On the road to the southernmost city of the Human Empire.
"Madam Veronica, if I may ask, why are you headed to Green Harbor?" Cyn'Thia asked.
"It's that hard to understand I don't want to be called like that, Elf?!
Boy, just do something!
Do the master and the slave thing, punish her or something..." Veronica exclaimed annoyed.
"Ah! You would have more results by asking the horses to talk to you..." Jorael jokingly replied.
"Master, such a harsh thing to say..." the Elf complained puffing out the cheeks.
"I'm on a job that I have to complete and help a citizen ..." Veronica replied seriously.
At first glance, it could have not seen by her energetic and tomboy demeanor, but Veronica was actually a fine and beautiful woman in her twenties. She had straight peach-reddish hair cut to the shoulders, and bright yellow-orange eyes. Freckles could be seen on her fiery but delicate face. She wore dark green pants and a leather jacket, with a white shirt bolstering her well-endowed forms.
As the hours of travel passed, the scenery changed as they reached the south. At first there were cultivated fields, then shrubs and wild vegetation appeared, to finally see a city in the distance.
"Here there is... Green Harbor!
The southernmost city of our Empire!" exclaimed Veronica as soon as she saw the city.
White houses and buildings with bright green roofs reflected the splendid rays of light from the red setting sun, and behind the city a majestic view was finally visible to travelers: the sea. A wonderful blend of emerald green water with pink-orange undertones delivered by sunset.
"The sea!" Jorael joyfully exclaimed as it was his first time he had looked at the otherworldly sea.
"Yes, Master, it's marvelous but yet it brings out a sad memory of mine...
but the water there… is it of a wonderful green?!" Cyn'Thia commented while recalling a century-old memory.
"Duh... Why do you think it's called Green Harbor?!" harshly said Veronica.
"Madam Veronica, thank you for your precious lessons!" replied the Elf whilst bowing her head.
"This Elf... I swear..." the woman whispered angrily.
"Sigh... we've finally reached the city.
Let's look at the contract where we need to go..." said Jorael while sighing, tired from the journey.
The Traveler pulled out the Guild quest contract and began reading it, but to his and Cyn'Thia's wonder, Veronica exclaimed:
"Never tell me the odds... Kalipso works in mysterious ways.
We're headed to the same destination!"
"Madam Veronica, are you an adventurer too?!" asked the Elf.
"Eh... nope.
I already told you. I like to help citizens!
BUT WOULD YOU STOP CALLING LIKE THAT?!
BOY JUST DO SOMETHING!" suddenly shouted Veronica infuriated.
"Master, may I silence this woman?" whispered Cyn'Thia to Jorael, who in reply, exasperated, barely murmured:
"Oh my...
I wish I could speed up time instead of halting it..."
...
Later that day, on Green Harbor's Sea Street.
"So many beautiful villas on this street!" commented Cyn'Thia as she surveyed the landscape.
"It's this city forte and the place everyone wants to be.
Green Harbor was originally a thriving trade route, the gateway between the Elven Kingdom and our Empire.
Unfortunately, things changed dramatically over the past century as fewer and fewer elven ships sailed for this city, reducing the city's economy to near collapse.
The inhabitants did not stop passively to watch their city become a desert and they had a sudden realization. With the mild weather and temperature, the attractive water and landscape, they managed to advertise Green Harbor as a tourist destination for the Nobles, and now the city is thriving again." Veronica explained in detail.
"Are you a tour guide or something?" Jorael asked as he mocked her.
"Boy, I told you this story for a good reason.
Your slave.
Pay attention to the villagers' behavior towards your Elf.
There is still a strong resentment towards the Elves today, so be prepared..." the woman warned.
"Madam Veronica, you have my greatest gratitude for warning us!" Cyn'Thia said as she bowed her head.
"Sigh... we have arrived...OH!" Veronica yelled as she pulled pm the reins to stop the horses.
The three got out of the carriage to stop in front of a magnificent villa. They entered the flowery courtyard, headed for a large decorated wooden door which was the entrance of the mansion.
"I'll knock ..." Veronica said arrogantly, leading the group to the entrance on a granite staircase.
Once there, she knocked vigorously on the door. Few seconds passed and the door slowly opened. A tiny green-skinned slave with pointy ears began to speak in a high-pitched voice:
"Tché... Humans...
Who are you, tché?"
After a brief moment of disbelief, Veronica replied:
"I'm Veronica from Casa Blois, and I'm here to help your master, understand?"
"Tché... this Human...
MASTER! VERONICA BLOIS IS HERE AT THE DOOR, TCHÉ!" suddenly yelled the slave surprising everyone.
Immediately after, a faint male voice was heard from afar shouting:
"B-blois?! ...
Get her in right now, fool of a Goblin!"
Jorael and Cyn'thia's eyes met their gazes, a symptom of a silent understanding that the woman they were traveling with was no ordinary at all.
"Tché... Humans... come inside, tché!" murmured the green Demon, motioning with his hands to enter the villa.
"Thank you..." Veronica whispered as she passed in front of the slave giving him a wink.
As Jorael entered via the entrance stairs, he faced the height of the Demon at the door, which was nearly half that of the Traveler.
"So, Goblins really are short as explained in the books I read..." Jorael wondered.
"TCHÉ... Humans and their long tongue, tché..." murmured the slave as he was closing the door.
Cyn'Thia, the last to have entered, looked at the Goblin with great wonder, and then she suddenly asked:
"May I know your name, Sir Demon?"
Through everyone's eyes of disbelief for what the Elf had asked, the slave replied:
"Tché... why a Human would want to know my name, tché..."
Cyn'Thia backed her answer with the sincerest smile, and said "I'm not one..." only to be cut off abruptly:
"Human. She is an Elf." said a male voice coming from the upper floor of the villa. Everyone turned to look at who had spoken, to discover it was a man in his forties, dressed in nice attire, who was coming down the stairs.
"I welcome you Veronica Blois, but I wonder why you brought an Elf to my house, knowing that here we can take offense for this act ..." the man said in an irritated tone.
"Sir Armando, thank you for having us." Veronica answered bowing her head, then she continued:
"While it may seem that way, I didn't bring the Elf here because we are two different groups.
Well, yes I did bring here her, but actually not..."
"I'm sorry if I intervene. I am Jorael, an adventurer of the Guild of Titans, in charge of your request. The Elf is my slave and I apologize if she is offending you..." explained the Traveler, bowing his head and with one hand on the head of Cyn'Thia, forcing her to bow too.
"Umpf ... the guild must step up its game. A boy and an Elf ..." Armando said as he came down the stairs, then he continued to speak:
"Madam Veronica, hope my slave didn't scare you, he's a bit rude but he's reliable.
Usually, he works on other tasks where he remains unnoticed, but unfortunately, my domestic slave disappeared together with my poor daughter Camilla...
May I ask what kind of business caught Madam Veronica's attention here?"
"Just Veronica will do. I'm here for the same thing that brought the adventurers here. Help find your daughter." the woman replied.
"Why?!" Armando exclaimed aloud.
"You can say that my hobby is helping needy citizens..." Veronica explained.
"Fine. We can talk comfortably in my living room. Follow me." Armando said pointing the way to his guests, then ordered:
"Grum'dr! Go prepare drinks and meals for the guests! Now!"
"Tché... Humans... Sure thing Master, tché!" answered the goblin slowly disappearing in a corridor.
The merchant's guests followed him in silence, reaching a well-furnished living room. After everyone except Cyn'Thia sat down on the sofa, they started talking.
"May I ask you to show me the contract I sent to the Guild with a good amount of money?" Armando asked suspiciously.
"Sure. Here it is." Jorael answered as he took the piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to the merchant.
"Well, it's authentic..." the man said after checking the contract and then handed it back to the adventurer.
"So, Sir Armando, you said that your daughter and your slave are missing. Would you mind giving us more details?" asked Veronica.
"Sure…
My daughter Camilla and her slave a few days ago were taking a walk around the city, they went shopping and enjoyed a nice day in our city. Then, suddenly, they both disappeared without a trace.
The guards we contacted immediately began their search, starting from the merchants' street, but nothing concrete came out.
What I find strange is that Jorna, the slave, has never shown any signs of rebellion against us. "Armando explained.
"Are you assuming it's your slave's fault for the disappearing?" Jorael asked.
"Of course it is! How would it have happened then?
There is no one asking for a ransom, and how would they both have disappeared if it wasn't that damn slave fault?! "Armando replied annoyed.
"Let's not jump to a hasty conclusion. Could you describe what Camilla and Jorna look like?" Veronica asked.
"My daughter Camilla is 10 years old, long blonde hair and blue eyes. The day she disappeared she was wearing a pink dress.
Jorna is a demon of the beast-man clan, with brown hair and eyes... with brown fur cat ears and tail. I think she should be in her thirties. I don't know very well ... "replied the merchant.
"Do you know someone with bad intentions or an enemy of your family?" asked the traveler.
"No, no! We are a well-known and good family!
We have never wronged anyone!
Please help us find our beloved daughter! we will be extremely grateful!
We are not a rich noble family, but we are willing to add everything to find our daughter ...
My wife ... she doesn't sleep or eat anymore.
She locked herself in our bedroom and she never go out!
Please ... the guards are not doing anything about this ... "the man begged, shedding some tears.
"It's all right Sir Armando!
The boy and I will definitely find it! "Veronica replied comforting the merchant.
"Thank you ... you can all stay in my villa.
I will provide board and lodging ...
Even for the Elf ... "Armando said.
"Thanks for your kindness, Sir Armando!" Cyn'Thia exclaimed as she bowed her head.
"Tché... Humans... and Elf... here's the food, tché!" Grum'dr yelled suddenly as he arrived with a serving trolley.
"Thanks for your hospitality, Armando.
We will leave as soon as your welcome meal is over. "Jorael said.
...
On the same day, in the evening, the streets of Green Harbor were almost dark, and the two adventurers and the heir of House Blois met outside Armando's villa.
"So, House Blois, huh?" Jorael whispered.
"Yes. Now that you know, will it affect your behavior towards me, boy?" Veronica asked.
"No. You were annoying before I know it, I don't see why it should bother me now ..." the Traveler said, making fun of her.
"What?! It's your slave that's annoying, not me!" she yelled at the Elf.
"Madam Veronica Blois, I'm sorry if I bother you. I'll do my best to..." was saying Cyn'Thia, only to be interrupted by the noblewoman who shouted:
"STOP WITH THAT NONSENSE ELF!"
"Sigh ... here we go again ..." commented a tired Jorael, then continued to speak:
"What do we do now?"
"Uhm... boy, you should check out that side of the town with the Elf if all goes well.
I'll check the other side." Veronica explained confidently.
"If you say so... are you sure you will go wandering alone?" asked worried the Traveler.
"Don't worry about me, boy." replied the noblewoman.
"Fine. I guess...
Then, see you later." Jorael commented walking away.
"Later, Madam Veronica Blois!" Cyn'Thia said smiling and following her master.
"I swear, this Elf..." Veronica whispered walking away in the opposite direction.
As the half-Human half-Demon and the Elf moved walking away, Cyn'Thia made sure to be alone with her master, and she began questioning him:
"What do you think of Veronica?...
Do you… trust her, Master?"
"I think she is an honest and kind person, that she takes care of the problems of others and makes an effort to help others... but she is definitely hiding something more than just her noble House name.
What she is hiding is not yet predictable for me, but you shouldn't take her lightly. She is stronger and smarter than she can appear.
Don't underestimate her." explained the Traveler deeply concerned.
"Understood, Master." said at last the Elf, as they were patrolling the city.
…
Meanwhile in a dark room, in an unknown place.
A young girl sat firmly tied to a wooden chair in the middle of the room. Her wrists and ankles were red, painfully rubbed by the rope she was tied with.
She couldn't hear anything. Grieved by a deafening silence, she could only writhe on the chair in fear, and listen to the rope's scrubbing on her skin.
She couldn't see anything. Not because her teary eyes were covered in a blindfold, but because it was pitch dark in the room and her sight wasn't getting used to the darkness.
Alas, what she could do, was to smell something wicked and revolting. An unpleasant odor reserved for those condemned to smell the atrocities of the slaughter.
Her mouth was firmly covered with a bandage, preventing her from screaming.
"HMMMM! HMMMM!" were the only sounds she made, but what she was thinking and trying to say was:
"JORNA!
WHERE ARE YOU!?
WHY DON'T YOU SCREAM ANYMORE!?
JORNA! WHERE ARE YOU!?
PLEASE… HELP ME…
MOTHER… FATHER…"
Countless days passed for the poor girl imprisoned in this dark room. Seconds felt like minutes, hours felt like days, and her companion Jorna ceased to move.
"This… this happened the last time when "he" entered the room… poor Jorna… what has he done?!" thought the little girl.
Suddenly, a door swung open and a bit of blinding light entered the room. An indistinguishable figure of what appeared to be a man entered the room and in a deep and terrifying monstrous voice said:
"I'm here to savor my prey again... you child will be the grand finale!"