Descending down the stairs, I glanced at Amana, who straightened her back when my eyes went to her.
"Where do you think I could find Professor?" I asked in a casual tone but with a blank expression. "I have something to confront her with."
Amana frowned as her brows crumpled together, not seeming to like my inquiries. Still, her mouth slowly opened as she hesitatingly answered. "If you're looking for my niece, she is probably in the combat field. It is located on the edge of the west side villa."
"Then bring me there," I stated.
Amana nodded reluctantly as she responded in an inaudible voice. "...yes boss."
As we went down the stairs, some women and men adorned in knightly armors greeted us on the way. Most of them were not that tall; they also appeared more thin than others, and they aren't carrying any weapons.
What I noticed in this villa is that the soldiers outside and the soldiers on the inside seem so different. From their stature, their manner, their upbringing. Even their physique and body build.
The soldiers on the inside are more feminine in conduct. No matter whether they are men or women; they were more elegant in their movements, actions, and emotions. Most of them were only about 5 feet and 5 inches tall. They were much smaller than the ones on the outside, which appeared to be as tall as Joan; about 6 to 7 feet tall.
What's more, the soldiers guarding on the outside seem borish and barbarian. Even the group of women standing guard outside; there was too much masculinity in their actions. Although I must say, the one on the outside appeared more lazy in nature rather than the one on the inside.
But the main difference is. The one on the outside has weapons, while the soldiers on the inside don't have one.
When we reached the outside, many soldiers greeted us. There are men and women who developed a sagging stomach, but they had tall stature and had much bigger physique.
"You know, I've been curious for a while now, but why are there soldiers who don't have weapons? Are they too confident with their mana and magic?" I inquired with a deadpan face, roaming my eyes around the plain field in the villa.
Amana glanced at me amusedly. "Of course boss. Those who aren't carrying weapons are omegas after all. They don't need swords or any sort of sharp objects. Their mana alone is enough."
"Oh." I mouthed with a blank face. "Isn't that idea too careless for soldiers like them?"
Amana shook her head. "Boss, you may not know this since you probably came from a different background…"
I interjected. "You mean my secret identity?"
Gulping nervously, Amana nodded, observing my unchanging stoic face. "Yes…that…"
"Mm, so as you were saying?" I urged Amana to continue.
Seeing that I don't seem to mind her talking about my secret in public, Amana silently sighed in relief as she continued. "As I was saying boss, the physical labours should be left for the alphas. I heard from my niece that you will differentiate into an alpha in the future boss, so I'll just inform you now that it is our responsibility as the alpha to get the hard work done."
"Is that so?" I replied, staring forward again.
Seems pretentious though, I thought.
"Yes, it is what is commonly believed, though, many have expressed their disliking to this kind of set-up," Amana stated with some contempt.
Even though I think I already know who, but just in case, I decided to still ask. "Are they a group of people?"
Amana widened her eyes in surprise. "That's right boss, how did you know?"
"Just a guess," I said, then I further continued to inquire. "Are they mostly omegas?"
"Yes boss, those omegas just don't know how to be grateful sometimes," Amana muttered with loathe. "Ungracious bunch of sluts. They're only good for breeding anyway."
"Amana," I called in a casual tone.
"Yes boss?" Amana glanced at me, but as soon as her eyes turned to me, they trembled in fear.
"Can I cut off your…" I trailed with a blank face, but my eyes held impending danger. "...tongue?"
Amana's throat moved as I heard her swallow. "I…boss…did I…do something…?"
Ah. This moron doesn't have any idea how foul her mouth is. I swear, one day, Amana will get her tongue cut off. Even if not by me, but perhaps by someone else.
"Nothing I guess," I replied, retracting my eyes. "Anyway, no more foul words from now on, Amana."
"Ye…yes…" Amana mumbled faintly with a slight shaky sigh. "I'll try to be more mindful, boss."
"You really should," I commented. "For the sake of your tongue."
Amana gulped nervously as she nodded.
At that, both Amana and I continued to go to the combat field, where many soldiers train. According to Amana, the combat field is a large plain grassland, and it is near the forest.
As we grew close to the west side of the villa, the sound of metal clanging resounded faintly to my ears, but it grew louder as I neared the combat field.
Soon, Amana and I stop in front of a metallic gate. It's like a castle gate, and it can only be open by pulling the chains attached to the internal winch.
When the metallic gate was raised, Amana and I entered inside. Or more like we went outside the Castle Villa. Because now, we're basically at the plain fields near the mountains. There are target-practices set on the field, and soldiers shooting their arrows or slashing their weapons randomly around the spacious training area. There is even a square area, where two soldiers fought each other as the sharp metallic objects made loud clashing echoes.
However, no matter how busy everyone is, as soon as Amana and I stepped into the training area, soldiers lined up greeting us.
"Everyone disperse," Amana stated, and the soldiers went back to their respective places, doing exercises on random places in the plain grasslands.
My eyes roam around with a deadpan face. "Professor doesn't seem to be here, Amana."
"Oh, are you looking for Alexandra?" One of the soldiers asked, lifting some heavy round rock.
Amana nodded. "Did she come here?"
"Aye, but she didn't stay here that long," the soldier said, then she pointed to the direction of the woodland. "She went directly to the Lonely Forest near the Lost Mountains. I don't know why, but she seems mad and frustrated."
Amana knitted her brows, looking worried as she turned to me. "Boss, I think my niece won't be back for a couple of days…"
"Why?" I asked.
"Because hunting in the forest for a long time until her emotions subsided is how my niece handles her stress, that is how she usually is even when she is a child," Amana explained, sighing in concern. "I'm just worried, because she might get lost in the Lonely Forest. It's not a simple forest after all. I heard rumours that there were a lot of travellers and locals who went missing in this woodland."
"Mm," I hum. "I see."
"Should we leave or wait?" Amana asked.
I glanced at Amana, then beckoned for her to follow as I started walking.
"What do you plan to do, boss?" Amana inquired curiously as she matched my pace.
"Isn't it obvious?" I mumbled, walking to the forest. "We'll come to your niece, Amana."
***
Gigantic evergreen trees, and astoundingly dense luxuriant greeneries and flowers.
"It's weird, isn't it?" I mumbled as my eyes roamed around the area. "There doesn't seem to be any wildlife existing here."
Amana nodded in agreement, walking beside me with vigilant eyes; she kept her hand resting on the grip of the sword sheathed on the side of her hips; always ready to pull it out from her scabbard to attack any suspiciousness that would come to frighten her to death. "That is why this forest is called Lonely, boss. And possibly because they got lost and probably…died," Amana explained.
"Perhaps," I replied, walking leisurely; like I'm just strolling in the park as I enjoyed the scenery.
Contrary to Amana's guarded attitude; I remain relaxed, but still stoic. Not because I'm complacent or being careless, but because my intuition tells me that there is no threat in this forest. Instead, I feel a sinister aura from up the mountains, which is where the tracks are leading us to.
As Amana and I climbed up the hills, it became more difficult for us to breathe; the air had less oxygen and was colder than on the plains. But Amana and I continued to go up even higher. After all, Alexandra's tracks are leading us to the peak of the mountains; she must have gone up even deeper to the Lost Mountains of Mount Mani.
The surrounding is layered with a thick hazy mist. The scorching sun can't even reach the slightly wet ground, as the colossal leaves from up above are covered like an umbrella of sorts, concealing the bright sky.
"Uwaaaaaaah!!"
The piercing wails echoed loudly everywhere in the surrounding, making both me and Amana stop walking.
"What was that?" Amana asked, roaming her eyes around in alarmed. "What's that sound? Seems eerily…"
"...creepy," I finished.
Amana nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
I also felt the same way as Amana right at this moment. There is something about those shrieking cries blaring in our ears that makes the small hairs on my skin stand up. It could only mean one thing, and that is…danger.
Later on, the deafening screech became inaudible, and soon, we heard faint sobs, coming from a single direction.
Amana and I both glanced at each other then nodded with mutual understanding; we both started to move, walking step by step in quietude.
Slowly, we strode to where the faint echoes of weeping cries were coming from, and little by little, the resounding cries became more vivid to our ears.
As we reached the place, we found a naked infant lying on the wet greenery, crying as loud as she could be.
Amana heaved a sigh of relief, staring down at the infant. "Turns out that it was just a poor child abandoned in the forest," Amana mumbled, crouching as she carefully took the baby in her arms, then she turned to me. "Should we take her in, boss?"
With a blank face, I gaze probingly at the baby in Amana's arms. For some reason, I felt something sinister in this infant. Not just from the baby, but from everywhere, lurking behind somewhere I couldn't see.
Perhaps more than 20 sinister auras. If my intuition is right, then Amana and I are in a delicate situation.
We are…surrounded.
"Boss?" Amana called, snapping me out of the trance.
Roaming my eyes briefly on the surroundings, I didn't see anyone, but I could still feel it nonetheless.
"Something wrong?" Amana asked, vigilant as her other hand reached for the grip of the sword on her hips.
For now, I should lower Amana's guard, so whoever these individuals will come up in the open and take the bait.
At that, I shook my head. "No, nothing's wrong."
Hearing my words made Amana instantly relax her stiff straight shoulders. "Then…about the kid, boss? What should we do?"
"Hmm?" I glanced thoughtfully at the baby in Amana's arms. "Well…we can't really leave her alone either anyway."
"I agree," Amana replied with a self-satisfied face.
I ignored Amana's face as I took out a thick dark fabric from the Shadow Circlet, handing it to Amana. "Wrapped her body, she might get sick in this cold dense weather."
Amana then wrapped the infant's body with the blanket, and the baby soon stopped crying.
"Be careful with the child," I said to Amana.
Amana smiled as she nodded. "Don't worry boss, the child is safe with me, I know how to handle them."
"No, you misunderstood," I replied with a deadpan face.
Amana glanced at me perplexed. "What do you mean, boss?"
"The last time I helped a kid, I almost ended up dying," I mumbled. "So be careful, Amana."
"Oh…" Amana mouthed, still a little puzzled.
I glanced at the infant one last time, then I beckoned for Amana. "Let's go, we still need to look for Professor," I said as I started walking up the hills again, and Amana followed beside me.
Along with our movements, I also felt the 20 or so individuals somewhere in the vicinity followed along with us, matching our pace.
Suddenly, Amana stopped walking, so I also stopped as well as I turned to her. Her lips were trembling in fear and shock as she held the baby in her arms. Or supposedly the baby that now has fully transformed into a small vile creature.
Amana held the creature with both palms.
Its teeth are sharp, gnashing as its sharp nails struggled to attack Amana's face, but Amana kept a tight grip on its body, making it unable to attack or squirm from the thick fabric that I made Amana wrapped this creature with.
At that, Amana turn to me for desperate help as her brows furrowed together in terror. The creature also turns its bloodshot eyes at me, glaring menacingly.
"Boss…" Amana called out to me, stuttering in utter horror. "I…I think something is wrong with the…baby…"
Right after that, the ear-splitting howls around the area blasted everywhere, and one by one, more hideous creatures showed up, surrounding both me and Amana.
I knew it.
During my time in the Majapahit Empire, Camilla warned me about the Aswang Tribe that lives on the dense forest of the Maharlika Island. They are said in the legends as a tribe of Cannibals, who prey mostly on the Human Race. They could shapeshift into different forms, and they have a sinister aura that craves for blood.
"What the hell is happening?" Amana cried out in trepidation. "What…what are these things?"
Transforming my right hand into a blade, I mumbled with a blank stoic face; only calmness can be seen in my eyes. "Don't you know?"
Amana shook her head. "No…"
"Oh, well then, they are the Aswang Tribe," I answered, turning to Amana, then I pointed the white Blade at the little creature that Amana was holding. "That one is called Tianak, Amana. It's a vampiric creature that takes the form of a toddler."
Tianak gnashed her teeth at me. "Grrr aarrrgghh!! Despicable Hoomans!"
Amana widened her eyes as she stared at the Tianak in pure panic. "ASWANG?!?"