Volume I Scions of Destiny - Chapter 4 Part I: Seeds of Disgrace (I)

Velika, one day after the Allied Forces repelled the enemy invasion.

The first wintry winds cooled the Arun continent’s lands, announcing winter's arrival.

Along the cold winds, the gray clouds covered the skies over Velika, blanketing the air with gloom, as if the world felt and shared the citizens’ pain and sorrow…

Upon the conflict’s conclusion which left behind thousands of casualties from both warring ‘Factions’, the Allied Forces’ strategic command immediately ordered its troops to patrol Velika’s streets day and night.

Thus, numerous Allied Forces’ patrols were deployed, mostly composed of the Shrouded Rose Sentinels and Pora Elinu’s forces, watching the battered streets under their cursory eyes.

While the citizens along with the help of Pora Elinu’s people, slowly started to clean and repair the aftermaths left behind in their city.

Gradually, everyone started to process that the peace they felt within their grasp was but a delusional lie.

The war, the death, and desolation were out there, soundlessly laughing at their incredulity.

It was about to be midday when…

On the ‘Freedom Plaza’, a large crowd gathered on the bottom left side of it, most of them were humans, but there also were Amanis, Castanics, High Elves and Barakas.

The blood-stanched miasma was still lurking around everyone’s noses as the dried blood stains were still visible on the plaza’s cobbles, although the corpses were already removed.

In addition, the cold winter breeze traveled through every Velika’s corner, forcing many to shelter inside their warm houses and buildings.

Despite this, a crowd gathered around a refined wooden plateau, with two Free Traders Collective’s banners at its sides.

On the other part, a few robust Free Traders’ soldiers surrounded the area under the plateau as personal bodyguards, while Adiar was standing on it.

Adiar looked at his people for a few seconds before starting his speech; many of the citizens were wearing emaciated faces shaken by the horrors of war and the sorrow it brought.

While others shouted at him with visible unhindered rage, focusing the blame on him out of convenience for their misfortunes.

“You just care about yourself!”

“Bastard! You promised us protection and now look at you’ve wrought!”

Adiar held his gaze and expression unfazed from the insults as if he cares not for their troubles and words, and then started his speech a moment later.

“My fellow citizens, I know I had failed to all of you…but we all must recognize that we were incredulous to the painful truth in our idle peace!” Adiar exclaimed firmly.

“I know that many of you are angry, for many reasons… But venting your rage to your valiant defenders is not the correct path!” Adiar added, raising his volume.

“Your anger is but misdirected to those closest to you, when it should be focused on those who attacked you!”

After this words, the crowd was moved slightly by his words as their anger simmered from his logic as they kept looking at him.

“We’ve suffered under the crushing darkness of oppression for too long! At last, we must stand; stand together stronger than before! We will not run and hide in our homes and walls anymore! We will fight! We will prepare for war!”

After Adiar finished his powerful speech, raising his right fist as his eyes gleamed with determination.

Adiar’s words enlivened the citizens’ morale as they also raised their fists, crying out from the very depths of their souls, determined to take revenge for their loved ones.

***RAHHHH~!***

Forthwith, it began to rain softly but mostly none could notice it now, as they were still shouting with vigor and their morale at its zenith.

Adiar on his part, looked up to the sky, as drops of rain trickled down his face, heavy black armor cuirass and gauntlets of the same color; then he smiled slightly in satisfaction.

His smile contained a small shade of corruption, but none could notice the sign.

The events occurred just as he foresaw, turning to his favor.

The Velika’s citizens and people all over the Free Traders' territories were going to stand, fueled by vengeance and rage, now prey to their own impulses and instincts…

At the same time, within the Free Traders's hall...

This hall was an enormous ‘palace’, nearly resembling a castle.

In the palace’s center lied a large domed roof surrounded by four adjoined spires, and on the external walls lied cylindrical towers.

Its sturdy, gray stone brick walls safeguarded the refined internal architecture, which was the main stronghold of the Free Traders Collective members and allies.

On these walls, there hanged various banners, displaying their symbolic flags on each side of the main gate and Hall’s entrance.

Inside, its walls were of refined cream marble and housed rectangular marble pillars supporting the balconies of the second-floor hallway.

Besides on the ceiling, there were many banners lined up on each opposite wall, streaming down aligned in rows until the main pillars of the Hall.

Also, Hall’s floor was comprised of cornsilk, octagonal tessellated marble slabs, with white square embedded in each and every octagonal center.

Thus, molding a mosaic floor style; blandly stamping peace and unity within the Hall.

For lighting, long and high-class chandeliers adjusted to the ceilings, lighting up during the night.

And during the day, the large fenestra windows distributed in the Hall, on the upper section of the walls, allowed the dim winter light in.

In this way, giving a safety ambient within the inner hall.

On the other part…

Within the Free Traders Collective’ hall, on the second floor, housing a few dozens of rooms were given away by Adiar himself as rehab rooms for the Allied Forces’ wounded soldiers.

Although these rooms weren’t enough to host all the injured soldiers left behind due to the conflict.

But at least these rooms helped to attend the patients that the hospitals could not house due to their limited rooms and a large influx of injured soldiers and civilians.

These small rooms could house just one wounded soldier per room, with enough supplies and care to provide adequate treatment, while the Pora Elinu Nation provided personal support.

Their marble walls had a slate-gray color, and at the top center of the room, there was a single bed with a commode and a simple white chair at its right.

The floor was of a white color, and the room was lit by a unique window which overlooked the meadow of Velika’s outskirts alongside a blue crystalline river.

In one of those rooms, Caut lied sweating on the bed with the slim dark blue sheets sheltering her body up to her neck.

Next to the bed, there was a royal Elin maid wearing a traditional black-white maid uniform taking care of her.

This maid was patiently and devotedly wiping off the sweat over Caut’s forehead with a damp cloth.

*** *** *** ***

Caut was standing in the middle of a pitch-black void in her ‘dream’, still hearing the dark female voice, only this time without enduring a massive headache in the process.

‘You are powerful beyond what you imagine, Angel of the Eventide.’ The dark female voice echoed in her mind, although her threatening tone wasn't there anymore.

‘Who are you?! Why you keep calling me like that!’ Yet, Caut was still struggling in her mind against this unknown dark female voice, wary of her intentions.

‘Calm down, little one... I am Leliel.’ The voice leisurely identified herself.

‘What are you?’ Caut quickly asked back, demanding Leliel’s true identity.

‘Hahaha…you will find out soon, little one.’ Leliel replied ambiguously.

‘…I am…a reaper, right?’ Caut muttered, aware of what she was from the very beginning her ‘transformation’ occurred.

The Princess was trying to process all what had been happening, unable to connect her thoughts properly, confused on how she should react and move on.

‘Indeed, and you have my powers little one. You and I are now one.’ Leliel replied calmly after a few seconds, letting Caut think about herself.

‘You can trust my powers as long you can trust yourself.’ Leliel added.

‘Powers?’ Caut asked puzzled.

‘You will know soon once you call me upon voluntarily…hahaha…daydream dweller…’

The Princess stood in silence a few seconds, as her mind was overrun by too many questions on so many things she’s still unaware of in this world, despite her knowledge.

*** *** *** ***

Suddenly…

Caut woke up heavily breathing, alarming the maid of her sudden awakening.

“Princess!” The maid exclaimed as she stopped Caut from rising up, laying her head back down on the white pillow.

“…Where…where am I?” Caut asked, slowly calming down her breathing.

“You are in the Free Traders Collective’s hall, on the second floor’s recovering section.” The maid explained in detail while she kept cleaning Caut’s forehead.

“…” Caut stood in silence, gazing at the room ceiling for a few moments, feeling…different.

“Can you…bring me a mirror?” Caut requested eager to see her face for some reason.

The maid quickly opened a commode’s drawer and took out a hand mirror and handled it to Caut.

Caut received the hand mirror and slowly approached it to her face and saw for a second…

Her usual amber wolf ears were now as black as night just as now her short black hair, while her blue eyes now were of a crimson red color.

After seeing this, she closed her eyes for a while unable to take in what her eyes saw for a brief second and then reopened them.

Now, Caut saw that her hair was still short, of about 2 inches, but this time of its usual orange color, her eyes were blue as always and her wolf ears of its usual soft amber color.

The Princess Caut closed and opened her eyes repeatedly to see if this happened again…but it was just her mind which played her once, and then gave back the hand mirror to the maid.

Forthwith, she deeply sighed in relief…

“Well...I look good with short hair...although I don't know how it actually got like this.” Caut said calmly, slightly carelessly as there was nothing she could do any more about it.

“You look really well, my Princess!” The maid said energetically, trying to cheer her up.

The moment Caut heard her voice, she noticed that the maid’s voice was really familiar and cocked her head to the right in confusion, trying to connect her voice in her memories.

“...” Caut looked at the maid as she just bowed politely with both of her hands over own lap.

“...Wait…Zalyn?” Caut exclaimed upon recognizing her brown hair, her friendly face, and brown eyes immediately.

She was the one who tried to wrap the bandage around her wounded shoulder before it regenerated.

“Hahahaha…yes, I am, Princess Caut…I mean…Caut.” Zalyn greeted with a warm smile as she left the damp cloth in a metallic pot with cold water resting on the commode.

The Elin maids used to receive extreme military training, as they often acted like royal bodyguards or even soldiers when their Queens or Princesses entered the battlefield.

Thereby, Caut managed to know Zalyn during the fight over the Free Traders Collective’s hall.

“Haha…would you… tell me what happened in Velika?” Caut requested softly as Zalyn looked at her with surprise and hesitation.

“You…do not remember?” Zalyn asked concerned, seating on the chair allowing Caut to raise her torso and sat on the bed.

“I do…but they are vague…” Caut said as her memories weren't clear enough within her mind, preventing a lucid image of yesterday’s events.

Yet Caut felt that she was in Velika...but at the moment of trying to remember, everything blurred.

“I wasn't there personally. I stayed in the Free Traders’ hall after you left, tending the wounded soldiers…but I will do my best!” Zalyn replied energetically,

After a few minutes, Zalyn explained everything that she knew that happened within Velika, while Caut just looked at her focusing on every word in her story.

Suddenly, Caut’s eyes widened while in her mind, her memories started to emerge.

Thus, the Princess remembered the unfortunate course of events while she was unsound of mind as she kept hearing Zalyn’s words till these precipitously stopped.

“My Princess! Do you feel alright?!” Zalyn stood up abruptly.

“My Goddess…” Caut brought her hands to her mouth unable to believe of her misdeeds the day before.

“You need to rest, my Princess.” Zalyn said softly yet worriedly, seeing Caut’s gaunt expression on her face.

Caut remained silent and unmoving for a second.

“Where…where’s that Popori? Bready?” Caut asked out of nowhere, as she still can remember his name, due she saved him a few months ago.

“I don’t know, my Princess. But you-hey!” Zalyn grabbed Caut’s right arm upon seeing her jumping out of the bed barefoot, with nothing but a simple white dress.

Caut’s simple white dress revealed her shoulders, arms, and half of her thighs displaying her soft porcelain skin, matching perfectly with her orange hair and beautiful blue eyes.

“You cannot go out! The Queen explicitly ordered that you cannot leave from here till you are healthy!” Zalyn added quickly trying to make Caut understand her actual situation.

“I must know if he is alright…I…must make sure I did not kill him!” Caut exclaimed in despair.

Caut in those moments felt like a puppet, pulled by invisible strings, and she has no way to ensure that it wouldn’t repeat again.

She thought that she killed an ally due to her weak mind, vulnerable to Leliel’s influence.

The Princess felt guilt, shame and a heavy unsteadiness in her heart, as her words trembled when she spoke upon remembering all that she did.

Caut glared at Zalyn for a second as Zalyn could notice Caut’s uncertainty and despair in her eyes.

Thus, Zalyn slowly released her soon after and then exclaimed with a soft smile.

“Well, the sentries won’t let you go out alone!” Zalyn said relenting to her needs.

“Thank you, Zalyn…” Caut said grateful of Zalyn’s cheerful personality and profound loyalty, although her gaunt expression remained unchanged.

“It is an honor. Well now…you may need some shoes and a coat worthy of a Pora Elinu Nation’s Princess!!” Zalyn said vividly as she looked for them.

While Caut just sat back on the bed, looking at her bright personality, making her slightly smile.

After a minute, Zalyn took a pair of simple white shoes and a light, loose short blue coat out from the commode.

“Here you are…” Zalyn then turned to Caut and delivered the coat, and then she crouched down, to gently help Caut put her shoes on.

Zalyn was surprised of Caut’s soft skin and pure body, absolutely worthy of a Princess after feeling it firsthand.

Immediately after finishing helping Princess Caut to clothe, Zalyn raised up and headed to the door.

While the tapping of her refined black low-heel shoes silently echoed through the room, Caut jumped down the bed gently, and walked towards the door of the room, to exit.

Then, Zalyn opened the room’s door as the two Elin sentries outside the room fixed their gaze on her.

“The Princess will go out for a walk, under my supervision,” Zalyn informed softly taking the responsibility, with a friendly expression decorating her everlasting youth.

The Elin sentries overheard their conversation inside the room thanks to their ‘natural’ animal ears and the keen senses granted to them by Elinu.

Their ingrained respect towards the authority, sincere loyalty, and empathy of their young Princess, didn't let them stop Caut, despite the Queen’s direct and explicit orders.

After a second, the Elin sentries just nodded once in acknowledgment, even though they knew they were defying the Queen’s orders.

Thereupon, Zalyn exited the room with Princess Caut following behind.

“My Princess.” The Elin sentries exclaimed in unison, both wearing heavy plate armor and wielding halberds bowed upon seeing her, greeting her with a slight martial bow.

Caut limited her response with just a slight and hurried formal bow and then she kept walking.

Thus, the Princess walked eagerly along Zalyn through the second floor’s open hallway, with a few balconies which overlooked the first floor.

There were a few people walking on the second floor’s open hallway, and these were mostly nurses, medics, and a few FTC’s guards.

Also a few minor-injured soldiers of different races, despite being at near full recovery still wore bandages on various parts of their bodies.

The recovering soldiers were often slowly walking along the second floor’s open hallway, or leaning their elbows over the railings of the balconies that overlooked the busy Hall’s first floor.

Yet...Caut didn't even pay attention to any of these details, as her mind was completely focused on searching Bready while Zalyn followed the pace.

“Where is he…Where is he…” Caut mumbled to herself nervously, while walking along the open hallway, opening every room’s door searching for Bready.

‘You are too young Caut...you are not ready yet for the cruel world outside of Pora Elinu...’

While the Princess was looking for Bready, she remembered the words from her mother, Valentina.

Caut received those words fifteen years ago. When she decided to leave Pora Elinu posterior her mother and many of her people and friends turned their back to their own people…

Those who saved many lives...were then abandoned by their allies as well as their people.

And since then, they were labeled as Reapers as if they were a different race, despite being Elins essentially.

‘Mother…you were right…I am not ready for this…’ Caut thought to herself as Zalyn tried to keep up the pace behind her, feeling Caut’s inner sorrow.

Yet, Zalyn knew that she was unable to help her more than providing emotional support every time the possibility showed up…

As Caut opened the door, she quickly peered in, searching for Bready and upon not finding him, she went to the next room leaving the door open.

Thus, she kept going, opening door by door looking for him as her nervousness grew higher and higher upon each mistake as her chest tightened, softly drowning her.

On the other part, Zalyn could only bow apologizing with a slight smile for the Princess’ intrusion to every room that Caut barged in and then close the door and catch up Caut.

After almost an hour of an extensive and intensive searching, Caut finally found Bready’s room.

In the instant she entered the room, she got to see Bready lying on a single-person bed still unconscious, sheltered by its slim dark blue sheets.

Caut sighed deeply in relief upon seeing Bready alive and safe, but she was caught off guard hearing another Elin’s voice beside her.

“Uhuhuhuhu…look who’s here.” Caut heard a familiar soft voice at her right side…turning her head; she saw Mech leaning her back on the wall, next to the door.

Mech was wearing her usual loose sleeve, siena gown cascading around her figure till her hips, ending in a billowing mini-skirt while wearing small silver shoulders pads.

Then around her lower torso, she wore black short knickerbockers and a belt fastened around her waist, although Mech carried no weapon this time.

“Mech!” Caut exclaimed upon noticing her, as she did not sense her upon entering.

Zalyn entered a few seconds later, as she respectfully bowed upon seeing Mech.

“Priestess,” Zalyn exclaimed softly.

“Nononono…no bowing…please.” Mech said awkwardly while shaking both of her hands.

Then, Zalyn approached to Bready and took care of him, while Mech and Caut briefly chatted.

“How…how is he?” Caut asked silently as Mech wolf ears perked up interested in her question, as her ocher wolf tail wagged side to side, happily.

“Hoho…” Mech looked at Caut with teasing suspicion.

“Mechy! This is serious!” Caut exclaimed, demanding for an answer as her amber wolf tail was quiet and her wolf ears drooped.

“Haha…alright alright! I healed his most critical wound already…he should be waking up at any moment.” Mech informed shortly to Caut with a calm smile.

Upon hearing this, Caut felt how the pressure on her chest and the weight on her shoulders lightened, as she walked to the chair next to the bed and sat.

“What…what have I done…” Caut mumbled to herself as she placed her fist over her legs and clenched them impotently, looking to the floor.

Zalyn and Mech just looked at Caut, as her expression became even gaunter as traumatic images of her heavily wounding Bready repeated and repeated within her mind.

‘If Mech wasn’t there…he…he would have…’ Caut thought to herself; her mind severely unstable.

Although the Princess was calm due Bready’s safety, and not in danger anymore, but it wasn't enough to forgive herself so easily, as she almost killed an innocent ally.

Suddenly, Caut felt a hand on her right shoulder.

“It wasn't you, Cautie. We all understand it, you don't need to be so harsh on yourself.” Mech said as Caut turned and saw Mech’s slight smile.

Mech tried her best to cheer her up, yet her own words made her feel like a hypocrite for a second.

“Aaghh…” Bready mumbled in his sleep, as he felt a sharp pain on his upper torso.

Immediately after this, Caut raised up from the white chair and laid her hands on the soft sheets, while looking at Bready from above.

“Mech! He is sweating!” Caut shouted worriedly as her eyes gleamed.

“Let me help, Princess,” Zalyn said, while swiftly took out a cloth from her pocket and cooled it with a short and simple magic sequence and then placed it over Bready’s forehead.

“Calm down, Cautie. He is alright, it is just his body’s still unaccustomed to my healing magic. It’s a normal occurrence…” Mech tried to explain.

But the Princess did not pay attention to even a single word.

“H-He’s waking up!” Caut exclaimed in happiness upon seeing Bready opening his black eyes.

*** *** *** ***

Bready was in a deep slumber, although he heard some indistinct, yet familiar voices from afar…

‘Nnnnn…’ Bready stirred in his dreams as the voices gradually grew louder, clearer…and more distinguishable while slowly opening his eyes…

For a second, in Bready’s view two scenes mixed, as he saw himself in a vivid and colorful forest and a face over him, close face to face with a youth female, as she stared at him.

Bready recognized her blue eyes immediately, the ones he saw in his most precious day of his life, the awakening.

“H-He’s waking up!” Bready heard her voice…

“P-Princess?” Bready mumbled.

“Haha...I will let you guys so you can speak, Adiar and our Queen will have a meeting soon on how we should handle all this situation.” Mech informed calmly as she was going to leave.

Yet Caut again did not register Mech’s words even the slightest focusing only on Bready.

“You’re in a safe place, Bready! Don't try to get up!” Caut exclaimed.

Bready stared at her, still confused while slowly his view was clarifying.

Mech on the other side smiled joyfully upon seeing that Caut’s mood drastically changed for better, and gave a few slow tiptoes back without turning, stealthily leaving the room.

Consequently, Zalyn upon noticing it bowed respectfully and gratefully to Mech.

Mech just nodded once, understanding that Zalyn was thanking for Caut; then turned and left the room silently, stealthily closing the door.

At the same time in another place…

Within Velika, at the northwest district, generally known as the slum district.

This district was the least affected during the invasion, yet its streets and buildings were in poor condition due to the lack of maintenance.

If one walked down its streets, one would see a tavern on a dead end road located at the most northwest corner of Velika.

Its entrance was moldy, with a nameplate hanging up the door frame with rusty words displayed the tavern’s name: ‘Desire’

The wooden door was battered and partially mossy at its frame,

On the other side, the tavern’s indoors displayed a poor upkeep as there were many cobwebs on the ceilings corner of the spruce wood structure.

Its radial impact-cracked windows lit the indoors dimly, lighting up the dark brown wooden tavern; thus complementing its gloomy atmosphere

The tavern’s furniture was the exception, contradicting the bad aspects.

There was a bar area with a wide bar counter of dark brown wood with several rows of wide dark brown wooden shelves behind it, displaying a various assortment of liqueurs.

The bar had five black-wood stools beside it, as a few of them were occupied by rough looking regular customers wearing different clothes, although all of them in a poor condition.

They were drinking glasses of cheap beer in their hands while the bartender wearing a dull black-white uniform diligently serving his customer’s orders.

On the other part, there were several round wooden tables spread around the tavern with a few wooden chair around.

As waitress and waiter wearing the same dull uniform walked around ,walking briskly around the tavern serving drinks.

Many of the tables were completely occupied by five or four battered customers, drinking some strange-coloured liquids while in conversation amongst themselves.

All except for one table, as only one black-haired human male was alone on one table, his face adorned with a stern gaze.

On the table, he had a glass of brown cherry alcohol alongside a bottle containing a variant of whiskey.

He was wearing a gray plate armor with a blue-red symbol ripped up off his hauberk, as his gaze emanated a profound rancor and sorrow, although this latter could be clearly seen.

This man often took the glass and drank it completely without flinching once, and then placed back the glass on the table, and then took the bottle on the table and refilled the empty glass.

Suddenly, the tavern’s wooden door is slowly open as just a few looked without much curiosity to whoever was entering the tavern.

But when after looking at that short person for a second, the first spectators whispered to their companions as after a few seconds, everyone was looking at the newcomer.

A few whistled in surprise as their eyes were glued on the short female’s petite thighs covered by black with horizontal and parallel red lines stockings held by black garters.

Her short charcoal hair and triangular cat ears matched perfectly with her black buttoned up corset on her long sleeved blouse of the same color, although her chest was small.

Besides, around her waist fastened a brown belt with a small pocket.

Meanwhile, her innocent murderer teal eyes traveled around all the tavern, registering everyone in her line of sight.

Also, she had a long black cat tail coming out down her black frilly skirt, which ended at the half of her tights.

Despite the stares, she continued walking through the tavern calmly as the men slowly turned their heads following her slightly gawking.

After a while, she arrived at the loner and stood beside the man still drinking the variant of whiskey.

“Greetings, Finley.” The female greeted as she took a wooden chair and sat, crossing her legs as on her left hand, she was stealthy initiating a magic sequence.

Compared with everyone else in the tavern, she was a high-class lady in their eyes, as her classy creamy skin and refined female figure were attracting every eye in the tavern.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” Finley said clearly and severely, even after all the alcohol he had drank, the drunkenness had not set in.

“Hehehehaha…someone who can help you to avenge your dear wife and daughter.” The female said with a smile, shifting both of her hands over her lap.

“Wha-...How did you…?!” Finley raised his voice in surprise and anger.

“Hehehe…that’s not important. I would like you to…end Adiar and his allies’ lives.” The female spoke calmly and carelessly, revealing her intentions directly without any detour.

And then she opened the pocket of her belt and took out a white bag and place it on the wooden table, as a metallic clanging sound echoed on the tavern.

Upon she released it, the bag opened itself as golden coins slid over the table.

Both could hear an ‘Ohhhh!’ from all the spectators.

Finley stood gazing directly at the short female’s teal eyes trying to decipher her intentions but he completely failed, as the rage in his heart was fueled by sorrow and rancor.

“It is quite strange to see an Elin asking that…hiring some random mercenary to kill their allies,” Finley said confused about the Elin’s train of thought.

“Hahaha. They aren’t my allies, none of them are. They and my master have...different mindsets. Then, do you accept my offer?” The female asked without any rush.

“Who is your master?” Finley asked, requesting more details,

“Hahaha. Sadly, I cannot say anything about my master, but my name is Ralu, nice to meet you.” Ralu extended her hand like a refined lady.

But Findley just looked at her hand without moving at all, not interested in her at all.

“Hmm…so strict!” Ralu retracted her hand slightly pouting at his ‘rejection’.

“Answer my questions. How will I kill them?” Finley demanded.

“Don’t worry about that, I will grant your opportunities. Your first target will be one of Adiar’s close allies…but I cannot give you more details in here.” Ralu said calmly.

Finley looked at Ralu, and then at the gold coins lying on the table…Finley reminisced his life, as he struggles to reach a concluding choice.

After staring at the gold coins for a few seconds, Finley then reached a resolution.

“...I accept, but I have enough with just killing Adiar, that will be my payment.” Finley said as he moved away the gold coins with his right arm, choosing to avenge his wife and daughter.

“Ohh…hahaha…I like it, I like it!” Ralu exclaimed vividly as she picked up the golden coins, tossed them into the bag and then kept the bag in her pocket on the belt.

Then, Ralu clapped once and stood up with a smile.

“Yaay! Good good! My master will be pleased.” She exclaimed vividly.

“Let’s get moving!” Ralu added, stretching her right hand again, and this time she gave him a wink.

Finley noticing her implicit sign and suddenly noticed a magic sequence on her left hand.

Upon seeing this, he took Ralu’s hand immediately.

“Ild uvaer.” Ralu murmured as both were briefly shrouded in light blue gas and then vanished into thin air…

However…

The moment after they vanished, the tavern exploded in a blizzard of fire, destroying the tavern and burning everyone inside.

Leaving only ashes and charred corpses of the people inside…

The seeds of disgrace were slowly being sown by the hands of darkness, longing to spread destruction throughout the realm.

Credits to I4MD347H for editing. Thanks a lot!