Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 10]

"Fight," I repeated, "because if you don't fight, then no one will. If no one fights, then we all of us die. And your loved ones, your families, your children." I stared at the man, whose eyes had taken on a dangerous quality – almost like he thought I was threatening him. I caught his shoulder before he could move. The action was designed not only to keep him from running, but also from doing anything he might regret. "I know you're afraid," I said. "I am, as well. We all are. But right now, that fear is only going to make them bolder. Bite down on it or you won't be able to shoot them."

"A-And what good will shooting them do? What can arrows do against those monsters?"

It was a sentiment the Archer was not alone in thinking if the nervous looks of those around us were any indication. Honestly, I didn't know either. They had to work since Coco was a badass Hero, but it might have been some kind of Skill or just her Level which made it possible.

Still, they needed something to inspire them, and as I looked around the walls I saw the boy from earlier, now holding three wooden sticks with sharpened points. I held a hand out towards him.

"M-Me, sir?"

"Give me one of those," I said, nodding to the javelins. He fumbled with them for a second but handed one over and I hefted it in my grip, inspecting it. It was a throwaway kind of weapon made mostly of wood and with a tip that had been sharpened and hardened in a fire. No metal, no steel tip and no decoration.

I had no idea how to throw a javelin, neither as a Blacksmith nor in my disguise as a Knight, but that didn't matter very much. It wasn't like I could miss the wall of Grimm approaching. I leant Crocea Mors against the wall and hoisted the javelin into the air, laying it flat atop my palm above me. With a quick breath to steady myself I took an unsteady step forward, then hurled it with all my might.

I still didn't know how to use a javelin, nor did I have any Skills or abilities related to it. What I did have, however, was an unbalanced Strength Stat thanks to my A rating and high level, at least for a Blacksmith. The sharpened stick shot forward like an arrow launched from a bow.

I'd aimed for a tall lizard-like creature in the front row, but I missed it by a hideous margin, instead striking a Canis maybe four rows behind and eight Grimm to the left. If Blake had been there to see it, she'd have palmed her face and sighed.

As it was, the men had no idea what I'd been aiming at, and as the wood punctured through the Canis' face, pinning it to another Grimm behind and killing both, they stared in absolute awe.

"There," I said, turning back to them and nodding. "That's two down. That was no enchanted weapon or special Knight's skill. That was just a stick through the face." I looked to the Archer, who still looked afraid but had at least stopped shaking. "I'm sure your arrows will do more. You just need to hit them somewhere important. You can do that, right?"

"Y-Yes." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were calm. "Yes, sir. I can. I can hit them."

"That's all I ask."

—Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 10]