《A Realm of Chaos》 Chapter 1 Just as the setting sun painted the sky red, the mixture of flames and blood stained the earth in a vivid crimson colour. A raid. Not even a night raid, as it was still too bright for the element of surprise to fully take effect. Nonetheless, the travelers had already begun setting up for the night, raising camp and securing their wagons. Only the dying scream of the first guard was heard by the time their attackers had already entered their midst. ¡°Maya¡­ Maya!¡± -a man screamed, walking amidst the battle wearing some old pieces of armour, a wound on his head bleeding onto his face- ¡°MAYA!¡± ¡°By the Six, could you shut up?¡± -a tanned woman answered, deep into combat with one of their assailants, their swords locked in a test of strength- ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m a little busy at the moment?¡± Pushing her enemy back and causing him to lose his balance, a single strike with all her might left an open gash, blood pouring out as the bandit fell on the ground, choking on his own blood. With no hesitation Maya rushed closer, dealing the final blow as she stepped on the man¡¯s neck until a loud cracking sound could be heard. ¡°Were the fuck did these bastards came from Solo?¡± -regaining her footing and removing the dark brown hair glued to the sweat on her face, Maya turned her back to the man, her weapon ready as she searched for the next opponent- ¡°Your group should have secured the camping area long ago!¡± Grasping his great hammer with both hands, Solo pressed his back against hers, both warriors ready to fight knowing they had each other covered. ¡°These bastards must have been hidden deep inside those woods,¡± - the man motioned towards the nearby forest with his head, the dense treeline barely visible in the now fading sunlight - ¡°where¡¯s the rest of your group?¡± Before Maya had a chance to answer, a bone chilling scream echoed through the sounds of the battle, coming from the burning wagons not too far from their current location. With no hesitation, she started running towards the direction of the sound, her speed incredible for someone so muscular. Almost instantly, as if they had planned beforehand, Solo went after the woman, his heavy weapon making him considerably slower. Just a few meters from where they previously stood, Maya suddenly stood still almost causing Solo to collide with her, both shocked at the scene in front of their eyes. ¡°What the¡­¡± - was all the man managed to say in a whisper, before a gentle hand forced him to stay quiet. Forming a circle as a way to increase their defenses, multiple wagons had been stopped and a crude fireplace built at the center, probably to prepare their food and to provide warmth and light during the long night. Instead, there was no warmth to be felt, and the flickering light of the flame only brought from the darkness a scene grotesque enough to make one sick. Across the circle, in an almost calculated manner, piles of corpses had been placed. Forming something similar to a spiral, they started at the entrance to that camping site, and circled the area until it finally reached the already dying fire. In the beginning, the corpses were bloodied but with few wounds. A stab to the chest, a slit throat. Almost as if the killer had decided to show mercy for its victims. As the carnage advanced further into the spiral, the bodies became more mauled. Severed limbs, guts spilling out. It looked as if somewhere along the course of the battle their enemy had changed from a merciful knight into a wild enraged monster. ¡°Keep your guard up,¡± - Maya whispered, her voice shaking with anger- ¡°I got a bad feeling about this¡­¡± ¡°If everyone¡¯s dead, who screamed?¡± -the man replied as his eyes examined the battlefield, searching for answers. After a moment of silence that felt like an eternity, a muffled cry started to become louder. Turning her attention back towards the center of the camp, Maya noticed something moving in what she had previously assumed to be nothing more than a pile of shredded flesh. As the cries started to become louder, a small body covered in blood could be seen, rocking back and forth while holding tight to something on the floor. ¡°A child¡­¡± - the woman started speaking, but before she could even voice her orders Solo rushed past her in his full speed, skillfully avoiding the corpses in his path before sliding beside the crying survivor - ¡°What are you¡­¡± ¡°Protective Sphere¡± - Solo shouted while planting the handle of his weapon on the ground beside him, a small sphere forming around him and the child as he cast the spell - ¡°Maya, it¡¯s a revenant!¡± Revenants. A type of undead monster similar to a zumbi, rather commonly seen on large battlefields where the grudges of the living are stronger. Once a dead person returns as a revenant, it has a limited time frame to kill all those responsible for its death in order to complete the transformation. ¡°Fuck me¡­¡± - walking carefully towards her companion, watching the surroundings with every step, she started to feel it, the rotten stench of the undead - ¡°How¡¯s the child?¡± ¡°A young girl, unharmed but feverish¡± ¡°So it¡¯s the last survivor, lucky girl¡­¡± - Using the smell as a guide, Maya began moving closer to the edge of the camp, around the area where the corpses started becoming more wildly damaged - ¡°Mother Koynasi, guide my blade¡± As if her prayer to the goddess of battle had been answered, the very tip of her sword started to glow bright red, as if left by the fire for a very long time. Giving a silent praise, Maya pointed the sword towards the nearby corpses, waiting for a reaction. In the now growing darkness, the burning metal left an after image as the blade moved from one body to the next, with no change at first. As she started moving further outside the spiral, the red glow began spreading down the edge of the blade. By the time it had already reached the middle of the weapon, only one corpse pile was left in front of her, where a darker piece of clothing could be seen that matched no other she had seen before. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°If you still have anything left inside of you, get up and face me like a person would!¡± Making no sound, as if provoked by Maya¡¯s taunt, a man raised from the pile, wearing the same kind of dark light clothes as the attackers they had killed before. His face, once partially covered by the same fabric, was now exposed. His lifeless eyes were open, but didn¡¯t seem to look directly at the woman. On his chest, a simple dagger was still buried deep into his heart, the blow that finished his mortal life and set him into vengeance. The transformation couldn¡¯t have happened long ago. His skin was still beginning to turn grey, and the wounds on his arms and chest kept on bleeding even now. On his hand, the remains of a broken sword. Whether it had broken before or after his death was something to be discussed after they had dealt with it. Revenant¡¯s were somewhat easier to deal with than other undead, as they simply turned into ash when their revenge was incomplete. Judging as this one was still in the middle of it¡¯s transformation, even after killing all those people around, it was safe to assume its mission was not done as long as the child was still alive. ¡°Guess we¡¯re dealing with it the hard way!¡± - Maya shouted back at Solo, as the revenant assumed what looked like a battle stance - ¡°Keep the child safe¡± ¡°Hurry up will you?¡± - Solo retorted snarky, noticing the faint golden glow of the sphere becoming weaker- ¡°I¡¯m rather bad at these, and I don¡¯t have all night!¡± ¡°Cheeky bastard¡­¡± - the woman laughed, before taking a deep breath. If not for the stench of the undead and the smell of blood, It would have been a nice summer night. Calming herself, she fixed her grasp on the sword, before speaking in less than a whisper - ¡°Iskandra¡¯s Touch¡± Surging from the palms of her hands, a wave of magical energy poured into her weapon. As the bluish energy reached the already glowing metal, the enchantments mixed as the entire blade turned purple for less than a second, before becoming entirely crimson red and bursting into flames. ¡°Let¡¯s do this, you rotten sack of meat!¡± With a sound resembling a growl, the Revenant charged at Maya at an incredible speed, sparks flying at her face as she barely was able to block the broken sword aimed directly at her neck. Despite being undead, Revenants often possessed more power than they did while alive, and apparently this one in particular was quite skilled with a blade. As the two exchanged a fury of increasingly faster blows, more and more small patches of grass began to catch on fire, with the sparks generated by the exchange attacks flying further away with each stronger clash. Maya could feel the sword becoming heavier to wield, as her physical strength began to fail, and her mana was being drained by the mixture of spells. Gathering what was left of her strength, the woman decided to take a gamble. Gaining some space after another exchange of blows, Maya sprinted towards Solo, who seemed confused and surprised by the sudden approach of his companion. With no hesitation, the Revenant began chasing after his enemy, charging with all his might after her. As the two approached, Solo cancelled his protective spell as he grabbed the little girl with one arm, his great hammer with the other. It was all over in a moment. Maya was only a few meters from Solo when he canceled his spell, and immediately turned back to face the Revenant. The creature, still charging after her, faltered for a moment. In that brief window, using whatever power she could still muster from her muscles, Maya bolted out towards the revenant, her body close to the ground. Before the creature could react or try to defend itself, she dealt a single upward blow, carving a deep cut from the belly to the creature¡¯s face. Maya fell sitting back on the ground, her muscles aching as her body was completely devoid of any kind of energy. The sword had no more flames, the spell canceled as it left the caster¡¯s hand, but it still retained the original red glow while safely stuck on the Revenant¡¯s face. As the wound burned, unable to be healed by the still incomplete revenant¡¯s power, its body began to dry and crumble, leaving nothing more than a burned sword and a pile of dust and clothes. *** ¡°Using the child as bait? Are you out of your mind?¡± - Solo¡¯s voice was barely a whisper, only loud enough for Maya to hear, as she grabbed onto his right shoulder for support. After making sure the revenant was finished, and the sounds of battle around the camp seemed to have come to an end, the two of them started the journey back to the rest of the group, with Solo carrying both weapons and the still unconscious little girl. ¡°If you knew of any other way to put that thing down, I¡¯m all ears¡­¡± - Maya carefully moved the child¡¯s hair that was blocking her face, even while sleeping tears still formed around her eyes, although her expression was peaceful - ¡°Poor thing, she¡¯s all alone now¡­¡± ¡°Won¡¯t any of the other families take her in? Or maybe one of the Elders?¡± - As they got closer to the main camp, the hurried sounds of people calling for hot water or healers began to be heard, the ground around littered with both the corpses of the attackers, as well as their own. ¡°Maybe if her family was an old one. Most people on that camp were transient, only sticking to a caravan for a short time.¡± - Maya could feel some of her strength returning, taking a few unsure steps before deciding she didn¡¯t need help to walk anymore - ¡°After an attack this big, no one will have time to take on extra burden.¡± ¡°Hey, two more survivors over here!¡± - A short chubby man ran towards the two, huffing and puffing as he finished the short distance - ¡°Oh by the gods, I thought you two were gone¡­¡± ¡°Keep hoping Malore,¡± - Solo smiled at the man, as he handed him Maya¡¯s weapon, gently adjusting his hold of the child - ¡°how bad was it?¡± ¡°Pretty bad¡­¡± - Malore answered, his voice puzzled as he looked towards the two warriors, and towards the girl, his eyebrows frowning - ¡°Most of the goods are intact, but we lost half a dozen guards and at least 15 people.¡± ¡°You can make that 35, the south camp is gone.¡± - In a quick motion, Maya grabbed her sword back from the man, the metal now slightly warped by the fire. - ¡°Only the little one here survived.¡± ¡°Ah, I was wondering if by chance you two lovebirds were hiding a secret child from me.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not a couple, dumbass. How many times do we have to tell you that?¡± - Ever since Solo and her had started working together, mostly due to their compatible skills and personalities, many people on the caravan had tried to act as matchmakers for the duo. - ¡°We need to see the Elders, find someone who can take care of her¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you two do it?¡± ¡°Do what, moron?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you raise her? You saved her right?¡± - The man began nervously tugging at the cloth of his shirt, a well trained trick to appear harmless when offering a bad deal to a customer - ¡°Doesn¡¯t it make her your responsibility?¡± Maya turned to look at Solo, who was rocking the little girl in his arms with a silly smile as he looked at her. Turning to Maya, he simply shrugged with a defeated expression on his face, while his eyes had a different shine in them. ¡°Fuck me¡­¡± Chapter 2 Rain poured hard, as the wee hours of the night were approaching. Leaning onto the cold wet stone of the wall, the half asleep guard jolted awake as heard the sound of footsteps, noticing movement coming in his direction, appearing out of thin air. ¡°Stop! State your names and business!¡± - In a loud and firm tone, the guard shouted at the three hooded figures walking slowly towards the city gates. Being one of the only two people on duty that night, the man could barely wait for the shift change, his mind already dreaming of a big mug of Ale at the nearby tavern. Without even changing their pace, the three strangers kept their slow advance as the pouring rain showed no signs of stopping any time soon, covering the road ahead of them in mud. ¡°I said,¡± - the guard repeated louder, now almost shouting as he drew his old blade from its scabbard - ¡°state your names and business!¡± Stopping as the guard raised his weapon, the one in the middle of the group raised his hands, a string of silver prayer beads intertwined in between his fingers. ¡°My name is Noa,¡± - the man spoke, his voice loud but calm and steady, despite sounding quite young - ¡°we received word that the local Lord was seeking aid from a Priest!¡± ¡°Praise the Six¡­ Yes, yes¡­¡± - the man put his sword back, relieved that there would be no need to use it today, and motioned with his hand for the new arrivals to come closer - ¡°Are these two your aides?.¡± ¡°They¡¯re my helpers, yes!¡± - Noa and the others walked quicker towards the protection of the city gate, trying not to trip on the slippery path - ¡°Can you send a messenger to let the Lord know we have arrived?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll inform him myself!¡± - the guard said enthusiastically, seeing as his replacement was arriving at the gates. Maybe by bringing the Lord the good news he had been so eagerly waiting for, he would be given a reward worth at least a couple extra drinks for the night - ¡°There¡¯s a tavern right ahead on this road, it¡¯s the only light still on, you can¡¯t miss it¡­¡± Closing the wooden gate behind him as the last of the three arrived, the guard quickly motioned towards a bright spot a few meters ahead on what seemed like the main road coming from the gate. Noa nodded, adjusting his hood for a moment, revealing a pale face as youthful as his voice had suggested earlier. ¡°Wait there, get a drink to stave off the cold,¡± - Throwing what seemed like a dirty patched coat on top of his leather armor, the man began to run down the road - ¡°I¡¯ll come pick you all as soon as the Lord¡¯s ready to receive you!¡± *** The sounds of loud chatter and music could probably be heard all the way from the gates if not for the rain. As soon as Noa reached the door he was received by the familiar smell of pipe smoke, ale and roasted meat, his body instantly feeling warmer. ¡°Aye, never too late to join the party is it?¡± - A loud booming voice called out from inside as soon as the trio stepped in, followed by the sounds of heavy steps coming towards them - ¡°What can I get you my friends? Dinner, or something warm to drink first?¡± Looking down in search for the origin of the voice, Noa found himself staring at a man no taller than an older child, yet covered in toned muscles and sporting a black beard reaching all the way to his waist. Holding a mug almost as big as his head, he took a big gulp before putting it on top of a nearby empty table. ¡°Yeah, I know Numelyn isn¡¯t so great,¡± - the D¡¯wadir motioned with a jokingly smile to the energetic bard playing near the fire, to a crowd of enthusiastic patrons - ¡°but there¡¯s no need to stop and stare¡­¡± ¡°Well, that was rude of me¡­¡± - Noa removed his hood followed by his two aides, a serious older looking man and a quiet young woman - ¡°let¡¯s just hope the Ale is better than the music!¡± Erupting into thunderous laughter, the man offered his rugged hand to Noa, who gladly took it. ¡°The best damn ale around these parts! Name¡¯s Ethril, I¡¯ll be right back¡± Sitting on the empty table where Ethril¡¯s mug rested, the three stopped to check their surroundings. Despite the late hour the place seemed almost packed, mostly local farmers and hunters judging by their attire. On the far corner, half a dozen armed men sat quietly drinking and eating, their faces and gear giving the clear signs of a group of mercenaries. ¡°Master¡­¡± - the older man spoke while groaning his teeth, his voice hoarse and deep, sniffing the air just like a hunting dog. ¡°Stay still, I sensed it too¡­¡± - Noa played with the beads on his right hand, well aware of the stench coming from the men in the back, his eyes locked on his companion in order to keep him in check - ¡°Our priorities are elsewhere¡­¡± Bursting open suddenly, letting in a gust of cold air, the tavern¡¯s door almost hit a woman on the face as the guard from earlier entered hastily. His white freckled face was red, and his drenched body quickly formed a small puddle of rain around his feet. ¡°Where are they?¡± - the guard questioned no one in particular, as he anxiously searched around the room ¡°Easy lad, you look like death¡­¡± - Ethril spoke as he carried three large mugs of warm ale towards Noa¡¯s table. ¡°There you are,¡± - the man started saying, grabbing one of the mugs before it even touched the table, chugging the entire thing in barely a moment - ¡°I¡¯ve been told to take you directly to the Lord, as quickly as possible!¡± With no hesitation, Noa grabbed the nearest mug of ale, the smell of alcohol and spices filling the air. Taking as large a gulp as possible, he could feel a wave of warmth spreading throughout his body, before setting it back at the table and getting up. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll have dinner later,¡± - he said while setting a silver six sided coin on the table nearby Ethril - ¡°do you mind saving us a private room? We¡¯ll be back soon¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± - the D¡¯wadir nodded, grabbing the money as he watched the three pulling their hoodies and following the guard back into the cold rainy night. *** Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Walking through the city main street towards what seemed to be the largest house in sight, barely any movement could be seen other than the occasional wild cats and dogs running amok. Despite the cheerful banter inside the tavern, the entire village emanated an eerie energy, the broken and weathered wooden houses filling both sides of the unpaved main road. ¡°You surely came back fast,¡± - Noa broke the awkward silence as he ran after the guard, their destination only a few meters ahead - ¡°I expected the Lord would only receive us in the morning.¡± ¡°Ohh¡­¡± - the guard hesitated before answering, as the entire group reached the small stone fence surrounding a very well kept two story mansion - ¡°the Lord is often busy at night, he has many¡­ duties to attend to¡­¡± Seemingly eager to complete his duty, the man walked up the stone stair towards the entrance. Approaching the fancy looking door, the guard knocked three times in quick succession, before an old bald man holding an oil lamp opened the door slightly, staring at all four of them. ¡°I brought the priest, as requested!¡± The old man raised the lamp, as if evaluating the faces of the three guests, before reaching for a small satchel in his pocket and handing it to the guard, motioning silently for the group to get inside. ¡°Thank you sir,¡± - the guard bowed quickly as he stepped back - ¡°see you guys back at the tavern!¡± Noa waved at the running guard while his aides went inside, unsure of the man''s true intentions. While some people¡¯s nature were as clear as an open book, others were still too fickle to grasp with his limited experience. ¡°This way¡­¡± - the old servant said calmly, his voice firm but tired, making clear his words were not a suggestion. In comparison with the decaying state of the village, the Lord¡¯s house seemed as pristine as possible. In the lamp light, Noa could grasp the massive size of the entry hall, its walls covered in paintings and what was probably expensive furniture. Instead of taking the stairs towards the second floor, where the Lord¡¯s office probably was, the old man guided them towards a large corridor on the left, a wide double door on its end. Without warning, it hit them. The stench was foul. Piss, sweat and rotten meat, mixed with the scent of perfume and burnt candles. As the three walked silently through the corridor, the odor seemed to only grow stronger while a strange muffled sound became closer. ¡°His excellency,¡± - proclaimed the old man as he reached the double doors, holding it¡¯s handles, opening the doors ceremoniously - ¡°the Great Lord Gulliver¡± ¡°Great indeed.¡± - Noa couldn¡¯t help but think, as the doors opened to reveal perhaps the largest living human he had ever laid eyes upon, sitting at the head of a full feast on a long dinner table. Wearing what should be a robe on top of his nightwear, the man¡¯s greasy skin had a greenish pale tint to it, dark circles around his eyes. Behind him on either side, two fully armored mercenaries with the same kind of gear as the ones in the tavern. The room was fully surrounded by candles, displaying even more of the excessive decor, an intense contrast to the state of the houses in the city. ¡°Priest Noa, I hope you¡¯ll excuse my manners.¡± - Gulliver spoke, his voice like the croaking of a very fat frog. Motioning to the chair beside him, as if inviting the guest to join him, before one of the men on his right pulled the chair, making it clear that wasn¡¯t a suggestion. - ¡°Please join me for a snack, we have much to discuss!¡± ¡°It would be a pleasure my lord!¡± - Showing no signs of hesitation, Noa calmly removed his drenched coat, revealing his simple but elegant black garments and dark hair, before taking the seat that was offered - ¡°Judging by your urgency, I dare guess the matter is rather serious¡­¡± ¡°Serious, yes¡­ Serious indeed¡­¡± - from up close, the stench coming from the man was enough to send shivers through the Priest¡¯s spine. Yet the man came even closer, his face only inches away from Noa¡¯s - ¡°You see, lately we have been having some bandit problems¡­¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°That in itself is easy to resolve, as you can see!¡± - Gulliver motioned to his two armed guards, who let out a small chuckle - ¡°But lately, on one of their routine inspections, the boys came upon some evil worshipers!¡± ¡°Evil worshipers?¡± - Noa repeated instantly, his expression perplexed and puzzled - ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°An elderly couple and a child, carrying dangerous materials, while trying to pass off as simple travelers.¡± - Grabbing his wine glass, he took a sip leisurely - ¡°At first my men tried rescuing the child after dealing with the couple¡­¡± ¡°Dealing¡­¡± - Looking at the mercenaries, Noa could very well grasp how these men ¡®dealt¡¯ with people. ¡°But the child, poor thing, seemed to already have been corrupted,¡± - putting his wine glass back down, the man grabbed his sleeve and started pulling it up - ¡°and when I extended my hand, to graciously offer my help, I received this!¡± On the man¡¯s forearm, starting right below the elbow and moving up towards the shoulder, a large gaping wound was spreading. Darkened around the edges, the skin rotting and festering, while the tissue inside ranged from green, to yellow, to purple, a sickly white liquid oozing from the bottom. As soon as Gulliver revealed his arm, the putrid smell of death and decay became almost too much to bear. ¡°How long has it been since it started?¡± - Noa covered his mouth before speaking, trying to block the smell - ¡°What has been done to the child?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be the sixth day, come first light,¡± - Covering back his arm, Gulliver picked up his glass again, emptying it in a single gulp - ¡°I sent for a priest immediately, and ordered the child to be kept on chains. I hoped maybe with the right incentive she would remove the curse herself¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I seriously doubt that¡­¡± - Noa got up from his chair, gesturing for his aides to approach ¡°Do you know what it is, Father?¡± - Gulliver pleaded, his massive body leaning closer on the table - ¡°Can you heal me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called The Touch of Syrus,¡± - Noa received from his companions two strings of prayer beads similar to his own, one from each, before turning back to face Gulliver - ¡°when in contact with the living, it¡¯ll spread and spread, eroding the very soul of its target, until nothing but a pile of rotten flesh remains.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll fix me, right?¡± - the man began mumbling, the desperation in his voice increasing as he let go of the noble facade from before - ¡°I have money, slaves¡­ man, woman, children¡­ I¡¯m sure the Helios church would be very pleased with my donation¡­¡± ¡°It seems the spell was not fully cast, that¡¯s the only reason you¡¯re still alive!¡± - calmly taking back his seat, Noa stretched out his empty left hand - ¡°Give me your arm!¡± Without hesitation, Gulliver placed his arm on top of Noa¡¯s hand, his palm facing upwards. While holding the three strings of beads around his palm, the priest began circling his own right thumb across the man¡¯s empty palm, while the mercenaries behind him watched attentively. As every new rotation was completed, a small shimmer began to form, as the Lord¡¯s panicked expression began to soften. ¡°The pain¡­ It¡¯s getting better¡­¡± ¡°And¡­ Done¡± - Noa released the man¡¯s arm, shaking his right hand as if it had gone numb - ¡°This should fix the problem!¡± ¡°Finally, how can I¡­¡± Before Gulliver could finish, a shocked gasp could be heard from his left. He turned in surprise, his eyes widened seeing one of his bodyguards with a blade coming out of his chest, the female companion of the priest right behind him. As the man gave out his last breath, the woman pulled back the blade, letting his body fall to the ground. Standing expressionless, she held her arm ready for a punch, instead her palm was open, a blade the size of a short sword coming out from her skin. ¡°What¡­¡± - Gulliver started protesting, but while beginning to rise from his chair he felt a sharp pain in his chest, his mouth filling up with blood as he coughed. ¡°You see, finishing a spell cast halfway is a lot harder than the original spell itself.¡± - Noa started walking away towards the double doors, his expression a mixture of disgust and enjoyment - ¡°It takes quite a lot of skill If I can say so myself!¡± Chapter 3 ¡°So¡­ let¡¯s see if I understood correctly¡­¡± Inside the stuffy office, lights dim as the ocean shone in the distant horizon through the closed windows, tension filled the room. Laying back on the creaking wooden chair, the olive skinned woman locked eyes with the balding man sitting across from her, his hands trembling. ¡°You hired the crew of the Belle, that being us,¡± - she motioned to the two people frowning behind her, a particularly tall woman with dark tanned skin and dreadlocks, and a young blonde boy with his eyes covered, who waved at the man - ¡°to bring back a shipment from the Iron Islands¡­ no questions asked¡­¡± ¡°Ye¡­ Yes, I¡­¡± ¡°And now when said shipment has arrived,¡± - the woman continued, ignoring the man completely, her fingertips slowly caressing the pommel of the sword on her waist - ¡°you want to renegotiate the terms of our deal? Is that correct?¡± ¡°Well,¡± - the man stummered, using a stained handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, his eyes wandering from the woman''s serious face to her sword - ¡°it appears the situation has changed quite a bit since then¡­¡± ¡°How¡¯s that our damn problem, asshole?¡± - taking a step forward, the tall woman in the back of the room yelled at the man, her eyes filled with rage as her muscles tensed. Besides her, the boy placed his arms in front of her body, barely reaching her stomach, signalling for her to stop. ¡°So I¡¯ve heard. You see, we¡¯ve only come back to shore this morning,¡± - without looking back at her companions, she reached for the still untouched cup on the table in front of her - ¡°so why don¡¯t you fill us in to all the latest events?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Belle¡­¡± As if suddenly seeing a lifeline out of his current predicament, the man instantly jumped from his seat, walking around his office grabbing seemingly random books and pieces of paper. Lifting the wooden cup to her nose, the woman inhaled the familiar scent of firewater, before taking a simple sip as a pile of papers was thrown in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s all their fault you see, they started it¡­¡± - he rambled while searching for something amidst the mess he himself created, a small piece of fabric falling from the pile of books. ¡°You mean the Helios Church.¡± - Belle asked, recognizing the small golden sun painted at the center of the cloth. ¡°Yes¡­ Damned bastards, but that¡¯s not it¡­¡± - As the books piled on the edges of the table, the pieces of paper scattered in the middle of the table started to seem connected to each other - ¡°Here it is!¡± ¡°Is that¡­¡± - the tall woman started to ask, the previous anger in her voice turned into disbelief. ¡°A map, yes¡­¡± Carefully organising the mess in front of him, a precarious looking map started to form in front of them. Just like a jigsaw, the patchwork of different bits and pieces of leather and paper started to come together. A rough attempt to resemble the shape of the known continent. Many pieces looked aged and falling apart, others like quick notes or scribbles made by someone on the run. Nowadays, even the simplest of maps could cost a fortune if proven to be accurate. And ever since the beginning of the Elven war, the mere idea of forming a single concise map of the continent became something unfathomable. ¡°Reynard you son of a bitch¡­ ¡° - Belle leaned closer to the papers, recognizing the shape of the shoreline, and a few other landmarks - ¡°How did you manage to get your hands on all of these?¡± ¡°With great cost, and quite a bit of trouble. But this is beyond the point.¡± - Stretching his arm across the table, Reynard pointed to a small faded star around the middle of the continent - ¡°A new King has risen on the Capital!¡± The former capital of the now long destroyed human kingdom, now simply referred to as ¡®The Capital¡¯. As the Elven forces invaded from the south more than three hundred years ago, their advance was only halted as they reached the area surrounding it. Serving as the last line of defense, soldiers and refugees gathered inside its walls in droves, looking for either a safe haven or a chance to avenge those who had fallen. ¡°I thought the Capital was destroyed, I¡¯ve heard the story before.¡± - observing the state of the papers around the center part of the land, those around the Capital were especially faded and frail - ¡°The Elves cast a powerful curse during the night, destroying the walls of the city. Those who fled were able to survive, and any who tried to return were never seen again.¡± ¡°Well, someone made it, or at least that¡¯s what the Helios Church has been shouting all day at the market.¡± - Reynard started picking up the pieces of his map, much more carefully now that his life seemed not to be in any immediate danger - ¡°They claim a new King has arisen, ready to create a united human kingdom.¡± Moving away from the table, the other woman scoffed. Belle could understand why. As the Elves seemed fated to rule the entire continent, one day for no apparent reason, their magic suddenly weakened. Being physically inferior to other races, It was their natural dominion and aptitude for magic that allowed for their invasion to progress so far. Without this advantage, the Elven army was easily pushed back towards their homeland, staying there ever since. However, even almost one hundred years since the end of their invasion, the former human territories still lacked any form of unity. Local Lords attacked and betrayed their neighbors, bandits and mercenaries roamed the land unchecked, and monsters reclaimed the forest and valleys. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°This is all very interesting,¡± - the woman said, finishing her drink in one go, before loudly setting her cup back on the table - ¡°but I still don¡¯t see what any of this has to do with our cargo!¡± ¡°People are scared¡­¡± - reducing his voice to no more than a whisper, Reynard placed the pile of papers inside a chest behind his chair, before taking back his seat - ¡°There¡¯s gossip of a new war brewing, worse than before. Those Helios bastards keep spouting whatever they want, gathering people under their so-called faith.¡± Cursing in Orcish, her voice full of disdain, the tall woman spit on the floor, causing the boy to hit her in the stomach with his elbow. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about Mahna¡­¡± - Belle gave a short bow before turning her face slightly to glare at her companion ¡°Don¡¯t be,¡± - Reynard waved his hand, disregarding the woman¡¯s manners - ¡°I only hope more people around here shared her enthusiasm¡­¡± Searching his outer pocket, the man picked up a small key, carefully placing it on a locked drawer on his table. From the inside, he pulled a heavy looking leather satchel, throwing it towards Belle. ¡°Your payment for the cargo, as per our initial agreement!¡± - Judging by the coins already being pushed out of the bag, the money seemed to be all in there - ¡°You may bring your vessel to the southern docks, I¡¯ll have my men ready in the morning.¡± ¡°Did you give up on negotiating, old man?¡± - Mahna sounded surprised, taking a moment to open the satchel and confirm it¡¯s contents. Merchants loved to haggle, specially when a big deal was involved ¡°Call it an investment.¡± - he replied, receiving a surprised look from both women - ¡°Dark times are coming my friends, I can feel it in my bones. There¡¯s a storm brewing on the horizon, and at times like these, friends are more precious than gold!¡± *** ¡°So, what do you two think?¡± - Belle asked as the group made their way back towards the docks, the city streets buzzing with merchants, the man¡¯s words still on her mind. ¡°Roasted boar, vegetable soup and a barrel of ale, definitely!¡± - Mahna declared happily, the sounds of their bounty chiming loudly from the bag wrapped around her shoulder - ¡°Maybe some dark bread If they have some¡­¡± ¡°Boss is talking about what that old man said, dumbass¡­¡± - the young boy walked a few steps behind the other two, seemingly unbothered despite having a piece of cloth covering both his eyes - ¡°I don¡¯t really get it¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re still a little smartass!¡± - Mahna stopped and turned, stretching her arm towards the boy''s head. Before her fingers could reach their target, a large white bird swopped in from above, its claws leaving fresh wounds on her hand as it flew away - ¡°I was joking¡­ Damn bird¡­¡± ¡°You asked for it Mahna!¡± - trying to hide her laughter, Belle watched as the bird came back, perching itself comfortably on the young man¡¯s shoulder - ¡°What does your instinct say? Is he telling the truth?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s lying or not,¡± - rubbing the cuts, the woman pouted looking annoyed at the bird - ¡°but he¡¯s afraid of something, and I mean really afraid¡­¡± ¡°What about you, Yuri?¡± - Belle asked the boy, who seemed deeply interested in rubbing behind his companions neck. ¡°He¡¯s telling the truth,¡± - Yuri said after thinking for a second, while having his earlobe bickered at - ¡°at least as close to the truth as he can grasp!¡± ¡°Show me what you saw!¡± - she spoke whilst getting closer, offering the boy her hand, an order rather than a request. Yuri took a deep breath before accepting the offered hand, grabbing it by the wrist. With a quick motion, he pulled Belle closer, using his other hand to grab the woman by her forehead. Suddenly, a flurry of images began pouring into Belle¡¯s mind at an incredible speed. The fishermen hanging at the docks, the roof of Reynard¡¯s tiny office, the busy streets leading to the city¡¯s main market. Despite Yuri¡¯s tender age, his ability to share the senses of his familiar always left Belle with a feeling of awe. While not able to see the world with his own eyes, he managed to have a broader vision than any other member of the crew. As the flow of images began to slow down, one particular scene caught the woman¡¯s attention. On the edge of the market, surrounded by an agitated mob, one man with long dark hair shouted words of command, inciting the people while holding a piece of cloth painted with a golden sun. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± - was all Belle managed to say, gasping for air the moment Yuri removed his hand from her face. Despite its usefulness, the boy¡¯s ability still had much to be improved, including its recoil. ¡°What was it?¡± - Mahna hurriedly offered to help Belle regain her composure, which the woman quickly refused, pushing her hand away. ¡°Helios priests¡­¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°I counted at least a dozen, scattered around the port and market.¡± - Yuri answered instead of Belle, adjusting his robe - ¡°But I only started paying attention after Reynard mentioned them.¡± ¡°So we can expect at least double that.¡± - Belle reached for the bird¡¯s head, rubbing it gently, the gesture seeming to be well received - ¡°I need you to take a message to the crew. Can you handle it?¡± ¡°Are you kidding?¡± - the boy sounded offended, despite the droplets of sweat forming on his forehead - ¡°I¡¯m not even tired yet.¡± ¡°Good.¡± - reaching for a holster on her belt, Belle grabbed a thin wooden plank and a shiv, quickly carving a dozen symbols before putting the blade back, offering the plank to the bird - ¡°Deliver this to Cook, he¡¯ll know what to do.¡± ¡°Right away boss!¡± - Yuri turned to the bird, its eyes shining briefly with a bluish glow before jumping back into the air, grabbing the message as it soared towards the distance - ¡°Guess you¡¯ll have to be my eyes for a while!¡± ¡°No problem, time for dinner then!¡± - Mahna grabbed the boy¡¯s hand knowing he wouldn¡¯t be able to react, holding to it tight while walking away - ¡°I¡¯ll even feed you if you ask me nicely enough!¡± ¡°Dinner it is¡­¡± - Belle laughed, watching as the other two argued while walking away, completely unfazed by the danger surrounding them - ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Roasted boar, vegetable soup and a barrel of ale!¡± - Mahna yelled from the other end of the road, looking at Belle as if she had grown a second head - ¡°We need to put some meat on this kid!¡± ¡°Mind If I join you for dinner?¡± - a sweet and calm voice asked, coming from behind Belle, her presence unnoticed until it spoke - ¡°We have a lot to talk about!¡± ¡°Guess we do¡­¡± - replied Belle, turning to face the newcomer, it''s dark long hair fluttering in the wind. Chapter 4 ¡°How many times will I have to tell you?¡± - Maya spoke angrily, striking the young red-haired girl standing before her on the thigh with a wooden sword - ¡°You¡¯re slow, small and weak¡­¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± - the girl replied with a grimace, losing her balance for a second before trying in vain to launch a counter strike, aiming for Maya¡¯s left arm, only for her weapon to be easily avoided. ¡°If you¡¯re facing an opponent stronger than yourself, identify its strength and use it against him!¡± In a flurry of swift movements, the two danced around each other, exchanging blows in quick succession as the speed of the combat increased continuously. ¡°Why won¡¯t you admit that I¡¯ve grown stronger?¡± - Suddenly stopping her movement, the girl launched a direct attack aimed at her opponent¡¯s stomach, only for her weapon to lack the reach necessary to hit the target. In a swift motion, Maya swung her own sword against the girl¡¯s legs, causing her to fall to the floor on her side, gasping for air as her body hit the grass. Opening her eyes in an attempt to get up, the tip of her opponent¡¯s weapon stood inches from her face, as Maya grimmed proudly standing before her. ¡°You¡¯re improving fast Luna!¡± - offering her hand to the girl, Maya couldn¡¯t help but compare the frightened child she rescued three years before, to the fierce young warrior before her - ¡°But you¡¯re not ready yet¡­¡± ¡°Alright aunty¡­¡± - Luna pouted as she accepted Maya¡¯s help to get up, her left arm still sore from the fall. ¡°Well, where does that lead us to now? - Sitting comfortably with his back against a large rock, Solo had only woken up from his nap moments before the decisive moments of the combat. ¡¯The monthly duel¡¯, as Luna liked to call it. - ¡°35 loses in a row, this must be a new record¡± ¡°33 loses and 2 draws!¡± - the girl corrected him, raising two fingers, offended by his words - ¡°A draw is not a loss!¡± ¡°I was sick that day,¡± - trying not to laugh at the girl''s insistence, Solo knew better than to let Luna realize his teasing - ¡°and we both fell in the pond that time, but you fell into it first!¡± Maya watched smiling while Luna started getting agitated with Solo, resembling a parent and child, their roles reversed as Solo laughed and the girl started lecturing him. In the morning after the ambush that killed her entire family, Luna didn¡¯t speak a single word. The girl shed no tears, neither protested as other members of the caravan started dividing the fallen¡¯s possessions amongst themselves, as was the costume in cases like these. For an entire week, the little girl simply sat quietly in the corner of the wagon that once belonged to her parents. As the Elders decided to grant the responsibility to raise Luna to those who saved her, her parent¡¯s possessions were passed to Solo and Maya, and the trio started to live together as a makeshift family. It was only on the morning of the eight day, as the girl was woken by the sounds of swords clashing, that her melancholy ended. Running out of the wagon in her nightwear, a fire poker firmly held with both her hands, she quickly stopped and dropped the tool as she witnessed for the first time the two warriors sparring in the morning. To the child, their battle was as fantastical as a dance. Both warriors on their peak, moving as if flying through the grass, steel swords shining as they clashed. As they fought, a clear smile could be seen on their faces. ¡°Te¡­Teach me¡­¡± - the girl stummered, her voice struggling to come out after so long, but still being loud enough to alert the others of her presence - ¡°Teach me to fight!¡± ¡°The true spirit of a warrior¡­¡± - Maya muttered to herself, reminiscing about the past. While it was never her intention to raise or care for a child, despite the difficult adjustment at the beginning, she had grown attached to Luna. Picking the training weapons from the ground, she began returning to the wagon, as the other two had already started walking back. Summer was still a few days away, the cold autumn breeze finding its way inside even the warmer coats, but with the sun burning brighter each morning. ¡°What¡¯s for breakfast?¡± - the woman shouted, her stomach starting to rumble after their morning exercise. *** ¡°How can you drink this thing?¡± - Luna spat after proving Maya¡¯s tea, grimacing as the taste lingered in her mouth, the girl shoving another spoonful of rabbit stew in hopes to cleanse her palate. ¡°It¡¯s an old warrior¡¯s trick, helps to keep your senses keen, and your body strong,¡± - taking another long sip, Maya savored the familiar strong flavour, already accustomed to it - ¡°It¡¯ll help your muscles grow!¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯ll even help other things to grow too!¡± - putting down his now empty bowl, Solo pointed with his spoon towards Maya¡¯s chest, still covered in light leather armor. Luna couldn¡¯t help but giggle, watching as Solo evaded the now almost empty wooden cup Maya had thrown at him. There was no denying that the woman was beautiful, greenish brown eyes, dark brown hair always tied up ¡®for safety¡¯. Even her scars, prideful reminders of all the times death came for her at the battlefield, seemed to help shroud her in an aura of grace and power. ¡°Your build is different from mine or Solo¡¯s.¡± - the woman continued, trying to regain her composure - ¡°your body¡¯s still young, you¡¯ll have trouble trying to overpower an older opponent in a battle of strength.¡± ¡°That,¡± - said the man, wiping the lukewarm tea from his face - ¡°is why I still think you should change your main weapon¡­¡± ¡°But Maya uses a sword¡­¡± - Luna protested, putting down her empty bowl. ¡°And I use a hammer!¡± - Solo interrupted the child, grabbing a burning branch from the fire as he stood up - ¡°The right weapon is different from person to person, it needs to be an extension of the warrior¡¯s arm.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Holding the branch just like the handle of a sword, Solo began swinging it around expertly, the burning wood gleaming as it moved through the air. Luna knew those movements well, having been forced to practice the same basic routine tirelessly as she first learned how to wield a weapon. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how much I practice these movements,¡± - he continued, before launching the remains of the branch towards the fire as if it was a dart - ¡°I¡¯ll never be as swift as Maya, just as she won¡¯t be able to handle my hammer as I do.¡± ¡°What do you want me to use?¡± - the girl poked, curious to see if there was actually some truth behind the man¡¯s words. ¡°Something like a spear, a glaive would be perfect.¡± - Solo pondered rubbing his chin, the dark stubs of his beard starting to become more prominent - ¡°I¡¯ve seen you using one like those before during training, I think it¡¯ll be a much better fit.¡± ¡°I see what you mean,¡± - nodding, Maya seemed to agree with the man¡¯s line of thinking, her arms crossed - ¡°It would increase her reach, but still work in close quarters combat¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± - Luna slumped her shoulders, realising she had been defeated - ¡°At least I¡¯ll be done with sword practice.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯ll be practicing both!¡± - Solo said, staring at Luna as if the girl had gone insane. ¡°Both?¡± - she blurted, already predicting the hellish training ahead of her. ¡°Only a fool limit¡¯s himself during combat.¡± - Maya chanted in a mockery tone, lifting a finger. - ¡°And believe it or not, this fool¡¯s actually a Battlemaster. He¡¯ll be supervising your training while I¡¯m away!¡± Luna had heard stories about battlemasters before at the camp¡¯s bonfire, warriors who had trained themselves to the extreme, being able to wield almost any weapon or tool like an expert. Looking at Solo, unshaved and with his greying hair unkempt, rubbing his belly by the fire after breakfast, nothing in his appearance resembled a powerful warrior. ¡°Do you really have to go?¡± - the girl asked sorrowfully, staring down at her hands. For the past three years they had always been together, as the two always refused to separate from the main caravan - ¡°Can¡¯t they ask someone else?¡± ¡°Hey¡­¡± - Maya came closer, placing her hand gently on the girl''s cheek - ¡°I don¡¯t want to go either¡­ But it seems there¡¯s something going on at Port Vordo, they need someone who can blend with the locals, and is familiar with the area.¡± ¡°So that leaves only you two¡­¡± ¡°Only Maya actually,¡± - kicking a nearby pile of earth on top of the dying embers of the fire, Solo got up from his seat - ¡°I¡¯ve never been to Vordo.¡± ¡°I thought you were wanted at Vordo!¡± - Luna stated, remembering the reason why the man rarely accompanied the two when the caravan stopped at a town or village. ¡°I¡¯m wanted at many places, that¡¯s barely a problem. The thing is, if there¡¯s ever any trouble, I¡¯ll have no idea where to run.¡± ¡°You say that as if you¡¯re already expecting trouble¡­¡± - the girl looked from Solo to Maya, the woman¡¯s hand still caressing her face, her expression sadder. ¡°If there was no trouble, we¡¯d be all out of a job!¡± - Solo rubbed his head in frustration - ¡°We¡¯re here to protect the caravan, we have no choice.¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± - Luna pushed away the woman¡¯s hand, staring at her - ¡°then I¡¯m going with you!¡± ¡°Oh my brave little lioness¡­¡± - Maya threw her arms around the girl, hugging her tight. - ¡°I would surely feel safer having you to watch my back, but not this time.¡± The girl tried in vain to escape the woman''s embrace, being overpowered completely by the power of her arms. Luna had complete trust in Maya¡¯s abilities, having seen her in combat several times over the years, but the simple idea of being separated from her new family made her feel a deep pain in her chest. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll be safe!¡± ¡°Only if you promise to give it your all during training.¡± - finally letting go of the hug, the woman offered her pinky finger in compromise, as the two had done countless times before. ¡°I promise!¡± - Luna caved, grabbing the woman¡¯s finger with her own, forcing a faint smile. For the next couple of days, preparations for the departure of the advanced group kept the entire caravan occupied. While the main part of their group would keep circling across the smaller villages and towns in the nearby region, a small eight person team would take the shortest route to Port Vordo. In order to reduce their travel time, they would have to cross the nearby marshes, as well as the forest surrounding the city. Both of which were famous for harboring bandit groups, ready to jump at any traveler desperate or dumb enough to attempt such a route. On the day of the departure, Maya stood besides four other guards and three representatives from the caravan, to receive the blessings from Imogen, the caravan¡¯s leader and current shaman. As the woman lifted her hands, a faint green smoke rose from her palms, encircling the members of the advanced group before fading completely. ¡°Pharno¡¯s blessings be with you all, my children.¡± - Despite her old age and frail appearance, Imogen¡¯s voice was loud and clear, being heard by all of those present - ¡°There¡¯s a strange smell in the wind. Faint and fickle for now, but growing stronger by the day. May your mission bring the answers we seek, and peace to our hearts!¡± With a cheer from the crowd, the ceremony was over. While being patted on the back, Maya walked towards Solo and Luna, sword and satchel hanging on her back. Despite not wearing a full plate of armor, her full set of reinforcer leather armor was the most well geared Luna had seen the woman in a long time. Before she could reach the two, Malore stopped the warrior, giving her a strange wooden box before walking away. ¡°What is this?¡± - Luna questioned as Maya finally reached the others. ¡°It was supposed to be a surprise for next week, on your thirteenth birthday¡­¡± - Maya pushed the wooden box onto the girl¡¯s arms - ¡°But since It¡¯ll take us around two months to get to Vordo and back, I think it¡¯s better to deliver it now!¡± ¡°Come on, open it!¡± - Solo squeezed the girl¡¯s shoulder gently, a knowingly smile on his face - ¡°It¡¯s a little something from both of us.¡± Reaching thirteen years of age was a big deal amongst humans, as it symbolized no longer being a child and stepping into adulthood. On such an important occasion it was typical for parents to splurge on a gift to their children, be it either money to start their own path in life, or tools for practicing a craft. As her own biological parents were long gone, Luna was not expecting to receive anything other than the typical caravan birthday celebration. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say¡­¡± ¡°Well, that surely is a first!¡± - Solo joked, standing beside Maya - ¡°We may not be your blood kid, but you¡¯re a part of our family, and we love you.¡± Luna tried to hold back her tears, not realising she was already weeping until Maya held her face to dry her eyes. She had always feared that the two had only taken her in out of a sense of guilt or duty, despite the multiple examples of the contrary. Being now given irrefutable proof of their care for her, and hearing those words, the girl couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed with emotions. ¡°Come one, this is a joyful moment¡± - Maya squeezed the girl¡¯s face, causing her to giggle, before taking back the box and holding it in front of Luna - ¡°We wanted you to have something special, so it took us quite some time to find it.¡± Having calmed down enough, Luna reached for the lid of the box, who creaked happily as it was opened. As soon as she took her first glance of the inside, the girl felt her entire body growing cold, her hands shaking. Laying on a simple piece of cloth, glimmering brightly under the sun, was a single adorned silver short sword. Chapter 5 Gulliver¡¯s eyes turned from the priest to the floor at his right, as his other guard dropped dead, its neck clearly broken. Besides the body, the older man stood expressionless, simply walking past the corpse. ¡°Inspect the area, leave no witness!¡± - Noa commanded, his companions bolting towards the corridor immediately, their bodies moving in unnatural ways. ¡°The Ch¡­ The Church of Helios¡­¡± - the man blabbered, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Never got your message, and they never will¡­¡± - lowering his voice as he approached the man, the priest approached Gulliver¡¯s ears. Grabbing his chest, Gulliver tried to speak, the veins around his arms and neck beginning to swell and darken. As he stared at Noa, the priest could almost feel the man¡¯s desire to curse him with his dying breath, his mouth opening but making no sound. ¡°Don''t worry, my lord¡­¡± - Noa said in a mockinly polite accent, grabbing what looked like a small piece of glass from his pocket - ¡°Your punishment has only just begun!¡± *** ¡°Well, what did you find?¡± - Noa walked calmly back into the entry hall, carefully stashing a green gem into his pocket - ¡°Anything upstairs Dahlia?¡± Coming back from the second floor throughout the main staircase, the woman rubbed the palm of her left hand, while shaking her head negatively. As she walked towards Noa, the older man burst into the hall, pulling the old servant by the neck of his shirt. ¡°Master¡­¡± - the man spoke, throwing the servant in front of the priest as if he was a sack of potatoes. ¡°They do say that a butler know¡¯s all of his master¡¯s dirty secrets, don¡¯t they?¡± - as the old servant shook in fear, his balding head almost shining in the dark, Noa slowly approached - ¡°Why don¡¯t you show us where your master keeps all his ¡®toys¡¯?¡± Following the old man further into the house, they watched as he easily pushed away a heavy looking bookshelf, dust gathering on its surface as if the books had never been touched. Behind it, a thick wood door with iron locks blocked the way, the same foul smell from before coming from the other side. As the man¡¯s hands fumbled with the stash of keys on his belt, Dahlia looked at Noa for approval, before kicking the door open in a single blow. The stench instantly grew stronger, more livid and intense than it was at the Lord¡¯s dining room. The old servant recoiled as the door was kicked open, crouching in fear as bits of wood went flying wildly. ¡°I guess we¡¯re going in the right direction,¡± - Noa passed by the door, finding a set of stone stairs leading to the cellar of the house - ¡°don¡¯t you think so?¡± Shaking in fear on the ground, the man tried to crawl away from the stairs. As she stood in his way, Dahlia kicked the man¡¯s face, knocking him out cold. Walking over his body, the woman picked up the keys from his waist, before following Noa into the dark passage. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this feel just like home?¡± - the priest said jokingly, as the stairs gave way to a larger room underground. Coming out from the stairs, the group found itself in a large rectangular room, with thick stone pillars every few meters. Having a handful of candle holders on the pillars, and a few other candles scattered on the ground, the room was better lit than the rooms upstairs, as if someone had just been there recently. Between the pillars, large iron bars stretched from the floor till the ceiling, a single metal door in the middle separating the area around the stairs from the rest of the room.. ¡°Cages¡­¡± - the words left Noa¡¯s lips as the realization dawned on him. On the opposite ends of the room, scrawny figures moved away from the light off the candles, attempting to hide from the group. ¡°P¡­Please sir,¡± - a trembling child¡¯s voice called out from the area further from the stairs - ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Noa began walking towards the voice, the rotting body of a child clinging to the iron bars on the way, seemingly dead for a few days. The candles stopped halfway, engulfing the end of the path in darkness. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll be good,¡± - the child called out again, sounding more and more desperate - ¡°I¡¯m begging you¡­ I just wanna go home¡­¡± Reaching the outside wall of the further cage, its interior completely covered in darkness, Noa could hear the child weeping. ¡°Master¡­¡± - the old man brought a few candles, setting them on the pillars beside the iron bars. ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt me anymore¡­¡± With the help from the candles, Noa could see the figure of a small child trembling in fear, chains stretching from his arms and legs, its head pressed against the dirty floor. As Dahlia opened the door, the priest slowly walked towards the crying child, carefully watching it. ¡°I¡¯m pleased to see you well brother! We had started to worry!¡± - Noa kneeled before the chained child, bowing his head in reverence. Following his example, the other two followed suit. Stopping his cries suddenly, the boy lifted his head to look towards the direction of the voice, a wide grimm smile taking shape. His body stopped trembling, his posture becoming graceful despite his current situation. Had he not been wearing dirty rags, or locked in chains, it would look like a noble¡¯s child being addressed to by a young knight. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Is that young Noa that I see?¡± - the child¡¯s voice was now clear and mature, almost unbefitting to a body so small. In his face, a mixture of surprise and amusement as he looked at the priest before him - ¡°Get up, let me take a good look at you¡­¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we remove these restraints first, brother Soreq?¡± - Noa got up, signaling his companions to unchain the child. ¡°Oh yes, these things!¡± - the boy looked amused as Dahlia shuffled through the keys, looking for the correct one - ¡°I almost forgot about these, I¡¯m not used to these low grade bodies, you see¡­¡± As the binds came undone, Soreq got up rubbing his arms, his frail body showing no signs of stress even after being put under such harsh conditions. Walking towards Noa, he grabbed the priest by the chin, moving his head to the sides while watching attentively. ¡°I see you¡¯ve yet to take your vows,¡± - letting go of his grasp, the boy began stretching and moving his body around, as if just waking up - ¡°even while displaying so much potential.¡± ¡°My current abilities are more than enough for the time being.¡± - rubbing his chin uncomfortably, the priest began leaving the cage - ¡°Where''s your escort?¡± ¡°Dead, both of them¡­¡± - Soreq sighed heavily, remembering the old couple who had been accompanying him during his travel - ¡°Courtesy of the fat fuck upstairs and his friends.¡± ¡°Robbery?¡± ¡°I believe that was the plan at first.¡± - stretching his back while leaning against one of the stone pillars, a loud cracking sound echoed in the room, similar to the sound of bones breaking - ¡°Until one of the men saw me resting inside our wagon, and decided to bring me to the Lord, an addition to his unsavory collection.¡± ¡°This is why the council insisted for you to have a larger escort¡­¡± ¡°Which would jeopardize my mission, as I told them repeatedly¡­¡± - Soreq interrupted Noa, giving the topic as over, before making his way towards the stairs - ¡°Speaking of which, what about the mission?¡± ¡°It¡¯s being taken care of,¡± - deciding not to insist on the subject, Noa followed after Soreq, more than happy to leave the stench behind - ¡°I¡¯ve been instructed to make sure you¡¯re safe, before escorting you back to the city.¡± ¡°And the one upstairs?¡± - the boy stopped at the first step of the stairs, a glimmer of anger in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s already done!¡± - Noa threw at him the green gem from his pocket, an eerie glow emanating from it - ¡°I guessed you would prefer dealing with him yourself.¡± Grabbing it, Soreq brought the gem closer to his eyes, both changing colour to match its green tone for a moment. Inside it his gaze could see the form of Lord Gulliver, floating inside his emerald cage, a look of despair as he screamed silently. ¡°A human soul can be such a fickle thing¡­ With just a small nudge,¡± - the boy pressed the gem between his index finger and his thumb, watching carefully as its surface cracked before shattering completely, emitting a small shockwave - ¡°it turns into nothingness.¡± ¡°What shall we do about these ones?¡± - the priest signalled back towards the other cages, a few other sickly figures now carefully approaching the light. ¡°Their bodies might be fixed, but their minds are beyond repair.¡± - with no hesitation, Soreq simply resumed climbing the stairs - ¡°It¡¯s better to end their suffering quickly and send them to God''s embrace!¡± *** Entering the small private room, the priest began lighting the candles around it, their faint light competing with the first signs of the rising sun. On the small table beside the window, Soreq put down the four bowls and small cups that he was given to carry. ¡°Well be resting here for the day,¡± - Noa announced as he threw his damp coat on the small chair near the window of the room Ethril had arranged for them at the tavern - ¡°I¡¯ll get us a covered wagon at the market later, and we¡¯ll be on our way by nightfall.¡± ¡°Are you sure about leaving the old butler to take care of business on his own?¡± - Taking off the oversized coat he grabbed from one of the dead bodyguards, Soreq sat on the edge of one of the two double beds that occupied most of the room. After making sure that the old servant was the only one working at the Lord¡¯s mansion that night, Noa cast a spell on the old man, giving him a strict set of commands to follow after their departure. Simply nodding along after all was done, the man began cleaning up the mess left behind at the dining room, his eyes glazed. ¡°Hypnotism is not my strong suit,¡± - grabbing a piece of cloth, Noa soaked it in the small bucket of hot water provided by the D¡¯wadir, before throwing it at the child - ¡°but it¡¯ll get the job done.¡± ¡°You better be right, otherwise we¡¯ll have a furious mob of humans hunting the ¡®filthy undead¡¯¡± Grabbing the damp towel, Soreq began stripping out of the dirty rags he had been wearing, his body covered in caked blood and dirt. Despite looking like an average ten year old human child, his body showed no wound or signs of torture, even after all the time spent in captivity. Noa couldn¡¯t help but wonder how many days it took for the Lord to realise that, no matter how many wounds he caused, there would be no signs of it by the next morning. ¡°You would probably escape unscathed,¡± - Noa allowed himself to relax in the chair, stretching his legs, now that his job was almost over - ¡°the Citadel did a great job on this one!¡± ¡°This body was crafted to appear as human as possible,¡± - as he tried his best to clean himself, Dahlia entered the room carrying a small bubbling caldron and a jug, the smell of warm food filling the room - ¡°while on it, not even the strongest detection spells could see anything other than a regular child.¡± ¡°As a downside,¡± - Noa pointed as he began serving hot soup from the cauldron into two bowls - ¡°you¡¯re as weak and powerless as a regular child.¡± ¡°Everything comes with a price, my boy.¡± - grabbing one of the bowls from the table, Soreq began eating while still naked, walking around the room - ¡°Where¡¯s your quiet friend?¡± ¡°Domnus will stand guard outside the tavern,¡± - Noa smelled the inside of the jug, before considering that the content was safe enough to drink, and pouring two cups - ¡°to make sure there¡¯ll be no unexpected visitors.¡± ¡°You seem to place a great deal of trust on him¡­¡± - the child began serving himself a second bowl of soup, his stomach rumbling loudly. ¡°I do.¡± - taking a long sip from his cup, the priest stared at it. Despite being lukewarm now, the spiced ale from the tavern helped to stave away the cold and tiredness from the priest¡¯s long journey. ¡°Was he someone important to you?¡± - sitting back at the bed, the child knocked back his cup of ale, before returning his attention to his bowl of soup. ¡°He was to be my acolyte,¡± - helped by the warm food and the alcohol, Noa couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about the past - ¡°from before I had even been chosen as an apprentice.¡± ¡°And? What went wrong?¡± ¡°I killed him.¡± Chapter 6 Inside the poorly lit tavern by the docks, sailors and other patrons mingled together in the cramped space. As the excited sounds of music and chatter announced the end of the day¡¯s work, the server¡¯s ran quickly to quench the never ending thirst only the Cyrios could have. Naturally attracted to the sea, their tanned skin and love for gold were a common occurrence at ports such as these. ¡°Mind sharing what has brought you to Port Vordo, Miss Maya?¡± Sitting in a small table, in the far back of the tavern, Belle and Mahna stared seriously at Maya, her friendly expression unable to settle the unease in the air. Even while wearing no armor, and having no weapon on sign, her muscles and posture were enough warning that the Cyrion woman was not someone to be messed with. Wearing her long dark hair loose, her thick gold hoop earrings and bracelets brought quite a few curious looks towards the table. ¡°Is that any way to talk to an old friend?¡± - placing her elbows at the table, Maya leaned closer with a smile. ¡°Maybe I should just rip the truth out of you!¡± - instinctively moving her hand to her weapon, Belle began rising from her chair. ¡°Boss, calm down¡­¡± - Mahna whispered to Belle, seeing the worried expression on Yuri¡¯s face, as well as the strangers watching - ¡°This ain¡¯t the time!¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± - Seeing with the corner of her eye that some of the nearby patrons seemed curious at the cause of the commotion, Belle sat back, crossing her arms - ¡°You must be stupid to show your face around here¡­¡± ¡°Why should I? I remember leaving the crew freely, with the captain''s blessing.¡± ¡°Yeah, leaving us and the Captain to deal with your mess!¡± Maya seemed to stop for a moment, as if carefully considering her next words. ¡°I heard about the Captain¡­¡± - her smile wavering for a moment, the woman¡¯s expression turned serious - ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± - trying to not let her mind wander into the past, Belle could feel her patience running thin - ¡°So why don¡¯t you tell us what you want?¡± Realizing the conversation wouldn¡¯t progress further without an explanation, Maya gestured to call the attention from one of the servers, who quickly came smiling to the table. ¡°Bottle of Alteryan firewater, please.¡± - she blinked at the young server, causing the boy to blush as he rushed to pick up a bottle from inside the bar, before continuing - ¡°I¡¯m here on business.¡± ¡°That¡¯s never a good sign¡­¡± ¡°The caravan I¡¯m working with got their hands on some strange rumors,¡± - Maya tapped on the table, uncomfortable to speak of such things in a public space - ¡°they needed someone who knew the area, for protection.¡± ¡°So they choose you¡­¡± - speaking for the first time since the woman arrived, Yuri¡¯s voice was filled with disdain, his face turned away from the table. ¡°Yes¡­¡± - Maya could feel a knot in her heart, seeing how the boy treated her - ¡°I¡¯ve learnt how important it is to protect those close to us¡­¡± Moving away from the table and laying back on her chair, Maya¡¯s hand moved towards the string bracelet on her arm, a parting gift from Luna. Despite their packed schedule due to training and the caravan¡¯s travels, the girl had still found time to sneak out and ask the elders to teach her how to craft one. The indigo color from the string, dyed by the caravan¡¯s women, was a visible contrast to the golden accessories Maya was using. Despite this, ever since Luna tied it to her arm, she hadn¡¯t had the courage to take it off. ¡°You¡¯re a mother¡­¡± - watching as Maya fidgeted with the poorly made bracelet, the meaning behind her words began to change in Belle¡¯s mind. ¡°What?¡± - Mahna got up suddenly, raising her voice and almost knocking back the server, who nearly dropped the bottle he carried - ¡°Maya the sea butcher? A mother?¡± ¡°Mahna¡­¡± - Yuri stretched his hand in the direction of the woman¡¯s voice, grabbing her pants and trying to pull her down. ¡°What crazy bastard¡­¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± - raising her voice while staring daggers at Mahna, Maya could feel her composure cracking - ¡°I¡¯m raising a stray, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡± - Belle looked at Maya as if seeing her for the first time., while Mahna slowly got back to her seat. ¡°Well, It¡¯s been five years after all.¡± - with a wink to the server, Maya grabbed the bottle still in his hand, while the boy placed a few cups on the table - ¡°You haven¡¯t aged a day yourself Belle.¡± ¡°So you got into the city,¡± - remembering how the woman was insistent on flirting with her in the past, Belle began feeling frustrated as Maya kept trying to avoid the main subject - ¡°saw that the Belle was at the harbor and what? Decided to swing by to catch up?¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Knowing how absurd the story sounded, Maya took her time to open the bottle, serving four shots. As she began passing out the cup, she hesitated for a moment before placing one before Yuri, with Mahna giving her a small node of approval for the boy to drink. ¡°Not really.¡± - taking the first shot herself, Maya could feel the strong alcohol burning her throat - ¡°I knew a tavern would be the best place to catch some gossip, running into all of you was not on my plans.¡± ¡°But not a burden either, I hope!¡± - Mahna completed, taking a shot herself, before refilling the empty cups. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we got no news either,¡± - smelling her cup first, Belle took a small sip of the drink, her face twisting at the flavour - ¡°we just arrived this morning.¡± ¡°We do know one thing¡­¡± - Yuri corrected, holding his cup without drinking it. Being especially careful not to let his voice become too loud, Yuri began recounting what he learned while watching from the sky with his familiar. The strange movements on the docks, the high number of travelers arriving at the city, and the commotions being caused at the market by the Helios Church. ¡°So, that means your eyes are¡­¡± - Maya lost her words halfway, looking at Yuri and still seeing the naive little child the crew had rescued from a slaver¡¯s ship years ago, his blue eyes shining with wonder. ¡°It happened around a year after you left,¡± - the boy lifted the cloth over his eyes, revealing the darkened scarred skin underneath - ¡°Sea Serpent poison straight to the eyes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± ¡°It could have been worse.¡± - already on her fourth shot, Mahna¡¯s words were starting to become slightly slurred - ¡°Had I not carved your eyes out, the poison would have gotten to your head!¡± ¡°And now you have Gardenia to keep watch for you.¡± - Bele interrupted, trying to salvage the conversation, giving the boy a gentle head pat. ¡°Well boys, It must be my lucky day!¡± - shouted a loud voice coming from the tavern¡¯s entrance, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention - ¡°Look who has come back from the dead!¡± A tall man covered in scars on both arms, followed closely by four others, started making its way towards the back of the tavern. Wearing matching sets of heavy leather armor, their weapons in hands, people were quick to leave their tables as the group passed them by. ¡°Friends of yours?¡± - looking at Belle, her expression filled with curiosity, Maya took another shot from the quickly draining bottle. ¡°I was about to ask you the same thing¡­¡± - adjusting her position while placing her hand on the hilt of her blade, Belle tried but failed to recognize any of the men walking towards them. Their weapons looked poorly kept, short swords mostly and a small mace for the largest man, all ideal for combat in small spaces. Walking carefully enough not to leave any empty spot from where one could escape, they seemed intent on preventing anyone from running by them, their leader taking point. ¡°Evening friends,¡± - Mahna quickly got up from her seat, losing her balance for a moment before grabbing the bottle from the table - ¡°got enough time to join us for a drink?¡± ¡°Oh we have time,¡± - the man spoke, watching as the woman stopped to take a swing at the bottle - ¡°unlike the rest of you.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± - Maya asked casually, turning her head around to look at the group. As soon as the bottle left Mahna¡¯s lips, she spat at the man, the liquid quickly catching fire while still in mid air. Suddenly finding himself engulfed in a jet of flames, the man panicked while moving backwards, his companions startled by the sudden events. Holding the now empty liquor bottle as a weapon, Mahna jumped forwards, swinging it at the man. As he screamed in panic, frantically patting his burning hair, the improvised weapon hit the side of his face, shattering while sending the man crashing into the floor. ¡°You bitch!¡± - screamed one of the man¡¯s companions, rushing forward as the remaining clients ran outside. Jumping from her chair as soon as Mahna used her elemental magic to light the alcohol on fire, Belle drew her sword with her left hand, guiding Yuri to stay behind them, as the two tugs on the right started to advance towards her direction. Striking quickly with his short sword, the man looked surprised as Belle blocked his strike with ease, graciously moving as she pushed him back. As the second man watched his friend¡¯s attack fail, he tried taking advantage of his position to aim at the woman¡¯s unprotected left side. When the sword hit Belle¡¯s arm at full strength, the man felt confident for a second, before realising a strange sensation where he had hit her, his blade now stuck. ¡°Surprised?¡± - Belle asked as she swirled towards him, chopping his head off clean with a swing of her blade, blood starting to pour instantly. ¡°A little help over here?¡± - Maya called, holding back one of the assailants using a small dagger, while Mahna had a fist fight with another. ¡°Still busy at the moment¡­¡± - Belle replied as the first man tried striking her once again, its expression enraged upon seeing his companion bleeding on the floor, their blade still stuck to the woman¡¯s arm. ¡°The fuck are you?¡± - the man yelled as he swung his sword around aimlessly, the rage turning into fear as his battle prowess faltered. Seeing a gap in his defenses, Belle blocked the man¡¯s sword with her own, before removing the other blade from her left arm and stabbing him in the chest. Gasping for air for a brief moment as his eyes widened, the man quickly lost his strength, falling down on his knees. Turning around to look at the others, she saw Maya guiding Yuri from the back, her shirt covered in blood. Seated on the floor on top of the biggest enemy, Mahna continuously punched the man¡¯s face, his head already a pile of misshaped meat. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± - Belle called the others, giving the unconscious leader one last kick to the head, just to make sure. ¡°Right after you¡­¡± - pulling a scared Yuri by the arm, Belle started making her way to the door, her dagger still at hand. ¡°Now Mahna!¡± - yelling back at the woman, who was still entertained with her enemy, Belle waited for her to calm down before guiding her out. On the outside of the tavern, a small crowd of clients and curious onlookers had formed at the entrance, too scared to come any closer. The sounds of gossiping could be heard as soon as the group made their way outside, seeing Belle and Maya covered in blood. ¡°Who the hell were those guys?¡± - Maya came closer to Belle, returning her dagger to its hiding place inside her boot. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± - without stopping, Mahna started pushing people out of the way, heading in the direction of the docks - ¡°we didn¡¯t get to talk much!¡± ¡°Whoever they were, they just took a hit on us in the middle of the city¡­¡± - Belle grabbed Maya by the shoulder, pushing her to follow Mahna as the crowd opened a path - ¡°Until we know what¡¯s going on, you¡¯re staying with us!¡±