It didn't take long before Jeanne and I arrived at where the bandits were keeping the 'slaves', and honestly, I didn't expect what I saw.
I think it was more of adults and stuff like that, but I was terribly wrong.
Inside a wagon, attached to two horses, were little children, roughly the same age as me, with chains locked around their hands and legs.
There I was, rooted on top of a rock that just happened to be facing the wagon, from the way they held onto one another, it would seem they must have been together for a long time.
But something felt off, they didn't seem sacred or relieved to see us,
"Jeanne, let them out." I ordered.
"Right away."
Walking forward, Jeanne materialized her sword as she did before when we were fighting the bandits, and with a swift slash, the door to the wagon split in two, leaving way for the demons to escape.
And this was where their faith would be decided.
It's no surprise if some of them try to run at the first chance they get, I would if I was held captive by the people I hate too, so if that happens, I won't stop them, it only means they weren't meant to be a part of my journey.
But….
"Are you okay?" Jeanne asked, lending them a hand as she brought each one of them down from the wagons.
They were six in number, four girls, 2 boys, each having different races and species. For example, the two boys were both beast people, but the first one seemed to be a red tiger and the other a …dog?.
In any case, the demons didn't act as I thought they would, no, not a single one of them tried to escape, was it because Jeanne was super caring towards them? I'd like to think not.
But looking at the way they've been acting, my best guest would be…
They have lost all will to live.
The expression on their faces held no lights, it's the same expression people have on their faces when they realized they wasted six years in college with no job.
Tragic, if I had to call it one word, everything they see will be black and white, the world is all the same around them.
And that is why, I will be their beacon of hope, the light that shines in their surroundings of grey.
"I see it."
I spoke, black threads whooshing out of my form and slowly surrounding their position, the golden glow illuminating on their faces.
"The potential to be great, rise above those who once oppressed you, the time is nigh, reality be shattered, world be damned, your moment has arrived…."
"Welcome to Black Haven."
As I spoke, their small lifeless eyes turned to me, the solitary figure capable of pulling them out of the darkness they've found themselves in.
...
It's been a couple of weeks since Jeane and I found the demons who were captured by those npc bandits, and since then, they've been living with me.
Although I couldn't let my parents find out about them. So I placed them in one of the abandoned warehouses my father owned.
And it has not been easy, I would always take food from the kitchen, sneak out, just so I could get the food to them, one wrong move and I'll risk people getting suspicious.
That said…
If that's one thing I'm proud about, that's my stealth, the ability to move in and out of anywhere without being spotted.
"Aether sweetie, where are you going with this much food?" Asked my mother as she stood at the entrance of the door.
And there I was, with a tray of food in my hands, I wasn't so much as shocked as I thought I'd be, maybe it's because it's my mother, she is the definition of carefree.
"Uhm… I thought I'd give the gardener's outside some breakfast since they have been working so hard." I smiled.
"Oh?... Okay then, but hurry up with that, your father will be back any moment now, remember we have to be at Richardson's house this morning."
"Yes I understand." I replied as I watched my mother walk away.
I guess they are still serious about letting me get engaged to Richard's daughter, we should have gone a few weeks back, but my dad had some issues to take care of, and I just assumed the engagement had been called off.
But I guess it's still a thing, oh well, that's for future me to worry about.
Taking my sweet time, I arrived in front of the warehouse. To make it more secure and out of reach, I added a bit of illusion magic. Once anyone looks at the place, they instantly forget about it and carry on their merry way, and so far it has worked pretty good.
I opened the door.
"I'm back, I brought br…"
"Lord Chaos!!!"
Yelled the girl who hugged me as soon as I stepped inside.
This is Zakiel, that was the name I gave her, she's a full blood feline, a wild white cat species, and extremely hyperactive.
She was once an ordinary beast girl, but after the naming ritual, she evolved into a wild cat.
"You seem… the usual…" I looked down at her, a forced smile on my face.
Zakiel looked up at me, with her arms still wrapped around my body, and the moment she hugs me, she never lets go.
"Lord Chaos, O'neill was being mean to me again, he said I can't do anything but make noise!".
"Ehh?" I couldn't be any less interested even if I tried.
"I only said that because you kept ranting about taking on Raphael when we both know you can't."
And that right there is O'neil, a wolf boy, who was before just an average beast dog, or at least that's what I think they are called, he is the most ruthless amongst the people I had gathered, and honestly, I don't mind it.
"I thought I made it clear, no arguments, you could attract people here, my illusion magic can only deceive the brain for so long."
I spoke as I began to walk inside, leaving the tray of food on the counter while I resumed to my desk, and as I said, Zakiel didn't plan to let go.