"Hmm."
Playing with a dagger in hand, Leon looked on with focus. The dagger was shaped like the fang of a massive creature, it was green in color, and gave off the vibe of a saber-tooth tiger's tooth and viper fangs.
Thinking back, Leon could remember the description of this weapon he received from the dodgy youth.
"This one is special; it fell off the carriage of one of the Elders of a massive clan. I was lucky to have picked it up during the chaos... also, I think it has some poisonous properties, so be careful how you throw it around."
The dagger had been stolen during the chase from the city. Apparently, several Warlocks went around stealing treasures from fallen families at that time, and now they were selling them on the black market. It seemed, like there was much more than meets in eye in this clan.
"It will do," Leon said before sheathing the dagger into its scabbard on his waist. He had spent all his money on it.
"Yeeeee... that wa... some good wine..."
A drunken slur resounded in front of Leon as two females staggered about. Clearly, in a drunken state. It was Caroline and Phoebe.
"Sigh," Leon shook his head while looking at them. He had started following them immediately after they left the carriage for the black market. However, they were already so drunk that they couldn't even recognize that he was right behind them.
Not long after, they made it to their carriage, where they saw the old man working on some repairs.
"Hm?" Noticing their approach, the old man immediately left what he was doing and looked over at them. They were moving like zombies, and the smell of alcohol was unbearable.
"What happened?"
The old man rushed forward and tried to hold them both in place. He was beyond bothered. The mother had a drinking problem, yes, but he had never seen Phoebe drunk before.
"What happened?" The old man turned to Leon and asked with panic in his eyes.
"I don't know. They entered one of the Elder's carriages, and when they exited, they were like this." Shrugging his shoulders, Leon explained. He didn't go into the carriage with them, and he doubted that if he had tried to stop them, they would have listened.
"Why didn't you stop them?" The old man looked at Leon with some panic. He had sent Leon there to make sure they were all right.
"Hm? What was I supposed to do? Go in there and fight?" Leon tilted his head while asking this question. Even though he had improved a lot, he was still considered weak. Facing off against an elder or their guards was asking for humiliation.
"That..." The old man understood that Leon was right. He was still weak and frail, even more so than him. How could he stop them? He shook his head and grabbed his hammer; he was going to cause trouble.
Next day:
"Ouch!"
The old man winced as a wound on his forehead was being cleaned by a hot towel. The day before, he ran into the black market area, and attempted to attack one of the Elders. However, he was quickly surrounded and nearly beaten to death.
But with the good graces of the matriarch, he was spared and allowed to come back home.
"If I don't do it, the wound will only get infected."
Leon pressed the hot towel on his head more. He had witnessed the whole thing and couldn't help but shake his head. The old man was weak and was constantly under the oppression of the other clansmen. No matter how he struggled, there was no way he could win.
"Serves you right. I don't know what got into you, attacking an elder like that. You're lucky to be alive..."
From the side, Caroline sneered. She went out to have a good time, and the old bastard went to cause trouble because of it. It was very embarrassing for her. Her 'husband' was beaten to a pulp by a mob.
"Shut your mouth. This is all your fault. You've spoiled your daughter and made this family the laughingstock of the entire clan. Don't think I don't hear what they call you..."
The entire clan looked down on their family, and Caroline was only worsening it by behaving like a sl*t. He couldn't take it anymore.
"What? What is it that people call me? A wh*re? Of course, they do. Isn't that why you married me? Because I was easy to get into? Don't you dare make me the villain here!"
Immediately, Caroline responded. She wouldn't accept that she was at fault, no matter what.
"I regret getting married to such a shameless woman like you," the old man responded. Their dislike for each other had reached the breaking point. He could no longer take the disrespect, and she would not back down because she also looked down on him.
They argued for hours, and it resulted in the old man storming off into the grassland, and Caroline locking herself indoors.
"What are you looking at, you good-for-nothing cripple?"
Sneering at Leon, who was at the side, Phoebe walked up into the carriage and locked the door as well.
"Too much drama. I need to heal up fast."
Leon shook his head and sat on the floor. He closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
At the same time, at the edge of the Devil Wood forest, a man lay face-first on his horse, slowly making his way out. In his back were several arrows sticking out, and his body was bloodied.
"Hm?"
As the horse made its way into the camp, numerous people noticed the peculiarities. Who could have attacked him, and what must have happened? Their questions would soon be answered, though, as a man fell from his horse and to the ground in front of the Aldwin family carriage.
"Help... the hunters."
As soon as the word 'hunter' left his mouth, he was surrounded by several clansmen.
"What happened?"
"Are the hunters coming?"
"Speak, man!"
"Any healers around?"
"Get the Elders!"