Lucien stood behind Yllana while covering her eyes.
"Bone Crusher," his words sent a chill into her spine. She first said this spell to a demon and that demon's bones cracked under an unknown pressure. It was a ghastly sight. And now Lucien used it on humans. Could she bear the sight of crushing bones inside a human body?
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The crushing sounds were followed by agonizing screams and cries. The men's wails continued to disturb the whole forest. Lucien then took ordered Yllana to open her mouth while he was still shielding her eyes. "Open," it was only one word but Yllana understood already. She opened her mouth and felt the warm iron-tasting liquid on her mouth. A few seconds later, her wounds already healed.
"D-demon..." whispered one of the men who was staring at Lucien. When he pointed his finger at Lucien, his fingers folded backward and sent another bolt of pain in his body. Lucien sent his staff away already and pick up one of the swords from the ground, "You saw more than you should."
One by one Lucien cut the throats of the men who were wailing in pain. Yllana stared dazedly at the four men with their limbs twisted and their backs curved at a sharp angle backward their heads touching the back of their legs. There were no wounds on them. No blood was spilling out of their body. She experienced battles wherein wounding the enemy physically would bring about pain. This was her first time witnessing a scene like this.
While she was still stunned, she saw Lucien ripping the throats of the four men with a sword. She would rather have wounds in from cuts than experiencing something as horrible as what she was seeing right now.
"What happened? Yllana! Are you ok?!" Valkin ran towards Yllana and surveyed her bloody clothes. There was no more wound on her. She could only smile at him, "I'm fine now. Lucien came right on time."
They saw six bodies lying on the ground. The four men gasped as they observed the twisted figures and suddenly felt a shiver run down their spine.
They continued on their journey and slew a few more beasts along the way.
The sun is almost gone when they reached the village. It took them three days to traverse the mountain ranges. Lucien and Yllana walked behind the group as they were welcomed with smiles and praises from the villagers.
"Leader! The leader is here everyone! And they brought guests!"
The announcement from the village crier rang loud and clear among the wooden houses and simple folks. Almost all of them came out to greet their leader. Halfway through the village center, a sweet female voice called out.
"Valkin, welcome back." A maiden wearing yellow robes strode forward and smiled sweetly at Valkin and bowed at the group. Her hair was light brown and her eyes of the bluest blue that popped out due to her milky white skin. She looked like a fairy from a fantasy book. At the corner of her eyes, she saw two unfamiliar figures at the back.
"Mira looks more and more beautiful with each passing day." Morx smiled politely at the side.
"She is? Oh, well. As long as she knows her virtues well, beautiful or not, she would be lovely to any man's eyes." Val respected this little young lady even if she sometimes interacts with him even with the slightest troubles. He just gave her a quick glance and continued on to the Leader's Palace. Mira's heart sank but she maintained the smile on her face.
"Yllana! Both of you might as well stay in the Leader's Palace for the night. You are our guests." Val looked back at Yllana with a grin. He was referring to both of them but his eyes only stared at Yllana all the time.
Mira furrowed her brows and looked at the red-haired girl with blood-red eyes. The woman looked like the embodiment of blood. But her slanted eyebrows, thick lashes, and pink lips doesn't scream bloody murder. Her gorgeous features and aloofness give off the air of nobility or a goddess. Goddess of Murder! Mira thought.
"What do you think Lucien?" Yllana looked at Lucien's eyes. The two looked at each other.
Mira stood on the side and saw the tall man beside the red figure who nodded. She caught her breath when she saw his eyes. Those deep dark eyes which seemed to lure her soul made her heart beat faster. That man is indifferent. He wasn't paying attention to anyone at all. Just at the little woman beside her. And Mira thought that only the village leader was tolerant of her beauty. It seems another one has existed on this land who didn't even give a glance at her. Her heart felt aggrieved.
Yllana sensed someone watching her. She lowered her eyes and realized that it came from the 'beautiful' girl named Mira. She found it strange that in this village, there are a number of young maidens but only Mira has astounding looks. "Lucien, I feel something is strange about this place."
Lucien smirked and noticed that same pair of eyes emitting a dark aura beside them. He didn't pay much attention to it and just pulled Yllana's wrist to the Leader's Palace.