Mayari slowly opened her eyes, the sleeping spell haven't fully ware off. Her hair was a mess, she reached her hand to remove the hair that was covering half of her sight but a metal sound suddenly clang. She looked at her side to find that both of her hands are restricted by chains, and it wasn't just any ordinary chains, it was glowing a dark violet color, it's enchanted.
To all things that can be used as a restriction, Mayari truly hate chains, she can't easily break away from it and it is very noisy in every move you took.
"Damn it" she cursed under her breath as she moved the chain closer in her sight.
"You awake?" Mayari instantly look ahead to see Jim towering her.
"What do you want, Jim?" she asked coldly.
There was a hint of surprise in Jim's face before he soon realized; "I guess the knights and investigators have found out about me," he crouched in her level, "is that right, May?" he asked with a smile.
"Who sent you?" She asked.
"No one..." he simply replied, "I snatched you on my own accord"
"Why exactly?" Mayari asked in disbelief.
"Fine, if you don't believe me, I just need my 'pay back' moment and we're done" he stood up, "I'll let you rest for a moment till the sleeping spell wore off, and don't you dare think of escaping those chains are enchanted, just save your energy" with that he exited the room.
The room was old and dusty, the green, mossy wallpapers are peeling off, the floor is also mossy with filthy little creatures popping in and out in each holes, it's disgusting more disgusting than cockroaches in her world. The windows are nailed with wooden planks, and the room is dimly lit by a single torch hanging in the wall next to the door.
Mayari look over to the nailed window, she stood up and walk closer. Luckily, the chains are long enough to let her have a peek to the small aperture between the two wooden planks.
She can see through the opening that it was dark and snowy outside with trees surrounding the house. She then knew that crying for help isn't gonna help her at all and nor she will do that.
She sat back and thought harder, finding a way to escape.
---
Minutes later the door suddenly flung open.
"Times up" Jim came in, holding two set of keys, "Don't fight or you'll regret it" he said crouching to unlock Mayari.
As soon as he unlocked Mayari, he suddenly felt pain in his abdomen as Mayari let out a blow.
"You bitch" he cursed in pain. Her punch felt like a heavy rock despite her thin arm.
Mayari then seize the moment of Jim's pain, if you thought that she's gonna run away like most girls do if their kidnapped then you're wrong, she quickly shove Jim in the floor, hold both of his hands, took the knife from his pocket and stabbed it on the floor, near to his neck.
"I'll asked you one last time, who sent you?" she asked again, threatening Jim with the knife.
Jim struggled trying to free himself from Mayari's gripped but she is incredible strong even she is using one hand to hold two of his, "I already told you May, I kidnapped you to my own accord"
Mayari pause for a moment staring right through his eyes, he isn't lying, "Then why?"
"Revenge of course" he honestly replied with a smirk, "I can't let my reputation get ruined, being defeated by a girl. Call me prideful and self-centered but that's the way I am"
Mayari gave him a cold stare before she responded; "Then you should have killed me while I was unconscious..." Mayari pulled the knife from the floor and raised it above, aiming at Jim's head.
When suddenly the door opened, and an enchanted chains were instantly wrapped around Mayari, causing her to accidentally dropped the knife in the process.
Mayari look at her back and saw a tall man with broad arms, he isn't a merman or an elf, he's human, "Are you alright, Jim?" the man asked as Jim stood up and picked the knife.
Jim place the knife back in his pocket and gestured the man to make Mayari stand.
The man obediently obeyed and pulled Mayari in her feet, in just a second Jim gave a blow to Mayari's stomach.
He pictured Mayari's face that is in pain and smiled in satisfaction. He pulled back to personally see her reaction, but he was stunned when he saw her face was the same, cold as stone, She didn't even flinched. His smirk instantly vanished.
"What!? You thought that punch of yours could pain me? Tch, that's even weaker than father's" She snapped.
"You want pain? I'll show you pain" he spat, and was about to give another blow, but the man stopped her.
"Jim, that's enough, we can't give the 'package' any injuries or the boss will surely turn down the offer" the man said.
Jim inhaled sharply, cooling off. The mentioning of the 'package' triggered Mayari, she instanty knew what they meant.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, about my 'pay back time' it's you being sold and the money being mine" Jim informed with an evil grin while Mayari stayed silent, "Sure you are not a beauty and all but you've got those cool skills that can be very useful. It's up to them how to tame you though, maybe they'll make you wear a metal collar or chains like a slave" he said laughing.
The man lead them out of the room, she knows the man is stronger than her so there is no point of struggling, the chains are restricting her not just from running away or using her hands but also from using magic, she knows that in this times she needs to think smart.
'I'm the organization's slave before, and I won't let that happen again, I am no one's belonging' she thought as she eyed every corner of the dimly lit hallway trying to figure out a plan to escape while they are walking.
'In needs I shall lend you my strength, my beloved mistress' a deep, anonymous voice suddenly told her. Even though the voice has no specific characteristic, Mayari knew who it came from.
She looked around, then saw the mask hanging on a door ahead. Looks like the mask followed her, she's pretty sure the paper bag, where it was kept last time, slipped from her hand as she fell unconscious.
As they walk nearer to the mask, Mayari then spun greeting the man with a heavy kick in his neck, the man usually don't get affected from these lady-like attacks but this time he was astonish that he fell out of balance and loose the gripped of the chain.
He grumbled in pain, while Mayari ran as quickly as she could towards the mask. Jim tried to grab the chain when the man collapsed but he failed.
When Mayari finaly reached the mask location, she paused, her back facing them. Jim also stopped and sense that Mayari is planning something, he knows he can't underestimate this woman. The man caught up with them heaving in anger of how much the pain felt in his neck.
The man walked closer to Mayari, cracking his fist, "Your gonna pay for that bitch!" he spat.
"Hey! bulky, stay away from her... she's planning something" Jim warned but he didn't listen.
"What could a defenseless bitch can do in her state? she's gonna pay a lot for what she did"
Mayari turned around, the chains is still around her, and the man stopped in his tracks... then laughed, "What kind of a trick are you playing at?" he continued to laugh even harder, "How could that funny looking mask you wearing could do, bitch? Have you thought this through?" he was laughing hysterically.
Jim didn't laugh, as much as he wants to he can't bring himself to do so, something felt very off about the mask.
Suddenly, thorns begun to grow from the floor surrounding Mayari. The enchanted chains may restrict Mayari from using magic but it can't restrict the mask's since it is not bind to it. The man's laugh instantly vanished, and their eyes widened.
In just a minute, the thorns retreated, revealing a strange, furry, four-legged creature. It has sharp teeth and claws, its fur are as black as the night from its head to its tail. It's eyes are henna brown and it holds blankness.
Yes, it's a wolf, but wolves don't exist in their world so this majestic creature is new and an alien to them.
"What the heck is that!? Did she just!" the man exclaimed.
"This is not looking good..." Jim commented, furrowing his eyebrows.
Mayari slid out of the chain, and growled directly to them, that made the two flinched.
"Ahhh..." gathering all of his courage, the man attacked the wolf with its bare fist, but failed to lend a blow as the wolf dodge.
Jim from behind fired arrows, but also missed, the wolf is to fast even faster than Mayari's true speed.
The man released another blow, Mayari dodge his attack again. Seizing the opportunity of the man's opening, she climbed the into his broad arm and bit the ma neck. Jim released another arrow but ended up hitting the man's arm. Crimson fluid instantly burst out of the man's neck and he screamed in agony, shaking off the wolf as she dig her razor-sharp teeth deeper into his neck.
Jim can's concentrate at all, the man's rapid movement is making the wolf hard to shot, the man even knocked out a few torches in the process, starting a fire.
---
A minute later, he collapsed to the floor blood are still dripping out from his neck, painting the floor red and bathing the lifeless man upon it.
The wolf retreated its bite after securing the man was dead, she turned to Jim who was pulling the arrow in his bow. His eyebrows are knitted together, his eyes hold irritation and disgust... and a hint of fear is visible.
The wolfs mouth are covered with claret fluid and her eyes still holds nothingness but her aura is releasing danger.
Jim, with no hesitation, fired arrows directly to Mayari but with just a spin and a whip of her tail, a strong force suddenly forced the arrows back to its owner.
An arrow stabbed Jim's leg and shoulder, and three others wounded his stomach making him vomit blood and stumble to the floor.
The cold temperature started to heat up, fire from the torches have grown, engulfing the old, broken house into a blazing cinder. Other structure even collapsed as the fierce flames fed the dead wood.
Mayari notice the house falling apart in flame, she needs to escape, she turned and ran as fast as she could finding an exit.
When she finally found one, she suddenly paused.
'What's the matter? The house will soon be ashes, you need to leave now and preserve your life' the mask spoke but Mayari didn't reply, and just stayed silent.
Then she looked back.
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Jim is heavily wounded, he can't stand up to his feet. He tried standing up though but ended up vomiting more blood.
He leaned to the wall, trying to suppress the pain he is in. He is not ready to die yet but with the fiery fire around him and the arrows stuck in his body, hope is nowhere to be found.
He sat still on the floor, staring directly at the raging red flower in front of him that's about to devour him soon. It even started to gobble the fresh corpse of the bulky man, turning it into a coal-black ember beneath its fierceness.
Hope is lost, he begun accepting his faith, that is for the best for him than to hope that he would survive which is impossible with the mighty flames as the foe.
Suddenly something caught Jim's eyes, just behind a blazing wall of fire a shadow appeared. It grew bigger and bigger, like it is coming towards him.
Till the strange, unknown creature jumped through the fire.
It walked towards him, and he stared in silence and confusion. Scarlet fluid stained its shiny, black fur and its eyes still holds nothing. After it paused, bushes of thorns started growing from the floor, just like before, and surrounded the creature.
When the thorns recoiled, Mayari had already shifted to her original form, towering in front of Jim. Blood are still in her crimson dress and lips. She looked like a vampire in flames if you think about it. She reached her wrist to wipe the scarlet fluid using her sleeve. She stared for a second at the blood and turned back to Jim.
Jim watched in astonishment, people usually get scared or watch the blood in disgust specially if it's in their mouth. But this girl is different her eyes hold no judgement or aversion towards the blood that is not even hers. That made Jim wonder; Who is this person? What secrets that she holds?
Mayari knelt down to his level and pulled the arrow from his leg. Jim groaned in pain; "What the hell are you doing!?" he was about to push Mayari away but Mayari caught her hand.
"You're not blind" Mayari simply replied, releasing his hand.
"I don't need your help! I-" he groaned once again as Mayari pulled the other arrow from his shoulder.
"Yes, you do, you're already dying"
"Do you have a short-term memory lost or something? Didn't you heard what I almost do to yo-" he groaned again, a louder one as Mayari pulled the remaining arrows at once, "Cut it out, would you?" he inhaled sharply through his teeth.
"Even of how much I wanted you dead, I need answers" Mayari told.
At these moments Jim's eyes widened in surprise. He saw, deep through her cold, dead eyes there is a light of sincerity and kindness, it's vague and unclear but it is there glowing faintly.
"You have other reasons" the words spilled out of Jim's mouth before he could stop it.
"I have only one reason" Mayari responded, but Jim can somehow sense that she is lying.
Mayari ripped off half of her red skirt, revealing her black stocking. She tore the cloth to pieces and tie it to Jim's wounds to lessen the bleeding.
"Hey! If you want us to get out of here alive then worry about my wounds later, this house will soon be a bonfire, we need to go right now" Jim suggested, as Mayari was tying the cloth in his wounded leg.
The fire grew more bigger and closer to their location, and that isn't good.
"The fire is not a hindrance" Mayari calmly replied, moving on to Jim's wounded shoulder.
"What do you mean 'not a hindrance'? It will surely eat us sooner or later, May" Jim yelled, "We need to go right..." he trialed off, as his eyes widened once again in surprise.
In just a blink of an eye the hallway was suddenly filled with cold, glistering ice. There are still fire ahead but the chance of spreading in their location is distance away from happening.
"Did you do this?" Jim asked.
Mayari didn't answer but she did reply; "If you fear fire you should have freeze the hallway way last minute ago" Mayari coldly replied moving on to Jim's wounded abdomen.
"Guess they didn't tell you the full detail about me. For your knowledge, May, I'm not officially a magic user, I'm only an enchanter" Jim informed, "I need my bow to cast a spell but my bow got burned-" he groaned once again as Mayari tighten the tied cloth on Jim's stomach.
"We're done here" Mayari announced, not letting Jim finished his sentence.
She held Jim's uninjured arm, hang it on her neck, and supported Jim as he stood up and began walking towards the exit.
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Hours ago
-At Myrim Palace-
Carlos and Evan are in sword training, though they are using wooden swords, their movements and skills are greatly fast and advanced, suited for great worriers.
"Is that all you've got, Evan?" Carlos mockingly asked, as he lend a strike.
Evan quickly repelled Carlos attacked, "You haven't seen the most of it" Evan jumped to attack Carlos from above.
Carlos predicted Evan's technique and quickly alter his guard, he raised his sword in defense waiting for Evan's impact but it didn't came. With just a blink of an eye Evan swiftly move from above to Carlos back, he struck Carlos's feet knocking him over to the ground, and then pointed his sword.
"I won" Evan proudly announced, heaving heavily, still pointing the wooden sword to his friend.
"Yeah, yeah, I surrender" Carlos admitted, slightly raising his hands.
Evan held out his hand and help Carlos stood up. "You've gotten more stronger and faster, Evan. I'm impress" Carlos commented.
"The hard training truly paid off" Evan told, glancing over to Carlos shoulder to see his personal, faithful servant, Nino, who have a smug face.
"Your majesty! Your highness!" A maid suddenly called out from the distance, running towards them. When she finally arrived she bowed in respect to Evan and Carlos, "I greatly apologize for my disturbance, your majesty and highness" she spurted out, while still gasping for air "but her majesty have an urgent message to be delivered, may I speak?"
"Yes, you may" Carlos approved.
"Her majesty asked assistants to be spread all over the city of Myrim for Ms. Mayari have gone missing" the maid uttered.
Carlos immediately ordered his guards and knights to search for Mayari. Evan also joined the search. Xera came back to the castle. Dr. Milan and Helen were also asked to stay in the castle and wait for any news to be delivered but they refused and also joined the search.
They spend hours looking for Mayari but they couldn't find her anywhere in the city. They asked around but the information they only acquired is from an old lady... who confirmed their fear.
The old lady closely observed the drawn picture of Mayari, after a few moments of staring she finally spoke; "Yes! I know this girl!" she exclaimed, "She bought a mask from me hours ago, she have a good taste" she sweetly informed.
"What mask did she bought?" Helen asked in curiosity.
"I haven't named the mask but I created a copy of it incase others might love to bought it, just like her taste" the woman replied opening a drawer under her desk and revealing the copy of the mask.
The mask caught Helen in surprise, she knows this mask very well. "I found it years ago under the snow, whoever made this mask is a true artist" the old lady continued.
"Do you know this mask, aunt Helen?" Evan asked, he seems to notice Helen's state of shock.
"N-No... let's focus on Mayari first" Helen replied, but Evan knew she's lying, he put this aside from now since Mayari is their top priority. "Do you know were she have gone to?"
"Is she missing?"
"Yes" Evan replied.
"Funny, I thought she's with her relatives" the old lady replied, puzzled.
"Relatives? Mayari have no relatives" Helen was also puzzled.
"She suddenly fainted outside, I tried to help her but an elf who introduce himself as her cousin declined and said that he will bring her to a clinic" she informed.
"An elf?" Evan parroted.
"Yes, he's a handsome young man, he had long pointy ears, black hair, gray eyes, and a bow" the old lady specified.
With that information the two was now aware that Jim followed Mayari. Helen truly regreted for not recalling to cast a tracking spell on Mayari.
The old lady pointed the way, after saying their thanks, they quickly left and went to the said direction.