“Sorry.” Naia bowed her head, apologizing with a stammer as they continued walking through the dark.

“It's fine.”

Farra paid little mind to petite human girl's words. She twist her hands, continually examining the attire that had been crafted for her. It was not at all in the likeness of what she expected when hearing Erres discuss it. For every bit of respect she held for her lord, Farra did not think of him as being particularly conscious of others choices in clothing considering how many soldiers around him wore full armor. Maybe he did his research by consulting with Teilve or Valen, for each piece of cloth was indeed created with an emphasis on lightness while not sacrificing quality, taking into regard both her preferences and Erres' embodiment of a soldier. But to leave the praise at that she knew would do her young lord an injustice. While the outfit was likely an early design on something that could be refined, woven within these fabrics were enchantments helping to amend practical shortcomings of the light clothing. It possessed minor wards against both metal and magic. Erres surely beseeched Valen himself to work with craftsmen in creating this raiment for Farra.

Similar to the what she wore at a younger age, the outfit came with two simple black stockings made from a fabric likely fashioned from the webs of iliomats. Each sock rose high. covering more than halfway past her kneecaps. Meeting the leggings but also obscuring their end was the beginning of the her dark gray tunic's hem. Along it was a deep-crimson lacing which connected to a multitude of runic imprints, and across her tunic's breast was a single red blade. The tunic itself lie open, exposing halfway up her sides and to her armpits when she shifted her arms. To compensate for the exposure the tunic conceded was a tighter black top underneath wrapping all along her chest and upper back, composed of the same material as her tunic. A garment similar in purpose adorned her lower body starting at the waistline, resulting in what would have been no restriction to her tails, let alone the remaining stubs. She twisted her arm, seeing how the cloth drifted through the air as sleeves shifted. Each sleeve draped like a curtain, and when she kept her arms close to her body acted as more than enough to cover the exposed sides. The sleeves were loosely binded to her tunic; if necessity arose she was able to be detach the sleeves at a moments notice through two red ties that bound the outfit together. Emblazons decorated her outfit, sporting the knowledge and heroism of each of her dear lords, making it apparent her role as their representative.

Black gloves covering all Farra's fingers and thumbs provided cover for both half of her palm and half of the back of her hand; they were garments she had become particularly accustom to over the years. On her feet were two short black boots with a thick heel Farra was more than accustom to moving in. To complete the outfit however was a separate piece of clothing entirely. It was a long and black robe which despite being thin, she found to sometimes would clump with the flowing sleeves. It was a proper hooded robe that fell all the way past her knees and smothered her arms. Hastened stitching could be seen along the backside, likely an amendment after Farra had cut her tails. Farra knew in a moment upon seeing it how she was intended to walk with her arms folded while wearing it, something she built a habit of on her own. It shared its own enchantments she had been informed of, but they were merely for utility in shielding against various weathers, as the lords suspect she would not fight in such a cumbersome outfit. The designs on it were intricate, crimson and mauve just as the colors Erres and Valen typically preferred.

“...do you think the encampment is?”

Farra blinked, realizing she had become lost in her admiration of the clothing, turning to the girl, one of the two individuals accompanying her from the temple grounds.

“Repeat that.” She remarked, fixated on Naia as they continued forward.

“I apologize,” Naia quaked again, “I should have respected your personal thoughts.” The girl pulled her arms in around her stave, becoming ashamed and nervous under the feirin's gaze, trying to shy away from it but feeling compelled to honor Farra's attention.

“Nonsense. What was it you wanted to know?” Her fingers shifted, held together and obscured by the sleeves, pulling her head from the human girl's direction after noticing signs of her uneasiness.

“I just wanted to know how much longer. Until the encampment that is.”

“We will be there before the moon shrinks any. Do you need help carrying that bag?”

The girl waved her hands emphatically. “No no, nothing like that. I can carry this bag don't worry Miss Farra.” She clenched the strap of a brown bag she had been given to carry on their travel to the outpost Erres designated the majority of supplies and soldiers Farra required would be at. But within the bag and another the soldier traveling with them carried were supplies difficult to find outside the temple grounds. Inside of each bag muffled clinking cushioned by something could be heard, supplies Farra would require for purposes relating to runes.

“Miss?” Farra responded in a monotone voice, turning back forward without another word. The girl became unnerved by her officer's sudden silence, searching for a way to restart the conversation.

After a period of silence, Farra spoke, breaking through the quiet that discomforted Naia, and unknown to the girl, Farra as well.

“I haven't received your name yet.” Farra spoke, looking ahead.

“Nai-”

“Keretas, Miss Farra.” The soldier carrying the much larger bag in comparison spoke. He was in nearly full armor as typical of soldiers under Erres, however his helmet contained two holes near the forehead, allowing two dark horns to poke through from the helmet.

“Miss Farra?” Farra repeated it inaudible to either soldier besides her under her breath in a slight sullen voice before speaking aloud. “I am no Miss, nor do I possess any other noteworthy title. My understanding is you will be staying at the encampment as a sentry?”

“Yes Miss Farra.” Keretas tilt his head down in respect, continuing to march on beside them.

“I see, and you Naia will be one—”

“Yes.” She yelled back before Farra could finish her words, having dived into her own thoughts of embarrassment upon having tried to tell Farra her name a second time, snapping out of her trance once the feirin called her name.”

“-one of the spellweavers accompanying me?”

Naia's face flustered, seeing the indigo eyes drop to her. Farra blinked awaiting an answer, her face relaxing as straight as it typically did.

“Yes.” Naia paused glancing at the ground, turning back to the feirin only to find she was faced back forward again. “Miss Farra.”

Farra felt her eyes twitch the slightest amount, her body shifting under the robes at this sudden manner of addressing her like few ever had. “Yes Naia?” She didn't turn this time, concerned her face might carry an inkling of her irritation about the matter.

“Are you upset with me? Your eyes and gaze feel very sharp so often. Other soldiers say you seem angry a lot, and I can see why.” Naia's voice shrank with each moment of elaborating.

Farra stopped her step for a split second, resuming it in nearly the same instant.

“I apologize, but I cannot help how my face relaxes. It should be known to you and amongst soldiers that I don't harbor animosity for our soldiers. So you shouldn’t feel intimidated by me Naia, only those I perceive to do ill upon the War Faction and our dear Lords should fear having my disdain.” Farra turned back to Naia, managing a smile in an attempt to reassure her, one that the girl felt her heart skip a beat upon seeing. The feirin's cracked smile was more off-putting than her typical gaze.

“I understand, you needn't force yourself to smile Miss Farra.” She shook her head back and forth. “There's a lot of stories about you though, and the way I had to heal your tails when we first met, it all makes the stories seem not so unbelievable.” A brief silence fell between them as Farra took a moment to contemplate Naia's words. A mellow wind blew through the darkness, rustling the few roots attempting to stem from cracks in the stone-like dirt.

“I can't say anything of these stories without details. I simply strive to perform the duties Lord Erres has come to expect of me. Isn't that what anyone would do for something or someone they are committed to?” Farra's hand shifted under her garments, reaching to her waist and unsheathing her blade, holding it in front of her to examine the engravings along its black metal. “Unless you clear your mind of its doubts and focus on your objective, then you will hesitate. And in that moment you might more than fail your duties. Isn’t that something anyone should strive for in the vaguest sense? But enough of that, I can see the outlines of the post in the distance.”

Naia turned, straining her eyes to see as far into the darkness as Farra. After forcing her eyes to adjust and coming closer to the outpost, she identified not only the outlines of several structures, but a stack of smoke carrying a cerulean blue lighting within it, rising from behind the largest building. She turned to Farra and Keretas, doubling back to the smoke to confirm whether her eyes may have deceived her.

“I think there's smoke coming from over there.”

Naia halted her step, wondering if either of the two would express any concern, looking around the darkness. “That doesn’t concern either of you?” She stammered within her breath, prancing forth to keep pace with Farra and Keretas who kept moving.

“It's unusual yes. But it is not our duty to shy away with something is amiss. You are permitted to stay along the outskirts if the outpost if you so wish, I will have a soldier send for you after any issues are settled.”

“But that all seems dangerous. Shouldn't we come up with some sort of plan?”

“Anyone brazen enough to cause issue this deep within our lands is either a fool or someone we cannot plan for. But it's a waste to overthink it, just stay behind me, you are safer by my side if something is amiss. Be ready to activate my runes if need be.”

Naia looked on, clutching her wooden chime tight in an effort to expel her anxiety.

“How…exactly do I enchant your runes again?”

“As if you were infusing any object with energy for enchantment, don’t fret over the elemental composition, just ensure it isn’t an offensive spell.”

Farra craned her head, examining a structure that lied outermost from the center of the camp, looking over its entrance for any signs of clashing. Naia shook whilst following close behind, playing out the enchanting of Farra several times in her mind, accidentally pelting her with a bolt of fire.

“There's nobody inside the slave quarters. This post is mostly used as a place of transit for both soldiers and slaves alike. Keretas would you happen to know the scheduling for slave transports, you did say you were to be a sentry here correct?”

“Yes Miss Farra, but I haven't been disclosed many details of my duties as of yet, I was told there would be an officer here awaiting me.”

“I see, if any fighting breaks out, focus on preserving your life and the bag. I’ll protect Naia.”

“Understood.” Keretas drew a long blade from his side.

Farra drew the blade beneath her robes, walking toward the center of encampment. She glanced about, looking over various structures before gazing to the meeting hall and calling.

“Come out. Lord Erres sent me to retrieve a troop for my expedition. What has happened here?”

A single armored individual stepped from around the hall's entrance, a stocky and muscled orc looking on sheepishly as he stepped into the open to answer the call. Despite his outward appearance, the orc's stature shrunk the closer it came to Farra. The feirin's eyes looked over the individual before deciding to sheath her blade.

“Be at ease, you are a soldier are you not?”

The orc grunted with a nod, looking at both Naia and Keretas before returning to Farra’s eyes.

“Then there's no need for concern, though I wouldn't enjoy having to sit idly alone in the darkness anymore than you. Tell me why no one is here other than you. And why there is smoke over just beyond the hall.”

The orc cleared his throat and shook off his diminutive stature, standing at attention.

“We were attacked by a tribe suspected to be located nearby. They had with them a young man who we believed to be a chosen spouting things about justice and heroism. He killed one of our soldiers when they attacked the us. Talian decided against further fighting and ordered us to swiftly retreat northwest into the darkness to dissuade further aggression. He sent two scouts to follow the tribe back to their home. They used some sort of tracking scroll to alert Talian when they found the beasts' home.”

Farra fiddled her fingers along her elbows in thought, looking about the structures in an attempt to recreate the scene of the attack in her mind.

“All the slaves escaped with their lives then?”

The orc nodded his head in vigorous affirmation.

“I think so Lady Farra—”

“I am no Lady.”

“Yes Farra,” his stance wavered as he continued, “Unless the tribe wanted to kill the slaves they rescued, there shouldn’t be lives lost.”

“Save for our soldier. Talian had the right of things then, and you all did well to heed his orders given a fellow soldier was slain. Still, explain to me the smoke.”

“I made it as a request for backup using a scroll laying around. It’s by the stables too, keeping the animals warm.”

Farra blinked twice, slowly nodding her head.

“Very well, Keretas will be your backup. It's unwise to remain in the darkness alone, even if within our lands. As far as am I aware there will be no more soldiers arriving, extinguish whatever magic is creating that smoke and be on your guard. How numerous are our soldiers and their tribe?”

“About twelve soldiers set out with Talian, then there are the two scouts they'll meet up with. The camp was holding I think thirty slaves or so, and other soldiers were saying we were attacked by about twenty. Talian told us the camp was to the east around the plateaus.”

“I would presume the tribe left bodies incapable for combat or whom necessary to look after the young in case of failure back at their tribe then. If you and Keretas can manage, clean the slave quarters some, it will be quite crowded after we return. Expect as many as three or four to a single room.”

“Your bag Miss Farra?” Keretas hoisted higher, having begun to droop it from his shoulder after staying still for so long.

“Take the bag from Naia as well and stow them away inside the meeting hall, if I find either bag has been tampered with at all, there will be a severe punishment. Unless Lord Erres or Lord Valen themselves come in my absence, no one is to touch it. Treat it as your top responsibility coupled with your own survival.”

“Yes.” Both men affirmed, Naia letting out a sigh as she was relieved of the bag she had endured carrying from the temple grounds, fearful of rousing any negative sentiment from Farra. Her shoulder ached as she shifted her arm to see how stiff she had become, her own personal bag remaining with her across her opposite shoulder.

Farra turned, motioning with her hand for Naia to follow. The girl let out another deep breath of air before springing forth to keep with her superior.

“Twenty attacked this camp...that sounds like a lot. Are you certain of this?”

“Undoubtedly. Even without my intervention, Talian would have things under control. But with him also lies the rest of our party, waiting around at the outpost for their return is tiresome. Any sort of unnecessary injury to our soldiers would also be troublesome, there is no demerit in our providing reinforcement. I also wish to meet this chosen fancying himself a hero as well.”

“Right, you seem to have thought this all through already.” Naia gulped as they head toward the outline of cliffs shadowing whose shadows created by the moonlight consumed the visage of hills in the distance.

“There are still many things that remain perplexing, but I cannot let uncertainties be cause for a lack of action. As critical as a plan may be, indecision can unravel one's strategies at the seams, while a deliberate and hastened strike can foil your enemy's intent.”

The last crescent of the moon faded from the sky, darkness settling in all across the land, concealing the movements of both Farra and Naia as they traveled up and down dried hills, devoid of grass and vegetation. Small creatures would reel their head at the two before scurrying or slinking away, the sound of a brief hiss or movement the only hint to the mender girl that a creature was there at all. She should jump closer to the feirin's robes who did nothing to assuage the fears, but at the same time made no movements concerning how close Naia would press into her side, simply continuing onward toward their destination. Eventually the girl's embarrassment would take over her, pulling away from the robes until she was scared again.

“I would have thought some creatures would prevent a tribe from establishing a home here, though perhaps maybe that's exactly why they were able to. It's understandable this place wasn't scouted before, but to settle so close to one of our outposts. I doubt its being purely coincidence.” Farra mused aloud. As soon as the two ascended a hill, down below they could see a flame along the side of a high-rising cliff with a handful of armored soldiers pressed along the edge, two individuals sitting just beyond them bound by rope and gagged.

“They haven't started in full quite yet it seems.”

The two hurried down the hill, the eight soldiers in total turning upon hearing Naia's boots smack the ground.

“Identify yourself.” An armor soldier readied his blade, calling hushed as every other soldier readied their weapons, straining his eyes to see who was descending the hill.

“I’m Farra. Where are the others?” She lowered the hood of her robe, the runes inscribed on her cheeks discernible with a slightly paler tone under the light, her birth markings reaching along her cheeks being more prominent by comparison. “Any other conversations can wait until later.”

The soldiers' apprehension disappeared as they relaxed their arms, replaced with inconsistent bows among them. A thin reptilian-looking individual with blue scales all across his body and two yellow eyes that glimmered within the light continued speaking on.

“Within these cliffs is a narrow pathway that winds up to the top top of one of these cliffs, we're fairly confident the tribe that attacked is nestled away there. These two were sentries perched on the cliffs. The scouts couldn't go any further than that without risking combat, so we don't know much about their camp outside of what Talian and the others are finding out now.”

“Are you sure these two had no means of warning their camp?” She walked up to one of the bound individuals, a beast with unkempt short hair and two floppier, furred ears atop his head.

“Not exactly, but we did capture them without any sort of magic or light going off. The scouts made sure there were no other ways around the plateau to get down. Unless there are beasts who can fly or with flight magic up there, they should be stuck.”

“We lack the ability to pursue such an escape in any case, it's not worth considering. Even if some were capable, they will be leaving at least thirty-two presumably, and that will be all we need to ensure they come back. Talian and the other soldiers are atop the plateau then?”

“Or in the pathway somewhere.”

“Then let us go, this is a mender and spellweaver tasked to accompany me, she has no combat experience but I will look after her in any event.”

“Should we be bringing her into combat then?” The yellow-eyed reptilian looked Naia up and down, seeing her to be looking around for some way out of the situation.

“That's what I've been thinking.” Her voice came with shaking, unable to hold her chime steady. She glanced around to each soldier who looked her over as the subject of conversation. The feeling felt unfamiliar. She was accustom to receiving attention on the basis of being a mender, mostly attention akin to gratitude, but here she doubt about being brought into battle.

“Of course, you will enchant me when it comes to it Naia.”

“But what if I mess up? Or what if they come for me?”

“All you have to do is focus your energy into me, nothing more, think of me as nothing more than a blade or some other object to pour your energy into if that creates a picture for you, it is the basis of enchanting.”

The reptile spoke in place, “There is a spellweaver accompanying Talian, he can do the job too.”

“It's fine, this girl will need her experience in combat, otherwise she won't survive our expedition. In my company should be one of the safest places for her to gain it.”

Naia and the scaled lizard both nodded, the former beginning to breath harder despite no movements. She looked around as the soldiers hoisted the prisoners up, carrying them through the pass behind Farra. The mender rushed across to Farra's side, not wanting to be caught around the soldiers. The crevice between the cliffs was hidden amongst the hills, and beginning to wind around and slowly rise. The path ascending it was not clear, but distinct markings made by a blade signaled which path to take to further climb the rocky plateau.

“How many are there Talian?” Farra spoke, her sight making her long aware of movements within the darkness before her eyes could. The ascent itself masked the feirin's arrival from onlookers despite the soldiers' movements betraying their presence. The remaining soldiers from took cover behind a protrusion from the cliff-side. A man came forward from the line, garbed in a thin black outfit with minimal armor, wearing a mask that covered the entirety of his face with a skeletal visage.

“Counting the escapees, probably around seventy. Quite impressive really, they must be reaping a significant amount of the creatures around this plateaus to be surviving one would think.” He spoke in a calm and suave manner, none taken aback by Farra's sudden presence, staying fixated toward numerous tents in the distance with campfires between them.

“We could have taken them, but perhaps not without some injuries at best. They definitely know were here, but they don't know in what number, and they can't seem to settle on what to do seeing as they haven't attacked when they should hold a clear advantage of knowing this area over us.”

“Unless they don't know this area at all.” Farra interjected, looking yonder to the campfire whereupon some beasts made it obvious they knew of their presence. “I find it peculiar a single tribe numbers forty by your estimate, and a tribe would be so brazen to attack our encampment, or locate so closely to it.”

“I thought the same, though from what our scouting could discern, they seem to have children with them. So it's not an impromptu collection of adventurous beasts either looking to do battle.”

“Let's not waste anymore time here, I have things to attend to.” She motioned to Naia to come with her. “Talian, keep two soldiers guarding these prisoners and the way down the cliff. Surround the encampment with the rest of the soldiers. I have no desire for unnecessary conflict or death. A number are slaves who are malnourished and cannot flee or fight. I would suspect their rescuers would not be so quick to abandon them given the labors already gone through.”

Naia remained still for a moment, seeing soldiers turn to her when Farra continued ahead, finding their glances and marching frightening, sending her scurrying forward behind the feirin. Behind her the rumbling of metal, greaves, and sabatons continued, soldiers beginning to spread different directions, Talian himself and four soldiers following at a distance behind Naia and Farra.

“Naia.”

“Yes Farra?” She gazed up with trembling eyes, squeezing the handle of the chime, the wooden bells clinking together with faint rings.

“Sometimes the least brutal and violent way to avoid a battle is to present the opposition with overwhelming force and power to begin with. When you enchant me, you will undoubtedly be saving the lives of the beast tribe and potentially our soldiers alike. Think of it as an alternative way to fulfill your duty as a mender—preventing unnecessary loss to begin with.”

The girl's mouth was agape as she considered Farra's words, taking a small breath and managing to shut them, nodding her head and shaking off her shivering.

As they neared the camp and light began to illuminate their figures, numerous beasts, both men and women turned, some children hiding behind the legs of siblings or mothers. Most maintained features similar to the two bound sentries, but among the individuals craning their heads from inside tents, shivering in fear were a variety of beasts. Children were urged inside the tents with the fearful individuals. And toward a campfire was a youthful man, clad in platinum armor with a silvery broadsword and headband to keep the hair from his eyes. His gauntlets and boots were etched with gemstones, reflecting their glow in the fire's light.

“I would say this is more than seventy but children diminish that number. This is quite a lucky chosen it seems too.” Farra let out a sigh under her robe before lifting it from her head and speaking aloud. “I am Farra, an officer for Lord Erres of the War Faction. I have come to reacquire thirty slaves that were taken from a nearby encampment. Ordinarily such brazen behavior toward us would be punished, but needless violence is not in my interests. Surrender all your weapons and every individual at this encampment, child or otherwise, will return with us to our outpost. If you have supplies such as small keepsakes or food, we encourage you to bring it along. At our post you will all become slaves, but do not confuse that with a downgrade of your lives. All must do their part in these darkened lands, and I am certain that there is a level of suffering living in the darkness and scrounging to survive that could otherwise be avoided by joining us.” Farra took a breath, looking to Naia and speaking quietly. “I do not do this kind of thing often.”

Despite her fear of impending conflict, Naia looked back with a simper, relieved to see a shortcoming in Farra's intense aura. The man in platinum armor stepped forward from the campfire, Farra and Naia themselves nearing more toward the camp as a group of beasts fled from the tent closest from them to the other side.

“Farra you said your name was? I've heard about the way your army treats its slaves, I've seen the despair across their starving and tortured faces. Nothing you say can convince me you or your Lord Erres make any sort of worthy leader. You're nothing but murderers for your own cause.” He brandished his sword, gazing at the feirin's eyes before they drifted downward rising back as she drew her blade from beneath her robe. Farra switched it between her hands as she carefully took the robe off, folding it as she could with a single hand and handing it to Naia.

“You are the supposed hero are you not? The one who claimed the life of one of our soldiers. You're not born within this world are you?” The man nodded back at her before she continued.

“You are one who lacks understanding regarding this world. I had wished to meet you hoping to hear your take on what heroism is in the darkest of times. But it has become apparent that you are in fact, the one who disguises your actions under a veil, by killing a soldier then claiming us being in the wrong for having slaves who would otherwise perish in the darkness. If we had no army, then these lands would be chaotic with groups of vagabonds killing, raping, and pillaging as they please. If it was not for our god providing protection through his dominion, then people would be plucked away by the shadows themselves. You reinforce the darkness of these lands through your actions and deceit, satisfying yourself by opposing what you deem contrary to your beliefs. We are not blind to issues, I take no pleasure in seeing slaves that have never wronged me suffer. But we also are offering them protection and order, and in return for that need something from them. Here you stand now, reaping the very benefits from being within Belthemot’s dominion without contribution parasite. I am not one for words, so hear my ultimatum.”

She brandished her sword, eyes sharpening.

“You are a hero. I am the the strongest soldier here likely until you reach our temple grounds itself. An opportunity lies before you, defeat me, kill me, and not only will you save the people here, but you will also potentially save so many others in your eyes. So come hero. Unless you have more amicable words to spare.” She muttered. “Naia, enchant.”

The girl trembling from Farra's words hoisted her chime high, and from it came a glow of colorless light, transfusing into Farra's body from the back, spilling across her in a matter of moments. The runes all along Farra's body lit. Her cheeks glowing blue and red, markings stretching down her neck and body glowing underneath her clothing a mixture of colors depending on their positioning, intertwining at times. Farra raised her blade in her right hand, plucking some of the dust from a pouch on Naia's waist, sprinkling it over her blade. Purple and crimson runes began to glow as the blade's edge caught ablaze.

“I see no reason for mercy toward you hero.”

“Neither do I demon.” He held out a gauntlet, one red gem within it glowing as a small fireball shot forth.

“Behind me Naia.” Farra twirled her arm, its sleeve swinging wide, catching and dispelling the flame. “Your ignorance, it’s unworkable. It’s a miracle you’re still alive, but it seems that fortune has ran its course..” She dashed forward with blinding, tremendous speed, the runes on her body shining bright as she made one swipe at the man's sword, smacking it with such force his center was thrown off. She gazed coldly toward onlooking would-be enemies, eyes turned from the man as he regained his balance, catching his sword and bringing it around, attempting to smash its hilt into Farra. She held her blade up, halting its momentum. The man swung with his left fist toward Farra's face, her own hand relaxing in front of where it land as soon as his punch began. She caught the fist, clenching her fingers around it, squeezing tight until bones could be heard cracking.

“Ordinarily I would not make this so gruesome, but I am making an example out of you.” She whispered, the man trying to pull his body back from their entanglement. She delivered a swift kick to his abdomen, launching the man back against the campfire. “I see no reason for letting you live. Someone unwilling to reconcile themselves with reality is useless.”

Farra looked over the edge of her flaming blade, scanning the crowd of beasts, setting her view on a man looking toward Naia.

“Touch the girl and I'll kill the children too you coward.” The threat provoked him into attacking her instead. He attempt to swing down a crude stone axe, Farra swiping at it before it became to come down and slicing the head from its handle, kicking him away when a second beast tried to swing a sword at her from behind. She held her blades with both hands in front of her, turning and plunging forward in a dash, impaling the man on her sword, pulling it from his body and letting him crumble to the ground.

“One without strength cannot protect themselves let alone others, that's a cruel reality I learned long ago. I was just a small girl, abandoned by her tribe to fend for herself. It was too much to care for me when parents had their own children. The War Faction took me in and decided to give me both purpose, desire, and direction. I don't take any pleasure in murdering, but some don't understand. To your feet hero.”

Farra flicked her blade, tossing some of the blood coating its edge onto the ground, the remaining bits of blood boiling and evaporating by the flaming edge. Another beast rushed at her as she neared the hero, a woman who had tears streaking down her eyes. She had no weapon but instead trying to haphazardly swing.

“Your lover perhaps?” Farra spoke, still looking at the man pulling himself to his feet, her hand extending as she dodged a fist, reaching past the woman’s head, grabbing her by the hair and twisting her down the ground, ripping out clumps of hair in the process. “Tell me hero, would you have me kill her out of mercy? Or would you prefer her to live as a slave? What is the right choice in your eyes?”

The man leaned over his blade, attempting to obscure it as he swing it back in an attempt to slash Farra. “To hell with you.” He grunted, the blade flying forth with unyielding momentum. Farra’s gaze remained still, stepping to the side to dodge it, slashing midway down the sword's edge to hack it in half, the cut blade falling into two pieces on the ground. The beast that had been kicked away earlier threw a small knife at Farra, only for the feirin to hold her blade up and swipe, deflecting it to the ground. She reached to her waist side beneath her tunic, pulling her own knife from it and thrusting it toward the beast with such speed it pierced into his throat. He crumbled to the ground promptly after.

“I can kill every last one of you if you resist. Soldiers retrieve the slaves.”

Tailan and his troop closed in from all around the encampment, many of the beasts shrinking in fear at Farra's might rather than offering any semblance of resistance.

“Die as a hero would at the least.”

The man's gauntlet began to glow from a green gem as he attempted to bring a fist up. Farra dashed tight to his body, crushing his wrist with a hand and impaling him from the back upon her blade. The flame of her blade melted and let her pierce past his armor with ease, beginning to burn his insides as he let out a scream. She pulled her blade from his body, letting him fall to the ground, swiping his head with a clean cut as he fell. “His armor is from outside these lands, its weak in comparison to our metals. Take his gauntlets and greaves etched with gems though, save them for Lord Valen.”

She turned to the woman weeping on the ground, bruising by the impact with which Farra pulled her. “He never said what to do with you. In his stead, what do you want done? You attacked me. A disobedient slave like you won't be useful for hard labor, so you can either choose death or to become a plaything for the soldiers. Answer me or I will let efficiency answer for you.”

“I won't die.” The woman murmured, attempting to grab onto Farra's legs. The feirin shifted back. “Please don't touch my clothing. But you made the efficient choice I see. Thank you for your service.” Farra let out a breath and stepping away from the crying woman. The runes of her skin going dim as the flames of her blade glowed violently. With a slash of her blade she launched the energy that had been flowing within her through the blade and into the air, a fireball exploding into the sky.

She sheathed her blade with a sigh, pounding her fist against her chest as if to awaken herself as Talian approached her.

“Still frightening as ever. You do a good job at looking cold and heartless.”

“I serve Lord Erres and the War Faction, if cold and heartless is necessary, then so be it.”

Numerous soldiers continued to subdue and bind the arms of several of the beasts who have given up, a few driving their blades through and hacking the heads off those who were offered too much resistance if vile threats did not coerce the individual into cooperation, in some cases delivering swift blows and incapacitating the captives.

“We should give the orders for their enslavement, you should do it, they already think you're evil as can be probably.” Talian laughed, moving to look over bound slaves, catching the fist of one trying emerging from a tent to attack him and driving a twisting dagger through the beast’s arm and shoving him to the ground.

“Soldiers and slaves alike, listen. To fulfill our duty as part of the War Faction, it is necessary we do not waste life needlessly or with inefficiency. Men and women alike, offer too much resistance and prove completely noncomplying as some are now and you will be either killed or found a purpose through some other manner, whether that is tortured, a dummy for weaponry practice, forced into a brothel, or fed to creatures. Comply and you will be found some less forceful purpose such as hard labor. Slavery is by no means your end in the War Faction, slaves can become soldiers, and then new rules will pertain to you. Soldiers do not unnecessarily harm the slaves unless you wish to find punishment by mine or Talian's hands.”

Farra concluded her directions, and all the slaves were rounded up and tied together. Those unconscious were rolled into a mat and carried over the shoulder of a soldier.

Talian moved closer to Farra, whispering. “Some of the men that were disobedient I've ensured remain alive. I will see to their torturing for clues as to this entire event’s occurrence.”

“That is likely for the best. I need to depart for an expedition after a brief rest upon returning. It was my original intent to take with me one spellweaver other than Naia and five soldiers, but will you be able to maintain the encampment's security with such a large amount of slaves?”

“Likely not, we can definitely afford to lose a spellcaster, but five soldiers is more than a fourth of what we have now. Maybe two or three.”

“I'll take two then and figure out the rest along the way, forgive me for the inconvenience Talian.”

“Not at all, you being here spared us quite a bit of troubles.”

Farra nodded before turning to a Naia who looked on at all the happenings, seeing the dead bodies of those who defied Farra, of those who defied their captors, and the slaves being bound together and pulled along in processions in makeshift bindings. “Is this how it always is?”

“You were a mender from the outset weren't you? I suppose this must all be new to you. This is simply the reality of these lands.” Farra put a hand to Naia's back, urging her along the caravan of slaves.