I was astounded by the scene happening before my eyes. A beautiful raven-haired woman with red skin, little horns curving toward her forehead, kicking a fat and bloodied demon in the nether regions. Little red scales covered her skin in some areas. Her cheeks, her nose’s bridge, around her horns, her feet, her forearm. Red scales covered each of these places. They seemed highly resistant, at least harder than usual skin. On her red skin, you could see blue tribal tattoos on her arm and feet as well as her torso and forehead. Her agility equaled her lithe figure. She was the most beautiful woman in this village. She was even taller than Sylviane, the same height as mine. I couldn’t see how beautiful she was in the dark. Yet she was now illuminated by the torchlights, and she gave off a sharp vibe.

Someone tugged at my side when I was still entranced by her looks. “Hey Drake, aren’t we going to interrogate Voltemar? Why are you standing still?” Sylviane asked, with a wary look.

“Ho… Yes, I’m sorry.” I acted as nothing happened. “Let’s ask some crucial questions to our new friend.”

As I walked by Bozur, he whispered in my ear. “She likes you. If you like her too, go for it.”

“The red-skinned grandpa is quite delusional. She would not interest our governor.” Alyn chimed.

“Alyn, I’m pretty sure this is not the primordial question to answer right now. Anyway, can you find a suitable location with fertile soils near a delta or a river on the non-inhabited continent? Maybe next to a mining vein? Can we build a small town for this tribe? Some wooden cabins? I’m sure we don’t have the resources necessary for building a city right now, but a simple village will do.” I switched to another topic before she tries to murder Bozur.

“In relation to our capabilities, we can build a city in one month for at least 10.000 people. However, without sufficient manpower, we cannot maintain this city, grow the food and resume our expansion. I recommend waiting for the robotic factory construction to finish in 3 months before building a big city. However, I can dispatch drones for providing wood sourced from nearby forests. It adds two days to our schedule at most.” She quickly did the math.

“Send me the coordinates and a photo of the site. Deploy tents and some tree trunks for the next two nights. We’ll need the spaceship landing next to this village. Use the autopilot, we’ll move the villagers at dawn after we rescue the hostages.” I ordered.

“Acknowledged, I’ll ship canteens and bbq kits for them too.” She concluded.

I approached the Demon holding his nether parts while he was weeping. “I cannot mate anymore because of you, wrench!”

Does he think we’ll let him go? We can’t afford to let a witness walk free for the time being. Even more when he’s a piece of shit with a massive ego.

“Friend, calm down. We’ll ask you some questions and after that you might leave.” I began.

“First, how aren’t you releasing mana pulsation in the air although you used it to attack me?”

Sarrelle and the prisoner looked at me, confused. Sarrelle looked like she had something to say but I moved before.

“Answer or I’ll break your arm.” I said after I caught his left arm.

“I… I use this pendant. It is made of etherium. It absorbs my mana waves.” He pointed toward an intricately crafted talisman representing a Demon. It was crafted with a blue crystal, looking the same as the one Alyn asked me to investigate. I took it in my hands after breaking the chain.

“You can’t use it if you’re not a magician. Moreover, they all know that this is my pendant so you can’t even sell it.”

I turned to Sarrelle. She was looking at the pendant in my hand.

“What is its capacity? Will it explode when this is full?”

She snapped out and responded, “Ethereum explodes when there is too much mana in it, however nobody does it. It can be used as money too because this has a great value. Do you want me to insert some of my mana into it as an example?”

“I FORBID YOU! An outcast like you will dirty this pure artwork.” Yelled Fatso.

Sarrelle looked disappointed but she still shouted at him, “I just wanted to live a good life and not be chained by people like you. You filthy noble!”

“When I’ll be free, I’ll chase you and bring you before your sister whom I’ll…” *CRACK* I broke his humerus. “Sorry, my hand slipped. Sarrelle, can you inject your mana in it, please?” I spoke.

Voltemar was grimacing because of the pain. She was surprised. Soon, a smile appeared on her face. “Of course.” She took the pendant from my hand.

“Don’t dare, you…” He threatened.

“Shttt Fatso. If you want to leave, you’ll need at least a working arm.” I made a vibrant smile. He didn’t finish his sentence and clenched his teeth.

Her mana pulsations changed. Little by little, stronger pulsations appeared. A deep-blue color illuminated the crystal before it turned back to its original state.

“This is all I can do before running dry off my reserve. It will be filled in one to two hours.” She was sweating from her forehead.

“Thank you for your effort.” I took the crystal back.

“Drake, can you send your psychic powers in it?” Sylviane inquired from the side.

“Does he have mana? Why can’t I feel it?” Sarrelle moved her gaze between us.

I sent my mana into the crystal. Purple lights came from my hand and poured into the pendant. At the start, the crystal lit up deep-blue and started shaking. The crystal vibrated more and more before turning white, no longer accepting my mana. I stopped before pouring my core’s reserves into the air. Only a twentieth of my reserve has gone into the crystal. The three of them looked at me with different gazes. Sarrelle seemed surprised once more, Sylviane looked proud and Voltemar was sweating and avoided my eyes.

Sarrelle breached the silence first. “You’re an upper magician! How do you hide your mana waves without Ethereum?”

“Yes, he is a powerful magician! One of the better of our Empire. About his techniques, they’re only taught by our military.”

“They are others than you in your nation?” Asked Voltemar fearfully.

Well, they will never come here in the first place.

“At least 5. I’m the youngest of them but I’m not the best one.”

The Demons’ mouths opened wide.

“So, we’ll live in security now?” Chimed Sarrelle. Hope in her voice.

“Now that you’re an Empire citizen, the Empire will protect you.” Answered Sylviane.

“This can’t be. Each of the principal race has only one upper magician. You’re lying!” Voltemar was drenched in sweat.

“We are just not from here. You’re only big fishes in a small pond.” And there is gold in your pond. We need this Ethereum.

“Alyn, I’ll keep the white crystal and try to procure more blue ones. We need to investigate these. I’m certain that it absorbed my power. We might store psychic powers and use them like a battery.”

“I’ll prepare the lab. Let it to me! I’ll find all its properties.” Assured Alyn.

“Next question, why do you want their altar’s statue?” I placed my hand on his other arm.

Sarrelle answered before he could.

“Each of the statue in Demons’ cities are made of ethereum. The richer, the more ethereum in the statue. They just wanted our ethereum to enforce themselves. We can empower our warriors if they often pray near the statues.” She professionally answered.

“We were going to take their statutes because they will die soon enough during the winter without rations.” He truthfully said.

“Last question. Where are the hostages?” I made my expression as intimidating as possible.

Sarrelle and Sylviane turned serious after hearing this.

“You… You’ll let me leave after I answer?” He stammered.

“Of course, you cooperated quite well after all.” I assured. If we forget about his broken arm.

“They aren’t in the city. I hid them in my countryside manor. My father explained to me how to take control of your village and said that I shouldn’t hurt the hostages before I destroyed it. So, I only tortured the warriors for fun, but nothing serious. Only lashes and sword cuts.”

He’s sick. How can this be fun? You psychopath! You don’t torture people for fun.

“Did you do something to my sister?” Sarrelle asked, tearing up.

“Nothing. I was waiting to enslave you before. But I explained to her what I wanted to do to both of you. Like…” *CRACK*

He cried and yelled at the same time.

“Ups, you sweated too much.” I apologized.

Bozur came from behind us. “I know where his manor is. I visited it in the early days before they banned us from the city.”

“Good, we’ll depart soon. Ask the villager to take their belongings. You’re leaving this town for your entire life.”

Sarrelle got up. “I’ll prepare mine and Tara’s ones!” She walked a few steps before asking, “What are you going to do with him? He can’t get up on his feet.” She pointed toward Voltemar, silently crying.

“He’s not your problem anymore. You just need to prepare your stuff and help the villagers do the same.”

She left with her father. I got up too. “Sylviane, you shouldn’t look. An execution isn’t something pretty to look at.”

“I understand its need. He shouldn’t be allowed to live seeing his crimes. I’m your First Advisor. As such, I can’t let you do all the dirty jobs.” She said while drawing her pistol.

“There is no turning back after killing someone. You can just close your eyes and I’ll take care of it.”

“WAIT! You said you’ll let me leave! I did nothing wrong with these outcasts. Please, I have a family too.” Yelled Voltemar. He was wriggling on the ground. Trying to reach Sylviane’s feet.

“I’m a soldier. I follow orders.” She stuttered. Her hands were shaking. The first time is always harsh, but after you’ve done it enough, it just becomes a job. You can’t let dangerous people alive if you want to save yours.

I came behind her back and supported her arms with my hands. “I’ll help you. You just need to press the trigger when you’re ready.”

Voltemar peed himself, seeing his death coming. Sylviane took a long breath to steady herself.

“Please, they are not worthy of your help. Let me leave and my father will hire you as a magician. We’ll pay you more money and women than them. You just need to let me alive. You don’t need to work for their lowly people and your empire.” He bargained for his life.

CRACK

She didn’t hesitate anymore and pressed the trigger when he badmouthed the Empire. What a loyal officer toward our country. A gap between the two brows of Voltemar's forehead appeared. You could see the dirt after the hole fuming from the high temperature caused by the laser beam. Sylviane disengaged herself from my arms. She walked two meters before arching her back and threw up. I patted her back.

“This happens when you kill a genuine person for the first time. You’ll feel better soon. If you’re brooding over later, you can speak to me, Alyn or one of our new citizens.” I tried to cheer her up.

I took a handkerchief and handed it to her after she was feeling better.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it. I never killed someone before. This is a weird feeling. I’ll speak to you or Alyn later.”

“No problem, your mental wellbeing is important too.”

Next, we waited for the villagers. After they all took their belongings and grouped in the middle of the plaza. Sarrelle came forward.

“We’re ready. My father took the statue too. We’ll set a new temple where your place is. By the way, where are we going to live?” Sarrelle spoke.

Sylviane was obviously curious too, since I didn’t speak about it with her beforehand.

“We’ll settle far away in a suitable place where you can grow your food. Alyn already prepared some shelters for you before we can build you houses.”

“This is a relief!” She saw the corpse of Voltemar behind us. “You killed him? We need to flee before his father knows. They will dispatch hunting party and skilled mercenaries to find the murderer.” She spoke quickly, with a tint of anxiousness.

“Nothing to be afraid of. They will not find us because we’re going far away. You’ll go first with the rest of the villagers while we go save the hostages. Your father will guide us.”

“I don’t know where we need to go! We can’t be fast with elderly people and children!”

“Calm yourself, daughter. I’m sure our new chief has a plan.” Bozur interrupted.

“The spaceship has arrived. I’ll land it in the clearing outside the village.” Alyn explained.

Suddenly we all heard a loud engine sound and a black spaceship appeared outside the village before landing at the entrance of the village.

The unexpected giant iron bird alerted all the villagers.

Bozur murmured to his daughter. “Take care of the villagers while I try to divert this beast. She’s too big for us to take it down but I can win some time.”

“This is our means of transport everyone!” I yelled. “Don’t need to be that nervous.” They all looked at us with reverence in their eyes. For them, this was a mythic beast tamed by their new leader.

“Let’s go! You will all get a new safe place to live before dawn! You and the hostages!” I shouted.

I turned my sight toward Bozur.

“Bozur, we’ll destroy Voltemar’s manor during this night. I hope you’re ready.” I said with a mischievous smile.