Limits

The hand holding the dagger trembled even more but the person holding it, didn't say anything still. After a while, I could hear some rustling in the southern direction. I thought 'Probably more of them arrived'. This was bad, I had no strength left due to that dream. I had to eat in order to restore my strength and this was the worst possible scenario that could happen.

The rustling got louder and it stopped all of a sudden. I thought 'Why have they stopped? and why no one is saying anything?' but the next sound was really surprising and relieving at the same time. 'This is the sound that Shelly does. Where did it go so early in the morning? To hunt?'. I called out weakly "Shelly, are you alright?" to which Shelly made a few noises and started approaching slowly.

The hand holding the dagger tightened and pressed harder onto my neck. I said slowly "I told you to either kill me or let me eat because there is no difference. I I don't eat something, I'll die anyway". The dagger stayed on my neck but I heard a question this time instead of silence "Why did you kill them?". 'So its a woman. Doesn't matter, I still need to eat something'. I said "Shelly, bring me some food or I will really die".

Shelly started approaching me and saw that the woman holding the dagger pressed it harder on my neck. The blood started to leak, Shelly stopped while making some angry noises. I said weakly "Don't mind her, just bring me food" and Shelly started walking again.

The woman seeing this pushed the dagger harder and more blood started to run. Shelly again stopped and made some noises. It was probably worried that I will really die but what good would waiting make? I would either die by the dagger or die due to starvation. I shouted with my last strength "BRING ME THE FOOD!" and lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I realised that I didn't die. I had massive headache and still felt hunger but it wasn't the feeling of starvation. I could feel something on my neck and realised that a hand with the dagger was there again. I noticed that the dagger looked familiar. To be precise, it belonged to me.

I needed to make sure Shelly was alright so I said "Shelly, where are you?" but there was no response. I could feel rage building inside me "What did you do to Shelly?". A short while later, I heard this response "It's asleep". I felt relieved but I was still in rubbish situation. I had some strength now but when I tried to move my arm, the dagger was pressed against my neck harder. Being threatened with my own weapon didn't feel good.

The woman said "Why did you kill them?" again. I replied "Because I could? What does it matter to you? If you wanted to kill me, you had loads of chances. You could just let me starve to death". I heard no response and the dagger was taken away from my neck.

I sat up and looked at the woman. Although it was a woman, her attire didn't reveal any of her body. She had a fox shaped mask and her body was covered in dark grey leathers. I then said to her "I don't get it. if you are not one of them then what do you want?". I saw that all my possessions were gone. None of my daggers were on me, the bag was also gone. I noticed that Shelly was indeed asleep and had no injuries. I said "Where is my bag?" to which I heard "I took it".

I got frustrated and responded "I could figure this out myself, thank you. Give it back". The woman asked "Why?". I looked at her like I was looking at an idiot and said "Because it's mine?". She pointed at the place where camp fire was lit last night and there was my bag. I said "My daggers".

She played around with my dagger and said "This?". I said to her in a deep voice that expressed my rage "You know that I can kill you without any weapons?" She immediately put up her guard and took out another dagger, which also belonged to me. I said again "Give me back my possessions". To which she said "What if I don't?" I laughed for a while and then said "You will die".

She seemed to be shaken by my words and fell silent. I got up from the bed and said "I don't give a crap if you are the next empress or goddess herself. If someone takes my stuff or tries to harm my family, the only result for them is death". I stretched my arms and legs a bit and started walking towards her. She threw the daggers in her hands at me. The technique was so rubbish that this type of skill couldn't even be considered as part of the Art of Hidden Weapons.

I evaded the daggers and stomped my foot on the ground. The acceleration was so great that she was shocked. With no time to spare she tried to attack again but now, she probably knew it was a mistake to enrage me. When I arrived in front of her, I grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up. I put most of my strength into the sudden acceleration so my arm strength although decent was not at my peak.

She started to choke and flail. I said while holding her up "I told you that the only result for you will be death". She struggled for a while so I decided to end this and was about to tighten the grip when I heard "S..So..rry". I threw her away and though 'Was she just playing tough or something? Why would she apologise now?'.

I said "You didn't kill me so I will return that favour. You had a chance and I had a chance. Now you should know that I'm not something you can provoke easily". I retrieved my bag and took out some meat. I started eating like an animal. I wasn't worried about her. If she tried to run, I would catch her and if she tried to attack again, I would kill her.

After the meal, I noticed that the woman was sitting on the ground coughing. I said to her "I don't know why you didn't kill me and what you are doing here but I will take my stuff back and leave. You can do whatever you like". I picked up my bag and walked over towards her. She seemed scared, as if some kind of animal was going to eat her alive.

I stood in front of her and said "My daggers". She seemed to be a bit dazed by my words and didn't respond for a while. When she came to herself, she took out all the daggers that belonged to me and placed them on the ground. I picked up my daggers and said "I checked my bag and nothing is missing. The amount of daggers is also correct. You can go now, I will not kill you".

I walked in front of Shelly next and called out "Shelly, wake up" but there was no response. I picked Shelly up and started walking towards the long cliff and the path we found before all that commotion.

As I walked, I heard the voice behind me "Who are you? I never saw you here. Are you from the city?". I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "No, I'm not from the city and who I'm doesn't matter" I turned back again and started walking. After couple of steps, I stopped and said "I don't know if you are trying to practice the same art as I do but try learning how to throw more than one dagger at once. If you practice how to hide them and retrieve them, it will do loads of good to your skills". I then threw one of my daggers backwards and it hit the ground in front of her.

I said "Keep it. This dagger has great balance. It can be used as a throwing weapon and as a weapon for close combat. It's a gift from me but not everyone is as nice as I'm. Look out for that group, they are up to no good". I then left towards my own path, not looking back anymore.