The morning sun had barely risen above the hills when Elias left the manor grounds in an old carriage.
The maid looked at his leaving figure with unease. She had seen the look in the eyes of that noble last night. They were greedy and she knew how nobles could commit any sin in their greed. His master was too kind and naive. What if.. She held her dress tightly. Even if she went with him, she would only be a burden to him.
Elias slowly disappeared in the old carriage which creaked beneath the weight of two chests brimming with gold payment, bribe, investment, depending on who asked. The wheels rolled over uneven earth without any guards or knights. He rode the carriage himself while humming a low tune with a smile on his face.
The road curved near a narrow gully. His eyes shone brightly as he reached closer. Before he could take the next turn, noises filled the silent gulley and soon many men surrounded him.
They were weaning black clothes with no design or name and their faces were covered with dark masks with only their eyes and forehead visible. Their eyes were filled with bloodlust but they have no name or family mark on their body.
With blades glinting in their hands, they emerged from the dark and stared at him.
"We do not want to kill you. Just give us the wealth you hold and we will let you go easily." one of the men came forward and remarked in a low and carefree voice. But one could feel the pressure coming from his body.
Their cold smirk could have scared any man. But Elias only titled his head and looked at all of them straight in the eyes with an amused look as if they were clowns.
"What if I refuse?" All of them narrowed their eyes on Elias. None of them had expected his refusal.
"Then you will lose your life." the man's aura changed and strange bloodlust filled his eyes. He had already taken out his sword and pointed it at Elias now.
But Elias just laughed in a slow and leisured manner.
"What if you lose your life instead?" The man frowned but before they could react, Elias jumped from the driver's seat without hesitation, his coat fluttering behind him as his boots hit the ground. His hand reached for the sword at his side.
The men were stunned and then they laughed.
"You sure have guts and I hope you have skills to follow that. But you are still outnumbered. Do you think you can win against eight of us while you are alone?" the man reminded him in a cold but entertaining voice. "Do not be foolish. We do not want your life."
But Elias ignored the man. He stared at all of them one by one as if he was assessing their value. They had never met a daredevil before. Though they felt stunned, there was a mocking look on their faces. Elias was foolish to believe that he had a chance.
"Since you are not going to corporate, do not blame us later for being ruthless." The man felt insults when Elias did not reply and kept staring at all of them.
Everyone nodded and a slim man with twin daggers attacked first. He had small blades in both of his hands. The blades slashed in a blur. Elias sidestepped at once. He parried with the right-hand strike, and spun, using the force to drive his elbow into the man's throat. The assassin choked and stumbled but before he could balance himself, Elias seized his collar, pulled him forward, and slammed his knee into the man's gut. A second blow to the temple dropped him to the ground.
",..." a strange silence filled the clearing. They have all thought that they knew the result already. The lean man was best with his small blades. He had killed hundreds with them. But tonight, he did not even get the chance to use them. Someone had killed him brutally before he could do so. His death left them stunned.
"You.." another man shouted with force and anger, "you are going to pay for it."
He charged with full force toward Elias and a second man came from behind, swinging a curved blade low at Elias's legs. Elias leapt back, but not fast enough as he was held by the first man. the tip of the blade of the man behind Elias, grazed his calf. Elias gritted his teeth and lunged forward pushing the man in front on the ground with force.
And then he turned to the man behind him. Their swords met with a metallic screech. The man was sharp and fast. In just two minutes, he had already exchanged four blows with Elias. But each time he attacked with force, Elias was one step ahead and stopped him easily. As if Elias knew his fighting style and skills.
The man felt irritated and added more strength in his next attack. But Elias ducked the next strike also. He drove his shoulder into the attacker's chest, and twisted the man's wrist, disarming him. Before the man could pick up his sword, he was stabbed by Elias. His eyes widened and he stared at Elias as if he was looking at a monster.
"How.." he fell on the ground with a still look in his eyes.
Others were shocked too but they were also enraged. Instead of falling into a daze, the remaining six came at once. two from the sides, two from behind and one from the front while the last one from above, dropping from a tree like a silent bird of death.
Elias rolled, narrowly avoiding the falling strike. He sprang up and slashed at the nearest man's legs. Blood sprayed and the man fell screaming. Elias ducked a punch from another, then caught the man's wrist and twisted, snapping it with a sickening crack. But pain lanced through Elias's back when a shallow cut fell on his back. someone had managed to catch him mid-turn.