"Go on... little heroes."
Those words echoed through my ears. This bastard knows he can't win this fight fairly. We pushed him onto his hind legs; now he's resorting to this unruly tactic. They're taking the children they've used to smuggle goods as cover!
These children couldn't have been older than ten, except for a few who looked just under the age of becoming teenagers. One thief wrapped an arm beneath his shoulders before lifting him off the ground and forcing him between himself and Julius, using the terrified child as a living shield while backing away. Julius stopped immediately. The massive roots that had been surging beneath the cobblestones retreated into the earth before they could reach either of them.
These common thieves weren't strong by any means. Anyone on my team could easily overpower them in an instant; however, the thieves already had these children in their grasp. It's a small chance, but the children could be hurt in the final moments before one of us incapacitated them. Risks like these aren't meant to be taken.
Another thief shoved two frightened girls toward Gia, forcing her to dismiss the web of silver threads she'd woven between the market stalls in order to catch them before they stumbled into the wreckage of a collapsed storefront. A third criminal sprinted through the crowd with a little girl clutched beneath one arm, only to release her moments later. She tumbled helplessly into the path of a frightened horse that had broken free from its wagon, sending merchants diving after her while the thief vanished into the confusion.
These children had been tools to them from the beginning. Although these children stole for the thieves, they most likely split a fraction of the profit with them, just enough to make sure they could still live. That way, they could continue using these children. From the looks of it, these children are most likely orphans, which means they have no one to turn to for help.
I turned just in time to see a young boy stumble into the middle of the road after being shoved by another fleeing thief. At that exact moment, he tipped over the nearby streetlight, a gas lantern hanging from the top. The child froze in utter fear, and all he could do was put his hands up.
For a split second, I also froze. My eyes instinctively darted past the escaping man.
Scarface stood nearly twenty feet away, watching everything unfold, his steps backward gradually getting faster. Our eyes met across the marketplace. His lips slowly curled into another smile before he turned and began walking away, completely unconcerned with whether I would chase him.
He already knew the answer.
Light Essence rushed through my legs before I consciously called upon it. Golden particles gathered around my boots as I cast Light Step, propelling myself down the street. Pain immediately shot through my calves. I'd already pushed my body too far.
My body had barely recovered from the temple mission before I challenged Julius. Before those wounds had healed, I encountered Scarface and his previous gang in the alleyway, causing Professor Ruthra to step in and save us. My body had been in an unstable condition, and I've been negligent. In this moment, none of it matters because there was a life I had to save in front of me.
Gathering Pure Essence throughout my body, I planted both hands against the pole. The impact rattled and reverberated. My boots scraped violently across the cobblestones as I pushed the pole forward, nearly tripping over myself and falling onto the boy.
I lowered my breathing, looking down at him. Tears streamed freely down his face, yet he hadn't made a sound.
"...It's alright," I said quietly, placing a hand against his shoulder. "Go find your family."
He nodded frantically before running into the crowd.
I didn't even have time to watch where he went. Another scream rose somewhere behind me.
My head snapped toward the sound. My gaze rose higher as I saw Scarface escaping from Gotarum through the upper streets, an inclined road. The road rose steadily in altitude, and near the top was Scarface, pushing a wagon down the hill. It was barely noticeable, but the screaming confirmed it. A child was in the wagon!
If I ignored it, I could still catch up to Scarface...
At my words, numerous calculations ran through my mind in a split second. All while thinking in an instant, I felt less and less like a Sorcerer.
What am I thinking?! I can't abandon that child... but it'll be fine. I'm sure Julius and Gia, or Terra and Toho, will notice the wagon. Does that matter? I noticed it first, so what kind of Sorcerer would I be if I ran past a civilian who needs my help?
I had never once considered the lives I have indirectly or directly saved. I had always thought about what mistakes I made, how much stronger I became, or how much experience I gained from a battle. Never once had I lingered on the fact that I saved lives. My conversation with Professor Ruhtra opened me up to this.
When Ruhtra asked me what kind of Sorcerer I am, I immediately picked the type I idolized since I was young. Looking at myself currently, I am not that type... but I can be! I don't want to be the type Ruthra is, one who prioritizes the threat over lives; I'm the opposite! I definitely wasn't one before; however, I still can be one from now on... I'll think about all the lives I can save before I ever fight first!
I immediately charged up Spatial Essence from my fingertips, launching myself forward and swiping my hand across the air. I used Rift, teleporting after a brief second in the path of the wagon. As the wagon continued picking up speed, it caught up to me in an instant. I narrowly sidestepped out of its path, my hand clutching the wagon's backside.
After struggling with my grip, I pulled myself in, the weight of the wagon shifting to its backside. The wagon tipped over to the back, gravity pushing us off. Just before we fell off, I grabbed the little girl, hugging her tightly.
Thud! My back landed on the concrete; my natural reaction was to clench my teeth to contain the scream. I lifted myself off the ground with my left arm, my right holding onto the child who was pouring her eyes out. I carefully placed her onto the ground, holding her hand. "Come with me, okay?"
I tried my best to keep my voice soft and harmless. The little girl simply nodded, using her free arm to wipe the tears.
We rushed down the street, but by the time we got there, most of the children and thieves were rounded up. Since my team had initially defeated many of the thugs, there weren't many left. Although we rounded up all the children whom the thieves took as protection, we still lost the bunch of other kids who ran away when the conflict began.
The girl from my side ran into the group of kids, hugging another child, whom I assume is her friend.
Gia checked through the wrecked street in search of any produce or food that hadn't touched the ground in order to feed these children.
Toho and Julius kept a close eye on the kids, standing on opposite sides of the circle.
It's over, finally... I thought to myself internally. I looked around, satisfied that the damage was only contained to the roads, and not too many houses or buildings were caught in the crossfire.
My eyes glanced over once again at the children. It was a shame I couldn't do both... protect you and fight the bad guys. I need to find Scarface immediately. Perhaps one other person and I can stay back and survey the perimeter while the rest of the team reports to Sensei and Report Services...
Just as I was calculating our next moves and how many members I could split, another thought surfaced. Someone was missing... from my team.
Terra! Where's Terra?
I ran quickly toward Toho, waving towards Julius to come. Julius reluctantly walked around the children, approaching Toho and me.
My face was in obvious distress; he straightened up. Before he could ask what was wrong, I interrupted,
"Where is Terra?!"
Julius's mouth was left open, his brows furrowing in a state of confusion. Toho was left speechless as well,
"She should be somewhere around here..." He trailed off, his eyes wandering around the street. His gaze stopped uphill. He slightly jerked his jaw in the direction of the uphill road, signaling for me to take a look.
Julius turned his head, looking back uphill, his eyes suddenly widening. I, too, turned around, and it immediately caught my attention.
Terra began walking downhill, her breathing heavy, obvious by her open mouth and her cheeks hollowing in and out. Both her arms held a golden rope, slung over her shoulder as she struggled to push forward. Tied to the rope was Scarface, covered in binding charms.
Walking behind Terra and the presumably unconscious Scarface were two children. Small and almost unnoticeable. They were clearly a part of this group, two more orphaned children used by these thieves.