It was quite late when I arrived at the stables, it took me three or four hours to clean, but in the end, it was as good as new. I was lucky that the griffons were patrolling, otherwise, this would have been harder to clean.
-I´m done, fuck the night, I don´t have the energy for anything.
Spiled like food that falls to the ground, my body refused to stick away from the pile of hay where I was laying.
-Snif* Snif* Ugh... Talking about a bad smell.
Besides the sweat, my body reeks of beast, shit, and hay.
I was desperate for a bath and a change of clothes, but the presence watching me from afar had priority.
It´s been doing nothing for a while, It wants to kill me with the eyes or what?
It was over a rooftop around seventy meters away, completely dressed in green with a black hoodie, but the winged snake carved on the arrow aiming at me was enough to know that it was an enemy.
I pretended not to notice I was been watched and casually rested my head over my hand.
With a whisper as audible as the air, I talked with the ring on my finger.
-Álvaro... Can you hear me?
A faint spark accompanied by a hollow voice answered me.
-At your orders, my prince.
-That person watching me... Can you bring it to me?
-By your will.
The ring disintegrated and its rests flew through the air until it reached the hooded figure.
After some seconds, Álvaro fell from the sky grabbing the figure between his huge hands. A new crater followed by a cloud of dust deformed the stable.
Perfect... Now I have to fix that too.
-Rgh! What the hell is this?!
A female voice.
I got up from my bed of hay and approached my new prisoner.
Now that I had a better view of the person, I was able to notice that its body was of a young woman, her clothing was green and mainly made of leather and light but resistant fabrics, the quiver filled with arrows on her back and the green bow on her hand told me that she was an archer or sniper.
While Álvaro held her, I tried to strip off her weapons, but her movements of twirling worm were making it harder.
I brusquely took her cheeks and forced her to look me in the eyes.
-If you don't stay still...
I put my hand over her belly and slowly buried my fingers, pain became palpable from the whining of her mouth.
-Rgh! Gha!
-I´ll tear away your stomach and feed you with it.
-!!
Understanding that I wasn´t joking, the woman stopped resisting, making easier my labor.
When I was done, I inspected the bow and arrows in profundity.
The bow was made of some kind of steel, it was green with a purple string, I wasn´t an expert on medieval weapons, so I wasn´t sure of its quality, but I supposed it was good.
Most of the arrows weren't special in any way, the only curious thing about them was the shape of the tip, it seemed like a leaf of a tree.
But there was an arrow that stood out from the rest.
The tip was of a shining crimson, the body had carved the symbol of the fanatics and the feathers of the bottom were stained in blood.
I don´t think the word "Mortal" makes enough honor to this thing.
I froze the disturbing arrow to then crush it.
-... Impossible.
The small comment of the woman made my attention focus on her once more.
I hanged the quiver on my back and put an arrow over the bow's string, next I aimed at the woman and I tried to prepare the shot but...
The string doesn´t move.
It didn´t matter how much strength I used, the string of the bow did not stretch enough to impulse the arrow.
I stopped trying and returned the arrow to the quiver while getting closer to the woman that was trying to pretend not to look shaken for playing with her weapons.
I pulled away the hoodie covering her face and saw her features.
Large pointy ears, long blonde hair, one eye was green and the other yellow, slender body, plain chest and a beautiful face.
It was an elf.
She doesn´t look like Victoria at all, Is she a different race?
With a more calm voice, I started my interrogation.
-How did you find me? I´m sure I didn´t leave witnesses or traces.
-...
Silence.
The woman was avoiding my gaze at the same time she was biting her lips, her eyes wandered around the surroundings, probably looking for an exit.
-... All right.
I put the bow on the ground.
-...Álvaro... break the bow.
-As you wish.
-Ah!
With his free hand, Álvaro manifested his long sword in the air and raised the edge.
The elf was looking worriedly at her weapon, it was obvious that she wanted to oppose, but the words seemed to choke in her throat.
-Do it.
With my order, the sword hastily descended to turn the bow into pieces.
-Wait!
Foooomph! *
With the female scream flying through space, I raised my hand, stopping the attack of Álvaro.
The cut stopped millimeters before touching the bow, an expansive wave went around the place, giving to understand the huge weight the attack had.
-Want to speak now?
I looked at the elf with a desperate face, when we crossed eyes, her head fell.
-I´ll tell you what you want... But leave my bow...
I grabbed the bow from the ground, cleaned the dirt with my handkerchief, and place it on my shoulder.
-How did you find me?
Having learned that my patience wasn´t infinite, the woman spoke without delay.
-... My eyes... With them I can see the flow of mana in the air, I just had to follow yours to find you, besides...
-Besides?
Her eyes focused on Álvaro.
-There's something wrong with you... You have dark and strange mana... And this can´t be called simple nigromancy...
Her voice was serious, but it carried fear, maybe now she had a tough front, but it seemed more fragile than glass on the floor.
-Is that so?... Then that heterocromía has a special power, I´d like to have it, but you´re not a ghost, and killing you won´t give it to me, Haaah* It´s a shame.
I played the fool.
-... Did you really hear what I said?
-Hm? Ah, yhea, I did, but I honestly don´t care about that, for now, limit yourself to answer my questions, Who are you and who sent you?
-...
The face of the woman deformed in a confused expression, but she kept answering with a nervous voice.
-M-My name is Iris, I´m a high elf from the sacred forest, I was sent by the demonic cult.
-Of course you were, Álvaro, release her.
-... As you wish.
With a hollow growl, Álvaro let go of Iris, but his sword was ready to cut her at any moment.
I threw the bow back to her hands, but I kept the quiver and the arrows.
-... Why?
-I don´t have to give you explanations, just think that you were fortunate enough to not kill anybody.
-...
Iris looked at the ground defeated, her hands strongly holding her bow.
-I didn´t have a choice.
-I don´t give a fuck.
Then she looked at me.
-Eh?
-Take me to where the cult is, I have things to do.
Disposing of her intentions and guilty feelings, I looked at Álvaro with eyes that said: "I´ll deal with this from here".
-... My lord, I do not recommend you to trust this woman.
-Oh don´t worry, I don´t trust her.
I got close to Iris to the point we were in front of each other, her skin already white became pale by looking at my smiling face.
-At the slightest sign of threat...
I gently placed my hand on her cheek.
-Her beautiful face will become rotten flesh.
The knees of Iris touched the ground, her face was filled with the purest of fears, her breathing became heavy and her body desperately held to her bow, her ears wanted to touch the dirt and the cold sweat running down her skin shined with the light of the moon.
It seems to work just fine.
I had activated Intimidation, judging the reaction of Iris, the skill was some kind of mental strike, It´ll be useful to end battles before starting them, I was happy with the result.
Psssst*
A familiar but little sanitary smell came to my nose after the sound of dripping water.
I gave some steps back with drops of sweat coming out of my forehead.
-... Really?...
-How you dare do such a thing before my prince!
-.....
Iris had her head as red as a tomato, her body trembled and her eyes filled with tears.
-U- UWAAAHHHH!!
And then she began to cry.
-....
-I´ll turn you into pieces for your rudeness!
-Return to my finger Álvaro.
When my huge knight was about to decapitate the smelly elf, I ordered him to come back.
-... Yes, my prince.
He did as I said, then I turned myself and established a mental connection with Fei Xue.
-You´re done over there?
-I´m also pleased to hear your voice too master, but yes, everything is ready over here, you should be able to see a magic beast.
I raised my eyes to the night sky, a bird of great size was descending from the clouds.
-I see it, I´ll be there in short, prepare yourself.
-Kukuku~, I was born prepared.
-... Sure.
I cut the connection and waited for the bird to arrive on earth while the elf kept crying behind me.
Holding my temples I let out my thoughts.
-... Damn it... I really need a cigarette...
Some minutes after.
Two meters high, five of wingspan, a wide body with black feathers and red eyes, the peak easily could swallow an entire human head, and the three golden claws in which was upright probably could slice steel without a problem.
Cruuu*
-Fuck, you´re big.
The bird I had seen flying through the skies looked much more imposing close, it approached its huge head to me so I could stroke it.
-T-T-T-That's a Nightwing! What are you doing touching a B-class monster so casually?!
An irritating voice interrupted my comfy moment of petting.
-You´re done with your whining? In that case, lift that wet ass of yours, and let´s get going.
Her face returned to be red and her hands covered her crotch.
-That was becau- Brrrgghh*
I ignored the words of Iris as I used my magic item to clean her, I poured more mana than normal to silence her mouth with bubbles.
-Cough* Cough* Is that how you treat everyone?!
-Don´t confuse yourself...
I pulled out my penknife and placed the edge on her neck.
-The only reason you´re alive is that you´re moderately useful, change my mind and the only thing left from you will be a pile of bones and rotten flesh. Am I clear?
With the hands up to the air and pale skin, Iris nodded.
-...Good.
I saved my penknife and rode the Nightwing.
The bird started to flap its wings, rising its huge body in the air.
-Wait, What about me?
-... Let´s go.
The Nightwing took the shoulders of Iris with its claws.
-Ah! Wait! You´re taking me like this?! Are you sure it won´t drop me in the air?!
-Who knows, if you lie and make me lose time it might happen.
-Monster! Demon! Brute! Enemy of the women! KYAAAAA!!!
With a speed lacking safety for the human body, the Nightwing flew in direction to the east district, where Fei Xue and her beasts were waiting for me.
The wonderful night sky and the moon shining over the illuminated streets of the capital contrasted to perfection the beauty of the local engineering with the contributions of the previous heroes.
It was like looking at the streets of a medieval Amsterdam, but with Japanese buildings here and there.
HYAAAAAAA!*
Although it would have been nicer if it wasn´t for the background screams, but everything can´t be owned.
I just hope that there aren´t too many beasts, I don´t want the kingdom to consider us as invaders.
Deep in my heart, I prepared myself for the worst outcome.