Lorient POV

Walking for 2 weeks with the Fairies, the Dwarf prisoner, and Larry was... slow and exhausting. But my mood made a 180° turn after seeing Furri from far away!

Furri is part of the Leonandra Territory and was built for more efficient logistics as we have a big sea and a river in Moorgrel, which comes from the north.

It is a city that should have around a million residents – not as big as Wolfsteeth, but it has something different that really makes my heart pump – it has more variety of beast-kins who came from the west to work at the harbor.

Walking towards the "walls," they are small, only 1m tall, presumably for the appearance's sake – barely not existing.

This explains the ton of ditches dug out on the way here, likely for stopping monsters or, rather, redirecting them to a narrow path.

My history teacher told me they are like this because of its rapid expansion for the last 50 years.

As we built this city, like every other town around this sea and river down south in the last 300 years, this harbor village expanded enormously.

We needed a lot of logistic points for further trade and transportation. Thus workers were required.

The influx of new residents had us destroy the old infrastructure, like the walls, and build anew - after 3 times of breaking down the wall and rebuilding it, we stopped building sturdy walls out of sand-lime and started to build with adobe and much shorter every time.

I was also told that the walls inside were too massive and obstructive to keep them there. And now there is just barely anything.

I think Narsi knows more about it, but the reason why we did this should be because it is cheaper to pay a couple of mercenaries and adventurers for hunting down the monsters in the forest or on the plane than pay every couple of years for a new giant wall, which will in the end even obstruct the infrastructure inside the city when we decide to expand again.

It may be in the short term a bit expensive because of the personnel cost, but in the long term, it is much cheaper, as long as we keep expanding. In the end, stonemasons and, in general, workers are more expensive than guys from the guilds.

And because we keep going with the expansion, ditches are a better solution for the short term, and the Mole-kin will probably do this for a cheap coin.

Narrowing down the monster's path through the ditches is easy and cheap - the rest will be done by the hires or Guards.

Thinking about invasions from other families is more or less useless as the Leonandra family is politically deeply intertwined with Moorgrel's nobles. Attacking us also means attacking yourself economically, and there would be nobody there anymore to defend from the east.

Politics are a cluster of interests, and we are deep inside them.

Should a situation like that occur, I have no doubt in mind that we could defend ourselves. We are the strongest and most vital force in this region. While they could maybe siege us quite fast, due to the lack of walls, it would quickly end with our counterattack, and they know it.

Having dozens of peak Tier 2 fighters is something that not even barons or viscounts have.

While I was thinking about all that, we went through the entrance.

'It is just a stand between the "wall" with a dozen guards or so... well, it makes sense since nobody pays any tolls and stuff - they only check for dangerous goods and so on.'

While walking together with more people inside, everyone looked at the dwarf with anxiety.

A guard came over and pointed at the bound dwarf. "Hello, young lad, what do we have here?"

Looking at Larry, I waved my hand – he came over and brought a red badge out of one of his pockets.

The badge was square, and a bit clunky but was intricately designed – on it was an engraving of a wolf's head biting into a demon with 2 horns.

The guard's eyes opened wide, and he looked back at me while I just smiled at him.

He inhaled and exhaled strongly, seeing how his face paled, poor Cat-kin, as he lived probably not in our territory and didn't know that the Leonandra children are not spoiled noble brats who get furious about every little thing... well, we sometimes do. Still, we never ruin commoner's life or anything of that sort!

I sighed, thinking how the other brats ruined the noble's conduct and how others see us.

In contrast to us, Dad's status is a lot more different as he is a noble and a druid. Druids are part of the Temple of Nature and almost free to do what they want as they are spiritual figures who accompany us in difficult situations as they do a ton of charity work with the Temple together.

They usually have the same rights as commoners. Still, no noble would be stupid enough to mess around with our spiritual leaders, as they are probably the most influential group, right after the royalty.

You maybe could defend against a couple of Druids but not against a flock of angry commoners.

They usually choose to distance themselves from politics and only involve themselves when nobles go against them or their doctrines.

Oh, did the guard say something? I was in my own world. "I was thinking about something. What did you say?"

The guard *gulped* and said, presumably, what he said before, "I mean to ask, what does Ms. Leonandra have to do with this dirty dwarf?"

I just shrugged my shoulders. "We got attacked and killed the rest of them. He is the only surviving one which we then caught."

The Cat-kin looked more relaxed now and nodded towards Larry and me since he identified him as probably my babysitter. "Please wait here for a moment. We will get a slave collar."

Looking back at me and probably waiting for my permission, I just nodded, and he ran towards some house made out of adobe with the symbol on it, the same as my token has. 'He should need a couple of minutes.'

I looked back and saw the Fairies looking at everything curiously.

This gives me at least the information that they are a group that is more isolated and never went to larger cities.

This is all I have about them, to be honest, and while traveling, we only occasionally talked about food and other customs which differentiate them and us, that is it. Never even saying their name and calling themselves by superficial titles.

'Oh, he came back… with someone?' Seeing the Red furred Cat-kin was following an Elephant-kin.

She is a 2.50m big bulk woman, wearing full plate armor, two giant tusks with red tattoos engraved in them, and a massive double-handed ax on her back. 'The engravings probably symbolize her tribe or so.'

A wide smile bloomed on her, showing her yellow teeth, "Good day Ms. Lorient!"

She knows me somehow. I wasn't often in Furri to know the locals, though. Tilting my head, I tried to force a smile. "Good day…"

"How are you, Sjantja? Did you already smother your Husband, hohoho!" Before I could further disgrace myself, Larry saved the day.

I tried my hardest not to laugh at Larry's laugh - it is promising that he knows her.

Sjantja turned towards Larry and grunted at him, "At least I have a cute husband. What about you?"

Larry crossed his arms before his chest. "I am Ms. Lorient's personal protector!".

They looked at each other for a good minute until something I was very familiar with interrupted them. "GUHAHAHAHA! Look at these children!"

Turning around, my eyes became almost instantly teary, and a quiet voice left my mouth "…Dad…".

Looking down at me with an extensive and joyous smile was the lord of this territory, a peak Tier 3 druid full of raw power, the Husband of my Mother and my Dad, which I didn't saw for the last 1 ½ years… which made me incredibly angry, not because solely for me but also because of Sarah, thinking how she missed him. Narsi should also miss him, but he is more composed. Then, there was Alex. Even if I consider him more intelligent than me, Alex probably thinks that not knowing his father is normal. In ordinary noble families, that is, but we are the LEONANDRAS! WE PUT FAMILY OVER EVERYTHING!

Looking back at him, all the frustration and anger went through me like a tidal wave, which I held back for at least a year. As I swung my leg back, "YOU COULD AT LEAST SENT A LETTER TO US YOU GIANT IDIOT!" and swung against his thigh, and a *Bang* was heard.

Silence. Nobody even dared to say something as I cried quietly after kicking the lord.

From my peripheral view, I could see all the others around me. The Guards stood just there like made out of stone, with pale faces – they probably forgot to sweat. The Fairies were similarly in terrible condition.

The dwarf was… well, he was already dead inside. Dad's soldiers were standing there and just waiting, fully relaxed like this is what they expected from his own blood. All the other onlookers stepped back and were ready to run away if this giant started to get angry.

As for Larry, he grabbed his Mace on his back, not to attack me, but he looked at my Dad, ready to defend me at any cost – the loyalty of the personal protector was scary.

The only sound that was heard was minutes of me staying there, crying but not looking away. My pride doesn't allow it.

The smile on his face was no more as he looked purely neutral at me.

…

He bent forward, I didn't even blink, and he kissed me on my forehead. Standing again, he solemnly said while shaking his head, "I apologize, Lori, you know how Dad is - I never forgot about you but forgot to send a letter. Your Dad is a real idiot."

Before I could think what to say as my anger slowly faded away, suddenly, he took me and threw me over his shoulder. As no killing intent and bloodlust was felt around him, Larry let him do it. He slapped me on my butt *Spank!* "And this is for being such a bratty child! GUHAHAHAHA!"

Did he…spank me in public…? It didn't hurt at all, but the… humiliation… my face started to turn red. "YOU…"

Interrupting my rant before I could even begin. "GUHAHAHA! Calm down, little pup! You have more than enough time later for your ol' pops!"

'…I will strangle Dad….'

"Hey, Guard commander, organize some rooms for her and my men… also… I want to see this little guy here later…." Killing intent was felt, but before it erupted to something more terrifying, "*ahem! * Killing intent, my Lord!".

It subsided instantly. Thank you, Saru! Being so close to him, I would probably faint. Well, I will think the whole strangle thing through first, I guess…

"GUHAHA! Got too excited - got to go and talk with the little leaves first. Do you have a place for a good private talk?"

Letting me down again, he caressed my head… such a big hand. Looking at him, his gaze went towards the Fairies – oh, right, they were there too…

"You are leaves from the Twin-Acorn Temple, right? What are you doing so far out from your compound – That means… that old bitch…."

"MR. DRUID! YOU CAN'T TALK LIKE THAT ABOUT THE SE…" Before the Fairy could say more, the one with the wreath in her hair interrupted by touching her by the shoulder.

"Lady?" Shaking her head, she made it clear to ignore it.

Huh, did Dad provoke them purposely? Looking at him smile like this, he either doesn't like the one he called bitch or probably wanted to tease the Fairies. He called them "Leaves," which means they are somewhere at the bottom of the Temple's hierarchy while Dad is in the higher rankings.

However, he looked at Sjantja with a big smile. "So sweety, can you give the little ones and me a room for some private talk? Right now, it is a bit crowded! GUHAHAHAHA!"

Looking around… he was not wrong. There was a big crowd around us, standing, listening, and watching us.

Sjantja did the salute. "Please follow me, my Lord!"

As they started walking towards, what was possibly one of the guard's offices, Dad turned around. "What are you standing like that, pup? Oh, and all of you are dismissed, if you want, stay here, if not, come with me to the Estate - you need to be in around 4 weeks there, so you are free to do what you want till then! Saru, give them the bonus!"

Coming back out of my stupor by the cheering of his soldiers, I felt a bit elated! I can follow Dad and look what the Fairies have to say, which was bugging me all the time!

Catching up to Dad, Saru was already organizing everything for Dad's men while we walked towards the house made out of adobe which should be one of the guard's offices.

It was painted crimson like every guard's building, so others could notice them more quickly. I never saw a building painted in the same color, so there is probably a law that forbids it so residents can easily find the guard's facilities.

Looking at all other constructions, they are painted and decorated randomly. Some are yellow, some are white, some even are rainbow-colored. It is all over the place.

The administration of Furri probably doesn't care about it, while Wolfsteeth is much more systematically administrated. 'It will all be Narsiz's problem in the future, as I really don't care about such things.'

He will probably get a divine legacy in the path of bureaucracy, so he will presumably have his internship in a couple of years in such a city. After that, he will get to administer a smaller town, and so on.

Maybe, he will play the Bureaucrat for our Military, which would be fantastic - he is excellent in these matters. Only time will tell what happens.

*clank*

There wasn't much inside, to be honest, just a counter, wanted lists, job offers similar to the adventurer's guild. Behind the counter, you could see some tables with chairs where some Guards have their break and eat.

At the counter, many other guards are talking to some residents. They probably are here to complain.

It is interesting to have many different kinds of beast-kin living in a city this big, but it brings many problems, as everyone has their own sort of thing going on.

Mole-kins sometimes make holes under their houses and disrupt the structure of other buildings around them. Bat-kin's try to buy blood from beautiful beast-kins. It will scare them out of their wits, even if it is in good faith. Some giant beast-kins tend to destroy something easily, then they get angry and punch a hole through a building. And so on, even Canine-kins, like Wolf-kins, are terrible. In mating season, we basically are nerve wrecks.

"What are you looking around, pup?" looking at Dad, who was as casual as I remember him... well, except in fights with monsters, he was like another Beast-kin, the killing intent alone is so extreme, everyone who is not a fighter, would faint instantly.

I shrugged, "Nothing, I was not often outside the Estate."

"Don't worry. You will catch up fast," I sighed out of frustration.

He looked at me confused, "What are you sighing for?"

Being frustrated, I gesticulated strongly, "I don't only want to go on a sightseeing trip. I want to fight demons!"

He shook his head, "Too young and not strong enough."

I made my biceps bulge and showed off, "But I am as strong as the normal foot soldier!"

He looked at me with a weak smile, like I was a puppy, "Hm, I know, but you need to know that your mental attitude is too weak."

This confused me, "What?"

He looked at me and pointed at my head, "The demon aura, little pup, it does not only destroy the body but also corrupt your psyche – if you don't have a strong mental attitude, you will go insane. Why do you think we can't just take a couple of thousands of soldiers, split them up, and slaughter them all?"

I frowned as I didn't know that… but how should I know – I am more than ten years away from going to the east. "Don't frown, it makes your cute face all look like my butt, GUHAHAHAHA! You will get your chance to kill them. Just give it time."

*clank*

The "private" room was a typically furnished office with a workplace, couches in the middle, and a tea table between. Probably the office for the commander.

*clank*

Inside came Saru, who was probably done or just directed the work to someone else as it was perhaps tedious to give out the bonus to everyone - he will likely just check on it later.

We sat down to the opposite side of the fairies while only Larry was behind us, and the guards waited outside, as this whole talk should be private.

The fairies looked at Dad and only their leader, the one with the wreath on her head, was relaxed. The others were nervous.

She nodded to Dad, "Mr. Druid, nice to see you. Like you already guessed, we are leaves, and you can call me Green."

Dad just nodded to it, looking bored to the extreme, and Green does not like it, telling by her facial expression.

She sighed, "Mr. Druid, our seer, looked into the demon's territory, and she has bad news for you, but before I say it, please control your killing intent..." she inhaled softly, "...there is a Tier 3 blood demon there."

Dad started to frown. "Damn it, I didn't see one for a long time…."

Looking back at me and sighing, he sounded stressed, "This means I will not be for a long time at the Estate pup."

Feeling myself instantly stressed out, I got louder, "Wait! What do you mean you will not be there for a long time?! Wasn't it estimated that this demon run will already go for 3-4 years?"

Green answered my question and sounded indifferent and dismissive, "Ms. Lorient, a blood demon is a rather troublesome foe, especially a Tier 3. They are not particularly strong but have really nasty skills."

I was utterly confused. "Blood demons, in general, are like parasites…no, they are parasites, and the higher the Tier, the more the chance that their skill becomes more sophisticated and harder to detect… so we need to eradicate him as fast as possible."

I got angrier and angrier – I GET IT! "But why do you don't help Dad then!?"

This time dad answered, "Because the old bitch doesn't have the resources, and all their Druids are already on missions of similar importance, or at least I hope so…" his face darkened. His smile became sinister "…otherwise, it is never too late for another ref…."

The Fairy looked similarly sinister right now, and a barely noticeable killing intent oozed towards Dad and me, "Mr. Druid, I would not end this sentence if I were you."

"Oho!" Standing up and looking down on them – his facial expression became more mocking but equally angry, "Did you just intimidate my daughter? Did the Twin-Acorn Temple forget their place?"

*cough*cough*cough*

*cough*cough*cough*

*cough*cough*cough*

*keeeh!* Green tried to catch air, like a fish on dry land. She has a problem with breathing?

Dads sounded now like a Devil, and his voice deepened, "You see. The seer came to me, not the other way around."

A growl was heard, which became louder at the end of the sentence… and I could sense the bloodlust – it was specially directed towards them, but it was so strong that I could feel it oozing out! "*Growl!* You think I will let myself command around like the other treehuggers!? Your whole little shit-ass branch would be eradicated if I were not here! *ROAR! *"

Dad is mad, really mad! A roar resounded like from an ancient beast, almost deafening me. I was not the only one who felt frightened, as the other Fairies, except Green, fainted – but she could barely sit.

"*STOP KAIROSO! *" A voice resounded right now from... where!? It sounds so ethereal!

His smile became softer but more mocking, "GUHAHAHA! How are you!? Didn't think you would use your little toys as your medium! WHAT A HONOR!"

Medium? Now that he said it, Green's eyes are purely glowing green right now! "*Kairoso, I want to apologize for the messenger – we know your status as a free druid and thank you for helping us without expecting anything in return*."

The probably "possessed" Green stood up and did a salute, and the blood lust slowly resided, "Tsk, fine."

He slumped on the couch, which creaked, almost not holding his massive stature, "So, tell me, if there are high-tiered blood Demons, there should be some signs of the Cathedral of Pestilence, are there not?"

Green didn't move at all from her position, and while I heard that voice that came from her as a medium, she didn't move her lips, "*We… don't know*."

Dad crossed his arms, "Tsk got it. I expect support through communication and surveillance in this campaign, so let this group stay with us."

"*Don't worry, this was my intention in the first place. I will say farewell as I can't hold this connection for long. Good luck, Kairoso*."

When she said her farewell, Green fell to the floor, unconscious. Nobody even helped her up or anything, but I felt bad for her. Looking at Larry behind me, he understood me and went to her and just threw her on the couch.

I sighed softly. He could be at least a bit more sensitive – it is not a potato sack! However, I wanted to know more about what was actually happening, but Dad was in deep thought at this moment, but his aide, Saru, started telling me what was this about.

He came close to me, and with a professional merchant smile and opening his arms, he started explaining the situation, "Ms. Lorient, it is problematic because it is so hard to eradicate a high-tiered blood Demon, and is probably the reason for this big wave..."

He frowned stronger and stronger while explaining, "...It is also possible that the Cathedral is behind it, or rather one of their experiments that went out of control. Now, what does this mean for us?"

Saru ran with his hand over his hair, "The blood demon has the nasty skill to infect other demons, monsters, and kin of all kinds and, through this infection, he can take possession of their body and control them - the higher the Tier, the higher the sophistication of the control."

He washed his frown away with a bright smile, "Luckily! In Tier 3, his control is rough enough to notice an infected one. This means obviously that we need thoroughly eradicate that thing before it can become stronger, which also means that it can, theoretically speaking, be over in half a year or could last for 10 years – short: we don't know the exact time frame."

I know about the Cathedral of Pestilence. They are more of an extreme religious group, neither good nor bad – but extreme in their testing of new sicknesses, parasites, curses, etc.

They never attack directly or do anything "bad" in that sense, as the problem comes with, as mentioned, their experiments.

While they don't test it on our Beast-kin or anything akin, it happens that their experiments go out of control. Once it does, their "experiment" can also infect others.

It has happened already a couple of times, and they "accidentally" eliminated whole towns and cities.

They are also very open-minded and don't care about race or status. Their heart is only on their research.

They are also pretty hated but not banned or hunted down as they are also Doctors and help many others - even we have a Cathedral in Wolfsteeth.

Saru interrupted my thoughts, "Yes, Ms. Lorient, you probably figured out.

But it looks like the new test subjects of them are the wild Demons and the blood Demon. It would never fly under our noses or that of the seer, without any notice – especially something as powerful as a Tier 3."

"When does Dad needs to go?" I hate it, but I get it.

He nodded towards me with a sad smile, "Probably in a couple of months – we need to prepare ourselves thoroughly."

Sighing heavily, probably for the hundredth time today, I held my face in my hands – this whole situation stressed me more than a little bit out… I want a day with Dad alone before he goes away for probably a very long time… maybe we can have tomorrow a day for ourselves?

Saru interrupted our thoughts, "My lord, we should interrogate the dwarf."

Dad nodded while staring into the void, "Hm, Lorient, follow us."

*clank*

Getting out of the room, we saw a guard standing there. "Hey, get the Fairies an excellent accommodation and treat them well. But look closely after them, if they try to leave the city without us - hold them down."

"Yes, my Lord!" He saluted and ran off.

*tap*tap*tap*

"Dad, why would they want to escape?"

He snorted, "The pressure they felt is not really something you would want to experience again, and they would probably rather flee and get punished – the temple wouldn't kill or torture them – they are a bunch of treehuggers in the end."

I nodded as I understood the personality of nature dwellers.

"Tell me everything about the dwarf" I explained everything that happened and what I think about his target of disrupting our Alliance with the Natures Dwellers.

"Good job, shovelers are some little fuckers, but they probably just hunted for slaves. And the closer you are to some Estate, the more villages there are."

*tap*tap*tap*

Dad is probably right, but… no, he should be – if they wanted to disrupt the Alliance between Nature dwellers and Beast-kin… they wouldn't do it by killing a couple of Fairies.

Feeling the heat rising to my head out of embarrassment of my overblown theory – luckily, we stood before the door towards the jail before I could lose myself more in shame of these grandiose ideas of mine. 'Sometimes, the easiest answer is the best.'

*clank*

*tap*tap*tap*

Standing in the jail, it was… clean and dry? It was actually ok. Hm, I wish for some rats or cockroaches biting his ass!

Before us was the dwarf sitting on the floor, gagged, bounded, and blindfolded… better safe than sorry.

Thinking back, how feeding him was such a pain in the ass! Making him drink water alone, we needed to plunge a wooden pipe into his throat because he denied everything and was trying at every point to bite his tongue off.

"Saru, do your job." Saru? What about him?

Turning my head, I saw how he put on some white gloves – a smile akin to the devil from children's storybook was seen on his face. 'I never saw him like this?'

While he removed his blazer, he kept on talking. "I don't like myself getting dirty – Ms. Lorient, it is never too early to learn the art of torture, Mr. Guard, be a sweetheart and bring me two chairs and a table, please," as he said that, the guard bolted instantly off to bring the furniture.

We were only 4 now, with the dwarf alone in an almost empty jail cell, with just some straw on the floor, where the dwarf was sitting on.

Getting the blindfold away from the dwarf, we all could see his blood-filled eyes.

Saru looked at him with a sinister smile, "Don't worry, Mr. Shoveler, I know how to let you talk, but I also feel like raising my skills, so I hope you don't break down that fast."

Throwing the bag on the floor he was wearing on his shoulders, he grabbed inside and brought out a cylindrical leather bag.

The guard was already back, with another one together. They carried a table and two chairs into the cell. "Fantastic! Thank you so much for such fantastic accommodation!"

Dad grumbled something beside me. "I don't get him…."

He put his cylindrical leather bag on the table and opened it up: It was a knife roll or rather a roll with all kinds of instruments.

Some looked like tiny knives, others like needles, and others I couldn't even identify – all I knew was that Saru looked really happy…

He started talking while inspecting his instruments. "Hm, now let me teach you a bit about the art of torture, Ms. Lorient – What is the most important thing about the methodology of torture?"

I know a bit about torture but not that much, to be honest… I am a fighter, but I know that you need these people for information gathering – they usually also do intelligence work.

While I was thinking, he kept his preparations ongoing. "Guards, please put him on the chair, and every part of his body should be fixed thoroughly."

He turned around to me. His look made my spine shiver. "I... I think it is about brutality?"

Seeing him think, it shouldn't be that wrong. But he shook his head. "Not bad, Ms. Lorient, but wrong. The methodology of torture is about the efficiency principle - like economics. We want the most pain with the least amount of damage towards him. We don't want to kill him."

While he talked, his tail wagged happily around. 'He is crazy.'

"Now, as long as the preparation is still ongoing, let me ask you something else – what is usually the most painful or the most sensitive spot disregarding the race for now."

I have no idea. Seriously, I know what the most vital spots are but not the most sensitive. "Maybe, the eye?"

He shook his head again. "Wrong, let me show you, Ms. Lorient."

Saru took a needle poured something akin to liquor on it, just many times stronger. The smell was terrible. He sat down on the chair in front of the dwarf, who was tied to the chair.

Sitting in front of the dwarf, his smile became the most sadistic I ever saw from anyone. Even demons were not depicted like this in picture books for children.

He slowly stuck the needle under his fingernail, even I could feel pain around my body.

The dwarf tried first to resist the pain, but he quickly started trembling, and a tear came out of his body.

Saru kept teaching me without looking at me, only I didn't know if I wanted to learn this "art." "Now, Ms. Lorient, why does it hurt so much for the shoveler?"

Hell, if I knew. "Maybe because... the fingers are the most sensitive part?"

"Wrong again!" I could see that he became more ecstatic.

"One of the most sensitive spots is nerves' endings, but right now, I am not there. You need to slowly build up the pain. Nonetheless, it is painful."

He started turning and pushing the needle deeper from an awkward angle as he said it. The dwarf was clearly in so much pain, looking at him wriggling around.

"This bastard has a ton of skills for torture and this kind of work."

Hm, makes sense what Dad says. Usually, skills affect also something like pain on the opponent.

"Now, we don't want that he faints, don't we? It will disturb my artwork, kehehehehe!"

He took a little bottle with colorless liquid out of his instrument roll. "Now, this is something interesting. It is some kind of alchemical mixture. Dragon-kin scholars use a drop of this to avoid sleep for a night to learn for more extended periods. Now, open your eyes wide open, my little shoveler. kehehe"

The dwarf instantly closed his eyes, but Saru just opened them forcefully and dripped a drop from this solution in every eye.

After a minute, the dwarf started quickly inhaling and exhaling through the nose, and I could hear his heart beating extremely fast.

"This solution has a lot of side effects like over heightened senses, which in our case should be seen as a positive, am I right, Ms. Lorient?

Let us keep going, kehehehe."

Sitting down again, he tortured him for more than 25 minutes, and only the "fingers."

Everyone else would probably faint, but he couldn't. The solution did a perfect job in getting him to stay awake.

He also asked me questions all this time, and I couldn't even answer one. Who knew that this subject was this complicated?

He suddenly stopped his torture, "Now, enough warmup, be a nice dwarf, and listen. I can either torture you for the next days, weeks, or even months..." while talking, I could see how Saru hoped that the dwarf would lie or not answer anything. "... but if you tell the truth, I will give you a quick and painless death, so - choose wisely."

Taking the mouth gag off, the dwarf immediately spoke. "I WILL TELL EVERYTHING. PLEASE JUST KILL ME!"

Silence.

"Tsk, what a weakling. Fine, so now tell me, what did you do in our territory?" The dwarf spat out everything. We didn't even have to ask him. He was so honest.

It was scary. No, Saru was scary! But Saru looked heartbroken. It reminded me of Sarah when she was little, and her favorite toy broke.

What the dwarf said was that he and his partners worked for a slave merchant, and they were looking for "merchandise." That's it, and knowing that Saru has a skill that discerns lies and truths, he probably tells the truth.

We tried asking him more questions about the Cathedral, Demons, and many more things - he answered everything without even thinking. Well, he knew about nothing other than his job.

Dad asked him, sounding a little disturbed, "Truth?"

Saru just sighed out of disappointment, "Yes, my Lord."

Dad just clicked his tongue, "Damn freak, end him already - he is useless."

Standing up, he took out a regular knife from his clothes. "I stay to my word" with that, he slashed his throat.

…

…

…

Standing in front of the guard's building, we waited for Saru to clean his instruments inside.

Being a bit disturbed, I tried to ask about Saru, "Dad."

He held his hand in front of me, "Don't ask me about Saru. He was always like this - the less you know, the better."

I nodded.

...

Standing before the building, I leaned against him, and he caressed my head while we both looked at the bustling in the city.

"Dad."

"What is it, pup?"

"Why have you not sent even one letter to us?"

"I am sorry." He stopped for a moment caressing my head. "Your Dad had a lot to do and just forgot, but not about you or your siblings. I thought about you, Narsi, Sarah, and Mari every night. I just forgot to write a letter - your Dad is a moron."

"You forgot someone."

"What do you mean?" He looked at me, really not knowing what I meant.

A sad smile emerged on my face, "Alex."

His eyes opened like crazy, and he slapped his forehead so hard a loud *BOOM* was heard. "I am really a moron."

"Can't deny my lord's father's words." and started giggling,

Dad frowned, "How is he doing?"

Ignoring his question, I tried to propose something, "Hm, I don't know when our ship is ready, but how about having a couple of hours of catching up tomorrow and I tell your everything?"

He nodded. "Sounds good, now it is too late already."

Seeing how the sun went down and shone orange, it looked beautiful how it fell on the city.