"You!" Daisuke hissed in a dangerously low tone as he slowly encroached upon a familiar woman. "You've been following me ever since I got into town! You've got some nerve! Do you have any idea what I went through because of you people?!"
Quivering like a leaf, the woman cautiously backed away, her movements hesitant and fearful. Then she promptly prostrated herself before him as Daisuke stalked toward her imposingly, a murderous aura rolling off his body.
Passersby slowed to a stop, drawn to the unfolding drama with gasps and whispered comments. But the woman who had pretended to be Reeza's mother didn't care, nor could Daisuke recognize anything outside of his absolute disdain for the deceitful medusa before him.
In his rage, he palmed his face, his expression distorted, golden eyes peeking out from between his fingers. "Choose your next words very carefully," he warned.
The woman's nervous gulp was audible, tiny beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. "I-I'm sorry," she pleaded, cautiously keeping her gaze down.
"Sorry?" Daisuke replied mockingly, the word dripping in venom. "Do you honestly believe that words are enough to erase what you've done?!"
"Please! I really need your help!"
Daisuke's eyes widened in outrage, then his scowl deepened, fingers curling into tight fists as he drew closer.
"M-My husband's being held prisoner," she whispered urgently, her voice trembling with fear. "I have no choice but to comply with their demands, or they'll kill him. I never meant to hurt you," she cried, "I never meant to hurt anyone. I'm truly sorry. I don't know what to do anymore."
Daisuke stilled, his fingers slowly uncurling as the storm of emotions within him began to calm. Yet, the unyielding lines etched into his face remained unchanged.
"You didn't bat an eye when I was being beaten half to death, or when my friend was killed," he said, his voice tinged with icy resentment. "So tell me, why should I care about you?"
As Daisuke's bitter words echoed in her mind, a memory resurfaced—a conversation between two guards that she had fortuitously overheard:
"Have you heard? Reeza's been pushing the boundaries lately."
"Too bad it's all going to come crashing down soon," the other guard remarked nonchalantly.
"What do you mean?"
The man flicked his half-smoked cigar to the ground and crushed it beneath his boot, his demeanor indifferent. "Besides getting dangerously close to her goal, her recent activities have been attracting a bit too much attention. If we want to keep the lord's support, we need to put a stop to it."
The young guard's eyes widened in alarm. "And so?"
"That's above our pay grade," the other man replied sharply. "We're not paid to think; just stick to your duties and guard the door. It's not our place to pry into matters beyond our station."
Finally, the woman hesitantly raised her head, meeting Daisuke's cold gaze with nervous determination. "Something dreadful is unfolding in that place right now," she admitted softly, her words a whisper meant only for his ears. "I desperately need assistance to escape with my husband."
Daisuke frowned, the glint of the Evil Eye stirring within his pupils as he weighed the truth of her words.
"This is our best chance to act," she uttered, her voice urgent. "The longer we wait, the harder it will become to escape. Their operation will only grow more entrenched, and their numbers will swell. If you agree to help, I'll assist you in recovering the gold you lost. I'll lead you to the hideout and show you how to bypass the traps."
Daisuke averted his gaze; he had confirmed she was telling the truth, but the sight of her stoked an intense anger within him. "No thanks," he refused, striding away. "I think I've had enough of your kind of help."
"No, wait!" the woman pleaded desperately, her trembling fingers clutching his cloak. "You'll never be able to find their hideout on your own. And, even if you do, you would have wasted too much time in the process. Like I said, this is a very time-sensitive matter."
A muscle worked in Daisuke's jaw as he weighed his options. Turning around, his gaze bore down on her with unwavering intensity. "Fine," he conceded abruptly, wrenching his cloak from her grasp. "But if you even remotely think about double-crossing me…"
The woman bowed her head, her demeanor a mix of apprehension and gratitude. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, tears tipping her eyes.
***
TANG-TANG-TANG!
The din of construction echoed throughout Fleecia Forest as skilled builders worked tirelessly to expand a familiar village. Trees, undergrowth, and large boulders were cleared to make way for the village's growth, and an impressive wooden wall began to take shape, encircling the settlement.
Similar to Elmridge Village, there were numerous other remote settlements inhabited exclusively by Beastfolk. To safeguard the secrecy of these locations, the inhabitants refrained from divulging their existence to other races. However, this secluded lifestyle brought its own set of challenges. When faced with large-scale projects that demanded manpower or specialized skills beyond their community's reach, a sense of frustration and helplessness crept in.
To cater to this unique market, a pioneering solution emerged: the establishment of a business venture comprised solely of Beastfolk artisans—the Beastborn Guild. With a local branch contracted to oversee operations, the development of Elmridge was already well underway.
Villagers eagerly followed the artisans' guidance, wholeheartedly contributing their labor to the endeavor. Even the youngest among them stepped forward, offering whatever assistance they could manage.
Neigh~
A horse-drawn wagon rolled into the village, winning the attention of the locals. Milo stepped out, greeted by friendly smiles and nods. He had courageously taken on the role of intermediary between the village and the humans of Wonderelle, handling business transactions and supply runs.
Today he was returning from one such trip with vital provisions—food, equipment, and supplies. His cheeks flushed with satisfaction as Elena and Rexar commended him for his efforts.
At the rear entrance of the village, beneath the comforting shade of a large tree, Feng and Sylvia observed April with heavy hearts as she wept beside the tombstone they had erected for Sheba.
The girl's sorrow reverberated through Feng's own chest, and a muscle twitched in his jaw as he recalled the haunting words Sheba had muttered in her final moments. With a solemn vow to find the girl's siblings, Feng turned away to join Sylvia, leaving April to mourn in solitude.
Just before entering the village, the duo froze in their tracks at the sound of rustling beneath nearby shrubs. Feng instinctively positioned himself protectively in front of Sylvia, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword, his body clad in a jet-black attire. However, their apprehension dissolved as a familiar canine emerged from the foliage, his tail wagging in friendly greeting.
"Is that Zephyr?" Feng asked cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of danger. "But where's Haxks?"
Sylvia's expression darkened. "Do you think something happened to him?"
With a cheerful bark, Zephyr approached and sat patiently before them.
Feng furrowed his brow in thought. "I don't think so," he concluded, noting the pup's calm demeanor. "Pretty sure Zephyr would be in berserk mode, if that were the case."
Sylvia scratched her cheek awkwardly. "You're probably right about that."
Sylvia approached the tiny wolf and gave him a gentle pat on the head. "Hey, Zephyr. What are you doing all the way back here? Where's Haxks?"
The pup responded with an exuberant bark before running around in a circle and then sitting back down.
Feng's keen ears caught the faint jingle of metal as Zephyr moved, and his eyes flickered down to the accessory adorning the pup's neck. "Sylvia," he called, nodding towards the curious item. "Take a look at that."
Intrigued, the girl leaned in closer and noticed the necklace. She reached out to touch it, feeling the weight of the pendant in her hand. With a gentle tug, she opened the locket and discovered a folded piece of parchment nestled inside.
"What is it?" asked Feng curiously.
"It… looks like a note," she responded, delicate fingers carefully unfolding it.
Feng homed in close and they both began to read. While they were thankful the simplicity of the message took into account the fact that their literary skills had a lot to be desired, they were still flabbergasted by the information contained within:
—Harmless demihuman goblins and their human mothers. Please look after them until I figure something out.
Haxks
"Goblins? Human women? You've got to be kidding me!" Feng exclaimed, his frustration evident. "It's only been a few days, and he's already getting mixed up in everyone's business."
Sylvia chuckled, finding Feng's reaction amusing. "So, what do you want to do? Now that you're our village chief, it's your decision to make."
Feng ran a hand through his hair with a groan. "First, let's get Zephyr out of sight. It would be painful if April had to say her goodbyes a second time."
"Good idea," Sylvia agreed with a nod.
"Zephyr," Feng called, standing up and scanning the area. "Can you lead us back to them, the ones Haxks wants us to protect?"
"Kyuu~"
As the canine disposed himself to the request, he pondered whether Daisuke was keeping himself out of trouble as promised.