《The Vessel of the Gods》


 Prologue - Ch1

    A crimson moon bathed the barren streets of Pallor¡¯s Port in an eerie glow. Enyah''s arrival in the town was greeted only by the pouring rain. She furrowed her brows and scanned the empty streets, yet saw no signs of life.


    Rain was sacred in Pallor¡¯s Port. The sailors and cityfolk would be drawn from their tasks and rush onto the streets, letting the rain wash away their worries as if Trallix, the god of oceans, travels, and storms, was protecting them. They¡¯d sing and dance for days, even under the Wild Moon¡¯s maroon glow.


    The Wild Moon was a portent of danger in Lakreia, but faith always overcame fear for the Gulls. Yet tonight, silence filled the air, as if fear succeeded for the first time. The only sound, besides the downpour, was leather boots striking wet wood.


    ¡°The Gulls always had sharp noses,¡± Enyah thought, uneasy by the emptiness filling the streets. Instead of celebrating, they huddled up in their homes like sardines. A few windows gleamed with candlelight, a comforting sight in the unending darkness. ¡°Something¡¯s coming. Gurlin must know what¡¯s happening.¡±


    She quickened the pace, her eyes darting through the alleys and shadowed corners. Rain hammered her cloak, but she brushed it aside, her gaze sharp.


    A deep-seated impulse halted her steps. Enyah''s hand moved instinctively to a holster beneath her sodden cloak. She squinted through the rain, straining to hear. Her vision swept between the alleys until a faint sound broke the silence.


    She whipped her head around, gun trained on the alley¡¯s shadows. Two beady red orbs glinted before a pair of rats scampered past her boots, their feet pitter-pattering into a different alley. Enyah exhaled, holstering her flintlock and relaxing her grip.


    The silence clawed at her mind. She sped up, thinking ¡°Just get to the tavern, it¡¯ll all be fine.¡±


    Many moments later Enyah paused at a large building, its frame groaning through the storm. The wood worn and the paint peeling, but brightly lit and bursting with chatter. Enyah smiled faintly. ¡°Not everything''s different today.¡±


    She embraced the lively atmosphere for a moment before stepping inside. The creaking door announced her arrival as the smell of ale and a roaring cacophony of voices assaulted her senses. She shook off the rain from her cloak, scanning the familiar room. Tables littered the main floor, occasionally taken by drunkards and brawlers. A group was crowded in a corner, playing cards and betting. A few of the patrons looked towards her in their stupor before returning to their conversations.


    ¡°Oi Enyah! Ye tryna grab a swig?¡± A middle aged man called out, his voice slurred. Enyah turned to see his face flushed and body swaying as he waved at her with an empty mug. she snorted, thinking, ¡°The only thing bigger than their egos is their ignorance. Are they even aware the Gulls are hiding?¡±


    ¡°Not tonight Franne, Something¡¯s off with the Gulls. Just want to head home.¡± she responded casually, sidestepping a table. A few patrons let out groans.


    ¡°Who cares about them, girl! You¡¯re one of us. Live a little!¡± Franne laughed, ¡°Last time they did this for months. More ale for us, I say!¡± A chorus of cheers replied to him.


    ¡°They don¡¯t feel anything?¡± Enyah thought, worry seeping through her thoughts. The pounding of the rain against the building¡¯s frame was constant, its steady beat pricking at her skin.


    ¡°Ain¡¯t jumpin in the rain, huh.¡± A scarred man sighed, He leaned against his chair, a bandaged arm resting on his table, ¡°Cowardly, superstitious folk. Do not let them get between you and your drink, girl.¡± He looked at a desk in the corner, ¡°No offense Gurlin.¡±


    ¡°Offense taken!¡± The man behind the desk called back, his muscles hidden behind his shirt as he focused on whittling a block of wood.


    ¡°You¡¯d best heed them.¡± Enyah spoke, hushed voice, while pausing her steps and staring at the scarred man,¡°They may be wrong, but Trallix? Nothing good comes from a wary god. I¡¯d rather take a thousand men over whatever scares Him.¡±


    The scarred man snorted, ¡°I thought you feared nothing girl, letting these fools tales get to you. Never take you for a coward.¡± His tone light hearted but dulled with alcohol.


    In the blink of an eye Enyah was upon the man, her fist slammed into his table.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± She growled through clenched teeth and narrowed eyes. The chatter lulled as stares painted into Enyah.


    ¡°Easy, Enyah.¡± The man said, raising his arms up, ¡°I didn¡¯ mean nothing by it. Slip of the tongue. You¡¯re always the first to rush into danger, thas all.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Haah,¡± Her glare loosened as she sighed, running a hand through her hair. ¡°You¡¯re good, Pallel. Just high strung tonight.¡± Enyah patted Pallel¡¯s shoulders and moved on.


    ¡°I remember the Modullah too, girl.¡± Pallel called back, suddenly sober. His glare drilling into Enyah¡¯s back with his humor gone. ¡°Let the gulls be suspicious. I¡¯d rather that than another one of them beasts.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Enyah turned, eyes widened. She was greeted by Pallel chugging down his ale in one gulp, his sobriety quickly turning. Whether real or fake, Enyah couldn¡¯t tell, but she did know she''d be getting no answers from him. A sigh left her as she turned back. Seeing the argument over, a hushed chatter arose around the room.


    Reading the atmosphere, Enyah turned to the bar. She leaned her elbow on the counter and dropped a shining coin, calling out with a grin, ¡°I must¡¯ve ruined your ale with that. A round for all for your troubles. On me.¡±


    A chorus of cheers answered her, the unease vanishing in an instant. Even Pallel relaxed, sipping the rest of his drink with a grin. A satisfied smile rested on Enyah¡¯s face. She strode to Gurlin, raised drinks and jests in her wake.


    The man hadn¡¯t looked up, keenly focused on his task. Enyah walking up to him hadn¡¯t hindered his whittling. A small man, with hair everywhere except his head. His shirt, slick with Red Spotted Jellyfish Innards, shone in the light.


    ¡°A gift from Trallix, they say.¡± Enyah mused, ¡°Whoever thought jellyfish innards made clothes waterproof deserves some credit.¡± She stood quietly, arms crossed while pondering the uses of jellyfish innards. A loud gust of wind alerted Gurlin, His gaze darting to the door, brows furrowed. A familiar attire turned his attention to Enyah. His knife paused and he looked up at her in surprise.


    ¡°Well, look who it is!¡± Gurlin bellowed with a grin, his unfinished work set aside. His unease from earlier forgotten, or hidden. ¡°Enyah, lass. The mighty Quiverbeast slayer. And in only half a day too!¡±


    ¡°Hey Gurlin,¡± Enyah replied flatly. ¡°The quills, right here.¡± A bag full of quills was dropped onto the counter with a soft thud. Their varied colors shone in the dim light.


    ¡°Look at these! Impressive length. Healthy little beasties aren¡¯t they!¡±Gurlin eyed the quills, stroking his stub of a beard. ¡°Why, if they weren''t poisonous, I''d want to keep one of them as a pet. Cute fellers, those Quiverbeasts.¡± He chuckled, hefting the bag into a lockbox behind his stall. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Enyah deadpanned, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you a live one next time. Just for you.¡±


    ¡°Ye¡­ don¡¯t have to do that¡­ I already got those two little birds at home.¡± Gurlin stammered, his grin faltering slightly as he waved dismissively.


    ¡°Those two could take a quiverbeast, not sure about you though.¡± Enyah snorted in response, a smirk on her lips.


    He huffed in indignance, though a doting grin remained on his face.


    Casually, as if instinctually, Enyah started tapping the table rhythmically. Gurlin¡¯s gaze, upon noticing her hand, sharpened. With a groan, he got up from his table, stretching his back.


    ¡°I got a coupl¡¯a wood carvings I made the other day, let me show ye my accomplishments¡± Gurlin declared, puffing out his chest. ¡°Ye won¡¯t be disappointed!¡±


    Enyah raised a brow, her smirk growing, ¡°If it''s anything like that goop you were carving earlier, I wouldn¡¯t call them accomplishments.¡± She snickered at the unknown lump on the countertop.


    ¡°It¡¯s s¡¯posed to be a jellyfish! A jellyfish! Can¡¯t ye see it?¡± Gurlin barked indignantly, only to be met with the guffaws from the nearby patrons. ¡°Ye mercenaries and yer lack of sense of art!¡±


    ¡°Ye told me t¡¯was gonna be a Brushtail Rabbit, ye lyin jawfish!¡± Franne called over, an extra empty mug added to an already massive stack.


    ¡°Shaddup! Ye heard nothin¡¯ from me!¡± Gurlin roared back, his face growing redder as he avoided Enyah¡¯s amused gaze. Huffing, he straightened his shirt and gestured towards a nearby door. ¡°Hmph, let¡¯s just go.¡±


    He led Enyah through the door into a small, cluttered office. The space was cozy yet cramped, with a small desk shoved into the corner and two couches facing each other taking up a majority of the room. Shelves lined the walls, filled with random odds and ends from Gurlin''s sailing days. Enyah let out a faint smile, recalling his rambling sailing stories that always seemed larger than life.


    ¡°This room hasn¡¯t changed a bit, except¡­¡± Her eyes gazed upon a few new additions, wooden carvings, now occupying previously empty shelves. Gurlin¡¯s eyes glanced at the window for a brief moment before turning back to as he grabbed one of the sculptures, displaying it to Enyah.


    ¡°My proudest masterpiece! What do ye think?¡± He boasted, holding up a crude sphere with pride.


    ¡°Nice rock sculpture. Lots of potential.¡± Enyah stated dryly, though warmth seeped through her tone as she bathed in nostalgia. Her shoulders relaxed, a familiar comfort radiating within her.


    ¡°It¡¯s a¡­¡± Gurlin sighed in defeat, ¡°Nevermind. It¡¯s a rock. Ye have no taste, I swear.¡± Shaking his head, he dropped onto one of the couches, his arms spread across the back. ¡°Come, come. Sit down. It¡¯s been a few months since ye¡¯ve been here, huh.¡±


    Gurlin clearly didn¡¯t like his wooden chair outside. Enyah quickly accepted his invitation and slumped down, luxuriating herself with the soft cushions.


    ¡°Really needed to unwind, huh.¡± Gurlin murmured with a gentle tone. He gazed at the wall, a hint of a pained expression showing before he masked it. ¡°What¡¯s got ye so worked up, girl? Ye¡¯re restless.¡±


    ¡°You should know why.¡± Enyah murmured sluggishly, lacking her earlier vigor. She leaned back, staring at an empty ceiling. ¡° You heard what went down out there.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ye mean what¡¯s comin? We¡¯ll weather the storm, girl. We always have.¡± Gurlin responded calmly, a steady voice. Too steady for Enyah¡¯s liking. She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to read his face.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t anyone worried? They don¡¯t care at all!¡± Enyah questioned, her voice rising in frustration. ¡°Last time this happened a quarter of the town died! What if it¡¯s worse?¡±


    She was seventeen when The Modullah rose from the deep, its roar pausing even the rain itself. She still remembered the screams, the blood, the splintered harbor. One of her worst memories, and one she wasn¡¯t keen to witness occuring again.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not worried, lass.¡± Gurlin sighed, leaning back against the couch, as if the weight of Pallor¡¯s Port was upon him. ¡°Thirty years ago it was the Pantuma from the jungles, and five years ago it was the Modullah. And next? Could be from the skies for all we know. We don''t know where it¡¯ll come from, girl. Nor when. How do we prepare for somethin¡¯ like that?¡±


    Enyah opened her mouth to respond, but faltered. She knew deep down Gurlin wasn¡¯t wrong. She heard tales of the Pantuma, a monster just as bad as the Modullah. Danger came from all around them.


    ¡°Girl, instead of stressin over somethin ye can''t stop, just enjoy yerself. Have fun!¡± Gurlin said, his voice softening and face turning to a grin, before quickly turning to a frown, as if he consumed something sour. ¡°Ye can start by losin the act. Those fools wouldn¡¯t give a carp¡¯s burn about yer attitude, ye know.¡±


    Enyah bristled at his words, ¡°But the nobles do care.¡± she said with intensity, ¡°They want a professional. Someone who gets things done. I¡¯ll make sure they see me as that person.¡± Her voice hardened, gaze fixed at an unseen goal. ¡°They don''t want someone who worries. They want results.¡±


    ¡°You think the nobles would look ta Pallor¡¯s Port of all places for a skilled mercenary?¡± Gurlin snorted, voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Here? A small town located in the middle of a jungle, naught but fishers n¡¯ sailors here. Nobles¡¯d sooner forget the town before findin¡¯ any use for us. No Mist, no politics, just peace.¡±


    ¡°I know Gurlin, but I need this.¡± Her voice hardened even further, unnerving even Gurlin. As if holding onto one last reason to keep going. ¡°I need to feel like I''m doing something.¡±


    ¡°I know how ye feel, girl, but this isn¡¯t the best way to do it.¡± Gurlin whispered softly, placating the roused Enyah. He leaned forwards, placing a sturdy hand on her shoulder. ¡°Drantei was my friend too. Ye can do more than just hate.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t. They died so I could live. I¡¯ll use my life to avenge them.¡± Enyah affirmed with conviction, her determined gaze reflected through Gurlin¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Ye don''t need to risk your life for this!¡± Gurlin roared out in reaction. ¡°How would Drantei feel if he saw ye riskin¡¯ yer life for him?¡±


    ¡°How they feel? How about me? Why did I live? Why am I here? All for this.¡± Enyah responded in kind, finding courage in her anger and squeezing her fists. Feeling her nails dig into her palms, her anger vanished before a sense of loss replaced it. The painful feeling a harsh reminder. She looked down and whimpered.


    ¡°I''m a coward.¡± She muttered, her voice barely audible. Nothing could stop the surging shame and guilt rising into her chest.


    ¡°Yer no coward, lass. I ain¡¯t seen a coward that could take down what ye can. Listen.¡± Gurlin ordered, staring straight into her quivering eyes. ¡°Sure, yer runnin. Sure, ye got no progress in revenge. Yet ye get up each day, even when ye tell yerself not to. Ye work, ye protect, yer still alive n¡¯ I thank Trallix every time yer back alive.¡±


    Enyah flinched at his words and lowered her head, hiding the storm of emotions inside her. Gurlin slowly got up and leaned on his knee in front of Enyah. He saw the girl she used to be: Happy and full of life. Hopeful for a better tomorrow.


    Enyah, leaning forwards with her arms curled into herself, jolted up when she felt Gurlin¡¯s arms wrap around her into a hug.


    ¡°Whether ye live for revenge, or find somethin¡¯ else to live for, please, live. For Drantei. For me.¡± Gurlin begged, voice cracking as he held Enyah tightly, almost as if she¡¯d disappear if he let go.


    A soft ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± came out of Enyah, making Gurlin gently let go and drop back onto his couch.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Enyah.¡± Gurlin responded, sorrow seeping through his voice. ¡°I didn''t mean ta make ye like this. I wanted to see yer reaction, but¡­¡± He sighed, and internal struggle raging inside of him. ¡°It''s not righta¡¯ me to keep this secret. Know that I''m not happy about this, but ye got what ye wanted.¡±


    ¡°You mean..?¡± Enyah asked with a shaking voice, eyes widened.


    ¡°Aye. A request from the top brass of Orlent. No pay ¡®cept information. Information on what happened in Veinrild.¡± Gurlin spoke, rising from the couch. He gave Enyah a reassuring smile before reaching into an obscure drawer in his desk and grabbing a piece of parchment, carefully kept in pristine condition.


    Enyah bore holes into the paper with her gaze, following the parchment¡¯s movements. Gurlin straightened up and dramatically cleared his throat.


    ¡°To one miss Enyah Kirnis¡± Gurlin began, his fake accent eliciting a giggle from Enyah. ¡°For the successful security and transportation of one¡­¡± Gurlin squinted, ¡°Name redacted, Thou shallst receive knowledge of what transpired at Veinrild in the year 1320 as payment for the request.¡±


    ¡°Finally¡­¡± Enyah whispered full of vigor, vibrating in excitement. Her first lead in almost a decade, she felt her eyes tear up, but wiped it with a clenched fist. Determination rose up violently within her like a volcano. ¡°Where do I have to take this ¡®noble¡¯? Are they here in Pallor¡¯s Port?¡±


    ¡°Aye, they¡¯re ¡®ere. Hidin out in the scrap district. Not the best place for one of high status. Might be a runaway.¡± Gurlin said, pondering, ¡°No noble would come here ¡®less to run. ¡®Specially the one who handed the request. Didn¡¯t look like a trip o¡¯ leasure.¡±


    Enyah processed his words, straightening up for business, ¡°The scrap district, huh. Have to prepare for resistance then. Might be on edge. Who submitted the request?¡±


    Gurlin didn¡¯t have to think hard, that moment he wouldn¡¯t forget easily. ¡°Few hours ago, an armored, bloody man comes in. Knight, by the looks of it. Hmph, took me a few hours to get all the blood out of me place. It was everywhere, let me tell you.¡±


    Enyah coughed, ¡°You¡¯re getting off track, Gurlin.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sorry. He wouldn¡¯t tell me much, even with Prunsc¡¯s oath of silence, loathe as I am to pray to another god.¡± Gurlin placated her, raising his hands with his usual grin. ¡°Gotta take ¡®em to the capital.¡±


    ¡°All the way to Ollenia? That¡¯s a two month trip, even on Zarts.¡± Enyah frowned, calculating the distance. ¡°I haven''t been that far in years¡­¡± She felt a prickling feeling . An all encompassing icy feeling that raged against her determination. A feeling she quickly quashed.


    ¡°Orlent estimates it¡¯ll take ye four. Judgin by the blood, attacks are likely.¡± Gurlin speculated, stroking his beard. ¡°Ye can do it nicely.¡±


    ¡°So escorting a noble for two, maybe four months, while fending off assassins and the like?¡± Enyah whistled, unperturbed by the danger. It just made her more excited. A sharp grin, with a hunger for blood materialized on her face.¡±You must really trust my skills.¡±


    ¡°Aye, watched ye grow up myself. Couldn¡¯t be any prouder.¡± Gurlin beamed, his smirk pained Enyah when she looked at it. ¡°You¡¯ll learn more in dock eighty-four. They¡¯re holed up in one of the sheds there.¡±


    Enyah slowly got up, parchment in her hands. Her head a spiral of confusion, not yet caught up to the present. She fell forward, wrapping a surprised Gurlin in a hug.


    ¡°Thank you, Gurlin.¡± Enyah whispered, hiding her face on his shoulder. ¡°For everything.¡±


    ¡°Ye don''t have to thank me, Enyah. Adopting ye has been the best thing to happen to me.¡± Gurlin smiled, reminiscing about the past.


    Enyah let go, looking longingly at his face, before turning away to the door.


    ¡°Hey girl!¡± Gurlin called to her. She turned back, facing him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the Port. Focus on your mission. We¡¯ll still be here when you¡¯re back.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. If you don¡¯t kill it fast enough, I¡¯ll be the one to do it this time.¡± Enyah responded with a grin that didn''t reach her eyes. Internally, worry gnawed at her core. She knew it would stay.


    ¡°Remember girl! Don¡¯t die. No matter what.¡± Gurlin finished, closing his eyes as if he couldn¡¯t bear to see her leave.


    ¡°Back at you. If you die I''ll use your corpse as bait.¡± Enyah called back, leaving the room. Under her breath, she muttered ¡°stubborn old man.¡±


    The main floor was still as lively as ever. The only difference was Enyah. She felt a distance as she walked past everyone, barely hearing their jeers and calls to her. She felt everything bubbling up. Drantei¡¯s death. The Modullah. Her breathing sped up. Everybody here was so familiar to her, yet so distant. She dashed outside, the door swinging behind her as the rain embraced her.


    She looked up at the blanket of dark clouds. Rain coursed along her face. Her hands clasped as a prayer broke through her overbearing thoughts.


    ¡°Let Trallix¡¯s rain wash away my woes.¡±


    No response was given. Enyah sighed, hugging herself. how desperately she wished the rain could wash away her past. Instead she sees the same funeral, blurred behind countless tears.


    So strung on her emotions, she didn''t notice eyes stalking her, unfeeling towards her plight.

 Prologue - Ch2

    The scrap district, just thinking about it made Enyah grimace. A casualty of the Modullah, the district was abandoned and renamed to suit its new state. Darkness pervaded through every corner and the lack of life invited unease. In the other sections of the port, the candlelit homes provided some sense of security, but no longer.


    To think that someone, a noble, no less, would bunker up someplace like here made her blood curdle. A sense of wary curiosity brought itself out. She moved along the rotten path, the ruins of homes surrounding her on either side.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t been here since the Modullah.¡± The thought brought out a frown. The bodies were buried, but she could still see them, even now. Faces she once knew stared back at her from within the mud and ruin.


    She pressed on until the street widened into an empty area, dimly lit by the occasional brazier. Once, a statue of Trallix stood tall here. Now it was ruin, like the rest of the area. She stopped, looking back with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°You can come out now.¡± Enyah called, her voice piercing through the rain.


    Save for the downpour, silence answered. Then, moments later, three cloaked figures, with their soaked rags rustling, scurried from behind a pile of rubble. Their hunched figures made them appear diminutive, but their movements were unnatural.


    The one in the center raised his head, his voice nasal and high, ¡°How did you sniff us out?¡± Enyah¡¯s gaze fell onto the large ears poking through their cloaks. It was inhuman, sharp and ragged. Ferals.


    A product of the Mist. Enyah tsked internally. The Mist caused all the problems in Lakreia. A natural drug, the Mist gives power, forcefully evolving those lucky enough to be compatible enough to survive its brutality. The Ferals are proof of its benefits and its snags. Thinking about it made Enyah cringe.


    ¡°Well well, what¡¯s a Feral doing at this time in the scrap district?¡± She enquired calmly, hiding her anger at the interruption.


    ¡°We¡¯re here for you, girl.¡± The Feral croaked, a sharp, toothy grin shone underneath the cloak. ¡°You¡¯re protecting our quarry.¡±


    Enyah¡¯s anger gave way to a new emotion. A bloodthirst that brought a grin to her face to match the Feral. Unholstering her flintlock, she pointed it at the lead man.


    ¡°Are you ready to die for your prey?¡± Enyah retorted confidently while pulling back the hammer with a click. ¡°One step closer and I''ll put lead in your skull. Courtesy of the Mist Foundation.¡±


    The Feral let out a hiss, recoiling onto four limbs. His forelimbs were unnatural. Long, sharp claws gripped the ground, leaving deep scratches in their wake.


    ¡°Let¡¯s charge ¡®er. Can¡¯t get all three of us at once.¡± Another Feral roared, licking the lips of his salivating mouth.


    ¡°No, no. None of us are dying here. Not yet.¡± The leader assured, standing back up with his arms hidden. ¡°We just have to be smart-like.¡±


    Their display of camaraderie might have touched Enyah''s heart years ago, but now she glared at a reflection of herself years younger. Memories she¡¯d buried resurfaced. Ones where she was just like them, Desolate and living by the day. The desperate are prey for the powerful: the key truth she learned from destitution.


    ¡°Gotta¡­¡± He started only to be interrupted by a deafening screech.


    The sound tore through the rain, disorienting Enyah. It sounded as if nails were relentlessly raking stone. She steadied herself as the Ferals launched themselves at her, claws outstretched.


    Like many times before, Enyah shot her gun, the aim skewed before swiftly rolling to the side, creating distance. The feral grunt of pain she heard indicated success, though the fight wasn¡¯t over yet.


    She sprang to her feet, unsheathing a cutlass in rapid speed. She had no time to think as she deftly raised her sword, The sound of steel against claw ringing before Enyah sent the Feral reeling with a sharp kick.


    Enyah felt a pang of warning inside and rapidly ducked from an incoming talon aimed right at her throat. The attacker snarled and received an uppercut in return with the sword¡¯s pommel. A slash to the chest bit deep, she could smell the tang of blood in the air..


    They were giving her no reprieve, Enyah grimaced as she backed up, parrying the leader¡¯s blow. His snarling face mere inches from hers, his breath rancid and rotten.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± He warbled, striking with his free hand. A twist of her body dodged the blow, but before she could retaliate he paced backwards to his allies, holding his wounded shoulder.


    ¡°Aaaah.¡± The leader rasped, twisted amusement in his voice. A grin of understanding spawned on his face, glinting in the rain. ¡°You¡¯re one of us aren''t you? Took a bath in the Mist, did you. What boon has the Mist given you I wonder?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s he up to? Either way, he must love to hear himself talk.¡± Enyah considered, hawking the man with narrowed eyes.


    ¡°Is it¡­ Forewarning?¡± He murmured aloud to a silent audience. During his speech, Enyah reached to her shoulder and bit a purple ball with her teeth from a pouch. The metallic, bitter taste permeating in her mouth.


    ¡°Maybe intuition?¡± He continued, oblivious to Enyah¡¯s actions.


    Enyah spat the ball into the barrel of her flintlock, loading it with precision. ¡°Or maybe you just talk too much.¡± She interrupted, a smirk lining her face.


    The leader chuckled at her voice, unconcerned. ¡°All you have to do.¡± He said, raising his arms dramatically. ¡°Is make an attack that can¡¯t be parried. And¡­¡± He paused, his grin growing, covering over half his face.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Boom.¡±


    Enyah¡¯s chest tightened. A prickling sensation surged through her body, warning signs firing in every direction. Letting instinct take over, she dove to the side as an explosion tore through the air surrounding her. Mud hurled all around her as an explosion rocked her senses.


    The square slowed around her as she fell on her knees, smoke billowing through the rain. For a moment, the world was quiet. The rain, the blast, all muting into a dull hum.


    ¡°Is she dead?¡± A voice asked, muffled and distant.


    ¡°How would I know?¡± The leader snarled with triumph. ¡°We¡¯ll hear her squirming after the trash falls.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll eat her, right? Right?¡± Another voice piped in, trembling with hunger and excitement.


    Enyah groaned, pushing herself to her knees. Her fingers dug into the mud as she forced herself up, her breathing rapid and heavy. The smoke stung in her eyes and the figures of the three ferals were unknown to her.


    He must have laid explosions while they fought.


    ¡°Crazy Feral.¡± She muttered under her breath, wiping the mud off her face with the back of her hand. She exhaled, lowering herself into a crouch, ¡°Alright. Round two then.¡±


    The world finally stood still, save for the constant hum of rain against wood. Smoke swirled around her, clinging to the ground, as if alive. Enyah crept through it, her eyes scanning for movement.


    ¡°We hear you¡­¡± A high pitch coo echoed in the smoke.


    A prickle, left.


    Enyah stepped back just as claws raked the air, her blade meeting them with a spark highlighting a wrinkled, animalistic face for a moment. The fog swallowed it before she could react. More pricks came from different directions, forcing her to duck and weave within the smoke, occasionally striking back when she could. Her blade whistled through the air, striking claw and flesh. The Ferals circled around her, striking with coordinated yet random attacks. She held her ground, parrying and dodging with precision.


    The rain pushed the smoke downwards, becoming wispy trails at Enyah¡¯s boots. Shadows turned into shapes and she saw them. Three figures hunched in the rain.


    Without hesitation, Enyah raised her flintlock and with a large crack, her shot sent one of the Ferals sprawling to the ground. Blood mixed into the water, vanishing into the muddy ground.


    ¡°Pim!¡± The leader cried, his snarl cracking with humanlike emotions. He scrambled towards the figure. limbs flailing against the mud. He trembled in anguish and fury watching the slow rise and fall of the limp body. He turned back to Enyah, who watched their actions neutrally as his voice shook in rage. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame me.¡± Enyah spoke, her face a mask of calm, hiding her emotions. ¡°You chose this path. You should be prepared for death.¡± Her voice was steady, but she felt her own words deep inside. They were for herself just as much as him.


    ¡°Grrr.¡± He growled, his face marred in anguish as his claws carved the mud.


    ¡°Maybe we shouldn''t do this, boss.¡± The other Feral gasped in pain, clasping a bloodied gash on his stomach. ¡°We could just go. The information on her would be worth a nice coin. We could just leave.¡±


    ¡°Leave?¡± The leader spit, his furred face in shock and anger. ¡°You want us to run? Beg? You want us to go back to the scraps? We¡¯re strong. I won¡¯t run again. I won¡¯t beg again.¡± His voice hardened as he looked at the body that fell still. ¡°She killed Pim.¡±


    ¡°And unless you got any more bombs, what can we do?¡± The other feral observed, blood flowing from him like the rain and his face paling. ¡°We¡¯ll just die with Pim.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll die fighting. For the perfect world.¡± The leader steadied his gaze, full of fanatic devotion. His eyes didn¡¯t seem to see Enyah, rather seeing some other vision.


    Enyah frowned. The perfect world, a belief from an old religion. How did the noble brat manage to enrage the Replian faith? This request¡¯s becoming more troublesome by the hour.


    With a shake of his head, he reverted back to a snarl, hissing at her. ¡°Do you find us a joke? Watching us like some play.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Enyah denied quietly. ¡°You¡¯re my enemy, but that doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t deserve respect.¡± Her eyes reflected days long ago, where Drantei said the same thing. She could hear his voice, deep and confident. Even enemies deserve respect, Enyah. We aren¡¯t beasts, but people.


    ¡°The mercenary thinks herself a knight. How pathetic.¡± He snorted, an unknown emotion on his face, confusion, respect? Enyah couldn¡¯t tell. He quickly hid it for disdain. ¡°How much gold would it take you to bark like a dog for me?¡±


    A roll of the eyes was Enyah''s response. ¡°More than you''d ever earn. You gonna fight, or yap all night?¡± She idly holstered her gun, a confident smirk staring into the rat man.


    Above them, the Wild Moon shone on the area, turning the rain a crimson red, as if the sky itself was bleeding as the battlefield was painted in shades of red.


    "The moon¡¯s watching us." Enyah eyed the sky warily. A flicker of fear for just a moment. "An omen? An entertained God, or something worse." The Ferals, however, only glared at her, as if they hadn''t even noticed the shift in colors around them.


    ¡°Tough words.¡± The leader growled, his claws extended. Looking at the other Feral, he snarled. ¡°Are you coming, or are you begging?¡±


    ¡°...I¡¯m coming.¡± He sighed, his voice heavy with resignation, as though he were already dead. ¡°For the perfect world.¡± He muttered quietly, his voice lost in the rain.


    The leader exchanged a glance with his remaining ally before turning back. Then, with a single hiss they both sprinted towards Enyah, charging on all four limbs like beasts, their faces gleaming in scarlet under the moon¡¯s glow.


    Enyah raised her cutlass, bracing herself against the approaching Ferals. In less than a blink, they were upon her.


    She felt the familiar prickle of forewarning stirring within her mind, but she pushed it aside.She resolved to use her ability this time. Confidence surged within her, built from years of experience. ¡°If there¡¯s a God looking for some fun, I¡¯m going to give it to them.¡±


    Claws struck at her, she quickly intercepted with a swift parry. Another sharp hand lunged at her. Grabbing hold with her free hand, the Feral was released only after a kick to the gut, skidding through the muddy ground. She whirled around just in time to meet the other attacker, driving a knee tinto his bloodied stomach. He stumbled away in pain, clutching his stomach.


    Now, only the Leader remained.


    With a guttural snarl, he lept into the air, moon at his back. His stomach was exposed, whether a bait or oversight, she swung her cutlass with precision, aiming for blood. However, he blocked her sword with his clawed hands, stopping it mid swing. His feet lashed out against her head in retaliation. She ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike. As she straightened, a few red locks of hair floated to the ground, severed by his attack.


    He was still within arm¡¯s reach and launched a new assault, slashing low and aiming for her legs. She jumped back only to receive a slash to her face. She managed to raise her cutlass in time to block his second strike, the force of the blow shaking her arms.


    ¡°You''ve gotten slow, mutt.¡± The leader snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. ¡°Is that all the Mist offered you?¡±


    Enyah didn¡¯t respond, but rather went onto the offensive. She lunged forward, her cutlass weaving through the air in an arc at his chest. He backstepped, but his foot slipped on the muddied wood. He stumbled, and her blade found itself carving a deep gash on his arm..


    From the corner of her eyes, Enyah caught movement. The other Feral, bleeding profusely and struggling to stand, stumbled towards her, loyalty spurring every step.


    The effort was in vain as Enyah, in one quick motion, slashed his neck. His body dropped onto the mud, the rain pounding upon his lifeless corpse.


    The leader turned for a moment, wide eyes betraying his shock. ¡°Frant¡­¡± He muttered, grief quickly giving way to rage as he dashed with a growl at Enyah, ignoring his injury. His eyes full of determination, he attacked in a frenzy, both clawed hands scraping relentlessly upon Enyah.


    ¡°Die! Die die die die!¡± He roared, striking with abandon. His voice cracked, strained by his emotions.


    Enyah held her ground, blocking them all accurately, her blade dancing under the rain. His strikes were desperate, but growing weaker. She saw her opening and slashed across his chest.


    He faltered, wheezing, before falling to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him as he struggled to stand up before falling to the floor in a heap, his strength leaving him.


    Enyah stood over him, gently sheathing her cutlass, bloodied and soaked in the rain. Her gaze softened as she looked down at him.


    ¡°Not going to let me go as quick as the others, huh.¡± He rasped, his voice soft and vulnerable. She leaned down, propping up the Feral with her arms. His cloak had slipped, revealing his face. It was small, barely an adult. His matted fur clung to his gaunt frame, and his amber eyes were piercing as he stared at her with defiance. She closed her eyes for a few moments, mulling inside, before reopening them.


    ¡°What''s your name?¡± She asked in frustration, hiding a softness known only to her. His eyes widened a smidgen at her question.


    ¡°My name? It''s Sterin.¡± He paused, gasping for air. ¡°And there''s Pim and Frant. Will you remember it?¡± His eyes stared up at her, as if pleading.


    A faint smile appeared on her face. ¡°Yes, Sterin, I''ll remember all of you. You fought like a warrior. Brave and unrelenting.¡± Her voice was gentle, placating, as if speaking to her own child.


    ¡°A warrior, huh¡­¡± He spoke, his voice barely audible in the rain. A flicker of peace shone on his face. ¡°I''m glad¡­¡± And then he stilled. Life left his body and once again Enyah was alone.


    For a long moment, she stared at the body with a heavy heart. Minutes ago they were enemies, but all Enyah could see now was someone like her. Someone who had struggled, who had been lost, and who needed someone to reach out. He wasn¡¯t lucky enough to have someone like Drantei to pick them out of the gutter.


    She carefully lifted the bodies, almost reverently, before gently dropping them off into the waters below. One by one they sank, deep into the dark waters to be taken away.


    ¡°Let these souls feast in the everlasting banquet.¡± She prayed softly, clasping her hands together in devotion to Trallix. Her only response was the encompassing darkness as the clouds once again swallowed the Wild Moon''s glow.


    With a deep breath, Enyah turned and walked away. The bodies were gone and her work was done. Only the darkness and the pouring rain accompanied Enyah now as she set off for her client.

 Prologue - Ch3

    The rest of Enyah¡¯s walk was uneventful. She quickly arrived at dock eighty-four, where the only lit house stood. Enyah frowned at the less than welcoming appearance. The building looked like it would collapse with a gentle push, its old wood worn and creaking from the downpour.


    ¡°What sort of noble would hole up here willingly?¡± She pondered, a hint of curiosity sparking in her gaze. A faint scent of stale blood invaded her senses, causing her to grimace. ¡°Unwillingly. I was wrong.¡±


    She recalled Gurlin''s description of the knight, but couldn¡¯t tell from here whether the blood belonged to him or his charge.


    Only one way to find out.


    Enyah rapped the door with the back of her gloved hand. The strikes made it subtly swing on its hinges.


    ¡°I know you''re there.¡± she called, one hand on her hip as she tapped her foot impatiently. ¡°Not very stealthy, leaving a candle lit upstairs.¡±


    A soft ¡°Gods damned it¡± drifted from within followed by the shuffling of steps. A muffled back and forth led to the light vanishing in a puff, plunging the house in darkness. The voices ceased, the house now looking as abandoned as it had been previously.


    ¡°Really? Pretending I''m not here?¡± Enyah voiced, tone full of disbelief. Her already low opinion of nobles sank even further. ¡°I¡¯m here for your commission.¡±


    ¡°What''s your name, Monguck?¡± A gruff voice wheezed from within, dripping with disdain.


    Enyah snorted. ¡°Nobles and their superiority complexes, cussing at me before we¡¯ve even met.¡±


    ¡°Enyah Kirnis. Now are you going to leave your escort standing in the rain?¡± She snapped, frustration bubbling up. ¡°This man better not be travelling with me.¡±


    The man muttered something she couldn''t catch and the door creaked open, revealing an older man clad in battered armor. His wild hair framed a beard soaked in blood and his chestplate bore the crest of Orlent, its pristine white insignia wiped clean of gore.


    ¡°The patriotic sort.¡± Enyah mused, her eyes scanning the guarded knight. ¡°Probably didn''t approve of the Port''s occupation.¡±


    ¡°Get in already before I reconsider.¡± The man grunted, irritation pouring from his voice.. His expression was darker than the storm, as if it pained him to even hold the door for her.


    ¡°Thank you, sir knight.¡± She drawled, stepping inside. He didn''t reply, shutting the door behind her.


    The interior of the house wasn''t any less wrecked than the exterior. The air was damp and the roof leaked. The furniture looked like it¡¯d collapse if sat on. Still, it was liveable.


    Enyah whistled as she took in the shoddy surroundings, a smirk curling towards the man, ¡°Nice accommodations. Very noble-like.¡±


    ¡°Spare me your small talk, Monguck.¡± He growled, lowering himself onto the staircase with a groan. His hand pressed against his bloodied side.


    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± She shrugged and found a dry spot on the floor, sitting down, hands on her knees. Her leisurely expression hardened, her gaze piercing at the knight like daggers. ¡°So, did I pass your little test?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± He said brusquely, his glare meeting hers without flinching.


    ¡°Don''t take me for an idiot, sir knight.¡± Enyah scoffed, leaning forward. ¡°The only ones who knew about this were you, Gurlin, and me. So how exactly would anyone else know to come for me?¡±


    ¡°Hmph. I needed to ensure you were skilled enough to protect noble blood.¡± He retorted, his voice firm and unyielding, full of self-importance. His tone irked Enyah.


    Enyah grimaced, her anger surging by the second. She closed her eyes for a moment, pushing down her fury. ¡°Be calm, Enyah. Remember why you''re here.¡±


    ¡°And,¡± he continued, his eyes wandering over her unkempt state.. Her cloak was drenched by rain and her boots splattered in mud. To finish it off, her whole body was crusted with dried blood in places. ¡°I¡¯m not too impressed, but you¡¯ll suffice. For now¡±


    ¡°Really now? And who do I have the pleasure of ¡®having to do¡¯ for?¡± Enyah enquired with raised brows, her tone full of sarcasm. Orlent, while not being a knight oriented kingdom, did have many skilled knights of renown.


    ¡°You are in the presence of one ser Liam Kesslam, heir to the magnanimous Kesslam marquee.¡± Liam proclaimed proudly, as if he wasn¡¯t on the ground bleeding in an abandoned house.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Enyah clapped enthusiastically, awe appearing on her face as her eyebrows lifted in shock. ¡°You¡¯re the Liam Kesslam?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Liam said, his tone brightening, ¡°So you¡¯ve heard of me, yes?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± She responded sharply, her face flattening and her eyes blazing with anger. Liam¡¯s face blackened, angered at her disdain. ¡°Nor do I care. I don¡¯t owe you anything, so don¡¯t treat me like I do. Let¡¯s get this business done so we never have to see each other again.¡±


    ¡°I concur.¡± Liam agreed, turning away from her and scrunching his face. Yet, despite his anger, duty compelled him to start explaining. He began explaining, cold and slow, ¡°There are several religious groups aiming for the noble child. You will have to protect him and escort him to Ollenia. Once you reach the Pearl towers, you¡¯ll receive your reward.¡±


    Enyah absorbed the information before looking at Liam, asking curiously. ¡°Why is the child being hunted by all of these groups?¡±


    The knight kept quiet, hesitating. He looked at her, searching. With a sigh he started speaking, ¡°He¡¯s a vessel.¡±


    ¡°A vessel?¡± Enyah echoed, searching her memory for any answers. She frowned, drawing a blank.


    ¡°There¡¯s no surprise you wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Liam scoffed, his tone full of condescension.


    ¡°Yet random religious zealots know about it.¡± Enyah muttered under her breath, intentionally letting Liam hear it.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Liam coughed, garnering her attention. His pride deflated, but he kept focus on the topic. ¡°Continuing on, a vessel is a human with no resistance to the Mist.¡±


    Enyah frowned, her mind searching, ¡°So low resistance disables evolution, but why is no resistance so desired?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but lean forward, interested.


    ¡°It means,¡± Liam began, his tone unconsciously softening.


    ¡°He must really enjoy lecturing,¡± Enyah thought with a tilt of her head before focusing on his words.


    ¡°Beings formed from the Mist can inhabit the bodies of vessels.¡± He said grimly, his voice serious and hanging in the damp air.


    ¡°Like the Gods!¡± Enyah blurted out, her eyes widening in shock.


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Liam affirmed, his calm demeanor contrasted with Enyah¡¯s alarm. ¡°There are even a few god-filled vessels roaming the world today. Thankfully none of them are too destructive.¡±


    ¡°The gods are walking among us?¡± Enyah muttered, her mind racing with the implications before turning to Liam. ¡°So, everybody wants their god revived, and the noble child is the key.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± Liam nodded while turning to look at Enyah, his eyes piercing into her. ¡°I''ll resume the mission myself when my injuries heal. Until then, it''s up to you to protect the child.¡±


    His stare blazed with intensity and his voice dropped to a grave command. ¡°Can you do this, mercenary?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Enyah replied evenly, her gaze fearless as it met his. ¡°The child will be safe with me.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Liam said with a nod, relaxing his posture. ¡°Be grateful, monguck, that you¡¯ve been entrusted with a job as important as this. It¡¯s not every day someone of your¡­ stature gets to serve nobility.¡±


    ¡°Honored.¡± Enyah muttered, her voice even.


    ¡°I''ll let you meet the child and leave with haste.¡± Liam continued, his voice hurried, ¡°The longer this takes¨C¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Enyah shook her head, ignoring his earlier statement and interrupting Liam mid-sentence. ¡°The jungle¡¯s crawling with beasts at night. ¡®Specially prowlers and lixsises. I can deal with ¡®em, sure, but constant combat isn¡¯t good for my mount nor me.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± His mouth opened, ready to argue, but stopped and shook his head. After exhaling for a moment, he spoke again. ¡°Alright. You know this place better than I do.¡±


    Enyah blinked, stunned by his concession. Her impression of Liam improved. She raised herself up, stretching her back with a groan. ¡°Now let¡¯s meet this special child of yours.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, now don¡¯t look too long.¡± Liam snorted, his voice returning to its smug tone and a prideful grin on his face. ¡°Can¡¯t have your monguck eyes staining the blood of nobility. In fact, you ought to be grateful to even dare to gaze upon his visage.¡±


    ¡°Right, right.¡± Enyah drawled, rolled her eyes. Right when she thought better of him.


    ¡°Come down, my liege.¡± Liam called out, rapping the stairs gently with his fist.


    ¡°Yes, ser Liam!¡± A youthful voice chirped from upstairs. Enyah could hear the soft thumping of small footsteps coming down the stairs.


    A child, no older than ten, bounced down the stairs. His long, silver hair shimmered in the dark, giving him an androgynous look. His face was youthful and unblemished and his silk pajama set was pristine, not a speck of rain nor mud marred his body. He looked more like he was on a leisurely trip than on the run.


    The boy stifled a yawn, wiping an eye with a sleeve of his pajamas before he stepped up to Enyah.


    ¡°Hello!¡± The boy said, his voice bright and cheerful, though it couldn¡¯t hide his drowsiness. ¡°Nice to meet you, miss Enyah!¡±


    He smiled up at her, but then let out a soft ¡®oh!¡¯, as if recalling a memory, and bowed down to her, his movements precise and practiced.


    ¡°Thank you for taking the time to escort me!¡±


    Enyah stared down at the child, an amused smile on her face. ¡°Liam could really use lessons from this kid.¡±


    ¡°Aren''t you a polite one?¡± Enyah said gently, crouching down and placing a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. He giggled, closing his eyes at the touch. She turned to Liam, who had a palm to his face.


    ¡°He sure didn''t learn from you.¡± She teased.


    ¡°He¡­ always moved at his own pace.¡± Liam groaned, his embarrassment showing on his face.


    ¡°It''s not a bad trait.¡± An amused Enyah moved her gaze back to the boy, her eyes softening as she looked into his curious eyes. ¡°What''s your name, kid?¡±


    ¡°My name¡¯s Rinne!¡± declared, putting his hands on his hips and jutting his chest in pride. ¡°My turn to ask a question!¡±


    ¡°And what question is that?¡± Enyah responded, her lips curling into an soft smile. His blue eyes were clear, reminding her of the oceans of the port. It brought a sense of calm, reminding her of happier days.


    He hesitated, moving his head down. Enyah could notice his cheeks flushed with red. ¡°Would you like to¡­¡± he started, his voice shy and nervous.


    Before he could finish, he slapped his cheeks, the sound ringing through the room.


    ¡°My liege! You musn''t¨C¡± Liam started complaining, his voice grave with disapproval.


    However, Rinne cut him off with renewed confidence as he shouted, ¡°Please be my friend!¡±


    The room fell silent. Enyah widened her eyes in shock, caught off guard by his request. She noticed his eyes were closed and his fists clenched. Out of fear? Or was it just nerves.


    After recollecting herself, Enyah straightened up and smiled. ¡°Sure, kid.¡±


    Rinne¡¯s fists released and his eyes snapped open, sparkling at her. Rinne''s entire posture relaxed and a radiant smile appeared on his face.


    ¡°Really? Really really?¡± he squealed, bouncing up and down in excitement. He turned to Liam, waving his arms up and down. ¡°Ser Liam! I made a friend!¡±


    Liam sighed, rubbing his nose. ¡°Very Impressive, my liege. However, I must remind you that she is a mong¨C¡±


    ¡°Liam!¡± Rinne whirled around, his silver hair swishing in the air behind him. His tone was melodic, almost commanding. ¡°She¡¯s my friend, I don¡¯t care about anything else.¡±


    His words hung in the silence. Enyah couldn¡¯t see Rinne¡¯s expression, but however he looked caused Liam to stare in disbelief.


    ¡°...It''s good to have close relations with your guard, I presume.¡± Liam said slowly, clearly focusing on trying to find light in the situation.


    Rinne turned back to look at her, beaming in his victory.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Enyah began, noticing from the corner of her eye a glimpse of Rinne¡¯s small hands inching towards hers. She pretended not to see, continuing her words. ¡°It¡¯s late. I''ll be heading home for the night. I''ll pick you up tomorrow, okay, kid?¡±


    ¡°Aww.¡± Rinne deflated, his body collapsing like an abandoned pet. Yet he still managed to grab hold of her hand. ¡°Can''t you stay here? Please?¡±


    Noticing Liam''s clear disdain at the thought, Enyah felt inclined to agree with him.


    ¡°Sorry, kid.¡± Enyah said, gently prying his fingers away. ¡°I have to get ready for the trip.¡± She ruffled his hair affectionately and adjusted her cloak.


    ¡°And¡± she added with a pointed glare at Liam, ¡°I''m not about to be sleeping too close to unknown men.¡±


    Liam snorted, folding his arms. ¡°I agree.¡±


    Enyah winked at him, before turning towards the rickety door. ¡°I¡¯ll see you two in the morning.¡±


    As she stepped outside, she was greeted by the rain. Her cloak got soaked in an instant.


    ¡°Bye! See you tomorrow!¡± Rinne called after her. Then, much more quietly, she heard him mumble, ¡°My friend.¡± followed by a small giggle.


    Enyah raised her hand in a wave without looking back, the door creaking shut behind her.


    The moment it closed her expression dropped, flattening into a look of weariness.


    ¡°That kid is going to get into so much trouble.¡± Enyah muttered under her breath.


    She began her trek home, the patter of water mixing with the creaking wood around her. The desolate surroundings used to haunt her. It was a grim reminder of the fragility of life.


    Her steps slowed near the square, where the coppery scent of blood still lingered in the rain. Slowly, almost subconsciously, her gaze turned towards the dock. She walked to the edge, peering into the ocean. The water was murky and dark, concealing its contents beneath the tide, but she could still see three lifeless bodies, floating aimlessly within the waves.


    The flickering braziers cast a shadowed expression on Enyah¡¯s face, her features looking haunting. A dark thought formed, one she couldn¡¯t hinder. ¡°Could a God revive Drantei?¡±


    Her breath hitched. She shook her head, banishing the thought. Guilt pricked at her, her voice sharp when she uttered, ¡°The fact that I could even think of that¡­¡±


    She trailed off, letting the rain finish her words.


    After a long pause, she forced her thoughts elsewhere.. A bloodthirsty grin appeared on her face. It was hungry, almost feral. Revenge was close. She could taste it. And she was far more addicted to that taste than the bitterness of regret.


    Her purpose renewed, Enyah moved on, leaving the scrap district behind. The ruined buildings gave way for intact houses, their large frames towering over her silently as she walked the empty streets.


    She stopped in front of a house indistinguishable from the rest. Its wood groaned in the rain and its windows were pitch dark, as if it was abandoned. With practiced precision, she reached into a pouch sewn within her cloak and brought out a key. Its subtly rusted handle stuck out of the door as she twisted the key into the hole.


    With a small click that could be heard in the rain, the door was unlocked. She swung the door open, allowing rain to pour in from behind her, drenching the stained floor mat.


    A small push and the door closed behind her, swallowing the room in darkness. Her expression didn¡¯t waver, instead lighting a small lamp hanging near the door.


    A faint glow illuminated her home and Enyah let out a sigh of exhaustion, taking off her sodden cloak. She hung it onto a rack, the bucket underneath already half full with rainwater. Her boots followed, left next to the door.


    A wave of exhaustion settled into her as she sank onto a worn couch, a precious gift from Gurlin. The cushions provided her much needed support as she spread her arms, looking at the wooden ceiling while her mind wandered.


    ¡°Veinrild, huh¡­¡± she mumbled quietly, less than a whisper. Her earlier resolve waned, replaced by a deep sorrow. An all-encompassing blue that she couldn''t escape from, weighing her down.


    The constant pounding of the rain was replaced with a screaming voice.


    ¡°Enyah! Get out of here!¡±


    Enyah bolted up, her breath stopping.


    ¡°Drantei..?¡± Enyah cried out, her voice trembling as she looked around the room.


    ¡°Enyah! Get out of here!¡± The voice rang again, louder this time. It echoed off the walls, assaulting her from every direction.


    ¡°Enyah! Run!¡±


    ¡°Enyah! Get out of here!¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± She whimpered, covering her head to no avail. ¡°Stop it¡­¡±


    The voices didn''t stop. It pierced through her hands, piercing into her core.


    ¡°Enyah! Run!¡±


    ¡°Enyah-¡±


    ¡°Enyah-¡±


    ¡°STOP IT!¡± She cried out, her voice cracking as tears dropped from her eyes.


    And then, Silence.


    The silence never felt so deafening. She leaned down, trembling, and covered her face with her hands. Constant sobs soon spilt out, accompanied by a deluge of tears.


    Minutes felt like hours as she struggled to control herself. Her tears slowed, whether she ran out, or managed to control her emotions, even she couldn¡¯t tell. Taking a moment to collect herself, she wiped her face with a shaking hand. She stared at her tear stained palm and clenched it until her nails drew blood. Her face hardened, a deep, unsettling anger blazing through her eyes.


    ¡°I will avenge you all.¡± Enyah spoke softly, her words carrying the weight of her emotions. Grief and anger poured into her voice. ¡°No matter the cost.¡±

 Prologue - Ch4

    The night passed on, taking the clouds and the rain with it. When Enyah creaked open her door, a packed knapsack held firmly in her hands, the warmth of the sun greeted her for the first time in days.


    She squinted her eyes, raising a gloved arm to shield herself from the blinding light. The intensity made her pause, taking a few moments for her to adjust.


    ¡°Sun''s out after only six days of rain. A good sign.¡± Enyah muttered to herself, though disbelief caked her face. If yesterday was any sign, only trouble lay ahead.


    With a thoughtful frown, she stepped out and headed towards the scrap district.The streets had a small touch of movement. An occasional local would scamper past, their steps hurried and their paranoia plain to see.


    ¡°Being too connected to Trallix¡­ I don''t like it,¡± Enyah thought. Her gaze lingered on the Gulls she passed. She knew all their names, their faces. She spent hours with each of them. Working, surviving. Seeing them act so fearful and erratic stirred a frown on her face. A discomfort rose within her. A distant town. A different town.


    She shook her head, moving her focus onto the mission. However, she didn¡¯t get too far before a shadow fell over her, covering her from the sun''s rays.


    [Mouth Breather, Ena.]


    A voice, deep and cold, warbled from the creature. It sounded like the tide, ebbing and flowing. Enyah turned around, finding herself facing a massive red shelled crustacean. A Crallip. Their kind have been living in the port for decades. Their race was mutated by the mist into their current forms. Alien, but familiar.


    ¡°Lovely dry-day, Liprill.¡± Enyah responded, the Crallip greeting flew fluently from her lips. She moved both hands behind her back and bowed, a sign of respect for their race, and respect for Trallix.


    He dipped his head in return, the chitin armor clinking with his motions. He raised his large claw-like appendage, snapping it repeatedly with a constant thunk. His alien voice continued on, his words slow. [Must leave, Ena. Beast comes soon. Be safe.]


    ¡°I''ll be gone for a bit.¡± Enyah said softly, putting a hand against Liprill''s claw. The shell was cold, as if devoid of the heat around it.¡°But I''ll be back. I won''t let you fight alone this time.¡±


    [Not safe, Ena] Liprill replied. If he had brows, they would¡¯ve furrowed in worry. His large, pitch-black eyes stared deep into hers.


    ¡°I''m an adult, I won''t be coddled anymore.¡± Enyah stated, her tone full of defiance. ¡°I''ll fight and protect the port with you all.¡±


    Liprill clicked his claw again, his thoughts unknown. He warbled to himself in an unknown tone, speaking unknown phrases. After a short moment, he spoke eligible words again to Enyah. [Honor. Fight beside Ena. Protect port. Protect home. True warrior.]


    ¡°I''d be proud to fight alongside you.¡± Enyah spoke, her fingers unconsciously gripping the hilt of her sheathed cutlass. She''s a warrior now. She wouldn¡¯t flee.


    [Come soon. Duel soon, Ena.] Liprill grumbled, his voice lightening with warmth. The wooden boards creaked under his weight as he lumbered away, the sound of his pincers waning as he departed, [Wait for you.]


    ¡°I''d never miss a duel with you.¡± Enyah called after him with a snort. Though he spoke confidently, his nervous ticks hadn¡¯t escaped her notice. Worry clouded her gaze.


    Turning back to the scrap district, she gripped her knapsack and set off. ¡°Get my revenge, then be back in time for the stampede. Simple enough.¡± She thought.


    The streets showed even more life as more Gulls emerged from their homes. They lurked in the shadows, their steps quick yet cautious. ¡°Need to eat somehow.¡± Enyah mused aloud, greeting the Gulls with nods as they passed her.


    Their replies came with quick greetings and hushed warnings before continuing on, their intentions clear. The next few months would be rough. Best hoard and be prepared for what¡¯s coming.


    Without hesitation Enyah arrived at the house, its frame glinting with decay in the sunlight. She knocked gently before calling with a steady tone, ¡°It''s me. Time to go.¡±


    The door swung open almost instantly. Liam stood opposing her, looking far healthier than the day before. Though his body was still caked in dried blood, his hair was noticeably cleaner, and his disheveled appearance has been adapted to a more composed demeanor.


    ¡°Miss Enyah, I entrust my liege¡¯s safety to you. His well-being must be your highest priority.¡± He stated gruffly, skipping any pleasantries as he stepped aside to let her in.


    ¡°No curses today. I''m impressed.¡± Enyah smirked as she passed him, entering the familiar room with light steps.


    ¡°I allowed my temper to cloud my judgement yesterday.¡± he looked away, his face red with embarrassment. He scratched his neck, relieving his stress. ¡°My apologies.¡±


    She paused briefly, responding softly, but loud enough for him to hear, ¡°It¡¯s fine, sir knight. I¡¯ll protect him.¡±


    Silence pervaded the room for a quick moment. She couldn¡¯t see his face, but could feel the pause of his steps. Finally, he began speaking, ¡°I''ll hold you to it.¡±


    Before any further conversation could occur, the soft thud of footsteps echoed from the staircase down.


    ¡°Enyah! Enyah!¡± Rinne¡¯s excited voice echoed around the room as he bounded down the steps. He jumped the last step and hit the floor with a soft thud and the creaking of wooden plants..


    ¡°Look! I''m ready to go!¡± He announced with a bright grin, holding up a modest suitcase tightly, as if it were a treasure. His tan, hempen robe swirled around him as he spun, the fabric falling to his ankles, paired with sturdy boots that tapped against the ground. Enyah nodded to herself, a practical attire for blending amongst the locals.


    ¡°I can see that, little guy.¡± She responded with a small smile.


    Liam moved towards Rinne, kneeling down and resting his arms firmly on the boy¡¯s shoulders. His voice dropped to a serious, low tone that Enyah could barely make out.


    ¡°You must listen to her, my lord. Obey her instructions without question.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir¡­¡± Rinne replied, his voice soft, barely a whisper.


    ¡°There are those who wish you harm beyond this building.¡± Liam continued, his unyielding gaze boring into Rinne. ¡°Go straight home. No detours. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir¡­¡± He repeated, with an added tremble to his voice. Did he not know his circumstances? Enyah wondered silently.


    ¡°You bear the name of Orlent.¡± Liam said, giving Rinne a firm pat on the shoulder. ¡°Stand tall, my liege. Carry it with pride.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡± He responded, looking down at his clenched fists.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Say it with conviction! You are our future!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± He cried out, lifting his face lined with determination.


    ¡°Bring honor to your name, my lord.¡± Liam finished softly, staring right at Rinne with pride before rising back up. He walked back to Enyah and gave her a nod. ¡°He''s in your care now.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Enyah replied calmly with a slight nod in return. She turned towards Rinne, who joyfully bounced over to her with renewed enthusiasm, hefting his suitcase with him along the way.


    ¡°Let me help you with that.¡± Enyah offered, motioning towards his suitcase which was dragging behind him.


    ¡°No thanks!¡± Rinne grunted with determination. He was starting to sweat under the weight, but still backpedalled to stop her. Enyah noticed his legs trembling. ¡°I can do it! I¡¯m strong! I¡¯m a fighter!¡±


    ¡°Alright, little man.¡± Enyah said calmly, lightly acknowledging his struggle. ¡°You ready? We''ve got a long way to go.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Rinne chirped and saluted, subtly wiping some sweat from his head. His exhaustion couldn¡¯t hide his exuberance towards the journey.


    Liam opened the door wide, showering the room in the sun. He then stepped aside, letting Enyah and Rinne into the sunlight.


    Enyah walked out first, casually lifting her knapsack over her shoulder and looking back towards Rinne, who waddled as fast as he could behind her, lifting his suitcase with both hands.


    She moved a few steps away from the building and stopped.


    ¡°Let¡¯s swap bags, tough guy.¡± Enyah said gently, crouching down to meet his height. ¡°You carry mine, and I''ll take yours.¡±


    ¡°But¨C¡± Rinne began, his face caked in exhaustion.


    ¡°No buts.¡± Enyah interrupted, her tone light. ¡°You¡¯ll be helping me out with this, alright? We¡¯ll work together.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡± Rinne muttered reluctantly, but handed over his suitcase. He quickly grabbed at her knapsack right after, as if not holding one would stain his newfound honor.


    Satisfied, Enyah looked back at Liam, who looked at her with something similar to approval. Noticing her gaze, he put his right hand in a fist onto his chest with his elbow sticking out. An Orlent salute.


    ¡°May Drascilian¡¯s light guide your path. ¡± Liam called after them, his voice deep and hardened.


    ¡°Bye!¡± Rinne chirped back, waving excitedly. ¡°Be safe, Ser Liam!¡±


    ¡°And you as well, my lord.¡± Liam nodded, his voice softening. As he watched them step away, a frown began to mar his face and his eyebrows furrowed in worry. He stood by the door, watching them. Probably didn''t want to leave his lord''s side, Enya thought.


    She pondered for a bit, before shouting over to him, ¡°If you have any issues, ask for Gurlin. You''ve met him at the counter before. He''s a trustworthy man.¡±


    ¡°Acknowledged.¡± Liam exclaimed back. After seeing that they''ve turned around and started their journey, he let his proud facade falter, revealing his weariness. With a labored sigh, he went inside the building, letting the door close behind him. It was Enya¡¯s responsibility now.


    Enyah walked with measured steps, letting Rinne keep close as his curious face wandered to and fro, taking in the ruined surroundings. Though the building he was in had windows, the sun revealed the scrap district in all its disturbing, disheveled glory.


    ¡°Hey Enyah!¡± Rinne piped up from beside her, glancing at her with his curious eyes. ¡°What happened here?¡±


    ¡°Well.¡± Enyah thought for a bit, before deciding to indulge his curiosity. Her eyes looked towards the crumbled buildings around them. She felt there, but distant at the same time. ¡°A few years ago a massive beast came from the ocean, bringing countless beasts with it. It was called The Modullah.¡±


    ¡°The Modullah¡­¡± Rinne echoed in awe, as if the name itself dignified the fearsome appearance of the monstrosity. ¡°What did it look like?¡±


    ¡°It''s like a snail, but it was massive. Larger than the buildings here. Its shell was harder than mithril and its body healed every injury. All it wanted was destruction.¡± Enyah spoke with gravitas, her tone lowered. but lowered her voice upon realizing their location. They were a few seconds from leaving the scrap district.


    ¡°A big snail did this?¡± Rinne frowned, seemingly in thought. His face scrunched, pondering something unknown to Enyah.


    ¡°It''s a sore spot to us, so don''t let anyone else hear you asking about it, Alright?¡± Enyah spoke in a hushed tone, leaning down slightly. ¡°We''re leaving the abandoned section.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Miss Enyah!¡± Rinne sang, his head perking up from his thoughts, his shining eyes boring into her as his concern turned into cheer in a flash.


    ¡°Good lad.¡± She smirked, reaching a hand and rubbing his head. The activity of life soon surrounded them, the eerie ruin giving way for the faint bustling of life.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Rinne let out a small voice in wonder, eying the sights of people doing their business. ¡°I''ve never seen somewhere like this before!¡±


    The thought of probing for information sprouting within her. She asked curiously, like an ordinary conversation with a friend. ¡°So you''ve never been to a town before?¡±


    ¡°Nope! Just my bedroom¡­ the bathroom¡­ the¡­other room¡­ the garden¡­¡± Rinne began, his thoughtful face a hint of having to think hard for this. His gaze wandered, as though mapping the rooms in his memory. Before he could get further, a silhouette passed them, and Rinne lost his focus.


    ¡°Hi!¡± Rinne called out to the passing Gull, who froze and stared at him, his eyes wide and trembling. Upon seeing Enyah he noticeably calmed, but only gave a quick nod before scurrying away. Rinne turned to Enyah, his face crestfallen and hands dropping beside him.


    ¡°Haah.¡± She sighed, combing through her hair with her hand. Dealing with children isn''t her favorite pastime. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. They¡¯re just on edge.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± He said softly, a frown revealing his worry. ¡°Was it me?¡±


    ¡°No, it wasn''t you.¡± Enyah placated, her mind troubled while she spoke. ¡°Their God''s worried. It''s affecting them.¡±


    ¡°How does that work?¡± Rinne asked, his high pitched voice worming its way into Enyah''s head.


    ¡°How would I know?¡± Enyah shrugged, exhaustion setting in. This kid was a handful. She should''ve treated Liam better. ¡°Faith goes both ways, I guess.¡±


    ¡°Wooah.¡± Rinne mumbled to himself, his eyes open with wonder. That didn¡¯t stop him from dashing off to another Gull slinking about, making his presence known with a proud call, ¡°Hello ma''am!¡±


    ¡°Huh? Who?¡± She stepped back in a panic, fumbling her steps in her hurry. ¡°I''m. No! Please!¡± Her words were just as rushed as her retreat.


    ¡°Sorry! Sorry!¡± Enyah called out, her voice apologetic. She darted behind Rinne and grabbed him from behind, lifting his body into the air.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Rinne complained, swinging his legs in the air. He wiggled within her grasp, but she kept her grip firm, not letting him squirm out. The Gull took the moment to dash away with barely a glance.


    ¡°She was uncomfortable.¡± Enyah shook her head, her feelings caught between disappointment and concern. ¡°Look, kid. Not everybody wants to be your friend.¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry¡­¡± He hung his head and stopped his wiggling, his body somewhat limp within Enyah''s grasp.


    She frowned, her frustration softening. ¡°Think of the reward, Enyah. Think of revenge. Be patient.¡± She reminded herself, playing the words in her head in repetition.


    ¡°Here, how about I show you something cool?¡± Enyah said with a low voice. She put down Rinne, and looked at him with a forced smile. His droopy eyes looked up at her, with a small, trembling voice.


    ¡°Something cool?¡± His droopy eyes looked up at her and he spoke with a small, trembling voice, like an injured rabbit.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there. Follow me. Be good.¡± Enyah said, reaching out for Rinne¡¯s hand. She quickened her pace, pulling Rinne along beside her as they sped through streets and Gulls, who he thankfully didn''t initiate conversation with. Though, she did get the occasional question here and there.


    ¡°Enyah, whats¨C¡± Rinne began, grabbing Enyah''s attention. A large shelled creature, different from a Crallip, lumbered far away from their location. It walked with slow steps towards the ocean, its pace leisurely and unhurried compared to the rest of the town, as if living in a different reality.


    ¡°That''s a Tarril. Turtles evolved from the mist, or so I''ve heard. You''ll find a whole bale of them living here.¡± Enyah explained to Rinne''s amazement.


    ¡°Woah¡­ I''ve never seen anyone other than a human before!¡± Rinne chimed, looking at the Tarril in the distance as if it were the most unique thing he¡¯s ever seen.


    ¡°Don''t know about Orlent, but there''s many different races here.¡± Enyah continued with a small smile, not slowing her pace at all. ¡°Keep up, it''s just around the entrance.¡±


    ¡°Ok, miss Enyah!¡± Rinne affirmed, determined to reach his quarry despite his exhaustion. His breathing was loud and rough, and his body was caked in sweat, but he paid it no mind, seeming to take it as a new experience, like a new adventure.


    As they reached the entrance of the town, a large building loomed overhead. A repurposed warehouse which served as a stable for all the mercenaries and travellers within the port. Various creatures resided within, with walls fitted to give each of them their own area. The air was thick with the smell of hay and animal musk, while the structure was roaring with life, with countless grunts, whinnies, and snorts echoing from within.


    At the front counter stood a young woman, one Enyah had seen only just last night. Her hair was put into a messy ponytail of brown, always reminding her of a horse¡¯s tail. Noticing them approaching, she greeted them with a casual wave.


    ¡°Leaving so soon, Enyah?¡± She called out in greeting, a bit of teasing in her voice.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Enyah gave a nod in reply, her voice lighter than before. ¡°Got a mission. Has Zarts been good?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Despite how he still hasn''t let me touch him.¡± The woman pouted, trying her best to look wounded.


    Enyah gave her an unamused glare.


    ¡°Aw.¡± She looked away, exaggeratedly pursing her lips, unphased by Enyah¡¯s gaze. ¡°Indulge me, why don¡¯t you. And who¡¯s this little guy?¡±


    ¡°Hello.¡± Rinne called from behind Enyah. His tone subdued from his earlier failures. ¡°Do you want to be my friend?¡±


    ¡°I''d love to! I¡¯ve always wanted a child.¡± She cooed with an indulging smile and soft affection in her eyes. She crouched down to meet his gaze. ¡°I''m Bella, what''s your name, young man?¡±


    ¡°I''m Rinne!¡± He spoke with a reignited spirit. His eyes sparkling brighter than the sun and with the enthusiasm to match. ¡°Yay! A second friend!¡±


    ¡°Only your second?¡± Bella gasped in exaggerated shock, pressing her hand to her chest. She looked at Enyah with a wide grin, ¡°How could that wicked woman treat you like this?¡±


    ¡°Very funny.¡± Enyah deadpanned, her dull glare doing nothing to stop Bella¡¯s grin.


    ¡°She''s good to me.¡± Rinne nodded vigorously, his hair bouncing erratically with him. ¡°What do you do here?¡±


    ¡°I take care of the animals here while their owners are gone.¡± Bella spoke, crouching down to talk to Rinne. ¡°Would you like to see Zarts?¡±


    She turned to Enyah, her brow raised. ¡°You are here for Zarts, right?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Enyah nodded, pulling a coin from a pouch from her waist. ¡°Thanks for looking after him.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, a thanks from you? I''m honored!¡± Bella bowed dramatically, before going through the large door, calling behind her, ¡°Give me a second.¡±


    ¡°Who''s Zarts?¡± Rinne asked Enyah after she went inside, tugging on her shirt.


    ¡°My mount.¡± Enyah responded, looking at him. A small smile appeared on her face at the thought of him and her tone softened. ¡°He¡¯s what we¡¯re here for.¡±


    ¡°Ooh!¡± Rinne squealed, bouncing on his feet. His excitement quickly shifted to the next object of his curiosity. ¡°Why isn''t she scared of me like the others?¡±


    ¡°She''s not a Gull, but a mercenary.¡± Enyah explained while he stared with rapt attention. ¡°They don''t follow Gods, only gold.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Rinne nodded to himself, before his curiosity took another turn right after. He pointed towards the periphery of the town, where a mass of trees loomed nearby. ¡°What''s that?¡±


    ¡°A jungle?¡± Enyah questioned, unsure of what he was asking for. ¡°Yeah, the Soreado Jungles. It stretches all around this place, and beyond. We¡¯ll have to travel through for our journey.¡±


    ¡°A jungle? I read about those!¡± Rinne wiggled, excited to see his books come to life. ¡°Is it really that scary? Lyris¡¯ Tales of the West said ¡®mind the roots, else they¡¯ll get your boots¡¯.¡±


    Before Enyah could caution about trusting a child¡¯s story, the thumping of a large creature echoed on the warehouse floor.


    ¡°Here he is.¡± Bella announced, coming into view with a jagged grin as she guided a massive creature into view.


    Zarts stepped forward, his reptilian form towering and awe inspiring. He stood tall on two clawed feet, with a large, feathery tail that dragged onto the ground, leaving a cacophony of colors with every step. Two small and clawed hands curled against its scaled chest, while its head, crowned by a distinct crest of feathers, tilted its head.


    It gave a low groan of intimidation until it noticed Enyah. Bounding forward, it¡¯s intimidated demeanor softened and it lowered its head, letting her brush its soft feathers with a soft and tender touch. A smile crept onto her face as she felt his cold touch.


    ¡°This is Zarts, a Grintliss. Also my partner.¡± Enyah introduced with pride, using her strength to lift herself up his side, sitting firmly on the saddle that was laid upon his back. She turned and held a hand out for Rinne, who hesitated towards the beast. She called out to him, firm, yet soft, ¡°You ready to ride?¡±

 Fear in Branches - Ch5

    ¡°Wahoooooo!¡± Rinne¡¯s loud yell echoed throughout the jungle as Zarts raced through the narrow dirt path. The trees, tall and looming, passed by in dark brown blurs and the light of the sun came and went in a flash. Sheltered by a rich canopy of leaves, the Soreado Jungles earned its name as a jungle denied by the sun.


    The only visible source of light, besides the torch attached to the saddle, which cast an orange glow, was the occasional fungi. Their dark, luminescent light created a chilling atmosphere as it painted the jungle in otherworldly hues.


    Vines wrapped around every corner, a testament to the all-encompassing growth of the jungle. Creatures that couldn''t be seen lived on the vines, their eyes glowing in the dark. They were aware of the dangers of the road, so they kept a silent vigil, waiting for unwary prey to stray from the path.


    ¡°This is fun!¡± The unwary, Rinne, sang with a carefree tone. He leaned outward, hair fluttering in the wind, and extended his hand off the mount, letting out a giggle each time his fingers touched a vine.


    ¡°Don''t lean too far!¡± Enyah called out from ahead of him, raising her voice over the rushing wind. ¡°Those lixsises''ll tear you apart in a second. Not a comfortable way to die.¡±


    Enyah¡¯s goggles protected her eyes from the slicing air as she squinted ahead. Her red hair, sewn into a ponytail, trailed behind her, while her grey cloak rippled violently, almost hitting Rinne as Zarts surged along.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Rinne responded cheerfully, pulling his hand back leisurely, as if unperturbed by her warning. His wide eyed gaze remained fixed on the jungle, taking in the ambiance as if entranced.


    ¡°You want to hear a story about this forest?¡± Enyah said ominously, her voice dropping low and with a dark grin on her face that Rinne couldn''t see.


    ¡°Sure!¡± Rinne responded innocently, unaware of the shift in her demeanor. He turned to face Enyah''s back, which was around a meter in front of her on the lizard''s back.


    She turned back to face him, her face hiding her emotions, ¡°There''s a tale among the sailors about a¨C¡±


    Enyah¡¯s words halted abruptly upon feeling a familiar prickle down her back. Her expression turned dark and she turned forward, leaving one hand on the reins and one grabbing her cutlass.


    ¡°Get down!¡± She barked in command. In a flash, she raised sword to block a dart that shot through the dark. Poisoned, most likely.


    ¡°Get down? What sort of story¨C¡± Rinne began, his confusion apparent.


    ¡°It means duck! We¡¯re being attacked.¡± Enyah snapped, moving her cutlass hand to hold the reins while grabbing her pistol.


    With a loud crack a ball was shot, her aim directed by the prickle of her ability. A distant groan of pain indicated a hit, but she didn¡¯t spare a moment to stop and check. Let the beasts have their fill.


    A quick glance at the back and Rinne was crouched down, curiously looking around, but his lips pressed in silence. Good enough. She turned back and sheathed her flintlock, leaving behind one last remark. ¡°Hold on!¡±


    Enyah flexed her legs inwardly, a signal to Zarts that he quickly responded to. With a rumbling growl, he sped up, his legs thrusting into the dirt ground.


    Two cloaked figures leapt from the trees, missing their target by more than a few paces. They landed hard on the ground, but wasted no movement in getting their bearings and starting their chase. However, they soon drifted out of sight, their running speed no match for the lizard.


    Enyah watched them disappear over the distance with narrowed eyes, turning back only when they were fully gone.


    The sounds of the jungle and the whispering of the wind was all that remained. That didn''t stop Enyah from keeping her eyes focused on the jungles ahead and her cutlass at the ready.


    ¡°Are we safe now?¡± Rinne whispered, his sound breaking the silence. He stuck his head up and peeked from side to side, nervously eying the vines and fungi surrounding them.


    ¡°With them? No.¡± Enyah frowned, her voice tinged with frustration. Fighting zealots was always the worst. ¡°They''re relentless. They''ll keep coming. Keep your head down, we won''t be safe during this journey.¡±


    ¡°Yes, miss Enyah.¡± He spoke softly, but steady. He listened, putting his head down, but his eyes wandered as if he had plenty more to say. It wasn''t the time, Enyah shook her head, pushing the grim thoughts away. All that remained was a burning determination.


    The dense jungle began to widen slightly and in the far distance she could see a clearing, subtly hidden by the foliage. One she recognized instantly, A checkpoint for travellers traversing the treacherous jungle where they could eat and rest. It was a sanctuary, one well respected. With Zarts speed, she considered skipping the first checkpoint in its entirety, instead resting at the second. Perhaps there¡¯s ambushers at the inn, waiting for them to let their guard down to strike. It¡¯ll buy them time.


    Her thoughts scattered when her eyes caught sight of a glistening thread on the ground. A thin rope, nearly invisible in the shade, lay across the path. Enyah¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Grab the saddle!¡± She called back to Rinne, her voice rushed and commanding. She was unable to see if he listened to her, instead wrangling at the reins, pulling them in a desperate attempt to slow Zarts before he could get struck. With a sharp chirp he slowed down, his claws digging into the dirt in an attempt to decelerate. It wasn¡¯t fast enough, however, as his legs caught on the rope.


    He buckled and leaned forward, his momentum hurtling him towards the ground. With a guttural squawk, Zarts¡¯ small, clawed hands reached out and scraped the ground, steadying himself while his back legs pushed through the rope and beyond with a snap, regaining his balance.


    Enyah held on tight during the chaos, but didn''t forget to lean forward and give Zarts a few strokes on his scaled neck after he regained his footing. She muttered a soft ¡°Good boy.¡± under her breath. Their enemies weren''t keen on giving them time to enjoy their success., however. Three cloaked figures rushed towards their position from the depths of the jungles, swords gleaming from their waists.


    She slipped off his back with precision and braced herself, cutlass gleaming in her hand. Without any communication, two went for her and one went for the boy. Their faces underneath their cloaks were human, but looked empty. Their unblinking, soulless eyes stared at her as they both unsheathed their swords in unison. It was unsettling. Inhuman. It made her stomach churn, but she ignored it. She had a job to do.


    Enyah put a firm hand on Zarts¡¯ cold, scaly shoulder. He knew what to do.


    ¡°Stay on Zarts.¡± Enyah barked at Rinne, her voice a firm command. He didn''t respond, but she saw him trying his best to huddle hidden behind the giant lizard. Smart move, he was much too young for self-sacrificial heroics.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    A grin grew on her face, sharp and predatory. The lust for the hunt was insatiable. She stepped back, distancing herself with her attackers. They followed her movements, their robotic walking turning into a dash with their swords aimed for an overhead strike.


    Enyah¡¯s instincts raised. Her gift, so familiar, sent prickles , but she barely needed it. Their movements were mechanical. Predictable.


    With ease, she blocked both swords with her cutlass, sending sparks into the air in their clash. They moved against her in unison, their strikes of exact strength. Enyah narrowed her eyes, shifting her weight and punching the gut of one of the attackers, landing a solid hit. Though he paused for a moment, his unnerving, unblinking stare locked onto her, sword poised for his next attack.


    ¡°They don''t feel pain.¡± Enyah muttered to herself, her grin turning grim. ¡°got it.¡±


    They struck again, this time adjusting their position to strike from opposite sides. Enyah worked her mind quickly, analyzing her next move. In less than a heartbeat, she threw her full weight to the right, blocking the right¡¯s blade with her cutlass. Using the momentum, she pushed forward and twisted her body, pulling herself out of the left figure¡¯s reach. The strike of the left figure continued, but was now aimed towards his companion''s back. Instead of hitting, it halted less than a hand¡¯s length away.


    Enyah didn¡¯t give them the chance to recover, swiftly moving her cutlass and she jabbing the figure on the right with her sword. He fell into a crumpled heap, only stopping his movement after another quick strike in the heart ended his life for good.


    She took a quick glance at Zart. The massive lizard was shaking a limp figure in his mouth like a doll and giving a growl of triumph. There wasn¡¯t a scratch on him.


    ¡°You did great, boy.¡± Enyah murmured, his actions bringing a smile to her face. But the lack of a familiar prickle beside her made her furrow her brows and snap her attention back to the zealot.


    The figure was staring straight at the fallen body that she¡¯d cut down, not moving a muscle. A shimmer appeared in the darkness of the jungle, a single tear glistening underneath the hood of his cloak.


    Some sort of repressed emotions? Enyah assumed, but it didn''t lessen the sour emotions rising up. They weren¡¯t just puppets, they were still living.


    ¡°First the Ferals, now this.¡± Enyah muttered darkly under her breath, tightening her grip on her cutlass. Her muttering turned into a growl of anger. ¡°These zealots-no, these cultists, really love to prey on the desperate.¡±


    At the sound of her voice, the zealot¡¯s head turned towards her, his face remaining neutral. It formed a cruel contrast with the tear slowly falling down his face. However, his neutral face couldn¡¯t hide the hatred that appeared in his eyes. Whether towards her or towards the religion that turned them into these puppets, she wasn''t sure.


    Right now, as much as she hated it, it didn''t matter. They were enemies.


    ¡°The battlefield¡¯s a sacred place, dragon. A place of honor, yes but also much more.¡± Drantei spoke in her ear, a vision from the past. ¡°Your hate. Your grief. Your rage. Leave it behind, no matter how confident you are. Let only one thought fill your mind.¡±


    She raised her free hand, placing it on her forehead where she felt the force of a poke. A poke that felt so familiar¡­ so nostalgic¡­


    Now it was just a phantom, the force a hallucination of her mind.


    ¡°Victory.¡± Drantei¡¯s deep voice echoed to an empty audience. Enyah''s sword was already impaled in the man, who flopped down onto the road.


    Three more bodies lay on the dirt ground, their bodies illuminated in the dark green sheen of the jungle.


    ¡°You alright?¡± She looked over to Zarts, who was preening his array of feathers with his snout, but raised his head when he felt her eyes on him. With a loud chirp he lunged at her, placing his head gently against her chest and closed his eyes.


    ¡°I''m okay!¡± A small voice echoed Zarts¡¯ chirp behind him as a head poked to the side.


    ¡°Good.¡± Enyah responded with a nod before indulging Zarts, scratching his cold, scaly neck absentmindedly.


    Should they skip sleep tonight? Probably not, Enyah shook her head. Protecting the kid while sleep deprived didn''t sound like a comfortable prospect.


    Her thoughts were interrupted by a rumbling coo from Zarts. A thankful distraction, she mused. Better time to consider their situation would be on the move.


    Enyah moved away and started to pick up a body, hoisting the pale skinned corpse onto her shoulder. It was light and malnourished. She could feel the hardened bone of ribs poking at her as she walked and deposited the body in the bushes beside the path.


    She repeated the process with the other two bodies, leaving nothing but blood soaked in the dirt. Blood that beasts would swarm to lap up the moment she moved on.


    Enyah leapt onto the saddle, giving Zart¡¯s feathers a soft brush.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Enyah murmured a command and with a sharp trill the lizard sped off, leaving nothing but a dusty trail in his wake.


    The first checkpoint came and went in a blink, Zarts charging through the open area only for the jungle to close in around them once again.


    Their journey was silent. Enyah didn''t speak, instead splitting her attention between the clear path ahead and the thoughts that wouldn¡¯t leave her.


    The puppets were different from the Replian faith, she mused. That religion attracted the destitute through speeches and promises of a better, purer world. Which sort of religion would turn their believers into these¡­ husks? They weren¡¯t desperate. Not anymore. They were like the dead, a life with no life. Which God demands such a punishment of their followers?


    Fallor, the God of the dead''s faith could possibly do something like this. His religion yearns for life beyond death, and resurrection of the dead. But these puppets still lived.


    Or perhaps Giltic, the God of unity. A hivemind like this could be seen as some sort of twistic unification.


    Her musing was interrupted from a small, trembling voice behind her.


    ¡°Are they coming after me?¡± Rinne whispered behind barely reaching beyond the roaring wind.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Enyah replied, her voice flat and determined. She felt his fear and guilt. Her words were probably harsh to Rinne, but it would be better for him to know the truth. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ve been suitably paid for your protection.¡±


    ¡°Is it worth as much as your life?¡± Rinne asked, his small voice suddenly hardening, turning sharper than a knife.


    Enyah¡¯s grip on the reins tightened. She couldn''t see his expression, nor did she turn to check. She didn¡¯t want to see it.. Not now.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Enyah affirmed, her voice hardening to match his. ¡°Yes it is.¡±


    A moment of silence, then Rinne backed down, his voice shrinking again. ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Silence again pervaded the forest. Enyah grimaced, the silence slowly becoming unnerving, bearing down on her. Only the thudding of Zarts¡¯ claws and the wind¡¯s hum invaded her ear.


    ¡°How about I continue that story?¡± Enyah said, making her tone light while focusing her eyes on the road.


    She felt him shift around uneasily behind her, ¡°But what if we''re attacked again?¡± Rinne¡¯s worried reply sounded back, but she could hear a tinge of enthusiasm hidden within. The curiosity of a child¡¯s hard to hamper.


    ¡°I''d be surprised if there''s any truly difficult fight nearby.¡± Enyah responded casually, a grin on her face. ¡°This is the middle of nowhere. There wouldn''t be any high ranking zealots near here.¡±


    A resounding sigh replaced her grin though as Enyah continued, ¡°The ones we¡¯ve seen so far, They¡¯re only the lowest ring of these religions. Poor folks sent to their deaths only to soften us up for the real threats.¡±


    ¡°Those people¡­¡± Rinne uttered behind her, his voice full of pain. Did he feel empathy for them, Enyah wondered. His voice began, soft but filled with determination. ¡°I''ll change things. I''ll make it better.¡±


    ¡°Grand ambitions, little man.¡± Enyah whistled, her tone light, but tinged with skepticism. ¡°But many have tried. Nobody can be everywhere at once. Every village, every town has its own problems. You''ll see soon enough.¡±


    She remembered most of them. Henry the Wise. Jelloriah of the Light. Queen Bernai. All great humans who once inspired hope. Now all that remained was their faded legacies. All of them tried to change this world, and all of them failed.


    Maybe the world just couldn''t be saved. Enyah shook her head. Not that she¡¯d ever try. Just sticking to her morals was enough for her.


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯ll try my best!¡± Rinne¡¯s voice sounded and broke her thoughts. Enyah could hear the determination pooled in his voice. Determination much larger than his small stature would suggest.


    ¡°Then let''s make sure you get back home alive, yeah?¡± Enyah spoke back, Her tone heavy with caution. A warning for the young boy. ¡°So I don''t want any heroics out of you, alright? Stay out of trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Rinne called out, his tone vibrant, catching Enyah off guard. She couldn''t tell what part of her words impacted him like that, but she decided against questioning it.


    ¡°Now.¡± Enyah moved on, her tone light and face shifting back to a confident grin. ¡°About that story. There''s a tale all sailors tell their kids about this jungle.¡±


    Enyah received no response behind her, though she could feel Rinne¡¯s gaze locked onto her, as if her words were all he could hear.


    ¡°A man was walking down a path. The same path we¡¯re on now, in fact.¡± Enya started, lowering her tone to a rasp and letting the eerie atmosphere of the jungle speak through her. ¡°It was his first time visiting here, and as he walked, he spotted a primfruit through the leaves.¡±


    ¡°A primfruit? Like the really really tasty kind?¡± Rinne butted in, seeing the familiar word.


    ¡°The very one.¡± Enyah confirmed, reveling in the drama. ¡°It''s a delicacy to people here, but it can only be found nearby within the jungle. The man, hungry for profit, left the path and journeyed to the fruit.¡±


    ¡°Oh no..¡± Rinne mumbled quietly, barely heard over the wind.


    ¡°Past the leaves, he found a single fruit. He plucked the fruit and journeyed back to the path, triumphant. Except¡­ he couldn''t find the path!¡± Enyah droned on, her voice echoing within the thick jungle.


    ¡°It was right behind him though!¡± Rinne spoke with rising panic, eying the jungle around them.


    Enyah smirked to herself, This was the reaction she wanted. ¡°It was. He was sure of it, yet when he turned back, wherever he looked, it was nothing but jungle. The trees surrounded him, it was all he could see. And then, he heard voices.¡±


    She felt Rinne shake behind her and she lowered her voice, darker than the jungle around them. ¡°He followed the voices and came upon a massive mansion, as big as a castle, covered in leaves and vine. It was full of laughter, of partying. It seemed like a haven within the jungle depths, so he stepped up and knocked.¡±


    ¡°Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.¡± Enyah mimicked the knocks, the sound slow and heavy. ¡°And all the voices went silent. The door creaked open and then¡­¡±


    ¡°And then..?¡± Rinne¡¯s voice trembled, his pitch raising higher and higher.


    ¡°Nobody knows.¡± Enyah said, finishing her story. ¡°The only thing we know is that a local heard screams and went to help. All they saw was a single primfruit on the ground, surrounded by screams of death. Some say it''s a realm of death. Others think it was all in his head. It could even be the jungle playing its tricks on greedy thieves..¡±


    ¡°Eep!¡± Rinne squealed, holding tighter onto Zarts, who let out a rumbling coo in response. ¡°This jungle is haunted?¡±


    ¡°Yes, little lamb.¡± Enyah spoke with a sly grin, reveling in his unease. ¡°Every kid in the port knows the story. They know curiosity can kill So be afraid, child. Be very afraid.¡±


    Enyah finally turned back to look at Rinne, who wasn¡¯t looking in his best condition. His grip was tight and he let out a few whimpers. He looked at her face, which was teasing, yet serious. Her tone carried a warning for the child. ¡°After all, curious kids like you¡­¡± Enyah paused, letting the words hang in the dark jungle air. ¡°Always die young.¡±

 Fear in Branches - Ch6

    Spending hours riding Zarts was second nature to Enyah. The dense undergrowth of Soreado, the whistling wind, and the steady beat of Zarts¡¯ claws brought her a sense of comfort. They were her constant companions on her journeys.


    Behind her, Rinne was long asleep, leaning on the rhythmic up and down of Zarts¡¯ body as he sprinted. His quiet snoring couldn¡¯t be heard, melting into the wind surrounding them.


    The sense of nostalgia brought a small smile to her face. It was serene. Peaceful. A rarity in the coming days, best to enjoy it now while it lasted. She leaned forward, resting her weight on the neck of the lizard. His scales, cool and smooth, pressed under her like a blanket.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be rough, bud.¡± Enyah spoke softly, almost drunkenly to the lizard. His head turned, looking at her with one of his large, amber eyes. An eye full of trust, of care and love. Full of many different emotions that she couldn¡¯t comprehend. She raised him from an egg, Drantei¡¯s gift for her birthday. The only remnant of those days long gone.


    A high pitched chirp erupted from Zarts¡¯ mouth, interrupting her musings of the past. He moved his head as gently as a giant lizard could and rubbed her with his snout. His version of comfort.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make it alive. I promise.¡± Enyah whispered gently to the lizard, and gave his snout a soft kiss. She rested her forehead against his for a brief moment, feeling his warm breath on her face and his quiet company. With a sigh, she leaned back, staring up at the thick canopy.


    Yet the jungle didn¡¯t let her relax. Far in the distance, the undergrowth thinned, indicating the presence of the second checkpoint. Though it was minutes away, Enyah¡¯s mind snapped back into focus.


    She turned back and leaned over to brush Rinne¡¯s shoulder with a gloved hand. He shuddered and let out a soft groan, blinking up at her with bleary eyes.


    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± He spoke drowsily, almost slurred with his words. His hair fell messily around his body in snake-like tendrils while his arms were hugging his blanket as if it were a child.


    ¡°Not so good at waking up, huh.¡± Enyah noted, a glint in her eye. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in a few moments. We don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll find there, so stay sharp.¡±


    As if doused by water, Rinne suddenly woke and straightened instantly, his mind influenced by wariness as he wiped at his sleepy eyes with his hands. He searched around him, glaring at the trees as if they were his natural enemy.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be ready!¡± Rinne barked with determination and gave her a childlike salute.


    ¡°Good lad.¡± Enyah responded, turning back forward. A hand tightened around her cutlass¡¯ hilt and her eyes narrowed, scanning the area ahead. Zarts needed his rest. Otherwise, they would have continued their journey. With a gentle brush against his smooth, scaled body, the lizard slowed to a trot, thumping through the dirt as they arrived through the entrance of the second checkpoint.


    The checkpoint surrounding them was surreal. A grassy circle where time seemed to stand still. The air itself seemed to freeze, as if holding its breath. If it weren''t for the flickering flames of the braziers lining the paths, the checkpoint would¡¯ve looked frozen, like a painting come to life.


    A handful of buildings lined the dirt paths, their craftsmanship far surpassing the crumbling buildings of the port. They stood tall in the night, framed by a massive expanse of stars. With the dense canopy of the jungle no longer covering their eyes, the boundless sky stretched overhead, each light a sign of a world beyond the skies. Closer than the distant stars, a white moon hovered, shining its radiant light upon the world.


    For mercenaries, weary in body and soul, this place was a sanctuary. A haven blessed with rest, warmth and ale. The checkpoint¡¯s survival relied solely on the mercenaries who had chosen to settle down here, their contributions earning the highest respect from all who passed through their area.


    Zarts ambled forward, knowing where to go like second nature. His powerful claws pushed towards the stable opposing the inn, his movements slow and weary.


    ¡°Evenin¡¯ Enyuh.¡± A slurred voice greeting her, heavy with intoxication.


    Enyah¡¯s gaze fell onto a man, leaning slovenly on one of the stable¡¯s pillars. His clothes were wrinkled and unkept, and his long brown hair was just as messy. His eyes were reddened and his smell was full of the stench of alcohol. That didn¡¯t stop Enyah from looking fondly at the man.


    ¡°Randall. One of the only trustworthy mercs here.¡± Enyah mused, her eyes scanning the man. Despite his¡­ disheveled appearance, which to her, always looked like he lived as a reputable smuggler, (not that she''d say that to his face) he was a surprisingly well mannered man.


    ¡°Randall.¡± Enyah greeted him with a nod, sliding off Zarts with ease. She helped Rinne off, catching him as he clumsily slid, still a bit zoned from waking up. She steadied him and gently placed him on the ground.


    ¡°Hello, sir.¡± Rinne bowed with eased grace, practically second nature. Clearly, he must have taken his share of etiquette lessons. ¡°Classic nobles,¡± Enyah snorted with amusement.


    ¡°Whoosat there? Yoo got a son now, Enyuh?¡± Randall garbled out, his voice drenched with the smell of ale. Randall put an empty glass down beside him and stood up from his wooden counter. Though he looked slovenly, Enyah could see his eyes focused, attentive. It betrayed his act. She knew his tricks.


    ¡°Under my charge.¡± Enyah corrected, her gaze sweeping over the timeless night for any signs of movement. ¡°Has anyone asked about someone like him?¡± Enyah lowered her voice, barely a whisper while she narrowed her eyes with caution.


    The locals who lived here were trustworthy, Enyah would admit that, but the mercenaries who''d only stay till they get their fill extorting passing merchants? Why she''d love nothing less than to slit their throats. They ruined the port¡¯s reputation and livelihood. If only Gurlin didn''t hold her back every time.


    ¡°Aye, think Kathy might knoo somethin¡¯,¡± Randall lowered his voice, whispering back with conspiracy.


    ¡°You know you don''t have to act in whispers, right?¡± Enyah mumbled, rolling her eyes at the man¡¯s theatrics.


    He ignored her with a toothy grin and a wink, instead electing to turn his attention to Rinne, who was awkwardly standing beside them and listening to their conversations and fiddling with his fingers out of worry. ¡°Yoo want some candy? Pretty good.¡± Randall offered, rummaging through the pockets of his coat.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Rinne''s eyes widened, but hesitated. He turned and glanced at Enyah with an indescribable look in his eyes. Full of caution and curiosity. Was he asking her permission? Or was he wondering if the candy, maybe even Randall himself, was safe?


    Enyah gave him a small nod. Rinne¡¯s face lit up and he turned back with a wide, childlike grin. ¡°Sure!¡± He blurted out, before shaking his head in worry and correcting himself.¡± Ah. I mean, yes please!¡±


    ¡°Polite kid.¡± Randall remarkled, handing the boy some hard candy with a chuckle. The mercenary always had a soft spot for making children smile. He turned towards Enyah with a widened grin. ¡°Not yours, then.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Enyah snapped, moving her eyes away and her cheeks reddening. It reminded her of her conversation with Liam. She clicked her tongue in irritation. ¡°Tsk. Let¡¯s go, kid.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Enyah!¡± Rinne chirped, his cheeks puffed with hard candy. He grasped her waiting hand lightly with his steps turning to a skip as he kept up with her pace.


    ¡°Pfffft. Miss Enyah.¡± Randall¡¯s voice echoed behind them, on the cusp of breaking down in laughter.


    Enyah cast a glare behind her, but she only saw Randall¡¯s back. His shoulders were shaking slightly as he led Zarts inside the stable. She didn¡¯t need to see his face to know he was grinning.


    ¡°Whatever.¡± Enyah muttered under her breath, quickening her steps towards the inn with Rinne scurrying to keep pace, his hand still intertwined with hers.


    She looked up at the pristine tavern. It stood out, a monolith among the buildings of the checkpoint. Its spotless walls and clean wood indicated the care and love that went into the building. A rare sight among mercenary stations. ¡°Yeah, good people.¡± She thought with a drop of pride, as if they were her own kin.


    Enyah pushed the door open, pleased by the lack of creaking. Inside, the patrons didn''t even notice her presence. They were too absorbed with playing their dice games and regaling others with their drunken tales like usual. ¡°Perfect. The less folk that see us, the better.¡±


    She held Rinne closely, hiding him against her shadow as they skirted the edge of the room. Though she saw no prying eyes, it didn¡¯t hurt to be cautious. They reached a counter situated near a sturdy staircase. Manning the counter was an older woman with only a few wrinkles marring her face. She wore a simple dress with an apron, but her clothing couldn¡¯t hide her muscles built from years of fighting and killing, each hidden scar a story of long gone days.


    ¡°Matron!¡± Enyah greeted the woman with warmth oozing from her voice. Another familiar face, always manning the counter.


    The woman looked up, her face morphing into a large grin, ¡°Enyah! Good to see you!¡± She leaned over the counter, giving Enyah a firm hug.


    As she leaned back, she noticed Rinne huddled at Enyah¡¯s side. ¡°Room for two, hon?¡± Her voice softened to a gentle, yet knowing tone.


    ¡°Yes. Two beds.¡± Enyah confirmed, keeping her tone casual as though everything were normal.


    The matron stared at her with a glint in her eye for a moment before she nodded, having finished their unspoken conversation. ¡°Alright, Enyah.¡± Her warm tone changed, cooling down to a professional tone. It was her way of keeping secrets, even within a busy tavern such as this. ¡°Want food delivered to your room?¡±


    ¡°Delivered.¡± Enyah said, her eyes taking a quick peek at the menu scrawled above the counter. ¡°Let the kid try the local specialties. Maybe he''ll like it enough to come back.¡± Enyah snorted quietly at her own thoughts.


    ¡°Two prowler thighs to the room. A hookfruit for me, and¡­¡± Enyah paused, glancing down at Rinne, who looked content being as hidden as possible, curling into her side. ¡°What¡¯d you want to drink, kid?¡±


    ¡°Umm¡­¡± Rinne¡¯s eyes darted towards the menu, considering before speaking in a soft voice, ¡°I¡¯ll have a primfr-¡± He froze mid word, his eyes widening as if recalling something traumatic. His voice softened. ¡°I¡¯m good with water¡­¡±


    ¡°Two thighs, hookfruit ale, and some water for the little man, then.¡± The matron listed, writing their order on a small scrap of paper. She slipped it through a hole behind the counter before handing Enyah a small, nondescript key. ¡°It¡¯ll be room 2D, on your left up the stairs.¡±


    Enyah leaned in to take the key from her hands, her voice whispering as she went, ¡°Send Kathy up with the food.¡±


    The matron gave her a knowing nod ¡°Will do, young one.¡± she said softly, using a term she used to call her years ago. Enyah chuckled quietly to herself, the words stirring childhood memories. Rinne looked curiously at her, his eyes pleading to know the story. She responded by ruffling his head, messing with his hair purposely.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost out of the jungles, kid. One more day.¡± Enyah lowered her voice, talking as they began their climb up the stairs.


    ¡°Yay!¡± Rinne cheered, though matching her quiet tone. After a moment, he tilted his head, curiosity once again sprouting. ¡°What''s a prowler?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Enyah considered as they reached the top of the stairs. ¡°It''s like a panther. Do you know what a panther is?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! A big cat.¡± Rinne responded eagerly, as if proud of his knowledge. They walked down a dimly lit hallway, only one torch lighting up the whole second floor. They soon reached a nondescript door that blocked their way.


    ¡°Think that, but bigger. Claws longer than your arm.¡± Enyah continued, placing the key into the lock. A soft click echoed in the corridor. ¡°Spikes all along their body. Teeth so large they jut out of their mouth.¡± She pushed the door open, revealing a cozy room. A simple rug covered the floor and two beds lined the wall, opposing a table. A miniature balcony peeked from the far end of the wall, exposing the pitch black expanse and beyond. ¡°But they taste pretty good. That''s what matters. You''ll enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I can''t wait.¡± Rinne smiled, turning his attention towards the beds. ¡°I''m taking the bed near the window!¡±


    ¡°No you aren''t.¡± Enyah said, grabbing his shoulders before he could bounce over. She pointed firmly to the bed closer to the door. ¡°This one¡¯s safer. You''re sleeping here.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­ Okay!¡± Rinne deflated for only a moment before his exuberance bounced back with an innocent smile. He jumped onto the bed, indulging in the soft sheets. ¡°It¡¯s comfy either way.¡± He sunk into the sheets with a satisfied sigh.


    Enyah shook her head silently, closing the door behind her. Locking the door, she let her tension ease, embracing the comfort of the familiar room. She dropped onto her bed with a long, deep sigh. The mattress cradled her sore muscles, offering her much needed relief.


    It was only the first day of the trip and it was already this eventful. It felt like weeks had gone by in the chaos. As much as she hated to admit it, Zarts wasn¡¯t the most comfortable of mounts. Quick, certainly, but also a rough ride.


    Enyah let her head sink into the pillow, closed her eyes for what felt like a blink before she was interrupted by a hard Knock Knock.


    ¡°Got an order for an Ennie here!¡± A young, cheerful voice called from behind the door. Enyah, recognizing the voice, reluctantly left the warm embrace of the mattress and moved towards the door in a groggy trot.


    Her eyes darted towards Rinne, who was rolling around on the bed without care. She tilted her head, wondering if he even perceived the door knock.


    Knock Knock. The sound of the door being hit echoed louder, making Rinne jump up in surprise, his widened eyes searching for Enyah in alarm. Noticing her relaxed demeanor he quickly settled down, though his curious eyes drilled into the door, ready to inspect their visitor.


    She unlocked the door and opened it, revealing a young girl who instantly waltzed past Enyah and into the room, as if dancing.


    ¡°Kathy.¡± Enya thought endearingly, shutting and locking the door as the girl placed their food onto the table with a thunk.


    The moment the lock clicked the girl perked up, all professionalism forgotten.


    ¡°Enyah!!!!¡± Kathy squealed, dashing towards Enyah and wrapping her from behind in a bear hug. She rubbed her face against her back, infectious excitement radiating out of her. ¡°It''s so good to see you! I waited so long, you know!¡±


    ¡°Hey, Kathy.¡± Enyah greeted gently, her voice indulging, but strained as she struggled to turn around, ¡°Alright, alright, let me get to the table.¡±


    She pouted, but let go. Instead, she grabbed hold of Enyah¡¯s cloak, like a child afraid of losing their parents.


    Enyah turned to take in Kathy¡¯s familiar appearance.. The teenager¡¯s blonde hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, her youthful face lightly touched by makeup. What stood out most about her, however, was her blood red eyes, glowing faintly in the dimmed room. A gift from the Mist though why it also changed her eye color was beyond Enyah¡¯s understanding. She wasn¡¯t a scientist.


    Kathy wore a simple black dress, covered by a white apron, perfect for her waitress duties. Though, If Enyah knew Kathy, there¡¯d be countless knives hidden all over her clothes and boots. The girl¡¯s got an obsession with them, and there¡¯s no doubt in Enyah¡¯s mind that there were plenty hidden all over her body.


    Before, her crimson eyes were fixed solely on Enyah, so when she noticed the small child sitting on the bed, staring at her with widened eyes, she stared back in shock.


    ¡°Enyah¡­¡± Kathy turned to her, her voice wavering. She tugged softly on her cloak, on the verge of tears. ¡°Did you replace me...? Am I¡­ not enough for you anymore?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Enya asked, caught off guard.


    ¡°As your one and only apprentice!¡± Kathy proclaimed proudly, puffing her chest in pride.


    ¡°You''re not my¡­¡± Enyah started, but quickly backed down. Technically, Kathy was her apprentice¡­ in a sense.


    ¡°Well she''s MY friend, so that makes me YOUR uncle!¡± Rinne interjected, announcing whatever twisted logic appeared in his head and pointing at Kathy.


    ¡°How can that be!? You brat!¡± Kathy shrieked, her eyes burning with fury as she glared at Rinne. He glared right back, fists clenched, ready to defend his¡­ friendship? Enyah felt a headache coming.


    ¡°Rinne''s under my protection, don''t worry.¡± Enyah pacified her, cutting off their argument. She sank into one of the chairs, leaning back. ¡°We¡¯re headed to the capital.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, the capital! Haven¡¯t been there before.¡± Kathy exclaimed, plopping down on the other chair, much to Rinne¡¯s chagrin. ¡°How about some extra protection? Let your little apprentice explore the wide open world too.¡± Kathy added wistfully, exaggerating her emotions.


    ¡°No!¡± Rinne grumbled, turning his head in a pout. ¡°I don¡¯t want her!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what''s good for you, kid!¡± She growled at him, changing her face to be as sweet as honey and turning to Enyah. ¡°Though I do know why you called for me, besides your unending love and affection for me, of course.¡±


    Enyah¡¯s dull, unamused eyes bore into her, but she ignored it, unfazed. ¡°Some folks have been coming in, asking around about a little silver haired boy. They¡¯re still here too, lurking in the tavern.¡±


    ¡°Silver hair¡­ right.¡± Enyah pondered. It¡¯d be best to change his hair color, or at least hide it if they wanted to continue unhindered.


    ¡°Don''t think they¡¯ve seen you go up the stairs.¡± Kathy added, tapping her chin in thought, ¡°But they might have. You want me to have a little chat with them?¡± Her lips curved into a sharp grin, ¡°Or better yet, I could kill them in their sleep. No more trouble.¡±


    Enyah shook her head, a grin matching Kathy¡¯s slowly forming on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve got a better idea. First, though, we eat.¡±

 Fear in Branches - Ch7

    A white moon hung dangerously close to the circle of the second checkpoint. It bathed the jungles in its celestial glow, its light creeping through the foliage, casting twisting shadows of white. Within the radiance, four silhouettes stalked silently, their figures unable to escape the moonlight¡¯s gaze. With grace and unity, they scaled the side of the inn, propping each other up as they rose in height.


    Finding a closed window, the lead figure reached into his cloak and retrieved a flask filled with a bubbling purple substance. He uncorked the substance with a pop, a smell of death pervading the air for a moment before drifting off with the wind. Pouring the contents onto the glass, the liquid fizzed and gnawed away at the glass. All that remained was an open, jagged hole on the side of the building, inviting the figures inside.


    With light steps, the figures climbed through the hole, their weight pressing onto the frame without a sound. Inside, two figures lay in separate beds, their breaths slow and steady, undisturbed by the silent intruders.


    With a nod from the leader, they split up. One of the cloaked shadows tapped lightly on the floor, making their way to the bed near the door. A small, curled figure lay asleep, their messy silver hair gleaming in the darkness.


    The other three surrounded the bed closer to the window, where a red haired woman lay. Her eyes were closed in peaceful solitude and she lay still. Almost too still, as if dead.


    Thinking nothing of it, the leader moved closer to the bed. Carefully, almost preciously, the figure unsheathed a curved dagger from beneath his cloak and started muttering incomprehensible words, as if speaking a lullaby in gibberish. He lowered the blade right upon the woman¡¯s chest,


    ¡°Idsi Lanthri Panrott Iandit Rawiet Lamdor Crawitt¡¯sitl Fraltiye.¡± His voice was gentle, guiding the blade like a lost child. Yet when he expected the knife to hit skin, The woman shifted. She rolled over, her sword slashing through the air at a cultist. The cultist could only widen his eyes before his head tumbled off his body.


    At the wet thunk of the head hitting the floor, chaos erupted. The silver figure lept from the bed, Knives flashing in both hands with a manic grin. Kathy threw herself at her attacker, her face widened with glee.


    Meanwhile, Eyah had risen from bed and positioned herself between the beds, staring down her two opponents calmly.


    ¡°Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?¡± The lead cultist growled, his voice raising with each word. His frustration pooled out, his teeth clenching while he spoke. ¡°Do not interrupt a sacred ritual! Fall into Lamdor¡¯s gentle embrace!¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Enyah replied confidently, her piercing gaze locked on her two opponents. ¡°I¡¯m not too fond of dying prematurely.¡±


    ¡°You wouldn''t be dying!¡± The man cried out, caressing the dagger with a light touch, ¡°You¡¯d be joining our god in eternal paradise!¡±


    ¡°Then sacrifice yourself.¡± Enyah snorted, though she groaned internally. A crazed fanatic.


    ¡°I can''t. Not yet!¡± He replied, his face remorseful, as if he wanted nothing more than to leave this world. ¡°I must¡­ save all of these lost lambs. The world must see Lamdor¡¯s splendor!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Lemuel.¡± The other figure cheered, her eyes glittering with admiration, like she was gazing upon a saint. ¡°An inspiration to all of us!¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡± Lemuel shook his head with modesty, though his face was smeared with pride. ¡°I¡¯m only a deacon, this is simply my duty.¡±


    Enyah rolled her eyes, but sprang into action the moment she regained her focus. She leapt onto the bed, using it as a platform to lunge towards the woman. With her weight behind her, she drove her cutlass downward for a slash. The woman barely managed to unsheathe her sword and raise it, blocking the attack. Yet the force made her stagger, buckling under the pressure.


    ¡°You cannot escape your fate!¡± Lemuel roared, lunging at her from her side. She sensed multiple pricks coming fast, each aiming for a different area and coming in fast.


    Though, four attacks?


    Enyah backstepped quickly, reaching just shy of a bedframe. The unknown made her cautious. Raising her cutlass as a guard, she eyed Lemuel, whose cloak was thrown off in the fight.


    His hair, long and matted, fell in strands covering his face, but she could see piercing green eyes staring at her, wide with electric zeal. His manic grin was wide and toothy, fanaticism oozing out of it. His frame was thin, but packed with muscles.


    And then she saw them.


    Sprouting out of his back was two extra arms, grotesquely hanging above him like antennae and holding swords. Though human in appearance, there was something unsettling about the arms. A wave of disgust rolled through Enyah.


    ¡°Is that¡­ from the Mist?¡± Enyah grimaced, her voice cautious and disgusted as she recoiled away from the man.


    ¡°The Mist? No, no. I wouldn¡¯t accept anything from that blight.¡± Lemuel shook his head with a scoff of disdain. It didn¡¯t hide the mad devotion that the man held. ¡°This is a gift from Lamdor! To tamper with Fate¡¯s dial, he wields four distinct hands, each guiding a different path.. To his faithful believers, he grants us the privilege of becoming just like him.¡±


    ¡°Why would a being like Lamdor need believers like you?¡± Enyah goaded, confidence seeping through her steady voice. ¡°What could the father of fate ever need from mortals?¡±


    ¡°To end his eternal duty. And it¡¯ll all start with that boy!¡± The woman hissed, her body tense and on the verge of pouncing.


    ¡°Ooh! A four armed man!¡± Kathy chimed in, suddenly perched on the bed beside Enyah, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked at Lemuel as if he were an amusing pet. ¡°That¡¯s gotta be rough on the shoulders!¡±


    ¡°It does ache a bit¡­¡± Lemuel admitted, before his gaze sharpened into a glare, ¡°Are you mocking me?!¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± Kathy gasped, covered her mouth with her hand in mock shock.


    ¡°Graaaagh!!¡± Lemuel roared, charting at Kathy. Or at least, he attempted to. Weighed down by his extra arms, his rush was¡­ pathetic. He stumbled past the bed, his movements looking more like the flailing of a wild animal than a lunge of anger.


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    Kathy rolled back in laughter watching him, tears in her eyes. Enyah, however, narrowed her eyes. Not taking chances, she positioned herself between them and sprinted towards Lemuel, intercepting him. ¡°You take the other one.¡± She called over her shoulder.


    She heard an excited ¡°Okay!¡± from Kathy, but couldn¡¯t respond, her mind focused on calculating her best move.


    Four pricks came upon her rapidly while she advanced. Four jabs. She registered the attack instantly, coming up with a countermeasure in less than a blink.


    Pivoting her body left, she leapt onto the bed, her balance unbothered by the uneven mattress. Lemuel¡¯s four swords came upon her, but only two could reach her at their angle. Four down to Two pricks. She met them with her cutlass, steel against steel echoing in the night.


    She aimed a rapid slash on one of his arms, but he shuffled backwards just on time, parrying her strike with one of his swords, while his other arms stabbed at her from his right.


    Their back and forth continued, sparks flying while Enyah jumped off the bed and circled the man, denying him his full prowess. Her attempts at attacking back were thwarted as well. They were at a stalemate, neither side gaining an inch. Yet Enyah¡¯s patience paid off, as Lemuel was losing his temper.


    ¡°Die! For! Lamdor!¡± Lemuel spat, eyes blazing with fanatic fury. He swung wide, as if trying to spin in a circle. Ducking low, Enyah dove the other direction, slashing up towards his moving arm as she fell.


    Lemuel¡¯s horrified scream of pain echoed, followed by the wet thunk of a dislodged arm slamming into the ground. Not giving him any room, Enyah struck with force, pushing him back step by step until he hit the wall. Gritting his teeth, he lunged forward, a whirlwind of steel as his arms flailed around.


    She stepped back, letting him barrel towards her before darting to his side and slamming into him with her shoulder. The force sent him tumbling straight through the open hole where the window used to be.


    Enyah looked down, watching Lemuel as his anger turned to wide eyed fear. He plummeted down and landed with a heavy thump, the sound ringing in the night. He lay there for moments panting, before a grin stretched across his face.


    Her face morphed into shock as she saw his severed arm regenerating, the torn flesh slowly morphing back to perfect condition.


    She clutched at her cutlass, a wave of revulsion flowing through her. She took a quick glance to Kathy, who was still engrossed in her own fight. With no time to waste, Enyah jumped through the hole, using the building¡¯s frame to slow her descent. Her boots landed on the ground with a soft thud, she turned her eyes to Lemuel.


    ¡°No mortal could hope to break Lamdor¡¯s boons so easily.¡± He sneered at her, flexing his newly reformed arm.


    Giving him nothing but a glare Enyah launched herself towards him, seizing the initiative. Aiming a slash towards his leg, he moved to block, but she feinted, instead striking towards his stomach.


    He barely managed to move a sword to block, retaliating quickly with another slash.


    Aided by her intuition, she sidestepped, dodging by mere inches. Capitalizing on his failure, she struck back, using both hands to increase her weight.The added force caught him off guard. His attempt to block was casual and sluggish, earning a long gash on his arm for his blunder, reeling back in pain.


    He staggered back, clutching his injured arm. His grin faltered for a brief moment for a grimace of pain, before replacing itself with unbridled rage.


    ¡°Not much of a swordsman, are you?¡± Enyah drawled, eying the crimson blood tipping her cutlass before flicking it clean.


    ¡°My God''s blessings are all I need.¡± Lemuel muttered with an unwavering tone. Slowly, fervently, he crossed the four swords in his hands together in a ceremonial manner, the blades forming an uneven diamond. ¡°Without him, we wouldn¡¯t exist. Without him, life wouldn¡¯t go on. Marriage. Childbirth. Growing up. ALL HIM!¡±


    While Lemuel continued his proselytizing, Enyah¡¯s gaze flickered to the gash on his arm. The blood still trickled, falling to the grass in single drops. It remained injured, the miraculous revivification that healed his extra limbs didn¡¯t touch his preexisting one. Her lips curled into a grin. Only his ¡®gifted¡¯ arms could heal. Good to know.


    Lemuel¡¯s narrowed eyes bore into her, speaking with mock patience. ¡°Have you finally decided to join our lord¡¯s embrace? Look at his blessings! He will not leave you wanting. Just hand over the boy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Enyah stated, affirming her beliefs. Religion, she mused, was nothing more than a drug. A drug filled with hope and faith that clung towards an uncertain future. She wouldn''t be swept into muddied waters like that. Not willingly.


    The thought pulled at recent memories. Memories she wished she could bury. The faces of the Ferals, of the puppets. Her past encounters¡­ her past kills¡­ All miserable and desperate, ruined and brainwashed by cults, eventually dying to her hand due to their desire to sacrifice a child.


    The thoughts stopped. Only Drantei¡¯s words echoed in her mind. ¡°Focus, Enyah.¡± She told herself. She turned her attention back to Lemuel, who was grimacing at her earlier response with a frown.


    Enyah spoke, her voice cold as ice, ¡°I''m not about to wait around for some God to solve my problems.¡±


    Lemuel bursted in anger, speaking in barely contained frustration. ¡°Just accept him! Think about heaven! An endless feast. Everything you could ever ask for!¡± His fervor rose as he spoke, but faltered when he noticed her dark, unmoved expression.


    His face fell into a sigh. He''d have to guide this lost lamb himself. ¡°Then we have nothing left to say. Wait for me, lost lamb.¡±


    Two figures stared each other down with only the moon as their spectator, its pearlesque light casting long shadows that sprawled between them.


    In an instant, Enyah moved, her figure becoming a blur, closing the distance between them in a blink. A feint towards his neck, redirected towards his arm. Blocked. He swung in retaliation, but she sidestepped, slashing upwards towards his side. Each movement felt fluid, instinctive. She felt in total control of the battle, its rhythm calming her emotions and sharpening her focus.


    Enyah revelled in the feeling. The thrill of combat, her body moving in harmony with her ability. The fight felt too easy. Like a child¡¯s game. The zealot didn''t know swordsmanship, preferring to swing four swords around and use his brute strength. She¡¯d use that to her advantage.


    His swords flailed through the air, meeting no resistance. She exploited his weakness, dipping and dodging around his strikes, leaving shallow cuts across his body.


    ¡°Would it be best to end this fight now?¡± Enyah considered, watching his futile struggle. After pondering, she held back. ¡°No need to rush. This fight is good practice.¡±


    Their back and forth duel continued until Lemuel lost his patience. He charged forward with a guttural, inhuman roar, swinging his swords with as much strength as he could muster.


    Feigning exhaustion, Enyah let out quick, shallow breaths, moving back as if overwhelmed. He advanced confidently, gaining ground with each step. Maintaining this momentum, Enyah allowed him to close the gap, luring him with a sense of victory.


    With a burst of speed, she struck towards him, her cutlass gleaming in the moon.


    His eyes widened in alarm, but the momentum of his attack pushed him forward, continuing his strike. Two right arms rushed forwards for a strike, just as Enyah predicted. She twirled to the side, her movements gentle, almost like a dance. Her blade met his, parrying his strike with ease before twisting her sword in less than a blink,


    One of his arms fell.


    ¡°AAAAAAAAAH!¡± Lemuel screamed a guttural yell, echoing in the night. He stumbled back, gripping his remaining swords tightly. However, Enyah wasn¡¯t finished. She swung upwards, striking down the arm above in one smooth slice. It fell onto the ground with a wet plop, the grass below soaked in a crimson red.


    Lemuel staggered, his remaining arms fell limply to his sides, creating a grotesque picture. He groaned in pain, his knees hitting the ground hard.


    ¡°I must¡­¡± Lemuel mumbled, but Enyah couldn''t fully catch it.


    Before she could consider further, he steadied himself with sharp and focused movements that belied his large frame. He turned and bolted towards the jungle with unexpected swiftness.


    As he ran, he turned his head back, his face a horrifying mix between pain and fervor. ¡°I''ll be back! I will save you!¡±


    Enyah frowned as he escaped, watching his figure shrink into the darkness. She closed an eye, raising a finger while tracking his sprint.


    ¡°Boom.¡± She muttered to herself, imagining the shot of the pistol piercing the target. If she had her gun on her, he''d be dead. Yet her pistol was with Rinne, providing extra protection while he hid in the restroom.


    Still, she wasn¡¯t overly concerned. Even if he ran, he wouldn''t be able to catch up to Zarts without using an airship or teleportation. A religion like Lamdors wasn¡¯t the type to have either.


    She gave her bloodied cutlass a swing, blood sprinkling through the air, before sheathing it beneath her cloak, hidden from sight.


    ¡°Heeeeeyy!!!!¡± Kathy¡¯s cheerful voice called out from behind her. Enyah glanced back, spotting the girl swinging her legs while she sat at the edge of the broken window. ¡°Had your fun yet?¡±


    ¡°Just about,¡± Enyah replied, turning towards the building. ¡°Killed?¡±


    ¡°Killed.¡± Kathy confirmed, a pure smile blooming on her face, as if talking about picking flowers rather than slaughter.


    With a satisfied smirk, Enyah climbed the Inn''s frame, gripping its wooden edges and pulling herself up. She slipped through the crack, landing safely inside the room. Kathy jumped to her feet the moment she landed, wrapping her with an energetic hug.


    ¡°You know.¡± Kathy said, her voice muffled by Enyah¡¯s cloak. Not that either of them minded. Kathy had always been a very touchy girl. Enyah was used to it by now. ¡°I think I''m a real stunner with grey hair.¡±


    ¡°You sure are.¡± Enyah replied, her tone warm but absentminded. She raised the girl in her arms herself. From a street rat to the skilled killer she was today. She''ll always be a single ray of light in this dreary, disgusting world.


    Lifting her hand, she gently patted Kathy''s head. She giggled, rubbing her head in response, like a cat showing affection. Even grown up, she''s still a kid. Enyah smiled fondly.


    ¡°Is the boy safe?¡± Enyah enquired, her eyes drifting to the closed bathroom door, its surface unscathed compared to the conflict closeby.


    ¡°They never knew he was there!¡± Kathy begrudgingly separated from Enyah and gave a playful salute. Though mischievous, she knew when to be professional.


    Enyah nodded, satisfied. ¡°Good.¡± She glances around the wrecked room, noting the aftermath of their fight. Two corpses lay on the floor, their freshly spilled blood seeping into the rug. This room was ruined for the foreseeable future. Not to mention the noise, keeping at least a few of her fellow patrons up.


    ¡°I could still go with you. I''d be really helpful.¡± Kathy said casually, but her eyes betrayed her eagerness. Her stare was intense, almost desperate.


    ¡°No.¡± Enyah said, her tone firm and offering no refusal. ¡°Stay here. The port needs you. Those fanatics could strike the port any day, and the next stampede is coming soon to boot. Lots for you to do here.¡±


    Kathy¡¯s shoulders drooped, her energy vanishing. ¡°Okay¡­¡± she mumbled, kicking her heels on the floor in disappointment.


    Enyah placed a firm hand on her shoulder, startling the girl. She looked up, wide eyed, as Enyah spoke. ¡°I''m counting on you.¡±


    Kathy perked up instantly, her back straightening and snapping back into her cheerful salute. ¡°Yes! You don''t have to worry at all. I''ll keep our home safe and sound while you''re gone!¡±


    Enyah smiled fondly at the energetic girl. ¡°I know you will.¡±

 Fear in Branches - Ch8

    With Kathy¡¯s help, the duo dragged the bodies out through the window. They tumbled off the inn with a series of thuds, eventually stilling to silence on the ground. The room wasn¡¯t clean by any means. Stains of red smeared the walls and the beds were unkempt, while broken planks of wood spiked the floor. A thick scent hung in the air ominously. The scent of freshly spilled blood. It wasn¡¯t liveable, but they could at least survive the night.


    Kathy lingered, wanting to continue their conversation. Yet with a silent shake of Enyah¡¯s head, she let out a sad, lonely nod and slipped away. Now only Enyah and Rinne remained. It¡¯d be best for them to rest early and be prepared for tomorrow¡¯s journey.


    ¡°It¡¯s safe to come out.¡± Enyah called after giving the room a quick sweep. Her tone became softer and gentler, ready to placate the boy.


    The bathroom door opened slowly, revealing Rinne, who hesitantly peeked his head out from behind. His gaze darted around the room, eyes widened and full of manic wariness, as if danger was encroaching upon him at every moment.


    ¡°Are they gone? Is she gone?¡± His small voice trembled like a rabbit, his hands tightly gripping the door in desperation.


    ¡°They¡¯re gone. It¡¯s just us.¡± Enyah assured him, her voice even, despite the weariness creeping in. Every muscle in her body ached and exhaustion was settling in. The state of the inn only served to remind her of her exhaustion. The inn¡¯s bed never felt so inviting, calling for her to embrace a long and deep sleep.


    Rinne crept out of the bathroom reluctantly, heaving a small sigh of relief. Though he still remained cautious, eying the door to the room, as if it would be invaded at any moment. Enyah nodded approvingly. While living in constant fear wasn¡¯t healthy, especially for such a young boy, a healthy dose of caution would do him well, especially someone in his noble position.


    The child¡¯s gaze turned towards the gaping hole in the wall, previously hidden behind the bathroom door. His eyes widened, almost in disbelief, at how the hole suddenly appeared.


    ¡°What is..?!¡± Rinne stared warily at the hole, his worry relighting yet again. The open hole was an invitation, but Enyah wasn¡¯t too worried. With those few working here, there should be at least a few hours of reprieve.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Enyah responded sharply. More sharply than intended. Her exhaustion was getting to her, but her sense of duty required Rinne to at least be in his bed before she could rest easy. She spoke gentler, fixing her tone. ¡°Sleep. We¡¯ll leave tomorrow.¡±


    Rinne hesitated, staring at the wall for a few moments, but he eventually shuffled into the bed. He rapidly wrapped himself tightly with the warm blanket, as if the cocoon of covers would protect him from the dangers outside.


    Enyah watched him closely, making sure his eyes closed and breathing slowed. Whether he was attempting to sleep, faking, or truly asleep, Enyah wasn¡¯t sure. But the rise and fall of his chest was enough to convince her.


    Satisfied, she collapsed onto her bed, beset by the comfort she sorely missed. The moment she found her position and rested her head on the pillow, the world slipped into blackness.


    Enyah hated sleeping.


    If she needed to, she could handle the aches and exhaustion that came with sleeplessness. Yet the dreams. The dreams would come at her weakest, recounting the worst horrors in her life in a constant spiral.


    She only ever saw her loved ones, dead and drowning the ground in their blood. Loved ones she failed to protect. Their eyes pierced into hers, blaming her for their deaths. Blaming her for every mistake. The nights where she saw nothing were her favorites. Sleep, then wake up a moment later re-energized and ready to work. No guilt. No suffering. It was peaceful.


    So she was understandably shocked when the scene she entered wasn¡¯t a nightmare, barraging her with her innermost fears, but rather a gentle, fond memory.


    The scene unfolded vividly, as if she were actually there and not simply recounting the past.


    A much younger Enyah sat in a plush chair, kicking the air impatiently. She was staring at the front door with expectant eyes, her little fists shaking in excitement. She knew who was coming home. Who would appear at any moment.


    The door swung open, accompanied by cheerful chatter and boisterous laughter.


    ¡°We''re home!¡± The lead figure¡¯s voice rang out, his voice cheerful and warm while sporting a massive grin on his face.


    Drantei.


    The older Enyah sat on the side, a quiet spectator to a long past event. She knew he would come, but it didn¡¯t stop her breath from hitching and her eyes from watering. Her eyes locked into him, desperately capturing every moment of his living self. His confident demeanor, his poorly trimmed beard. The long mane of hair that flowed around his face. Even the way his eyes curled when he smiled. She made sure to note every detail, desperate to make sure they''d never fade away.


    ¡°Drantei!¡± The young Enyah squealed, popping off her chair and charging towards him with glee.


    His eyes curled gently upon seeing the girl, softening as he bent down, widening his arms to catch her. ¡°There''s my girl!¡± He said warmly, lifting her casually and perching her on his wide shoulders. ¡°Miss me?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Enyah chirped, holding onto his head while he carried her inside.


    ¡°We got quite the haul.¡± He said with pride, walking to Enyah¡¯s chair and plopping down. Grabbing hold of Enyah, he softly placed her onto his lap.


    ¡°Are we filthy rich?¡± The young Enyah asked, tapping a small finger to her chin.


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am, we¡¯re filthy rich!¡± Another member of their group, Gaius, chimed in as he entered the building. In his arms was a massive chest that he lugged inside. His face was flushed with sweat, but his grin was as wide as Drantei¡¯s.


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    ¡°This little beastie¡¯s worth a fortune!¡± He announced, dropping the chest onto the table in front of them with a loud thunk.


    With a sense of drama and exaggerated flair, Gaius opened the lid slowly, drawing out the secrets that hid within. Little by little the contents were revealed to the younger Enyah, who giggled at the spectacle, but it didn¡¯t hide the wide, sparkling eyes that stared through the cracks, hoping to see the secrets within.


    Nestling within the chest, cushioned by soft padding and pillows, was a massive egg. It gleamed sharply within the light, jagged and green, with moss-like stripes running along its surface. The size of it, half the size of a human being, only served to entrance her. Such an alien egg, one the likes she¡¯d never seen before lay before her.


    ¡°Wooooah!¡± Young Enyah gasped, standing on Drantei¡¯s legs for a better look. Her eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity, observing the egg as if it was a secret to be unlocked. ¡°What beast is this?¡±


    Drantei gently steadied the girl on his lap with his hands. His grin widened looking at her antics. ¡°It''s a Grintliss.¡± Drantei explained, his voice carrying the pride of a hunter. ¡°A huge lizard from the Glitten Grasslands. It¡¯s strong, fast, and has claws sharper than a knife.¡±


    The older Enyah, sitting alone in the corner of the building, felt herself stiffen. She knew this egg well. She knew who it¡¯d become.


    Zarts, her ever loyal companion. The one who stood by her, and will continue to do so.


    The edges of her dream began to blur, but she barely noticed. Her focus remained fixed on the memory, etching every moment of the long gone faces.


    Now, now, enough of this boring stuff.¡± Drantei¡¯s voice shifted, joyous and mischievous. ¡°Have you been defending the fort while we were gone?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir! No intruders in sight!¡± Enyah saluted proudly, puffing out her chest.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl.¡± Drantei patted her head affectionately.


    The spectating Enyah instinctively moved her hands, touching her own head. She could feel a warmth spreading from the spot Drantei touched, even years later. The sensation soon turned cold. A reminder that she¡¯d never feel this way again. Her breath hitched as an icy frost rose up within her.


    She realized now.


    She wished the nightmares would return.


    The pain of memories, of happiness and love she could never again feel, was far worse than any nightmare.


    Uncaring of her anguish, the dream continued on.


    Drantei was leaning back in the chair, stroking his beard thoughtfully. ¡°What if¡­¡± He spoke hesitantly, knowing his words would cause resistance. Even so, he pressed on. ¡°What if we¡­ raised the beast?¡±


    ¡°Boss!¡± Several voices called in objection. Their disbelief rose through the room as the crew gathered around him. They wore expressions of shock and disbelief, but also exasperation. They knew Drantei well, after all.


    ¡°But¡­ the money, boss!¡± Leo, one of the older members, spoke to him with an expression of frustration, pleading for him to change his mind. ¡°You know how much that egg¡¯s worth! Think of what we could do with that money! We could live like kings!¡±


    ¡°Sure, the money¡¯s good.¡± Drantei¡¯s boisterous laugh echoed around the dream. ¡°But what do we need money for?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to be a king.¡± He put Enyah down on the floor, standing up with his signature smile as he waved his hands around. To his crew, and to Enyah as well. ¡°I have all I need right here.¡±


    That was her Drantei. An idealist with dreams of family rather than wealth. He spoke with such conviction, such confidence that it easily swayed the other crew members. Their dissuasion faded into the background as they left the man with reddened cheeks. They were all sentimental old men, the spectating Enyah mused fondly.


    ¡°Say, dragon.¡± Drantei turned to Enyah, who was cheering with the crew. She looked up at him with a tilted head, curious at his question. ¡°If I were to give you the egg, what would you do with it?¡±


    She finally noticed the blurs. They were getting stronger, pervading her vision. It felt like the world was shaking, falling apart. She was waking up.


    Her thoughts swirled in conflict, caught between pain and love. Waking and dreaming.


    Not yet.


    She forced her eyes open, trying to keep the dream steady.


    ¡°I¡¯d hatch a friend. And then we¡¯d go on your jobs together and help you!¡± She heard her young self¡¯s cheerful voice, pushing through the void.


    Please! Not yet!


    She heard voices continuing their conversation, and Drantei¡¯s booming laughter in reply to her youthful statement, but they became distant¡­ eroded.


    The blurs took over, painting her vision in faded colors. The brown walls of the building, the sunkissed skin of the crew, all melting together into a canvas of memories.


    She clung onto the sights, etching every detail into her mind the best she could before the dream dissolved. Yet, like falling sand, the dream slipped away. Only emptiness remained.


    She startled awake, bursting upright with a gasp, her breaths rapidly pulling in air, as if she were suffocating. Her heart pounded against her chest, signifying that she was awake. She was here. Sweat fell from her head, dripping onto her blanket around her. Or was it tears? Enyah reached a hand to her face, but the trembling of her hands made it too hard to tell.


    She gave herself a few moments to calm her body, taking deep, slow breaths. She turned her head in the dimmed room towards the other bed. Rinne lay in a deep sleep. She turned back, filled with relief. At least she hadn¡¯t disturbed his sleep with her outburst.


    The sun began its rise, its light lazily seeping through the open hole, spilling a dazzling array of light into the room. With it came a soft and comfortable warmth.


    She reached an arm out, letting the light bathe her skin. For a single moment, she felt comfortable, before the thoughts of her earlier dream drowned that sensation. It wasn¡¯t as warm as the dream. It wasn¡¯t as warm as Drantei. She forced her arm back into the darkness with a heavy sigh. It¡­ didn¡¯t matter. He was gone. They were gone.


    She sank back into the bed, enjoying the limited comfort that the thin mattress gave, and stared out the window absentmindedly, letting the sun¡¯s drowsy ascent signal the time of day.


    Letting Rinne sleep for a bit longer, she languidly swung her legs over the bed and rose onto her feet. Her body still ached yesterday, but with a long stretch, those aches popped and faded one by one.


    Stepping across the room, she freshened up in the small inn bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar to keep an eye on Rinne. The water rushed down from the shower, powered by the blue stones of the Mist Foundation. It¡¯s cold spray touched her skin, jolting her awake and focused, leaving her in the present.


    Once she finished changing, she returned to Rinne¡¯s bedside and knelt down, gently nudging his shoulder.


    ¡°Time to go.¡± Enyah whispered softly, making sure she didn¡¯t startle him awake.


    He stirred, and murmured a groggy ¡°Okay¡­¡± His eyes cracked open, wrinkled with sleep.


    She sat beside him, raising him upright and smiling faintly. ¡°Come on, up with you.¡±


    He let himself be moved, but let out a small groan. His head drooped as he shuffled into a sitting position. ¡°Please¡­ five more minutes¡­¡± He mumbled halfheartedly.


    ¡°You can sleep on Zarts.¡± Enyah offered, ruffling his bedhead, ¡°Get ready to leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Enyah¡­¡± He murmured, his soft voice interrupted by a yawn as he stood up and ambled his way to the bathroom.


    While Rinne washed himself, Enyah leaned against the wall outside the bathroom, her arms crossed while considering their next destination.


    They were on a tight schedule, but had two options. If they bypassed the third checkpoint, they could easily reach Operite by late afternoon. The village lay bordering the Soreado Jungles, nestling within the trees at the edge. Operite¡¯s purpose was found through logging, carving paths through the dense undergrowth for the dense trees within.


    Yet, skipping the third checkpoint had risks.


    While she knew some trustworthy folks in the checkpoint, she hadn¡¯t been beyond in years. Not since¡­


    She shook her head. Nonetheless, she had no allies in Operite. No connections at all. The mercenary work there lay in protecting the woodcutters, but it was profitable¡­ Too profitable. Some would kill for the chance to gain an exclusive contract.


    Still, if she wanted to stay ahead of her pursuers and their informants, Operite was their best option. After all, Zarts was twice as fast as any horse. Soreado only had one linear trail, but beyond that, the paths split into countless directions.


    Was it worth the risk? It was only half a day''s journey.


    But that''s also half a day faster for their travels.


    Half a day wouldn''t save the Port from the stampede but¡­ What if it did?


    The creaking sound of an opening door shook Enyah out of her thoughts. Rinne, with his silver hair dripping wet, strode out of the bathroom. He beamed, his exhaustion left behind. ¡°I¡¯m ready to go!¡±


    ¡°Alright, little man.¡± Enyah smirked, pushing herself off the wall. ¡°We have one last thing to do before we leave.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Rinne asked, his curious eyes following Enyah as she grabbed her cloak.


    In an instant, she threw it onto Rinne, wrapping around his head.


    ¡°Hey¨C Ooh!¡± He gasped in surprise, then carefully lifted the cloak in awe, as if it were a treasure. ¡°Is this for me?¡±


    ¡°Temporary.¡± She clarified, emphasizing the word. A gift from Gurlin, one that she treasured. But Rinne¡¯s hair was an easy giveaway. His silver hair was distinct. Eye catching. No way to dye it at the moment, so hiding it in a cloak would have to do for now.


    Enyah crossed her arms, watching Rinne press his cheek against the cloak, rubbing against it as if he were a cat.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Enyah questioned, raising an eyebrow.


    Rinne froze in action, his eyes widened. ¡°I¡­uh¡­nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°Put it on¡± Enyah scolded, rolling her eyes.


    He coughed, red faced, before fumbling the cloak around. It draped over his body, wrapping him like a blanket. The cloak was too big, hanging past his knees, but he wasn¡¯t fighting. It was manageable. Rinne pulled the hood up, though a few strands peeked out.


    Enyah crouched down, matching her height with Rinne¡¯s. She tilted her head for a moment, studying him. Then she reached out, tucking the stray strands of hair behind his ear.


    ¡°Better!¡± She stood up, satisfied. ¡°Now we¡¯re ready to go.¡±


    ¡°Wooo! Let¡¯s go!¡± Rinne cheered, his flushed face holding a wide grin while he stared up at her.


    Enyah let out a sigh, giving the room one last cursory glance.


    Their next stop¡­ She hesitated for only a moment before coming to a conclusion.


    ¡°Operite.¡± Enyah mumbled, ¡°Beyond the jungle.¡±

 Fear in Branches - Ch9

    The duo left their inn room, reaching the lobby in a few quick steps. Chatter filled the open space, with Mercenaries sprawled on the tables. They groaned with frustrated voices, venting about the fighting that had kept them up last night.


    ¡°Which one of youse got caught cheating last night?¡± A scarred man drawled, though his eyes held no joking nature as he glared around him, searching for the culprit.


    ¡°Wusn¡¯t me, boss!¡± A thin man nearby defended, shaking his hands hurriedly. ¡°My wife¡¯s in Orebury. She¡¯s expectin¡¯ any day now.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a wife!¡± Another man smirked nearby, patting the thin man¡¯s back with a firm hand. ¡°Not with your ugly mug.¡±


    Enyah kept her expression neutral, she moved past the conversing mercenaries, directing herself straight towards the bar where Kathy was working. No sense dealing with the folk who think they¡¯re lords.


    Beside her, Rinne was red in embarrassment, but he remained silent, hiding his discomfort within the cloak. None of the patrons knew they were the culprits of last night¡¯s commotion. None even took notice of the passing pair, as if they were just a passing breeze. Enyah let out a mental sigh in relief.


    No more trouble here.


    Hopefully.


    Without trouble, they arrived, ordering a quick bag of food for the road, exchanging only brief words with the matron. She wished them a fond farewell with a bright smile, but only after forcing Enyah to pay extra for repairs. As Kathy passed by, skillfully balancing a tray full of food, she gave Enyah a longing, forlorn smile.


    Enyah felt her chest tighten, her emotions weighing heavy, but she didn¡¯t give in. She didn¡¯t waver.


    She gave Kathy one final, wordless pat on her head before she turned and walked away, leaving the building. She felt Kathy¡¯s eyes staring at her back as she went.


    The stables were just as quiet as the inn. The morning sun swayed peacefully as horses grazed lazily on the nearby fields, not a cloud in sight. Enyah could even see Zarts relaxing in the grass, basking in the sun¡¯s warmth. She saw the peaceful rise and fall of his stomach as he slept, letting out a few snorts every so often. Though she loathed interrupting his slumber, the earlier they left, the better.


    Randall was out there, tending to the horses. He looked up at the noise, greeting Enyah with a slovenly wave. He was stumbling around, hungover from his drinking. Yet his hold on Zarts was firm, handing him over roughly and saying with a snicker, ¡°Have a good one, Miss Enyuh.¡±


    ¡°Take care.¡± Enyah replied bluntly, turning and leaving the infuriating man behind. The two were mounted and off to the jungles long before midday, making decent time.


    Trees turned into blurs as Zarts sped up, pounding on the ground rhythmically, his claws scraping deep into the dirt path. Enyah''s hair, usually tucked within her hood, now roamed free, the intense breeze leaving only a trail of red following behind her.


    The wind whipped around them, drowning out the noises of the jungle. Rinne¡¯s barrage of curious questions became lost in the air, leaving only a constant, hollow whistle in Enyah¡¯s ears.


    It felt like she was in her own world, trapped in a whirlpool of her own thoughts. Anxious worries clashed with self-confident bloodthirst while revenge idled in the corners of her mind. Her emotions battled for supremacy in her mind, only to be broken by Rinne''s small hand poking at her back.


    She glanced over her shoulder at him, eyebrow raised. His eyes were wide with panic while he flailed his arms around in fear. His mouth moved with unspoken words, their meaning vanished in the wind.


    She frowned and shook her head, indicating that she couldn''t hear.


    Rinne furrowed his brows in frustration, realization dawning upon him. He started jabbing a finger towards the jungle.


    Following his direction, Enyah spotted a shadow darting between the trees, matching their speed. It seemed to have no inclination to attack, simply following their movements.


    She saw the long claws, the muscled limbs, the narrowed red eyes.


    Just a prowler. Enyah''s worry faded, shifting into confidence. Those cats were stealthy, choosing to ambush their prey. If they ran beside them like this, it wasn''t to hunt. She thumbed her holstered pistol. If need be, she''d kill it quickly.


    A dead prowler wouldn''t get in their way.


    Enyah turned back to Rinne and snorted, her disdain towards the panther showing on her face. ¡°It''s just a Prowler. I told you about them earlier.¡± She raised her voice, calling out over the buffeting noise.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Rinne visibly relaxed, losing most of his built up tension. His face shifted to curiosity, though Enyah could still see his arms trembling slightly. ¡°Why is it following us like that?¡±


    ¡°Because it''s smart.¡± Enyah responded, her dull eyes darting back to the beast. It didn¡¯t look any different from other prowlers, yet it gained intelligence, acting against its nature.


    Could it be.. The incoming stampede¡¯s mutating the beasts already?


    ¡°Smart?¡± Rinne asked curiously, attracting her attention. She saw his stare turn into a wary fascination. ¡°How smart is it?¡±


    ¡°It found the¡­ remains¡­ of our last battle.¡± She explained. She would¡¯ve been amused by its catlike behavior if it weren¡¯t for the circumstances. ¡°Thinks it''ll find more easy prey this way.¡±


    Sensing the beast nearby, Zarts turned his head with a competitive glare. His feathered frill rose around him and he reared back, letting out a deep growl that reached the prowler. With a hiss in response, it slowed down, staring at them while they darted away.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Ooh. Good boy!¡± Rinne sang, glaring at the beast''s figure that began to retreat. It slowed its sprint, soon fading into a blot in the distance. Rinne gave Zarts a pat on his scaly hide ¡°I didn''t know monsters were that smart.¡±


    ¡°Aye, they¡¯re crafty, those monsters.¡± Enyah drawled, unconsciously mimicking Gurlin¡¯s voice. ¡°Give ¡®em a finger and they''ll take your whole family, they say.¡±


    ¡°I don''t get it.¡± Rinne blinked at her in confusion.


    ¡°Means you show a little bit of weakness and you''ll end up dead.¡± She said over her shoulder, staring at the road. She tightened her grip on Zarts reins. The boy didn¡¯t need to know about the port¡¯s problems. That¡¯s for her to handle.


    Rinne gave a slight shiver in fear. He gave no response, simply looking down at his small hands with focused eyes.


    ¡°You don''t have to worry about them though.¡± Enyah continued, her voice swiftly switching to a lighter tone after seeing his state. ¡°I''ve dealt with all the monsters here before. You''re safe with me.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Rinne paused, his face tinged with frustration. He observed his fingers, skinny and weak, hoping to find something different. He grinded his teeth, letting out a loud ¡°I''m sorry!¡±


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± She frowned, glancing towards Rinne.


    ¡°We only just left for this trip, but¡­¡± Rinne hesitated to speak, his voice crawling to a whisper that was swallowed by the wind.


    Yet, as if there was a lull in the whistling, Enyah seemed to hear his words clearly.


    ¡°Am I a burden?¡±


    A burden?


    Enyah frowned, her thoughts changing rapidly in less than a blink. ¡°You¡¯re not a burden. Why would you think that?¡±


    ¡°I-I mean, all I¡¯ve done yesterday was hide.¡± Rinne bursted out, his face red with shame.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with that, Rinne.¡± Enyah stated firmly, ¡°You¡¯re the client, and I¡¯m the bodyguard. You aren¡¯t expected to fight.¡±


    ¡°But..But!¡± Rinne complained, his voice cracked and lathed in frustration. ¡°What can I do? I don''t want to sit and hide while you fight for me!¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m afraid! I¡¯m so afraid!¡± He continued, clenching his fists. His anger cut down the wind, making his voice louder than before. ¡°Of the Jungle! Of the people coming to kill me!¡±


    Enyah didn''t respond. She watched him calmly, letting him vent his feelings.


    ¡°And¡­and¡­¡± His breath caught. He gave himself a moment, but tears still came, starting with a drizzle and pouring out. ¡°I want to go home!¡±


    His voice trembled, ¡°I want to go to my room! And my library! And I want to see my sister and Lime! I want to eat sweet tarts and read books!¡±


    He fell onto Zarts in a crumpled heap, laying his face on the cool, scaly skin and using Enyah¡¯s cloak to cover him like a shield.


    ¡°Kid.¡± Enyah exhaled, though her brow was furrowed, trying to find the right words to say. ¡°The world ain¡¯t perfect. It ain''t even close. And the people living in it? Worse. When this world, these people, force us into these circumstances, what can we do?¡±


    Rinne''s head shuffled under the cloak, moving his reddened eyes up to look at Enyah.


    ¡°We put on our boots and keep moving.¡± She continued. Yeah, there are things you can¡¯t do. And yeah, you¡¯re scared. Everyone¡¯s scared. Nobody goes through their life without fear. We''re all just trying to live our lives.¡±


    She hesitated, shaking her head at her own words. ¡°But life¡­ Our lives are an experience. Whatever hardships you experience today will just be another memory tomorrow. And the day after. And so on.¡±


    ¡°What I''m trying to say is¡­¡± Enyah sighed, ruffling her hair in frustration, her face flushed from her words. ¡°You¡¯re scared. You¡¯re helpless. You miss home. That¡¯s fine. You can cry out to the world, or even to the Gods, if you¡¯d like. But at the end of the day, it¡¯s up to you. You control your experiences. You control your life.¡±


    ¡°You''re a good kid, lad. You want peace and your home and your family. If the world had more people who think like you, I''d be out of a job.¡± Enyah laughed out loud, then leaned back and ruffled his hair.


    ¡°Be brave. Face those fears and control them. Wrap those reins and tighten them! When you think about hiding, running from a fight, remember last night. Think about how that was the last time that''ll happen. It won''t be easy. It never is. But even trying? Braver than most.¡±


    ¡°Can''t change the past, but we can change ourselves.¡± Enyah finished, pulling away with a small smile on her face. ¡°And I''ll be watching every step you take. With pride.¡±


    ¡­


    Their journey became silent. Rinne sat quietly, absorbing Enyah¡¯s words, while she rested ahead of him, lost in thought.


    ¡°What did I just say?¡± Enyah groaned internally, holding her forehead in regret. ¡°Tsk. This is why I hate these sorts of talks.¡±


    Kathy was always a lively child, never needing these sorts of talks. All Enyah ever had to do was teach her to fight, not how to be an adult.


    ¡°What would Gurlin have said?¡±


    No. She shook her head, pausing her thoughts.


    ¡°I''m not Gurlin.¡±


    ¡°Miss Enyah?¡± Rinne''s voice called from behind her.


    ¡°Yeah, kid?¡± Pushing her thoughts away, Enyah responded as neutrally as she could, shoving away any trace of her embarrassment.


    ¡°How can I be strong?¡± Rinne asked, his voice certain, yet laced with worry. ¡°How can I be brave?¡±


    Enyah frowned at the question.


    Bravery¡­ How could she answer that? She was still searching for that answer herself. She thought for a moment, considering how to explain it. She gazed around her, coming up with an idea.


    ¡°Look to the jungle.¡± She commanded, hardening her voice.


    Rinne listened intently, but hesitated when hearing her order. He frowned for a few moments before rising off Zarts, lighting up with determination. He let out a strong ¡°Okay!¡± and turned towards the jungle.


    ¡°Is it scary?¡± Enyah asked, narrowing her eyes at him.


    ¡°...¡± Rinne''s response was quiet, lost to the wind, but Enyah could tell his words. His determined gait couldn¡¯t hide every indication. The small shiver he gave when turning, his widened eyes darting around the undergrowth.


    ¡°You''re facing your fears. You''re being brave.¡± Enyah told him, turning back to Zarts, patrolling the path. ¡°Being brave isn''t just fighting in the face of death. It''s about doing what you loathe to do, what you can''t do, because you''re capable of rising beyond it. Ugh.¡±


    ¡°That story. About the mansion. It wasn''t about fearing the jungles.¡± She said, feeling remorse. She¡­ It wasn''t right to scare him like that. ¡°It''s a lesson about unrestrained curiosity and greed. You can surpass this fear. When you face the jungle, and monsters, and people out to get you, I''ll be there with you. I''ll protect you.¡±


    Enyah frowned, feeling Rinne shift behind her. She gave him a moment to speak, but he kept silent. His silence made her tense,


    She coughed, clearing her throat and turning her attention to Zarts, giving him a few rubs on his scales. ¡°Anyways¡­¡± she said, trying to speak with a lighter tone. ¡°We still have a few more hours until Operite. So let¡¯s change the mood with some food, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Yeah, sure!¡± Rinne agreed, distracted from his thoughts.


    At a soft tap with Enyah¡¯s leg, Zarts slowed down to a relaxed trot. The wind became a gentle breeze, wrapping around their figures in its comforting embrace.


    Enyah reached for the bag from the inn, unclipping it carefully from the saddle. Behind her, Rinne, relieved to be able to hear again, tested his voice by releasing various soft ¡°Ah¡± sounds.


    Zarts chirped joyfully, enjoying his trot while turning his head back to look at Enyah with wide, expecting eyes.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. You too.¡± Enyah grumbled, rummaging through the bag. With a whine, Zarts nudged her arm, making her pause and give him a flat stare. ¡°I¡¯m working on it.¡±


    She turned back to Rinne, who¡¯s face looked at peace. He seemed to have come to a conclusion earlier and was now gently raising a hand to the tranquil wind, a gentle smile on his face.


    ¡°Sorry, kid.¡± Enyah said, pulling out a bundle of carrots. ¡°Greedy lizard wants to eat first.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright!¡± He turned back to her and nodded. ¡°He¡¯s been carrying us all this way. He deserves it!¡±


    Zarts seemed eager to chirp in agreement, his gaze locked onto the carrots. Zarts would eat anything, really, though the giant insects near the coast were his one true favorite. Carrots were his second favorite, though Enyah never understood why.


    He seemed more like a rabbit than a lizard, if anything. The way he begged, making whimpering chirps while tracking the carrots that moved in her hand. Definitely not a killer lizard. Just Zarts.


    ¡°All right, here you go.¡± Enyah rolled her eyes, throwing a carrot. With a flash, the neck snapped forward like a whip. The carrot vanished without a trace into the blackness of Zarts¡¯ gullet.


    Three more throws and the four carrots she bought were all gone, leaving nothing but a very satisfied Zarts.


    ¡°Now for us we have¡­¡± Enyah kept quiet, dragging out the silence for suspense. ¡°Bread! Dry bread!¡±


    ¡°Oooh!¡± Rinne clapped, playing along with her enthusiasm, or he at least pretended to do so. He already saw what she ordered, after all.


    Maybe Gurlin''s love of dramatics rubbed off on her. Perhaps when she retired, she could be a storyteller. Assuming she lived that long.


    Shaking off the thought, she handed Rinne a piece of the dry bread, making sure he held firm onto the bread before the wind snatched it from them.


    Taking her own bread, she took a deep bite, indulging in the flavorless, dry taste. Still, it was better than nothing. Meat wouldn''t stay fresh on the road, and Enyah wasn''t about to risk their lives by eating meat so close to the checkpoint.


    Still, there were many times where she had to eat this bread, it was almost nostalgic. Her reminiscing hadn''t hindered her wariness, however, so when she saw movement rushing towards them, hurtling out of the undergrowth, she upholstered her gun and shot in one swift motion, holding the bread with her teeth.


    Without even a cry the lixsis dropped, falling into a blood-stained lump on the dirt.


    Enyah gave the body a quick glance while they passed, narrowing her eyes. It looked no different from a normal lixsis. A small, furred beast with oversized ears, sharp, thin teeth, and a long, furred tail that usually hung from the vines. First the prowler, now the lixsis. The jungle¡¯s acting up. Nothing good¡¯ll come from that. She¡¯d have to send a warning to Gurlin once they reach Operite.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Enyah muttered, thinking aloud, ¡°Usually when there¡¯s one lixsis, there''s always¡­¡±


    She paused, hurriedly looking up to the treetops. Hundreds of little, beady red eyes looked back, making their way down the vines with slow, pressuring steps. A swarm of creatures crawled towards them, their hissing echoing in the jungle.


    Widening her eyes, Enyah quickly flexed her legs without hesitation. Zarts understood instantly, speeding up, kicking up the ground beneath them as he lunged forward.


    Enyah spat out her bread, letting it fly into the jungle while a surprised Rinne held his meal with both hands, letting out a quick ¡°Wooaaah??¡± as he hung tightly onto the saddle.


    ¡°Get ready to fight, kid!¡± Enyah grinned, already reloading her flintlock. Nothing like a hunt to relieve her exhausted mind.

 Fear in Branches - Ch10

    Zarts charged forward with determined chirps, yet the sea of vermin seemed almost endless. They jumped from vine to vine and tree to tree, converging towards the trio from all directions.


    ¡°This must be every lixsis in the forest!¡± Enyah observed with narrowed eyes, shooting another one of the furred beasts with her pistol. One bang later and the body fell into the undergrowth, only to be trodden on by the swarm.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Enyah frowned. A wasted shot that didn''t deter them in the slightest. Enyah holstered her pistol. Wasn''t worth wasting the ammo.


    She glanced back at Rinne, who struggled to hold a brave face. Though Enyah could see its fragility, as if it might crack with the slightest push. ¡°Right after our talk, this happens¡­ it might be good.¡±


    Feeling her instinct, she slashed backwards, killing a lunging lixsis, yet more pings followed. They started lunging in droves, most missing Zarts, but a few caught hold, climbing around his scaled body and attempting to bite through.


    ¡°Kid!¡± Enyah called out, unsure if he was listening. She couldn''t check behind her, being too busy swiping away the creatures that neared her. ¡°There''s a holstered knife to your left. Use it.¡±


    ¡°Wh¨Cwhat?¡± She heard behind her, but she ignored it. It was up to him. With Zarts¡¯ speed, they''d be hard pressed to kill the boy if he defended his hardest.


    Enyah killed another two creatures, their instinctual lunging easily countered by the swing of her blade. Sure, she could keep mowing down these creatures, but ¡°would we be swarmed first? There must be a leader. No other reason they''d act like this.¡±


    That was a lie. A greater predator, like a mutated beast, could push them out of their territory, but ¡°I hope it''s not that¡­ I only just left.¡±


    Whenever she had a brief pause in the attacks, she''d scour her surroundings for signs of a leader, yet every creature she saw looked the same. The same glare, the same body. She frowned. ¡°Should I lure it out?¡±


    The moment she thought about letting the monsters scratch her a few times, a feral, distorted scream echoed in the jungle.


    The world seemed to pause. All of the creatures paused. The jungle seemed to still, even the wind itself ceased its movement at that very moment. Even Zarts, a lixsis deep in his mouth, suddenly looked up in surprise and slowed down instinctually.


    Looking over her shoulder, Enyah saw Rinne, who was holding a knife that was deep in one of the beasts. His face was in a grimace while his trembling hands that tightly gripped the knife refused to let go.


    The knife had not caused a quick death, piercing the chest yet not the heart. The creature hissed and screamed and swung aimlessly, writhing at the end of the knife.


    ¡°What do I do?¡± Rinne saw her turn and panicked, wide eyed and waving the knife around. ¡°I can''t get it off!¡± He didn¡¯t seem too adverse to stabbing, but rather the fact that it remained.


    ¡°Stay still.¡± Enyah ordered, adjusting herself. With a quick swish, Enyah''s cutlass swung at the neck, beheading the creature. It fell silent, the limp, headless body hung from the knife. ¡°Now push it off.¡±


    ¡°I-um¡­ okay¡± Rinne tentatively reached an arm out, gently pushing the creature. It moved at the lightest touch, easily slipping off the knife. The body fell to the ground in silence. The eyes stared warily, yet didn¡¯t move.


    Given the small moment to rest, Enyah patted him on the shoulder. She looked at him, feeling a little bit of pride rise up, and complemented ¡°You did good, kid.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Rinne¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy, his excitement over the compliment overwhelming his previous fears.


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ve only got a couple hundred¡­ maybe a thousand more to go.¡± Enyah considered, counting the eyes lazily. They could escape any time, Zarts is fast enough, yet¡­


    ¡°A swarm like this would impact the port.¡± Enyah mused, already throwing out the option to run. ¡°Let¡¯s nip this bud before it blossoms.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to fight all¨C¡± Rinne started, only to be interrupted by a deep, guttural roar that sounded from the treetops. Enyah darted her eyes towards the roar, searching carefully, yet saw nothing.


    She didn¡¯t have time to keep checking, as the creatures began moving again, leaping by the dozens towards them. Thus beginning a battle of attrition.


    Her cutlass curved and swung all around her in a dance of steel, carving gashes of blood into all of the lixsises around her. Her Ability alerted her to any ambushes, keeping her relatively safe, while also attracting the most attention.


    Zarts helped Rinne, using his long, whiplike tail to swing at the incoming beasts from behind. The few that got through got a knife through the chest, Rinne slowly getting used to the fight. He had a few scratches along his arm, a bite gash on his leg, and tears stuck to his face, but his eyes shone with determination. A determination to improve.


    Enyah frowned, churning her mind for ideas while absentmindedly slicing bodies. The stalemate couldn''t continue forever. Either they''d run out of lixsises, which seemed unlikely, or they''d get tired. Countless eyes still swarmed from all over, their bodies dimly illuminated by the fungi below.


    Yet they couldn''t run either. What if they surged towards the checkpoints after they escaped? The only reason the trio fared so well was because they spent the fight in motion, only dealing with the few that managed to time their leaps correctly.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Enyah cursed. She didn''t feel tired at all. Rather, her muscles rared to go, lighting a fire inside her. More slashing, more dead animals, yet it wouldn''t last long.


    ¡°How¡¯re you doing?¡± Enyah called behind her, quickly gritting her teeth and roughly defending from a barrage from all around her.


    ¡°I¡¯m¨C¡± Rinne breathed out, before abruptly stopping, interrupted by the swish of a knife for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m managing.¡±


    His reply was less jubilant as before, exhaustion lining his voice. ¡°We definitely can¡¯t hold on for much longer.¡±


    She pondered solutions, thinking back to the deep roar from earlier. It seemed to have come from nothing, but she wasn''t sure. Whatever it was, that tree was far behind them in the jungle. The leader must¡¯ve moved since then. ¡°I have to test it again, yet how¡­¡±


    A few slashes, more dead.


    Torture was instantly excluded. It was too inhumane, even for creatures such as these.


    A ping of ambush, turn and swipe. Dead. Yet the swarm had no end, replenishing the dead with ease.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Think like an animal. Why would a lixsis roar?¡±


    She narrowed her eyes in thought. After a few moments, she came up with an idea.


    Between attacks, Enyah gently tapped the back of Zarts neck, on a delicate scale painted red. Understanding the instruction, he let out a shrill, echoing cry that bounced off the trees. For a moment, the situation continued, as if Zarts hadn''t called out at all. Yet soon enough, a deep roar echoed in response from a tree nearby.


    ¡°Got you.¡± Enyah mumbled, aiming and firing a shot from her pistol towards the sound. The shot sounded off, cutting flesh that couldn¡¯t be seen, and lodging itself into the air. A scream of pain roared in response, as a black furred beasts suddenly became visible.


    It was the size of a human, yet held the features of a lixsis. The large ears, the teeth and the tail all remained, yet somehow it could go invisible too?


    In the end, it''s still a beast. Zarts¡¯ cry of challenge intruded on its territory. It''s pride. It would almost certainly respond in kind. As a new, strong leader of the group of lixsis, cowering wouldn''t make these furred rodents obey. Especially when they''re aware not to traverse near the road.


    The mutated lixsis still lived, though. It held its injured stomach with purple, viscous blood pouring out. ¡°I can''t let it retreat.¡± Enyah narrowed her eyes. ¡°A beast like that¡­could become the new stampede if it grew strong enough.¡±


    The lixsises hadn''t even paused at the pain of their leader. Was it some form of confidence that the mutant wouldn''t die from the bullet wound?


    ¡°Either way, I¡¯ve got a job to finish.¡± Enyah reloaded her pistol as fast as she could, blocking a lixsis with her arm. It¡¯s sharp teeth cutting deep.


    With a grimace, she aimed towards the beast.


    Its gaze was locked onto her, without a hint of fear. It took its hand off its bleeding belly and gave a feral grin, showing its teeth. It seemed to say ¡°Do your worst.¡± with more overconfidence than a drunken sailor.


    And Enyah wasn¡¯t about to deny it. She fired, and her shot rang true. Plowing through the air, the ball hit straight into the chest of the beast. The mutant''s grin fell, along with the rest of his body.


    The overconfidence of a brute who thought himself invincible. Enyah rolled her eyes, holstering her gun. The attacks stopped and the lixsises simply stopped moving. They looked around at each other as if unsure of what to do.


    Even the ones that were scratching at Zarts¡¯ scales woke up and stepped back warily.


    Was it¡­ controlling them?


    ¡°Is that why the monsters always come in hordes?¡± Enyah mused, watching the lixsises wander aimlessly.


    She gave Zarts a push, signaling him to stop before they lost sight. Just as an insurance, she tapped Zarts neck again, and he gave another screech, aimed at the creatures behind them.


    The sound woke them up from their stupor, wide eyed and panicked. They flailed and ran, all of their feral, suicidal confidence gone. Enyah watched with narrowed eyes until they scurried off into the forest, the undergrowth hiding their retreat.


    With that, she sheathed her sword and stretched her muscles. Groaning, she let out a relaxed sigh, the tension of the fight disappearing.


    ¡°That was nice.¡± Enyah reminisced about the fighting. The constant barrage, the sword against flesh, the hidden leader. She savored the feeling, anticipating the next fight even more. A glint in the corner of her eye disrupted her. ¡°Zarts! Zarts, no!¡±


    The lizard was eating the corpses on the ground, stuffing them down his throat without even chewing at all. He turned back and gazed at her with a questioning look. It''d have looked cute if a dead lixsis wasn''t hanging out of his mouth.


    ¡°Dumb lizard. If you get stomach problems, that''s on you.¡± Enyah grumbled, rubbing his smooth scales. She turned back towards Rinne, inspecting his body.


    The scratches and bite marks were easily fixed and the holes in the cloak. She''d find a tailor if they had the time. His hands were red and rough, unused to wielding the knife around. ¡°He could practice more, if he''d like. I''ll offer later.¡±


    She turned to his face, which was flushed with sweat. His emotions¡­ he was deep in his thoughts, looking conflicted. His emotions were plain to see, showing his excitement and joy one moment before fear, sadness, and disgust the next.


    ¡°How was the fight?¡± Enyah spoke gently, startling Rinne out of his mind.


    He looked at her, almost disoriented, for a moment, before collecting himself. He spoke, almost a whisper to her, ¡°I''m fine¡­ I just¡­ I just don''t like killing. I know it was necessary, but¡­¡±


    ¡°You don''t have to like it.¡± Enya said, ruffling his hair. ¡°Most don''t. They kill to protect, to eat, to live. You''re no different, little warrior.¡±


    ¡°Little warrior¡­¡± Rinne repeated, flushing with pride. ¡°Yeah. I was brave, wasn''t I?¡±


    ¡°As long as you know your limits.¡± Enyah lectured, looking at his wounded limbs. She helped him bandage them, using a cloth prepared in the saddlebag to wrap his injuries. ¡°There''s a thin line between bravery and recklessness. Don''t be proud of these injuries.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma''am!¡± Rinne saluted, but she wasn''t sure how much of her words he actually absorbed. He was still jumping for joy in his own, isolated world, ignorant to her words.


    ¡°Well, it''s alright.¡± Enyah mused, nodding at the boy¡¯s jubilance. ¡°Boy''s learned enough today. We''ve got time.¡±


    Enyah paused, her thoughts swirling elsewhere. Is this what Drantei felt when raising her? When she had her own inferiority issues in the group, he gave her a lizard and set them loose.


    She sighed, her positive feelings sinking deep within her. ¡°Drantei¡­¡±


    He must be fuming in his grave, watching her fool around instead of avenging them. She could feel his anger, ready to burst through the world.


    No, that wasn''t him.


    Enyah shook her head¡­ It was fake. She knew it. Yet thinking of him as a vengeful spirit made it easier on what she wanted. Revenge. He''d probably say something like ¡°Live for yourself. Don''t worry about us, dragon! Just think of it as a big, long nap.¡±


    ¡°Tsk. Dumb, caring oaf.¡± Enyah grumbled to herself, feeling her desire to avenge him surge even stronger.


    She frowned, turning back around so Rinne couldn''t see her face. ¡°Are you ready to go?¡± She called behind her, trying her best to calm her emotions.


    ¡°I''m ready!¡± Rinne cheered, ignorant of her emotional turmoil.


    ¡°Good.¡± Enyah nodded, and with a soft tap against Zarts¡¯ scales, the lizard was off, hurtling through the path once again.


    Silence once again blanketed the trio as they strode along the path, only interrupted by random, joyful chirps by the lizard companion, who simply enjoyed running.


    Enyah was deep in thought, undisturbed by the breeze pushing against her.


    The mutations, if that''s what they are, appeared much earlier than she imagined. Could she really make it on time? Sure, there were changes in the previous months before the Modullah, but¡­


    What if?


    What if she didn''t make it on time?


    ¡°No.¡± Enyah placated herself, ¡°Trust the port. It''s people. They''ll be fine. They lived before, they will now.¡±


    She no longer wavered, but felt a heavy guilt weighing her down.


    ¡°Miss Enyah?¡± She heard Rinne¡¯s youthful voice call to her over the wind. Grateful for the distraction, she turned back to see him.


    He didn''t look to be in any serious danger, nor did there seem to be any problem. He simply stared curiously at her, waiting for her response.


    ¡°Yeah, kid?¡± Enyah asked, tilting her head in confusion.


    ¡°What do you like to do?¡± Rinne asked, an innocent smile shining on his face.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Enyah frowned, thinking about any hidden meanings to his words. ¡°Why''re you asking that?¡±


    ¡°I just¡­ I mean I don''t really know anything about you?¡± Rinne responded, almost unsure.


    ¡°Do you need to know?¡± Enya retorted, her tone a bit harsher than she intended.


    ¡°I don''t need to know, but I''d like to!¡± he sang, ignoring her rough response.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Enyah considered, stroking her chin for a moment before giving a shrug. ¡°Alright. I like to hunt.¡±


    Rinne blinked in confusion. ¡°Is that it?¡±


    ¡°What, you want more?¡± Enyah rolled her eyes, though her responses remained short, as though she never thought about it before. ¡°Fine. I like to¡­ work? And I like to clean Zarts.¡±


    ¡°No hobbies or anything?¡± Rinne pressed further, much to Enyah''s chagrin.


    ¡°No.¡± Enyah groaned in frustration, turning away for a moment before turning back. ¡°Then what about you? Show me how it''s done.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Rinne lit up, as if waiting for the question. His eyes sparkled, ready to explain. ¡°I like walking around the garden with my sister! I like trying new sweets! I like to watch the knights training and practicing music as well! Oh, and I also like attending the stage plays when they are in season too!¡±


    ¡°...right.¡± Enyah responded after a moment, unprepared for the deluge of information that was spat upon her. ¡°When I''m not working, I wouldn¡¯t mind a bit of fishing. Is that what you wanted to hear?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Rinne nodded, his eyes curling in delight before lowering his head in thought, coming up with another question. ¡°How about¡­ favorite flower?


    ¡°I have none.¡± Enyah responded bluntly. She hadn''t thought about flowers since before she met Drantei. It brought bad memories.


    ¡°Oh¡­ well I like the jade lily.¡± Rinne continued, happily talking about himself. ¡°It symbolizes happiness and luck.¡±


    Silently, Enyah turned back towards the path, hoping for some interruption. Sadly, the road was clear, with not a merchant nor traveller in sight.


    ¡°So how about your favorite food? Everyone has one of those.¡± Rinne asked, Unperturbed by her turning around.


    ¡°Fried Glernik egg.¡± Enyah responded automatically, before sighing and looking at him, a frown on her face. ¡°Look, kid. This isn''t working out.¡±


    ¡°Sure It is! I know more about you than I did before!¡± Rinne chirped excitedly. ¡°I''m learning all about my new friend! Now, now! Favorite music piece?¡±


    ¡°I don''t listen to music.¡± Enyah responded, but that was a lie. Every week in the Dancing Pearl, Pallor''s Port''s famed tavern, the few bands that lived there took turns singing the same songs over and over.


    One of them struck a chord, deep within her. The Fires in the Horizon. A song of love. A couple, engaged in a fierce, passionate relationship, were forced apart due to external circumstances. To make sure the other was alright, they would light ablaze some wood every night, signaling to the other that they were alive through the smoke.


    This occurred for years until one day, the smoke stops, and the husband rushes over, worried to death about his wife.


    She was sick. For a long time. Yet every night she would get up and light the fire, because she didn''t want to worry him. However, she no longer had the strength left to leave the bed. They have a heartfelt, touching reunion. A single moment that spanned across all of time, carrying feelings that weighed more than the world.


    Before the story suddenly ended with the wife''s death and the husband''s eventual hanging due to trespassing, but most people ignore the ending, Enyah included. She''s fine with a grim end to stories, but only the parts before death touched her heart.


    Why didn''t she tell Rinne the song? He didn''t need to know.


    Enyah''s gaze suddenly caught movement ahead. She narrowed her eyes, trying to identify who, or what, was ahead of them.


    ¡°Awww.¡± Rinne kept talking, unaware of the added company. ¡°I can recommend some to you! I really¨C¡±


    Enyah interrupted him, clasping his mouth shut and shushing him. Rinne went wide eyed, but nodded in understanding.


    With a similar nod, Enyah let go, leaving their journey in silence. Soon enough, she could make out the figures. A horse-drawn carriage was moving along the path, ambling along at a slow pace. Controlling the horses was a tall man, who sat in the front with a slovenly posture, showing off his weariness. He wore a suit of average price. Not a noble, but a wealthy commoner. A merchant, visiting the port, Enyah assumed.


    The coachman took a quick glance at them, but soon turned his eyes away, as if uncaring.


    The two minded their own business, an indescribable standoff occurring as they got closer to each other. Behind her, Rinne hid himself under the cloak, staring warily at the incoming coach.


    Closer and closer.


    And then they passed.


    Without even a glance, they went their separate ways until¡­


    ¡°Hey! You! Mercenary!¡± A voice called roughly from the interior of the coach. ¡°Let me have words with you!¡±

 Fear in Branches - Ch11

    The jungle where Enyah''s group and the carriage shone from above through gaps in the trees. The jungle was letting up, signaling the periphery. Only a few hours until they left the jungle.


    Though impatient to continue, Enyah stopped at the voice''s request. They had questions, probably about the port. She wouldn''t mind getting some of her questions answered as well. Especially about the world beyond the jungle.


    She checked her purse. It was decently filled with enough coin. More than enough for the information she needed. Though enough to survive two months on the run? Enyah shook her head. Best not think about that. Knowledge, especially from merchants, was well worth its weight in gold.


    Merchants were similar to mercenaries, but felt they were superior. In terms of low life money grubbing professions, merchants were the brain to mercenaries brawn.


    Yet, they needed each other. When merchants needed a guard, they''d call a mercenary. Some of the big merchant guilds of Parit had their whole guard made from former mercenaries, who chose a life of stable pay.


    Traitors, mercs call those who abandoned their life to be dogs.


    Enyah was inclined to agree. That coachman? A traitor. And he knew it.


    ¡°Stay on Zarts, kid. He¡¯ll protect you.¡± Enyah told Rinne, who gave an enthusiastic nod, and Zarts chirped along. Satisfied, Enyah leapt off the lizard cleanly, landing to her feet. Though she was ready to converse, she wouldn¡¯t put it past a merchant to sell her out for enough coin.


    She narrowed her eyes, keeping her hand on her sheathed cutlass. With tentative steps, she moved towards the carriage.


    ¡°Move along already.¡± The coachman muttered, rolling his eyes at her caution.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk, mutt.¡± Enyah growled at the man, pausing her steps. A man who willingly became a lapdog earned no respect from her.


    ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡± He raised his voice, his green eyes glaring at her. He was easily provoked by the word, bristling in defense.


    Enyah smirked in superiority. ¡°I said, you¡¯re a mutt. And your master didn¡¯t permit you to speak.¡±


    His face turned red in anger, much to her amusement. The way his face fell and his brows crinkled brought her an unnatural sense of elation. Serves him right.


    ¡°You think you''re so tough because you think you ain''t chained?¡± He sneered, looking down at her from atop the carriage. ¡°You just don''t know it. Your owner changes with every job, but you''re still on a leash. We''re the same, Mutt.¡±


    ¡°Think what you want.¡± Enyah snarled, ¡°You don''t see me taking any orders like some servant. Even if we''re both dogs, I''m not some muzzled, mangled wretch.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± He continued, his eyes blazing in fury. ¡°That boy there. Is he your charge?¡± The man motioned to Rinne with his head. ¡°Would you lick his feet if he threatened to cut your pay? You''re no¨C¡±


    ¡°Richard, don''t keep my guests waiting!¡± The voice interrupted, ignorant of the contents of their conversation. ¡°Don''t waste my money, or I''ll set you free.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir¡­¡± Richard called with a sigh, rubbing his eyes with his hands. His fierce expression dimmed, holding maybe a hint of regret that mixed into his anger. ¡°Go on in, but watch your back. If he gives the word¡­¡± he unsheathed part of his longsword, that hung limply from his sheathed hip.


    An attempt at intimidation that only made Enyah snicker. ¡°Ooh. So scary. See you later, mutt.¡± She walked towards the carriage, whispering past her as she went. ¡°Maybe I''ll ask your master to give you a bone if you¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°Shut up and go.¡± He spoke through gritted teeth, looking away from her. Enyah let out a laugh, opening the carriage with glee and stepping inside.


    The cabin was its own world, a lavish paradise within the harsh jungles. With tinted windows dimming the outside, one could only observe carefully if they truly wanted to see through them. Even the air itself seemed to be filtered somehow, removing the moist, humid air from her surroundings. Replacing it was a sweet, almost citrus scented air.


    The cushions were plush, softer than her beloved couch. She¡¯d bet it felt like lying on a cloud.


    Sitting on one of the cushions was a middle aged man with a bald head and a large, hairy mustache. His eyes were narrowed and self assured, the look of a schemer. He wore an expensive suit, signifying his success as a merchant.


    Enyah looked carefully at him. Why would someone like that visit the port? Especially at a time like this?


    ¡°Come in, Mercenary! Sit down for a second.¡± The man greeted warmly, his tone vastly different compared to when he was yelling at his guard. ¡°I''ve much to discuss with someone like you. Someone local to these parts is quite important indeed.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn''t have come during these times.¡± Enyah responded evenly, though taking up on his offer. Sitting down on the cushions, she felt heaven, yet kept her face perfectly neutral. How she longed to indulge in the comfort of the cushion, yet she had pressing matters to attend to. ¡°A stampede''s coming. Soreado isn''t safe.¡±


    ¡°Ah, thank you for letting me know, my good mercenary, but in crisis comes opportunity¡± The man smirked, stroking his chin and nodding.


    Enyah rolled her eyes internally. ¡°What a¡­ confident man.¡±


    ¡°Of course, let me introduce myself.¡± The man continued, putting a hand on his chest with pride. ¡°I am one Francie Halton. I''m sure I can satisfy any request. For the right price.¡±


    Enyah didn''t recognize the name. Then again, merchants weren''t that important to remember unless you''re unreliable.


    ¡°Enyah. I work in Pallor''s Port.¡± She responded curtly.


    A man attempting to use the port''s catastrophe for his benefit was definitely an enemy of hers.


    ¡°Wonderful! Good. No, great! Tell me, do you really have waterproof jellyfish?¡± He inquired, his eyes sparkling with a devilish sheen.


    ¡°Yes, we do. You''d be better off going to the port instead of talking to me if that''s what you want to know.¡± Enyah stated, leaning back on the cushions.


    She could lay here all day, yet responsibility would always get in her way.


    ¡°That''s fine, that''s fine. I simply wanted to be sure.¡± Francie said, writing something down in a notebook. A small, hand sized book that he seemed to carry around in his pocket.


    ¡°Now I''ll ask a question.¡± Enyah said, looking into Francie''s inquiring eyes as he looked up from his notebook.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Oh yes, do go on.¡± Francie nodded, pausing his writing to spread his arms out in invitation.


    ¡°What are your intentions with the port?¡± Enyah asked heavily, her eyes deadly serious. If need be, she''d strike him down right here.


    Yet the man remained unperturbed by her threat. His eyes flashing in the carriage with a dangerous gleam while a grin sprouted onto his face. ¡°Why, I just desire to help! For a price, of course. I''m willing to use my personal, elite guard to contribute to defending the port for a share of gold and a pinch of the spoils. Good trade, yes?¡±


    Enyah tilted her head, considering. It didn''t seem like a bad trade. She wasn''t the one paying, after all. Any help would be appreciated, but ¡°the port might not see it that way.¡±


    ¡°You''re intending to ask Gold Rick for payment?¡± Enyah asked.


    ¡°If you mean Eustice Rick, the mayor of Pallor''s Port, I most certainly am.¡± Francie spoke with forbidden words. Nobody calls him Eustice and gets away empty handed. That man is as petty as petty gets.


    That was good. Enyah smirked to herself. ¡°Captain Rick values his gold more than his life. Let this merchant have a bit of loss.¡±


    ¡°Now, let me ask.¡± He continued, unaware of her thoughts, ¡°How is the port? Its people? Are they scared? Hiding in their homes in paranoia, trembling like mice in front of a snake.¡±


    Enyah bristled at those words. She released a growl, aimed towards the man, ¡°Are you calling my people cowards?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn''t dare, my good lady! Yet your face gave me the answers I needed.¡± Francie laughed jovially, though his eyes remained focused, eying her like a snake. ¡°Now what would you like to know, dear lady? You wouldn''t wander inside and answer my questions to be nice, would you?¡±


    ¡°A few questions. First. Do you have a map of Orlent?¡± Enyah asked, ignoring his demeaning words. Maybe he''d anger Rick enough that he''d wake up as fish bait.


    ¡°I do indeed, but it''ll cost you plenty in gold.¡± Francie smiled leisurely, lounging back against the cushions. ¡°However, you answered my questions, and with my boundless generosity (as long as it makes gold), I''ve decided to bestow it onto you for free as repayment!¡±


    ¡°No thanks, I''d rather pay.¡± Enyah rolled her eyes. Being in debt to this prowler of a man meant she''d have to see him again.


    ¡°No, no. I insist. Here! Take it!¡± Francie took out a map from a shelf underneath the cushion. With a quick glance, she saw a whole stack of them there, mass printed and made to look unique. Francie had the decency to show a sheepish smile when he noticed she saw, before quickly shifting back to business. ¡°Now what else will you ask? This time, it will cost you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation in Ollenia?¡± Enyah asked. She knew the risks of asking, but it was worth it.


    ¡°Off to Ollenia, are you? This isn''t the time for a leisurely trip, my lady.¡± He grinned, placing his hand out in front of her. ¡°Five gold pieces.¡±


    ¡°Five gold pieces!?¡± Enyah raised her voice in response. That was as much as her home''s rent! Even still, she begrudgingly paid. The information would decide her future actions, after all.


    ¡°Thank you very much!¡± Francie sang, counting the coins before hiding them somewhere on his body. Then, he started explaining. ¡°All the guards have been mustered, searching for something. Or someone. The citizens hide, scared of the unknown threat while neither the guards nor the royals give a reason. Their only clue was given by Princess Rarilly, who explained they were searching for a fugitive.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, he continued talking. ¡°However, the religious underground also shows movements as well, even butting heads with the knights they usually bow down to. There were skirmishes, fights on the streets, even deaths. The princess is using this momentum to strike down those cults from the capital. Soon, only Drasilian will remain. Though the knights are tight lipped, those zealots aren''t as fanatic as they think, Ha!¡±


    Enyah felt a bad premonition which only intensified with his next words. ¡°They say there''s a hidden son of the king. One that nobody knows about, and whose existence isn''t known to the world. And it''s because he''s a vessel. Now all the cults, all the religions are looking for him. Even the unfaithful can get a pretty coin if they sell him to the proper buyer. So all of Lakreia¡¯s looking for this boy, and the only piece of information they have is that he¡¯s a silver haired boy guarded by one, single knight.¡±


    His smile turned venomous, knowing. Enyah felt her blood chill in response to that smile.¡±Is that enough to satisfy you, dear lady?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Yes it is.¡± Enyah replied absentmindedly. She was absorbed in her thoughts. Of course the child was Rinne. She wasn''t a fool. And if merchants knew about the vessel, then so did everyone else. Enyah sighed internally, coming to a conclusion.


    ¡°Great, so the world''s against me.¡±


    Should she just drop the kid off back in the port? Forget it happened? ¡°No. I can''t.¡±


    So be it. She''ll simply kill every zealot who tries to stop them.


    ¡°Is that all that you wanted to ask, dear lady?¡± Francie asked, staring intently at her every move. Enyah liked him less and less with each word he spoke.


    ¡°Tell me more about vessels.¡± She enquired, taking a moment to calm her expressions. Her mind, though, raced with negative thoughts. ¡°Look at you, Enyah. Acting like a rookie again.¡±


    ¡°Vessels¡­ Hmm. A dangerous topic indeed!¡± Francie spoke knowingly, a calm smile on his face. ¡°For you, my dear, it''ll be 15 gold pieces!¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Enyah pondered, asking herself if it were worth the price.


    She already knew the basic information on vessels¡­ did she need to learn any more?


    ¡°No. I''m just a guard. My only priority is protecting the boy.¡±


    ¡°No thank you. That''s enough for me.¡± Enyah growled, hiding her disdain for the man. That didn''t stop her from staring him down, boring into his snakelike eyes. They stared for a few moments, before Francie backed down naturally, as if their standoff was only a facade.


    ¡°A shame. A real shame indeed.¡± He sang, unperturbed. Enyah stood up, hesitantly leaving the cushions that felt like a dozen blankets stacked upon each other.


    ¡°Yeah. A real shame.¡± Enyah muttered, rolling her eyes. Definitely a merchant, warts and all. ¡°Don''t hate him, Enyah. You know how merchants are.¡±


    That thought brought her emotions down. All merchants were as infuriating as this one. And he''d been nothing but helpful. ¡°Yet¡­ treating him with respect is hard.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Francie. I learned a lot.¡± Enyah thanked him, ready to open the door and continue their journey. She felt an itch inside, that wasting time was detrimental. Especially in a world of comfort such as this. It felt like vile temptation. Any longer here and she''d turn soft.


    ¡°No, thank you! My friend! My lady! However, before you go, One last piece of advice for you. For free.¡± Francie spoke again, though his voice now held a taunt, laughing at her from all sides. ¡°Operite''s been strange. Too strange. The villagers were very suspicious of me, asking to search my carriage and all that. They''d mutter and whisper and stare. Of course, I''m not unused to such¡­temptations, but oh my, I haven''t even done anything yet there. They''re scared. Of something.¡±


    Enyah''s eyes flashed at the word of Operite. Of course, trouble always stalks her. Always. Still, with any luck, they''d be in and out of the town in a flash without any trouble, letting Zarts recharge before continuing their journey.


    ¡°Now get out of my carriage! Money must not be wasted!¡± Francie raised his voice, breaking through her thoughts like paper. He opened the door, inviting her out with a pointed look, as if saying ¡°Our business is done. Why are you still here?¡±


    Roughly leaving the carriage, she found Richard, the coachman, staring down Rinne, who glared right back at him. Whatever conversation they had was known only to them.


    ¡°Come on, Rinne, get ready to go.¡± Enyah called, breaking their concentration. He was already ready, and she knew that. She just wanted to see Richard¡¯s reactions.


    ¡°Yes miss!¡± Rinne responded, excluding her name. Smart kid. She ruffled his cloaked head, and he giggled.


    ¡°How have you been, Zarts. Have you been good? Of course you have.¡± She hugged the lizards¡¯ massive face, feeling his cold, smooth scales against her skin. It calmed her emotions, simmering her anger that always lingered under her skin. Zarts was always the best medicine for her.


    He chirped with jubilant excitement, brushing His feathered crown against her. His eyes sparkled, begging for a cleaning.


    ¡°We''ll do it later. Don''t worry.¡± Enyah stroked his green plates with a gentle caress.


    Probably sensing the change in her mood, Richard sneered at her, a sharp grin on his face, ¡°Have a nice conversation? Maybe i''ll have a new companion so¨C¡±


    ¡°We must get going, Richard! Get a move on! You can talk to yourself outside of hours!¡± The sharp voice echoed from within, admonishing the coachman yet again. ¡°And if anything happens, dear mercenary. It isn''t personal, just business.¡±


    ¡°Yes boss¡­¡± Richard''s face fell, and he looked away from Enyah, else his lips would loosen and argue once again.


    With a crack of the reins, the carriage was off, meandering down the path at a slow, but steady pace. They''d definitely be able to reach the checkpoint before nightfall.


    Conflicted thoughts rose as she saw the strange merchant''s departure.


    On one hand, any help to the port during their crisis would be appreciated. A few retired mercenaries taking down some creatures are better than no retired mercenaries at all.


    On the other hand, Francie was a no-good, yellow bellied, lying, know it all, egotistical rat. And she didn''t like him.


    ¡°Tsk. Crash and die.¡± She muttered under her breath. He knew too much anyway. And anyone with enough coin go pay would know who and where she was soon enough.


    Soon the carriage became a blot in the jungle, and eventually it vanished down the path, absorbed into the jungle''s invasive growth. Only then did she start moving again.


    ¡°Did he see under your cloak?¡± Enyah asked with intensity, leaping back onto Zarts'' back.


    ¡°No ma''am! I made sure to keep it hidden!¡± Rinne saluted with a cloak covered arm, it''s length too large for his small frame.


    ¡°Good lad.¡± Enyah nodded her head, focusing her gaze onto the road ahead. Perched back onto her rightful place, the lizard began moving. Starting with a trot into a full sprint along the trees, yet they only grew less and less as they went, reaching the periphery.


    A new environment revealed itself. Instead of a thick, lush jungle, only a few large trees dotted their sides, covered in a thick, tall grass that hid whatever small creatures that lived in this area.


    The afternoon sun peeked through the branches, lighting up the area with a golden sheen.


    After almost two days in the jungle, it was a welcoming sight.


    Operite was close. Enyah could practically see the end of the jungle. And with it, new horizons. Places she hasn''t been to in almost a decade.


    A world of uncertainty lies ahead, with only a map to guide them, and strangers abound. Most of whom would gladly trade Rinne away for any amount of coin.


    She gripped her cutlass beside her and felt Zarts below her, trotting without fear. Only confidence filled her.


    She had nothing to worry about.


    ¡°I''ll take whatever comes our way.¡±

 Shepherd of Wolves - Ch12

    Operite, the town that borders Soreado. A veritable fortress in and of itself, which resides within thick, wooden walls, made from the sturdy trees of the jungle. The rural villagers saw the great, imposing walls as a monolith of protection. As if the walls held back all the evils of the jungles and beyond. Yet, the rural folk have never seen, and probably never will see, the capital of Orlent, Ollenia, whose opulence outshines the walls with ease.


    The village lay beside the array of trees, within sight of the rough dirt path. When Enyah left the jungles, she was greeted by an endless plain of softly swinging grass and the gentle whispering of wind. She immediately herded Zarts to the side, who trotted gently through the grass, tilting his head at the jungleless sights that pervaded his senses.


    Enyah gazed past the rolling fields of green, her intense, emerald eyes scanning for any signs of movement. She caught nothing, yet it only intensified her wariness. Their assaults from the cults had been quiet since the second checkpoint, giving her a sense of unease.


    It could simply be due to the fact that there were no cultists nearby, or a delay in information. The cults could even be fighting in the shadows, conducting a war on an unheard scale, yet unknown to the populace.


    ¡°Preparing for the worst case is the safest option.¡± Enyah pondered, considering some sort of ambush. In many situations, taking lives was easier than the snap of a finger. ¡°I won¡¯t die¨CI can''t die. Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Are we going over there?¡± Rinne asked merrily, his face turned towards the village. Enyah could feel his infectious jubilance from her spot in front of him, along with the relief he felt with his unrestrained movements.


    ¡°I was just like that¡­¡± Enyah mused, nostalgic. Anyone''s first time into Soreado was always a journey full of jumbled nerves and fear of the dark.  Even the stories she told him were overlaid with Drantei''s voice, his rich voice spewing the same stories of fear and curiosity.


    ¡°Still¡­ six years since I last left Soreado.¡± Enyah noted the plains surrounding them. Common, yet still so unfamiliar, as if finding a forgotten accessory.


    ¡°Yeah, that walled village is Operite.¡± She turned back and told Rinne. After all of their troubles in the jungle, hopefully a change in scenery would do wonders for all of them. ¡°We¡¯ll let Zarts rest there before continuing tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Rinne sang out, giving her a serene smile. ¡°What are we going to do before bed?¡±


    ¡°Going to do? We''re going to sleep early and wake early.¡± Enyah explained her plans methodically, as if it were natural. Yet it quickly removed Rinne''s smile, replacing it with a deep frown.


    ¡°We can''t do that!¡± Rinne complained, looking at her with undisturbed shock at the blasphemy of her words.


    ¡°And why can''t we?¡± Enyah asked quizzically, raising an eyebrow at him. That''s how she always spent her trips to the checkpoints. The earlier she finished, the earlier she went home and accepted her next mission.


    ¡°Because we''re visiting somewhere new!¡± Rinne cheered, ¡°Try new foods, especially their local specialties! Explore shops and find trinkets for your loved ones! Find romance in the simplest of places, and spend a passionate night in the moon!¡± He gushed, putting his hands to his cheeks and shaking his head wistfully, as if imagining himself going through all of the wonderful experiences flashing through his small head.


    ¡°All fantasies.¡± Enyah rolled her eyes, shutting him down. ¡°Whatever you¡¯re imagining won¡¯t happen. We¡¯re going to visit countless towns during our trip. They¡¯re all the same. No local specialties, no moonlit parks, or whatever you hear from your stories. Just people living and not much else.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Rinne pouted, turning away from her and looking at the town longingly. ¡°How would you know?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯ve travelled through all of these towns. If these people are kind, they only want you to buy their goods, or sell you for profit.¡± Enyah explained, turning back with a shrug.


    ¡°Why would these stories lie though?¡± Rinne tilted his head, looking back at her with an innocent expression. ¡°Maybe they just didn''t like you?¡±


    ¡°So I''m the problem, kid?¡± She frowned at him, though her face remained passive. There was no threat in her tone, only exasperation.


    ¡°No! No, you aren''t!¡± He backpedalled, defending himself with a vigorous shake of his head. ¡°I just mean it could be your appearance that they dislike.¡±


    Enyah looked down at herself with a frown. Strands of red fell down in the corners of her vision, draping over a loosely knit linen shirt. Its beige color was only slightly darker than her skin, hanging over her body. Below, tied tightly by a belt that was covered in pouches, she wore dark brown trousers that clung to her legs. Boots finished her attire, being the optimal choice in order to traverse Soreado''s treacherous terrain. ¡°I don''t look too bad. I''d like to think I''m even a charmer for the right merc. Sure, I dress for efficiency, but I at least wash myself and attempt to look good.¡±


    She looked at Rinne and asked, ¡°What, do I look like some harlot, or?¡±


    ¡°You look¡­ kind of scary. Rinne elaborated, poking his chin in thought. ¡°You have this¡­ stare that you always look at people with. It''s¡­ intense.¡±


    ¡°Scary, huh¡­¡± Enyah muttered softly, The rest of his words hadn''t registered with her, flying over her head like migrating birds. She felt a grin grow on her face. ¡°Scary is good. Intimidating. I like it.¡±


    ¡°Also, what''s a harlot?¡± Rinne asked.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Enyah yelped at the question, her voice cracking for just a moment, before it calmed in almost an instant. ¡°I''ll tell you later, we''re about to arrive.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Rinne nodded, easily agreeing with her. He asked no further questions, electing to simply stare at the upcoming gatehouse.


    Enyah felt satisfaction rising in her. A job well tone in distracting the boy. ¡°Hopefully, he''ll forget by the time we start resting.¡±


    Though Enyah said it to distract the boy, they were only moments from entering the town. Or rather, the guard tower connected to the massive walls.


    A gate loomed ahead, where a gruff looking man leaned against the wall lazily, bathing in the sun''s warm rays with his eyes closed, as if in a light nap. However, when they approached, they opened into a dull stare, disinterestedly staring at the arriving entourage.


    ¡°Woman and¡­ child? A grintliss too.¡± He voiced with a glint in his eye when they stopped next to him. There was nothing wrong with his tone but¡­ there was something strange about it. Something that Enyah couldn''t place.


    ¡°Yeah. Do we need some sort of inspection?¡± Enyah asked, staring at him with a face full of questions. A village in the middle of nowhere having searches was a sign of disrespect, no matter the circumstances. Not that Enyah cared. She understood their circumstances. A little, miniscule event in the viewpoint of the gods could shake a village''s foundations permanently.


    He paused for a moment, considering. His eyes shifted, contemplating different responses. The man felt the stares of both her and Zarts, who turned to tilt his head at the man curiously. Eventually, he drawled out slowly, ¡°No. Come in.¡±


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Enyah nodded and with a swift tap, Zarts continued his leisurely walk, trotting inside the walls.


    Behind her, Rinne leaned forward, whispering, ¡°See! He was scared!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Enyah asked. She wasn''t trying to intimidate him. Maybe she really did have a presence! She fixed her posture unconsciously, and smiled proudly, ¡°Stopped him from messing with us.¡±


    ¡°But you''ll be alone!¡± Rinne muttered, thinking that her fearsome appearance was intentional, before widening his eyes in realization, ¡°You don''t like strangers, do you Miss Enyah?¡±


    ¡°What? I''m fine with strangers!¡± Enyah strongly refuted, before shaking her head, muttering a small, ¡°Why am I arguing this with you.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re living, but you aren''t living.¡± Rinne emphasized, lowering his voice in an attempt to add maturity.


    ¡°And who told you that?¡± Enyah asked. ¡°Don''t tell me you came up with it on your own.¡±


    ¡°Lime did!¡± Rinne chirped. ¡°She told me all of the stories outside the castle!¡±


    ¡°So she''s the one who put all those stories into your head, yeah?¡± Enyah asked, eying the town around them. Houses were situated close to each other, as if the homes themselves were huddling in fear, while a small bazaar-like area situated in front of them. Besides the stalls and stores, the homes, and the severe amount of lumber storages that littered the edges of the village, there wasn''t much else.


    ¡°Just trying to live.¡± Enyah thought, seeing the town¡¯s layout.


    Though, the people. The people were acting strange. They still moved to and fro, manning their counters, and going along with their daily duties. Yet ever since the trio arrived in the village, the locals'' eyes flickered with fear, darting all around Enyah as she passed by, searching for something. Their moving gazes were full of wariness and suspicion, openly showing their distrust towards their visitors.


    One by one, their eyes landed onto the figure near the tail end of the grintless. Hunched over, Rinne''s youthful voice echoed around them while they had their conversation. And that childish, high pitched voice was like lighting a fire under chickens, sending the locals packing in all directions, their figures trembling in fear.


    ¡°That was NOT me.¡± Enyah said, turning away from his pointed look.


    ¡°I dont know.¡± Rinne sang, ¡°It could¡¯ve been something you¡¯ve done. Have you killed anyone here?¡±


    ¡°Kill someone?¡± Enyah asked, feeling that she gave him the wrong impression these past few days. ¡°Do you think of me as some mass slaughterer who kills everybody who comes my way? Still¡­¡± She pondered their reactions. It was eerily similar to the port¡¯s current fear with the stampede. Definitely too similar. She narrowed her eyes in thought. ¡°Is the stampede coming this way, too?¡±


    ¡°Hello!¡± Rinne called out to a fleeing man, a farmer by the look of his attire. The man didn¡¯t respond, nor even look. His face fell, but before he could get too crestfallen, one of the braver villagers called out to him.


    ¡°You, boy!¡± A man spoke with rushed words. He was near a building, a face full of regret for calling out after seeing Enyah turn and face him. Still, he kept talking, quickly and without pausing at all. ¡°Is this woman your mother? Are you safe? Or are you being chased? Kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°None of the sort!¡± Rinne responded, His mood fluctuating from the man''s words as he tried to contemplate its meaning. Still, he pressed onwards, ¡°She''s my friend! We¡¯re the bestest of friends! And we''re passing through. Though, does your town have any parks with views of the moon?¡±


    The man frowned with confusion, not hearing the responses he wanted. He sat silently for a moment, before letting out a simple ¡°No, we have no parks here.¡± And leaving hurriedly, his figure becoming lost within the maze of houses.


    ¡°That was strange.¡± Rinne blinked, staring at where the man had disappeared. With a shrug he turned back ahead, morphing his face to be as pitiful as it could be, he whined to Enyah, ¡°But did you hear him? No parks! How are we going to enjoy the moon''s glow while sharing a bench surrounded by nature now?¡±


    ¡°There was never a chance of that happening.¡± Enyah replied monotonously, scanning the streets for some sort of inn. Considering the size of the town, she should have found it already, yet it remained elusive.


    ¡°It''s okay! There''s still more to do on the list.¡± He responded without losing any motivation, ¡°How about local food? We only had bread earlier today!¡±


    ¡°Inn food works just as well. We''ll be alone in our room too.¡± Enyah refuted. After Speaking, A building in the corner of her vision caught her attention.


    Well kept walls sprouted tall from the ground, painted with a neat white. It gave off a feeling of oppressive serenity. Like a feeling of forced peace, ruled by fear. A feeling that made Enyah feel revulsion.


    A tall spire topped the building, looking down on the town with authority and ego.  Pasted in the front of the building was a single gold circle, kept clean and glaring in the sun, reflecting its light in all directions.


    Enyah felt herself tense up, recognizing the icon. The Replian faith. Once again, they''re here, spreading their sickly, vile influence. They pretend to be giving, kind and welcoming towards the destitute until they swallow them whole. Those corrupted bastards deserve death many times over. Preaching for some perfect world, but only wanting to rule over the current world. ¡°Do the gods allow the actions of their followers? Do they endorse it?¡±


    Those ferals from earlier could have been converted in this very town, being so close to the port. That made it even more distasteful. She turned away, not even wanting to look at it any longer.


    ¡°Do you only eat inn food?¡± Rinne asked, unaware of her thoughts. Enyah gazed at his face, searching. He didn''t seem to have noticed the building, either.


    Was the mist at play? Or was it the Gods? The building was too unique to remain hidden for so long.


    Unable to learn more, she shelved the thought with a frown.


    ¡°I eat other food.¡± Enyah replied, ¡°There¡¯s a tavern at the port. The Dancing Pearl. Seafood is their specialty.¡±


    ¡°Tavern food is inn food!¡± Rinne complained.


    ¡°It isn''t.¡± She shook her head in denial.


    ¡°Yes it is!¡± Rinne responded, refusing to back down.


    ¡°Whatever.¡± Enyah rolled her eyes, no longer humoring his argument. ¡°We''ll drop off Zarts, come up with a path to Ollenia, and only after that will we go out. Are you satisfied with that?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Rinne thought about it, though he didn''t have much or a choice. She''d lock him in that room if need be. Reaching their destination safely was their utmost priority, no matter what. ¡°Deal.¡±


    ¡°Now where''s the inn¡­¡± Enyah muttered, confused. All the houses Looked the same, indistinguishable from the rest aside from the church, which lay in the center of the town, glaringly exposed once she became aware.


    ¡°Mercenary!¡± She called to a man who didn''t flee from her at first sight. With a sword at his waist and wearing nondescript leather, she made an assumption.


    ¡°You want somethin¡¯, lass?¡± The man turned back to ask, his eyes searching her warily. He was scruffy, but didn''t seem to be the sort to stab you in the back. Looks could always be deceiving, however, which kept her wary.


    ¡°Yeah, I do. Where''s the inn?¡± She asked him calmly, hiding her emotions.


    He rolled his eyes, saying, ¡°The connected houses near the lumber storages. Those are the repurposed inn. Follow the road to the right.¡± After those words, he turned and walked away, deigning to speak anymore.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Enyah said, unsure if he heard. Still, she followed his directions, trotting down the street. The closer they neared the inn, the more mercenaries she spotted, meandering around the town.


    In fact, there were many more mercenaries than she expected. ¡°No wonder they had to expand the inn.¡±


    Then, the inn was revealed to them. An array of houses, their interior walls torn between them to make a single, large building. The work wasn''t perfect, but it was professional. A town of lumberjacks also had skilled carpenters. Who knew?


    A rickety sign sat above the door, displaying ¡°INN¡± in a corroded green. Next door was a makeshift stable, housing a variety of beasts.


    Besides horses, the most common mount in lakreia, there were giant wolves, turchins, which was a mutated tortoise, slow but defensive, and even a mutated goat residing within the stables.


    All sorts of mercenaries seemed to have congregated here. Giant wolves were only found in the northwestern lands of Graille, while turchins only resided in the sunkissed deserts of Patlaw.


    For mercenaries from both faraway regions to come to this city specifically shows how lucrative the jobs are.


    ¡°A grintliss, huh.¡± The middle aged man running the stable smirked with interest, scrutinizing the lizard that halted in front of him. As if sensing his look, Zarts turned and squawked in his direction, blasting him with an echoing, high pitched noise. ¡°Feisty thing, isn''t he.¡± He turned towards Enyah, unfazed, ¡°He''ll be safe here, miss.¡±


    ¡°Better be.¡± She growled, staring at him for a moment, as if searching for something, before turning away calmly, entering the inn with Rinne right behind her, holding onto through back of her shirt.


    The interior of the inn was¡­ unique. Using the luminescent fungi from the forest, the tavern was lit with a shade of lime green. The walls within were pasted with moss, making it seem like part of the jungle itself.


    The mercenaries drank and dined within, chatting merrily. Upon their arrival, not too many mercenaries noticed, or cared. They Preferred whatever they had their attention on. Most mercenaries had that single minded focus. That''s how they became mercenaries.


    Still, a few had vastly different reactions. A few looked at her, then Rinne, with panicked eyes, while others viewed her with interest, scrutinizing her like she was a prize.


    Enyah walked around the tables with a confident gait, making sure to show no weakness. Folks like these would grab onto it harder than a prowler with their prey. Their predatory eyes followed them with every step, sizing the pair up.


    Seconds felt like minutes, her eyes flickered between the mercenaries, noting down their appearances before giving them a grin. A fearless grin, inviting them to their deaths. Whether they took up the invitation, only time would tell.


    Leaving them behind, they reached the counter, where a shaking citizen woman was staring at her arriving figure with wide eyes. The woman couldn¡¯t talk, petrified in fear.


    ¡°I-I¡± The woman fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.


    Enyah let out a sigh as the noise fell to a stop in an instant at the sound of the falling girl.


    ¡°Oi! Are you going after Beth?¡± A rough voice called behind her. Looking back, half of the mercenaries stood up, glaring at her with death in their eyes.


    ¡°Are you going to get me my room?¡± Enyah asked, tapping her foot in impatience. If need be, she scanned potential escape routes, but these men lacked the spirit.


    They looked like nothing but wounded puppies defending their pride.


    An older, bushy man stomped past the counter and grabbed a key from the shelf behind them. He dropped it onto the counter unceremoniously while staring at her. He was tense, ready to fight if need be, while he spoke. ¡°Room 2A. Up the stairs on your left. Now get out of our sight, scum.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Enyah grabbed the key, stuffing it into her pocket. ¡°Now, your payment.¡±


    Reaching to her belt, she unsheathed her flintlock, raising it to the man''s face. The world shrunk til only the two of them remained. She saw the line of sweat gliding down his face. His rapid heart rate. Fear.


    She felt a grin grow on her face, letting out a low, fulfilled whisper, ¡°Don''t be so afraid, Mercenary. It''s only death. I''ll make it quick.¡±

 Shepherd of Wolves - Ch13

    Enyah never felt as alive. Countless weapons, sharper than glass, pointed directly at her with the intent to kill. The glares of their owners, similarly as sharp, boring holes into her being with warped, scathing hatred. Her life on the line, only a pistol in her hand to defend herself.


    She felt her skin tingle with excitement as her grin widened along her face. Her eyes darted back and forth, eying the menagerie of foes.


    Yet, she only felt confidence. Her mind churned with strategies, focused on protecting Rinne while outmaneuvering the mercenaries.


    Her eyes snaked back to the man held at the end of her gun, whose body shook in fear. She saw his futile attempts at calming himself, but he gave himself away too easily. Like a hunted rabbit, he was entirely at her mercy.


    Was he feeling regret? Regret over antagonizing her over nothing?


    A man his age should be able to hide his emotions easier. Especially when working as a mercenary.


    Enyah only felt one emotion to his reactions. To the reactions of every single mercenary in the inn. ¡°Disappointing. Each and every one of them.¡±


    All of the mercenaries here, who came from all around the various countries within Lakreia, were just talk. Their constant whining filled her ears like the screaming of a child, but they made no attempt to free her captive. Their talk was cheap, backed by nothing but their idle blades, which hung in the air like decorations.


    ¡°Let Walt go!¡±


    ¡°If you don''t let him go, we''ll skewer you!¡±


    ¡°As expected of scum!¡±


    ¡°Do you want to die?!?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just like the rumors, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Their echoed thoughts passed through her in an instant, though her mind caught onto the last phrase she heard. It wrapped around her thoughts, constricting her emotions.


    ¡°Rumors? There¡¯s rumors about me already?¡± Her mind churned, coming up with possibilities that came and went in a flash, none seeming concrete. ¡°The only one who lived was that four armed man. He wouldn¡¯t let the Replian church know. Not willingly, at least.¡±


    She shook her head internally, ¡°No, he can¡¯t be faster than Zarts. Even sending a bird wouldn¡¯t be this fast.¡±


    Jabbing the gun into the man¡¯s face, she growled, ¡°You¡¯re coming with us.¡± before turning towards the crowd, who flinched at her glare. ¡°Anyone want to disagree?¡±


    The roaring crowd showed no different reactions, but also made no attempt to stop her actions. She rolled her eyes with a snort. ¡°Cowards.¡±


    Without moving her eyes off the crowd, she backed up towards the stairs with slow, tentative steps.


    The wood creaked under the combined weight of Enyah and her captive, interrupting the hollering of the mob.


    Their blabbering mouths trapped shut, leaving only the creaking of steps. A few of the mercenaries, the ones that looked the most terrified, left the building with haste, leaving behind only the echoed pounding of their footsteps.


    Rinne was huddled next to Enyah, keeping his hair hidden yet glaring back at the mob, fighting back with unsaid words.


    Many steps later and they reached the top. Enyah kept her gaze on the older man, who stopped trembling and accepted his situation.


    ¡°Kid.¡± Enyah commanded, not turning her gaze. She felt him startle with a rabbit-like demeanor before moving to face her. ¡°Find our room, I''ll be keeping our friend here company.¡±


    ¡°Yes ma''am!¡± Rinne saluted, trotting off with soft steps and looking around the walls for room signs.


    ¡°Now. It''s just us.¡± Enyah mumbled softly, poking him softly with her gun, feeling his leather shirt pushing against the barrel. ¡°Turn around.¡±


    He turned without question, facing his back to her, but suddenly spoke, matching her softened voice. ¡°Do what you''d like to me, but don''t harm the kid.¡±


    She frowned at his statement, before shaking it off. Growling, she lowered her voice. ¡°Demands are given between equals. Drop your sword on the floor.¡±


    With slow, steady hands, the man took out a sword from his sheath before crouching down, placing it without a sound. Yet he didn''t rise again immediately, electing to continue talking. ¡°There''s limits to what one should do for coin.¡±


    ¡°Ironic, coming from an Operite mercenary.¡± Enyah snarled, picking up his dropped sword and inspecting the make.


    No standoffish qualities, it simply looked like mass produced steel that could have been created anywhere.


    Was the man the same?


    He was a little more courageous than the others, but nothing else stood out to her.


    ¡°We''ve changed.¡± The man replied weakly, not even believing his own words. ¡°We duel for contracts now.¡±


    ¡°Maybe some, but not all of you.¡± Enyah replied.


    A town''s way of living can''t change this fast. Especially not mercenary living. Mercenaries are people who love their way of life too much to change for something like reason.


    ¡°Still.¡± He continued, lowering his voice as it became more firm. ¡°Our one rule is to never harm a child. So you better watch yourself.¡±


    ¡°What makes you so sure I harmed this child?¡± Enyah inquired, hiding her perplexed face behind his back.


    ¡°S''all over town.¡± He spoke confidently, as if thinking her question was fear. ¡°Everybody knows it. A kidnapped child and their captor riding into town. And here you are.¡±


    ¡°Is-Is that a rumor? Are you believing a rumor?¡± Enyah paused in disbelief. ¡°The whole town¡¯s acting against me based on nothing but hearsay?¡±


    ¡°Found our room!¡± Rinne called from the hallway to the left of the staircase. The room was near the end of the hallway, requiring a small walk to reach the room.


    ¡°Whatever.¡± Enyah muttered, turning to Rinne and calling, ¡°Coming!¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    She turned to the man, motioning him forwards and following after him.


    They walked onwards, the only noise within the hallway was their boots against wood and the flickering candles that followed along them, perched onto the walls and pasting their shadows onto the wall.


    The door they stopped at was the same as every other. Handing the key to Rinne, he opened the door and leapt inside with his childlike vigor.


    They didn¡¯t purposely give them a subpar room. At least from what she could tell from the door. Two beds lay against The wall and a couch situated on one side. On the other end of the wall, a small pot lay. Within, a small sapling grew and engulfed the room in the smell of nature.


    Enyah nodded, satisfied, before pushing the man inside and closing the door behind her.


    With a click, the door locked, encapsulating the three in their own world. She also let her shoulders fall, tension leaving her body.


    An army of mercenaries might be troublesome, but just this man?


    ¡°I can relax a bit¡± she mused, turning her back to the man and falling to the bed. The bed itself also smelled of wood, giving the room its own, unique charm.


    Feeling the bed below her, she let out a soft groan in comfort, resting her body on the mattress. Still, her arm remained outstretched, flintlock aimed at the man¡¯s skull.


    The man wasn¡¯t tensed up, rather relaxing in the room. Maybe he realized that she wasn¡¯t intending on hurting him. It didn¡¯t stop his wandering eyes, however. his eyes gazed around warily, looking for some means of escape, yet the only exits were the window in the back and the now locked door. From Enyah''s position, she could easily subdue him whichever choice he made.


    Rinne also seemed to relax within the locked room, his wary eyes shifting to curiosity as he looked at the stranger in their room. ¡°Hello! What''s your name?¡±


    He frowned, deciding whether to humor the child before shrugging, his turmoil showing on his face. ¡°I''m Walt, a mercenary. Worked in Operite for over twenty years.¡±


    Enyah stared at him from the corner of her eyes, letting Rinne talk.


    ¡°Ooh! That''s older than I am!¡± Rinne sang, hopping onto the other bed. ¡°If you''ve been here so long, you must love it here, right?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Walt shook his head, lowering himself, after a few tentative glances at Enyah, onto a chair opposing the beds. ¡°But it''s home.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a mercenary though.¡± Rinne swung his feet, speaking his thoughts as they appeared in his mind. Tilting his head, he asked the man,  ¡°Can¡¯t your home be wherever you want it to be?¡±


    ¡°Read the tales of Warren, the Great Adventurer? We aren¡¯t the same as him.¡± The man sighed. A weary sigh of resignation.  Of a life full of regrets and lack of fulfillment. ¡°Kid. We travel for work, but it''s to live. We ran around, doing tasks from village to village, but it only made me realize one thing. We all need a home. And I found mine here.¡±


    ¡°That''s sweet and all.¡± Enyah cut in, leaning up and sharpening her gaze, ¡°But that doesn''t excuse you for the disrespect.¡±


    ¡°The disrespect? Bah. Gnungdung.¡± The man snorted, his wariness lost through their conversation. ¡°No mercenary worth their weight in coin would get fussy over a little bit of name calling.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Enyah smirked in response, easing her glare a small amount. ¡°You know what I want, right?¡±


    ¡°Information.¡± The man confirmed. He looked down with a frown, before looking at Enyah directly in her eyes. ¡°However, I¡­ I apologize for my words. By the time I was aware, the whole town believed in the rumor. I thought it was the truth.¡±


    She remained silent, letting him continue.


    ¡°But the child isn''t acting kidnapped. Could be deceived, sure, but you don¡¯t¡­ look the sort.¡± He gave her an appraising eye, looking her up and down.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± She frowned, questioning him with her head leaning on her arm.


    ¡°It''s¡­¡± The man paused, closing his mouth, yet opening it repeatedly, trying to find the right words to say.


    ¡°The scars, right?¡± Enyah asked, rolling her eyes. People were always touchy when asking about her scars. They existed and she couldn''t change that, so why avoid them? Did they really scare these people so much?


    ¡°Told you you''re scary!¡± Rinne interrupted, a sly grin on his face from the man''s silent confirmation.


    ¡°Shut it, kid. I like it that way.¡± She replied, anger rising up at the sight of his grin. He was getting too comfortable around her. Soon enough she wouldn''t be able to control him.


    ¡°You like everybody hating you, like this town?¡± Rinne asked lightly, tilting his head in wonder. He couldn¡¯t hide his smirk that threatened to grow every second he talked, however.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s not my looks that¡¯s the issue.¡± Enyah rolled her eyes, letting out a sigh at the boy¡¯s amusement.


    Kids.


    Nothing but infuriating.


    ¡°Maybe the rumors sprouted because of your looks.¡± Rinne continued, unknowing or uncaring of Enyah¡¯s worsening mood. His eyes were full of lighthearted teasing, but his mouth only spouted venom.


    ¡°Whatever, kid.¡± She grumbled, looking away and turning to the man, who watched their interactions as if watching a puppet show. ¡°And you¡­ No matter. Tell me more about the rumor.¡±


    Walt snorted, all fear lost. He looked at her with something similar to pity. She furrowed her brows at the stare, feeling revulsion rise up from his¡­ look.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± He turned away from her after a moment, stroking his beard in thought. ¡°I came home from working in the jungle a few days ago and I heard a rumor from one of my drinking buddies.¡±


    ¡°Well, I call it a rumor, but he spoke as if it were a fact. Someone kidnapped a child in Pallor''s Port, and was coming through Operite on their way to sell the child.¡± He concluded, turning to stare at her, as if waiting for her thoughts.


    ¡°So you were going to gang up on any adult and child pair that crossed through the jungles?¡± Enyah asked, disbelief caking her tone. She felt her disappointment in these people sink lower the more she heard.


    Operite¡­ she should avoid it in the future, lest they infect her with their stupidity.


    ¡°Well¡­ the rumors got worse as time went on.¡± He continued, lowering his head in shame. She noticed his face redden in embarrassment, barely visible through his facial hair. ¡°I¡¯ll admit¡­ I helped spread them too. A massive, scarred man, who kept children on leashes¡­ Even using them to relieve stress.¡±


    ¡°How would he relieve stress with kids? Beating them?¡± Rinne asked from the side, hearing his emphasized tone. He seemed to shiver at the thought of being beaten. Was it in general, or was it being beaten by her specifically?


    Useless thoughts.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know when you¡¯re older.¡± She responded to Rinne absentmindedly, looking back to the man, and speaking with a noticeable increase in hardness in her voice. ¡°Continue, please.¡±


    ¡°Right! ¡­ Right.¡± The man jumped in place, startled for a moment, yet he calmed down in a few moments, narrowing his eyes in thought before continuing his words. ¡°Well, what else is there to say? You came into town, wearing scars and with a cloaked child in tow. That was enough for everybody, I assume.¡±


    Enyah frowned, lacking key information. His explanation hadn''t satisfied most of her queries. Sure, they were against her because of rumors, but it was suspicious. Her mind churned. The fact that rumors of a kidnapped child appeared in the one town required to leave Pallor''s Port, knowing that Rinne, the silver haired child, was hiding there¡­


    Enyah felt anger rise up. A trap. Using the people of Operite against her. And it worked. Now the perpetrator knows she''s here. What she looks like. How she reacted to this.


    Her mind turned towards the Replian church, hidden within the town. They knew she was in the port, attacking her directly on the way to Rinne. They were the most likely culprits.


    ¡°Do you know who started the rumor?¡± Enyah asked, hiding her thoughts from Walt.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Not for sure.¡± Walt mumbled after thinking for a few moments. ¡°There''s Pat, The ¡®Leader¡¯ of the mercenaries, who most of us have heard the rumor from. Though I also heard that the mayor¡¯s also keeping an eye open for these rumors. Maybe even Pat''s wife, who''s got an ear in every hole in town.¡±


    ¡°Are any of them religious?¡± Enyah asked with a frown. Any glaringly religious folks would easily give away the culprit. Though, with the church as hidden as it was, who knows.


    ¡°Religious? Why would that matter?¡± He asked quizzically, But Enyah''s glare kept him from asking further. ¡°None of them seem too religious. I mean, it''s not like I ask who they pray to.¡±


    ¡°Of course, who would?¡± Enyah agreed, ¡°But have you seen any of them coming and going from the church?¡±


    ¡°The¡­church?¡± He furrowed his brows in confusion, looking at her with a frown. ¡°This town doesn''t have a church.¡±


    ¡°Sure it does.¡± Enyah responded, ¡°The Replian church in the middle of the town. Stands out.¡±


    ¡°Miss, I''ve lived here for twenty years and I have never seen a church here.¡± Walt denied, shaking his head in firm refusal. ¡°Unless it''s hiding, but I know most of the folk here. Don''t act like cultists to me.¡±


    ¡°Big, tall building. White bricks. Tall spire in the middle. Ring a bell?¡± Enyah asked him, struggling to recall its faded features from her memories. The thoughts were attempting to escape her long after they left the area.


    Strange. Its hold on the town was much stronger than she thought. Much more dangerous too.


    How many other churches hide in towns? Their followers watching unknowing citizens like livestock, controlling the town from within.


    Distasteful. Enyah grimaced.


    ¡°Ooh! That building!¡± Walt recalled, as if a mental block had been removed. Memories seemed to rush into him as his confusion turned into recognition. ¡°I always thought it was a prison! Like a voice in my head saying ¡®Dangerous folks in there Walt, stay away.¡¯ So I just¡­ left it alone. It does look suspicious, huh?¡±


    Walt stroked his beard in confusion, his mind clearly lost in thought. A frown formed on his face. Realization that his thoughts had been tampered with for who knows how long.


    ¡°Yeah, that one.¡± Enyah spoke up after a few moments, letting the older man get his mind sorted, ¡°Now, can you recall who came and went from there?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He strained to remember, adding wrinkles to his already wrinkled face. ¡°Well, the mayor definitely visited. He came and went multiple times throughout the day. The others¡­ I can''t tell.¡±


    ¡°That''s enough. Thank you.¡± Enyah nodded in appreciation, jotting the mayor into her mind. If he wasn''t the culprit, he was certainly associated.


    Still, they were only going to stay a single night. She wouldn''t go out of her way to solve these problems. Not while on a contract, at least.


    The mayor, among other figures, probably knows that too. They''ll attack Enyah while she sleeps or before she leaves.


    Her mind clasped onto the notion of another sleepless night, letting out a deep sigh in frustration.


    ¡°Are you alright!?¡± Rinne''s voice rose in panic. Before, he listened to their conversation in silent wonder, but her groan startled him into a worried fuss.


    ¡°Yeah. I''m fine.¡± She frowned, pushing him away gently while internally coaxing her emotions into calmness.


    Walt lowered his face, hiding his thoughts under the veil of the flickering dim light. His voice deepened, hardening into a single thought, ¡°Were the rumors also a trick of the mind?¡±


    ¡°I couldn''t tell you. I''m no expert.¡± Enyah shrugged. ¡°But it wouldn''t surprise me. No religious nuts are trustworthy.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± He murmured, pausing in thought. ¡°Are we done here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Free to go.¡± She got up from the bed, unlocking the door with a deft turn of the key.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He growled, and with the fury of Pallor''s storms, he left the room and slammed the door behind him, leaving only his radiating anger to fester within the bedroom.


    Their room fell into a quiet, serene peace after he left. Enyah sauntered to the bed, laying down once again on the gentle, comforting mattress.


    ¡°Oh gods.¡± Enyah thought, pausing her moment of relaxation. ¡°I forgot to ask what the mayor looked like!¡±

 Shepherd of Wolves - Ch14

    On the table that lay solemnly in their inn room, Enyah placed the map she bought. Though mass produced and littered with fake erosion, she had to admit, the quality was worth the price.


    Lakreia was unveiled before her, its hidden majesty uncovered on the single piece of paper. Even the other continents revealed themselves, their borders and cities screaming with mysterious cultures and lives. Still, none of the other continents were of concern for her at the moment.


    Orlent stood tall, its wide and sturdy borders surrounded by other countries. As if the borders themselves upheld the knightly virtues that nobles so often praise.


    Various countries such as Graille, Patlaw, Arates, and Fren Tilch all huddled close, bordering Orlent closely like sardines. Lakreia was in a time of peace, from as far as Enyah could tell, though who knows with politics.


    Within Orlent''s various ecosystems, she found Pallor''s Port, hidden away from the world with Soreado as its cover. In fact, she wouldn''t have been able to find its location on the map without the single road through Soreado to be her guide.


    Speaking of Soreado, its growth was massive. Covering almost the entire southwestern region, the jungle lay daunting, untamed by human hands besides the single, lone path that cut through the lightest areas of the jungle.


    Bordering Soreado lay their current town, Operite. Mentioned with only its name in small font, Operite earned no attention from the mapmakers from the current era. It lay as only a rural village that bordered Soreado.


    No walls, no church, just a name. Enyah smirked. Still more noticeable than the port. Only a small dock sticking out of the jungle, barely noticeable, indicated its presence.


    Past Operite, various other names littered the map like stars in the sky, numerous and bright, but she could glean nothing from these names. She frowned in frustration. She''d heard all of these names in passing conversation from visitors that came to the port, but never dug deeper.


    She never had to. The port was home, she didn''t need to know anywhere else.


    An oversight on her part.


    She turned to Rinne, who stood on his toes beside her, staring at the cities intently, drilling Orlent into his eyes with a perplexed complexion. ¡°Hey kid. Do any of the nearby towns ring a bell?¡±


    Rinne''s gaze turned towards her outstretched hand, which landed on the three nearest towns. Opline, Opteniant, and Opralictace. All of their names started with ¡°Op¡±, Enyah mused. Must be an Orlent thing.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I might.¡± He glanced at her with a smug grin and a twinkle in his eye. His grin only grew as he continued speaking ¡°What will you do for this information.¡±


    ¡°What will I do for..?¡± Enyah echoed, turning to glare at him. ¡°Boy, I''m trying to take you home! Do you have to play these games with me?¡±


    ¡°That doesn''t mean I can''t get something out of it.¡± He sang, rubbing two fingers together. ¡°How about¡­ three questions! That you can''t lie about no matter what. Pinky promise!¡±


    Enyah looked down at the boy, who didn''t look like either the scared, frightened boy in the forest nor the innocent, naive boy that looked curiously and asked plenty of questions. It was like¡­ dealing with a noble, who also had the outspoken mind of a child.


    It brought out a sour taste within her.


    It wasn''t a good thing.


    He was changing too much, this boy. Still¡­


    Don''t be like this. Just tell me.¡± Enyah declined, staring at the boy with intensifying eyes. His confident gait never wavered, staring her down right back.


    ¡°Three. Questions.¡± He grinned mischievously holding three fingers in front of him.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Enyah relented, rolling her eyes. She ignored his cheer in jubilation, jumping around like a lixsis in heat, and waiting for his response.


    After taking a few moments for his excitement to ebb, Rinne whispered, his voice faithful and sturdy, ¡°Pinky promise.¡±


    Enyah looked at his outstretched hand, his little finger reaching towards her solemnly, as if it were an ancient pact.


    With a shrug, she intertwined her Finger with his, sealing their deal with a childish action.


    ¡°Now, are you going to tell me or not?¡± Enyah tapped her finger against the desk impatiently.


    ¡°Sure!¡± Rinne pulled away, satisfied. ¡°What I know about these towns are¡­¡± He held off in suspense, before sprouting out cheerfully, ¡°Nothing! No bells are ringing here!¡±


    Silence pervaded the room for a few moments before she let out a long, drawn out sigh, exhaling her pent up emotions. Running a hand through her hair, she felt her head clear up, releasing all of her tension. ¡°I expected as much.¡±


    ¡°Hehe,¡± Rinne giggled, his eyes curling in glee. ¡°I¡¯ll use those questions later.¡±


    ¡°All yours.¡± Enyah replied lightly, turning back towards the map. The mystery still remained¡­ but did it matter? Knowledge was helpful, but shouldn¡¯t let herself be consumed by its need. ¡°Except we¡¯ll be staying inside the inn for the rest of the day, not exploring the town.¡±


    ¡°Nooooooo!¡± Rinne screamed death, his voice echoing through the room. ¡°My perfect adventure! My romance! I¡¯ll trade back! Please!¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Enyah replied smugly, still gazing at the map with narrowed eyes. ¡°You played with me like this. Now that I don''t have to worry about going out, we can take our time.¡±


    ¡°Hmph¡­I''ll get my revenge.¡± Rinne grumbled behind her. She could hear the slow thumping of his steps trodding away, finding something else to entertain him no doubt.


    Still¡­


    Opline, Opteniant, and Opralictace¡­


    Opline seemed to be a few days north and a direct route to the capital. The fastest route, but all of the money grubbers and zealots around Orlent would know that as well.


    Still, Zarts would be able to outrun most of them with enough rest.


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    Yet, if they surrounded a tired Zarts¡­


    She labeled Opline as a high risk destination within her mind.


    Opteniant, the village further east than north. Similar to Opline, the village would take her north towards Oprill, the jewel of southwest trade in Orlent. Though, there lay a few villages eastward that she could skirt to if she needed.


    Then Opralictace¡­ A village purely eastward, with its own path to the capital, electing to move from the southeast towards the capital instead, bypassing the entire southwestern journey. The safest option, surely, but a longer journey by far.


    Still, Zarts could make the journey the swiftest of paces.


    She shook her head, moving her gaze off the map. This decision was important, the wrong path would kill them both, and it all stemmed from here.


    Yet, the familiar anxiety from decisions like these never came. Only an empty freedom, cold like blowing wind, awaited her choice.


    The port couldn''t wait. She had to consider that too¡­


    After a few, silent moments to think, Enyah came to a satisfied conclusion, nodding to herself with certainty.


    They''d skirt the edges of Opteniant and take the smaller path. They could also simply deviate their path if need be.


    With their path considered, there was no reason to stay awake. With a quick glance outside, it was still light out. She could see the sun peeking over the trees, its lazy descent moving at a seemingly snail-like pace.


    It was too early to sleep, yet there were no other pressing matters to concern herself over. Still, the earlier they slept, the earlier they could rise and leave.


    Enyah turned to Rinne to speak her mind before he spoke to her from beside the window. ¡°What are they doing to Zarts!¡±


    He was looking down at something in shock and anger painted on his face, one step away from opening the window and screeching down.


    ¡°What?!¡± Enyah growled in an instant, dashing from her position to the window in a burst of speed. Her hand clenched her pistol, unafraid to shoot if anyone harmed her lizard in any way.


    Outside, a group of the mercenaries from earlier were with the man who took in Zarts, attempting to control the beast with rough tugs of his reins.


    ¡°A fine beast. How much would they pay for a mount like this?¡± The stablekeeper grinned with pride, as if he personally caught the lizard.


    ¡°Serves the bitch right, only getting what comes to her.¡± Another man grinned. A feral, his head furred and sharp teeth lining his mouth in a disgusting smirk, ¡°And nothing wrong with getting some coin in the process.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d you say?¡± Enyah roared from the now opened window, a foot on the ledge, a moment from leaping down. Her cutlass shone in the sun, gleaming a piercing silver down upon the mercenaries, who turned to look up at her in anger.


    Zarts also turned towards her, his amber eyes boring into her while he chirped in complaint, pawing repeatedly at the ground with a claw.


    ¡°We said you''re dying here, scum. And we¡¯re taking the lizard, while we''re at it.¡± A different mercenary smirked, staring up at her with a grin that bordered evil.


    ¡°Touch my lizard any further, and no god will be able to save you.¡± She growled, holding her pistol in her other hand, its barrel boring down at the man, whispering death.


    The man, unperturbed, raised a curved sword to the lizard''s neck. A drop of thick, red blood fell onto the blade, before slowly sliding down, staining the dirt in crimson. ¡°The beast¡¯s coming with us, whether you like it or not, you whore. Now. Do you think your gun''s faster than my blade?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Enyah responded with an angered grin, her face wrinkled in fury as her voice was accompanied by a loud crack as the lead slammed the man through his arm holding the sword, bringing him to the ground in a sprawled, groaning heap. ¡°I do.¡±


    Showing the adaptability¡­ and cruelty of a mercenary, the other mercenaries took a glance at the fallen man before one of them cried, ¡°Kill her! Before she has a chance to reload!¡±


    Enyah welcomed their bloodlust, charging off the window with a sharp whistle emerging from her lips, her cutlass aiming for blood.


    In an instant, chaos ensued. Zarts, hearing the whistle, changed his entire demeanor, whipping his tail around with an echoing crack, he knocked over the nearby mercenaries before charging at his short term handler, tackling him to the ground.


    She landed heavily on one of the mercenaries, sending him sprawling to the ground from the impact. With a roll, she jumped back up, charging at the approaching men. She blocked a feral¡¯s claw that swiped from her right with ease before swerving to the left, ducking around an axe that swung for her head, giving the bearer an elbow to the rib in return.


    Attacks came in constant barrages, while Enyah ducked, weaved, and dodged through the attacks. However, the stalemate wouldn''t last forever. More mercenaries, hearing the commotion, ran towards them, joining the horde that surged against her without needing a reason.


    Enyah could only feel a prickle of disgust as she dodged their strikes with inhuman grace. Grace she hadn''t had even last week. Speed she couldn''t achieve.


    Her ability was growing. Slowly, but surely.


    As she moved to the tune of battle, she felt the mist cling to her lovingly, caressing her body like a mother''s touch. She could see the wispy purple trails steaming from her muscles, enhancing her very being.


    Moving faster, growing stronger, before, her ability only gave her senses of danger, alerting her to any incoming attacks, which she sometimes struggled to respond against.


    Now though? The battlefield was a bloodied, crimson stage, and she whirled around the extras, performing a waltz of murder with a toothy smile that only grew with each slash.


    In moments, most of the weaker mercenaries had been subdued, sporting gashes or missed limbs, but none dead. They lay on the ground, too weak to stand back up, groaning their hatred through curses into the air.


    This feeling could get addicting.


    Enyah pushed the numerous questions of why or how to the back of her head, instead reveling in the satisfaction of newly gained strength. She continued weaving around without a scratch on her body. She responded in less than a blink to the pings that spread through her mind, her body finally keeping its pace with the sensations.


    In less than a few moments, the ordinary mercenaries were cut like grass, leaving only the mercenaries that were skilled above the rest to remain standing.


    Sending Rinne a quick, pointed look, Enyah turned to the menagerie of mercenary folk that surrounded her.


    A feral growled at her warily, his claws outstretched in the sun¡¯s setting glow. His growls of a deep, unending hunger were only overshadowed by the wails of the downed mercenaries. ¡°The strong ones always taste juicier.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ not eat the woman, alright?¡± Another man grumbled, his skin glossy and tanned. A texture that Enyah saw before. Mist touched, she noted. In fact, all of the ones left standing had some sort of ability from the mist.


    ¡°Just shows how necessary the mist is. Nothing but strength and evolution.¡± Enyah frowned, her thoughts hidden from the ongoing conversation around her.


    ¡°An honorable fight! Like the days of old.¡± A bear-like man boomed, his face a grin full of battlelust. ¡°The gods will feast upon our spilled blood, and drink to our triumph!¡±


    ¡°I''m not too sure about that, Glain.¡± A soft, impressionable voice sounded from nearby, as three figures came into view.


    The leader was an older man, his wrinkles curving gently on his face. He wore a suit, yet it seemed out of place¡­ somewhat alien. His short hair was greased in something, and he gave the look of an affable, pleasant man.


    Yet, maybe it was her powers, or even instinct, but Enyah saw a snake. A devil of a man hid beneath that facade. A man who marked her as a target, his gaze locked into hers.


    Beside him was a huge man, whose size rivaled the bear-like man Glain. His face, scarred from years of work, only made him more intimidating as he scanned the situation with intense focus. Sheathed beside him was a massive sword, even larger than Rinne, which hummed to be released.


    The last figure was a woman, whose eyes screamed danger. Her stare was void, empty, and Enyah felt a chill simply being looked at by her.


    Still, she was a beautiful woman, by normal standards, dressed in A high quality dress that seemed unfit for a fight. That didn''t stop Enyah''s appraising eyes from scanning her head to toe for a moment, before gazing back at the leading man.


    ¡°Are you the mayor?¡± Enyah finally spoke, her voice scathingly cold.


    ¡°Yes, I am Manuel. It is a blessing to meet you.¡± The smiling man bowed humbly, spreading his arms in a warm gesture.


    ¡°I see.¡± Enyah nodded, concluding her earlier skepticism. ¡°So you''re all working together for this, huh. The rumors, catching me like this, even baiting me with my mount.¡±


    ¡°It was necessary to catch such an evildoer.¡± Manuel spoke smoothly, his grin never breaking. ¡°Look at the citizens. They sleep in fear and terror because you exist. You have to be put to justice.¡±


    ¡°Really.¡± Enyah rolled her eyes. The hypocrisy of this man. ¡°So brainwashing the town didn''t have anything to do with it?¡±


    ¡°Brainwashing?¡± The tanned man mumbled to the side. It seemed the mercenaries that still stood didn''t know, Enyah mused. Even if they didn''t trust her, the thought would''ve been planted by now.


    ¡°No, it wasn''t brainwashing.¡± Manuel shook his head gently. ¡°I helped them find the truth. Helped them get to you, my dear.¡±


    ¡°Be honest, you just want the kid.¡± Enyah spoke, reloading her gun with swift motions while nobody stopped to interrupt.


    ¡°It is my duty as a child of Replicio, I must admit.¡± He agreed with a nod of his head. ¡°You are not needed in His world, I''m sad to say. Though if you repent and give us the child, I will plead your case with my whole heart to my most merciful of lords.¡±


    ¡°And you all agree?¡± Enyah''s eyes gazed towards the remaining mercenaries, as well as the duo that stood behind the man.


    ¡°Mayor''s paid top dollar to take you down.¡± The tanned man said. ¡°Whatever the reason, that''s good enough for me.¡±


    ¡°Can I eat her? If she refuses?¡± The Feral barked, turning to the mayor, who gave him a gentle, ¡®go ahead¡¯ nod. ¡°My body screams to kill you. To consume you. Refuse.¡±


    The man who spoke of honor''s face lowered, having some sort of decency to show embarrassment. ¡°I live by honor! But¡­ I need money to live by that code.¡±


    ¡°I''ll follow the money.¡± A fourth mercenary finally spoke at Enyah''s gaze, his figure shrouded in a cloak that covered his entire being. His voice sounded grinding, inhuman. ¡°If you pay more, I''m yours.¡±


    Before Enyah could turn to the last two, the big man behind Manuel spoke with a vicious tone, ¡°Bah! She clearly isn''t going to let him go. Must''ve paid top dollar for the help of some no name fisherwoman. We''re mercenaries, we ain''t compromising. We''ll kill her and take the boy by force!¡±


    ¡°Calm, Pat.¡± Manuel motioned, before studying Enyah''s face for a few, silent moments, eying her defiant expression. ¡°Very well, child. For standing in the way of the perfect world, I must sadly sentence you to death. May your ignorance be cleansed in the world beyond. Prim, my dear girl, please help us send that bitch to the next world.¡±


    ¡°...Yes, deacon.¡± The woman responded, her neutral face twisting into a grin of death, charging at inhuman speeds towards Enyah. Following Prim, the rest of the men began charging, besides Manuel.


    Thus, the battle began anew.

 Shepherd of Wolves - Ch15

    During her swift charge, Prim''s hands, once soft and uncalloused, as if she hadn''t even lifted a jar in her life, morphed into large, swordlike appendages. the sharp, now metallic arms shone in the air, releasing an untamed pressure.


    Enyah waited for her to come, blocking the woman''s momentum with a swing of her cutlass before moving to shoot her with her flintlock, sending lead careening towards her, aimed right for her skull.


    Yet, the woman ignored the blow, continuing her assault. When the bullet struck against her, it bounced back, as if hitting a wall, before falling to the ground in a smoking dent.


    Enyah didn''t have time to frown, hurriedly blocking the blows with her cutlass, shrugging the woman back in a feat of strength she didn''t previously own.


    A swing of the cutlass hit the woman, but she only went careening backwards instead of being struck down on the ground and bleeding.


    By the time the woman was pushed back, the others were upon her.


    Enyah ducked a clawed strike from the Feral and blocked a blow from the hardened man''s fists. Above her, the Feral lunged forwards in a full strike while the bear-like man swung an axe behind her.


    These people were professional, cutting off her escape.


    Taking the Feral''s lunge, his claws grazed her side, yet she lunged back, pushing herself forward and into his body. Behind her, where she once stood, Glain''s axe struck air, hitting her with pressuring winds.


    She jabbed at his chest with her cutlass, yet something blocked her yet again.


    It was hard, like hitting a stone wall. Enyah narrowed her eyes, increasing the pressure of her blow. Something similar to cracks formed in the air and the pressure blocking her was smashed through, yet the Feral moved away long before she could break through.


    Behind her, the man came back with a face full of anger. He screamed an echoing roar and aimed a flurry of blows towards her.


    The Feral in front also charged, his claws outstretched and aimed for her throat, his face contorted into an animalistic snarl.


    From the side came the bear-like man, his axe raised to kill and a lust for blood shone from his eyes.


    Feeling the pings from three sides, Enyah whirled into combat, her sword slicing through the air at speeds faster than the naked eye, blocking all three strikes before charging for the feral once again, unleashing a whirlwind of strikes that lasted only a second.


    The wall held strong, blocking all damage that she would have done.


    Enyah tsked. Something, or someone was protecting them. An Ability associated with the mist or some God, probably.


    She quickly jumped atop the bear-like man''s body, Dodging another swipe and keeping her boots positioned on the man''s shoulders. She struck downwards, towards his head. The few seconds it took to break the wall felt like eternity, giving her enemies enough time to reposition themselves.


    Still, her cutlass struck down, drawing blood from the man''s shoulder. Uncaring of the damage to his body, the man below grabbed hold of her boots, aggressively throwing her away from him.


    Enyah landed on her feet with catlike grace, her eyes darting through each of her enemies, including Pat and Manuel, who watched nearby.


    Yet before she could move, A void seemed to encompass her, separating her from the world around her.


    Walls surrounded her from all sides, blocking even air. She tried to push with her arms, but the compacted wall refused to budge.


    ¡°You¡¯ve put up quite the struggle, dear.¡± Manuel chimed in, his eyes glowing with a deep, rich purple. ¡°But your attempts are futile. Those under my protection shall not be slain.¡±


    Enyah deigned to give him a response, narrowing her eyes at him.


    ¡°And soon, the child will be ours. The world will be shaped in our God¡¯s vision. The perfect world.¡± He continued speaking, his voice gaining fervor.


    As he spoke, the mercenaries surrounded Enyah, prepared to strike as she struggled inside the cage. She strained her muscles, using her newfound strength as best she could.


    Though cracks indeed appeared, the pace was slow, her being unable to put pressure on her squirming.


    ¡°And you''re free to strike her, my comrades.¡± He continued with a snap of his fingers.


    The walls fell in a flash, and Enyah felt pings from all sides.


    She let out a sigh, but the grin she sported never left her face.


    ¡°Nothing like the thrill of a good fight!¡± The bear-like man roared in jubilation, swiping his axe to her side.


    The other mercenaries kept their mouths shut, simply throwing attacks at her.


    She ducked under the axe, rolling over to the man and dodging the scythe-like swipe from the crazed woman, whose eyes followed her every step with flaring intensity.


    She couldn''t, however, dodge every attack.


    From her side, the man with hardened skin hit her side with a barrage of strong, hardened punches.


    Most, she managed to dodge with precise, flexible movements. However, a few hit, sending her reeling.


    Enyah grimaced, putting a hand to the side of her stomach and pushing down the urge to vomiting.


    ¡°A fight worth dying for.¡± Enyah mused to herself, letting out rough breaths and steadying her stance. ¡°Worthy opponents and a moral cause.¡±


    Enyah snorted to herself, her grimace quickly forming back to a determined smirk. ¡°Who cares about that! I ain''t a knight.¡±


    She turned gently, as if dancing on the dirt, and defended the hidden attack from the mercenary who barely spoke with ease. She almost forgot about him. Nothing stood out about this man. His body-covering attire hid his expression as he jumped back, moving his knives into a fighting stance.


    Pat, finally joining the fight, swung his massive sword at an impressive speed, blurring through the wind and slashing towards Enyah''s neck.


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    ¡°I''ve had quite enough of your jumping around, girl!¡± He growled, his sword swiping in a burst of swiftness.


    Enyah saw it coming, noticing the tingling sensation in front of her, even eying him swiping, but barely dodged it by ducking down, the speed intense even for her.


    ¡°A dangerous man.¡± She noted.


    No time to ponder further, the Feral dashed on four limbs, his tongue lolling out behind him like an unfettered whip, billowing in the wind.


    He pounced towards her with outstretched claws, forcing her to backstep and regain her bearings before charging back herself, slicing towards him with her cutlass, which had barely a speck of blood coating its metallic edge.


    Still, it bounced off the invisible wall, which was just as sturdy as earlier. It was as if they were endless, appearing everywhere it''s needed.


    Manuel¡­ An annoying man.


    She moved backwards yet again, her mind churning for answers, yet the moment she stepped back, the walls caught hold of her yet again, plunging her into a sense of cold loneliness.


    Instead of fighting, Enyah put a hand against the wall. It felt¡­ like solid water. Not cold enough to be ice, but¡­ it wasn''t like a purely solid object. She couldn''t describe the sensation.


    ¡°Must we repeat this dance?¡± Manuel questioned, shaking his head in mock disappointment. ¡°You''ll tire eventually, child. And we have men on their way to pick up the child. How much longer will you struggle?¡±


    ¡°As long as I need to.¡± Enyah responded casually, her mind racing.


    The man obviously couldn''t use the walls forever, else she''d lay trapped in his box with no fighting chance, suffering a slow, suffocating death.


    Still, he wasn''t the only one she had to contend with. The various mercenaries posed a threat, especially the one with the sword, Pat.


    ¡°It''s just a job, do we need to humiliate her any further?¡± The tanned man asked with a frown. ¡°Let¡¯s just fight. We don''t need this chatter.¡±


    ¡°I concur!¡± The bear man boomed, hefting his axe to his side, ¡°A slippery one, but worthwhile prey. A shame she''s to die by my hand¡±


    ¡°No rush, I have a few questions for the lady. Then she''s all yours.¡± Manuel smiled, walking up to Enyah and laying a gentle hand on the invisible wall, noticing her inspection. ¡°Impressive, isn''t it. The Mist. The Gods. A miracle born from the earth itself.¡±


    ¡°Carpenters can do the same thing, yet they aren''t praising the Gods.¡± Enyah replied, her eyes darting towards his face, searching for a reaction.


    ¡°It''s very different.¡± He responded, his voice lowering into a sharp whisper. The others couldn''t hear his words anymore. A private conversation, then. ¡°How many other religions know about you?¡±


    ¡°Dunno.¡± Enyah shrugged, leaning her body on the wall behind her. ¡°Maybe I''ll remember with a bit of coin.¡±


    ¡°This isn''t a negotiation. This is an interrogation.¡± He growled, his fingers grinding against the wall in frustration.


    ¡°Good. Just waste his time.¡±


    ¡°Really? It seems like you need information, and I''m your gal.¡± Enyah replied with calm. The mercenaries stayed back but tensed up, their weapons focused around her. ¡°Now, with this wall between us, it doesn''t seem like an interrogation. After all, I''ll be dying either way and our good mayor wouldnt condone torture, would he?¡±


    ¡°No. Yet it doesn¡¯t matter. The information isn''t necessary.¡± He responded with a frown. He stepped back,¡°May you find repentance in the prisons of Relicaye.¡±


    He ran a hand through his slicked back hair and stepped backwards, turning to the others. He spread his arms, ready to speak.


    ¡°Manuel, sir!¡± a voice called, as two men in replian garb ran from the inn building, their faces flushed in sweat as they sprinted to his side.


    ¡°The boy''s missing!¡± One of them cried out, his wide eyes shaking in fear. ¡°The room was empty when we got there!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Manuel spat sharply and turned around in a hurry, putting his hands on the man''s shoulders. ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Sir!¡± The other man squeaked out, his eyes looking everywhere except the man. ¡°No signs of him. Not in the room or anywhere else in the Inn.¡±


    ¡°Grrr.¡± Manuel tightened his fists, turning back to Enyah in a burst of fury. He gave the wall a firm punch, blood trickling to the ground. ¡°Where is he! Where''d he go!¡±


    ¡°Long gone.¡± Enyah''s smirk grew. For a moment, a single moment, the walls flickered. ¡°Now are you in the mood to negotiate?¡±


    ¡°No. I understand you now. You wouldn''t answer me either way.¡± Manuel narrowed his eyes one last time, before turning away, as if declaring her dead. To the mercenaries, he finally spouted, ¡°Do your¨C.¡±


    ¡°Mayor! What''s going on here?¡± A voice called in the distance with demanding flair.


    Walt stepped into view, bringing a horde of locals and mercenaries with him. His old, wrinkled face was shining with newfound vigor, and his eyes stared at Manuel with a blazing fire.


    ¡°My citizens! We were just about to detain the criminal!¡± Manuel shifted towards the back, his masked smile perfectly in place. ¡°Your children will be safe once again!¡±


    ¡°And what has this woman done exactly?¡± A citizen asked with a raised brow.


    ¡°Why, she kidnapped that child of course. Was he making a ruckus?¡± Manuel asked, his features sharpening, having seemingly come to a conclusion. ¡°Did the boy say something? His family could have been threatened. We must save him from this vicious captor!¡±


    ¡°He came through the streets, all right.¡± Another citizen spouted, heaving an axe used for trees over his shoulder. ¡°Spoutin how she''s his bodyguard and you''re trying to kill her to take him away. We don''t want any trouble, Mr. Mayor. We just want some answers.¡±


    ¡°My good sir, my priority has and always will be the wellbeing of my citizens.¡± Manuel stated with a shake of his head. ¡°How can you cut trees all day if you constantly have to worry about a child kidnapper?¡±


    While he was distracted, Enyah tested her arms against the walls. They felt weaker, flimsy.


    ¡°Were they tied to his emotions?¡± Enyah pondered, subtly flexing her muscles, breaking the wall ¡°The situation''s blowing up. I can use that.¡±


    ¡°She''s breaking free!¡± Pat called to a distracted Manuel, who still stood only a few paces away from her.


    ¡°What?¡± He turned back towards Enyah with a startle.


    ¡°Too late¡± Enyah grinned, pushing herself against the wall and tumbling through, gaining her bearings in a moment and lunging towards the mayor.


    With a haphazard raise of his hands, a wall manifested, but Enyah burst through with her shoulder, the hurriedly made wall snapping in a moment.


    With a swing of her cutlass, a gash appeared along his arm, long and deep. Even the white of bone was visible, peeking from beneath the skin.


    ¡°Arrgh!¡± He grunted, falling to his legs in pain, holding his injured arm with the other and breathing heavy, labored breaths.


    Behind her, the horde of mercenaries caught up and began their assaults, leaving Enyah with no time.


    She couldn''t evade every attack. When dodging the bear man''s axe, Pat''s sword would be waiting, cleaving lines on her body. She parried the Feral''s frenzied strikes, yet


    Prim''s swordlike limbs poked a hole in her stomach.


    Her body screamed in exhaustion, earlier than usual. ¡°The Mist.¡± She assumed, its increased potency pushing her past her limits.


    Still, she stood back up on shaky legs, and lunged forwards with only a singular thought running through her mind on a loop, ¡°Not a coward. I ain''t a coward.¡±


    She faced their barraged attacks with flexibility, letting their strikes graze her body while she turned around for an assault. Bursting past Pat and Prim, she charged at the Feral, Ducking below his outstretched claws to give him a swipe at the stomach, blood pouring into a pool in the ground.


    The Feral reeled backwards, his eyes bloodshot with hatred. He seemed to Ignore his injured stomach, turning to lunge towards her in a fit of fury.


    Yet before he could continue his relentless assault, the world seemed to pause for a moment as day turned to night. The sun drifted beneath the trees, replaced by an ominous, bloody red as the Wild Moon popped into the sky as if teleporting.


    The town tinted red as the moon appeared, so close, as if it could be touched by simply reaching out, yet always lay slightly beyond reach.


    The town itself paused in silent fear, or awe, within the moon''s glow. They simply stared upwards, at the crimson orb gazing above them that brought forth an invisible pressure that heralded something. Whatever it was, it wasn¡¯t human. Perhaps even something that should never be gazed upon by mortal eyes.


    ¡°Miss Enyah! I''m here to help!¡± Rinne charged in atop Zarts, who screeched with a feral eagerness, yet his fervor paused the moment he gazed upon the crowd. ¡°What''s¡­ going on here? Are we stargazing?¡±


    He looked up at the red moon, his curious gaze turning into entrancement. ¡°Wooah¡­¡±


    Though focused on the moon, his entrance brought most of the crowd out of their stupor, though Manuel stared at the moon with intensity, whispering, ¡°The Wild Moon. The Crimson Moon. Replicio be blessed!¡±


    ¡°See! Our mayor''s been messing with our minds for years! He''s just a zealot who wants the child himself!¡± Walt wheezed, with an angered, reddened face.


    ¡°Well¡­ what should we do about it?¡± Another man asked, his face in a frown. ¡°He''s still our mayor.¡±


    ¡°A mayor that we chose! Probably brainwashed, while we were at it.¡± Walt said, turning to the crowd behind him.


    ¡°Then we won''t vote for him next time! We know better now!¡± The man yelled passionately, raising his arms into the air in a cheer. ¡°Let''s vote for someone else, right guys?¡±


    ¡°Wooo!¡±


    ¡°Down with the mayor! What was his name?¡±


    ¡°Let''s vote Pat instead!¡±


    ¡°Pat--Pats right there! He''s in on it too!¡± Walt pointed out to the incensed crowd with a sigh. ¡°Let''s just get the mayor.¡±


    ¡°Like attack him?¡± The lumberjack asked, his face tilting in confusion.


    ¡°Yes! He''s clearly using some mist voodoo! We can help the girl!¡± Walt almost yelled, his voice rising in frustration.


    ¡°Eh, sure. Why not.¡±


    ¡°Woohoo! Violence!¡±


    ¡°I always wanted to kill someone!¡±


    The crowd''s raging yells roused Pat and Prim into movement, rushing to protect the mayor, while the mercenaries seemed content to simply watch the situation. Or looking for an opening, perhaps. Enyah couldn''t tell.


    Still, she tore her eyes away from the glaring moon, which followed her on her journey as a silent spectator and towards the pair that sprinted forwards.


    Her body groaned, yet obeyed her instructions. With uneven steps, she began a slow strut, which turned into a darting run. Her sword swung, its sharpened blade swinging Towards Prim.


    Her head turned in inhuman fashion, her bladed arm moving to block the strike. Yet, Enyah¡¯s increased strength pushed Prim back, hindering her stride.


    The strike hadn¡¯t stopped her for long, as she righted herself in an instant, diving towards Enyah to kill.


    Next to her, Pat narrowed his eyes, as if coming to a decision, before charging along with the woman towards Enyah, his sword raised and eyes bloodthirsty.


    Their blades danced through the red tinted air and their fierce combat continued, with the faint echoing of booming laughter resounding around them, hidden and unknown to all.