Rustle~
Rustle~
We moved steadily, taking measured steps, and the bushes rustled each time we took one. And my thoughts were much clearer than before.
'If the world is doomed, then I will just save it.'
Simple right.
If something comes my way to snatch away my dream of living peacefully like a mob, then I just have to kill it.
And my first target will be the one plaguing the city of mutants.
I asked Samantha, and it seemed the one I will be dealing with will be someone who can control minds.
.
.
.
The sun was slowly coming down as we ventured further, going deeper into the forest. Fortunately, our journey was quiet, with some occasions of me killing monsters from the shadows.
The sharp white light of the noon was replaced with a soft glow of the evening as we neared the city. I could even see some of the houses built on huge trees from a distance.
'Beautiful'
That was my thought, and the city grew larger and larger as we rapidly closed the distance, and finally, we arrived at Liora.
The city reminded me of the elven structure you would see in games, anime, and illustrations.
It was so breathtakingly beautiful that not only Julie but I was also stunned, except for Samantha, who was a native.
Our movements were halted, and we even forgot to breathe. The city was an ingenuity of nature and architecture. The houses blend with the surrounding nature so perfectly that one would mistake them for a tree.
My gaze wandered, taking in the beautiful sight. Suddenly, my focus shifted to the centre of the city, where a tall tree—no… tall would be an understatement. It was humongous, so big that it looked as if it would actually touch the sky.
Samantha's smooth whispering tickled my ears, bringing me back to reality.
"We need to talk."
I turned my head, looking at her for a second, then shifted my eyes to Julie, who was still admiring the city.
"Make it quick," I whispered softly so that only she could hear, and she gave a nod.
Distancing ourselves a few meters from Julie, we halted, and I looked at her straight in the eyes.
'If she wants to talk about it now, it must be important.'
I knew, I just knew it was going to be super important, but…
"I am a princess and a traitor."
"Great, you are a—"
The weight of the words slowly sank in, and my brain froze at the brand-new revelation.
'Princess? Traitor?'
What the hell was going on? Why now?
My once clear mind became a mess rather quickly.
All sorts of scenarios started to play in my mind.
'Yeah, if she wants revenge. Then she could have gotten it with her power, but considering she needed help.'
All things started to make sense. But I didn't have much time to think as Samantha called out for me, pulling me from my thoughts.
"We need to go, or else Julie will get suspicious."
My body moved on its own, following Samantha while I was still lost in my thoughts.
"Julie, we need to go."
She quietly placed her hands over Julie's shoulder, jolting her to reality.
I looked at them, my mind a mess.
'Julie doesn't know about my power, nor does she know about the deal.'
That was at least a silver lining in this chaotic mess that I found myself in.
Dammit! Just my luck.
Samantha's soothing voice, which I now found was just a demon's hideous voice, rang in my ears once again.
"We need to go to the city gate."
We slowly moved towards the city while Julie was asking all sorts of questions to Samantha about the city, but my heart pounded harder and harder as the small silhouettes of the guards became larger by the second as we neared the gate.
Ba… dump… Ba… dump…
It hit against my chest so furiously that I feared it might come out of my chest.
I wasn't afraid of the disguises that Julie and I had worn.
No, I feared that…
Turning my head, I looked toward the damn traitor.
Yes, she is a traitor.
'Who the hell keeps such vital information and tells at the end of the show?'
My fists clenched tightly as I looked at the traitor who had donned a cloak over herself. Hiding her face, but the purple skin could still be seen.
Tak~
With each step, the guards' visage became clearer and clearer.
Tak~
Sweat started to form on my forehead, and we were just a meter away from them.
Tak~
The guards were wearing green shirts and pants with an insignia of different animals. Their eyes are sharp like a hawk, with two brown wings coming out of their back with the white hue mixed in it. Their heads resembled those of eagles, and their bodies that of an adult man.
'They were literally a Hawkman.'
Tak~
"Stop." We were about to pass them when a cold voice rang through my body, seeping into my bones. Making us stop, the hair on my neck stood, and my heart stopped its beating; even breathing became hard.
One of them came toward us with a deliberate gait, each step measured, and his wings fluttered softly each time he moved.
My heart shuddered. I closed my eyes and opened them again, fearing that…
Woosh-!
He passed through me, and what I feared came true.
'Fuck!'
The Hawkman stood in front of Samantha. His voice was cold and deep with an air of indifference, reverberating in the surroundings, and my heart sank at his words.
"Why are you wearing a cloak?"
"…"
'Come on… come on, say something.'
The Hawkman repeated his words upon hearing no answer, yet… it felt colder this time.
"Why are you wearing a cloak?"
Thank God!
That Samantha answered the second time, but…
"Because I am insecure about my features."
"…"
Silence.
No sound came out, and my heart dropped even deeper after hearing the traitors' words.
'Fuck! What kind of answer even is that? That stupid woman will make me expose my powers.'
Yes, I was not afraid they might detain us. But because I was afraid they might learn about my strength, and my dream of living a peaceful life would be gone.
'It was bad enough that she learned about it, but I can't afford for others to find out.'
"Pfft. Hahhahah!"
"hahahahah!"
"hahahahha!"
A chorus of laughter came from the guards, breaking the silence, and my heart was pressed against my throat, but his next words left me utterly bewildered.
"hahah… haaa… I am sorry, lady. You may pass."
'hahahaha… what happened?'
I was happy and confused by the situation at the same time. My head flicked between the guards and the damn traitor, and not just me; Julie was just as confused by the whole development.
We passed through the gate while still hearing the muffled laughter of the guards behind us.
'Hahahaha'
'Hahaha… that was something I didn't hear in quite a while.'
"What happened? I thought they would come for us?" Suddenly, I heard Julie's soft voice that was clearly laced with confusion echo in my ears.
I lifted my head and looked toward the traitor, waiting for her answer.
"That is because it is normal for kids to be harmless, and they came for me because of the cloak. They thought I might be some shady person, but when I said, 'Because I am insecure about my features,' they thought I was just a shy lady, and it is pretty common for some ladies to be insecure here."
Hearing her answer, it sounded logical. But…
'Why does her neck look so enticing?'
"What are you looking at?"
"Uh, nothing, absolutely nothing. Just looking at the city."
I averted my sight upon Samantha looking at me while touching her neck, saying, 'Is there something on my neck?' while mumbling to herself.