The people locked in cages exploded in hopeful and grateful cheers before pleading to be released.
"Great Heroine, please let us out and give us our freedom!"
"Heroine! Have mercy on us and free us!"
"Heroine!"
They called out to her with worship. How could they not? Power and strength will forever be worthy of worship!
"What, don't tell me they also lied to you giving you all free rides!?" however, the lady's words kept pouring cold water on the captured people's worship with her lack of wisdom.
The captured people looked at each other before shaking their heads.
"We... we were captured, Great Heroine. They didn't offer us free rides..."
"Why didn't anyone tell me about this?" the lady complained under her breath before waving her hand, "Wait, wait a second. I'll free you in a moment."
She turned her back from the rest and curled down. The lady put up her hood over her head and removed the bag.
This made everyone curious why she was hiding her face when she already showed them to the capturers earlier.
Once the lady was done, she turned to them. Her hoody was big but it was not impossible to see her face at this time of the day, however, the front of her hood covers half of her face. Only her pinkish thin lips could be seen.
Still, her cover is as clumsy as it gets. When the wind blows a little bit stronger, silver strands of hair flutter.
Eid's heart tightened for a moment, thinking that in front of him was a hollowcore.
'No, wait, it's still daytime. How could-'
Before he could finish that thought, the wind blew slightly stronger, lifting the lady's hood and revealing her silver irises before she pulled it down.
Eid breathed out in relief.
The lady then glanced at him for a moment before she went to each cage and bent the steel bars. The people came out in delight as they stretched their limbs out in ecstasy. Each of them expressed extreme gratitude to the lady. They hugged one another, crying and celebrating at the same time. The lady was left feeling proud and accomplished that she helped these people. But after a while, another problem had dawned on their thoughts.
"Where do we go now?" one asked another.
"Our village has been colonized by the Iron people!" "We have nowhere to return now." "W-what will we do once it's dusk!?" "The faces are going to eat us!"
Having a place to live is a vital part of surviving in this world. Once panic sets in, they looked at the lady and pleaded once more.
"Heroine, we're not asking for much. Can you help us reach someplace safe from the darkness?"
"Please, heroine. At this rate, we'll die from the faces."
Eid rolled his eyes away because most of the people who had the loudest mouths are those who had a tinge of darkness surrounding them. They are taking advantage of the lady's extraordinary strength while those with goodwill are sincerely thinking about the rest. Eid's sixth sense told him that.
The most frustrating part is that the lady was getting affected by some of the crocodile's tears.
'Aiya, control yourself, Eid. These people just lost their homes, be more understanding even if all of them are not good.' he told himself but clearly, that had little effect. Thus, he distanced himself, wanting no more involvement from here on out.
Unexpectedly, these people are freed without him needing to do anything. Then, he would be on his way with peace of mind. Well, that should be the case if the lady didn't look at him for help.
"Umm, do you know where to find a safe place for these people? They are too weak to defend themselves from those ugly creatures at night." the lady come up to Eid when he was about to turn around.
Having asked, he had no choice but to answer.
"The nearest settlement here with night guards and Solar Stones to protect you from the ghouls is the White Steel City which is approximately three hours away by horse. You just have to follow this paved path." Eid pointed in the general direction.
"White Steel City... that's a city of the Iron people..." "Will we be accepted there?" "I'd rather die than live with the people who ravaged our village!"
There was a mixed reaction concerning the proposed destination.
"It's your choice. Should you risk and tolerate living there or would you spend a night out of the Solar Stones' reach and the night guards' sight?" Eid shrugged and replied.
Even the man who said he'd rather die shut up and thought about it. There is no worse fate than being devoured by the ghouls and having your soul become one.
The lost people gathered and talked for a moment before agreeing that they have no choice. They have to enter a human settlement before it gets dark.
People then used the carriages that their capturers left behind. Those who knew how to coach got on their seats. All of them were hungry and thirsty, making their determination to go to the White Steel City stronger.
Once they were preparing the carriages, the lady came up to Eid.
"Yes?" Eid raised an eyebrow. He could never predict this lady as she began encircling him with an inspecting look.
The lady was bothered by an inexplainable feeling she has towards this stranger. After a circle, the lady stopped and asked.
"Do you know where my home is?"
Eid thought about it for a while and concluded he should take her seriously this time. He was curious about this eccentric lady. If not for her strange strength, he would've not.
"I might if you tell me what place your home is."
"Ah... um..." the lady straightened her back and scratched her head, "It's... big."
"Uh-huh... and?"
"And..." the lady frowned as she racked her head trying to remember something, "Guh, this is hard!"
'She's mental.' Eid concluded.
"You don't know where it is?" the lady asked again.
Eid shook his head, "I don't think anyone would know with that description. Unless they're a prophet."
"Are you sure?" the lady leaned forward again, "Because I got this feeling... that you know it."
"How would you know?"
If it was any other person, they would think she was messing with them but not Eid. He has a sixth sense so if this lady has one too, he can empathize.
"I don't know." the lady then lifted her hood, revealing her beautiful eyes in full view as she further examined Eid. But while she does so, Eid examined her as well.
She looked young, around 15 to 17 years of age. As the thin man said, rest be his soul in hell, she is an exceptional beauty. But, Eid was not affected by this. In his opinion, Toko is more beautiful!
'Now I'm getting depressed. She must be so sad back at home.'
The lady then came closer and sniffed him.
"Hey-"
As Eid was about to step back, the lady reached her hand out to touch him. However, Eid didn't let her and lightly slapped her hand away.
"Don't just sniff people, that's rude. Touching someone is rude too," he said as if he were scolding a child.
The lady retracted her hand and held it.
"Ah... s-sorry, sir." she apologetically lowered her head.
'She really acts like a child.' thinking about it, Eid decided to ask.
"As long as you understand. How old are you anyway?"
The lady pondered again while mumbling. After counting on her fingers, she looked at Eid and answered, "I don't know. I was eight when I woke up again."
"Woke up again...?"
At that moment, one of the lost people came up to the lady and said, "Great Heroine, we are ready."
"Ah, okay," she looked at the man, glanced at Eid, and hesitated before she asked, "Are you going to the White Steel City too, sir?"
Eid waved his hand, "No need to call me sir, my name's Reid and yes, we're going to the same place."
Reid is his alias for now.
"Oh, okay, Reid," the lady smiled, "Mine's Alisha. Should we go together?"
"Sure, why not?" Eid smiled back. This lady, Alisha is pleasant when she's not talking about stupid stuff and Eid like that. Furthermore, he's more interested now than earlier. A light of goodness emanates from her, albeit tiny, that wasn't there before.
"But... my Master still has something to do with these men on the ground. So, you can go ahead, we'll catch up?"
"What? What will your Master need to do with them?" Alisha curiously asked but Eid just smiled. Sensing he doesn't want to answer, she ignored it, whatever they do to the corpses doesn't mind her.
"Are you sure? You'll catch up?"
"Yes, we're only one carriage. We can speed up however we want."
"Hm," Alisha looked back at the lost people waiting for her and then, nodded, "Okay, be sure to catch us up, Reid. I have loads of questions to ask!"
'Me too.' Eid internally replied.
After that, Alisha waved goodbye as she sat on top of one of the carriages, unafraid of the afternoon sunlight.
When their silhouettes became small dots on the horizon, Eid looked around at the unconscious men and was surprised that more than half of them were still alive.
"Hehehe, yes, cling to life," Eid smirked. But first, he went back to the carriage and called out, "Grandpa, are you awake?"
There was no answer, just snoring.
"Grandpa... grandpa..." Eid kept calling out. When he was certain that Grandpa Frodo was in deep sleep and couldn't be woken up easily, he went to the unconscious men who are still alive and slit their necks with his knife. He was careful not to make their blood spurt, dyeing his clothes red.
In total, he killed fourteen "evil" men. After Eid was done, he spurred the horse again and set off with a slightly faster speed than before.
Once they built up on a moment, he looked into his mind and saw that both his Justice points and progress points went up by 14.
He grinned, "Hahaha, just like taking candy from a baby."
After an hour or so, he caught up with Alisha and the lost people.