The village quietly slept in the night, the houses made out of wood neatly placed apart from each other to make space for carriages and carts to move more freely. Each house has its lamp oil, or wealthier villagers, their Mana-tool turned off in their houses. Within the village center, numerous shops are open and booths sell their goods. The center of the market was a huge fountain that continuously spewed water even in the night.
A conspicuous house was resting among the other houses. The modest house that could barely fit a whole family was placed, yet a rustling was heard inside despite the time of day. A woman tossed and turned onto the bed, her hair lazily spread across her pillow as she countlessly adjusted it. Both sides were warm. The woman hoisted her body up, despite her body yearning to rest, her mind was still fully conscious. Sitting up on the bed, the canopy was comfortable as a feather, but it didn't comfort her restlessness. She looked beside her, where a window was covered by a curtain, yet through the slits, rays of red light peeked through.
"It's getting louder… did something happen in the other villages?"
It was quiet inside the village, yet she seemed to hear a disturbance far ahead. Peaking through the gap she made with her fingers, she looked outside the window. The stars were oddly absent that night, she noted. Then, turning her eyes to see the village center, the water kept flowing; this oddly gave her peace of mind, as she looked to and fro from the houses, her gaze stopping at another villager's house parallel to her own, another pair of eyes met her. She was surprised that she wasn't the only one who noticed something was wrong. More and more people woke from their sleep and tensely looked out their respective windows, as if expecting something. At this point, everyone in the village was awake, and she was as confused as everyone else in the village. Some of the villagers even walked outside as if feeling the disturbance in the air.
"Phoea, Miss Carri, and Atthetia… please be safe…"
Another prayer was sent, looking in the direction of the orphanage.
"Village Chief! There is someone in the front of the village who wants an audience with you… But he looks suspicious, so I think we should chase him away."
A man jogged through the village and stopped at the base of the fountain, where a portly old man with a long beard waited. The athletic body of the young man was wet with his sweat, and he panted for breath. Ann recognized him, he was one of the sons of the village chief, the eldest child, Pete. After regaining his breath, he added.
"He said that… they encountered a witch."
The crowd that started to form around them suddenly roared in shush whispers as they heard something that shouldn't be joked about. Even the village chief's long life couldn't make him immediately recover from his confusion after hearing what his eldest son reported. As if adding more fuel to the fire, he added with bated breath.
"He said that the Witch is going to come here next, so he wanted to help us escape, although he did request that someone in the village who can use the light attribute to heal his injuries and his companion."
The small-statured man looked at a distance as if deep in thought. Curious and worried gazes gathered around him, and the villagers looked for guidance from the oldest and wisest person in the village. A crowd formed, waiting for his words. It was a short silence before he answered, even Ann was holding her breath waiting for his response.
"I would follow his request, but I'll meet him at the entrance. Gather the strong men and patrol the border of the village. The rest of the men will accompany me."
The Villagers sighed in relief, but two people profusely denied his plan.
"Mister Morri!". "Father!"
Ann and Pete yelled in unison. Morri was puzzled, especially at Ann's cry. She quickly changed out of her sleeping wear and wore an outfit more suitable for the night. Hastily coming out of her house and going through the group of villagers, she finally saw the village chief in person at the fountain. He looked concerned as he furrowed his eyebrow at Ann. It didn't stop her from saying she wanted to say.
"Let me come with you! Mister Morri."
The village chief's eyes were glazed with doubt, his fingers twirling his chalk white beard. Even Pete beside him also wore the same expression.
"Ann…, this is the responsibility of the village chief; you can't just come with him, and what if something happened to you, we wouldn't be able to protect you."
Pete held his hand up, trying to persuade the blonde woman. he forced his words with strength, as if warning her. Ann didn't back down as she looked at Pete's brown eye with as much strength as she could muster.
"Brother-…No, mister Pete, I'm the only one in this village that can use the light attribute, I can help with the man's injuries and his companion!"
Ann's plea made both Morri and Pete clench their fist, but the crowd around them didn't seem to grasp the implication of her words, and only some seemed to understand why both the village chief and his son seemed so adamant about her request.
" Ann, please understand this is for your own good, stop being selfish and-"
Pete said in a whisper
"You indeed have the light attribute, and you are the only one out of this village fit to deal with people's injuries."
The Village chief cut off Pete's rebuke with a raise of his hand, and even Pete was shocked. Her hope was raised as she listened to his words.
"Then, then… does that mean I can-!"
She didn't let the rest of her words leave her mouth as she saw the village chief shaking his head.
"That's precisely why we shouldn't let you near any danger. You're too valuable to this village, so please heed my words. This is not to doubt your abilities, but this is only a necessary vigilance, youngling."
The words of the village chief were like pouring cold water on her. Ann lost her words, being unable to retort, she lowered her head. The village chief clapped his hands, as if to disperse the crowd around them and put his order into motion.
Two groups of men formed, one was entirely made up of scruff and old men, with their chiseled bodies toned through tending to the fields. This group was tasked to patrol the border along the dry stone wall fence that surrounds the whole village. The other group was made up of young men that was the first and second sons of the first group, They were tasked to escort the village chief; the one leading this group was Pete himself. The other able-bodied men staying inside the village were a group entirely made up of teenagers. Each one of the men has numerous weapons, mostly made up of farming tools like pitchforks and scythes, and they move as per the instructions of the elder of the village. The women and children stayed inside their homes, but one still stubbornly stood outside, while the other group moved to complete their purpose. One group, the group that was supposed to meet with the visitor, stayed in the village center. Morri wanted more than anything that this incident wouldn't affect the village in someway.
"Father, I don't agree with you meeting those strangers yourself. let me be your representative as village chief, and to add. We might not know what would happen if his claim were true, if there is a witch coming, then this whole village- No, not only this village but the whole kingdom itself will be in danger, wouldn't it be better if we abandon them and go to a nearby city to call for a Witch Extermination?"
Pete wanted his plea to be heard by his father, he wanted to keep this village safe, where the person he admired had taken painstaking work to maintain its existence, even if he would abandon other people's lives.
"Well, your plan isn't bad, in different circumstances, I would agree with your proposal, but the fact is that this man, whom you heard make such an outlandish claim, was loitering in the middle of the night, especially near our village. Isn't it a bit convenient that a group of men was there when suddenly a witch appeared? The most likely event is that a small bandit group is planning to lure in the village chief as a bargaining chip to make the village cough up its coffers, I reckoned."
The aging man laughed dryly, but his eyes didn't show the same cherry tone of his voice. Pete shivered slightly at the cold and calculating glint of the village chief's eyes. But then his eyes immediately turned back into those of a jolly old man, as if turning on a switch.
"W-Well, if you thought about it, then why are you going there in person? Shouldn't you be the very last person to be meeting them?"
Pete said with urgency, but Morri didn't answer him and only looked at the side of him, following his gaze. Ann stood there, being the only woman that was outside; the other men that was supposed to come with the village chief looked at her with confusion, as if not knowing where she was supposed to be.
"Village chief, please… Even for once, heed my selfish request to accompany you…"
Ann said with all of the proper etiquette she knew, even bowing her head as low as possible, under the light of the two blood moons, this stirred something within the men who saw her, even Pete saw a side of Ann he had never seen before. But for the elder chief who raised her, this was a painful gesture that she always displayed to him when they were alone.
"Please… I don't want you to be the only one risking your lives, I want to be used, even if a little."
She said in a faint voice that she could only hear, yet Morri as if he heard this endless times, sighed, exhaustion present in his eyes.
"Ann, we still don't know if the claim of the man is even true… there's a likely possibility that he is only using a witch to confuse us so we comply with his demand. "
"There's also a likely possibility of them saying the truth…"
She said sharply, still bowing her head, her Golden hair flowed down her shoulders, but she didn't mind it as she continued.
"Even if they're lying… I can still protect myself. With my light attribute, I won't be a burden—I can even fight by your side if it comes to that. So… please. Let me go with you. Not just for my sake, but for the village as well. Let me be of use… to you."
She practically cried those words out, each word was grating Morri's ears. He looked up at the starless sky as if contemplating something, and like he had finally come to a conclusion
"Fine, you can come, but with a condition. When there's a possibility of the negotiation degenerating, I want you to be accompanied by Pete and immediately leave while leading the other villagers to go and take refuge in another village."
This time, it was Pete's turn to yell; his eyes were wide as saucers as he heard what the village chief had said.
"Huh?!? What the hell are you talking about, you old geezer? I know you're the elder of the village, but I didn't know that title was literal! Did you lose your mind?!? Father, would you expect us to just leave you behind?"
Even the remaining villagers in the village center were dumbfounded by what Morri had said; a few exchanged glances, searching for confirmation in each other's eyes, but found only the same stunned silence. The village chief's face didn't flinch as those words left his mouth. Clenching his fist until his knuckles were white, he remained unchanging with his eyes unwavering.
"Are you really serious about this?!? Father, this isn't a joke!"
Pete couldn't help but yell those words. The once overpowering figure of his father was now reduced to an old man with more wisdom than others. He knew that his father's life was at its end, yet he couldn't accept what the village chief, his father, was saying.
"Well, it isn't that I'm going to my death, until we know we can't be sure if they were bandits or not. The only thing we can do is what we can."
Morri stretched his shoulders as if a great load had been lifted. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pete looking away from him, and next to him, Ann stood silently.
"Morri… I thank you! For following up with my selfish request!"
She bowed once again, a smile plastered on her face. But Pete could only sigh after looking at her, resigning himself, knowing no words could change the village chief's mind.
"No matter what you say, we'll force you to come with us, Father."
Pete said, his face was straight, unlike the village chief, who wore a juvenile smile, grinning ear to ear.
"Hah! You're a hundred years too early for you to worry about your old man like that, it might not look like it, but I used to be the top street thug in this village."
Morri said while throwing faint punches in the air, Pete was only exasperated.
"When I was young, those stories would always sound incredible to me, but the more I grown the more I realized how much bullcrap they sounded like."
Pete retorted as he walked toward the entrance of the village, following was Morri, keeping up with his pace, his face was slack after hearing what his son said, like a revelation; he was shocked.
"W-What do you mean! I thought you always liked those stories I told you? And I'm not making those up! I really did beat up a hundred bandits to protect your Ma! Hey- I said hey!"
Pete didn't hear the rest of the village chief's words as he quickened his pace, leaving Morri unable to keep up behind him. The other men, armed with axes and hatchets, were dumbfounded; their arms hung limply at their sides, and with their jaws slack, they peeked at the faces of the other people beside them, who showed the same bewildered expression.
"W-Wait up! You're going to leave me behind!"
Ann shouted as she followed the shrinking backs of the two men. The remaining villagers looked at the enthusiastic girl who ran toward the two, as if they had finally snapped from their confused daze. The men quickly caught up with the three and confronted the visitor while leaving no one behind in the village center.
———————————————————————
— At the entrance of the village, where a fortified gate was built, it was made out of stone, and it stood as long as the village was built.
The gate was built into the dry stone fence as if acting as a city gate, although it lacked the size to be called one, but it was still impressive for a small settlement in the countryside. It stood boldly in front of the village―symbolizing the villagers' dedication and love for this village.
With slow, deliberate steps, he paced in a tight circle—each movement sending dull throbs of pain up his legs, yet he refused to stop. His fingers absently tugged at the frayed edges of his sleeves, the fabric rough and worn beneath his touch, before exhaustion finally forced him to still. Sinking onto a crumbling tree stump beside the path, its rotting wood groaning faintly under his weight, he turned his gaze toward the village.
Beyond the weathered gate, the distant outline of rooftops is a hazy silhouette of life just out of reach. As he stared, a memory surfaced—sharp and unbidden—of that man. The one with hair like smoldering embers, whose presence had been as suffocating as a blade pressed to his throat. The way those piercing eyes had bored into him, the low, gravelly voice that left no room for refusal… Even now, the recollection coiled tight in his chest, a phantom grip on his nerves.
His hands clenched, nails biting into his palms. Why did it have to be him?
Thoughts of the past event made him want to clutch his ashen gray hair with his sore fingers, and the exhaustion he felt made him want to sleep on the cold and damp uncut grass on the side of the trail. He couldn't think of anything else except for the pain and the restlessness of his entire body, and more than anything—the fear that had a strong grip on his heart.
"They're not going to come, are they… I knew they wouldn't listen to some homeless guy in the middle of the night, let alone let him inside, I knew that wouldn't work… Even if they agreed, they wouldn't just have such a convenient person that has the light attribute in this crappy and backwater village… Maybe we should just go to another village and try our luck there…"
As he was about to stand and leave, he noticed the sounds of rustling. He looked to and fro in his surroundings, alert, yet the clear flat field met his eyes. Even in the dark light of the moons, his eyes moved with clarity across the dark corners of the flat land. He scratched his greasy and unkept hair, his expression was shadowed in confusion. I guess it's just my imagination…
Then, in the corner of his eyes, a faint glow of light was illuminated in the direction of the village. At first, he could barely make out the light, but the more it grew brighter, he could see other lights trailing the first one. He could only look dumbfounded, as he saw that the man with ginger colored hair was holding a lamp oil while leading a group of men, armed with axes, scythes, and other farming instruments, while some were just holding lamp oil to illuminate the way. Holy shit! They actually listened to me, I thought they would just ignore me…
He hid his slack face with an expression of relief, his body stiffened as he waited for the other party to come closer, although they could converse at any distance, he was still aware of the proper manners when talking in a negotiation.
As the group of men was at the gate, a short and old man walked forward like he was the leader of the group. He glanced at the only woman in the group but quickly looked back at the old man, whom he presumed was the village chief of the village.
"W―Wow, you came, thank you… I―No, my friends need ya'll help; they were injured along the path. They resting in a broken carriage! Please, one of them is gonna die. Help him go to a nearby temple!"
His plea came more rushed than he anticipated, and a drop of sweat formed on his forehead. he observed the reaction of the old man but also the man he talked to earlier to gauge their reaction. He couldn't help but steal another glance at the blonde woman who accompanied the first two, who was directly behind the ginger-haired man.
"I see, I see, so you're the person that requested an audience with me. I have come to speculate on your visit to this humble village, but only a scant glance at you already answered my doubt."
The old man twirled his long beard in amusement, as if he were satisfied with a conclusion he had come to."
He looked to his side, and the woman behind him nodded and stepped forward. The man looked confused as he stared at the beautiful woman who was approaching the gate. As if the old man had remembered something important turned and looked at the gray-haired man and said with a smile.
"Ooo! I almost forgot, the gate doesn't have a lock, so you can open it yourself. Sorry, I forgot that the gate only serves as a decoration built to impress the ones who were visiting this little village, so it doesn't have a real function."
The man's face was slack, as if not believing what he heard, then his face flushed red. You're telling me that I just waited here for no fucking reason!?!
"Sir, let me see your injuries."
He didn't fully recover from his sudden realization that he hadn't noticed the woman had already opened the gate and was in front of him.
"W―Wha!? Yeah, s―Sure, also my name is Tim, so like… what's yours?"
He stammered in confusion, the woman was uncomfortably close to him, and he could even feel her breath on his face. The beautiful face of the woman had clear skin, as if she had never seen the sun in her entire life, and the sky blue iris looked concerned. Tim couldn't help but look away from her.
"Oh! Well, my name is Ann Bigail, but can you please tell me where your other companions are after I treat you?"
"Y―Yeah, sure… Wait! What do ya mean by treat? even if ya applied first aid to me, my wound wouldn't just disappear, and―and my friends need the help the most, so please and go to―"
Before Tim could finish his sentence, light enveloped them, and it was so bright that even after he closed his eyes, he still saw the light. Then, as suddenly it appeared, it vanished, only leaving Tim and the other man stunned as they saw something otherworldly unfold.
"There, that should do it, even if this is the degree of your companion's injuries, then this wouldn't pose a problem to me…"
The woman briskly replied without batting an eye at the miracle she performed, even Tim couldn't believe it as he felt his injuries and even his fatigue fade away like foam on the shore.
"ya'll kidding? They have someone in this village with a light attribute… I couldn't believe it even if someone told me…"
Tim could only let a few chuckles after realizing what the woman had done, looking at the face of the one who healed his injuries so easily. Then, as if remembering something important.
"Oh― My friends! If ya were there, then―then ya can help them! Please follow me! I'll repay somehow, so let's hurry before those idiots die!"
He immediately placed his hand on the shoulder of Ann, and she gave a half smile to his enthusiasm, her body stiffening as she peeled his hands off her.
"Well, if you can guide us there, that would be appreciated, but before that, I hope you answer some of our questions."
When Tim heard her request, he immediately froze, his smile stiffened while he lowered his shoulders. Even Pete noticed this change in him and readied his short axe in his left hand, and even the other villagers were on edge about Tim's sudden change and nervously gripped their weapons.
"Is that all ya'll gonna ask?! I'll happily answer them while we go there!"
As the tension was so thick and palpable, it could be cut with a knife, but Tim, the person responsible for birthing their unrest, was also the one who completely smashed their suspense.
"Is―Is that so… We'll, if you can walk properly, then we can comply with your request."
Even Ann was unsettled by him, wearing a smile for him as she sweated cold sweat, Pete, who was closest to her, sighed while loosening his fist that was clenching the axe, his shoulders relaxed. The other men seemed to read the room as their tense bodies loosened.
"We'll what ya gonna talk about? I don't have anything on me, so I'll happily sell some information!"
He happily skipped further on the dirt path. he looked back while waving his hand, as if he was beckoning them to follow him. The group hesitated and looked at the village chief for any confirmation, but one of them made their decision without waiting for their leader's orders.
"Sure, we'll follow along, although I don't want any compensation, I just want to help other people without taking anything from them, though."
"Huh? Really? With your ability, I bet ya can make a pretty penny every day, especially how frickin cool ya'll abilities are, I wouldn't get mad if ya want to make a buck from it."
Ann, Pete, and other villagers followed Tim deeper into the trail, while the village chief and the others waited at the gate. The dark path was illuminated by oil lamps as they walked further from the village; the light from the group that stayed in the village slowly dissipated in the distance.
"So what question ya want to ask me? Although we're still gonna pay ya even if ya don't wanna, my pride ain't having it."
"No, I told you the payment isn't necessary, I wouldn't ask for anything, but I guess you can repay if you can answer some of our questions."
The group walked on the dirt path. Tim waited for their question, looking back at his shoulders, he patiently. Ann only looked at him and smiled, looking at Pete as if seeking what to do next. The orange-haired man nodded and looked at Tim, his ember-like eyes of Pete didn't leave a single detail as he posed his question.
"First, as an ice-breaker, who are you people? You seemed pretty confident in your abilities to just travel into the night, I want to know who you are and what your purpose is for being in this village."
His questions were like pointed daggers, sharp and on the point. Ann relaxed his shoulders while he talked, relying on him like an older brother. Maybe if I were his little sister, she thought, but she quickly dismissed the idea from her mind as she leaned forward to hear Tim answer.
"Oh, make sense, make sense… Well, ya'll probably know by now, but we're mercenaries turned to bandits, though please don't think we're trying to pillage ya'll!! I swear we ain't that petty to stab someone who helped us in the back."
He said it nonchalantly, like describing the weather. But the fact that Pete or Ann wasn't surprised was sufficient evidence to confirm Tim's hunch. Although saying the other men in the back were surprised would be an understatement, they wanted Tim to explain more in detail, but as they looked at the unflinching backs of the two in front, they seemed to lose their will and made them surrendered and decided to put their faith into this pair. This faith wasn't empty, as Pete is the firstborn son of the village chief, and Ann seemed to hold a unique position, but they finally realized how important she was after witnessing the magic she wielded.
"Huh… Awfully straightforward for a bandit, are you sure you didn't pick the wrong job?"
Pete's sarcastic comment made Tim grin from ear to ear, while Ann only looked to the side, as if bored with their exchange. They continued walking while conversing. Pete wanted to proceed to a more urgent question after opening the conversation.
"I have a lot of questions about you, but those can be put at the bottom of the priority list. the most significant question I wanted to know is…"
He paused as his words lingered in the air. Ann also took a glance as they continued their conversation, she intensely looked at Tim's profile while they walked.
"Is it about the witch? Ya'll take those rumors pretty seriously, huh? Though it was true that we were attacked by a witch, specifically a witch familiar."
Tim didn't look back and only stared at space, his face wincing as he recalled an ugly memory, but both Pete and Ann didn't let those words leave without a comment. Especially Ann as she pressed her question to Tim.
"What kind of witch familiar is it?!? Was it an undead or a ghost? And if possible, can you describe its appearance to me!"
Ann said in rapid, consecutive questions, even Tim slightly jumped at her loud voice, he looked with a curious gaze, but quickly complied with her question. Slightly hastening her pace, she was next to Tim while leaning toward him, her eyes took in his every movement and every sound he made. Tim tensed his body, a smile constrained on his face, though he did blush a little while he was looked at intensely by a beautiful woman.
"W―Well… I don't know what an 'undead' or a 'ghost' looks like, but I can describe its appearance, the thing that attacked us though…"
He slowly talked as he recounted the events in his mind. Tim paused while he looked up, they were still walking, but now there fully surrounded by the dark without a light in sight except for the oil lamps that the group had.
"Let's see, it was like a giant hairless dog, with a large scaly tail, and at the end was full of needles. When you get hit by it your whole body stops moving. And also it lacked any eyes, but it got black teeth and knife-like claws, it was pretty grotesque looking. It took even some of my friends with it, but that ain't the bad part, those things came in hoards, we barely survived cuz some of my friends acted as decoys while the rest of us got away…"
Tim said while grimacing, his face twitched, especially his eyes, they wavered like a ripple on a pond. Ann could only guess what gruesome things he saw.
"Well… I'm sorry for what happened to your companions, my parents were killed by witch familiars too…
Ann said as if to console him, but she shook her head, trying to take control of the situation she asked another question.
"Well, if you got away from them, that's good fortune. I assumed those witch familiars are far from this place, correct?
Those words didn't need to be said, but as if trying to disperse her own anxiousness, she said it anyway, the eyes that greeted her didn't have such as optimistic light. Tim could only shrugged while he looked at the side.
"Yeah, that would be great― and everything, but you see… those things actually came from a forest not so far away from here… So yeah, we didn't really have any time to get away… So when I said a witch, or more a witch familiar was coming to your village… I wasn't lying…"
He said as if confessing, Ann and Pete, who listened, could only hold their heads. Confusion ran through the group as Tim merrily walked in front, oblivious to what was happening around him. Ann moved restlessly, she hastened her pace when she overtook Tim, looking at him as if he were her last hope.
"What forest! Do you mean the one with an orphanage? What part of the road did you last see those witch familiars! Please try recalling some of your memories!"
Ann urgently said while shaking his shoulders, when he was about to open his mouth, he noticed something at the corner of his eye.
"Wait… Where is it… The broken carriage was supposed to be near some bushes… But there's nothing here!"
Tim rushed ahead of the group into the side of the dirt trail, Ann and Pete looked at each other as if knowing what the other was thinking, they followed him, the other group was late to react as they were left behind, confused they sprinted to catch up to the two.
"No―No—No…. Where the are you guys!?! Pan, Lee, Zor! Where are you!!!"
He shouted desperately at the dark, frantically looking around him, the two was finally able to see what he was seeing and…
"There's fresh blood here.. and there isn't a carriage either, but it looked it was dragged from else where."
Pete said while he held the oil lamp at a patch of grass that has blood spattered, Ann felt something in her stomach come up to her throat but she resisted to vomit as she thought of the fate that Tim's friend has meet in the dark. A part where Tim stood a large gash on the ground where dirt was uprooted, it was a large singular slash. When Pete and Ann saw this, they were confused, but not as much as Tim as he breathed laboredly as tears started to moist his eyes.
"There was a broken carriage here that has a broken axel! There's no way they drove it somewhere!!!"
He yelled and screamed at the dark, as if not accepting the scene before him, the two could only stand aside and speculate what happened."
"Don't you think they weren't attacked by the same witch familiar? Those things wouldn't even take a nibble of the body of the victims they killed…"
Pete said in a hush voice, not wanting to disturbed Tim, Ann nodded while she looked at him with pity on her eyes.
"Yes… They wouldn't even bother with the corpses, so it's strange that Tim's companions bodies aren't scattered. Even the broken carriage were gone, it seemed a more intelligent beast has done it."
Ann said while she pointed at tracks on the ground, it was like a large and heavy object was dragged further away from the grass ground, it seemed like Pete also deduced his own thought while something dawn on him.
Sir Tim, is there any other types of witch familiar, other than the Ghoul Hounds, like a more intelligent monster?"
Ann softly as Tim hyperventilated, but when he saw her face, he managed to get a grip on himself, although his breath didn't regulate as he still took in quick and short breaths.
"W—What? Ya guys have name for those things too?... We—Well, We were attacked by those things but that's the only I saw— Saw… Well at least what I know—Maybe… Maybe there's something like that, but I didn't see it in the chaos…Well not me that is… Maybe my friend could probably saw something in the hoard…"
His bleak comment ached Ann's heart, but before she can to comfort his pain, something unexpected happened. It was detached from the mood, as if someone intruded unannounced.
"Hey!!! Tim, looked you seen better days! You got yourself a pretty girl at your side!! Man you ganna make me jealous…"
A boorish voice echoed in the dark, Pete was on high alert as he violently turned his head to and fro in the dark, even the other men were bewildered at the voice that came in the dark. The group searched around, with oil lamps on hand, yet they couldn't spot the origin of the voice.
"I feel bad about you man! You lead such an impressive group of people, and now you're alone… though I'll be taking care of your friends that still left though. So don't worry about it!"
The voice taunted Tim, his face turned to distraught as he cried, his eyes begged for an answer for a question he haven't said. Ann as if was feed up with the jeering of the unknown voice, stomped her feet and screamed at the voice.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO SIR TIM'S COMPANION!!!!"
A storm of emotions and questions swirled inside of her, yet the most prevalent emotions she displayed. Wrath, anger, and pity. Even Tim looked at her with surprise, as if shocked that someone would be so angry on his behalf.
"Huh? Just who are you, woman… I didn't recall you being involved in his problem. Are you his wife or something? I doubt that, you're just a citizen from the Angspire Kingdom after all. There's no way you and Tim met in the past…"
That same taunting voice questioned her, but Ann didn't allow herself to get affected by his words as she stood her ground, still searching for his whereabouts of him. Looking at Pete for support, she readied the magic in her hands, even though she wasn't adept at using them in a fight, she was still confident that her magic would still hurt.
"Show yourself!!! Don't you think hiding in the dark is a bit cowardly? Aren't you mercenaries? I thought you would be a more respectable warrior!"
Pete made fun of the voice, hoping that he would fell for the bait, but it seemed the voice had already saw through his ruse and scoffed.
"Hah! You think of me like some brainless brute or something? Village boy, unlike knights or mercenaries, I don't fight with a code, I only believed on one rule, and its survival of the fittest. That's the only belief I got. So if you wanna argue what method I use, than your barking at the wrong tree, man."
The voice kept his position hidden, even tried to justify his actions, even Tim had had enough from what he was saying, as if being supported by the comment of the two.
"I said where did you put my friends! Kaj!!! This wasn't the plan that I agreed too! I got the villagers to agree and help us! I even got someone that has the light attribute! Why did you back down from your promise— I thought mercenaries value trust more than anything else, you said that to me!! Didn't you!"
Tim grasped his chest as he struggle to stand up, being supported by Ann as he almost stumbled on to his rear. Than as if he saw something, the eyes of Tim a moment ago was moist with tears but suddenly turned cold as he pulled something under from tattered and worn-out shirt.
"There!!! You always put your guard down whenever you think you're in the advantage! You stupid fucking idiot…"
As if his earlier pathetic state was just a disguise, he thrown a small dagger that he kept neatly under his shirt. It shot out in the dark, but it hit something hard as it harmlessly bounce back as sparks flew, momentarily illuminating the thing that the dagger collided with. Even Pete and Ann was bewildered by the sudden change of Tim, they only realize that he was still mercenary.
"Tch— I thought I hid myself more better, I guess I still need to practice more."
A man walked out of the dark into the light of the oil lamp, his gray hair clumsily resting on his shoulder. A white scarf wrapped around his thick neck, while the armor he wore looked foreign for Ann and Pete, but it seemed for Tim, it was familiar for him.
Layers and layers clothes wrapped around his chest and waist, an outfit ill fitted for Angspire hot and humid climate. His handsome face shown a hideous grin, behind his ash iris eyes was a cold light that held no warmth.
"Welp, there goes my advantage, we'll do you feel proud of yourself, Tim? Showing off in front of a woman, you really don't change do you?"
Kaj stood as if unbothered by the animosity aimed at him, he snickered while staring at Tim, as if the other people in the surrounding didn't matter to him.
"Kaj…bastard, what did ya do to my friends… I thought we had a deal…"
Tim couldn't bother hiding his animosity while he stared daggers at him. Pete and Ann looked on anxiously, being unable to make a move as they cautiously stared at the man.
"Why so angry? Aren't we supposed to be brothers in arms? We been through so many jobs, life threatening situation, even cried tears of joy after we came out of those hellish battles alive? Why do you need to be so—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Tim threw another dagger and aimed at his throat, but he quickly caught it between his gauntlets, kaj shrugged as if the action was meaningless to him.
"Kaj… Ya still haven't answered my question… Where did ya put them, if you did something to them, I'll rip out your windpipe and feed it to those dogs…"
Kaj received his violent reply, but he could only smile while he was bombarded by his tongue lashing; even Ann and Pete found this behavior strange, a slithering feeling of dread bloomed inside of them. Tim, as if he felt their uneasiness, gave Kaj a questioning glare as he readied another dagger from under his shirt.
"Ya seemed pretty calm for being outnumbered, even if they're all some wimps and can't swing a sword, they have someone with a light attribute, so ya shouldn't underestimate them, Kaj…"
Tim wanted to throw Kaj off with his comment, but it seemed he had already as he gave him a bemused smile. Being unarmed and outnumbered, it was quite ominous that he was still giving a straight smile.
"The original plan was to pillage any village. That's the original plan, but you're the one who suggested negotiating with the village nearby to help us, and aren't you the one who suggested using a witch to make the villagers comply with our demand?"
"Ya?!negotiating? So what if I did? It was better than killing some villagers that isn't involved, and doing the same thing as those other tribes in the north do to women in territories they conquered…. Anyway, ya way would only make more enemies in the long run. Dumbass, that why I choose a different approach."
He blench from just thinking about it, but Tim was still confused what Kaj was trying to tell. A look of surprised crossed his face for the first time when he first emerged from the darkness, as if he realized something, he gave a dry cackle while his eyes waved through the group.
"HA!HA!HA!HA!HA! I know you're optimistic, but I didn't know your that optimistic… I might as well say it to you peons… The time you were walking and talking to me here, I already sent my men in the village to pillage it."
That word felt like dropping cold water on everyone, as Ann and Pete could only repeat his words in their head. As if conforming to Kaj words, a man in the group shouted and pointed at the direction they came from.
"L—Looked… the village is…"
He didn't to finish his words as everyone craned their head in the direction of the village, multiple black fumes pillared up, and faint screams and can heard in the horizon, being so faint that a person needs to strain their ears to listen.
"Kaj!!! Ya bastard, Ya gonna pay with your life for dragging them into this mess!!!"
Instead of throwing them, he opted to come closer and engage him in hand to hand combat, though it wasn't a good idea as his opponent had full armor while he only wore a tattered robe over his body. As if the most expected outcome had happened, Kaj could only laugh to himself. Tim lunged at him while reverse gripping the dagger in his hand, as if to hide its true length, yet it only served as an amusing trick for the larger body of Kaj. He stepped back while Tim dagger past the air, but his eyes waited for another opportunity and threw another dagger he was hiding in his left hand. While Kaj was mid dogging, a dagger darted to his feet, between the armor he wore. It was swiftly parried by an outstretched hand, but as if expecting this, Tim smiled and leaped and targeted his shoulders that defended the thrown knife, being off balance from defending the dagger thrown at him. Kaj could only do but watch the incoming dagger. Yet he smiled, as the dagger sank through the gap in the armor and cut through flesh and even bone. Tim smiled as he felt his hit landed on the mark, as he tried to step away, a hand grabbed his wrist. It twisted as it clamped down with more pressure, and he could only winch in pain as he tried to be free from his grasp. Pete was the first one to move after waking from his daze, he charged in, he felt his feet was heavier than usual as he raised his axe while the lamp oil on his other hand violently swayed as he ran.
Then a large object was thrown, it collided with the body of Pete and made him crashed down on the dirt ground with a grotesque sound of twigs breaking in two, a gurgled scream came from his mouth, as he tried to recover, he saw the thing that had hurled at him.
"Tim… Shit your hands!!! "
On top of him lay Tim, his wrist bent in unnatural ways and exposed his bones, breaking through his skin, their broken sharp ends punctured his flesh and was exposed in the air. A giant dent was present in his chest, an imprint of a booth was there. Pete realized how he had thrown as tried to check the vitals of the man on top of him.
Tim could only moan in pain as his eyes filled with tears; the healthy color of his skin was gone as blood rushed toward his broken wrist.
"HA!HA!HA!HA! What did he expect to happen? He was just all talk after all the smoke he blew, and now his at the ground crying like a Bitch?!? HAHAHA, nah this is too funny!"
Another round of laughter sounded, but it was accompanied by silence as the two men lay on the ground. Ann and the rest of the men could only stay in their places. The overwhelming difference between him and the others has completely squashed the group's will to fight, as they only imagined their fates being the same as the two men that was knocked on their backs.
"This is all you got? You guys are weak, I guess, like-minded people always tend to flock to other people who are similar to them. I guess that's why you got along with them! HAHAHA"
Kaj threw the dagger that Tim stabbed him in his shoulders at the ground, as he showed it didn't affect him, although a small amount of blood was leaking from his wound, but he didn't acknowledge it as he stared at the rest of the group.
"So, what are you going to do? Fight me? Or try surrendering to me? If you do I'll let you join in my group, though you gotta be our golfers and slaves for the rest of your lives. So what is it? Die while you stand, or live while you beg like a dog for the rest of your life. Which is it? You pigs?"
"How about neither?"
A clear voice sounded, the tone of the it sounded otherworldly, not only Kaj but the rest of the group paused. Their eyes wandered around to locate the source of the voice.
"You act so high and mighty, under the pretense of the rule you follow strictly out of convenience. You're truly lower than pig feed. And to think you have the right to be so arrogant and self important, it slightly peeved me, especially without any proof to support your self worth in this world."
They sounded like a teacher scolding their student, yet Kaj could only scoff at the voice as he tried to search for them.
"Huh? Another rat showing itself, no matter how many of you are there, it wouldn't matter in the end, I'll just step on every single one of you. Be grateful to able to stained my booths you insects…"
He threatened, his eyes desperately looked for the source of the voice, but as if raising their hands to be noticed. A voice chimed in a sing-song manner.
"Well-Well, I guess I need to stain my hands again… Although stubborn types like you always crack if their ego is ruined… Even though I don't want to, I suppose you need to know your place in the pecking order, trash."
A white haired girl said, appearing at the direction of the village, on the dirt path she stood as if she was always there. Her appearance was like a goddess, her ivory skin glowed even at the dark, her body was stainless like any and all impurities couldn't touch her. The pure white hair that seemed to be made out of light waved down her body weightlessly, but her face, a lovely visage, showed complete contempt of the world, as if the existence of everything around her was an insult to her. Eyes that bore through everything, her golden iris glinted a cold light as she regarded everything around her as lower than trash.
The mysterious girl reached out her hand toward Kaj, and a smiled purely like a innocent maiden and said.
"Be grateful, you lower-life forms, as your pitiful and sorry existence, a nameless character in a story, will make your first and last debut on the stage, be joyful, be happy, be grateful, be enthralled. Enjoy every single second of your miserable part in this play. You worthless trash."
Having the same, innocent and pure expression as if expressing an otherworldly joy, as those venomous words left her perfect lips, she brought down her hand as if commencing the start and end of the battle.