As they were fighting the monster on their way out the two of them received a few light injuries on their way out. Then
When they were about to enter the village a man who seems to be in his early thirties blocked their way.
"Who are you and state your business"
When both of them were about to explain an old man who seems to be the village elder interrupted them.
"Can't you see they're injured let them in and I will bring them personally to my house."
"Bbu... But sir we..."
"Let them in now"
Before the man could finish his sentence the Village Elder interrupted him and gave him an order. The man was a bit hesitant to let them in but he cannot disobey the Village Elder so, in the end, he had no choice but to let them in.
"My apologies Village Elder"
The man slightly vowed his head then he let Jarret and Claudia in. as they were walking towards their destination the Village Elder explained about the current condition of their Village.
"Please do forgive the rudeness of our gatekeeper he didn't mean anything bad it's just that we can't afford to let in any visitor..."
As he was telling them the current condition of their Village his expression began to slowly darken as he continues to tell them their condition"
"Our village is currently having a famine... Its been about 2 weeks now and our current food supply is steadily decreasing. And at this rate, our supply will only last for a few more days"
As the Village Elder was telling them about their current situation they finally reach. They entered the house and sat down on a chair and continued their conversation.
As they continued the conversation Claudia was curious about something so he asked the Village Elder about it.
"Isn't there any traveling merchant that you can trade with?"
Jarret nodded to Her question and also ask another question.
"and do you know what caused this famine"
The Village Elder couldn't say anything for a moment and just shook his head...
"there was a traveling merchant that we were trading with but he stopped coming here a week ago since a ran out of things to trade him with... And we don't know what caused this famine. Our crops just stopped growing and we can't hunt monsters by ourselves because we don't have enough equipment to hunt. So... "
As he continues to explain tear began to flow out from his eyes. He stood up from his chair then kneeled in front of Claudia and Jarret to beg them for help.
The two of them saw how desperate the Village Elder was so they decided to give him a helping hand.
Claudia brought out a few of the Monster they killed. On their way out of the forest then she brought out the weapons and armor of the bandits he killed when she first encountered the blacksmith.
"I will give you all of this in exchange just let us stay here for a day."
As she told the Village Elder her conditions with a cheerful eye. The Village Elder then again burst out of tears unable to express how thankful he was. the Monster meat that they were given will help them last for another 3 more weeks and with the weapons and armor, they can now form a hunting party to hunt for food.
when they were finally done giving them food and weapons the Village Elder guided them to their room to rest.
then the next morning Claudia and Jarret woke up from their sleep when they heard people screaming outside. both of them went to the window to see what's going on outside.and they saw the Soldiers that were chasing after them.
"I KNOW YOU HAVE THEM HERE SO IF I WERE YOU I WOULD HAND THEM OVER IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T I WILL BURN THIS VILLAGE DOWN!!!!"
while the Leader of the soldiers was busy threatening the village elder a young man suddenly barged inside were Claudia and Jarret were staying at.
"yyo.. you have to leave now we will try to buy you guys enough time to escape"
Claudia and Jarret look at each other in the eye as if they already know what the other person is saying and then they look at the young man who was in a state of panic. both of them took a step forward and put their hands on the young man's shoulder and said.
"You don't need to worry just leave the rest to us"
The Captain of the Soldiers unsheathed his sword and tried to behead the Village Elder but before he could execute the Elder. Claudia shot an Air Bullet at the sword and deflected the sword. Jarret then Charges forward at the soldier and clashed swords with a few of them. the other soldiers tried to surround but Claudia Summoned all of the Shadow soldiers she could and commanded them to intercept the other soldiers.
The clashing of the swords can be heard around the Village. and the intense fighting continued as the villager ran to find somewhere to hide.
Jarret was surrounded by three soldiers. the Three soldiers charged at him at the same time but he manages to dodge all three of their attacks and sends a few of his attacks and killed one soldier and injured the two remainings.
Claudia was faced with 5 soldiers and the captain. She charged straight to her enemies and clashed swords with one of them. One the soldiers tried to attack her from the side but she manages to dodge it and sent a kick on the face of the soldier making him fly a few meters away. Two soldiers charged at her so she dashed backward while casting two Shadow Spears behind the soldiers. then just before she was about to be attacked she fired the Spears hitting the head of the two soldiers instantly killing them.
The Captain of the soldiers was shocked in an instant the small girl in front of him killed three of his men. Then when he regained his composure he and the other two remaining soldiers charged straight at Claudia but all of their attacks were parried and dodged. They tried to attack multiple times but they still can't land a hit on her. Then as a final attempt, they tried to do a pincer attack on her but before they could execute their plan something suddenly emerged out from their shadow. A shadow spear pierced them from the bottom up to their head like a skewer.
Only the captain manage to survive. He manages to move his body at the right time but he was still hit in his thigh. Unable to stand up he looks at Claudia enraged in anger veins popping out.
"You won't get away with this!! I already sent a messenger to call for reinforcements and they will track you do..."
Before he could finish his sentence he was shot in the head by a shadow spear.
Claudia looks at her surroundings and saw that Jarret and his Shadow Soldiers were also finished with their battles.
Jarret approaches her while smiling.
" Looks like you're getting used to fighting."
"shu... Shut up"
"But I was complementing you"
As they were talking the Village Elder and the other Villagers saw that the fight was finally over so they came out of their house. The Village Elder went to where them.
"Once again thank you for helping our Village... but I think you should leave our Village now it's no longer safe here"
The two of them saw the Village Elder intention ask the both of them said their good goodbyes to the Village Elder and quietly left the Village.
They continued their journey until they finally reached a river and took a rest.
A few days had passed a group of soldiers entered a Village asking for information about Claudia and Jarret. The Village Elder of the village tried to tell them that they didn't know. So the soldiers ask if they saw another group of soldiers but once again the Village elder said they didn't know. The Captain of the Soldiers got angry and.
"A messenger was sent to us stating that they found the target and they found it here in this village!!!! Tell me where they are now or I will burn down this Village"
"ple... Please don't I'll tell you everything"
Out of fear he told everything about what happened in the village and showed them the bodies of their fallen comrades. then He begged the soldiers for mercy.
after seeing the buddies of his comrades the Captain was enraged and unsheathed his sword then he slashed of the head of the Village Elder.
Before leaving they ask the villagers for directions for where Claudia and Jarret escaped.