Before The Incident

(Alexia)

“...Pack up and leave first. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” (Ravenger)

“But-” (Celeste)

“No buts.” (Ravenger)

Ravenger retorted coldly.

“...” (Everyone)

“...I’ll finish packing up. Celeste, you get ready too.” (Alexia)

“...” (Celeste)

When we were done, we left quickly.

“...What is Ravenger planning?” (Celetse)

“I don’t know.” (Alexia)

We continued walking along the path.

“Sis, where are we going?” (Timo)

“...” (Alexia)

...Where ARE we going?

“Alexia, we should probably leave the Atere Forest first and stay at the next town.” (Celeste)

“...You have a point. Let’s go.” (Alexia)

A few hours later, we managed to reach the exit of the forest.

Thankfully, I was able to repel the monsters who tried to attack us.

As we walked out the forest, the sun was high up in the sky.

“Excuse me, Miss.” (Man)

“Eh?” (Alexia)

Turning around, I see a man wearing a black cloak covering his body and a strange mask. At his waist was a rapier.

“I would like to seek your help in a certain issue. Would you mind listening?” (Man)

...Suspicious.

Better keep my guard up.

“Okay. But let’s talk at the town.” (Alexia)

“...That’s the issue I was about to say. The town is under control by the bandits who invaded and killed the lord ruling there. I need your help to defeat them.” (Man)

“What!?” (Alexia)

“Are you certain, Mister?” (Celeste)

“Yes, I am, Miss. The situation is dire. If the bandits are not driven off soon, the capital will burn this village to the ground.” (Man)

“...” (Alexia)

“...” (Celeste)

What the hell?

“So, will you lend me your assistance?” (Man)

“...I have a question.” (Alexia)

“Yes?” (Man)

“Couldn’t you just defeat them yourself? You look strong enough.” (Alexia)

“I’m afraid you overestimate me, Miss.” (Man)

“We’ll consider. But first, I want to see this with my own eyes.” (Alexia)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ravenger)

Ugh, my head…

Moving my arm… Wait, I can’t move my arm.

I can’t move at all! What the hell is going on?

Forcing my eyes to open, I find myself in a dimly lit room.

I attempted to clench and unclench my fist. I can still move them, thankfully.

Next, I attempted to move my arm. Wait, I can feel something really hard.

My arms were shackled onto the walls beside me.

Looking around, it seems I’m in some sort of prison.

“...Damn…” (Ravenger)

I can’t even talk. How am I ever going to get out of here?

“...back here again? I really don’t know why you’re so dedicated to this monster, Princess.” (???)

Princess?

Wait… I seem to be forgetting something.

The door in front of me opens.

“...N..atash..ia?” (Ravenger)

‘!!!” (Natashia)

...I guess I’m really back.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Alexia)

As we neared the town, I kept questioning the man.

“So who attacked the town?” (Alexia)

“It was the Wild Fangs, a wanted bandit group. They started to take over villages and towns, but for what purpose I don’t know.” (Man)

“How do you even know about this?” (Alexia)

“By the time I reached the town, it was already taken by the bandits. A refugee camp lies in the forest behind the town.” (Man)

“Can’t you get help from them instead?” (Alexia)

“Most of the adventurers in the town were either slain or severely injured and are unable to fight. Besides, don’t you want to enter the town too?” (Man)

“How can we even trust what you’re saying?” (Alexia)

“You will see when we reach the town.” (Man)

“...” (Alexia)

“...Alexia. Watch out.” (Celeste)

“Hm?” (Alexia)

We’ve reached in front of the town’s gate.

In front were two bandits who were sleeping on the floor.

“I shall end this swiftly.” (Man)

Dashing forward, the man cut down the sleeping bandits.

Damn! His movements are too fast! I can’t even see him unsheathe his rapier.

“Let us break in.” (Man)

“Are you insane? If what you say is true, we might be facing against a small army here.” (Alexia)

“You don’t have to worry. I am able to cut them down swiftly.” (Man)

“Then you should just attacked this god damn town by yourself!” (Alexia)

“You might want to quieten down. We are in front of the gates.” (Man)

“Guards, report!” (???)

A voice from inside calls out to us.

“...” (Alexia)

“...” (Man)

“Shit, those useless fools must be slacking off again. If they keep this up they’re gonna lose their lives.” (???)

...Too late.

“Celeste, Timo, Tifa, follow me closely.” (Alexia)

“Yes.” (Celeste)

“Okay.” (Timo)

Tifa nods slowly.

Can’t let my siblings or friends be harmed as well.

“That guy is going to come out. What do you plan to do?” (Alexia)

“Strike him down and enter the town.” (Man)

“Hell no. I’m not bringing Celeste and my siblings into a god damn danger zone.” (Alexia)

“Hm… Then we shall aim for a guard tower first.” (Man)

I sighed. This guy’s methods are similar to a certain someone.

“That’s better than nothing, I guess.” (Alexia)

“Oi, I’m coming out. If you don’t wake up by then, you’re in for some serious shit.” (???)

The gate opens slightly and a stout man walks out.

The man dashes front and stabs the stout man in the neck, and through the skull.

Even after being in countless bloody fights, this is just way too gruesome.

“Let’s go.” (Man)

Seriously, why are we following this guy again?

We quickly slipped through the gate and entered the town.

Hiding behind a house, the man points towards a guard tower.

“Take that down. and your friend and siblings will be safe.”

“...” (Alexia)

As silently as we could, we sneaked through the town to reach the guard tower.

Surprisingly, the town doesn’t have a lot of patrols.

There was no one in the guard tower either.

“Celeste, if anyone enters the guard tower, just hide, alright?” (Alexia)

“Alexia, be careful. I feel a strong presence in this town.” (Celeste)

“I got it.” (Alexia)

“Are you ready, Miss?” (Alexia)

“...I guess so. You managed to strike down your opponents so quickly. Shouldn’t you be able to wipe out the other bandits?” (Alexia)

“Don’t be foolish. I told you I am not that powerful.” (Man)

“...” (Alexia)

Bullshit. You took down the bandits so quickly.

You are definitely hiding something.

And soon, I am going to find out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Ravenger)

Before long, I regained my ability to talk properly and move a little.

These chains might be thick, but the rocks are too soft. I can break this easily.

After conversing with Natashia, it seems that it has only been about five hours since I almost died.

Well, technically, my soul was split from my body.

Aparently there’s a set of weapons called the Soul Set.

Each weapon can cause a different effects, but one thing remains the same.

Your soul will be split from your body.

Well, thanks to Natashia’s mother, I’ve suffered quite a lot.

I really want to pay that back.

So, I formulated a plan.

One hour from now, Natelia is going down.

Hey guys, IAmTheKroc

So I redid Chapter 14 because it had a hole too large to be filled.

Plot holes IS how stories collapse after all.

And I definitely don't want Re:ptile to fall.

Hope this makes more sense.

Thanks for reading!

Peace