Liberation of The Slaves

Chapter 58 – Sisters’ Desperate Stand

— Daisy’s POV —

"Sis! Look! There's smoke—so much of it!”

Celestia's normally composed face twisted in alarm as she yanked the reins, urging our horse faster.

"Hurry, Daisy!”

“I know!”

We spurred the horse onward, the pounding of hooves drowning out everything but the thunderous beat of my heart.

Over two hours had passed since the bandits attacked—every second mattered.

I hoped we weren't late.

We reached the village's entrance, taking cover behind a smoldering tree.

The sight before me was a nightmare.

The air was thick with the stench of charred wood and blood. Flames devoured the homes, casting a sinister glow on the chaos below.

Corpses littered the ground, some still burning, their flesh curling away from bone. The air reeked of blood, ash, and suffering.

Bandits milled about, shouting orders, loading carriages with stolen goods—and people.

"Forty... no, at least fifty left," I murmured, gripping my sword. "But the report said there were a hundred.”

Celestia’s gaze dropped to the ground, her navy-blue eyes sharpening. Bodies littered the dirt—both villagers and bandits.

"Look at the bodies. Mom and Dad must've already taken half of them down.”

"Then where are they—?" My voice caught in my throat.

No sign of battle.

No sign of them.

If our parents had lost…

No. I refused to believe it.

Celestia exhaled, steadying herself. "At the very least, Mom and Freed might still be inside those carriages.”

It was meant to reassure me.

But it also had a different meaning.

The carriages seemed to hold only women and children.

So… Dad…

No, no, no!

I bit my lips.

I had to save them.

I had to—

“This is the last one!” A gruff voice cut through the crackling flames.

A bandit hauled a bound child toward one of the carriages.

They tossed him in like cargo, but he didn’t react—likely unconscious.

His small frame, navy-blue hair—

My eyes trembled.

“He's... Freed!”

“Wait, Daisy—!” Celestia grabbed my arm as I tensed.

“They’re leaving!” My breath came fast, sharp. "We have to move—now!”

"We can't charge in recklessly," she countered. "They are human, not orcs. If they take Freed hostage, we lose all leverage.”

"But—!"

"Buy time.”

My breath hitched. "Huh?”

Celestia’s grip tightened. "The town’s knights and adventurers should be coming. We just have to stall.”

A plan.

Even amidst panic, she always had at least one plan in her mind.

My fingers loosened on my sword. "...Alright.”

She started explaining the plan.

“Conserve your aura as much as possible, it's our lifeline until reinforcements appear.”

"We’ll use the horse first. If you can knock them into the burning houses, do it. But don’t take unnecessary risks.”

“Evade as many attacks as possible. Don’t rely on my barriers. I don’t think my barriers will last long against their attacks.”

We were weak.

I knew it was impossible to fight against them.

But we didn’t have any choice.

“Got it.”

She was the brain. I was the brawn. It had always been that way.

I channeled aura into the horse's legs.

Normally, influencing living beings with aura requires support magic. But for me, it came naturally. Sis Celes could do it too, with mana instead of aura.

People called us geniuses. But I didn’t care about that at the moment. I just needed to be fast.

“I’m ready, sis.”

“I’ve set up barriers,” Celestia confirmed. “Let’s go.”

The bandits never saw it coming.

*Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*

"H-Huh?! What—?!”

The first bandit barely had time to scream before the horse’s powerful kick sent him flying into the inferno. The flames devoured him whole.

“W-Wait—!”

Another caught a hoof to the skull. His head cracked like a melon, blood splattering as he twitched on the ground.

The others reeled, but they weren’t fools. Swords and axes were drawn and ignited with their aura.

"You little bitches!" one snarled, charging.

I yanked the reins, narrowly dodging a wild slash. The air burned as their auras clashed, sending shockwaves through the wreckage of the village.

*BOOM!* *BOOM!*

I glanced toward the carriages—Freed stirred, his mismatched eyes widening in surprise. His gaze locked onto mine.

I shook my head sharply. They must not be aware of our relationship. He nodded, understanding what I meant. If he cried out, if they noticed him reacting to us—

But the moment shattered.

“Daisy! Celes! Help! Help me!” A terrified scream was heard from another carriage.

A girl—one of our childhood friends—struggled against a bandit's grip. He pressed a jagged blade to her throat, his lips peeling into a sick grin.

"Stop now, or she dies!"

"No! Please! Daisy! Celes! Help me! I don't want to die!”

Her voice was raw, her sobs choking her words. She thrashed, nails raking down the bandit’s arm, leaving bloody trails, but his grip was iron. I could see the panic in her wide, tear-streaked eyes.

"Daisy," Celestia said, voice cold and final. "Keep going. If we stop, we're dead.”

"But—"

"We can't save them all.”

Her fingers dug into my arm, steadying me, but I felt the tremor in her grip. This wasn’t easy for her either. She was forcing herself to be ruthless.

We had to prioritize rescuing Freed’s life.

“No.. No.. No! Stop! Don’t run! Help me!”

I’m sorry!

I wanted to believe there was another way, that I could cut the bastard down before he hurt her, but—

*Schlick.*

“Aarrghhh! It hurts! It hurts!” A scream ripped through the air.

The blade slashed across her back, cutting deep. Blood sprayed in an arc, glistening in the firelight before splattering onto the dirt. She shrieked, collapsing to her knees, hands grasping at the wound as crimson seeped between her fingers.

"I'll cut her limbs off next!" the bandit sneered.

I wanted to kill him. I wanted to rip his throat out, to carve him apart piece by piece, to make him beg for mercy he wouldn’t receive.

But stopping meant death. Stopping meant losing Freed.

I turned my gaze away. We pressed on, determined to reach the nearby bandits.

“H-Hey! D-Don’t come—!”

*Whack!*

He was surprised by our relentless advance, met a swift kick from the horse and succumbed to the consuming flames.

Then—

“Aaaaaa! It hurts! My hand! My hand! It hurts!! Help!! Help!” Her agonizing screams pierced the air, signaling the bandit's cruelty.

I couldn't bear to witness my friend's torment. I could only bite down on my lips without looking at her.

“Tsk. It doesn’t work.”

A moment later, he tossed her into the carriage like discarded trash.

“Ack! It hurts! It hurts!” She hit the wooden floor hard, her body convulsing in pain.

"She's still alive," Celestia murmured. "Barely."

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. My grip tightened on the reins until my fingers ached.

Another bandit lunged at us, but my horse surged forward, its hooves smashing into his ribs.

*WHACK!*

A sickening crunch echoed as his chest caved in, blood bursting from his mouth. He hit the ground in a gurgling heap, his eyes wide in shock before the fire swallowed him whole.

Screams surrounded us—bandits burning alive, flesh bubbling, their shrieks piercing through the chaos. The scent of cooked meat filled the air, thick and nauseating. One man, engulfed in flames, clawed at his own face, his skin sloughing off in blackened strips as he howled in agony. Another tried to run, but the fire had already eaten through his legs, leaving nothing but charred bone beneath tattered muscle.

"Daisy! Dodge!"

*CRACK!*

Sis Celes’ warning snapped me back to reality. A sword swung toward me, gleaming in the firelight. The barrier shattered in an instant. I barely twisted in time, the blade grazing my side, cutting through fabric and flesh.

“Ugh!”

Pain flared, sharp and hot, but I gritted my teeth and struck back.

*Pssh!*

My sword found its mark, sinking deep into the bandit's gut. He gasped, choking on his own blood as I twisted the blade, feeling the resistance of muscle and bone before I yanked it free. He dropped to his knees, clutching the gaping wound, intestines spilling out in a grotesque mess.

More were coming. Too many.

"Focus on dodging now!" Celestia ordered. "We can't take them all!"

I cursed under my breath but obeyed. There was no time to fight every single one. Our goal was clear.

Freed was waiting.

We had to reach him before it was too late.