The warrior was running.

To be more precise, he was fleeing.

The dungeon's wall around him felt like a suffocating coffin, the feeble light of his torch not helping much. He had already hit against rocks on the ground several times, hurting his toes, losing his balance for a second and dropping his battleaxe, but running even faster to escape this place, leaving his weapon behind. Behind him, he could hear the heavy sound the hooves of the beast were making, the running warrior having all the pain in the world to put some distance between them.

*The exit...I must reach the exit!!!*

Every breath was painful, his lungs felt as if they were on fire, but he didn't care. He knew that slowing down would mean death. Luckily, the way out wasn't hard to follow, because of the string he had attached at the entrance. As he saw the light, he ran the fastest he could.

Finally out of the underground labyrinth, the man stopped, catching his breath. As he bowed to rely on his knees, he heard something cutting through the air and felt something passed right next to his ear, cutting some of his hair on the way. His own battleaxe came landing before him, the simple blade buried into the ground.

The man didn't even turn around, running away as fast as his leg could carry, picking his axe on the way, a load roar accompanying his escape.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Octavia! Let it go, Now!"

On the way to the capital, Maximilian was always training the girls. The first day, Maximilian had explained to them the idea of stocking mana in their weapon, and also inside her gauntlets for Lin-Lin.

"I want you two to take the habit to stock mana when you can. If you concentrate on it, you can visualise how full your mana pool is. When you're not using magic, stock it in your weapons and equipment. Like that, when in a fierce battle, you'll be glad to have some more. Now, as always, you have to be careful. Don't put too much at the same time, you have to be ready for a fight, always."

He took the time to show them how to do it, a pretty simple process. Quickly Lin-Lin, more used to magic than Octavia, get the idea and began to actively store mana in her equipment.

"Good, Lin-Lin. For today, I want you to do that. You stock mana, then wait for it to refill, then stock some more again. I'll let you do that while I take care of Octavia."

The panda girl nodded and concentrate on two things. Doing as her master had told, and not missing a step on the earth road.

Octavia wasn't doing well, her attempt to do like Lin-Lin not working at all. That was clearly not making her happy. Seeing her looking down, Maximilian smiled at her.

"Don't worry, it's normal to not success on the first try. I suggest we start with a wind spell for now, what do you say?"

"Yes, Master!"

Maximilian advanced next to her on the road, explaining to her what her first spell would be.

"You're going to learn 'wind arrow'. I wrote runes on your bow, allowing you to use it like a mage staff, as a catalyst."

Maximilian stopped for a bit, imitating a bowman.

"Wind arrow."

Between his middle finger and index appeared the end of an arrow, quickly picturing herself on an invisible bow. When Maximilian let go, it disappeared in the sky, flying away at an incredible speed.

"Like Lin-Lin, you'll have three steps to remember. One, picture in your mind what you're going to make with magic. Two, infuse mana where it needs to go, in that case, the tips of your fingers. And three, aim and create."

The Arachne nodded, not missing a word of her master.

"Like always in magic, the force of your spell is determined by the force of the idea more than the words. They are here to help you at first, in time you will be able to produce wind arrows without a word. Want to try?"

Octavia looked at the bow between her hands, then nodded again. She imitated her master position, aiming at the horizon with her bow. Pulling at the string made of her silk, bringing at her cheeks level.

"Now, close your eyes for a bit, picture the arrow in your mind. Think about the wind, make it take the form you desire..."

The Arcachne closed her eyes for a bit, silently obeying her master. She remembered how the wind felt in her hair the first time she ran with her new form.

*The wind...*

Sensing the Arachne's magic, Maximilian went behind her observing his new magician pupil in action.

"Infuse the mana in your finger. Use the spell."

"Wind arrow!"

Like it had done with Maximilian, an arrow appeared between Octavia's middle finger and index. It completely formed and rested on the tensed bowstring.

Maximilian was gonna say something to encourage her but remarked the arrow starting to tremble.

"Octavia! Let it go, now!"

The Arachne let go of the string, the arrow flew away. The flying distance didn't exceed one meter, the arrow blowing up in a loud 'bang'. The force of the explosion blew the Arachne back. Luckily, Maximilian was there to catch her in his arms. The spider girl looked up, a sorry look on her face as she apologised without a word to her master.

"I have the slight feeling you weren's able to maintain your concentration..."

Seeing the look on the lady's face, Maximilian patted her head from behind.

"Don't worry, it's a question of time. Making something appear is already a big step. Next time, try to not lose your focus and it should be fine."

"I can do it again, master!"

"No, you can't. That's the problem when you don't control your magic well. You used in a single arrow the mana you should have used on five. It could be useful later when you'll need to shoot a more powerful projectile, but for now, it only took away almost all the mana you had. We'll see later, after dinner, when you'll have some energy back."

The spider girl had her spirit down after her failure but followed them on the way nonetheless. Seeing her unhappy, Maximilian sighed.

"Octavia..."

As if her master calling after her had shaken her awake, she came next to him, walking a bit faster.

"...You failed this time, it doesn't mean you'll fail every time. Don't be down, learn from your mistakes. That's what I suggested at Lin-Lin, and she seems to have evolved well. You're as capable as she is, so snap out of it!"

He wasn't angry or anything, but he had to say it, or else the Arachne would have looked down all day long.

...........................................................................................................................................................

"Alright, once again!"

When they stopped for the night, Maximilian let Lin-Lin take care of the meal. While the panda girl was focusing on the food, Maximilian and Octavia had resumed the magic training.

Octavia had learned from her mistake, not using too much mana at the same time. Although she wasn't emptying herself in one spell, she was still not managing to make the arrow maintain itself for more than a few second, the projectile vanishing midair after one meter or two.

But Maximilian wasn't giving up. He had taken some mana potion with him, giving a sip of it to the spider girl each time her mana was running dry.

"I can't do it, Master..."

"Yes, you can. You just need to practice. Another one, go!"

Following her master's order, she once again straightened herself, closing her eyes to create an arrow, and once again it disappeared nearly as soon as she let go of the string.

The Arachne shouted, cursing herself for failing. In rage, she was going to throw her bow down, only to be stopped by her master's hand on hers.

"THIS THING ISN'T WORKING AT ALL!!"

She looked up, meeting the gaze of the man she trusted the most, and it was as if her world was crumbling down.

For the first time, Maximilian was looking at her displeased.

"Only a bad student cursed the tools for her failures..."

Octavia felt her lips trembling as she looked at Maximilian. She quickly looked down, not daring to look at his eyes. Some tears dropped from her face, the Arachne afraid of what would come next.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Master."

"I don't see why you apologise to me."

Letting go of her hand, Maximilian took the bow from her.

"Maybe was I too hasty. If you're not willing to have this weapon, I should keep it."

And he went back to the fireplace, leaving behind Octavia who fell on her knees, taking her face in her hands, crying silently.

Lin-Lin, who had seen the scene, stood up and ran past Maximilian, going to comfort her friend.

...........................................................................................................................................................

The meal was silent that evening, no one breaking the silence. Octavia had finally stopped crying but wasn't looking at Maximilian still. Lin-Lin, not really knowing what to do, decided to not say anything either.

After the meal, Maximilian went away, leaving the two girls alone for a bit, taking the bow with him.

He walked a bit, going behind the nearest hill and rest there, laying on the grass, hand crossed behind his head and eyes closed. The bow rested next to him.

.

.

.

"...Master..."

The feeble voice of Octavia came to his ears. The spider girl, standing next to him, was visibly afraid to disturb him after the events of the day.

"Hmm?"

"I...I..."

Even with his eyes closed, he knew she was starting to cry again. He lifted a hand, beckoning her to come closer. When she did, he extended his hand, catching her arm and slightly pulling her down.

Knowing perfectly well she wouldn't be able to resist even if she wanted to, Octavia let herself go down, kneeling next to him.

"Lay on me. Face up."

His words surprised her, but she knew better than to questioned him at that moment.

Using him as a mattress, she lay there, hand crossed on her belly, silently looking at the sky. Her head was right below her master's one. They stayed like that, in silence, for a while.

Octavia, at first, was clearly uncomfortable. Her heart was beating far too fast.

*What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?*

Her eyes couldn't focus on anything, going from left to right, then right to left, up and down, down and up.

*What does he want me to do? What should I do to make him happy? What do I do?*

Her master hadn't said a single word, simply resting under her, his heart beating at a slow pace. His chest slowly going up and down at the rhythm of his breathing.

*What do I do? What do I...do?*

.

.

.

After a while, she felt her heart pace getting slower, calmer. Her eyes stopped moving around, simply looking at the magnificence of the night sky full of stars.

*Why am I not stressed anymore? What is happening to me? ...What is this sound I hear?*

As she was calming herself, she began to hear the slow sound of her master's beating heart, that and the quicker, stressed beating of hers. Minute after minute, she felt and heard her heartbeat pace slowing down to match her master's one.

Once their heartbeats were synchronised, she felt something else. It was as if she was floating in the sky, surrounded by the countless lights of the stars. The sadness she was feeling before was no more, the tiredness of her failures gone...in the wind. From afar, a voice came to her, as if the air itself was the one speaking.

"Feel the wind..."

And at that instant, she wasn't floating anymore, she was flying. She was flying above mountains and plains, above the ocean and caressing the water's surface with the tips of her fingers, before going above everything, dancing among the stars, bouncing from one to another and uniting them with a thread of light. She was creating a spider web so gigantic and beautiful, it could be seen from the other side of the universe.

Then, once she was done, she let herself fall down, knowing perfectly well the wind would protect her from the fall, gently carrying her down in the grass...

That's when she opened her eyes.

...........................................................................................................................................................

The morning sun was already warming her skin. The beast skin under her and the campfire heating a marvellously smelling breakfast indicated her she was back at the camp.

Next to the fire, slowly humming a happy going song while using a long wood spoon to slowly mixed the inside of the cauldron, her master had his eyes closed, enjoying the morning light on his face.

As she looked around, wondering how she came back to the camp from the hill, she saw her bow on the ground next to her, as if waiting for her to grab it.

She looked at her master, then at the weapon he had made for her before reaching for it. As her fingers touched the weapon, a feeling ran through her body. It was as if she had retrieved a lost part of herself, like she was finally complete once again.

At her contact, the bow seemed to pulse, the runes shining for a second as if it could feel its rightful owner. Bringing it to her forehead, the spider girl closed her eyes for a bit.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let my frustration out on you like that. I'm sorry, Whistling Death."

Octavia opened her eyes wide. She could have swear the bow had pulsed again, as if answering her.

*That cannot be, I'm still not fully awake, that's all.*

She was shaken out of her thoughts by her master's voice.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. How was your night?"

The spider girl didn't say a thing at first. She stood up and came behind her master, putting her arms around him and her head at his heart level, listening to his heartbeat for a while.

"Thank you, Master."

"For what?"

"...Everything."

This made the man laughed slightly.

"Well...you're welcome then."

...........................................................................................................................................................

Octavia was seating next to Maximilian, taking care of her bow string while waiting for breakfast.

"Is it alright for me to have it back?"

"Why not? It is yours after all, and I heard you apologise earlier. I think you deserve a second chance."

They were soon joined by Lin-Lin, who was happy to see the lighter mood around the fire camp. The panda girl sat, smelling with envy the steam coming from the cauldron.

"Goddess, this smells amazing. What are you making, Master?"

"This, my dear Lin-Lin, is an old recipe from my home country. Some milk lightly warmed, mixed with honey and some special spices. Come here, use the spoon and turn slowly. This is great for drinking, but we need something to eat with it."

While Lin-Lin was taking his place, Maximilian cut some slices of bread. Once done, he used earth magic to create three plates of stone. The two first plates were heated by fire magic, making them so hot they were getting a bit reddish. The two girls were observing him, wondering what he was doing.

"Master...What are you doing?"

"I'm making toasts!"

While the two plates were floating midair, Maximilian took the slices of bread and threw them between the stone plates. As the slices passed between the plates, Maximilian made the pieces of stone come against each other for a second or two, then made them separate, catching the toasted slices of bread on a third plate in his hand.

"And we're done! With a bit of butter I bought at the inn on it, it will be perfect!"

The two girls applauded his performance with the bread and stones, to what he responded with an exaggerated bow.

"Thank you, thank you, my ladies. You're too kind, really..."

...........................................................................................................................................................

After a tasty breakfast, Maximilian let Lin-Lin took care of the camp, going to see what Octavia was doing.

She had asked them to wait for her for a bit but had been gone for a while now.

Going behind the hill, where he had let her fall asleep on him the night before, he silently looked at her from the top.

There, with her bow in her hand, bending it by pulling on the string, Octavia was pointing at the horizon, her eyes closed.

For a minute or two, she didn't move an inch and Maximilian didn't say a word, waiting. After a while, seeing her frowning a bit, he decided to help her.

"You're too stressed..."

She jumped, surprised by her master's presence.

"Master, I...I..."

He made her stop talking with a hand gesture. He came behind her, crouching a bit to be at her height, and put his hands on hers.

"Follow me lead..."

Octavia first blushed a bit, but nodded and stood back in position, closing her eyes. He made her pull the string, readying her shoot.

"You have the power, you know how to do it, all you need is the idea."

He was talking as slowly as possible to not bother her.

"Breath slowly, calm your heart..."

Against her master, she felt his heartbeat, like she had the night before, and calmed almost immediately.

"Very good. Now, imagine your arrow, imagine what she is made of. Feel the wind."

At her master's three last words, her last dream came back to her. She remembered how she was flying, moving and dancing, she remembered how she was...free.

"Wind...Arrow..."

The words came from her mouth in a breath. Between her fingers appeared another arrow of wind, although this one wasn't shaking, only waiting for the spider girl to let go of the bowstring.

"Now aim..."

Maximilian made a pillar of stone come out of the ground, a target engraved on it. Octavia moved a bit, adjusting her position.

"...and shoot!"

The arrow flew straight, whistling as it pierced the wind around it, and hit the target, right in the middle.

"'That' is a good wind arrow spell. Well done, Octavia."

The spider girl turned around and jumped on him, putting her arms around his neck.

"I made it! I made it, I made it, I made it!"

She stopped and broke the embrace, looking down while blushing.

"I...I'm sorry. Thank you for your help, Master."

She let a happy smile appeared on her face as she felt her master's hand patting her head.

"Anytime, Octavia. Anytime."

.........................................................................................................................................................

Later that day, on the road, the trio was quickly advancing.

They soon arrived at a forest, the road passing by it to reach the next village. Continuing on the road, they didn't stop to eat at midday, they had decided to go as far as possible before the sun went down.

In the forest, they were surprised to see a body on the ground, not moving. A hundred meters were separating the trio from it.

"Master, someone is laying there, what should we do?" Lin-Lin questioned.

Maximilian thought for a bit.

"Hmmm, that's strange...a body abandoned like that on the road, not a trace of a fight around it and no blood from a predator attack...seems fishy to me..."

By reflex, Maximilian scanned the body. The man on the ground happened to be a bandit level twelve, his stats indicating he was more than ready to attack when the trio would be near enough.

*Classic, he is a bait, and I suppose he has some companions waiting in the tree's shadow...yep, a dozen. All bandits, level between ten and twelve...no strong leader in the group.*

"Master? Is something wrong?"

Putting his arms around the two girls shoulder, Maximilian whispered something to them.

"Did you get it?"

The two girls nodded and disappeared among the trees, one for each side of the road.

.........................................................................................................................................................

"Your money or your life!"

As Maximilian figured he would do, the man jumped on his feet as soon as he got close enough, threatening him with a short rusty bent sword. Nonetheless, Maximilian was still surprised by the phrasing the bandit used.

*Wow...This is a classic...*

Maximilian arched an eyebrow as he looked at the weapon pointed at him.

"What if I don't want to give you any of the two?"

It was the bandit's turn to arched an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that answer.

"What kind of idiot are you? Can't you see the blade pointed at you?"

"That one?"

In a movement, far too quick for the bandit to evade, Maximilian took the short sword from his hand, showing it to him with a sly smile.

"You're not armed well enough to face me..."

The bandit opened his eyes wide, stepping back as he put two fingers in his mouth, whistling loudly. From the two side of the road, before and behind Maximilian, the bandit's companions came out of the wood, armed and clearly not friendly. They were not the best group of bandits; dirty, equipped with very basic weapons and protections. Three Sword and wooden shieldmen, two bowmen, the rest with clubs. The best armour in the group wasn't anything more than light leather, some having nothing more than normal clothes on them.

"Forget it! We will take the two! DID YOU HEAR, GUYS? KILL THIS FUCKER AND TAKE HIS STUFF!"

As the group of bandits started to come near, circling around Maximilian, he raised the hand with the bandit's short sword.

"You have one chance, try to be smart. All of you are going to die here, at least if you haven't started to run in the next five seconds...your call."

Some of the bandits seemed to be a bit disturbed by Maximilian, visibly not worried by the group around him.

"Is this guy stupid or something?"

Maximilian threw back the bandit sword at him, the weapon landing at his feet.

"Three seconds, you should run..."

The one who was on the road earlier, visibly the leader of the group, laughed.

"Or what? Are you going to kill us all by yourself? No, even better, maybe do you have an army with you?"

That made laugh the group of bandits, Maximilian only smiling confidently.

"An army? No, something far better...And time is up, too bad. Ready to die?"

Maximilian lifted a hand and snapped his fingers.

From one side of the road, a wind arrow flew and pierced one of the bowman's neck, while the other one had his head crushed by a rock hitting him from the other side. The other bandits, turning around to look at what was causing the commotion behind them, started to freak out as they saw their two companions falling dead on the ground.

"WHAT WAS TH..!"

The leader was the next one to die, a wind arrow piercing his head.

Panic rose among the bandits. Seeing their leader fall was apparently too much. Some of them started to run in the forest direction, willing to kill the one responsible for their companion's death. Three stayed behind, facing Maximilian again, before dropping dead a second later, their heads rolling on the side.

"Wind blade..."

Not wanting to dirty his blade with them, Maximilian had simply used a wind spell to dispose of the three in front of him.

Screams came from the forest, signalling Maximilian that the bandits were being taken care of. After a dozen minutes, Lin-Lin and Octavia came out from among the trees, not a scratch on them.

"I suppose everything went smoothly?"

The two girls nodded at him.

Maximilian summoned Asterife to take care of the bandit's bodies and their possession. Asterife arched an eyebrow as he saw the dead men.

"That's...human bodies...you kill human now?"

"Only when they deserve it. Could you please salvage their blood too? It will be useful for alchemy."

"Easily done, give us a moment."

Lin-Lin and Octavia looked after their weapon while waiting. They explained Maximilian that one or two bandits had managed to reach them before they could shoot them down with magic, forcing the girls to kill them by the blade. Octavia was fine, but Lin-Lin seemed a bit preoccupied with something. When Maximilian questioned her about it, she sighed.

"Those men...they were the first human I killed."

"Oh...will you be alright?" Maximilian inquired.

"Yes, Master. It's just a bit different from killing monsters, that's all. When I kill animals or undead, I don't feel sorry for them...here it was humans, so..."

"Don't feel sorry for them. They would have killed us three without hesitation if they had the chance. Killing a bad human or a monster, it's not that different. You'll get used to it."

To make her feel better, he patted her head, to what she smiled a bit.

"Master..."

Turning, Maximilian saw Octavia, slightly bowing, presenting her head to him. That made Maximilian laughed as he patted the spider girl's head.

"Yes, yes, you did well too, Octavia."

...........................................................................................................................................................

The bandit's camp wasn't far away from the attack place. They didn't have much to take, some coins, basic equipment, food and clothes. Maximilian let the imps took everything, deciding he could sell what they had found for some coins later.

The trio continued on the road after Maximilian had paid and thanked the imps, quickly reaching the other side of the forest.

An hour or two later, they reached a small village situated on a hill.

This place hadn't anything special to look after, it was more a stopping point for travellers and merchant on their way to Corpsenburg. The only thing worth of noticing was the view.

In the distance, Griffinia could be seen. The country's capital, currently filled with a thousand points of light, made by the night torches being lightened on in the streets.

The capital was forming a circle, apparently constructed on several levels , with simpler houses near the external walls and, as you went up, richer and bigger living place.

At the top, the castle could be seen.

It was made of white marble, with the two highest tower ended by stones wings, giving the idea the castle itself had wings.

Every level was protected by high walls, a good protection, but mostly there to remember the people who was above and who was under on the social ladder class.

Looking at the city from the village's centre place, Maximilian let a whistle out.

"That is a big city indeed...so that's Griffinia's capital..."

Lin-Lin, next to him, nodded.

"Yes,Master. From here, it shouldn't take us more than four or five days to reach it, a week at most."

"Good, I'm thrilled at the idea. A whole new city to discover, this should be fun."

The trio went to the inn, asking for a room to pass the night. The innkeeper looked at Lin-Lin from the corner of his eyes before answering.

"We're complete for the night."

The look the man had given Lin-Lin hadn't escape Maximilian's attention. He decided to play a little with the man. Taking out a golden coin from the Havenbag, he immediately caught the innkeeper's attention.

"You sure about that? We only need two bed..."

A very displeasing smile appeared on the innkeeper's face as he thought he understood what Maximilian was meaning.

"But of course, sir. I hadn't realised you were a representative of the high society. This way sir, the "animal" can sleep in the barn, as long as the horses aren't bothered by the stench."

"Thank you, my good sir..."

Turning to face the two girls, Maximilian smiled at them.

"Did you hear him, girls? He has two beds available. I'll keep the horses company , you can sleep inside..."

The innkeeper was at lost of words, not understanding what was happening. Continuing his phrase, Maximilian looked above his shoulder.

"...That is, of course, if you're not bothered by the stench of some people inside."

Maximilian flipped the coin and made it fall right back in the Havenbag before going for the door.

"Master, wait for us..."

The two girls followed after him. Before they went out, they took the time to exaggerated bow to the innkeeper.

"Thank you for your hospitality!"

And they went out, welcomed by Maximilian happily laughing at their little scene.

"Girls, that was a good show. Where did it come from?"

Lin-Lin and Octavia looked at each other before answering.

"From you, Master. We found funny how you bowed to us when you made the breakfast. We tried the same thing."

"Very good. Let's walk a bit, We have to find a place to rest for tonight. I can't exactly make a shelter at the village centre without being noticed...And if we want to enter the capital without too much attention, I prefer keping a low profile from now on."

...........................................................................................................................................................

The trio walked a bit, passing through the village centre. Maximilian stopped when they passed before a notice board, something catching his attention.

"Is something wrong, Master?"

"Not really..."

Reading the wanted poster on the board, Maximilian smiled.

"Quite the opposite actually, look at that."

Picking the poster from the board, he showed it to the girls.

On the paper was the face of the bandit's leader they had killed earlier, with a message under his picture.

"Wanted dead for murder, extortion and robbery. Name unknown, leader of 'the rusty claws', numbers of men unknown. The reward will be given to those presenting the man's rusty sword to the village chief.

P.S.: Do not bother with a fake, I have seen this blade close enough to remember it all my life."

Maximilian gave them a bit of time. He saw Lin-Lin's eyes going down the text, while Octavia's were examining the picture.

"Is something wrong, Octavia?"

"I can't read, Master, so I'm looking at the picture while I wait."

This surprised Maximilian, although it was evident when he thought about it for a second.

"That's right, you never learned how to...Fine, we'll take care of that later. To make it simple, I think we've found a place to rest tonight...or at least some coins, we'll see about that."

...........................................................................................................................................................

"What do you want?"

The biggest house in the village was situated not far from the centre. As soon as Maximilian had knocked, a grumpy middle-aged man opened, long black hair and beard with a bit of grey circling around his face, warily examining the trio.

Maximilian politely saluted him before he showed the wanted poster.

"Was it you who put the wanted poster on?"

The man looked at the paper, then at the trio.

"Could be...why?"

"So you must be the village chief. Well, I'm asking because if that's the case, we're here for the reward."

Searching inside the Havenbag, Maximilian took out the rusty bent sword he had taken from the bandit leader. As the weapon came in view, the middle-aged man opened his eyes wide.

"You...is that...? Come inside, quick!"

Stepping on the side to let the trio in, the man looked around outside checking if no one was looking, before closing the door.

He guided them to the living room, asking them to sit while he was getting something.

Lin-Lin, looking a bit around the simple but cosy room, asked:

"Master, what are we waiting for exactly?"

Maximilian shrugged.

"He certainly went to get the reward in another room. He has enough place, I'll ask him if he would be fine with us staying here tonight. It would spare us the trouble to walk outside of the village."

The middle-aged man came back with a little purse, followed by a woman, apparently the same age, a plate with five cups on it. Sitting in front of Maximilian, the man extended a hand.

"The sword, I have to check it..."

"That seems logical, here you are."

Maximilian gave the weapon to the man, who examined it for several minutes before nodding.

"How did you get it? That bastard would never let it go..."

Maximilian shrugged, explaining in an "as a matter of fact" tone.

"Since he is dead, I don't think he has anything to say about it."

The man looked at the woman behind him before looking back at Maximilian.

"Was it you who killed him?"

Maximilian shacked his head from left to right.

"Me? No, I didn't kill him, she did..."

Maximilian pointed at Octavia with his thumb, before doing the same thing for Lin-Lin with his other hand.

"...while she and I were starting to take care of the rest. At the end, we three took care of the group."

The middle-aged man looked at them three, more precisely the two young girls behind the tall man speaking to him.

"Are you telling me those girls were able to fight against those bandits?"

Maximilian thought for a bit before answering.

"I wouldn't call what happened a fight, to be frank. More like...an execution. A fight, that's when the other side has at least a chance of winning...at that moment, they didn't stand a chance."

Visibly, the chief had a hard time believing him.

"I...find it hard to believe...I don't mean to disrespect, but are you really telling me those children could kill? Kill armed adult at that?"

Once again, Maximilian pointed at the girls, this time showing their weapon.

"You do realise, I hope, that it isn't toys they have...Anyway, the fact you believe me or not as little to do with the fact I brought you what you asked, right?"

"Indeed...here is your reward. Fifty copper coins per head..."

The chief took the small purse and threw it at Maximilian who caught it midair.

"Thank you very much."

As he was weighing up the purse, Maximilian estimation told him the number had to be right...that's what was bothering him.

"If you allow me a question, chief...how comes you know exactly how many bandits there were? The wanted poster said, and I quote, 'numbers of men unknown'."

The chief seemed surprised by the question.

"That...hum...that is because..."

He looked at his wife, then sighed.

"Oh God...I might as well tell you. I know how many they were because it's my fault if they were here, to begin with."

A little silence fell on the room for a bit before Maximilian signalled the middle-aged man to continue.

"I didn't know they were bandits at first, I swear. Their leader contacted me concerning the quest poster I had put on the board at that time. I was desperate, so I accepted his help. But not only did he and his men weren't able to complete what I asked of them, but they came back and demanded an advance on the reward. When I refused, they said they would take their money from the people of the village on the road. It was three days ago."

Maximilian scratched his two days beard, thinking.

"What was it? The quest that made you so desperate?"

Once again, the chief looked at his wife who nodded at him, before answering Maximilian.

"It's my daughter...she's been taken away by a monster. She went to pick up herbs for me, my back is hurting me you see. She's a beautiful young lady with long black hair, always happy to help, and she has a melodious whistling voice, she's our little bird. I told her she shouldn't go near the underground ruins, that it was too dangerous for her. But now...a monster who lives in this God's forgotten place has taken my little girl..."

Clenching his fist and closing his eyes while a single tear of rage dropped down along his cheek, the chief continued.

"...I curse myself for being so weak. I should be the one going in that place, sword at hand, and kill this beast myself to set my daughter free! Ho, my little whistling bird..."

The man breathed in slowly, calming himself.

"That's why I wanted to meet the ones strong enough to defeat those bandits. I beg of you..."

The old man fell on his knees, enduring the pain in his back and bow to the trio.

"...SAVE MY DAUGHTER!"

...........................................................................................................................................................

In the depth of the underground labyrinth, inside the deepest room, lying on a stone altar was a beautiful young lady with long black hair.

Next to her, looking down at the sleeping beauty from his two metres high, the beast wasn't making a sound other than the deep one of his breathing. Extending one of his massive hands, he slowly brushed away a lock of hair, slightly wet because of her sweat.

His contemplation of the girl was taken away by a sound in one of the tunnel. Looking away from the beauty, the beast growled as it charged inside one of the long and dark corridors, decided to not let anyone or anything getting near her.