A few days of walking on secondary roads through fields and woods passed, and they found themselves in front of the Wall. Jorael checked from a distance what the situation was at the gate, but apparently, nothing relevant caught his eye.
"There's just the usual guard surveillance, no other people around. Weird..." He said.
"Woah! You have hawk eyesight, Dark Prince!" Kimora said praising him.
"Master, will it be safe to pass by the gate?" Cyn'Thia asked worriedly.
"It's the only way... and if problems arise, I'll take care of them." He replied.
As the three companions approached the gate, they noticed that there were only two soldiers on guard on the inner side of the Wall.
"How strange... one would expect strengthened controls and defenses after Rivella's events..." Jorael thought as he walked.
When they got close enough to the guards, they shouted:
"HALT!
By order of His Highness the Emperor, no one can leave the Empire!"
"What about the adventurer stuff?" Jorael asked, showing the guild contract.
A guard took the paper and after reading it he said:
"No exception!
Even if the Governor of Liberta needs help...
Leave, now!"
"Sigh… sorry." Jorael said while he suddenly punched the soldier's face, knocking him out.
"A-are you crazy!?" in a panic he asked the other guard.
"Charm..." Jorael whispered, hypnotizing the soldier before he started a fuss and alarmed the other guards in the barracks.
"Dark Prince... You're so rough..." Kimora said mocking him.
"Shush!
...Now guard:
You will go inside and tell your companions to open the gate because we have urgent business outside the Empire. "Jorael ordered.
"Mmm..." the guard muttered as he slowly approached the entrance to the gate mechanism room.
"Quick! Let's hide the other guard somewhere!" Jorael said as they grabbed the unconscious soldier and hid him behind a wall.
"What was dat!? Why did he listen to your orders?!
Is this the result of chatting with the charming Dark Prince?!" Kimora exclaimed.
"Shut. Up." he answered harshly as she sighed in annoyance.
After a while, the gate began to open, and soon, they could have left the Empire. But Jorael began to feel something strange building inside of him:
"Shit... not now... Hunger..."
"Hey Dark Prince!
what's the matter, still hungry, huh?" Kimora said after listening to him, but he started slowly approaching her moving oddly. Soon enough, he started sniffing at her, getting closer to her body.
"Yo, what the fuck ya doin'?!
You're creepin' me out!
Is the Elf not enough for ya, uh!?" Kimora said, surprisingly maintaining her position and not backing away, while he began to smell her starting from her belly, going up to her breasts, and positioning himself on her neck.
"Sigh... Master...
SNAP OUT OF IT!" Suddenly Cyn'Thia screamed as she slapped Jorael hard in his face, waking him from the trance.
"Shit... I can't use it anymore..." Jorael whispered as he regained his sanity.
"Yo, now I think I know why ya are bein' chased..." Kimora said.
"I do not want to hear it." He said.
"Ya were someone's lover, right?!
Some noblewoman of some important House, then her husband discovered the relationship... and then, you are fucked!" Kimora daydreamed.
"Madam Kimora, please stop harassing the Master!" Cyn'Thia said.
"Will ya stop with dat shit already?!" Kimora said annoyed.
"Enough! The gate is opening.
There are guards on the other side as well and a garrison nearby.
Let's go..." Jorael said.
"Duh, you're the one who started it all..." Kimora pointed out.
The three passed through the Wall and showed the guild contract to the other soldiers guarding the Empire's entrance. A guard read the paper and said:
"I don't know why they let you through, but if the governor of Liberta needs help, maybe it's an emergency."
"Yeah, see ya." Kimora said as they finally began to move away from the Empire.
The Wall was slowly disappearing behind their backs, becoming smaller every step they took up the dirt road. The scenery changed, and a vast green land was in front of them: Fasted Plains.
"So... Why did ya start smellin' me?
I'm suddenly so irresistible to you?!" Kimora asked, moved by curiosity.
"Er... I'll tell you if we can take down the Behemoth.
Deal?" Jorael replied.
"Woah, now the hunt is even more interesting!" she said smiling.
...
After a few hours of travel, Jorael saw a carriage in front of them from afar.
"Strange, it doesn't move at all." he commented.
As they got closer, they understood why. The people in the carriage were being attacked by a large pack of Wargs.
"How many beasts!
Sounds like fun!" Kimora said excitedly as she started running towards the monsters.
As they approached, they managed to see a man fighting alone among five Warg wolves. He was screaming furiously as he attacked with his heavy double ax:
"Die son of a Brutynrnmandyrm!"
Everyone was left speechless, as some of the man's words made no sense and he was speaking with a strange accent, and with the final blow of the ax he killed a Warg with a flash of light.
"Well, I don't understand everything he's saying, but let's help him!" Jorael said to Cyn'Thia as they pulled out their weapons and Kimora began assisting the man by killing some Wargs with some of her acrobatic maneuvers.
Arrows began flying from the Elf's bow, hitting the monsters in their heads, and Jorael arrived with Crimson Justice to kill the last Warg surrounding the man.
"Oh... thanks Humans for helping me, but the battle isn't over!" the man said pointing to the carriage ahead because a Warg was harassing someone hiding in it, trying to eat him.
"It's mine." Kimora said while she ran towards the beast to kill it, but an arrow flew just near her head and by flying faster than the running Titan, it hit the Warg killing it.
"Elf! I told ya it was mine!" Kimora screamed in annoyance as Cyn'Thia waved back at her.
"Thanks for helping us, Humans." said the man with the ax in his hands.
Now that Jorael could see him clearly as the battle ended, he realized that the man was about the height of a 10-year-old boy, but with a thick red beard that reached his belly, red hair, and brown eyes. At first glance, he looked fat, but in truth, he wasn't because he was stocky and strong.
"Ah! Let's check if the guy in the carriage is still alive ..." the man said in a happy tone.
When everyone approached the carriage, a voice was heard:
"Huff... thanks to Kalipso we did it!"
A man came out of his hiding place and got out of the carriage. He spoke as soon as he left:
"Jorael!?"
"Jacque?!"
"Oh! I'm more than happy to see you again, also ... thanks for saving us!" said the traveling merchant.
"It's nothing.
The most important thing is that both of you are okay now." said Jorael.
"What am I looking at?!
Are you the silent blade!? "Jacque exclaimed recognizing the Titan.
"In flesh and blood." Kimora replied.
"and... a beautiful Elf!
I know that Jorael would have climbed the ranks of the guild! "Said the merchant smiling.
"I see you changed your bodyguard..." Jorael commented.
"Unfortunately, they are no longer with us, as this is the third attack by packs of Wargs.
There are a lot of Magic Beasts inexplicably lately on the plains as if they were migrating.
Oh, by the way, he's not my guard, he's..." Jacque was explaining, but then the other man finished his sentence:
"Bromur Bramirson, from Myordyr."
"Oh, so you're a Dwarf!" Jorael said.
"As your friend said: in flesh and blood. Ah ah ah!" Bromur said laughing loudly.
"F-friend!?" Cyn'Thia whispered.
"So, where are you heading, Jorael?" the merchant asked.
"Liberta."
"Oh, we came from there ... we're going to the Empire." Jacque said.
"You won't be able to enter now, access is closed." Jorael said.
"What why?" asked the merchant.
"The High Temple of Rivella has been attacked and it seems they are preparing for war against the Demons..." Jorael explained.
"Oh, my Goddess... And now?!" Jacque asked surprised.
"Either go back or wait in front of the gate..." Jorael replied.
"Oh no! I'll make sure to go back with you all to Liberta if you want to come with me. What about you, Dwarf?" the merchant asked.
"It seems that Flemest is putting a little bit of trouble in my path... I'll go back with you all to Liberta and have a beer. Ha ha ha!" Bromur laughed.
"Dwarves..." Cyn'Thia commented in a contemptuous tone.
"Okay for me. What do you think Kimora?" Jorael asked.
"It's okay if she leaves the Magical Beasts to me.
Got it, Elf?!" Emphasized Kimora.
"Yes, Madam Kimora..." she whispered.
"Again, pullin' dat shit!?" Kimora exclaimed in annoyance.
"Ha ha ha! What a wild spirit! I like her!" Bromur said laughing.
"Sigh... I don't know why this is getting harder by the day.
By the way, where are the horses?" Jorael asked.
"They escaped. If you could please find them..." Jacque said.
"No problem, we'll look for them right away.
Thia, let's go." Jorael said walking away from the carriage.
...
After finding the horses, they started traveling north towards Liberta. They were near a river at dusk when Jorael said:
"We should camp here by the river."
"I agree, some freshwater would be nice." Jacque said, stopping the horses.
Therefore, they camped near the river bank and lit a bonfire to cook dinner. While Cyn'Thia was eating fruit, Kimora and Bromur were heatedly discussing how to properly cook Warg's meat:
"Human! Listen to me! You have to add these spices before you cook it, so they get into the meat and it becomes wonderful!"
"No Dwarf, shut up, wait until it's done."
"But the flavor!"
"What ya are suggestin' will spoil the meat, becomin' so spicy that ya will have to drink the whole river."
"This is the way of the Dwarves! Ha ha ha!"
"Nah just shut up!"
The Elf who witnessed the scene shook her head in disappointment, and then asked:
"Master, are you all right?"
"Yes, it's all right..." he replied.
"No, it's not.
Your hunger... won't stop?" She asked worriedly.
"I do not know what to do...
I will no longer use my... ability. "He replied.
"Don't worry Master, I'll be with you if it happens again." she said with a heartfelt smile.
"Thanks again Thia for your kindness..." he replied.
"IT'S READY!" Kimora suddenly shouted signaling dinner time, as everyone but the Elf gathered to eat.
...
After a satisfying dinner, everyone gathered around the bonfire and Bromur was talking:
"... and that's how a Jamurnbrundur is cooked! Ha ha ha!"
"That was quite... interesting." Jorael and Jacque both said politely.
"Dwarves... they cook anything that moves..." Cyn'Thia commented annoyed.
"Ah! You Elves live forever without ever wanting to taste any meat! Unforgivable!" pointed out the Dwarf.
"We do not live forever." the Elf commented again.
"H-how so?!" Bromur exclaimed in surprise.
"Elves have a very long life, but they are not immortal." Jorael explained.
"I... I didn't know." Kimora whispered.
"Ha ha ha! So, you're not some millennia-old hag!?" the Dwarf asked laughing.
"H-hag?! I'm only... 126 years old..." Cyn'Thia whispered shyly, while everyone except Jorael was amazed.
"Y-you are exactly three times my age..." Bromur commented.
"Shut up Dwarf!
You and your race are born from the earth like mushrooms! "The Elf exclaimed with conviction.
"W-what?! This false myth spread by the Elves again?!
We breed like all other breeds!
Do you know how it works or..." Bromur yelled.
"I KNOW!" Cyn'Thia yelled confidently, immediately sinking in embarrassment.
"Of course she knows, can't ya see she's a slave?
I bet her naughty master makes her do dis and dat... ya know." Kimora whispered, making strange signs with her hands.
"ENOUGH!" suddenly shouted Jorael, while Jacque was speechless.
"Can we have a proper conversation?
If not, let's just sleep." said Jorael annoyed.
"Um... what are you going to do in Liberta, if I may ask..." Jacque asked.
"We have a guild contract required by the governor of Liberta. We have to hunt a..." Jorael was saying before Kimora finished the sentence with fiery eyes and a smirk:
"Behemoth."
"Be-behemoth?!" both the Dwarf and the merchant exclaimed surprised.
"Ya heard it well. And the horns are MINE!" Kimora remarked.
"I heard their meat is so tasty..." Bromur whispered.
"Here we go again..." Jorael whispered.
"But hey, adventurers, are you three enough to take out one?" Jacque asked.
"I hope so.
They are gigantic monsters with the appearance of a lizard mixed bull with a size of ten to fifteen mels that prey on other, smaller magical beasts.
Their skin is purple and their horns are shiny black. They have deadly fangs and claws, combined with monstrous strength and the ability to even cast Magic.
Their habitat is usually the center of the Dark Forest, but... to ask us to kill one, I wonder where it was sighted." Jorael explained in detail as everyone listened mesmerized.
"Ah! What did you eat, a Magic Beasts bestiary or something ?! ha ha ha!" Bromur laughed.
"Dwarf, it is a must to be well informed about your prey." Kimora said.
"Ohhhh then let me make a request...
Let me join your hunt, I won't let you down.
I also don't care about the reward of humans.
I just want to taste Behemoth meat. Ha ha ha!" Bromur asked.
"No." Cyn'Thia utterly rejected.
"Um... I won't stop you if Kimora agrees." Jorael said.
"No problem, but the horns are MINE!" she answered.
"Ha ha ha! And what do you need these horns for?" asked the dwarf.
"I need better daggers because they keep breakin'.
I'll take 'em to Ercante, he said maybe he can do something worthy with those horns…" Kimora explained.
"Behemoth's horns are said to be harder than steel. Are you sure a Human blacksmith can handle them?" Bromur asked.
"He's the best in the whole Empire." She answered confidently.
"Yes, but is it the best in the world?
We Myordir are the most skilled blacksmiths in the entire Dwarven Federation, and our forging skills are far superior to those of a Human.
Give me the horns, I won't let you down." Bromur explained with even greater confidence.
"We'll see..." Kimora whispered doubtfully.
"That reminds me, your weapon Bromur, I think I saw lightning coming out of it when you hit the Wargs.
How is it possible?" Jorael asked curiously.
"Forseti it's her name, and she has been enhanced by the Fafnorgands, they're experts in Alchemy.
They added an Elektro Rune to her." the Dwarf explained as Jorael's eyes lit up with wonder and asked again:
"That's great! So, when you hit a target with your ax, do you get lightning ?!"
"Forseti is her name... and the chances of emitting lightning from the Rune are slim, but it does happen from time to time." Bromur explained.
"Got it. How do you make a Rune?!" inquired Jorael curiously.
"Ah! It's something beyond my knowledge as a blacksmith.
I've heard some rumors that you need Magic Beast blood or flesh or something..." Bromur said uncertainly.
"Oh, fine.
Maybe one day we will go to Fafnorgand and meet the Alchemists..." the Traveler whispered.
"Ah! Then you better prepare a large sum of gold Human, because their work is quite expensive! Ha ha ha!
Hey, do you know what would be great now?" Bromur asked as Jorael remained silent as he did not know what he meant. Then the Dwarf replied:
"Double malt beer from my house!"
"Dwarves..." Cyn'Thia whispered in disappointment.
...
They spent the next few days traveling to Liberta, but Magic Beasts' attacks did not stop. Wargs and even Cockatrices inexplicably invaded the northern area of the Fasted Plains.
Finally, they came to Liberta, a city that served as a reference point for adventurers, merchants, and slavers. Its position ensured faster exchanges with the Dwarven Federation, access to the Dark Forest, and ultimately raids into the Demon Kingdom to kidnap their people and reduce them to chains. As they looked out at their horizon, they could see the wooden walls of the city, built on the muddy ground.
Cyn'Thia while staring at the walls sighed and whispered as she walked:
"Mud City, here we go again..."
"Have you come here yet?" Jorael asked.
"Yes ... After they took me, they brought me here first. And then to the Empire, and then I met you." she explained recalling past events.
"Ah! This raises a question...
Why has the proud elven race been reduced to this, even becoming a slave to humans?" Bromur asked suddenly.
"I do not know." whispered Cyn'Thia.
"They shut themselves upon their island. That's why.
Now the few Elves who are on the continent become prey to the slavers.
The Elven Realm no longer has connections with the outside, so the Elves of the continent are on their own." Explained Jacque.
"Oh... Such misfortune." Bromur commented.
"Dwarf, I don't care because my Master is ...
Nice and kind. "Cyn'Thia replied.
"She said dis, but she is at the mercy of her master who makes her do naughty things... ya know..." Kimora daydreamed.
"STOP SPREADING YOUR DELUSIONS!
You make me want to break my promise to your sister…" Jorael shouted.
"Umpf..." Kimora muttered in annoyance.
"Aaand we have arrived!" Jacque exclaimed as they were basically at the gate of the town.
Some guards guarded the walls, but they were not soldiers of the Empire. They looked like adventurers or mercenaries.
"Halt! Who are you?" shouted a guard.
"I'm the traveling merchant Jacque and my friend Bromur. We left here a few days ago.
Along the way, we met three adventurers..." Jacque said before being interrupted by Kimora who screamed:
"Would ya open this fuckin' gate already or what?!"
"SHIT! Silent Blade!
Open the gate soon!" Shouted the concerned guard.
The gate opened as soon as the guard shouted, and the travelers were finally able to enter the city.
"Ah! Quite the fame you have, Human..." Bromur exclaimed.
"X better prepare a decent amount of food ..." Kimora whispered as she walked through the gate.
"F-food?! Will there be a banquet?!" muttered the excited dwarf as he followed the Human.
They all entered the city, and as he walked the muddy streets, Jorael saw Liberta for the first time:
Tough adventurers, sketchy merchants, thugs, and slavers filled the streets. The city seemed like a free haven for those who could not adapt or run their shady business in the Empire. Lots of metal cages were left scattered here and there with slaves imprisoned in them, begging for their freedom, crying, or even dying from bad conditions.
"Thia... did you go through this?" Jorael asked.
"...Yes." she replied with a depressing face.
Walking through the tears and blood of the slaves, they suddenly heard a young female voice begging for help, screaming in agony.
"I TOLD YOU ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, SHUT THE FUCK UP!" shouted a man inside the cage with a Demon girl with broken legs.
"Please... I'm hungry... it hurts..." the girl in chains whispered painfully.
"SHUT UP!" The slaver screamed as he punched the girl on her stomach making her near pass out.
"Stop!" shouted Jorael as he approached the scene.
"The fuck you want?" the man asked annoyedly.
"Here, I'll give you an apple for her..." Jorael said passing an apple to the man.
"Thanks boy, I was hungry." the slaver answered as he bit the apple.
"What. Are. You. Doing." Jorael murmured as he clenched his fists in anger.
"The fuck you want boy, keep walking, why do you care?
Are you into this Demon shit?!
Buy her, fuck her raw as much as you want..." the man said annoyed.
Jorael didn't hesitate to draw Crimson Justice, only to be stopped by Kimora who stepped in and said:
"Slaver, if he said to give her an apple, give her a damn apple!"
"S-silent Blade!?...
Yes... here's the apple." The slaver whispered in fright as he passed the apple to the Demon.
"Let's go." Kimora ordered by pulling Jorael by his shirt dragging him away.
When they were far enough away, she explained:
"I don't know why ya Dark Prince get turned on by slaves, but I suggest ya keep your mouth shut!
The slavers are under X's protection, don't mess with 'em."
"What? Why are slavers under the protection of one of the Titans?" he asked confused.
"Why ya are so naïve…
They pay X to do their business and for protection, so that the Guild can support itself.
It's not something I like too, but it's been like dat for a while." She explained.
"...
This shit needs to be stopped." he affirmed.
"You remind me of him..." Kimora said whilst smiling.
"He who?" Cyn'Thia asked.
"Nothin'... let's go meet X." Kimora said walking away.
After a while, they arrived in the muddy square where the Governor's residence was amid few inns with some prostitutes advertising by flashing their breasts out and merchants' association.
"It seems our journey together ends here.
I'm going to meet the other merchants.
Good luck with your hunt!" Jacque said leaving the group.
After everyone saluted the merchant, they arrived at the entrance of X's residence which were guarded by two guards.
"What business do you have with the Governor?" one of the guards asked.
"A Guild business. The hunt for a Behemoth." Kimora specified.
"O ... the Governor was anxious for someone to confront that monster!
You can come in…" the guard said as he opened the door.
"X! We're here!" Kimora yelled while she entered as first the building.
...
Meanwhile in an unknown room of the High Temple of Rivella:
"Why the fuck did you let that miserable bastard go?!
We knew where he was, in that freakshow of an inn with that devious owner...
Just why?! "Angela asked furiously.
"Higher orders. It seems he has a plan for him."
"But he ruined my meal!
and he dared to burn me almost killing me! "she exclaimed furiously.
"Just wait..."
"It took me days to regenerate!
I've been force-fed any kind of flesh and blood... the very thought makes me sick.
Power! I need more power!
Can't you tell him to give me more power so I can crush that insolent one? "She asked.
"Go ask yourself..."
"Please! Given your connection with him...
If I go to ask directly, he will rape me and use me like all the other times.
and then... he won't even listen.
I'm tired of sucking his rotten old..." she said before being interrupted:
"Sigh... I get the picture.
I will try to intercede."