“Hey, Alexandria are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Why are you crying?”

“Because of this book I’m reading, it’s a romance between two monsters, they were thrown out of society because of how they looked and in the end that society comes to hunt both of them and they both die together. It’s so sad!!!”

She continues to sob all over the table and on her hands.

So that’s why………….

I dig my fists in each side of her head and started to rotate my fists.

”OW OW OW OW OW!!! ANTONIO STOP!”

”YOU MAKE ME WORRY ABOUT YOU AND IT TURNS OUT YOUR CRYING OVER A DAMN BOOK!!!”

”ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT IM SORRY

STOP!!!”

I stop digging into her head with my fists.

”you got what you came for? I've learned what I need for now.”

”Yeah, I've done what I've needed so we can go now.”

Alexandria quickly put back the books she took out and came back.

”Alright now we can leave!” said Alexandria with a large smile.

The sun was starting to set.

Man, did we really spend that much time in the library?

Well, our last stop should be a place for dinner.

I point at a restaurant and look back at Alexandria, she nods her head in agreement and so we both head towards the fancy building.

As I opened the door a small bell ringed alerting a nearby waiter to company us to our table. We were directed to a table of two, one table with two chairs across from each other.

We took our seats and started browsing the menu, there were many weird dishes but I've gotten used to that, after a bit I decided what is should order and it seems like Alexandria also has her eyes on something.

I raise my hand and called out to our waiter.

”And what would his married couple like today?”

Married couple? Does it look like that? Never really paid attention. Well not like it'll bother Alexandria, well just set the record straight.

I glance over to Alexandria and she had a very unusual expression, she was beet red and she started to stutter.

”M-Married?!?!? I-it's not like that! Waiter, you are wrong!!!”

”O-Oh my sincerest apologies.”

I squint my eyes at the sight of her unusual response.

“W-Well lets O-Order!!!” She said frantically.

We both take our orders and the waiter nods leaving with sweat on his forehead.

Alexandria was twiddling her ringers still red and mumbling to herself.

Shes really making this situation as awkward as she can huh?

My eyes wander to different places occasionally they land on the embarrassed Alexandria.

Did that book mentally mess her up?

‘Hey, Alexandria are you ok?”

“I-I'm F-Fine! What kind of question is that!?!? I'm always fine!!! HAH!!!……..HAH!!!…..hahhh……..”

Something's definitely wrong, I'm gonna have to investigate some more later.

After twenty minutes of me staring her down and her eyes wandering all over the place avoiding mine, the waiter comes with our food.

”A-Am I interrupting something?”

”Not at all.” I said while still staring down Alexandria.

”O-Okay then……..well here's your food.”

The waiter slowly backed up step by step after serving us food.

We both kept up even when we were eating.

I decided to drop my investigations for now but it doesn't mean they'll be on halt forever.

I pay the bill and ask Alexandria how we should get back at the hotel, the choices were either portal back or walk back and she instantly picked portal after hearing the second option.

Is she tired? Maybe that's why she's been acting a bit unusual, we did have quite a rough morning.

She drew the symbol to create a portal and it leads us straight to our room.

I fell onto my bed and passed out of tiredness not caring about my suit or anything else. Alexandria will probably fall asleep soon as well.

The bustling city wakes me once again, I raise my arms and stretch letting out a loud long yawn.

I look over to Alexandria bed and I see her sitting with her back turned to me.

”Good morning.” I said tiredly.

She turned over and showed me a crooked face as well as large black bags under her eyes. She kept in yawning and her eyes were red.

”Alexandria……..did you get any sleep? Like at all?”

”Nooooooo………” she said slowly barely awake.

Knock knock knock

Knocking at the door? Wonder who it is.

I unlock the door and open it, the person knocking was part of the gang I took over.

”Boss there's someone asking the gang for assistance, here he is.”

A short but well-built man walked up to me.

”Please boss of the shadow face clan, please help. My home village is being attacked by a powerful headless monster. Please, I beg you I'll give you everything I have!!!”

Alexandria is sleep deprived……..I don’t think we can take it when she’s like that.

“I’m s—”

Alexandria spring up from her bed and in front of the door.

“A powerful foe!?!? We will take it!!!”

After hearing that there would be a strong opponent Alexandria completely ignored her exhaustion and she started to look fit as a fiddle.

“Alexandria you really up for the task? I know your strong but aren’t you tired?”

“Nope! Not anymore!”

I’ll take her word for it.

“Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much!!!”

“Alright, boss you want some men to escort you to the village?”

“Sure I don’t mind.”

“Got it.”

The gang member leaves with our client.

“Get ready to head out Alexandria.”

“Alright.”

After a couple of minutes of preparations we were ready to head to the attacked village, outside the hotel were two carriages, one was filled with more gang members and the other was for us.

We entered the empty carriage and off we went to the village.

Alexandria was smiling while she swayed left to right, she was probably filled to the brim with excitement.

She noticed me staring at her, she turned red and looked away from me.

She’s doing the same stuff from yesterday.

After an hour of travel, we stopped.

“This is as far as I can go.” The driver said.

We got out of the carriage and what was ahead of us as a run-down village. The houses were roofless, crops destroyed, trees that have fallen down, and remnants of human life could not be found.

I want to believe that the people here have already evacuated.

The gang meme era on the other carriage also got out.

“What’s our orders boss?”

“You guys stay outside of the village, me and Alexandria will go in, if things turn south come for us.”

“Alright.”

Alexandria should be enough firepower to take whatever cause this out.

“We’ll be heading in now.”

As we were walking into the village we saw a woman in full plate armor standing not too far from us. But one noticeable feature of this woman would be her lack of a head.

Even with a lack of a head she still managed to notice visitors.

“Why have you two come here? Have you come as sacrifices? Suicidal? Come to challenge my might? Or are you just dumb?”

“Hm I don’t know, You guess why we're here?”

“Then……...YOUR SUICIDAL!!!”

I could hear a faint noise in the distance like something is being thrown or something moving.

Out of nowhere, I see a large sword coming from the right, it was different than Alexandria’s, her sword could thrust and swing and had a normal design but this other woman’s sword had a half circle on the top and a chain connected to the pommel of the sword.

Shit!

Before the flung sword reached its destination Alexandria parried it knocking it back.

The flying sword was pulled back, we gotta get in close if we wanna take her out, staying this far away she can continue to keep us a bay with her sword.

I pull out the magazine from my bar and it was empty, I squeezed the magazine hard trying to replicate what did at the manor but to no success.

Alexandria looked over and noticed I was struggling to get some bullets.

“You gotta redirect your mana!” She said as she continued to parry the flying swords attacks.

Redirect my mana?!?!? How am I supposed to do that?!?!? Fuck I gotta give it a try at least.

I close my eyes and grip the magazine tightly, I visualize mana as some kind of flowing liquid in my body, I visualize that liquid filling up my left arm.

I open my eyes and the green bullets start to form.

Fuck yeah!!! I ducking did it!!!

“Antonio I see that you’ve succeeded but I could use a little help right about now!”

She kept on parrying the onslaught of attacks not being allowed to inch in closer.

Each flying sword attack looked and sounded stronger and was giving Alexandria a run for her money.

I gotta get closer, this BAR ain’t gonna hit shit from this distance, it’s just gonna look like a light show for where that woman stands.

“Alexandria, keep her busy while I flank from the side, you think you can last a little longer?”

“Maybe, I still got a bit more left in me.”

I disappear to the side and I’m able to get a lot closer.

“Where did that man in the weird clothing go?!?! Did he abandon his wife?!? What a weak little mouse he is!!!” The headless woman said mockingly.

“Shut up.” Alexandria silently muttered to herself.

Once I got in close enough I fired three shots, two grazing the plate armor and one making a hole.

“Agrhh!!! That fucking hurt!!!!”

Alexandria took this chance to charge in but she was blocked by the woman.

Those two produced strong gusts of wind every time they exchanged blows. It was a battle between two giants.

“You're really cute!!!! And strong!!!! Why don’t you be my wife or concubine!!!! I’ll treat you well!!!!”

“What!?!?!”

The blows exchanged between them became faster and more fierce.

“How about it!?!?! I don’t wanna ruin that pretty little face of yours!!!”

“NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS!!!!”

Shit, they keep on moving I can get a clear shot.

The woman somehow got a hold of Alexandria’s arm, blue lights appeared and a blue explosion that knocked Alexandria back although not making a scratch.

Here’s my chance!!!

I fire another couple of shots. Each hitting their marks.

“ARGH WHERE ARE YOU?!?!? YOU COWARD!!!”

Every time I took shots I would relocate to keep her guessing where I am.

More shots all hit their marks. Alexandria also chimes in and beats the hell out of the headless woman.

Alexandria ouches her down onto the ground back facing the sky and wrapping her arms together with her own chains.

“Feisty girl aren’t yah.”

Even when tied and on the ground, the headless woman kept on blabbing.

“So Alexandria, what exactly is she?”

“A dullahan, I’ve read about them in books but they are pretty rare. Dullahans heads are disconnected from the body and so mana flows freely through the neck. Where are you hiding your head dullahan?!?!?”

Something appears right next to the dullahan, and what was appeared was a head severed from the body, the head, and short blond hair with red eyes.

Truly a sight you would never see back where I came from.

“Alright back to business, why did you attack this village?”

“And why would I tell you?”

Hm, I could threaten her but I think I can use this.

“Well since you lost we have the right to know and you have to tell.”

“Hmm fair enough I’ll say.”

She took a slight pause to catch her breath.

“I wanna fight the monster lords employed by the human empire, I thought attacking villages would get their attention but they never came. Those lords took everything I had!!!! My home!!! My race!!! I am one of only a few surviving dullahans on this continent, on the others, it’s a mystery.”

She paused again.

“I never killed anyone honest! In fact, I let them evacuate before I destroy these buildings.”

“Fine I’ll let you go but only one condition……..you join my gang back in the city.”

“I am honored by your mercy and will to believe in orders I will follow you to the grave boss!”

Woah Woah that’s a little too extreme…….but I’ll let it slide.

“Untie her Alexandria.”

Alexandria was not giving the dullahan a nice look.

“Ah don’t worry um Alexandria I won’t touch a strand of hair on your pretty little face, and besides you already have a man right?”

“M-Man!?!?! I have no such thing!!!”

“Oh…..then why not be with m—“

“Never.”

“Hey dullahan, my names Antonio Alvichi and yours?”

“Elizabeth Dyight, nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

She hit my back with a lot of force forcing me to cough.

We walked out of the villages not as enemies but now comrades, but I think Alexandria will take a bit more time to believe that.

As we to the carriages we notice a much large one decorated with gold and gems, the people who came out were the people I’ve seen before in the capital city.

Lord Ezekial.