The passageway behind the hidden door led to a long, ascending staircase. They slowly moved up it, partially hindered by the human woman’s broken leg. It seemed to go on forever, with no end in sight, but it was clear to Sigurd it would reach the surface.
“What is this staircase even supposed to be?” at last, the human woman broke her silence.
“The leader told me it’s an emergency escape made when the fortress was in use,” Nia replied. “Good for escaping sieges.”
“And good for us,” Sigurd added. “Once we’re on the surface, escape should be easier. I made sure of it.”
When all five of them finally reached the top, Sigurd opened the door to reveal the night sky. The smell of fresh air was a pleasing one, after spending so long in the fortress’ decrepit halls and decaying dungeon.
However, they weren’t quite out of peril yet. The door at the top of the stairs led to the fortress’ ramparts. Sigurd signaled the four to stay on the other side of the door while he inspected the area. Once it seemed like the coast was clear, he motioned for them to make haste.
Fortune favored the weary group, as the ramparts were devoid of guards. The side they were on was still exposed, though, and the wandering lookouts below could still spot them. Sprinting while crouching, Mia, Nia, and the elf kept going, ahead of Sigurd who did the same as he carried the human woman.
They followed the slim path, which hugged the entire outer wall of the fortress until it reached its natural end. Out of options again, Sigurd looked over the edge and realized where they were: at the entrance. He knew the path he’d carved out prior – by disposing of and hiding all the lookouts along the way – would still be useful, so he did the only thing that came to mind.
Sigurd climbed down the side of the wall and landed with a thud on the ground below. Silently, he motioned at them to jump, one by one. First was the human woman, the riskiest of the bunch. Once she was safely at ground level, next went Nia, followed by Mia. Lastly, the elf woman showed off her impressive acrobatic dexterity, and simply jumped down, landing safely next to the other four.
Making a beeline for the forest beyond the clearing, the five of them sped through it all, guided by Sigurd’s expert military training. Not long after, they emerged on the other side, onto the path where Cuntz and the horse-drawn carriage awaited them. His eyes glistening with relief – amazed Sigurd was able to rescue not only Mia and Nia but the other two prisoners as well – he helped the five into the back of the carriage.
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Before boarding the stagecoach, Sigurd took one look back at the forest. He was amused by the idea of going back and delivering the finishing blow, killing the bandit leader and completely dismantling the operation, but he knew better. Getting the civilians to safety was his top priority. So he boarded and Cuntz sped off.
Once on the road, on the path to the next town, Sigurd sighed in relief. The two ladies lay at the far end of the stagecoach, resting from the horrors they had lived – and had yet to see. Meanwhile, Sigurd, Mia, and Nia snuggled together on the opposite end, next to the driver’s seat, much how like the entire ordeal had begun, almost a day prior.
Yet, as he reminisced on the aftermath of all that had just happened, a solemn realization dawned on him.
The world was plagued by the evils of slavery – and organized crime in general – it was a harsh reality that he had witnessed firsthand. The plight of the girls, and the cruelty of the bandits, all served as a stark reminder of the darkness that lurked in the hearts of men. Sigurd knew that he had a choice to make, a path to follow. But for the time being, a more pressing matter popped into his head.
“I've been giving it some thought," he spoke up. “There's more to both of you than meets the eye, and you're both so adorable!”
Mia and Nia looked up at him with a curious expression.
A genuine grin was plastered on Sigurd's face, his eyes alight with a warmth that belied the shadows of his past life, but in that same smile, a sadness could be felt. "This whole ordeal, it was a lot. It was too much, I’d say, for the both of you. It made me realize that this world is... unforgiving. And that if I want to keep you safe, then the best way would be to adopt you.”
Their eyes lit up with an intense joy. They both let out small gasps, rendered speechless.
Sigurd’s grin grew wider, as he blurted out, “So I'll be your new mama!"
"Mama?" Nia's cat ears twitched, a puzzled expression crossing her face as she tilted her head in confusion.
“You’re silly, Sigurd. Aren't you too manly to be a mama?" Mia's playful jab was met with a chuckle from him.
"Sorry, I misspoke,” he scratched his head in embarrassment. “I meant to say, I'll be your new Papa!"
His voice held a hint of pride, and a newfound sense of responsibility settled upon his broad shoulders. The choice would bring its own set of challenges, but to see them endure further hardship was not something he would ever accept again.
“What do you say?" Sigurd then asked.
“I say... you didn't need to ask, dummy," Mia uttered, her voice cracking as he eyes filled with tears. “Besides, you need us as much as we need you!”
“Papa!" Nia said dryly, rubbing her face against the man's torso.
“Yeah... this is the right choice,” he concluded.
Hailed as an unlikely savior, an as-of-yet unsung hero, Sigurd relaxed and snuggled with his new daughters, closing his eyes, as he blacked out for the rest of the trip.
The last thing he heard before falling asleep completely was a notification from his pop-up window.
And it read: [You have now reached level 15, new skill obtained.]