"Shit, he found out!" Jorael thought, backing away from Captain Jonathan after he touched the little horns on the Traveler's head that were hidden by his hair.
"Master! The helmet..." Cyn'Thia whispered disappointedly.
"Not now, Thia..." Jorael said as he assumed an attack stance.
"Ahhhhh now it all makes sense: the death of the noblewoman Francine, the attack of the last night...
Are you a fucking Demon left free to roam our glorious Empire!?
I will be honest: I like this more because I CAN FUCKING KILL YOU!" The captain shouted furiously with wild eyes.
"Master, what now!?" asked the worried Elf.
"Hold on tight." she said as he suddenly took her into his arms.
"Master please... no Haste & run." she begged desperately.
"Sorry, but we can't stir up a turmoil here on the main street... Haste!" Jorael immediately cast on himself the Red Magic spell, doubling his speed and escaping into an alley with Cyn'Thia in his arms.
"W-what the fuck was that demonic witchcraft?!
Guys, let's follow him!" Jonathan ordered the men behind him, as they all started running after their target in the alley.
"Good, there's nobody here..." Jorael said, interrupting his run after 100 mels into the secondary road.
"Ugh, my stomach... I hate going so fast." Cyn'Thia complained as she felt sick.
"I'm sorry. Here they come ...
Now that we are in this desert back alley, no one should notice. "He said.
"What to do now?" she asked.
"We will KO them..." Jorael explained.
"But Master… they will expose your true nature..." Cyn'Thia said worriedly.
"Yes, but as much as I don't like the Captain, they don't deserve to die because they are being manipulated, like everyone else." he explained as the Elf nodded.
The guard platoon approached them, running as fast as they could with their sword drawn. The Captain was shouting:
"There you are, you piece of fucking shit!"
"Sigh... Hello again Sir Jonathan..." Jorael sighed.
"DON'T FUCK WITH ME!
Why did you attack our sacred and beautiful priestess?!
She is a model of integrity and devotion!
What the fuck would he do!?
Ahhhh I know which one ... YOU! "The Captain yelled as he charged with his sword straight at Jorael.
"Yes, a very good model to follow you fools ...
Slow-at-all!" Jorael instantly cast a major multi-target Green Magic spell to slow down the movement speed of the soldiers.
"Wwhhhhaaattt ???" Jonathan screamed in slow motion in surprise.
"Thia, come on, let's do a quick job." Jorael said.
"Aye, aye Master..." the Elf replied as she took the bow and began to knock out the soldiers by hitting them in the neck while they were unable to fight back.
"Yyyooouuu wwwiiillllll pppaaayyy!!!" the Captain said in slow motion as Jorael approached him.
"I'm sorry for this, I hope one day you will open your eyes." He said as he knocked out Jonathan by throwing a powerful punch in his face.
"It's done. Ouch! My arms ..." Cyn'Thia said as she put the bow back on her shoulder, still tired from the previous night.
"Let's go and meet Catherine ..." Jorael said as they started walking again, leaving multiple unconscious soldiers on the ground.
...
A few minutes later, they arrived at the Guild HQ and as usual, Catherine was there at her counter, but this time not with her typical sprightly and energetic face.
"Dark Prince and Silver Arrow ..." she whispered when she saw them enter the hall.
"Good morning Madam Kat!" Cyn'Thia said as she approached the counter.
"Yes ... good morning ..." the secretary replied with a grim expression.
"So, you know...?" Jorael asked.
"I don't know for sure what you did and what I really know anymore, but...
I let my personal interests interfere with my work.
You proved to me that you are not so useless as I initially thought and you helped my dear friend.
But… the guild will be targeted if…" Catherine explained with remorse.
"You don't have to say anything more.
Is there a last mission for us, a mission outside the Empire?" Jorael asked reassuring her.
"Actually, there is ... but ..." she almost replied but suddenly she was interrupted by a female figure who threw open the door behind Catherine and said:
"AH! I was waitin' for someone stupid enough to choose that mission!"
The owner of the voice was a good-looking woman in her twenties, with black hair trimmed in a ponytail and sparkling black eyes. She wore a tight-fitting black leather combat suit that highlighted both her well-endowed shapes and trained muscles.
"Sigh... Would you mind your own business !?" Catherine cried in annoyance, speaking as if she knew the woman very well.
"Uhhh?! Whatcha talkin' 'bout?!" the black-haired woman yelled with a strange accent.
"Shush, shush! Go away, can't you see I'm busy!?" the secretary scolded her.
"Pfffffffff!" the woman sighed very loudly in disappointment and approached Jorael and Cyn'Thia in front of the counter.
"I'm deeply sorry for the scene, but my sister doesn't know when to shut up..." Catherine explained, giving her sister a nasty glare.
"S-sister?! As one of the three Titans!?" both Jorael and Cyn'Thia said in surprise.
"Yo! Kimora here at your service!
How y'all doin'?" She asked still with a strange accent as she bowed playfully.
"Sister, these are Jorael, the Dark Prince, and Cyn'Thia, the Silver Arrow." the secretary explained introducing the two adventurers.
"Oh! I've heard of you two!
Good job, good job... (Sis I dunno who they are!)
Now let's get back to work!
Sis, bring out the contract!" Kimora said, while she furtively whispered something to her sister.
"Sigh... you just got back from months of research.
What do you want to do?!" Catherine asked worriedly.
"Yes, and it was a useless search...
No traces of him…" Kimora whispered, suddenly changing her mood from foul-mouthed to saddened.
"Here it is, Dark Prince." the secretary said while passing to Jorael the contract, that he began to read:
"Quest for veteran or higher ranked adventurers:
Slay the Behemoth
X demands to eliminate the powerful Magical Beast that is harassing his town.
Rewards 750 gold coins.
Warning! To receive the reward from Titans Guild this contract must be signed by the person requesting it."
"A... Behemoth?!" shouted Jorael in shock.
"Ahahah! Yes, it will be fun!" Kimora said laughing.
"Um... by the way, who is X?!" he asked confused.
"The governor of Liberta and the last of the Titans." Catherine answered, revealing the last Titan, and then she spoke again:
"Sis, please reconsider!"
"Nah... I need some exercise.
I've heard Behemoth's horns are tougher than steel, they could be fine raw material for my new daggers!" Kimora said excitedly as she pulled out her weapons hidden behind her back, spinning them frantically in her hands to show her prowess.
"Sigh... even Sir Arnold would face danger with such a powerful monster, please!" Catherine begged in fear for her dear sister, but in reply, Kimora just shook her head in disagreement.
"Catherine, I swear I'll take care of her.
I promise you." Jorael said.
"Are you sure?!" she asked.
"Yes, count on me." he replied.
"I'll have to really count on you, because my sister when she's convinced of something, it's hard to stop her..." she explained.
Jorael walked over to Catherine and whispered making sure no one listened:
"The moment we leave the Guild, cancel our adventurers' status and go report me to the city guard for the murder of Madam Francine."
"Did you... really do it?" Catherine whispered in disbelief.
"Yes."
"And... last night?" she asked again.
"Yes."
"..." she remained silent until Jorael spoke again:
"Daisy will explain everything to you.
Please, go report me. It's to save the guild's face."
"I... I can only do as you say and trust you as Daisy did." she replied saddened.
"Whatcha talkin' 'bout you two?!
Why are you on the verge of cryin', Sis!?" Kimora asked interrupting their conversation.
"Eh... Nothing...
I think a speck of dust has entered my eye..." Catherine whispered lying.
"By the way...
Why does she speak with that accent?" Jorael asked Catherine to divert her sister's attention.
"Oh... it's because she's not from the Empire." revealed the secretary.
"W-wait what?!" Jorael exclaimed.
"Sis, I told ya I'll kill ya if ya say dat shit again!" Kimora yelled strengthening her accent as she quickly pointed her blades at Catherine.
"Yeah, yeah...
I entrust her to you, Dark Prince.
She's hot-headed, impulsive, loud, foul-mouthed, delusional... but she's a good person.
Also, she is afraid of bugs. "The secretary explained.
"I'LL KILL YA'!" Kimora screamed again.
"Well, until the hunt is over, I'll keep an eye on her.
Farewell Catherine, and remember what you have to do." Jorael said as he turned to leave the headquarters.
"Bye Madam Kat..." Cyn'Thia said saddened.
"See ya, Sis..." Kimora nonchalantly said while leaving.
"Farewell adventurers...
For the last time..." Catherine said as she prepared herself to face the city guard.
...
A short time later, just outside the city, they managed to get out safely and were walking on back roads. As they walked Jorael thought:
"Something seems strange... we got out too easily..."
"Why didn't we get some horses?" Kimora said as she walked.
"We... we don't have enough money." Jorael replied.
"Oh, I would have covered for both of us ..." she said nonchalantly.
"No, think of this as a form of exercise..." he joked.
"Ohhhh that's smart!" Kimora commented as Cyn'Thia barely held back her laughter.
"Madam Kimora... your name doesn't sound like a common Human name.
Nonetheless, it is beautiful!" Said the Elf.
"No, no, no, what was dat?!
Madam?! Drop dat shit right now." Kimora said annoyed.
"Oh no, here we go again..." Jorael whispered to himself.
"Anyway, since my stupid Sis has already said it all, I wasn't born here in the Empire but somewhere else.
A place that no longer exists…" Kimora said cryptically.
"A place that no longer exists... Uhm...
What is it, a ruined city or something!?" Cyn'Thia asked interested.
"Sigh ... I barely know both of you, why should I tell you my past !?" Kimora exclaimed in annoyance.
"So sorry Madam Kimora if I asked an inappropriate question..." said the Elf bowing his head.
"STOP WITH DAT SHIT!" Kimora screamed furiously.
"Sigh... a tip for you.
Just pretend you don't hear her use honorifics...
You will avoid some headaches." Jorael advised the Titan.
"What?! Aren't ya her master or somethin'!?
Make her stop her by hook or by crook." Kimora said.
"We don't have that kind of relationship.
I treat her as a person, not as a property." He made it clear.
"Strange. But I appreciate it.
Anyway, why are ya both hidin' with hoods?!
Also, why are we walkin' on back roads through the fields!?" Kimora pointed out when she finally noticed it.
"I guess you don't talk much to your sister...
We are... um... we have to get out of the Empire.
If you don't want problems, we can separate and meet outside..." Jorael explained.
"Ohhhh... I understand.
Is it a love escape!?" Kimora asked as her black eyes widened.
"W-w-haaattt?!" Cyn'Thia screamed.
"Ya know... He's married... but he found the love of his life in his Elven slave...
Y-you have consumed..." Kimora whispered, blushing.
"Did the Master find the love of his life in... me!?" whispered the embarrassed Elf.
"Thia, no, she is imagining things.
You stop reading that kind of book or you will defile her pure Elven soul." said Jorael.
"Oh..." Cyn'Thia realized.
"So, what are ya runnin' from?" Kimora asked curiously.
"The servants of Kalipso." he replied.
"AH! You angered a priest because you made out with the Elf, an infidel!?" Kimora went back to daydreaming.
"But the Master didn't make out with me..." Cyn'Thia whispered embarrassedly.
"Sigh... it will be such a difficult task to get out of the Empire with these two ..." Jorael exclaimed.
...
After wandering for days through fields and woods avoiding the main road, they managed to reach the outskirts of The Gift.
"The people in Teguria have been so nice to us, ya know, givin' away all that food..." Kimora said as she was eating an apple.
"Yes, thanks to Landris they didn't forget when we helped them." Cyn'Thia said smiling.
"Ohhhh... it's storytime for the famous Dark Prince and Silver Arrow!" Kimora begged.
"It was just normal adventurer stuff.
Don't expect crazy things." Jorael said underestimating their actions.
"Master, but you saved a child!" pointed out the Elf.
"A child... the unsung hero Dark Prince, huh?" Kimora joked.
"Normal. Adventurer. Stuff." remarked Jorael annoyed.
"Woahhh... I get it, I get it.
Um... can't we make a little stop at The Gift?!
I need to eat some tasty meat, I'm tired of elven cooking." Kimora asked.
"What's up with my cuisine, Madam Kimora?" Cyn'Thia asked annoyed.
"Stop doin' dat!
The absence of meat, by the way…"
"But we Elves don't eat meat..."
"Well, I do, and sometimes I NEED dat!"
"I don't..."
"BUT I DO!"
As both girls yelled at each other at extremely close range, Jorael shook his head in disappointment and said to calm the waters:
"Sigh... fine.
Let's make a quick stop at The Gift and then go straight to the Wall…"
"Hurray!" Kimora cheered as she leaped into the air with excitement.
Soon after they reached the city, looking for a good tavern.
"It's here!" Kimora cried as she hurriedly ran towards the place.
Both Jorael and Cyn'Thia followed her and entered the tavern to find their companion who was shouting at the counter:
"SERVE US ALL YOUR MEAT DISHES AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!"
Both the Traveler and the Elf sighed and sat discreetly at a table, waiting for the black-haired girl to arrive.
"Yoooo ... you should taste the meat they cook here, it's on another level I tell you!" Kimora exclaimed loudly as she sat down with the others.
"Could you please speak more appropriately?
I mean, without every single person here staring at us?! "Jorael whispered.
"Ohhhhh... yes, the cuckolded nobleman and the lovey-dovey couple who have sinned making out in his house…
Is he here?!" Kimora whispered looking around furtively.
"Sigh... Why did I promise Catherine such a thing..." Jorael sighed.
A few minutes passed and the waiters served the whole meat menu at the adventurer's table. The dishes were filled with pork, venison, beef, poultry, cooked on the grill or stewed or boiled or fried. It was such a feast for Kimora's eyes that she threw herself immediately down to eat as soon as the last dish was served.
"Chomp... Ya should taste dis!" Kimora could barely speak with her mouth full of food.
As Cyn'Thia stared at her in disappointment, Jorael did not refuse and said:
"Well... it will be a waste if I don't taste just a little."
...
After eating everything, they left the tavern with their bellies full and headed for the Wall.
"Ahh... dat was good!
A tasty meal before headin' out into the wilderness! "Kimora enthusiastically said as she walked down the street, but Jorael heard something strange.
"Master, have you eaten too much, and do you have a tummy ache?" Cyn'Thia asked noticing that Jorael was acting strangely.
"No... It's…
Watch out!" he suddenly yelled at the black-haired girl, but didn't make it in time to warn her.
A horned whip unexpectedly snapped and grabbed Kimora by her neck, strangling her in a lethal grip.
"Ughhh... what the fuck...?!" Kimora barely whispered almost unable to breathe.
Jorael and Cyn'Thia quickly turned to see who was attacking the Titan:
She was a masked woman, wearing a pink cloak and a hood that covered her body and head, with a metal mask adorned with roses.
"This bitch... I knew it..." Kimora said, freeing herself from the strangulation.
"Well, well, would you look at that...
Kimora the Silent Blade. Not so quiet with your rather loud mouth.
Why are you still coming to my city, do you have a death wish or something?" The woman asked arrogantly.
"I do what the fuck I want and I wanted to have a decent meal." Kimora said as she pulled her daggers out of her back.
"Um... didn't we say we'll avoid trouble!?" Jorael asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Kimora replied smiling.
"You really want to die, foreigner." the woman said as she began to furiously attack Kimora with her whip.
Her blows were so fast that they were very difficult to see with the naked eye, but Kimora avoided them all nimbly by doing acrobatic jumps and approaching her enemy.
"What great agility!" Jorael commented surprised.
"So, you can only jump!?
Taste my thorns!" The woman exclaimed, further accelerating her attacks.
"You are such a pain in the ass.
Rose, let the past be past." Kimora said in annoyance as she too accelerated and kept dodging blows.
"You must be punished for your insolence and your behavior.
I will not tolerate any more of this." Rose said furiously.
When Kimora got close enough, she was ready to sprint and land a hit with her daggers, but Rose anticipated her and enchanted a Red Magic spell:
"For the glory of Her who created everything, I enchant Slow!"
The spell was successful and slowed Kimora, who could no longer dodge blows due to her slow speed movements.
"Ughhh ... ttthhhiiiisss bbbiiitttccchhh !!!" she screamed in slow motion as she was hit by multiple whiplashes.
"Master, we should help her!" Cyn'Thia.
"Of course, please shoot that woman some arrows to get her attention, I'll take care of Kimora." Jorael said confidently.
As soon as he spoke, Cyn'Thia charged her bow and began shooting arrows at the woman, but with her whip, she managed to defend herself by breaking the arrows in midair.
"Who dares to behave so impertinently against a Flower?!
A friend of that stranger I suppose..." Rose exclaimed annoyed.
Meanwhile, the woman was busy, Jorael enchanted by pretending to use the formulas of Red Magic first Esna to remove the slowed movements from Kimora, then increased her speed by casting Haste.
"W-what the fuck?!" she commented surprised.
"Now you should be able to defeat her without much effort, I think." Jorael whispered.
"WOAH!" Kimora exclaimed surprised by her own speed as she approached the woman.
"W-what did her mate do to her?!" Rose exclaimed in shock as she was unable to hit her enemy.
"Now let's see how ya defend yourself from this..." Kimora whispered as she was about to inflict a blow on the woman, who was unable to react in time due to the speed of the Titan.
Kimora hit the woman's stomach with her powerful elbow, and she fell to the ground on her knees in pain.
"Ughhh... such strength, it equals your insolence..." Rose whispered painfully.
"Shut up now, ya loser!
Would ya leave us alone already!?" Kimora asked, pointing the blade at the woman's neck.
"For now... next time I won't be so merciful.
Remember this." Rose threatened.
"Ah! We'll see...
Come on let's go!" Kimora said as she turned to leave the scene.
"Master!?" Cyn'Thia asked worriedly.
"... Let's go." he replied, following Kimora.
They left Rose behind them and headed for the Wall. Shortly thereafter, they were already leaving The Gift, passing by back roads in the middle of fields.
"We have been lucky.
I don't know how she didn't notice us…" Jorael whispered as he walked.
"Maybe... the news hasn't arrived here yet..." Cyn'Thia replied.
"It's because dat bitch was too focused on me." Kimora exclaimed.
"By the way, why that woman was so angry with you?" Jorael asked.
"Some time ago we met in the same tavern where we ate earlier.
I accidentally spilled broth on her, ruinin' her stupid pink coat.
Then ya know, things got heated and we fought." Kimora explained.
"Good. Don't explain anymore." Jorael replied.
"What do ya mean?" she asked confused.
"Nothing. Let's just walk." he said, rejecting the question.
Kimora sighed, shook her head, and just said:
"Y'all Humans from the Empire are weird…"