The morning mist still hung heavy over the fields when we left the town behind us and set off. A whole day had passed, and even if the cool air around us made me forget the oppressive heat of the previous days, I felt a growing nervousness inside me. A lot had happened recently, more than I expected.

I closed my eyes and reviewed the events. It seemed like an eternity since I set my foot in this world. When I arrived in my first town, I was merely, a stranger, a wanderer looking for a role, to start my new life. And now? Now I was officially an adventurer, with all the rights and responsibilities that title entailed. I was surprised how quickly it all happened. Barely, I had completed my first quest and already I was deeply involved in the mysteries of this world.

Loli, I whispered quietly in my head, almost reverently, as I thought of my interaction with this mysterious girl. She was so different from anything I had ever experienced before. She had two forms, each of them unique and yet connected in a strange way. In her first form, she appeared to me as a person, a child, but not in the real world, but in a special sphere that was only accessible to both of us, or so I thought. Every time I wanted to talk to her, all it took was a single thought and she was already in my head. This mental communication was as fascinating as it was unsettling, a constant whisper that knew my deepest secrets and yet always made me feel safe. If I wanted to see her, all I had to do was focus, sharpen my thoughts, and then I would find myself in her sphere.

Her second form, the demon sword, was specially named . This sword was more than just a weapon, it was a manifestation of her power, an extension of herself that had protected and guided me in moments of greatest danger. It was only thanks to Loli and her sword form, that I was able to defeat the monster that made my first quest a success. I still remember the adrenaline kick when I held in my hands for the first time. It was like her essence went straight into me, guiding my movements and multiplying my power. I opened my eyes and looked ahead. Now it's time to move on... or should I say drive on? A smile crept onto my face. Monika had the glorious idea of getting a carriage. I had been sceptical at first, but now that we were making progress on the road, I saw the wisdom in her decision. It would have taken us weeks by foot, but with the carriage we could travel much faster. The horse, which we named 'Shia', was a magnificent animal, strong and enduring. It cost us a gold coin, a proud price, but I was happy to pay it if it helped us to get across the country safely and quickly. The carriage itself was surprisingly cheap, only four hundred and nine silver coins, which made me skeptical at first. But after a thorough inspection, I realized that it was in good condition despite the low price. It was my first time driving a carriage, but thanks to the crash course, which the dealer had given us for free, I am now able to drive. His instructions were precise and helpful, and I felt confident as I took the reins. We rolled leisurely along the bumpy road, the carriage wheels creaking softly and the gentle clatter of Shia's hooves was almost soothing. The sky above us became clear and the sun cast long shadows over the land. The landscape was peaceful, almost idyllic, and it was hard to believe that so much danger could be lurking around every corner.

“It's much easier to travel this way. Life can be so wonderful.” Monika's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She was lying on her back, her hands clasped behind her head, letting herself be rocked by the movement of the carriage. There was a satisfied smile on her face.

I couldn't help but smile. “You're just too lazy,” I teased her.

Her eyes opened immediately, and a dangerous glint appeared in them. “What was that?!”

“Calm down, please.” came Anna's soft voice from behind me. Her calm voice was a blessing at that moment.

Meanwhile, I reached level 14, and yet, one mystery remained unsolved: my own stats, which I still couldn't see. How frustrating! Like walking through a dense fog, unable to recognize my true strength or weakness. All I knew was, that I gained new skills, they gave me at least a little feeling of making progress. I closed my eyes and thought about these skills and their uses. The first skill I gained was . It allows me to reflect magical attacks, an ability that can be invaluable on the battlefield. I imagined myself facing a powerful mage in a duel and reflecting his deadly attacks back with a single swipe of my hand. But unfortunately, doesn't work on all magic formulas, according to the description. This makes it risky to rely on it completely. What if I misjudge the type of magic that's coming towards me at a crucial moment? The thought makes my stomach tingle.

Then there's . The idea of simply vanishing into thin air, or becoming invisible, is tempting, especially for the one or other man, but it can also be dangerous. I haven't used this skill yet, maybe out of fear, to activate it at a moment when I should rather be safe. But I know that this skill could save my life.

is another skill I have learned. At first it seems simple, the ability to see distant things clearly. But when you think about it, knowing what's happening in the distance isn't a disadvantage. It provides me with strategic advantage, whether in battle, scouting or simply monitoring people, especially enemies.

Last but not least, there's , a subset of skills that specifically relate to wielding weapons. I received these when Loli and I signed our contract. When I use , her form as a sword, or another weapon, I can perform magic-enhanced attacks. But this skill has its price: the more magic I use, the stronger the attack will be, but also the risk of pushing myself too hard and falling into a state of exhaustion. I wish I could find out more about these skills and my development. What it means, not being able to see my stats. Is it a curse? A flaw in a system of this world, like a bug in a game? Or is it simply a special challenge, imposed to test me? Thoughts like these are constantly buzzing around in my head, refusing to let me rest. Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting invisible enemies without knowing if I even have a chance.

While I was lost in my thoughts, Loli's childish voice suddenly snapped me out of my monologue. “Stop talking to yourself and look ahead!” Her voice is always a little sharp, but I know she meant well.

I set my focus back on my surroundings, forgetting for a moment, that I wasn't alone in this presence. The presence of Loli nestled in my head is comforting, but sometimes confusing. But then I realized something strange....

“Huh?” only after seeing it by myself did I realize what Loli meant earlier about me looking ahead.

“Do you see that?!” her voice echoed in my head.

Of course I noticed it. It was impossible to miss. My eyes widened as they saw a dark plume of smoke rising into the sky. The smoke was thick and black, blacker than my beloved sword, it was an ominous sign. “Is that... Smoke?” I muttered to myself, even though the answer was clear.

Anna, also glanced to the direction I was staring at when she noticed my unease. “Maybe a campfire?” she guessed.

I shook my head. “The smoke is far too big to be a campfire!” I could feel my heart beating faster as I continued to stare at this scene. Cold sweat ran down my spine and my stomach tightened. The smoke seemed threatening and I could feel the reins trembling slightly in my hands. Uncertainty and pressing curiosity mingled, but at the same time I was afraid of, what I might find out. “Please, don't let it be anything bad,” I thought as my pulse pounded. I quickly activated my Skill and immediately my vision sharpened, the smoke came closer and the details emerged clearly. I saw houses on fire. It was a village, but almost the size of a small town, with a small cluster of houses burning brightly. “This is... a village! The village is on fire!” I exclaimed, my voice shaking.

“What did you say?!” Monika asked, looking alarmed.

“Hold on tight!” I shouted as I tightened my grip on the reins and spurred Shia, our faithful horse, on. Shia reacted immediately, her muscles tensed, and the carriage shot forward. The sounds of hoof beats and clattering carriage wheels echoed in my ears as we sped along the uneven path. “Ngh!” I heard Monika groan as she bumped her head on the carriage. “Ow! That hurt, you idiot!!!” she growled at me, but I ignored her protest since there were more important things to worry about, than a little bump. I felt that time was stretching itself as we sped towards the burning village. Seconds turned into minutes and the adrenaline that drove me forward was palpable in my veins. My whole body was tense with thoughts of fear, fear that I was about to see something horrible.

After a few minutes, we finally reached the village. The heat of the flames raged against us and the acrid smell of smoke and burnt wood filled the air. The fire seemed to have engulfed almost all the houses, and it seemed that nothing could be saved. However, what worried me most wasn't the fire, but the strange silence. No screams, no people calling for help, nothing. Just the eerie crackling fire.

Why is it so quiet here, I asked myself. But I should save that question for later. First, we had to stop this fire somehow, no matter what. But how can we quench such a huge fire? On my skill list, I had nothing related to water or anything else. I'm useless in this situations. Then I remembered that Monika usually has weird items that helped us out every time. I looked at Monika, but judging by her presence, she seemed to be useless at situations like this, just like me. But there must be some way, some way to put out the fire as quickly as possible!

...

“Anna, use water magic! Hurry!” I shouted loudly. I wondered how I could be so lost when the answer to my question was right next to me. The fact that I forgot that Anna was a magician, something I was actually aware of, but in that moment, when everything happened far too quickly, my thoughts were riddled with holes like a slice of cheese, and I was out of my mind.

“Yessir!” Anna responded. She raised her staff with both hands and pointed it at the burning houses. “Water from the ruins, I summon, unite with the clouds and let it fall. Aquae Nubilum!!!” Her voice rang out like an echo, reverberating in the surrounding area as she spoke her incantation. Her staff then began to glow a bright blue. The air suddenly changed, becoming stuffier as small clouds descended from the sky and became one large cloud. The deep gray looked like heavy rain, or maybe a heavy thunderstorm, if I can trust my own eyes any longer. The rain, which at first consisted of thick drops and then turned into a steady shower, was chilly but also reassuring. We saw how the fire gradually began to get smaller until it finally extinguished. However, the atmosphere remained tense. The houses were charred, many roofs had collapsed, and the silence was almost unbearable.

“Let's split up. Maybe there are still survivors. If you find anyone injured, shout as loud as you can so we can help each other!” I said to the others. Monika and Anna nodded in agreement and we split up. I took the left half of the village, while Anna searched the right side. Monika went along the middle path that led southwards.

I walked through the smoke-filled ruins, looking for clues, signs of life or even just something that could tell us more of what happened in this village. My eyes wandered from left to right, uninterrupted by the surroundings, every unexpected sound made my heart race and my body flinch.

An hour passed since our arrival and our search. Unfortunately, my search was unsuccessful. I found no people or other life signs. Just debris and charred remains. I was frustrated, my stomach growled with hunger, but I didn't allow it to get me down and forced myself to keep going. Maybe Monika and Anna were luckier than me. I decided to meet up with them, so I walked towards the southern path that Monika was walking past until I unexpectedly spotted something strange on the ground. It was a dark red stain, about twelve centimeters in size, which was slowly mingling with the earth. I knelt down and carefully touched the stain with my index finger. The liquid is warm and slightly sticky. I smelled it briefly, where I realized that it was blood... fresh blood. The warm blood, probably warmed by the fire, ran down my finger drop by drop. While watching at it, images suddenly appeared. Memories of the blood, still warm, staining the bed and the walls, the night of full moon, without stars in the night sky. But other events also appeared before me, I don't know if you can call this 'nostalgia', at least they weren't pleasant memories. It was an afternoon in my old world, I remember the TV was on and was playing at the highest volume in the whole house. The whole room was a mess and was stained with flowing cold blood, my breathing stopped at that moment and I didn't know what to do next. Those events that I had wanted to forget for years don't seem to disappear as easily as I hope every time. This realization always hits me like a slap in the face, so I wanted to hide my face under the hood of my coat...

Suddenly I remembered what else was so strange about this village, apart from the disturbing silence. It seemed devastated. Not because of the fire, but because this place had already been devastated before, like it was done by people. Maybe there was an explanation for this. Perhaps...

“My hero!”

A female voice snapped me out of my thoughts. It belonged to the red-haired woman, Anna. “Did you find someone?” I asked her while I stood up again. But Anna shook her head. “No, no one.”

“I see,” I said.

“Do you think the villagers fled because they couldn't stop the fire?” Anna looked at me worriedly.

“That could be an option, but... I don't think that's the whole truth. Look at the ground.” I pointed to the bloodstain.

“Is that... Blood?” Anna asked with a shocked expression. “What does that mean? Were the villagers attacked by a monster?”

“I don't know. Do you think a monster would ravage every single house? Besides, there would be even more bloodstains and even corpses, or just fractions.” I pondered as I looked at the ground. “My money's on a robbery.”

“Yes, but why would they attack a village? And where could the inhabitants be?”

Unexpectedly, I heard a female voice in my head. At first I thought it was Loli talking to me, but this voice belonged to Monika. “Kaito, Anna, come quickly to the southern gate, I've found something!” It seemed that Monika was using the glass skull to speak to us telepathically.

“Monika has found something, hurry!” I said to Anna and ran ahead.

“Yes!” Anna nodded and followed me.

When we arrived, we both stood there, cold sweat crawling down my spine in horror as I looked at the massive, dead creature in front of me. The body, large silver scales shining in the sunlight and dark blue hair stretching from its head to the tip of its tail, blowing in the slight breeze, was now lifeless and silent. The mere sight of it left an oppressive feeling in my chest, like a heavy burden on my heart. The creature's wings, once surely proud and spread wide, now lay crumpled and bloodied on the ground, with fresh blood still dripping from several wounds, staining the ground.

“What the...” My words hung in the air as I tried to comprehend the situation. It made no sense to me that here, in the middle of a once-burning village, this majestic creature was lying on the ground.

“A dragon...”, Anna whispered behind me, her voice barely audible and full of sorrow. It was the second time I'd heard that deep melancholy in her voice, it broke through the cold façade she usually maintained. “What's a dragon doing here?” I asked myself.

“He was killed, I'm sure of it.” Monika stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she examined the dragon's wounds. “He died by brute force. Whoever did this, knew exactly what they were doing.”

Monika had once told me that dragons were not easy to kill, apparently everyone knows that, according to her. They were probably regarded as the guardians of ancient magic, as beings that were almost invincible. If someone was able to kill a dragon, it means that we were dealing with an opponent who was far beyond our abilities. But the only thing echoing in my head at that moment were the images of the dead dragon and the question of where the villagers were right now and how they were doing.

“The poor dragon...” Anna sounded like she was going to burst into tears at any moment. I sympathized with her too well. Monika also told me that dragons and salamanders were more or less the same species, or rather a 'family'. For Anna, it must have been a great loss to lose a family member. I know that feeling only too well... I murmured in my mind and thought of my past again. Of that pain. Of that loss.

My hand trembled slightly as I approached the dragon, the warmth of life had drained from its body, and yet I felt the remains of its magical aura in the air. I wanted to touch it, perhaps pay it my last respects, when suddenly a rustling sound from the bushes to my right caught my attention. Before I could even react, a small figure rushed out of the bushes, a shortsword in his hands, shouting “Don't touch our master!!!” A child? My mind raced as I saw the sword flying towards me. Instinctively, I summoned , my beloved sword, which appeared in a flickering flare of light in my right hand. The brief battle was over before it had even really begun. I parried the boy's hasty attacks, full of fury but lacking the necessary technique, with a rapid kick I disarmed him by throwing the sword into the air.

“Calm down, kid.” I called out with a calm voice. “There's no need to fight us!” The boy stared at me angrily, his eyes gleaming with anger and tears. “Don't call me ‘kid’!!!” he shouted, his voice quivering with emotion as he lifted a long stick from the ground and tried to hit me with a vertical strike. But I was quicker, I kicked the 'weapon' out of his hand again and grabbed him by the collar. My sword disappeared in the same flare from where it came. I lifted the boy into the air, my eyes fixed on his. “Stop it. We're not enemies.” Then, I noticed something. Instead of human ears on the sides of his head, he had two cat ears on his head that, black like his hair. He was a demi-human, just like Anna and me. Before I could think about it any further, I heard another rustling in the bushes. This time a little girl came out, tears streaming down her dirty cheeks as she cried frantically, “Brother!!!” She ran straight towards me and clung to my black coat, I could feel her little hands trembling in fear.

“Another child?” Anna sounded surprised.

The little dark brown-haired girl pulled at my coat, crying. “Please let him live! I'm begging you!” At that moment, I didn't understand what was going on. But her words almost broke my heart when I saw her big, flowing tears, filled with so much fear and innocence.

“Stay away from him, Mary! Otherwise he'll take you too!” shouted the boy I was still holding by the collar. His brave demeanor couldn't hide how scared he really was. He was prepared to do anything to protect his little sister, even if he had to suffer himself.

I knew I had to clear up this misunderstanding quickly. I slowly put the boy down and said reassuringly, “Don't be afraid, we really don't want to hurt you.” I spoke with as much gentleness as I could, hoping that they would understand and believe in my words. When the boy finally got back on the ground, the girl immediately ran to him and clung tightly to him, her eyes wide and fearfully focused on me. They both looked at me with a mixture of worry and curiosity, not knowing exactly what to think of me. To show them that I really wasn't a threat, I slowly took off the hood of my black coat and revealed my white and silver wolf ears. The girl's eyes widened and she whispered: “Wolf ears...” Then she turned her eyes to her brother, and he relaxed a little.

“So you're an ally.” the boy said, his voice less hostile now, but still wary.

“May I introduce myself? I'm Kaito, and they're Monika and Anna.”

Monika smiled softly. “Nice to meet you.” She seemed to sense the tension in the air as well and tried to relax the atmosphere. “It's a pleasure to meet you.” Anna added, her voice also soft and comforting.

The boy hesitated briefly before introducing himself. “Likewise... My name is Akira, and this right here is my little sister, Mary.” He paused briefly as his eyes wandered to the dead dragon.

“And this is... was... our master.” His voice broke and it was obvious how much this loss was affecting him.

Akira? A Japanese name. I couldn't help but wonder if his parents or other relatives were possibly from the same world as me. It was a thought that stuck with me, but I didn't wanted to mention it, not only because there were more important things to deal with right now, but also to keep my true identity, as Yuuji and as someone who got reincarnated, a secret.

“You just called her ‘master’,” I said cautiously. “Was she... something like the head of this village?”

Akira nodded, his eyes filling with tears. “Yes, she was. Until... Until she was killed by those criminals.” He bit his lip, trying to hold back the tears, but he couldn't.

Monika shook her head, her expression gloomy. “So she really was killed. As I suspected.”

“Akira.” I said, my voice quiet but urgent. “Tell us what happened. We need to know, so we can understand what we're dealing with.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Akira nodded again, his hands clenching into fists. “Okay...” He took a deep breath before continuing. “This all happened this morning, about four hours ago, to be precise. We are a peaceful village, busy with farming. While father and I were up on the roof of our barn fixing it, and mother along with Mary, sewing up holes in our clothes, we suddenly heard screams. We saw a troop of people attacking our village, tying them up one by one and putting them into big metal cages. Our parents, who helped Mary and me to escape, were also captured.”

Akira's voice shook as he uttered the last words.

“ Those were my father's last words. I shouted, but Dad stayed firm. ” Akira paused, all I could see were the big watery pearls running down his face. “” He squeezed Mary's hand tighter, like it was the only thing keeping him in this world. “We ran into the forest as fast as we could, but... our master... she tried to defend the village. She was so brave, but then that Mage showed up...”

“Mage?” I asked, my interest piqued. The more the little half-cat talks about this incident, the bigger the waves of possibilities and dangers that lie ahead flashed through my mind.

“Yeah...” Akira looked to the ground, his voice no more than a whisper. “A powerful magician. He killed our master like it was nothing. And then... They set the village on fire and disappeared.”

“Poor things.” Anna said sympathetically, her eyes shimmering with compassion. She walked over to Mary and gently placed her left hand on her head, trying to calm her down.

Deep in my thoughts, I was standing there while I tried to process everything. According to Akira, the raid took place this morning, and now it was almost noon. The villagers had been kidnapped and the village partly burned down. Why would someone attack this village? When I thought about it again and looked around me, the answer to my question was simpler than I thought. This was a village of Demi-Humans. I was told that there are people in this world who run illegal businesses by enslaving their victims, the Demi-Humans, and then being sold by a dealer.

My heart felt faster when I heard the word and realized the cruel reality. “Slavery.” I whispered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “Now I get it. They were probably captured to get sold as slaves.”

Anna looked at me, her eyes wide with shock. “What?! We... We can't let that happen!”

“Right, we can't just sit and watch. If we don't do something, Akira's parents and the other villagers will be sold into slavery. And besides...” I looked at the dead dragon. “How strong must this magician be if he managed to kill a dragon by himself? It won't be easy to free the people.”

“What now?” asked Monika. “You don't want to interfere into other people's businesses again, right?”

I looked at her and a soft smile came to my lips, narrowing my fiery eyes and said eventually. “You know how I am. When it comes to kicking bastards' butts, I'm all fired up!”

Monika sighed and rubbed her forehead. “But how do you know where they are?” she asked, her voice a little louder.

“They're that way.” Akira raised his hand and pointed south. Monika turned to him, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why are you telling him?” Akira winced.

“If we go to rescue the villagers, who's going to look after the children? We obviously, can't take them with us.” Anna mentioned. I nodded slowly. “That's right. It will be dangerous. But leaving them alone would be just as dangerous. One of us has to stay here.” I added.

A moment of silence followed, where we all weighed up the situation. It was clear that Akira and Mary couldn't be left here alone again. The risk was too high that the enemies could return or other dangers might emerge.

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

Anna's mind

This is my chance to show my hero, my true talent!

And then...

My hero holds my hands tightly and then tries to kiss me... Aahhh! My hero!

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

“Monika, you look after the children. Anna and I will rescue the villagers.”

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

Anna's mind

YEEEAH!!!

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

“Wait a minute, why is this pig allowed to come with you, while I have to stay here? And since when do you have the right to give me orders?” Monika's words broke the tense silence with the weight of a falling boulder. Her eyes, which had sparkled in a beautiful emerald green for me, now glowed like coal and her cheeks reddened with anger. Her voice was sharp and loud, echoing in the clear midday air and sending a freezing chill down my back. Anna was facing her, her arms crossed in front of her chest, and her posture gave off such a self-assured air that it was almost mocking. Her eyes narrowed and a quiet, almost imperceptible smile played around her lips. “Don't act like that. My hero is the strongest of us, so he should be our leader,” she replied in a tone so cold that it almost froze the air between them.

Monika faltered for a moment, unable to believe what she just heard. “What was that?!” Her voice rose an octave and she took a step forward so the two women were now facing each other almost nose to nose. The tension between them was so strong that it literally made the air shimmer. Like every breath they took would ignite the fire in their hearts even more. Anna refused to be intimidated. Her gaze remained fixed on Monika's face and she seemed to be waiting every second for Monika to lose her temper. “Deal with it!” Her words were like a slap into her face, short, hard and merciless.

The atmosphere was tense to the breaking point and I could feel my patience slowly evaporating. I felt like the world around us suddenly fell silent, only interrupted by the crackling sparks of the argument raging between the two women. Every syllable that was uttered was loaded with unspoken accusations and deeply buried emotions that were now forcing their way inexorably to the surface. I watched, like a silent observer in a drama whose outcome I could not influence. But the words I finally found felt hollow in the midst of this heated argument. “Stop fighting already,” I said, my voice trying to sound calm, but I could feel it echoing in the hostility around me. They hadn't heard me, like another obstacle to be overcome. Their eyes blazed with anger and hit me with the force of a storm. It was clear that neither of them was willing to give in. Both had buried themselves in their own world, I could only watch as they slowly but surely drifted towards the abyss.

The wind whistling through the trees sounded like the soft hiss of a snake waiting to strike.

“Take your time.” I stammered, in a last attempt to defuse the situation. My words sounded weak, almost pleading, I knew they would probably have no effect. But inside me, I also knew that I didn't have time to hope for a peaceful solution. Every moment we wasted here was a moment where the villagers were in more danger.

How long would this dispute last? I asked myself, but the answer was ultimately meaningless. Time seemed to stretch endlessly at that moment and yet I was aware that every second that passed, alienated us further from the villagers. The thought of this gave me a sick, unpleasant feeling in my stomach, which grew the more I thought about it. But I couldn't hesitate any longer. The safety of the villagers was the highest priority and I knew I had to act before it was too late. No matter how dangerous it might be. I have to save them as quickly as possible. I muttered in my mind as I turned my attention away from the arguing women and towards the sweeping landscape. The decision was made in this moment, even if it wasn't an easy one to make. The responsibility that weighed heavily on my shoulders and the possibility that I might fail was like a shadow breathing down my neck. But I couldn't afford doubting myself now.

“Akira, Mary, I promise you both, I'll save your parents and the other villagers,” I told them, my voice more serious than usual. Akira, the eldest one, looked at me with big, serious eyes, filled with a mixture of hope and fear. His little body was trembling slightly and I could see, how hard it was for him to pull himself together. The pain in his eyes was almost unbearable, and for a moment I felt my emotions falter. But I knew I had to be strong, not just for myself, but for him too. He needed someone he could rely on, someone who would give him the reassurance that everything would be okay.

“Brother.” Akira said, his voice soft, almost whispering. There was so much unspoken longing in that word, so much trust, that it made my heart heavy. He looked up at me and I could feel a wave of affection rising inside me. Brother, the big brother, a title that meant more than I could ever put into words.

A smile flitted across my lips as I placed my left hand on Akira's head and gently stroked through his dark, messy hair. It was a small gesture, but it seemed to mean the world to him. “Take good care of your sister. It's your duty.” I said seriously, which made him nod.

Mary, clinging tightly to Akira's side, was so small and fragile that it broke my heart to see her in this situation. Her eyes, big and innocent, looked at me full of trust, not doubting, that everything will be fine. It was that unconditional trust that children have in the adult world that surrounds them, and it only made the weight that rested on my shoulders heavier.

“I will.” Akira replied with a certainty that impressed me. I could see him straighten up inside, his small chest puffed out with pride. He would be there for his sister, I knew that much, and it gave me the strength to take the next step.

Once everything was clear, it was time to leave. A heavy knot formed in my stomach as I unhitched Shia from the carriage and swung myself onto her with a shorter rein in my hands. My thoughts were still buzzing about what was ahead. The thought of the challenge was daunting, but I couldn't afford any despair now.

“Run!” I shouted, and Shia jumped on immediately. Her neigh broke through the air and the area around us blurred as we picked up speed. Hooves clattered loudly on the ground and the wind whistled towards us, but all I could think about was my current mission to save the villagers.

“Ahhh!!!” Monika's voice was suddenly back, piercing through the noise of the gallop like a sharp knife. “Hey, where the hell are you going?!” Her words were full of indignation and incomprehension, but I couldn't look back. My goal was clear and I had to reach it. There was no room for hesitation or doubt, the fate of the villagers depended on it.

“Wait! Take me with you, my hero!!!” Anna's shout was almost desperate now, however this was my task, all alone. The responsibility weighed heavily on my shoulders, but I was ready to bear it. I felt like all the events I had experienced in this world were preparing me for this moment.

“I'll be back soon! Take care of the children!” I shouted back as Shia and I galloped along the path.

“Brother, do your best!” Akira's call echoed in my head as we sprinted away. But I couldn't turn around now, my path only led me forward.

“And he's gone.” Monika's voice said softly.

Unexpectedly, a deep growling broke through the silence. The silence that followed the sound was almost comical, so the others could have laughed, but instead, they just stared at the creator of the sound.

“Hungry!” said Mary simply, her voice small and innocent. The absurdity made the others briefly forget the seriousness of the situation.

I followed the tracks, which the carriages had left behind, and relied on my sense of smell, which led me to a forest after a while. The trees around me grew denser, its shadows swallowing the daylight and making it to seem dark, the sounds of the outside world slowly fading behind us until they finally faded away completely. Each step brought me closer to my destination and with each breath I could smell the scent of the villagers more strongly.

After about an hour, we reached a small clearing and I stopped. The forest was darkened, but the weak sunlight shone through the leaves and cast shadows on the ground. The silence was now almost eerie. There was no sound, not even the rustling of leaves in the wind. I climbed off Shia and led her to a tree, where I tied her securely. It was safer to walk the remaining part of the way. To avoid being discovered, I had to proceed calmly and carefully. Any small mistake could cost not only my life, but everyone's. My heart was beating faster and adrenaline was pulsing through my veins. The tracks on the ground ended abruptly and I had to rely on my scent. The smell of Akira's and Mary's parents grew stronger the further I walked.

I continued to follow that scent until I came to a massive building, half built into a natural cave. The sight of the building looked oddly out of place, seeming to be forced into the landscape that surrounded it. The gray stone walls rose ominously in front of me, and the darkness of the cave swallowed up the light that fell to earth from the sun. I stepped back behind a thick tree that was close enough to keep an eye on the guards at the entrance, but also offered enough hiding space. Two men were motionless in front of the entrance, armed and alert. Their behavior showed a tense alertness, an awareness that something had changed in the air. But they also didn't seem to know that the disaster was already upon them... In the form of me.

“Judging by the smell, the villagers are in this building,” I muttered quietly to myself as I analyzed the situation. But how do I get past the guards?

“Camouflage.” the childish voice suddenly whispered in my head.

Of course! The Skill ! I could use it to make myself invisible and sneak past them silently. A smile crossed my face. Thank you, Loli.

Loli grinned in my head, proud of helping me. It was a strange bond we shared, a mixture of friendship and mutual trust. Her presence was reassuring, even in moments like this, where the slightest misbehavior could have deadly consequences.

“Let's go.” I whispered and activated the Skill . My body immediately merged with the surroundings, becoming one with the shadows, and I felt the silence fall around me. The sounds of nature fell silent, holding their own breath to watch my eerie progress.

Slowly and cautiously, I approached the two guards. Their faces were motionless, marked by fatigue and a sense of duty, but they had no idea that I was so close to them. Just then, I felt like a predator circling its prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Then, with one fluid movement, I knocked down both guards unconscious with a well-aimed hit on the back of their heads. The dull thud of their bodies hitting the hard ground echoed softly, but there was no other guard in sight to interpret the sound. The guards remained immobile in front of me, their swords clattering to the ground. The threat was averted for the time being. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, but I didn't deactivate my skill yet, so I could remain hidden. The door to the building now was in front of me, a heavy wooden door, reinforced by iron hinges, set into the floor. Slowly, hesitantly, I opened the door and peeked inside. The corridor beyond was quiet and deserted, only dimly lit by flickering torches attached to the stone walls. The air was cold and heavy, permeated by an acrid smell of sweat and fear. There was only one way forward, with cells lined up to the left and right, all empty.

“Where are the villagers?” I asked myself as I walked along the narrow, gloomy corridor. The smell grew stronger the further I walked and I could feel my heart beating faster. The narrowness of the corridor and the oppressive silence intensified the feeling of anxiety that spread through me. Every step seemed to echo in the eerie silence of the corridor, not even the darkness wanted my violation to go unnoticed. Unexpectedly, screams rang out... bloodcurdling screams that seemed to echo through the walls of the fortress. Cold sweat ran down my back, they sounded desperate and piercing, so different from ordinary cries for help, almost like the wailing of tortured souls. The sound didn't lack its effect, it was a desperate call for help that echoed in the depths of this stone fortress. I followed the cries quickly until I was standing in front of two cells with wide open barred doors. My stomach tightened when I saw inside the cells for the first time and the horrific spectacle that took place in there.

In front of me, female demi-humans were lying, their bodies bruised from whipping, their faces contorted with pain and humiliation. They were screaming for help, but no one was there to assist them. Instead, they were abused by cruel men who enjoyed their torment with disgusting pleasure. A scenario that could hardly be surpassed in its cruelty and inhumanity. The memories came back to me like a tidal wave. In my mind, I saw the scenes of my own trauma again... the day that ruined my life, the day I lost everything. The images that I unfortunately never managed to banish, now forced their way back into my consciousness forcibly. The helplessness, the anger, the unending sadness, all of it burned into my soul again, I felt the anger flare up inside me. It was the same hatred that had led me into the darkness that I lived in unaware of it.

“Kgh...” A choking sound escaped my throat when I tried to suppress my rising anger. But it was in vain. The darkness inside me was too strong and it would no longer be suppressed.

“That's enough!”

The men froze when they heard my voice. “Who's there?” one of them shouted, his voice quivering with fear and uncertainty. “Come and show yourself!” added the other.

“God will punish you for your crimes!” I shouted as I deactivated my Skill and stepped into the room. The men turned around, their faces marked by fear and astonishment. But their confusion lasted only a moment before it was replaced by sheer horror when I activated . A dark, pulsating ball of pure, concentrated materia formed in my hand, radiating an oppressive presence that made the very air vibrate. This time, instead of using a powerful movement, I used my imagination to launch the ball towards the men, and it did, giving them no chance to defend themselves. The darkness swallowed them up, their screams overwhelmed by the explosion and subsequent flames that seemed to shoot out from the depths of the . I remained in the midst of the flames, my eyes fixed on the burning bodies as they crumbled to ash.

“You have no right to call yourselves human.” I muttered, more to myself than to the dying men. In that moment, I felt nothing but a cold emptiness inside me... a darkness that had swallowed all my emotions. Like the flames were consuming the last bit of humanity inside me, until all what was left was the cold, breaking warrior I had become. Yellow-greenish, transparent claws appeared on my right hand, trembling as they activated , shattering the chains that shackled the demi-humans to the wall. The heavy iron rings fell clanking to the floor, the freed women staggered in exhaustion and pain.

“W-who are you?” one of the Demi-Humans asked me weakly. Her eyes were full of fear and disbelief, searching my face for an answer, for a spark of hope that she thought she could no longer find in this hell.

I stared at her for a moment, unable to gather my own thoughts. Who was I? An avenger, a murderer, a savior? All these words seemed to swirl around in my head without a clear answer. What had I really become, after all this darkness had swallowed me? Now I realized what the fortune teller meant by her message and how I made a big mistake. But how should I describe it otherwise, myself, devoured by the darkness, merciless and full of suffering? The eyes of the demi-humans fixed on me awaited an answer, a word that might give them hope.

“I am...” I began, but my voice faltered. “... a servant of God.”

These words passed my lips without understanding them. It was a lie, and yet it seemed to be the only thing that made sense. The truth was too dark, too complicated to explain. The wounds of my past were still too fresh, too deep to talk about.

The women seemed calmed when they heard these words. I thought I just saw a twinkle in their eyes, a spark of hope, a tiny spark that they desperately held on to that could pull them out of the abyss they had fallen into.

I turned away from them and started to free the remaining demi-humans from the cells. The stench of blood, sweat and fear grew more intense the deeper I went into the building. In these dark corridors, the walls soaked up and preserved the screams of the prisoners, the torches casting flickering shadows that looked like ghostly figures. Eventually I found the rest of the villagers, in another cell. They were badly abused, their bodies covered in wounds, but when they looked at me, they gathered the last of their strength to get up and drag themselves to me. Their eyes, filled with pain and exhaustion, filled with watery drops of relief when they saw their rescued wives again.

“Thank you very much. You saved us.” said an elderly gentleman with gray hair and broken voice.

I shook my head. “I haven't saved you yet. So wait until we're back to the village. Are you complete? Or is someone still missing?”

The villagers looked at each other uncertainly. I was aware that they were all too weak to think clearly. One of the men finally stepped forward and counted the survivors, while the others waited tensely.

“What's the status?” I asked impatiently, the sense of urgency urging me not to waste any time.

“Except for the children, none of us are missing,” another villager replied quietly.

My heart sank when my ears heard 'children'. This terrible thought flashed through my mind and I wondered where they could be. What if the same thing happened to them as the adults? I couldn't imagine what I would do if I didn't find them in time.

“Hold on. Where's the egg?” a woman with acorn brown hair and bunny ears on her head, suddenly asked.

“The egg?” I repeated in confusion, trying to understand what they were talking about. “What egg? What are you talking about?”

“Our master's egg,” the older man explained. “The slavemaster stole it. It's the most precious thing we have. If anything happens to him, our late master will never forgive us and neither will we.”

“Let's split up and look for the egg and the children!” shouted a woman with dog ears. But I held her back. “You stay here!” I said, not tolerating any contradiction. “It's getting dangerous. There are certainly more guards around here. If they catch you again, that's the end of you. I can't drag you into this danger.”

“But the children!” protested one of the men, but I interrupted him. “I'm going to look for the children and the egg. Meanwhile, you will stay here. Just trust me.” I spoke. “And no arguments! You stay here!” Reluctantly, they nodded, and I made my way deeper inside the building. It seemed to me that the corridors were getting narrower and darker, the smell of rotting getting stronger the further I went. But I forced myself to stay calm. I had to find the children. Nothing was more important. Time passed painfully slowly. Every second that passed was a second that the children might not survive. Then, in one of the farthest rooms, I heard a soft whimper. The faint sound of children crying reached my ears, which means I had finally reached my destination. I accelerated my steps, feeling my heart racing wildly in my chest, until I saw them... the children, huddled in a corner, their faces streaked with tears.

Two more guards were in front of them, their whips already raised to torture the defenseless children. “Shut up!” shouted one of the guards angrily, ready to strike with the whip in his right hand.

Before he could bring the whip down on the children, I intervened. I quickly activated again and reduced the guards to ashes. The echoes of their shattered bodies reverberated through the room, and once again I felt no pity, nor regret. They deserved it.

The children cried, their little bodies shaking and freezing. Even though my heart could not bear the sight, I knelt down to calm them, to show them that I wasn't dangerous to them.

“Don't be afraid,” I said as gently as I could. “I am not your enemy. I am...”

But before I could finish my sentence, I suddenly heard a soft, calm voice behind me.

“I'd like to know that too.”

I turned around quickly, all my senses alerted. A man in his twenties, whom I had never seen before, was standing right there. He had long, greenish hair tied back in a braid and wore small, round glasses, as you would expect a scholar to wear. His robe was pitch black, decorated with golden embroidery that probably showed a high position. He smiled at me... a smile that brimmed with self-confidence and perhaps even a little malice.

“Who are you?” I asked suspiciously. I knew this man was dangerous, every fiber of my body screamed, not to trust him.

His smile widened, seeming amused by my confusion. He replied calmly:

“I asked first.”