The group of former denizens watched from afar their town disappear completely as the tall wall that had protected them from magical beast attacks melted under the devastating fire coming from the sky.
The four hundred or so homeless refugees were in complete despair as the reality came crashing down on their heads.
The mercenaries and merchants that had managed to flee the town in time were currently discussing where to bring these powerless refugees.
Oresus sat inside the carriage, listening to the whispers from the refugees.
Most of them had completely given up as they were neither bloodrainist nor magicalist power. They knew this region was extremely dangerous and many would be eaten by the magical beasts before even seeing the next settlement.
The warriors available were not many, while the people they had to protect were countless in comparison.
[Are you going to abandon your people?]
Castiane asked as she stared at the dark sky outside the window.
After leaving the town's periphery, she had gradually calmed down. It was the first words she uttered since.
[If you want to save them, feel free to try.]
[Then why are we staying with them, I don't think any magical beast would pose a threat to you even if you travel on your own.]
She asked impatiently, her eyes peering into him, trying to guess what was on his mind.
[Good question. I am in no hurry, I have no pressing business nor a place I need to return to. Remaining in a crowd and being carried by the current isn't a bad thing.]
She scoffed with at him with derision. Her cerulean eyes squinting into a sly look.
[You're sure it's not about that mercenary? You seem to like well-fed women.]
She gave an incriminating look at the woman by her side, the shape of her towering breasts could be seen clearly from the dress she wore.
Castiane had seen the woman wear it after she had bought it in a clothing store. She then saw what was under those clothes, it made her rethink her understanding of Oresus for taking her in.
After the first night, Oresus had changed the enchantment on the ring so that the two girls could see their true appearance.
Maia, feeling the scorching stare of Castiane on her chest blushed as she tried to hide her breasts with her arms, only to make it appear even more prominent.
When she noticed Oresus also staring at her, her face became beet red, she stared at the ground in shame.
[Sir, may I have a word with you?]
The voice of the mercenary leader, Leopold, came from outside the carriage's door.
Oresus gave a meaningful glance at his two servants before going outside.
Leopold stood side by side with an unfamiliar middle-aged man, from his weapon, he could be guessed that he was also a mercenary or at least a warrior.
[Sir, it's like that, we have decided to escort these people to the city state Terrouine. It will be a long journey, depending on our speed, we may even take a month to reach there. That's why, we're kindly asking for sir to let us use your carriage to carry the old and young, so that we may increase our speed a little bit.]
Leopold gave a concise explanation of the situation. The warrior stared at Oresus with a calm face, awaiting his answer.
Oresus glanced at the shivering refugees who were trying to sleep, lying directly on the cold ground. Most were in their beds when the disaster happened, they had left the town with the clothes they wore, which wasn't suited for travelling outside, especially in early winter.
From what he could see, at least 1/5 of the people were old, or children.
[I refuse.]
[What do you mean you refuse! Didn't you hear what he just said, we need to increase our pace!]
The middle aged warrior had a light voice that made one's hairs stand on end. His eyes glowed with hostility, looking as if he was about to throw a punch.
[Not my care. You want to protect and feed four hundred people for one month while on the road. Your responsibility, I do not belong to your mercenary group, I can make my own decisions.]
Oresus turned around, about to return inside the carriage when a man's hand reached for his shoulder.
[Wait a moment you bastard!]
Castiane and Maia could see a wide smile appears on Oresus's face. They, who were used to his peaceful smile and stoic mood knew that something was going bad was going to happen.
[Let him go!]
Kali appeared from nearby, running to stop the middle aged man from acting against him.
[He's right, we can't force him to do what we wants. I just hope that if harm came this way, you would be able to protect the people near you.]
Oresus faced her direction, a mysterious smile appearing on his face.
[Unlikely. People that want to live should fight for themselves, not rely on others to change their fate.]
[You spoiled brat, dare saying that to my face! Hand over the carriage or I'll break your bones!]
The middle aged warrior gripped the spear in his hand, pointing it at Oresus. Killing intent emanated from his body along with his aura.
Kali tried to interfere, but Leopold stopped her, looking at the confrontation with curiosity.
[Hmph, which dog is disturbing this lady's sleep.]
Castiane slowly came out of the carriage, her head held high, looking down on the people around.
When her eyes landed on the middle aged warrior, a smirk appeared on her charming face.
[You!...]
[Who let this dog out, quick bring him out, such an ugly dog, it's hurting my eyes.]
The people watching had incredulous faces, only the warrior was different, his face was filled with anger, a thin aura covering his spear.
[Bitch! Don't blame me for killing an old lady.]
Kali and Leopold were surprised by his reckless move. They didn't think he would truly commit a murder here and now.
Oresus, on the other hand remained calm, he watched from the sideline together with Maia, unconcerned about what was happening.
[Hmph, no longer will you bark, this lady will make you quiet.]
When the spear was about to open a hole on her head, she moved two steps to the left, punching the spear shaft sideways.
She didn't use a lot of force but the spear shook like it was about to fly from the warrior's hands.
Seeing his shocked expression, she let out a snort. She dashed at him with her fists held high, leaving him no choice but to swipe at her with his spear.
Castiane jumped high, aiming her knee at his face, the spear missing its target.
Suddenly, the aura of the man changed. When Castiane's attack landed, a thin veil of brown light protected him.
She lightly landed on the ground with her two feet. Turning around with a sneer.
[A dog using a trick eh. I guess even old dogs can learn a few things.]
Then, she also unleashed her killing intent, staring at the man as if he was already dead. A green layer of energy appeared under Castiane's feet, masked by the grass.
[Stop!]
Leopold tried to stop the fight after seeing the warrior use his bloodline's power in the fight. However, Castiane still made her move.
Maia stared at them with awe, she didn't understand what was happening when Castiane suddenly disappeared and reappeared next to her, only to see the man she was fighting crumbling on the ground, vomiting everything in his stomach on the grass.
Leopold and Kali had seen what happened, but even they weren't sure of what technique she had used. They could only see her shadow.
[Hmph, worthless scum.]
Oresus shook his head, ignoring the wild elf staring at him proudly.
He and Maia returned inside the carriage. Castiane, on the other hand, left to stroll in the forest nearby, humming a tune with a happy face.
After Kali settled things with her leader, she started scouting ahead of the road. Yet, her thoughts weren't on the task, she kept thinking of the old woman she had seen fighting with the veteran mercenary Dunkak.
He was part of the convoy they were in when they arrived in the town, he and his team were the ones who guarded the prime slaves in the brothel.
When the disaster happened, the rest of his team was on guard duty in the brothel. Only he, was charged with a task by their client, to find a certain person in the town. He was the only one who made it out alive out of his team.
What was troubling her wasn't the fight in itself, even though it was an exciting one. No, what worried her was the way the old woman spoke.
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became.
Since she was also a woman, she was the one who guarded the merchant chief most prized slave: an Elf from the Eruptic Grand Forest, for 2 months, she had sat in the same carriage and listened to her barrage of insults and complaints.
And...they were strangely similar to the words used by the old woman.
But, could that mean that the odd man was tied to the disappearance of the elf in some way? And how come she was so strong?