Her companion was incredibly scary, things she had done in a short amount of time she knew were not normal, Azure groaned as their wagon finally entered the City of Razul.
Not only was Aqua untouchable in physical fights but she discovered that she was a powerful caster.
Azure looked around, her gaze sweeping across the bustling city, travelers and residents trading and each building masterfully constructed with precision she had never seen before but she did not care about the majesty of the city before her, nor did she want to admire the architecture of humanity.
After all, Azure was here for only one reason, and that was to rescue her friend before the Disciples of Mindgott their hands on the princess.
While it would take a long time for them to brainwash her dear friend, she would not allow them to hold her for even a second longer than necessary.
At least that was what she hoped, once She and Aqua entered the city, both women were completely lost.
And even Laura, someone who was her enemy until recently had no idea where the princess might have been held.
And Aqua, who she already considered a friend ever since their initial skirmish told her precious little.
'I truly do feel like I can trust her, even if she is kind of scary' Azure smiled as she followed Laura and Aqua closely.
Their illusions still held firm, but Azure still didn't fully trust in magic alone even if she did trust her new friend to keep her safe.
Red Dawn was after all an enemy territory for non-humans, and hostile at best for those who were invited.
Alas, Azure had no way to prove to guards that she was part of the royal convoy, and as such she was liable to be taken prisoner at sight.
Even as royals they would be taken advantage of and arrested for any minor transgression.
She had no idea why King would even risk his daughter by sending her to Red Dawn, even if the threat to their kingdom was great, it wouldn't make sense to risk royal blood by sending a delegation of elves into a human supremacist kingdom.
She tried to think, she knew her home was being threatened by other nations, but why would her king send them to Red Dawn?
Perhaps Sheira knew, but Azure was kept in the dark with all but necessary information for her mission.
Escort Sheira to Red Dawn and support her as she tries to negotiate support for her nation.
She couldn't understand the king's logic, and she didn't need to, her duty as a shield made her obey even if she didn't understand.
She didn't question the king's decision at all until now that is.
She only ever heard stories about Red Dawn's advancements in technology and practices of slavery, but she always wrote them off as over-exaggeration or fearmongering.
But stepping into the City of Razul broke that veil of ignorance, she witnessed her own kin serving and carrying items for their human masters, her proud kin acting like dogs for humans, not only elves but other humanoids as well.
And she did not want to think of what twisted life these enslaved elves would have in the homes of their masters.
While humans seemed to enjoy a life of luxury and wealth, all humanoids she saw were bound to their masters, following silently as they were ordered.
The scenes made Azure sick, she couldn't believe her king would try to negotiate with these people.
'We should have been waging war to liberate our kin, not seek alliance!' She screamed internally as her gaze washed over the city.
She followed Laura and Aqua into what seemed to be an Inn which was recommended by Laura, a sign hanging above an intricate door {Wanderer's Hope}
Laura entered first shortly followed by a duo of disguised elves, they approached one of the empty tables before sitting down.
'This Inn seems pretty cozy' Azure relaxed slightly as she slumped in her seat.
The inn was rather spacious, with two sets of stairs leading to the second floor which Azure assumed were living quarters, a bar was situated between two stairways, obscuring a door that had a sign {Kitchen- Only authorized personnel allowed} engraved right above it.
She looked over other tables, all humans dressed in the finest silk and adorned by jewelry were enjoying various foodstuff and drinks.
Azure looked over as she saw elven girls carrying trays with food and drinks back and forth their faces and eyes lifeless, almost like a zombie.
'What is wrong with these elves?' Azure spoke to herself as she looked at the elves with a disgusted look.
Her proud race was reduced to servants of humans, not only waitresses but in what she could only assume were VIP lounges she saw Elven girls being used as exotic dancers.
What all of them had in common was that they all had the same dead look on their faces, and their movement almost mechanical in nature.
'Is this the handiwork of Disciples of Mind that Laura and Aqua mentioned…' Azure thought while suppressing her rage.
She thought she could handle everything, even the enslavement of her people, oh how wrong she was.
The moment Sheira's escort left Elven Kingdom Azure's world turned upside down.
Where she thought she was unbeatable before, now seemed that every second person she saw was more powerful than her.
First the attackers of Golden Rose and then Aqua, she wanted to laugh at the absurdity, she was a captain of honor guard and undefeated champion, weaker than some mercenaries.
While she could accept being weaker than Aqua, who seemed unreachable with feats she could do, and she dreaded to know what her full capabilities were.
She couldn't forgive herself for being weaker than the mercenaries of Golden Rose.
Azure glanced at Aqua and then at Laura, while she did not blame Laura for the direct attack, which had shown the woman in a more favorable light than the ones conducting the attack and kidnapping Laura was still not blameless.
While she had no reason to help Laura search for her leader, it was necessary to bring the monster to justice, and if that monster betrayed his most loyal followers she couldn't leave Laura to suffer alone, even if she once was an enemy.
Azure was supposed to be a shield and that shield was pierced by thorns of Golden Rose, she couldn't live with herself knowing that. She knew what needed to be done, she needed to start her training from scratch. She needed to learn basics once again and improve to greater levels than she was before.
But her training would wait until her friend was safe and sound, and if she is spared of execution, she would commit her whole being to getting stronger for her liege.
From the corner of her eye, she witnessed a blond female elf girl approach their table her blue eyes lost their shine of life long ago, and she was dressed in standard maid dress giving her a charming look, at least if one could get past her lifeless stare.
An elven slave approached their table and after giving a deep bow, with a tired voice said.
"May I… have your orders…" She spoke in a way machine would, rigid and emotionless.
While her body didn't seem thin as one would expect from a slave, her free will was still bound.
Azure glanced at Aqua, hoping that her new companion would say something, or at least offer a way to help these elves, and yet her new friend said or did nothing, but instead only stared at the unfortunate girl.
Her rage was boiling deep within her heart but she knew she was helpless, if in her rage she did something rash, it would put Sheira, Aqua, and even Laura in great danger.
Azure sighed as she had only one hope, that Sheira wouldn't end up like elven girls serving in this Inn.
And for that purpose, she needed to hurry and find her friend.
****
Incredible, that's all Aqua could say. While monstrous and unforgivable she could at least say that their expertise in brainwashing was second to none.
All of the elves she saw in this city were not elves in the true sense anymore, both their mind and souls altered permanently to be something else.
She could see potential in such a technique, but despite its potential humanity used it to make mindless tools.
'All non-humans in this city are more akin to automatons, but organic in nature' She gazed at the elven waitresses moving mechanically through the inn.
She knew Azure was furious at this scene, but these girls couldn't be saved, their souls and minds were twisted beyond repair.
A technique so dangerous that it could only be practiced when not under the gaze of the gods.
She could sense their soul existing inside the husks that once were elves, twisted and broken but at least possible to salvage with great care, but their mind was well and truly beyond repair, even for her.
What made it even more impossible to save them was that she couldn't see the familiar shine of life essence but in its place, there was a black haze instead.
These Elves had neither chain of divine nor faint signature that all life produces, they were more akin to undead and yet they were most certainly alive as the presence of soul proved.
It truly made her sad that her kin was used like this, but she knew that it was a bad idea to do anything rash at the current moment.
A poorly thought-out decision could draw the attention of unknown parties.
And for better or for worse, the spell that she placed on Sheira still held, which meant that she was alive.
But knowing that these people could do this to her people meant that her spell might not protect her. She truly underestimated this kingdom, a mortal kingdom, powerful enough to bar the divine influence completely and practice the most monstrous techniques a mortal can possess.
While she could sense the divine gaze over the kingdom, the divine parasites were incapable of spreading their corruption.
'Perhaps we need to speed up this rescue mission. If I do this alone both Azure and Sheira might avoid unnecessary danger' Aqua thought.
But if she took away Azure's act of redemption she would most certainly end her own life.
While clearly impressed she didn't know how to treat this kingdom. After all this kingdom until now proved to be hostile to anyone who was not a human but their fight against divine parasites was something she could fall in love with.
In the end, she decided it would be best to leave the mission to duty-bound Azure and only step in if Sheira seemed to either be near death or her mind and soul were in danger of being rewritten.
She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't notice a lifeless elf approach their table before speaking "May I… have your orders…" which pulled her out of her mind allowing her to observe one of the husks up close.
Upon closer observation, this girl seemed to not have any physical mistreatment visible on her face and skin.
'Possible that husks used by hospitality establishments were taken better care of so that the guests might enjoy their presence more' She leaned closer, ignoring stares from both Laura and Azure.
She was about to touch the husk, but before her hands even reached her she heard a shout.
Then a human male who Aqua could assume was the owner as he was the only human around rushed to the table.
"MISS!, please do not touch the Slaves! If you are interested in pleasure-oriented slaves you will need to visit Night's Desire Brothel. You will be able to find it close to Eastern Gate." Man caught his breath as he stood next to the elven husk.
His gaze falls over 3 women with a condescending look.
He was quite fat, both his body and face taken over by his apparent gluttony, his silken clothes barely holding his body contained and his brown hair short and sparse.
Inn most likely only existed to provide shelter for travelers, since from what she saw in memories of both Laura and Duo of Disciples at the checkpoint. Humans did not need to work as long as they were residents, but that didn't mean crowns were useless, after all, they could be used to procure exotic goods from elsewhere.
And what better way to obtain profits than using free sentient tools, this man most certainly had a great amount of wealth stashed somewhere, waiting for its use.
Aqua didn't know what use crowns had other than trading with merchants coming into the city.
Memories of all the people she gazed into didn't contain that information.
Perhaps it could be used to purchase additional non-human slaves in addition to trading with travelers.
No, it took Aqua a moment but she understood, that these profits could be used in cities that weren't considered blessed cities.
In memories, she saw, only a portion of humans lived in these utopias while most lived in other cities where they weren't afforded luxuries like free slaves.
And it seemed that nonresidents were considered lesser in this city from the way man was looking at them.
Laura was first to speak "Please forgive my friend, this is her first time in the city"
Laura bowed deeply as she apologized, making the man huff.
Man looked over the trio and after a moment of silence, he huffed and shouted.
"Do not let it repeat, outsider!" The man shouted before making his way to the back of the Inn.
***
Laura sighed as she took her seat.
"Server, We want to order 3 portions of dragon steak and white wine, go!" Laura ordered the server.
Husk bowed deeply before saying "It shall…be done…mistress"
As the server disappeared in the back of the Inn she glanced over at both Aqua and Azure.
She didn't know how to feel when giving orders to an elven slave in the presence of two elves who could kill her in an instant.
While Azure seemed annoyed and ready to tear her throat out, Aqua fortunately seemed rather calm.
'Thank the divine that she seems more reasonable than her friend' Laura sighed as she remembered that Azure could be quite emotional.
The duo of elven girls was the only way for her to uncover if Fang betrayed her.
'No, I don't want to entertain that option. There must be an explanation' She tried to convince herself.
It took almost half an hour but she noticed a duo of elven slaves, both sharing a similar appearance, like twins would.
The twins were carrying their food and slowly approached their table and placed the food in front of the girls.
Laura gave the slave a small pouch of crowns to one of the slaves as payment before shooing them away "Good job, begone now".
A duo of elven slaves bowed deeply before walking away, carrying the pouch to the fat man.
"Now, Let's plan our next move while we enjoy the lunch" Laura smiled nervously as she slowly cut a piece of steak, ignoring Azure's annoyed expression.