animal being eaten by a bunch of birds, she had a dislike for birds, well at least the type like that since she used to be attacked by those when she was little. She just ignored them as she continued to walk. They were covering ground at a fast rate which was good, around when midday was approaching they weren't that far from their destination, by her guess they had only about a hour or two of walking before they would arrive at their destination. As they were walking a group of Kou guards leaped in their path as they were walking. The moment she was waiting for had arrived, she was ready to fight. She had the messenger get behind her as she drew her sword. There were 6 of them, that seemed to be their average number of warriors in a group but she could handle them, she would be on the defensive this time though. She was going to have to protect him and fight 6 guys at a time, she could do it. She just had to try her best. They all rushed at her her, it was a good tactic after all, it would be hard to fend them all at once if they charged at her. She grabbed the messenger and leaped over them, she put him on a huge rock that they wouldn't be able to reach. She leaped down and was now ready to fight them. She pulled out her sword and was prepared to fight these guys. She rushed at them and was prepared to kill these guys on the spot.

As she ran at them she attempted to stab one of them but he used Block to stop her attack. She then tried to attack him again but he blocked again. They all encircled her, they tried to stab her but she backflipped over them and stabbed one of the soldiers in the neck, after that she delivered another strike to his neck decapitating him. One of them turned around and used Jab to stab her in the side, this made her really mad. She was about to go wild from the attack, he barely hit her side but it was making her mad. Then she remembered Octavius' words on not to let her anger to consume her, she couldn't completely control her rage, it was almost impossible to get rid of it so she did the next big thing. She gained control over herself and channeled her anger. She wouldn't let it all out while trying to hold it in. She grabbed the man who stabbed her side and she held him by his throat. She slammed him into the ground then thrust her blade in his throat. She looked at his body as he squirmed before there was no more life in his body. She had to take out the other four now, as long as she didn't get consumed by anger she could take them out with ease. She could take them out when in a rage but she wanted to take them out without going on a rampage. She ran forward and got between the guys and used Whirlwind Kick, this caused them to disperse but it one of them in the head a coupled of times until he was dazed. Right as he was about to fall over from being knocked out she grabbed his head and smashed it into the ground and cracked his skull, he was bleeding from his head and she threw his body away. She went to stab one of them but he used Parry and tried to stab her but she moved out of the way and stabbed him in the gut. She thrust her blade into his chest again and pulled it across his stomach causing his organs to start spilling out. There were only two more of them left, she had managed to take out the other four with ease but that didn't mean she was home free yet. She rushed them and used Hunter's Trap on one of them, she then used Savage Soul and started slashing the one she had pinned with her sword. She went to slash him but he used Shield Bash causing the attacks to collide. Then the other one tried to attack her from behind. She quickly turned around and thrust her hand through his chest then she kicked his body away to leave him to die. She then turned to the one that she had pinned and thrust her hand through his neck and ripped his head off. His body crumpled to the ground and she took her sword and sheathed it. She fetched the messenger and they were on their way. After a while of walking they had arrived at their destination. They were given some food and she went on her way back to Octavius to report the mission. She was proud of herself, she was able to hold back her anger or at least focus it so she didn't go wild. She wondered what task she would do now since she had completed this, she did know one thing though, when she got back to where she was living she was going to sleep.

Word Count: 1605/1500
Stamina/Magoi: 80/160

Abilities Used:

Octavius greeted Merrze as she entered with a fond smile and waved her over to the map in the middle of the room.

“Sister! Good to hear your mission went well. I also heard you did a bit better controlling your anger, I am proud! Remember, if you control your anger, it becomes your weapon and your shield. When it controls you, it simply because an unstable element, which equals weakness. Now, we are still working on a plan for the information you brought us before, but we have a few other things you can help with until then. For one, I need someone to help with delivering weapons and equipment to a group out by the Western Front. The other task is quite a bit more delicate and no less important. I need some people to help move some children to a safer location. There is an orphanage that is set up near a barracks full of Kou troops. We plan to ambush these barracks soon, but we don’t want the children harmed. Which task would you prefer?”

Octavius would give her either option freely, both equally important. They did not want the children near the barracks. It would not involve combat, but moving 20 children to a village outside of the city and off the beaten path would not be a simple task. Children were rowdy and excitable, they loved to ask questions and became worried at the smallest thing. But the children needed to be relocated to some place safer. And the weapons shipment needed to be taken out to the outpost he was settling near the Western Front. Though he did not foresee a large invasion force coming through the wastelands from Heliohapt, he could not afford to leave it undefended. Both tasks seemed menial but held great important both for the rebellion movement and for Octavius personally.

He would never leave his people without adequate arms and he would never leave children defenseless in an area of conflict.

She was happy that he congratulated her and she thought the advice he gave her very useful. She was wondering what which task she should take. To her they both seemed very important. They were both actually good choices since they would give her a break from combat. She had been told she was very good with children before so she thought would be the job best for her. "Well sir I don't know if it's true or not but I've been told that I'm good with children, I'd be perfectly okay with taking them to a safer location. There is actually a old mansion I saw once, Sure it was abandoned but it's in good shape and it would be a good place to hide the children for awhile until you've completed what you need to. Or is there a specific place that you want me to take the children to?" she asked.

Octavius was pleased with the girl’s choice, glad she had opted to accompany the children. As valuable as Merrze’s combat abilities were, he wanted to give her a break from them for a bit to give her a chance to refresh herself. He had never felt lighter than after visiting the orphans, the children seeming to lift some of the worries from his mind while also reminding him of why his fight was so important.

“I am glad you chose this option, sister. The children are a rowdy bunch, but they are good kids and listen well. As for a location, there is a village about a day’s ride from here, it may take two with the children in two, to the west. A friend of mine has a large manor there with plenty of room and she had volunteered to shelter any children she can there. If I know old Grams, she will probably insist on feeding and sheltering you for the night, as well. She is a good woman.”

Octavius would give her fuller details, then, pointing out the best ways to make it to the village unnoticed, even with a large number of children. He also let her know that there would likely be unusually attentive animals following her travels, as it was El Nagi lands and the beast tamers used the animals to monitor movements in the area, but they would cause no trouble.

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Next Task:

"Alright, I need to rest for the day and I will handle that tomorrow." She left and head on her way back to the inn. She was somewhat excited to be helping the children. Maybe she was excited because she would get to do something new for a change or because she never had much of a childhood so she liked to see kids happy. Either way she was happy to take this job, if she didn't take advantage of these moments she might miss out, in the near future her life is going to be much more busy.
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