Ezekiel opened the carriage door and stepped inside. It was small but lavishly decorated, unlike the grim surroundings outside.
A girl sat hunched on a velvet cushion. She was beautiful, with long, flowing hair and eyes that held both fear and defiance. But her beauty was overshadowed by exhaustion and despair. Her face was pale, her eyes hollow.
"I'm here to save you," Ezekiel said softly.
The girl flinched, her eyes widening in alarm. "Save me?" she scoffed. "Who are you?"
"My name is Ezekiel," he replied, stepping closer. "I'm here to help."
"Help? How can a child like you possibly help?"
"Well... I can use magic," Ezekiel explained. "And I have this!" He held up the cutter. "I can free you."
Diana stared at the cutter, surprised that someone like him had managed to acquire a Controller Tool. But she remained wary. Something felt off, and she had been suspicious ever since her betrayal in the Grafted Forest.
"Why should I trust you? You could be one of them."
"I'm not," Ezekiel insisted. "I saw you being taken, and I knew I had to do something."
Diana hesitated and her gaze switched between Ezekiel and the cutter.
She was desperate for freedom, but she couldn't risk trusting the wrong person.
"Prove it," she demanded. "Show me you're not one of them."
Ezekiel thought for a moment then had an idea.
Whoosh!
He flung off his brown cloak. Beneath it, he wore the attire of a high-ranking noble, someone close to the dukes. He, too, was of Marquis status, just like Diana.
Diana remained unconvinced sge knew clothes could be deceiving.
"I don't believe you."
"Oi! Gerald, why are you on the ground?!" a voice shouted from outside.
BANG!
Ezekiel shot another Energy Bullet at the approaching guard. Diana flinched at the sudden attack.
"Is that enough?" Ezekiel asked.
Diana stared at him almost in disbelief at the sight.
"That was... okay. I believe you."
"Good," Ezekiel smiled. "Now, let me free you."
He carefully cut the ropes binding Diana's neck and wrists. The shear-like cutter sliced through the restraints. Diana rubbed her wrists, relief flooding her as she regained feeling in her hands.
"Thank you," she said. "But I assume you didn't just come for me, right?"
"No I plan on saving everyone here."
Ezekiel's goal was absolute. He would do what he must, regardless of the circumstances.
"We'll move on to the second carriage and try to free as many people as possible," he declared, his voice filled with determination.
Diana looked at him, puzzled by his thought process, but nodded in response. She didn't have much of a choice.
Within the next 18 minutes, Ezekiel and Diana managed to free all the slaves from their restraints.
"Now that we've freed everyone," Diana began, voicing the question she had been holding back, "you do have a plan for what to do afterward, right?"
"Uh... actually, I don't," Ezekiel admitted sheepishly.
"...!"
Diana's eyebrows shot up, her confusion evident.
"You mean to tell me you went in without a plan after saving all these people?!"
"Yeah..."
Diana felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Not only was there the complication of the guards waking up, but this boy her age hadn't thought things through before diving headfirst into the camp.
"Also, who's that behind you?" Ezekiel asked, pointing towards a girl with wolf-like ears but a human appearance.
"This person... ehem, I just want them to stay near me for no particular reason, of course!"
Diana stuttered nearly flustered as The half-human girl remained hidden behind her.
Diana had no logical reason for bringing the wolf-girl she'd seen caged at the Serfdom. But she saw a reflection of her own desperation in the girl's eyes, and that's why she'd brought her along.
"Oh well... do you have a plan by any chance?" Ezekiel asked, scratching his head cluelessly.
Diana sighed. "I do."
...
...
...
Within the next 20 minutes, Diana and Ezekiel managed to tie up all the sleeping guards and confine them to a single tent. All that was left was their leader.
"All the horses are ready, Miss Diana,"
Ezekiel announced, rushing into the tent where Diana stood before the bound guards. She wanted to do many things to these people, but it was too early in her life to stain her hands with blood.
Ezekiel replied, taking his position as guard. He watched the bound figures, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope. They fidgeted, attempting to move, but the ropes held them well.
KLOP...KLOP...KLOP...
The sound of horses galloping away filled the air. Ezekiel looked out and saw the carriages disappearing into the distance, leaving only the luxury carriage behind. Diana stood at the forefront of the now empty space, the half-human girl at her side. With the slaves gone and only the leader remaining, Ezekiel turned towards Diana.
"Hey! We need to get the leader now."
He rushed towards Diana, but the half-human girl flinched and backed away.
Diana nodded. "Okay," she replied, and began to explain her plan.
THUD...THUD... THUD...
But before she could explain heavy footsteps pounded the earth, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.
"....!"
The wind picked up a swirling breeze and countless whispers passed into the ears of Ezekiel.
"What's going on?!"
Diana reflexively took a stance feeling the tense atmosphere change.
-Those footsteps!
Ezekiel's eyes widened. He recognized who they were coming from.
Then a final whisper told him everything he needed to know.
"It's coming,"