Axel, regaining composure, looked for the lady he chased, was nowhere to be found. He then surveyed his surroundings once again, he did not smell any weird stench that he was expecting from a witch's lair, it was more of a floral fragrance that does not match the settings at all. He then noticed that there are vials around that contains some chemicals, not being familiar with such crafts, he decided against touching it as he doesn't really know what these magics can do.
He then updated his team, "Comet Team, this is Comet 01. Stand by and hold your current positions. I am currently unsure of my exact location. I will transmit further instructions once I establish comms with the Arcanist. If I do not make contact within the next hour, you are cleared to extract. Over and out."
"Hey, missy! I promise, I mean no harm!" Axel called out, his voice steady and soothing. "I was sent to rescue you. We fight for humanity, not some misguided crusade against heretics. You don't have to be afraid. Just come out, and let's get you to safety!" His words echoed back to him, swallowed by the shadows of the cave, leaving only silence in response.
As Axel scanned the cave, which had been transformed into an unconventional home, he marveled at the multiple entrances adorned with colorful tapestries and intricately woven decorations. Stalactites adorned with gold and silver hung from the ceiling like nature's chandeliers, casting a soft glow in the dim light. One particular alcove caught his eye, a room brimming with lavishly decorated clothes that seemed to belong to a family. Fine fabrics in rich hues draped elegantly on makeshift racks, suggesting the presence of a man, a woman, and children. 'Could this be a settlement of a family?' he wondered, the sight stirring a mix of curiosity and sympathy within him. While he rummaged through the vibrant garments, a sudden movement caught him off guard. With a sharp whistle, a cup flew through the air, aimed straight for his head. The All Cloak responded, deflecting the projectile with its rugged build. The cup clattered harmlessly to the ground, followed by an angry shout behind him.
"Don't touch those!" The lady yelled at him, her calm eyes he saw at first was replaced by a fierce expression.
Axel, looking at his back to see the young lady, was stunned for a moment, he even thought he was seeing the goddess of humanity itself, the maiden possesses an ethereal beauty, with snow-white skin that radiates purity. Her long, flowing blonde hair cascades gracefully down her waist, framing a face adorned with willow-like eyebrows. Her striking blue eyes, as clear as the sparkling waters of the Alps, reflect her gentle spirit. He even thought her angry expression looked a little cute but then he composed himself then replied, "calm down, missy, I'm not here to cause trouble." He raised his hands signaling he meant no harm. "You see those big, bad lizards up there? We have them wiped out for now, but I reckon, there will be more to come if we stick around here."
"Humph! I don't believe you. I am strong! Forget about that, those are my parent's clothes put them down this instant!" The lady demanded while he points a makeshift blade towards Axel.
He complied but wanted to ask more so he bend one of his knees to show that he really meant no harm, "missy where are your parents now, they must be out there somewhere, why don't we find them so that you can reunite."
Axel oblivious to his words made the maiden cry, her eyes now contained rage and hatred. Her eyes that used to be blue turned scarlet as if she was possessed, the surrounding started to burn up, Axel noticing the system warning that the temperature of the vicinity increased to about 350 degrees Celsius, trying to calm her down, he walks towards the young lady, but the lady growled at her as if she was a wild beast.
"If you come any closer, we'll both go to hell! Believe me!" the lady hissed as the stone walls of the cave started to melt as her anger rise.
Axel, seeing the All Cloak performing splendidly amidst the tension, continued to step forward, "missy, I'm only doing my job, if you come with me, we can talk this out nicely, I'm not sure of what you've been through, but you have to trust me."
Seeing him walk towards her despite how high the temperature was, the lady then pulled the scorching hot knife from the side. "I'd rather die than to be a slave! You are but a monster covered in a skin of a man!"
Seeing that things might go south if this continued, he removed one of his hands from the All Cloak to prove he was a human, even though the temperature of the cave indicated by the system was about two thousand degrees Celsius, he felt his hand sizzle which made him wince in pain and the heat started to cook him alive. He was ready to do anything, as long as she comes with him to complete the mission.
The young lady was well aware of nightmarish existences and abominable creatures hunting them down for a long time, however seeing that Axel's hand was made of flesh and blood that was being cooked alive, her face turned from boiling anger to a pale of fear, fear of hurting a fellow man just trying to help her out, she might look young and naive but she was not heartless to not notice that the man will die if she continues. She turned off the heat, the cave suddenly cooled down, but all the furniture, clothes and other items were now disintegrated and most of them turned to dust, the metal furnishing, now just puddle of ingots on the floor.
"Are you stupid? Are you trying to get yourself killed! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid man!" she looked at his charred black hand, still smoking, the hand resembled a piece of firewood that had been used for hours. As soon as Axel touched it, it crumbled into ashes on the floor.
Axel sweating profusely under the All Cloak, couldn't help chuckling exasperatedly then he told, "Oh well, there goes an arm, look missy if you need a hand let me help you." He extended his remaining right arm toward the young lady, still trying to show goodwill despite her hot temper, but she looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Why do I need your hand, I even have two, while you only have one!" She swatted away his hand, the lady about to dust off her clothes, did not notice she didn't have any at all. As the lady touched her naked body, she shuddered and then ran screaming out of the cave.
"Missy, come back!" Axel chased after her thinking she might do something to hurt herself.
The woman huddled in the corner of the room, clutching a piece of burnt leather that barely covered her body as tears streamed down her face. With a mix of anger and despair, she glared at her and said, "You've seen my body, haven't you? Just go away. I can't marry now. Your impure gaze has tainted me. If I can't escape this shame, there's nothing left for me but to end it all."
Axel, having his patience worn down, spoke bluntly, "Look here, missy, you're the one who got so fired up all of a sudden, like literally on fire. Where was I at fault here? Aren't you being unreasonable? I only came here to rescue you, yet you flared up the moment I asked a question." His tone softened slightly as he added, "I'm trying to help you, but this can't be the way you want to end things."
"I don't want to live anymore, mom and dad told me they'd come back after a few days, but I've been here for almost a month, I haven't eaten in the last few days and I'm sure they're dead. Just kill me, I don't want to get help from anyone." Axel looked at the lady's eyes, those are the same dead eyes he once had after her almost two-decade long relationship came to an end.
He felt a pang of sympathy for the girl, but he wasn't a therapist equipped to say the right words to someone in despair. Uncertain whether his words would have a positive or negative effect, he found himself at a loss. Then, a solution sparked in his mind. He surveyed the area for any blades she could potentially use for self-harm and quickly reached out to the Operations Officer.
"Mission Control, I've located a girl here whose presence raises the temperature of the area to unbearable levels."
"Comet 01, that's a Thermal Arcanist. They are among our most valuable assets, but our records show she has been rescued twice before, and both times she succumbed to suicide due to severe depression. This will not be an easy task."
"Mission Control, what are my next steps? I can't abandon her to endure this alone, can I? Didn't you help me when I was in a similar situation? How can I not try to save this girl?"
The Operations Officer paused for a moment then replied, "Comet 01, you are authorized to engage with her. If you can gain her allegiance to our cause, it would be beneficial. However, if she wishes to return to a peaceful life, we will honor that decision. If it is her desire to remain here, we will not force her to join us. This responsibility falls to you."
With a steely resolve, he responded, "Understood, Mission Control. I will take full responsibility for her well-being."
Axel walked back to the lady, his conscience gnawing at him for his earlier outburst. He hadn't meant to speak so harshly, but now he was at a loss for what to do. Drawing on the chivalric ideals from the medieval dramas he'd watched, he devised a plan. Approaching the lady with newfound determination, he said with confidence.
"Missy, I assure you, my intentions are pure, and I did not mean to sully your dignity with my gaze or embarrass you in any way. As a gentleman, I take full responsibility for my actions. Please accept my sincerest apologies."
The young lady, mistaking his clumsy words for a gallant display of chivalry, was left utterly dumbfounded. "Humph! You pig bastard! Now that you've seen me naked, you really think I'm just going to lie here while you woo me? Dream on! From now on you'll be feeding me, brushing my hair and making sure I'm well fed. Also don't touch me! I hate you!"
Axel, hearing her response, was left speechless. He took a moment to ponder his choice of words and realized that this era had a peculiar obsession with honor and dignity, which made his apology sound more like a declaration to a lover. He understood that in this context, words could not be taken lightly, but it was too late for regret. Then a thought struck him as he considered her words: 'Did she really just ask me to feed her twice? How will I brush your hair if you don't want me to touch you?' He steadied himself and pulled out the rations he had prepared for himself, it was homemade hamburgers, to be precise. Having once been quite the culinary master in his little apartment, he took pride in his cooking skills.
As the aroma wafted through the air, the young lady couldn't help but gulp and eye the burger like a hawk. Perhaps this feeding detail wasn't going to be so bad after all.
"Humph! You call this sustenance? Just some bread and meat. Is this how a man treats women nowadays? The morality of men in this day and age has truly declined!" She delivered her profound and meaningful words with a flair, yet her hands betrayed her as she snatched the burger and stuffed it into her mouth. Oblivious to the irony of her criticism, the lady's eyes sparkled at the taste as she chewed on the tender beef, savoring the special sauce and soft bread. The egg even added a delightful flavor, creating a blend that burst in her mouth. So engrossed in the culinary experience, she began to cry while chewing on the burger, presumably overwhelmed by both the taste and the realization that sometimes, a good meal can make you forget all about your principles.
Axel, being somewhat unempathetic, didn't understand why the lady was crying. In an attempt to help, he pulled out some apple juice. He recalled a time from his childhood when he cried from thirst, and the orphanage director gave him apple juice, which made him happy. He thought it might cheer her up, so he decided to give it a try. Axel, trying to lift the young lady's spirits, wore a smile that looked more like a cry as he handed her the drink.
Seeing his dog-like smile, the young lady noticed the straw and the unusual container, recognizing it as a drink. With a snort, she snatched it from his hand, but as she took a sip, her tears only increased. This reaction alarmed Axel even more, leaving him at a loss for what to do. He couldn't fathom how things had escalated to this point. What would happen next?