Early in the morning, the soldiers all gathered and prepared for the long travel back home. They camp out most of the night in the forest or the nearby towns and villages in these travels. With this routine, four days have passed.
Inside the carriage, Murok tried to sway Cecily about her decision once again. Unlike Cecily, Murok was an experienced adventurer. Living most of his life in the war, he knew that no matter how small the decision, it could still significantly impact an outcome for this escapade.
Though the mortal realm remained at peace for fifty years, there were still skirmishes and bandits, and other dangers lurking outside the kingdom walls. Thus, one shouldn't be complacent and be always warry, especially when adventuring outside. Everyone should always be in top shape to do battle at any time.
"You sure you won't give him food nor water?" Murok asked as he eyed Cecily.
Cecily remained stoic with her eyes closed. "He will not die because of starvation. Mana will continue to nourished his body. Even he will not eat for the rest of the travels, he will still live."
Everyone would think that Cecily was sleeping, but in truth, she was punishing Ryu for four days, and that punishment was soul scourge.
Cecily lost count on how many times she had performed the said punishment, but she still couldn't grasp it completely. She had to concentrate, being sure to inflict pain without actually destroying Ryu's soul. Since she was not used to the method yet, she occasionally stopped when she thought his soul was about to break.
Murok sighed and didn't respond anymore. He knew how stubborn Cecily could be. He focused on gathering mana once more. He didn't know why his mana was so low to the point that his body was barely holding on. Never that this happened to him. Not even when he bound his demon servant, Agatha, a mighty one-horned demon. After binding Agatha, he recovered all his mana in just a day.
But ever since that day he bound Ryu to Cecily, he didn't know why almost all of his mana was used just to bind a lowly halfbreed. And even up to now, he couldn't recover his mana to half. It was like his mana was continuously drained.
Though Ryu was indeed strong. But against Agatha, Ryu was nothing. This left Murok at a loss on what possibly could cause this. He promised to research on this once he returned to the Kingdom of Ruk.
Outside the carriage, Ryu was in considerable pain ever since four days ago. It felt like something inside him, his bones, his muscles, his flesh was being ripped apart. Beads of sweat soaked his body just to kept his howls silent while all his strength was sapped from him just to keep his body moving. He stumbled and fell on the ground numerous times from the unbearable pain, and just after he thought that he would pass out, the pain disappeared to only reappear once more.
Ryu didn't flinch from the tortures and wounds he received during his days of captivity. However, at this very moment, he wished that he could just faint so he wouldn't have to experience this kind of torment.
Even though Ryu was not chained in the carriage, Cecily was confident that he wouldn't be able to go far even if he ran away. Their soul was linked, and they could feel each other's presence at a certain distance.
But running and escaping didn't even cross Ryu's mind. He didn't even know about this master-servant seal and that he became a servant. All he knew, Cecily was the person who freed him and was the only person who made him experience a new kind of emotion. He was obediently following the carriage like his life depended on it.
Literally, his life was depending on it.
Ryu didn't know that Cecily was performing a soul scourge to punish him. One wrong move and his soul might break, and he would die on the spot without even knowing how and why he died.
And just when Ryu was about to fall and curl on the ground once more –– the pain stopped.
*pant
*pant
By now, Ryu was drenched in sweat and his vision blurred while his body was exhausted. He was so thirsty and hungry. His mouth was dry, quenching it with his saliva as bile welled in his throat.
It was unusual that a beast would be this exhausted. Though the soul scourge was the epitome of pain, the body of beasts could be healed and nourished by mana even without food for days.
Cecily just assumed that all beastmen, regardless if halfbreed or not, could manipulate mana and used it to nourished their body. An ability that was unique only to the best kind. It was not a wonder that Cecily assumed this. Even the great mage Murok and great knight Dozla thought this.
But the mistake was taking Ryu in complete disregard. If they only had taken a second glanced and observed Ryu, they would notice that he couldn't manipulate mana at all! To beastmen, manipulating mana was second nature. Even the young knew how to do it with just instincts alone. It was natural as breathing to them.
Eventually, as the sun rose high in the sky that no trees could shade its heat and glare, their path was barged by a group of men fifty meters away, holding weapons as big as their frame while their faces hidden under a black cloak.
There were three men in front that seemed to be the leaders, and they emitted massive auras enough to destroy a city. Behind the three were men garbed in black cloaks, emanating an aura not as dominating as the first three. Following behind them was a wagon full of slaves of different races, hands chained to the other as their neck was ornamented with a black collar.
Dozla's eyes squinted, his broadsword at the ready.
It was not unusual to stumble on bandits and rogues along the way. Still, it was very uncommon for bandits to barged their way, knowing that the carriage belonged to the powerful royal family of the kingdom of Byron.
"Nyahahaha! Sweet pickled me sour! Told ya' me' scout is not wrong. It really is the royal family's crest," said one of the leaders with an ear-piercing voice.
Another licked his lips. His tongue was purple while his dark, dilated eyes glint in menace. "Offering one of the royal families to my lord, what a lucky day it is."
The last one amongst the three leaders remained quiet. His silver eyes were prying Dozla in the front, calculating the bulky man's strength as his bow appeared on his hand.
Upon seeing this, Dozla roared in a fury, "How dare you raise your weapons against the royal family of Byron! Do you not fear death?!"
"Kyakyakyakyak! Ya' hear that?! Death he said!" The man with an irritating voice laughed out loud, holding his stomach as he doubled backward in laughter.
"Garet, stop messing around. Let's get this done with. Let's take whoever is in there and kill everyone else," the last of the three leaders said.
Garet stopped laughing and protested, "Eoi, it's a shame that we have to kill all except fer' the royal brat. How 'bout we enslaved the rest, huh? We'll earn extra cash."
"Garet is right, Eoi. We should drain every last man of their life. My Gawtar is edging for blood," the man with dilated pupils added as he summoned his weapon. A double edge sword with unconcealed sharpness. It had an eye at the center of the hilt that moved unceasingly.
"Asad, you too?! What a complete waste of resources if you asked me." Garet huramp and frantically raised his hands.
"Enough! Our Lord's instruction is clear. If we can offer anyone from the royal family, then we'll be handsomely rewarded. If you want to kill the rest or whatever you want, I won't stop you," Eoi said.
The three continued their bickering, not minding the royal soldiers as if they were specs of dirt.
Dozla was so angry veins popped on his face. "Insolent! Soldiers to me! We will teach these bandits the true might of the royal guard of the kingdom of Byron!"
The soldiers went behind Dozla's horse while some remained on guard near the carriage.
Ryu, however, watched the two leaders draped in black cloaks. He was on edge. His fingers were flexing as his toes clawed the dirt. Due to his hunger and torment, his senses went numb. He was so focused on the pain he felt a moment ago that he missed the smell of the bandits.
But now that the pain and torment stopped, his senses somewhat returned. Although faint, he could now smell the men's scent even from fifty meters away.
He felt unease since some of these men –– were not human.