----Page 27----
Somehow, an uneasy feeling curled in my chest. The forest was quiet, the only sound the soft crackle of the fire.
Lady Verline sat a short distance away, calm as always, though I caught a faint flicker of worry on her face.
Tonight felt heavier than usual, almost like even the wind sensed a storm drawing near.
A faint rustle stirred in the shadows.
A man masked in black stepped forward, his face hidden behind a black cloth. He was one of Lady Verline's informants.
He emerged from between the trees and bent into a deep bow.
"Reporting, Milady," he said, voice low and urgent.
Verline straightened, her eyes sharpening.
"Speak."
The man wearing a black mask continued.
"Your Highness, Prince Elmhein has made contact with one of the Fingers of the Tyrant's Hand. He is currently tracking the largest slave traffickers in Delman. The entire city is rotten with corruption, but he is proceeding with extreme caution."
"Prepare a full report. Everything Elmhein has uncovered. I want it before dawn."
The informant bowed and vanished into the dark.
My ears perked up, my mind racing.
Elmhein… I knew that name.
Blond hair, golden eyes, calm, precise, terrifyingly capable.
We had met once during the Khel Mines incident, when he was investigating the Tyrant's Hand's involvement in the missing miners.
I glanced at the Princess. Their resemblance was unmistakable.
"Elmhein?" I asked, breath catching.
"The Prince you mentioned before… was he…?"
Lady Verline smiled faintly.
"Yes, Kinon. Elmhein is my younger brother. He mentioned you in one of his reports. The moment I saw you, I already knew who you were."
Tauren hovered close, tail flicking anxiously.
"Yes… I remember that cheeky lad. Hmph. And I hate admitting it… but he's strong."
Klen… Siris… and Lira…
Their names surfaced in my mind, twisting tight around my chest like a rope.
I can't let them suffer the same pain they endure before.
My fingers curled into fists as I leaned closer to the fire.
I'll find them. No matter what it takes.
Just, please. Please be safe… all of you.
°°°°
Meanwhile.. earlier, in the City of Delman.
Klen, Lira, and Siris had managed to slip inside without much trouble.
However…
The trouble had started hours earlier.
Delman was a maze of narrow alleys and chaotic markets. Half-rotten fruit piled on stalls; merchants shouted over one another; smoke mixed with the stench of garbage and unwashed bodies.
Seldene banners fluttered weakly over crumbling stone.
I pulled my hood lower.
"Big brother… what do we do?"
Lira whispered.
I squeezed her hand.
"Let's just Keep moving for now..."
Siris hid her bruised arms beneath her cloak.
"But… where do we go?"
I forced myself to stay calm as I searched the dirty streets.
"First… we find a place to rest. Anywhere safe."
The marketplace was chaos itself—shouts of merchants, clattering carts, smoke, and the smell of rotting fruit mixing into a pungent haze. I pulled my hood lower, keeping my head down, and tried to guide Siris and Lira through the crowd unnoticed.
Then… we collided with someone.
"Ah—excuse me!" the man said, his voice calm but commanding.
I barely glanced up. Blond hair. Sharp, golden eyes. A presence that made me freeze for a moment, but I quickly hid my face beneath my hood.
His gaze swept over us for a heartbeat.
I could feel him noticing… the faint scars on Siris's wrists, the tattered, rugged clothes we wore, the way we clutched each other like we were running from something terrible.
Even the way he was dressed… fine, polished armor, gilded accents, well-maintained boots… he looked like a noble.
This could be bad. If he's a noble… we're in trouble, I thought, tightening my grip on Siris and Lira's hands.
"I… I'm sorry," he said.
I didn't answer. Only gave a slight nod and pulled the girls along, weaving through the crowd as quickly as I could without drawing attention.
Even from that brief encounter, I could tell he understood, just from the way he looked at us.
°°°°
From the shadows of a nearby street, Elmhein's eyes followed the three children.
Every detail was noted, the way their clothes were worn and tattered, the subtle scars along their wrists, the careful way they moved as if trying to disappear into the crowd.
He crouched behind a stack of crates, calm and precise. Beside him, his companions mirrored his focus. Dolein, the tall monk-sage in white robes, staff in hand, his black hair and beard framing a stern, measured face.
The blue-haired woman, scarf trailing behind her almost covering her mouth, twin black blades with crimson veins strapped to her thighs. Seville's Sylpheeds drifted silently, scanning the alleyways.
"Your Highness." Seville whispered, his voice low.
"My familiar, Sylphy reports that… one of those children was an elven royalty."
"What?!"
The woman with a blue hair hissed through her mask.
"Quiet." Dolein whispered, narrowing his eyes.
Elmhein's gaze sharpened.
"Elven royalty… This is bad."
He flexed his fingers lightly around the hilt of his blade.
"Let us follow them. Stay unseen. Observe. We don't know what dangers lie ahead."
Their group melted into the shadows, following silently, careful to remain unseen as the children disappeared deeper into the alley.
Elmhein's mind ran through possibilities, weighing every risk. Every instinct screamed that this wasn't just another stray encounter.
He crouched behind a stack of crates, observing silently. Beside him, his companions mirrored his focus.
The children moved cautiously, clutching each other and scanning their surroundings, unaware of the eyes following them. Elmhein studied them from a distance, noting each detail, every hesitation, every instinctive glance over their shoulders.
Beside him, Dolein shifted slightly, staff ready, ready to defend but restrained to avoid revealing their position. The assassin's fingers brushed the hilts of her twin blades, alert for any sudden threat.
Seville's Sylpheeds flitted silently, ready to relay even the smallest sign of danger.
Elmhein's mind ran through contingencies. If the children were being hunted, if these alleyways held traps or hidden hands…
they needed to be ready to intervene in an instant.
And with that, Elmhein and his companions followed, shadows among shadows, keeping close enough to see everything but far enough to remain unseen, letting the alley guide them toward the confrontation he knew was inevitable.
°°°°
Ahead, the alley widened slightly, dark and narrow.
I crouched low, glancing down the passage, scanning for a quiet corner where we could rest and catch our breath.
"Klen… is this safe?" Lira whispered, her voice trembling.
I tightened my grip on her hand and gave a small nod.
"Here."
I said softly, guiding her and Siris toward a flickering lantern.
"We can rest for a moment."
However, as soon as the moment we stepped in, a cold shiver ran down my spine. Three figures emerged from the shadows ahead.
A man covered in piercings, twirling knives; a towering Brutescale wielding a curved shamshir and a kobold, eyes yellow and unblinking, claws flexing.
This isn't good.. why now?
I thought immediately.
I pulled my hood lower, hiding our faces as best I could, positioning the girls behind me. Every movement, every subtle hesitation on our part, seemed to be noticed by them.
My heart thudded. I had to stay calm. I had to protect them. And I had to find a way out before they closed in.
The three figures blocked the narrow alley, forming a rough triangle around us. The pierced man stepped forward, twirling his knives casually.
"Ah, look at you three," he said with a grin that didn't reach his eyes.
"Lost little ones, huh? Don't worry—we can help."
I narrowed my eyes. "Help?"
"Of course," he said, spinning one knife idly.
"Food, clean clothes… maybe even a warm bed. Our boss is a kind man. He likes to take care of children who… wander into the wrong parts of town."
The Brutescale growled behind him, muscles rippling under thick, obsidian-like scales. His shamshir gleamed faintly in the lantern light, the blade moving lazily, but I could feel the tension behind every casual gesture.
The kobold hissed softly, claws scraping against the cobblestones. Yellow eyes flicked between us like a predator circling prey.
"This… sounds too good to be true."
I said carefully, trying to keep my voice calm. I forced a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
"We… we don't want to cause trouble."
"Oh, trouble?" the pierced man laughed, a harsh, grating sound.
"No trouble at all. Just a little walk. Our boss will make sure you're safe. Food, clothes… anything you need. You'll see, we're quite generous."
I squeezed Siris and Lira's hands slightly, feeling their fear through the thin gloves of my fingers. I scanned our surroundings—narrow, dimly lit, walls close, shadows clinging to every corner. Every instinct in my body screamed danger.
Too much trouble, I thought. Something's off. The way they move, the way they smile… we're walking straight into it.
The Brutescale grunted and stepped closer.
"It's just a short walk to our boss's place. You'll like it. He's… very generous with children."
I forced a nod.
"Sure… lead the way, then."
I said carefully, keeping my voice calm.
"But… can we go slowly? The girls get tired easily."
The kobold hissed, but the pierced man clapped his hands like nothing was wrong.
"Of course, little brat. We wouldn't want the children to be uncomfortable, now would we?"
They began to move, leading us down a twisting alley lined with broken crates and puddles of stagnant water. The smell of smoke and refuse hung thickly in the air, mingling with something metallic, blood, maybe, or rusted iron. The uneven cobblestones made every step echo sharply.
"Just a short walk, really."
The pierced man continued, glancing at me with a grin.
"Our boss will take care of everything. No need to worry."
I kept my hood low, trying to hide our faces, and kept a hand on the girls' shoulders.
"Right… no worries," I whispered.
My mind raced for ways to escape, any opening. Every small misstep they made, every hesitation on their part, I noted and filed away.
Yet despite their chatter, I could feel it, the subtle pull of something wrong, something dark, lurking just beneath their casual smiles.
If we follow them… we're walking straight into trouble, I thought. I have to stay calm. I have to find the right moment.
The alley twisted again, narrower now, and the shadows seemed to lean closer, almost alive. The three thugs laughed softly among themselves, unaware that I was already planning the next step, how to protect the girls, how to turn this trap against them.
Every sense screamed at me. The smell of damp stone and refuse. The glint of metal in the dim lantern light. The sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls, following the rhythm they wanted us to fall into.
And behind their words, I could feel the malicious aura emanating from them, the promise of kindness masking cruelty.
°°°°
The alley narrowed even further, shadows pressing in from either side. I led Siris and Lira cautiously, every step measured. The three thugs fell into rhythm behind us, the clink of knives, the scrape of claws, the heavy thump of the Brutescale's boots against the cobblestones.
"Almost there," the pierced man said cheerfully.
"Just around the next corner, and our boss will see to you personally. Everything you need… all taken care of."
I forced a nod. Everything they say is a lie. I can feel it. The malicious aura clung to them like smoke. My heart hammered, muscles tensed, fingers curling instinctively around the girls' shoulders.
The Brutescale loomed closer, shamshir resting against his broad shoulder. The kobold's yellow eyes flicked to me, claws twitching. And the pierced man… ever-smiling, ever-taunting, knives glinting faintly in the lantern light.
We can't refuse them, I thought. If we resist now, it will get worse. I have to play along… find an opening… anything.
We turned the corner into a slightly wider section of the alley. Broken crates and puddles of stagnant water reflected the flickering lantern light.
The stench of blood and smoke burned at my nose. Every step echoed unnaturally, amplifying the sense of danger pressing down on me.
"You're doing great, kids," the pierced man said.
"See? Easy walk, right? Our boss is really kind. You don't have to worry a thing"
I swallowed hard.
"Yes… thank you," I muttered, keeping my hood low, hiding our faces as much as possible. I kept one hand on Lira, the other on Siris.
The Brutescale's deep growl rumbled behind me.
As he noticed, I was about to run back.
"Careful, brat. Don't get any ideas."
Ideas? I already have one.
I thought grimly. All I need was a perfect timing to do it.
The alley widened slightly near an abandoned building. Shadows shifted unnaturally, the lantern light flickering against cracked stone walls. The three thugs slowed, confident, unaware that I had already positioned the girls behind me, shielded, ready.
The pierced man stepped forward, twirling his knives lazily.
"Almost there…—"
I tightened my grip on Siris and Lira's hands. My heart pounded. Now.
Before he could finish, I kicked a loose plank from the ground. It hit the Brutescale's knee with a sharp crack. He stumbled slightly, eyes narrowing in surprise.
The kobold hissed and lunged, claws extended, but I had already anticipated it. I sidestepped, dragging the girls along with me.
A flash of movement from above caught my eye, golden hair glinting faintly in the dim lantern light. I didn't recognize him fully, but his presence gave me hope.
Someone was watching above us. I don't have any idea what they were after, but I'll do everything I can to protect Lira and Siris on my own.
The alley erupted in chaos.
"I have enough of this. I'm going to kill them now."
The Brutescale roared, swinging his shamshir in a wide arc. I jammed the plank into his arm, teeth gritted, forcing him off balance.
"Hey, kill the brat but leave those girls alone the boss wants them.."
The pierced man shouted as he lunged at Siris, aiming to grab her. I shoved her behind me, rolling just in time as I kick him right on his gut sending him flying against the stone wall.
I glanced back at the girls. Siris clung to me, wide-eyed. Lira's small hands gripped mine tightly.
We're not out yet. But maybe… just maybe… we have a chance.
And then the door in front of us suddenly opens up as the sound of the metal door echoes towards the alley.
A massive figure emerge right into the shadow.
An Orc stepped forward from the shadows. His face was a grotesque mixture of tusks and pig-like features, scars crossing his green-tinged skin.
He was massive, broad as a doorframe, with muscles rippling beneath his hide. In one hand he casually swung a massive iron-bound club.
"I am Ugel, just a humble merchant" he rumbled, voice deep and resonant.
"Oh boy, look what we have here.. you three idiots what do you think your doing to my merchandise?"
He gestured to the three man whose about to kill us a while ago.
Merchandise? So they meant to sell us like slaves. Again.
"Bring them in inside, but don't you dare hurt them."
Ugel instructed his men.
Tschh ... The brutescale spits on the ground. He leaned to me then whispered.
"You'll pay for what you did brat. Later, I'll make sure to savor your every scream"
We don't have a choice, but to get along with..
"Walk now be a good boy and don't make things more complicated for us."
The pierced man said.
Rows of cages stretched into the dim light. Inside, shadowed forms shifted, humans, elves, children, some slumped in exhaustion, some whispering in fear.
Siris gasped. Lira clutched my arm. My own heart felt like it had stopped.
My eyes widened in disbelief.
Ugel smiled cruelly.
"The ones I value… they stay alive. The rest… well, they become coin."
I clenched my fists. My jaw tightened.
I need to think fast. We need to get out of here fast.
The Brutescale growled impatiently.
"Shall we hurry, boss?"
Ugel's eyes glinted with malice.
"Patience. Let the little ones see what fate could be. Fear makes them pliable."
The pierced man stepped forward, grinning.
"Boss, your as cruel as ever."
I shoved the girls behind me, scanning for exits, heart hammering. It's much worse than I thought.
°°°°
Earlier before above the roof on the darkest alley.
Elmhein watched the three children slip deeper into the narrow passage. None of them seems to sensed their presence..
"Seville," Elmhein whispered.
Seville's Sylpheed hovered near his shoulder, waiting.
"Cast an invisible barrier around the three of them"
"Yes, Milord." Seville answered.
Then, a faint chiming sound, barely more than a breath, answered.
Elmhein saw only the faintest shimmer as the tiny spirit darted down towards the children below, it's magic settling around them like a second, unseen skin.
To his right, the blue-haired assassin crouched low, blades pressed against her thighs, the crimson veins etched into the metal pulsing softly.
Dolein stood on the other side, tall and statuesque, staff planted lightly against the rooftop stone, his presence steady and grounded.
Elmhein narrowed his eyes, watching the alley twist ahead of the children.
"Not yet… But we will soon begin, be prepared".
As the shadows shifted and the children disappeared around the bend, he straightened slightly.
°°°°
Back Inside, the Slave traffickers lair.
"Isn't it wonderful? All of these children, will become your friends and you will now live among them.".
Ugel said while snorting like a pig as he laugh.
The Brutescale cracked his knuckles, looming over me, claws ready.
The kobold's yellow eyes gleamed. The pierced man twirled knives, smiling.
We have to fight. There's no other way out.
I have to protect Lira na Siris no matter what…
I realized.
So I planted myself in front of Siris and Lira, raising my fists.
"Touch them… and you'll regret it."
Ugel chuckled, stepping back, observing.
"I like your spirit, little elf. But spirit alone won't save you."
But then, when Ugel was about to give order to his men to capture us.
A black swirling shadow appears in front of us coming from the ground then a shape manifest. A familiar woman in black, appears blue hair, with her iconic long scarf.
"Stay back, I'll handle them."
She said, without even looking back.
The masked assassin lunged first, movements fluid and silent. Her twin black blades struck in perfect arcs, veins glowing crimson in the dim light.
The kobold leapt forward, but a swift parry and kick sent it sprawling the a dagger followed on the kobold's chest killing it in an instant.
"How dare you!"
The pierced man rushed forward swirling his daggers, but she vanished into shadow and appeared behind him.
"Your easy to predict, assassin's like you always appears from behind"
He turns around, but she vanished immedeately once more.
"Huh!?"
And then, the man with a bunch of pierced in his face started to cough with blood.
"What.!? In a world happens."
He said as he looked on his red soaked palm with his own blood.
Blood suddenly, appears on his chest slowly..
"But when did.."
And then the woman with blue hair appears behind us.
"Your a fool for thinking, that you can catch a shadow."
And then .. Another man appeared beside us coming from nowhere.
"Well.. well that's quite a show.."
The man in white robe says as he struck his wooden staff on the cold floor.
Then a sudden realization strucks inside my mind.
I remember them now, they are the people we bumped into, earlier before..
"Dogs of the empire, how the heck did you find my place?"
Ugel roared.
"It was easy to tracked down this place, your unpleasant smell gives away your location easily. The smell of a rotten pig"
The assasin woman said as he picked up the dagger on the kobold's chest.
Ugel's snapped. He roared once more as he swings his massive club. Dolein stepped in front of us, staff moving in precise arcs, blocking every swing of Ugel's massive club.
"Was that all you got? I'm not even using my magic."
Dolein teases.
The club smashed the floor, sending splinters flying.
And then, a green light covered us in an instance.
A young man, walked towards us.
"It's okay my Sylpheeds was protecting all of you."
And the, the man in front of us countered Ugel with lightning-fast strikes, striking ribs, knees, and wrists with his wooden staff.
Each hit was carefully measured, Ugel groaned, his pain echoed as he screamed barely alive.
He pinned him down avoiding hitting his vital organs. Just enough to send him lying on the ground.
"Stay down for a bit."
The man named Dolein said, his eyes narrowing, looking down at the Orc lies helpless on the ground.
I watched, their fight as it ends in a one sided match.
°°°°
Meanwhile…
The Brutescale in front of us lunged, claws gleaming in the dim alley light.
My heart hammered, but I stepped forward anyway.
I wanted to prove something. If I ever wanted to protect Lira and Siris, I had to stop being helpless.
I had to fight.
"Hey kid. If you want to fight, use this."
The blue-haired woman tossed a plain sword toward me. I caught it with both hands.
"It's not much, but it's better than nothing."
I nodded. My resolve felt firm, solid, unshakable.
The Brutescale roared and closed in.
I raised my blade and braced myself.
Our weapons met.
The impact rattled through my arms and nearly knocked me back. The Brutescale swung again, faster than I expected. I parried, but its shamshir scraped along my shoulder.
A sting shot across my skin.
I clicked my tongue.
"Tch… just a scratch."
At least, that's what I thought.
But the wound burned faintly.
Strange.
I tried to shake off the sensation and stepped back into position.
Before I could strike again, a bright flash descended from above.
Elmhein landed between me and the Brutescale, sacred blade clashing with the creature's claws. Sparks burst from every strike.
"Do you mind if I help with this one" he asked without looking back.
"I don't mind," I replied.
"Good. I'm Elmhein."
"Klen."
We pushed forward together.
Elmhein moved with precision, cutting off the Brutescale's attacks. I swung when I found openings, forcing the creature to divide its attention. Each clash echoed through the narrow alley, steel scraping against scale.
The Brutescale snarled and swept its shamshir in a wide arc.
I jumped back but felt a faint sting again as the wind of the blade brushed past. Maybe it grazed me a second time. I could not tell. Everything was happening too fast.
Elmhein seized the moment. He stepped in and delivered a clean strike across the Brutescale's chest.
The creature flew back, slammed into the wall, and collapsed.
Finally… it was over.
Or it should have been.
Relief washed over me. Then the world tilted.
My legs weakened. My vision wavered.
A sharp, cold pain spread from my shoulder and down my arm, like something crawling through my veins.
I dropped to my knees.
"Klen!" Lira's voice cracked as she ran toward me.
Siris stumbled beside her.
"Klen, what's wrong, what's happening?"
I tried to answer, but I coughed instead. Blood splattered on the ground.
Elmhein crouched immediately and grabbed my arm. His eyes sharpened the moment he saw the dark veins spreading from the earlier cuts.
"It is poison," he said, voice tight.
"The Brutescale's blade was coated. Even a small scratch is dangerous."
Poison.
That explained the burning. The trembling. The cold sinking deeper with every breath.
The blue-haired woman knelt beside him.
"He does not have much time."
Lira gripped my hand so tightly her fingers shook.
"Klen, stay with us. Please stay with us."
Siris pressed her hands against my chest.
"Klen, look at me. Please."
Their voices were fading. Growing distant.
I forced a small whisper out.
"I'm… fine…"
I wasn't. They knew it. I knew it.
The lanterns above blurred into streaks of light. My heartbeat slowed, each thump weaker than the last.
Kinon.I hope I can see you. Even once.
Before…
The ringing in my ears swallowed everything. The world went dark.