TIKKA — LAKE VAIL
SCENT STREET
The streets of Lake Vail had already fallen into darkness. Lanterns flickered weakly along the roads, casting pale pools of light between the rows of houses. Most doors were shut, and most windows were covered, yet the streets were far from quiet.
"Search the eastern road!"
"She couldn't have gone far!"
"Spread out! We'll cover more ground!"
"She's blind, damn it! It's already dark! She couldn't have gotten very far!"
"She must still be somewhere around here. Split up and search!"
Footsteps echoed through the streets as groups of men scattered in different directions, searching every alley and corner they could find.
Inside the houses, people listened in silence. Some pressed themselves against their doors, while others peeked through cracks in their windows before quickly pulling the curtains shut. Nobody wanted to get involved. Whatever was happening outside, staying silent felt safer than opening the door and becoming the next victim.
A small figure stumbled through the darkness.
She moved with both hands stretched before her, desperately feeling her way through the unfamiliar streets. Her breathing was ragged, and every step seemed to take more strength than she had left.
"Please…"
Her trembling voice barely carried through the night.
"Someone… please help me."
She reached a door and began knocking desperately.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Please open up…"
There was no answer.
She moved to the next house.
Knocking.
"Please… someone help me."
Still nothing.
Her breathing grew heavier as panic slowly took hold of her. She moved again, her bare feet scraping against the cold ground. Her trembling hand reached for another door, but before she could knock—
"I FOUND HER!"
A man's voice rang through the street.
The woman froze.
A hand suddenly grabbed her by the hair and violently pulled her backward. She cried out as her body was dragged against the man's chest.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
He yanked her head back.
"You disgusting monster. Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused us?"
She trembled.
"I-I let me go please! …"
"You don't know what you've done?"
The man's face twisted with anger.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
BAM!
His fist struck her across the face.
She collapsed onto the ground, her body hitting the cold stone pavement. A thin stream of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
Behind their closed doors, the people of Lake Vail heard everything.
Some covered their children's ears. Others stood silently in their homes, too frightened to even look outside.
Just pretend we're not home.
That was easier than opening the door and becoming the next person lying on the street.
"Help…"
The woman's voice was barely audible.
"Please… help me…"
More footsteps approached.
Four men joined the first.
"There she is."
"Don't let her escape again."
"She needs to learn her place."
One of them grabbed her by the arm while another kicked her in the stomach. She curled up on the ground, trying to protect herself as the blows continued.
"Please…"
Her voice broke.
Then, suddenly—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Calm.
Approaching from the darkness.
The men stopped.
A young man emerged from the shadows. He looked at the scene for a moment before scratching the back of his head.
"Hey, hey…" he said with an awkward smile. "What's with all the squabbling?"
One of the men glared at him.
"Piss off."
The stranger glanced down at the injured woman. She was covered in blood, barely conscious. Her lips trembled as she forced out a single word.
"Help…"
The word was so faint that it almost disappeared into the night.
The man's expression changed.
"I don't want any trouble," he said calmly. "I'm actually just looking for my daughter."
He sighed and glanced back at the men.
"But I can't exactly stand here and watch someone get beaten to death. Besides, she's a lady. Whatever she did, I doubt she deserved this."
One of the men stepped forward.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
He suddenly drew a massive sword and swung it toward the stranger's head.
The man leaned backward, allowing the blade to pass inches from his face before jumping away.
"Whoa!"
He glanced at the sword.
"Watch where you're swinging that thing. Someone might get hurt."
"Get him!"
One of the men grabbed the injured woman while the others charged.
Fists flew. Swords swung. The stranger casually stepped between them, ducking beneath one punch, turning aside from another, then jumping over a sweeping kick.
"Isn't this a little unfair?"
He laughed as he stepped backward.
"There are literally seven of you and only one of me."
He bent down and picked up several small stones from the ground.
"Take it easy, would you? I really don't want you guys dying on me."
One of the men charged.
The stranger flicked a stone between his fingers.
THUNK!
It struck the man's forehead.
He immediately collapsed.
The stranger blinked before grinning.
"Headshot!"
The others stared in disbelief.
"What the hell?"
"Get up, fool!"
One of them kicked the unconscious man.
"He's out cold…"
He looked down at the tiny stone lying on the ground.
"From a pebble?"
The stranger shrugged.
"Apparently."
"Get him!"
The remaining men rushed him all at once.
The stranger sighed.
"Fine."
His fingers moved.
Flick.
Flick.
Flick.
One stone struck a shoulder. Another struck a temple. Another hit a knee. Each man collapsed almost immediately.
Within seconds, all of them were unconscious.
The stranger looked around at the bodies scattered across the street.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
He shook his head.
"So weak."
He stared at them for a moment, and a strange sense of nostalgia entered his voice.
"Are humans always this weak? My, my… it really has been a long time."
His smile faded slightly.
"But I guess they're still just as cold and cruel."
The final man remained standing. He was still holding the injured woman.
The stranger held up the last stone.
"Well, it's your turn."
He smiled.
"Are you leaving, or should I use this?"
He tossed the stone lightly into the air before catching it.
"Actually, this one's meant for you."
The man's face twisted with fear.
Instead of running, however, he released the woman and began muttering an incantation.
The stranger's eyes widened.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"
He raised both hands.
"It hasn't gotten to that!"
The man's hands ignited.
Flames erupted from his palms.
"Die!"
The fire engulfed the stranger.
For a moment, the entire street was illuminated by the flames.
The man grinned.
"I got him!"
The flames disappeared.
The stranger was still standing.
His clothes were slightly scorched.
That was all.
He looked down at himself, then back at the man.
"…That was your attack?"
The man's smile disappeared.
The stranger sighed.
"Are you sure you're not just carrying around a fancy lantern?"
"What…?"
He walked toward him.
"This flame wouldn't even ignite a piece of wood."
The man stumbled backward.
"What are you?"
The stranger suddenly disappeared.
A voice came from behind him.
"Nap time."
THUD!
One strike landed against the man's back.
He collapsed instantly.
Silence returned to the street.
The stranger turned toward the woman.
"Hey, miss."
There was no response.
"Don't tell me you're sleeping."
He crouched beside her.
"You need to get out of here before they send more people."
He glanced at the unconscious men.
"I have absolutely no idea what you did, but they were pretty angry."
He gently shook her shoulder.
"Hello?"
Nothing.
He sighed.
"Damn. She passed out already."
He sat beside her, staring at her for a moment.
Minutes passed.
Then another hour.
She still didn't move.
At one point, he poked her cheek.
Nothing.
He poked her shoulder.
Nothing.
He waved his hand in front of her face.
Still nothing.
"Yep…"
He sighed.
"She really is out cold."
Finally, he carefully lifted her into his arms.
"Whoa!"
He nearly stumbled beneath her weight.
"You're heavier than you look!"
He adjusted his grip before looking closely at her face.
His expression slowly changed.
"Wait…"
He stared at her eyes.
"They…"
His voice became quieter.
"I didn't realize."
Her eyelids were swollen and bruised, but beneath them was something far worse.
Her eyes were gone.
The stranger's smile disappeared.
"They actually took your eyes…"
He looked toward the unconscious men.
"What kind of monsters do something like that?"
His grip tightened around her.
"Lucky for you, I happened to be passing by."
More footsteps suddenly echoed through the street.
"There!"
"That's him!"
"Drop the woman!"
The stranger looked over his shoulder.
Several more men were running toward him.
He sighed.
"Seriously?"
One of them stopped when he saw the bodies scattered across the street.
"What happened here?"
"Eight men…"
"They're all unconscious!"
Another man pointed at the stranger.
"You! Who the hell are you?"
The stranger raised one hand.
"Hey."
He smiled awkwardly.
"Could you give me a minute? I still haven't figured out what I'm supposed to do with her."
The men charged.
The moment they were about to reach him—
He vanished.
The attackers stopped dead.
"What…?"
One man swallowed.
"He's a Dio user."
Another man's face went pale.
"What the hell are we supposed to do now?"
His voice trembled.
"Master is going to kill us."
------------
TIKKA -LAKE VAIL
CUTTERS ALLY STREET
"Jeez…"
The stranger walked through the darkness with the unconscious woman in his arms.
"Always trouble."
He looked down at her.
"What could you possibly have done to make that many people hate you?"
He continued walking until he reached another house.
Knock. Knock.
A frightened voice came from inside.
"Who's there?"
The stranger knocked again.
"What do you want in the middle of the night?"
The stranger smiled.
"In the shadows we hunt."
The door opened almost immediately.
The owner of the house froze when he saw the stranger. His eyes widened before he quickly bowed.
"Welcome, sir."
The stranger raised an eyebrow.
"That's fast."
The man lowered his head.
"How many are with you, sir? How many rooms will you require?"
"Just one."
He looked down at the woman.
"And bring me some food."
He paused.
"And water. Plenty of it."
"Yes, sir."
"To clean her wounds."
"Right away."
The man quickly stepped aside, allowing the stranger to enter.
A young boy appeared at the end of the hallway, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Dad…"
He looked at the stranger.
"Who's that?"
His father glanced at him.
"We have a guest."
He hesitated.
"A guest from afar."
The stranger smiled.
"That's one way to put it."
The father quickly led him toward a room.
"Sir, please bring her here."
He opened the door.
The room was modest. There was a small bed, a wooden table, and a single lamp illuminating the walls.
The stranger carefully placed the woman on the bed.
She looked incredibly small beneath the blanket. Her golden hair spread across the pillow, messy and damp from the blood and dirt covering her. Her clothes were torn and stained.
The stranger gently removed the damaged clothes and replaced them with clean ones brought by the household. He cleaned the blood from her face and body, carefully tending to every wound.
She never woke.
Not even once.
When he finished, he placed his hand over her injuries. A faint glow spread across his palm.
Slowly, the bruises disappeared.
The cuts closed.
Her breathing became steadier.
For the first time that night, she looked peaceful.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The household owner entered cautiously.
"Sir…"
He hesitated.
"How long will you be staying?"
He glanced nervously toward the hallway.
"Do I need to alert the others?"
The stranger shook his head.
"It's fine. They aren't back yet. You don't need to be afraid."
He sat beside the bed.
"I'm only here to gather some information."
The man's eyes widened.
"Are you… Lord Albert?"
Albert laughed.
"You're right."
He leaned back.
"But what gave me away?"
The man smiled nervously.
"I've read about you."
He bowed his head.
"My generation owes you're people a great debt. We've been waiting for the day you would appear." His voice trembled with excitement, "I can't believe you're standing in my house."
He looked toward the ceiling.
"The Goddess Tova must be watching over me."
Albert suddenly burst into laughter.
"Ahahaha!"
The man looked confused.
"What? Could I said that could possibly make him laugh," he thought to himself.
"Goddess Tova?"Albert wiped a tear from the corner of his eye."Humans still worship that little girl?"
The household owner stared at him.
Albert's smile slowly faded.
"Tell me…"He leaned forward."What's your name?"
The man hesitated.
"Soren."
"Right, Soren." Albert replied , he looked toward the window.
"Tell me something."His tone became more serious.
"Am I the first elf to reach this place?"
Soren blinked.
"Or have you heard of another elf outside the Great White Forest?"
Soren thought for a moment.
"There has been a rumour an elf girl, yes if I remembered correctly, What was her name?" he thought for a while and then " Alexandra."
Albert's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Alexandra, I don't think I know anybody by that name Albert replied
"She was supposedly from Daria."Soren continued carefully.
"But it's only a rumor. According to what I've heard, she was discovered inside an incomplete building in the forest."
Albert remained silent.
"She was apparently taken in and raised by a family here in Tikka before she was eventually rescued by Damon, a commander knight from Daria."
Soren shook his head.
"That's everything I've heard. It's been treated as nothing more than a rumor."
"I've never seen her myself, so I can't say whether any of it is true."
He bowed.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, Lord Albert. If you'd like, I can ask around tomorrow and see if I can find out more."
Albert smiled.
"No need."
"You've already helped me enough."
Soren nodded, but his eyes soon moved toward the woman lying on the bed.
"Lord Albert…"
"Hmm?"
"Who is she?"
Albert glanced at her.
For a moment, he said nothing.
"From the looks of her, you'd probably think she's human."
He looked at her golden hair."But she's not.she belongs to a rare demihuman clan."
Soren's expression changed.
Albert's eyes settled on her face
"And judging by what they did to her…"
His voice became quieter.
"They took away the only weapon she had to protect herself."
Soren lowered his head.
Albert looked at the woman again.
"Lucky for her, I happened to find her tonight."
He smiled faintly.
"I don't know what she did to those people, But whatever it was…"
His expression hardened.
"They had no right to do that to her."
The room fell silent.
The woman slept peacefully beneath the blanket, her golden hair resting against the pillow. For the first time that night, she was somewhere safe.
And she had no idea that the man who had saved her was Lord Albert.