"Sword of the Forest and Weapon of the Druids", Felt strange to Lucian. Like he was in a movie set.
Lucian was surprised this time he could understand her words though she did not speak English.
The woman came near him. Lucian wanted to feel the fear again, but he didn't. he knew she was no danger to him now and he need not be afraid this time.
The woman waved her hand and the roots that held him loosened and untied him. Lucian was now sure he was not around people like him. the woman in front of him must be a witch who could stab him leaving no wounds and control roots that bind him to a tree.
As soon as the roots left Lucian he fell to his knees and tried to take control of his body. He gathered himself and stood on his legs and started to get to know his body. This body felt bigger than his old one as he felt he was in the body of a full-grown adult. He did not have anything on his body but a cloth that covered his lower body.
The woman was looking at him and was standing right before him. He wanted to push her away and run for his life but somehow felt he shouldn't.
The woman suddenly took out a dagger and stabbed it in his stomach, but somehow Lucian was fast enough to block her by catching her wrist.
She looked shocked.
Lucian didn't give her time to understand anything and pushed her. Somehow Lucian was stronger than before as the woman fell back far in the ground. Another woman came running to attack him, but he took a tree branch from beside him and swung with full force which made a direct hit to the woman, and she too fell.
Looking at Lucian's immense strength, all the woman gathered in a semi-circle and took an attack position.
Just then Lucian understood their intent to fight and spoke, "Wait, I didn't mean to hurt you all. I was just afraid and was trying to defend myself."
"How is he able to speak", one among the women said.
"The ritual must have been failed."
The one who stabbed Lucian said, "Then we perform the ritual once again. After we kill him."
Hearing this Lucian immediately voiced back, "No, please don't kill me, I'll do whatever you ask from me."
The women found him talking in a strange way and she too didn't felt that the ritual failed and something else must happened.
She asked him, "What is your name."
Lucian replied, "My name is Lucian."
The woman said, "How are you still alive, the ritual should have killed you."
Lucian asked, "Who are you. What did you do with me?"
She replied. "I am Halen, a druid and Guardian of the Forest."
"Now answer me how are you still alive."
Lucian – I'm not sure but I think I did die and then came back to life.
Then he said, "See, I am Lucian but, this body is not mine. I died in a different place and then when I woke up you were about to stab me with the strange object."
The woman raged in anger, "You, human dare to lie to me."
Lucian said, "No, no. I'm not lying. This is true."
As they were having the conversation, a woman behind them fell to the ground.
From the darkness of night, an arrow shot towards one of the women standing behind and hit her in the back instantly killing her. Several men in horses came rushing towards us and drew their swords.
Lucian thought to hold his question and doubts for now and started to analyse the situation.
He was in a situation where people are ready to kill each other, and he made sure to protect himself from anyone who dared to attack him. Even he didn't know from where he got the thought. It was like some primal instinct told him to do so.
The men on the horses started to charge towards them but they were only after the women.
Because one of the men threw a sword towards Lucian and Lucian took it. The women started to run and retreated behind me and the roots of the tree came to life and started to fight back the men.
Lucian was sure this was a battle of magic and swords. The men shielded Lucian from the moving roots and tried to move back. A man on the horse extended his hands towards Lucian. Lucian held his hand and pulled himself onto the horse with the man. Then he shouted, "We have him. Retreat."
The men who were engaged with the roots withdrew themselves and started to move.
The man with who Lucian was on the horse rode out of the opening into the forest and the other men followed.
After they came at a distance which felt safe to the men, they halted their horses and made a stop.
They all came down form the horse and Lucian too dismounted from the horse. Then the man dismounted and said to Lucian, "Lord Druke, are you hurt."
Lucian noted the name and replied, "No not any that can be termed serious."
Another soldier came in the conversation and said to the man, "Lord Veron, we are still in their territory, we should move fast."
Lucian again noted the name that this man was called Lord Veron.
Lord Veron – Lord Druke it seems if you are alright, we must move out of the enemy territory as quickly as possible. They may catch up with us.
Lucian replied, "Yes sure, let's move."
Lord Veron – Flint ride with someone, give your horse to the commander.
One of the soldiers brought his horse and gave it to Lucian. Lucian mounted the horse and was surprised that the horse was very calm, and he did not make any mistake to make the horse throw him.
Lucian then followed the soldiers riding the horse and found it very familiar like he has been riding horses for a long time. Somehow, he felt he was familiar to the people around him. He felt he has seen them, talked with them and have memories with them. But he didn't remember any right now.
Soon, they came to an opening from the forest and came to a soldier's camp. Lucian felt a strange feeling, that he had been here before and before he could figure out, he collapsed on the horse and his vision went black.