It had been over a week since Alex was with the wolf girls and vanished under the veil of night. He knew that they would've wanted him to stay, but he couldn't do that; he wanted to keep moving forward. It wouldn't be long until the Academy Entrance Exams, and he had to prepare for his eventual return to his family...but would he even want to return now? When he left and who he is now are two different people. He questioned if they would even accept him back or not.
These questions and doubts were all Alex could think of. His family was everything to him, and now he was scared he would be turned away by them.
Alex was wondering about the forests in the southern part of the empire when he overheard some voices.
"That fucking bitch scratched my face up."
"You got what you deserved. What the hell were you even trying to do anyway? Remember, the buyer said, Don't harm the merchandise."
"I wasn't going to hurt her; I just wanted to see what was under those clothes."
"I swear to the gods, I shouldn't work with you again..."
"What?"
"Look, I know we're bandits and all, but at least we have *some* morals..."
"Eh, fuck that."
Alex moved closer to the voices and spotted four guys all walking around a small camp, with the two talking while sitting by the campfire. He looked around and spotted someone with long green hair trapped in a cage. Alex couldn't see her face, but he could see she had the ears and tail of a beastman.
This disgusted Alex. There had been a known slave trade for beastmen, especially women, who would be sold to rich merchants and nobles for horrible things.
So as a result, Alex walked up to the four, causing each of them to immediately grab their swords.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Get the hell out of here, kid; nothing for you here."
Alex looked at the four with disdain.
"You people sicken me." Alex said as his eyes started to glow purple.
The girl turned her head slightly and saw Alex facing down the bandits. This definitely piqued her curiosity.
Alex immediately channeled his purple lightning through his body and, by extension, his sword as he sliced the air, sending a wave of lightning at the bandits. Three of them ducked, and one was not so lucky as he was sent flying into a tree, breaking his back on the trunk.
"He's a fucking magic user?!" One of the bandits yelled.
"We gotta get the hell out of here!" Another yelled.
"No, we gotta take the girl with us; she's worth a fortune!"
"What good is money when you're dead?!"
Alex didn't let them get the chance to run, and he swiftly cut the head off of another one of the bandits.
"Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!" One of the bandits panicked and yelled.
Alex then stabbed the third bandit right through the heart, leaving the panicked bandit as the only one living.
"Where are the keys to her cage?" Alex asked coldly.
"T-There...in his pocket..." the bandit said, pointing as his headless friend.
Alex walked over to the body and searched his pockets, taking the key.
"Look, I'll forget this ever happened, and I'll leave. I'll go get a real job; just let me live, man!"
Alex looked at the man, the darkness of the night covering his face but his purple eyes shining brightly.
"No."
Alex stabbed the bandit in the heart, causing him to vomit up some blood before dying. He then walked up to the cage and unlocked it.
"I won't hurt you; you're free to go wherever you want. If you need any help, just tell me." Alex said still coldly.
"I-I'm fine...who are you?
Alex sighed "Doesn't matter. If you're good, then I'm leaving; they should have some food you can take with you on your way back home."
"O-Okay..." The girl said.
The girl had long green hair and blue eyes, along with matching cat ears and tails. She seemed to be about the same age as Alex, maybe slightly younger. Luckily, she didn't have any severe bruises or anything, and it seemed like they didn't do anything to her.
"Please tell me your name." The girl said she was looking at Alex with teary eyes. "I want to know the name of the man who saved me.
Alex sighed once again "...Alex."
The girl smiled and said, "Alex, I'll remember that. My name is Kyssee."
"Alright Kyssee. Do you know where you live?" Alex asked.
"Somewhere in the western part of the Empire." Kyssee said.
"Then you're a long way from home..." Alex said.
Kyssee nodded. "Can...I come with you?"
"No." Alex said coldly.
"Why?" Kyssee asked.
"I work better alone." Alex said. "I can give you some money so you can board a caravan, but I can't do much else."
Alex handed her a bag of gold coins and started walking off in another direction; however, Kyssee started to follow him.
"Why are you following me?" Alex asked.
"Because I want to." Kyssee said.
Alex once again sighed as he kept walking.
"You really shouldn't." Alex said. "You should just go back home.
"Well, good thing you're not in charge of me then." Kyssee said.
"This is going to be a pain..."
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