Mina softly sobs and buries her face in Roth's chest hugging him. He coddles her, holding her head still being level with her. Calming her down he politely questions her again," Mina, do you know where exactly they are holding the others?"

"I-I do, they're... just outside the town." saying it through every sniffle.

Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath and stands up. "Hold on for a second." As he walks towards the charred body he reaches out with his palm. The corpse begins to glow bright yellow, and a golden mist exits the body directly into his palm. Mina looks in complete disbelief at the sight she is witnessing. Now feeling refreshed after using so much mana the whole day, he begins to check the thug's personal belongings.

Finding only in his pockets were a beaded bracelet, carving tool, and a metal pin insignia in the shape of a large wing spanned eagle carrying a three headed serpent. " Huh, that's interesting. Do you know what this symbol means?" Showing Mina the sinister looking pin. "That's the symbol for the people who took me in... I don't know much else, apologies." He is left clueless once again.

Sighing to his disappointment, he places the pin in his pocket and continues to search his body. Luckily for Roth he found a medium sized coin pouch and happily tucked it away. Mina awkwardly stands behind Roth seeing what his next move is and tries to ask a question but stops herself. "Alright kiddo, lead the way then."

For nearly twenty minutes they walked under the cloudy moonlight just north of the town deep into the forest. A clearing finally appeared showing an open field surrounded by trees. It was unusually clear, suggesting that something was built here before. Walking straight ahead is what looks to be ruins of an old watch tower outpost. Only a stoned building and the tower remains while scattered bits of rubble spread the surrounding area.

Mina is shaking and holds Roth's hand tightly. He looks down noticing her frightened expression. The collar is tight on her neck, showing bruising and chafing yet she still keeps her composure guiding Roth to the inhabitant tower. Coming into view are four guards on post, two sitting under a canopy tent that's tied to the tower, and the other two standing guard at the main building. They all look very complacent.

The guard leaning against the doorway notices the two making their way towards them. "Hey, what the hell do you want?" The scruffy looking guard scans the two and notices Mina and her collar. Baffled on what he's seeing he readies his sword. "What the hell are you doing with her?" Roth raises his hands and gives back a response, " Whoa, whoa. Is that how you treat someone who just helped you get back your product?" The thug's expression now turned into confusion.

Mina looks up with betrayal in her eyes. Roth only looks down back at her with his eyes and blinks rapidly giving her a sign as soon as the guards turned away. She stares for a moment finally receiving the hint. The guards on the ground slowly get to their feet readying their weapons. "So you got her back to us because you're so generous?" sarcastically said another guard. Roth grins at them, "Oh no I expect to get compensated of course, after all, I am the new recruit for your guy's operation."

They all looked at both of them with suspicious looks, " Alright then, so our boss Reinhart hired you then?" " Yeah of course why else would I bring the girl back and have no weapon on me." said Roth with a forced giggle. The guard who first spoke looks dead in his eyes unphased with a serious look. "There is no boss named Reinhart kid." They all slowly draw their swords from their scabbard. Mina is now frightened and takes a step back.

The forced smile on Roth's face instantly disappears into disappointment. "Crap, I thought I could make it easier and not have the kid see this, oh well I tried." As his hands were still up in the surrender pose, he immediately fired three icicles towards the guards. Three of them strike deep into the head of the thugs, dropping them down quickly. The last one Roth couldn't fire at was behind one guard and fell to the ground out of fear. The distraught man looked at his comrades sweating and panicking.

Looking up he sees Roth making his way up to him. Shaking and terrified he stumbles to run quickly but is met with an icicle piercing the back of his knee. His scream pierces Minas ears as she is squeamish but surprisingly handling it well. Roth picks up the sword from one of the dead men and interrogates the injured one. "Let's double check and see if you're telling the truth. Where are you keeping the others like her?"

With no remorse he steps on the icicle driving it deeper into the wound. The man screams in agony pleading to stop. "Tell me damn it." "Okay, okay! The slaves are all the way down the basement level! For Theanita's sake stop!!" Roth stares down with a cold response, " As you wish." Plunging the sword deep within his back killing him. Mina is in awe of what he did to her captors but is still nervous around him on how unphased he is killing. "Is there any more of these bastards downstairs?" she hesitantly responds, " Ye- yes, just two more guarding the door."

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Going through the cobblestone building they head down a spiral staircase. There was more area underground as Roth realized this building was more like an underground fortress. Passing three floors they finally made it to the basement level. It was large and had corridors. It was dark, musty, and damped. Only the torches on the walls illuminated the hallway. Now Mina is leading in the front and comes close to a door by two guards as she predicted.

Both were sitting down on chairs on either side of the doorway. One was slouching back in his chair; the other was wide awake keeping watch. The fully awakened one saw the duo and woke the other up. "Hey dumbass wake up we got company! Hey! You're not supposed to- wait a minute, Mina?" He looks at Mina with disgust and looks over to see Roth with a sword in hand. Noticing the blood-stained steel, the guard realized why she came back. The other guard now fully awake sees the same bloody weapon and without hesitation draws his weapon to attack. "No wait you idiot!"

The guard cursing at Roth charges and swings at Roth, he parries the attack. Roth swiftly shifts behind him and quickly ends the dispute by slicing the back of his neck. Falling face first into the murky puddle of the cobblestone floor. The guard is now frightened on how fast he ended it and is thinking of a way to get out.

"Hey take it easy man, we can work something out. I can get you gold, lots of it!" Roth ignores the plea of the guard walking closer to him and stopping several feet in front of him. " Mina, did this man hurt you like that other one back in town?" She timidly holds her hands together and slowly nods. "C'mon kid, I was just doing my job. Mina! Remember when I gave you extra food and necessities when I shouldn't have. Oh c'mon please don't do this, you have no idea who you're dealing with if you go through with this!" Roth stares at him with no emotion, " I couldn't give two shits after what you guys have done."

The man gurgles and slowly looks down and sees the sword plunged deep into his abdomen. Roth yanks out the sword and sees the man kneel and topple over. Tossing the sword away he checks his pockets, as in doing so both the men glow yellow and the same golden mist goes into Roth's body. Mina is still mystified by what she is seeing. She reaches out to feel the mist go between her fingers. Her hand feels warm and tingling, for the first time in a while after the torment she had to endure she gives a genuine mouth open smile.

"Ah here it is." pulling out a cast iron key. "Sorry you had to see that. I'm not really a violent person, I just couldn't stand by when you said there were others just like you." She looks at him with much curiosity, " Don't apologize, it's quite alright. Thank you again… for doing all of this." Roth gives a warm smile to her and unlocks the door. As he opens it, he's welcomed to a horrific stench. The room is dimly lit and is very small. The corner of the room has a small wooden bucket that's overfilled with human excrement.

Looking around the room he sees over fifteen people of men and women. Another surprise to him was that all of them looked human but were missing human ears and was replaced with animal ears just slightly above the temple. They even had tails with some fluffy and others more matted. All of them were in horrible shape.

Roth remembers reading that there were other races than humans that live in this world. One race was that called demi humans which extremely resembles close to humans. Only difference in anatomy was the absence of human ears replaced with animal ears and sporting a tail as well. He found it repulsive what they did to these demi humans.

"Katsumi!" Shouted Mina as she charged to one of the demi humans leaning against the wall. The demi human Katsumi had grey silver hair and was slightly more in shape than the others. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I left you behind!" She breaks down in tears and holds Katsumi close. "Darling don't be sorry, I was happy you escaped. Are you going to punish her? She's only a child you muck." Looking up at Roth with sour in her tone. Roth still wearing his work clothes made him look like a dirty scrounger.

"Well that's not very nice to say to someone after they just rescued you." Chirped Roth trying to break the tension.

"What? You're not with those men? Who are you?"

"I'm just a random traveler who saw this little girl in distress. I couldn't stand by knowing there were others just like her. This should help you and whatever is laying around out here as well." He tosses the pouch of money to Katsumi and the key. She passes the key to the others, and they happily reached out and unlocked their collars as fast as they could.

"Thank you, I am forever in your debt. Should you need anything from me, I reside in the Provinces of Mur. My name is Katsumi, and I'll be happy to help you if you ever visit."

Roth smiles, " There's no need but I appreciate it. Do you need anything from me to help you guys?" Katsumi shakes her head, "We may not look like it, but we'll be alright." Mina now calm and collective, she tries to say something to Roth but can't make any words. He ruffles her hair and giggles to her, " Be safe okay kiddo, always stay on guard. Good luck, I'm truly sorry for what happened here." He turns towards the exit of the building.

Mina reaches out to say something to Roth but stutters and becomes flustered. Walking past all the floors he sees each floor being ransacked for food, weapons, clothing, and even more money. He takes a step outside and feels the brisk cold air as he inhales deeply. "God a cigarette sounds nice right about now." saying it with a drained look.

He stares at the big moons in the sky and the clouds have dissipated. His melancholy attitude is still overwhelming him, and a single tear drops down. Ignoring the pain in his eyes all he could do was speak into the moonlight, " I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Fila, Nina and Derian."