[Peter…he might be useful in finding her]

The being raised its hands for the second time ever since its loss. Its vertical slits adorned atop its head hidden in the walls opened like an alligators and read the flow, little threads of all colours , for the power it desired. It followed the thread with least prominent colour of them all; a pale red tucked underneath the golden thread of reality. Using its long nails the being caught onto the thread and after separating it from the rest began to read the words that were inscribed on it. Unlike most it could read the thread instead of the random words the thread would discard to a sentient being.

Having done what it desired the being let go of the string and leaned back into the rocks it had long occupied, ever since the loss of its companion. It rested and waited till she would come back and if she didn’t…then it had an eternity to find her. One of the greatest the perks of being immortals.

…………..

“Goodbye, everyone”

-Rhum-

A thundering sound spread across the open, clear skies as an invisible force slapped the two struggling bodies downwards. Though they were still moving at a dangerous speed, their direction had drastically changed to the base of the mountain; a linchpin for the many small streams converging into a small waterfall upon a noticible gorge. A small forest covered the area around the water fall and the evening sun had set its rays on beautifying everything before they drowned in the glimmering waters.

The loud splashing sound entered his ears before everything was muffled by the water. The feeling of Brair’s shaking body vibrated his bones as the cold stabbed him. For a few seconds he sank, slowly entering the state of nothingness until his foot contacted the floor, anchoring him to the realm of the living. Peter pushed with all his might and swam to the top with a struggling Brair restrained in his hands.

“PAH-urk-plegh” *Cough**Cough*

“AAAAAAH” The loud shrieks caught his attention as he blinked away the water. He decided that if there had been any upside to the ride then this moment was it. Peter had accidently came upon four beautiful, completely naked, mature women, who in their moment of fear were scrambling towards the shore of the small lit cavern behind the water fall giving him a nice view and bad headache.

“RAAA”

Brair bucked her head backwards and caught Peter on the nose once more, causing her to break free of her restraints and slip away into the water. Peter cursed out and dove beneath the surface, grappling with the armor of the woman. Brair quickly turned around and caught Peter’s face with a backhand before grabbing his armor and pulled him in for a bite. Peter bucked backwards and used his legs to kick her away, but Brair wouldn’t have it. She swam back as soon as she was pushed away and began the grappling anew. They struggled in the water, flipping and twisting as they punched or grabbed the others face.

Eventually the exhaustion began to wear down on Peter and the effect of adrenaline began to slowly subsid. But in that fleeting moment, as a last ditch effort Peter did something risky. He followed along with Brairs movements and pulled her in towards his neck. Lost in the frenzy of her soulless mind Brair’s corpse loosened its hands from his sides and began to reach up for his neck. Peter took the opportunity and thrust his balled up fists upwards. They wedged themselves against their chests, sending Brair slightly back while knocking away her approaching hands and landing a double uppercut to her jaw. Simultaneously, Peter pulled up his knees and double-kicked her away into the waters, using the time to swim away to shore.

“Send for the guards!”

When he came up the water surface he heard one of the girls yell something in a language he could not understand. Though the thick accent told him he was somewhere east.

Grabbing onto the rocks he climbed out and crawled away on his back, propped up by elbows. Brair was struggling to get to shore as she mimicked his movements but failing everytime. Peter stood up with as much haste as he could and looked around for the ladies, whom he found brandishing weapons in a corner. They had their clothes laid on a large rock beside them and an empty basket underneath the rock. None seemed to care for the article of modesty behind them as the three pointed their sword and daggers are him.

*Cough**Cough*

With the adrenaline gone, Peter began to gasp and pant for air as his body stabilized. The coldness from the water had seeped into his bones and the clinging wetness did not help the case that he feared a cold settling in.

One of them began to run towards him with her sword but Peter quickly twisted around and unsheathed his own before poiting at the approaching woman. She stopped in her tracks and he could see her considering her options so he decided to help.

“You attack me, I send us both in there with her,” He gestured towards Brair. “I push ya ta get eaten, while I swim away and *Cough* take care of those other wenches before the guards get here.”

She snarled as he smirked and reluctantly obeyed when he gestured for her to go back.

“Now, where, *Cough* where am I?” Peter asked when she joined the others. He unabashedly stared at their bodies while addressing them. Hey, if they wanted to show off then who was he to deny them. But Peter was a seasoned man and so didn’t react to any of their bodies despite the clear view and no matter how nice their assets hung. After all, he had work to do.

The tallest amongst them, who’d made the first move, seemed to be in charge with the way she held herself and the fact that she was the only one that had a sword while the others held a dagger in each hand. “You, lady with the-” Peter motioned with his free hand, “twisted hair, answer me.”

“You are in my lad-my cavern,” the tallest and seemingly strongest amongst them spoke.

‘God that accents harder to understand than one of Luvrit’s ramblings…cavern she said?’

“Ha, well oh well, thank goodness then!” Peter sighed sarcastically. “I thought this was a brothel for a minute there.”

“Listen here, you vulgar perverted shcum-”

“No, you listen to me you shameless, ugly, pervert of a woman,” Peter struck out his sword. “That over there is going to kill you all, I’m the only thing standing between her and her meal. You will tell me which nation I am in or I’ll make sure that the guards find your bodies defiled.”

The smaller plump woman audibly gulped before shifting closer to the taller one.

“…This is Zuerst, the city of Chimäre” the tall woman interrupted.

“Chimera? Fuck!” Peter shouted. “How did I go the wrong way.”

“Wh-who are you?” The scared woman on the left asked. She had light auburn hair and milky white skin with an arched nose as the most discerning feature, other than her short height and plump figure.

‘She’s faking it,’ he realized. ‘…Wait? Where did that come from? Instinct is that you?’

“…” Peter frowned and continued staring at the three.

“Hey! We answered your question now answer us; who are you?” The tall woman shouted.

“I’m the one you’re gonna let go and forget you ever saw,” Peter said slowly getting up. “Now then, if you’ll escuse me LadAAAH!”

While his attention was on the women Brair had managed to climb onto the rocks and latch onto his legs.

Peter jumped forward instinctively and almost tripped had he not used the sword as a cane. He pushed up and began kicking the hands but she hung on as he struggled, nails digging in in the process. When her hands finally came free Peter had but a moment to glance at her fingernails, holding his flesh and leather, before the sounds of approaching footsteps drew his attention.

Giving Brair’s head a strong kick, which sent her falling back into the pond, he spun around and barely parried an incoming strike, the clash of metal rung out in the cavern as he was pushed to a crouch. The tall woman continued her strikes from all directions as Peter was steadily pushed back. His back leg trembled and he attempted to roll sideways. But the woman anticipated it and struck a kick to his jaw before parrying the sword away.

*Splash*

Peter gurgled and chocked before coming to the surface with a loud gasp of air. To his side was Brair, slowly making her way towards him and to his front were the three girls, dagger in hand. A quick check on his persons drowned any hope he had of defeating them. He didn’t have his bow, nor his swords and barely any strength to fight both Brair and three other women with the only dagger he had.

“I give up!” He shouted, raising his hands in surrender. Peter swam to the far-side of the cavern holding onto rocks for support as he showed his free hand. The girls cautiously followed his movements, swords at the ready as they came closer.

“Stop moving,” the tall woman ordered. Peter obeyed and remained afloat in the waters. She bent low, unconsciously giving Peter a full view of her hanging breasts and brought her sword to his neck. “Answer. Her. Question.”

“…I’m a mercenary, Three Strike.”

“Name?”

“Peter, ‘m an orphan so no last name.”

A look of understanding passed the woman’s face before she reclaimed her angry scowl and instead pointed her sword to Brair’s moving corpse.

“Why is an undead with you?”

“…” Peter stretched his lips in a thin line as he mulled over his answer. “She’s my partner. She was bitten badly and changed into an undead-”

“Frauliene!” A shout came from behind them; four soldiers in silver armor donning yellow colors on their underclothes burst in from the cloth-door. The well hung amongst them shrieked in surprise and the men shouted in response drawing the tall woman’s attention for a split second.

That second was all Peter needed to strike her hand with a chop and pulled her in with him by the arms. The woman resisted slightly but Peter used the rock walls to kick back and pull her in the rest of the way.

They grappled under water for a while, each punching and kicking the other in whatever way they could. When his lungs pounded in his chest he was forced to let go. She kicked him deeper down as she made her ascent. Meanwhile Peter brought out a knife from its sheath and swam to latch onto her leg. Before she could wriggle and resist he pressed the knife beside her thigh as warning. The woman didn’t react and continued to fight forcing him to stab her leg. When he heard her muffled shriek Peter made his way back up and pressed the blade beside her neck, drawing blood.

“Frauleine!” One of the shoulders shouted when he saw her resurface with him. His face went red with anger and he yelled; “Scheißkerl!”

“Easy! Easy now, let’s take it slow,” Peter said, trailing his knife around her neck. “I didn’t want to do this but she wouldn’t have any other way. Right woman? Now then, I need everyone here to leave this cavern right now; you’ll come back when I tell you to-”

“Wir nehmen keine-”

“HEY! I am speaking! Your, Fraulein is bleeding right now and right now I hold her life in my hands. No scratch that, I hold her life loosely, so you better do as I say if you want your leader to stay alive,” Peter smirked as he pecked her cheek. “You can thank your underling for telling me.”

“You bastard,” she gritted her teeth. “Männer, mach dir keine Sorgen um mich. Töte ihn.”

“Hey,” Peter pressed the blade closer. “One step closer and she dies. Get back! What did you tell them?”

Peter carefully cut on her shoulder, showing off the blood that trickled down afterwards.

“Tell me or I continue.”

“…”

“Very well,” Peter whispered.

“Meine Dame, es war eine Ehre, zu dienen -”

“Let her go!”

It took Peter a moment to realize that it wasn’t the plum woman who spoke but rather the skinny one. She fiercely looked at both the soft skinned and tall woman before addressing.

“I am a noble and Helga is my guard,” she said with displeasure. “You expressed your desire to escape in everyone’s absence?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry but I cannot grant that.”

“You wanna test me,” Peter frowned.

“I request to mantain my presence in this room while you escape.”

“What? Request to maintain?…Why? Can’t leave your very own guard? Afraid daddy’ll replace her with another one if I kill her?”

“…No, even if her last moment must be within this lit cavern I would accept it as it is. However I will not forgive myself if I let myself succumb to the threats from a deviated peasant and miss the final moments of a much more honorable one.”

“Ha, man you nobles and your tongue-”

“I will not leave, even on your account,” she said stoicly.

“How noble-like,” Peter gave a dry laugh. “True friend’s worth is found in war, go find hers with Alexandria. *Cough*Cough*…Ugh, Fine!”

Peter wiped his bloody mouth with her shoulder as he waded away from the incoming Brair. Meanwhile the noble ordered the others to leave and when the last one left, said; “I have delivered, now it is your turn.”

Peter nodded and began swimming backwards, forcing himself to keep upright. Seeing its prey change course Brair also began following him. Finally they were able to reach the edge of the lake, where the small water fall covered the face of the cave. Brair had almost caught up.

“Okay, miss leader, move past the dead killer unharmed and you get to live another day.”

“I will find you-”

“And I will be waiting. I owe you for this after all,” Peter popped his jaw which was slowly turning blue. “But now ain’t the time and I certainly don’t enough energy to deal with two women at once, yet.”

Peter shoved the lady into a tangent as Brair lunged for him. She narrowly escaped from the corpse’s hands before swimming away, acutely aware of it disappearing behind the waterfall after that mercenary; Peter. Fey made her way to the shore and gingerly knelt before the noble-woman. Her face was slightly crimson and her hands were clutched to her sides while her head hung low. She felt a small hand place itself on her shoulder yet she didn’t look up.

“It’s alright Helga,”came the soothing common tongue. “You are alive, well and still by my side. I consider this a win.”

At those words, everything was being undone; Fey met her master’s eyes and her fists uncurled, though the red anger didn’t leave her face till much later. She gratefully stood to receive a hug and quickly apologized after.

“It’s alright. Come now, we have much to do now after this interruption,” she said. Fey nodded and the two walked over to get dressed. “Helga, the guards have seen my true appearance please take care of them. Also send word to the duke of this region and father at the capital…Ansdrovea’s Iron Wall Yikensworth is in an inner conflict, it is weak, now will be the best time to take care of them once and for all.”

“Excuse me my lady, but…how do you know Yikensworth is weak?”

“He spoke of his partner being turned; there have been no such incidents around here. Also he spoke Ansdrovean, not Alexandrian, infact he encouraged us to attack Alexandria so it seemed to suggest he didn’t want us to attack Ansdrovea.”

“I shall relay your orders and ensure that the guards make up the vanguard for the upcoming battle. Everything will be, as you wish, Princess Hannah.”