“Kihet, you’re hurt! Oh my gosh, what happened?”

“Little mishaps. Anyways, care to tell me what that noise was?”

“A thief stole your trapped box and set it off in the middle of the crowd before we knew it.” Lily sulked.

“Sorry.” The Giant called out. “It was my fault for asking her to help me with something. I took her attention away for one second.”

“I’m not blaming anyone except for these guys.” Kihet said, dragging bruised culprits behind him. “You two got guts to put the blame back on us after you were the one that caused that commotion.”

“But if it wasn’t for your stupid box-!”

“This is the consequences of your action. If you want me to forgive you, hand over everything.”

“That’d leave us defenseless! We’ll be fightin the battle!”

Before the thieves added more excuses, Kihet kicked the Beastmen on their backs and plunged his dagger in the ground between their heads. He dug the blade further into the dirt and slowly dragged a line close to their shoulders. The Beastmen yelped as all the hair or fur on their body stood up, helplessly being victim to Kihet’s wrath.

“I’ll throw those words right back at you. That box you tripped was supposed to help me get out of a bind. Since you’re going to die anyways, how about I make it quicker?”

“Is it me or is he enjoying himself?” The Rozzalian asked.

“He’s really angry about it. I saw him worked hard assembling it.”

Lily pitied the Beastmen suffering from Kihet’s threats, but she couldn’t think of a better way to get Pamalyrian mercenaries to stop targeting them. All she could pray was that Kihet’s wrath wouldn’t be too extreme.

After stripping every valuable possession off their thieves, Kihet kicked the Beastmen off the road. He tossed their armor, weapons, every nickel and dime they had onto the cart. “Anyone else?”

Those who had a glimmer of interest of committing the same crime didn’t look towards his direction. His group rapidly became one of the top teams to be avoided.

“Bandits deserve to die.” Even Tama spat at the thieves. “They’re a peddler’s worst nightmares.”

[Run ins?] Aten flipped a sign.

“Nyits a dog eat dog world. They’re just too many looters from Pamalyra and it brings our reputation down.”

Indeed outlaws, pirates and the likes plagued Pamalyra’s desert. Sellswords also took part to plunder when necessary to make ends meet.

“Well, part of it is because the council’s seriously clawful. Raising taxes to fund the military to only fight the Towers isn’t going to lower the number of thieves ambushing trade routes.”

[Sorry.]

“Nyit’s not your fault. The general populace is poor. A desert without much will make people do what they must to survive.”

“Tama, Aten we’re going. Get on.” Lily hollered.

“Yup! Hopping on.” Tama set her bag and climbed in. “By the way, Grumpy one. Where did you go after getting the info?”

“Where did you think?” Kihet wiped dried bloodstains off his cheek and hid in the back to smear healing ointments over his wounds. “Just a heads up, Dragonkins are pretty durable. Be careful.”

[Dragonborn?]

“Hopefully we don’t have to fight him since he’s commanding the army. In case he decides to jump into the fray, you and I will try to drive him back. Ideally, we make ourselves known allies to the resistance and find the ‘Goliath’ to help us before that happens.”

“The Rozzalian wouldn’t happen to know who this Goliath is, would she?” Tama asked.

“They’ve been trying to starve out the resistance since I got here. There were outposts to be destroyed but I haven’t encountered anyone called the Goliath yet.”

“I have an idea who it is.” Kihet buckled his gear. “Lily, is the cart in good condition?”

“En! We’re good and ready to go!”

“Alright. We’re short on time. Let’s slip out of here before they catch on to what I did.”

Everyone was confused, but Kihet chided their questions.

Thanks to the Drake’s blood the Rozzalian gave him and ingredients he collected on the way, Kihet procured vials of monster lure. Opening the bottle, a pungent terrible smell filled the air. With Beastmen all around them having sensitive nostrils, some halted in their tracks to get away from the source.

“What in the world… something stinks.” The Giant fanned her helmet.

“NYAAAAAAH! My poor nose! It burns!”

“Put some Stredhime cream under it and you’ll be fine.”

“There is the Rozzalian! You, Giant, halt your party!” A team of winged Dragonkins soared towards them. “Ugh, what is that smell?”

“They’re fleeing!”

“They’re the culprits! Do not let the thieves escape!”

“Good.” Kihet looked up. “We’re passing under a flock of wyverns.”

Kihet splashed his specially made monster lure behind them as the caravan made a sharp turn at the next intersection. It didn’t take long until he heard wyverns screeching around every corner of the skies, swooping down at mercenaries.

“They’re still chasing us.” Lily dropped the reins and drew her bow. “I guess I’m up!”

In this narrow mountain pass, Lily should have the advantage. For her first arrow, she aimed it where a Dragonkin would fly into. To her surprise, the Dragonkins kicked off the wall and did a barrel roll, dodging her would be pinpoint accuracy. Others wove behind obstacles the mountain provided.

She quickly adapted to their movements and loosened more projectiles, which were swatted.

“Ughhh! That’s how they want to play, is it?!”

“Lily, don’t use it yet.”

“I know. It’s just frustrating!”

“They’ve lived here longer than us. It’s not surprising what they learned to deal with archers in tight pathways.”

[Let me.]

Aten tossed the reins into Kihet’s hand and climbed onto the roof of the cart. The instant his wings spread open, winds snatched Aten into the air and hurled him at the group of Dragonkins.

“Fool! The mountain skies belong to the Dragons!”

Dragonkin A swung its sword in a wide arc only to find the silent Dragonfly suddenly vanish. It heard a thump from behind discovering Aten smashed Dragonkin C into the mountain walls. Fragments of stone tumbled down, knocking other pieces and filled the gap with debris.

Aten’s large compound eyes turned to Dragonkin E who took aim at him. Although Winged Dragonkins were experienced flyers, they were against an expert from Vivrus. With the ability to hover and instantly change flight path on a whim, Aten outmaneuvered his foes through narrow spaces before he could be cornered.

“Grr… I shall deal with the insectoid. Continue to give chase! We cannot lose it!”

Dragonkin A spread its wings and turned to face Aten while others pursued the caravan. Lily’s arrows were able to slow their advance, but the Giant behind the carriage was losing speed as the chase prolonged.

“Kihet, she’s slowing down.” Lily pointed at the Giant.

“If she can keep up just a bit further, we’ll make our counterattack there. Tama, directly behind me is a hidden compartment. I need you to take out the box and light a matchstick for me.”

“Aye sir!” Tama saluted. “Tomoe, help me paw it out.”

Tama slid the lid off the box, finding two fire lances laying snuggly over straws. Both of them were modified to have three barrels casted on the tip instead of the standard one barrel. Their holes were bored out larger.

“Firelances?!” Lily gasped.

“You got them? Good. Take over for me. Slow the horse and keep it steady.” Kihet anchored the guiding rod at the back of the cart and heaved one fire lance between its prongs. “You, get in front of us!”

“I-I’ll try!” The Rozzalian huffed as she mustered the last remainder of her stamina to run ahead of the group.

Looking behind, four Dragonkins chased after them. The remaining three were being distracted by Aten.

“Grumpy one, tinder.”

“Firing!” Once the flock of Dragonkins dove straight at Kihet, he stuffed the burning matchstick into the hole.

The air cracked and echoed across the mountains as an enemy dropped from the air and rolled on the ground. Its wings were filled with holes and shrapnel of hailstone bits punctured its scales. He knew there would be recoil, but he didn’t expect the barrel to fully lift off the guiding rod. Fortunately, his slugged ammunition prototype had a wide enough range to make up the difference.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

While three more were within Kihet’s range, he twisted the fire lance head counterclockwise. After the first shot, he adjusted his strength to keep the barrel steady. Each time the tip was turned, he ignited the fire medicine packed within it and dropped two more foes onto the floor.

The victims of the fire lances were alive but incapacitated or blinded by fine shards in their eyes.

“Tsk. Damn you!”

Once it saw Kihet load a new fire lance in position, the Dragonkin was aware it was only a matter of time until it was shot down like its brethren. It fanned apart its wings, quickly withdrawing from Kihet’s range only to be ambushed from behind.

A bloodied insectoid latched onto the winged Dragonkin and repeatedly gouged out its chest like a Dragonfly devouring its prey midair. After the enemy has been defeated, Aten and Kihet piled the bodies and injured into one pile. Being as resourceful as he could, Aten collected the equipment and replenished his supply of javelins with the enemy’s polearms.

The Giant on the other hand, fell onto her knees gasping for air. She grabbed her waterskin that the cart carried and squeezed every last drop into the opening in her helmet.

“Kihet, you got some explaining to do!” Lily angrily yelled.

“Indeed! Indeed! What destructive power it has!” Tama clapped her paws. “Might I ask how it functions? Would you mind selling it to me?”

“It’s not for sale.” Kihet narrowed his eyes at Tama then at Lily. “What’s your deal?”

“Why didn’t you tell me there was such a dangerous thing on board? If the Dragon people spat fire at us, we would’ve gone up in flames!”

“I doubt it.”

“How long did you have them?”

“When we helped Vivrus defend Ilumn mines. You know, when the enemy dropped them.”

“And you didn’t mention it?”

“The Acolyte showed up and lifted its curse off my friend. I forgot about it.”

“I don’t like it. You never tell me everything.” Lily muttered to herself. “By the way, what did you do to make the Dragonkins chase us?”

Before Kihet answered, he tossed a sharp glance at Tama and motioned the Werecat to step away to make sure the Giant was getting the rest she needed.

“This is why the Dragonkin weren’t breathing fire at us.”

“A book?”

Kihet revealed a book that appeared to be torn in half. It emitted a sacred aura at first glance as if a small fraction of divine power was imbued in the book. It was blood red, decorated in golden linings. Most importantly, it had half of the mark identical on Kihet’s arms on its ripped cover.

“That’s the same mark on your arm. Why do the Dragonkins have it?”

“The other Oracle might’ve found it and tried keeping it with the Dragonborn.”

“Then it might have secrets about the Oracle?”

“Only one way to find out.”

Without further ado, he flipped the pages only to find them empty.

“It’s… blank?”

“Not surprised.” Kihet said as he holstered it in his satchel. “We’ll deal with this later. Thanks for doing my share, Aten.”

[What do with bodies?]

“I have some monster lure left. While the scavengers take care of them, let’s get away.”

“What about rest?” Tama asked. “The Giant looks worn out and could use a nyap.”

“Does this place look safe to sit around?” Kihet asked.

Tama scanned her surroundings, looking at the tall mountain walls with many loose rocks standing on both sides. Long slabs of rocks bridged over them just barely holding up the pile of rocks sitting above it.

“Those look myighty dangerous to go under.”

“That’s why we move fast and don’t sit around.”

They soon found the exit of the valley and found themselves at the edge of a lake reflecting Stusis’ active volcano. Its bright glowing veins flowed from the top into the lake. It came as a surprise they saw creatures living in such close proximity to molten lava flowing literally next to them.

On their side of the lake, several craters scattered across before them with each one replenished by the lake’s water each time the tide washed over them.

Lily excitingly hopped off the cart and dashed towards one of the craters. She drew an arrow and poked into it, then her finger to test its temperature. It wasn’t boiling and it felt just right.

“It’s not too hot. It’s warm!” Her eyes sparkled. “Kihet, it’s a spring! Can I take a dip?”

“We’re still in the middle of being chased-.”

“Dropping in!” Tama already shed her clothing and dove into the water. “Nya~! It’s been forever since I soaked myself in warm waters. It really cures away fatigue.”

“What are you doing?! We don’t have the time to fool around!”

“C’mom. It’s not like they’re going to catch us instantly. Nyalso, you and the Giant reek. No furs like you all sweat too much.”

“I-I’m fine. I don’t want to remove my helmet.” The Giant said.

“Why not?”

“Tomoe, I suggest nyot asking. She’s uncomfortable, but she shouldn’t neglect her duty to not get fatigued unless she wants to be a burden to us.”

“Oh, umm. I’ll take a dip, but the helmet stays on.”

“Three against one!” Lily declared.

“What do you think, Aten?”

[Traveling nonstop. Everyone tired. Even you.]

“Ha! It’s now four against one, Kihet!”

“Fine.” He sighed in defeat. “You girls go do whatever. I’m going to clean out the fire lances and keep a lookout. What about you, Aten?”

As the girls undressed themselves behind the cart and slip into the obscuring waters, Kihet found Aten silently staring at the volcano. He gave the Dragonfly a light tap to which Aten fumbled his writing slate and dropped it on the ground.

“You alright?”

[Place changed.]

“What do you mean by that?”

[Remembered something.] Aten scribbled furiously. [Here when cursed.]

“Here? Why so far from Vivrus?”

[Centuries ago. Tasked with reconnaissance.]

“And it’s here you met the one who gave you the curse. Was it Vivrus’ Acolyte that cursed you?”

[No. Someone else.]

Kihet thought it might be possible it was Henrick as he gave Kihet the Oracle’s markings.

Aten silently pointed at the base of the volcano to indicate the rough location. He set his slate down and stared across the lake with droplets of blood dripping out of his mandibles. “May… I? I have, friends buried there.”

“Go for it.”

“Thank, you. Will not, take long.”

After the last bit of blood has been collected by black tendrils, Aten flew low and across the lake.

Hearing the girls gossip behind the cart, Kihet kept vigilant and dutifully act as the lookout in case the Dragonkins emerged from the valley. He eventually felt a gaze on his back and turned around and saw one long ear pointing out behind cover.

“Lily, why aren’t you with the others? If you don’t wash yourself now, you might not get the chance again for a while.”

“I want us to go and enjoy it together.” She poked her head around the corner. “C’mon, just this once.”

“Don’t joke like that.”

“I’m not joking. When I said I won’t lose to this Sorah, I’ll use every trick in the book to get you to look at me!”

“Good luck with that.”

He heard footsteps approach him and braced himself for Lily’s weight pressing onto his back. Her chin rested above his head. She was always clingy and after her declaration a week ago, Kihet didn’t know how to stop or gave up trying to correct her behavior.

“I saw Aten fly over the lake. Where is he going?”

“He went to visit some old friends. Apparently, he came to Stusis long ago.”

“I mean, if I lived as long as he did, I would at least travel the world once. It’d be boring to stay in one place.”

Kihet kept to himself as a response to Lily’s comment. Thinking back, if he hadn’t been chosen to leave his village, would things have been different? Would the cataclysmic event had not existed?

He snapped awake when he felt the earth tremble faintly and darted his eyes at the volcano. Molten lava oozed out of the volcano and crawled downhill. Once it touched the lake, the water boiled and a cloud of steam covered the area.

Scenes like this made him somewhat grateful he had the chance to leave the village and experience life outside.

“Kihet, they’re out! It’s our turn! Let’s wash each other’s backs!”

“Don’t get carried away. I’m only going to wipe myself and get out. We really shouldn’t be staying here for too long.”

Having to cleanse themselves from day’s journey and circle around the lake, the crew found themselves following an animal trail into the forest. Kihet made sure their trail was erased before resuming their journey, but after hours of being watchful of the skies, no Dragonkins came to retrieve the mysterious book in his possession. He thought Alc’Bruk must’ve not wanted to waste precious moments to pursue his team and instead focus on his conquest of all Stusis.

That did not mean they had time to dawdle. As they were chased away from the most direct route, Kihet and his group would have to double their efforts if they were to reach the Resistance before Alc’Bruk’s zealots launched the final assault.

“I was so close! So close to seeing it! So close! If only we stayed a bit longer, I would’ve! Then I might’ve-…! After, we could’ve…!”

Tama heard the whispering voice coming Lily whose face was beet red. She hid her horns, muttering to herself in the corner. The Werecat examined Lily’s flushed face and knew what caused it. If a man and woman sharing a bath together with nothing but maybe a towel over their genitals, surely some expressions would be made.

It would seem Lily was the only one affected by it. The tips of her long ears were reddened to the point Tama could see steam coming out. Kihet kept his usual iron masked face, casually checking up on Lily like the norm.

“NyAten, you travelled with those two for a while. Is Tomoe usually like this? Aten?” She tapped the Dragonfly only to get his delayed attention of him tilting his head in confusion seconds later. “I asked if Tomoe usually like this?”

[Yes.]

“I see. I see.” A mischievous smile formed on the Werecat’s face as she rummaged through her bag. “Oh, Tomoe. I have a gift for you~.”

“Eek! I-I mean, what is it?” Startled, Lily awkwardly faced Tama.

“Nyi’m terribly sorry to have startled you. I see you can’t take your mind off something and have these for you to read. It’s a gift seeing how hard you’re working to learn Pamarine.”

Tama reverted back to her business like smile when Kihet turned around, and shooed his suspicious glare after mentioning it was free.

“But I won’t be able to read it yet.”

“Just hold on to it. I’m certain you’ll love it.”

For a book with such a plain appearance, it was well made. Its contents were protected by hard cover leather and sheepskin papers were lined with smooth white silk woven together. A book like this would’ve costed thousands of silver to be crafted and Tama was willing to hand it over to Lily without asking for a price.

“What’s it about?”

“Nyat’s the fun part. And promise me, do not let the grumpy one read it no matter what until you’ve gone through it once, okay? You might learn a thing or two.”

“It’s not dangerous or magical, is it?”

“Please. It’s a nyovel written by a well known writer from Pamalyra. I dare say, it’s a masterpiece of its own and makes the reader’s hearts throb!”

“I could read it to pass the time. Thanks, Tama.”

“Can’t wait to see your reaction-, I mean, hear your opinion!”

Aten watched everything unfold from the roof and saw Tama doing her best to hold back her forming smile. He remained silent even though he identified the word “passion” from the book’s title. He resumed his duty as sentry without a word.

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

This territory belonged neither to Dragonkins or Resistance which made Kihet to watch his surroundings more vigilantly. The map they copied did contain information about the land they blindly journeyed into. There was a high chance they could stumble across Tower Monsters, or worse, unexpectedly into a forming dungeon.

With most of them having to fell asleep, it was much quieter. Kihet, the Giant and the horse pulling the carriage were the only ones left active.

“I heard from Tomoe your name is Kihet.” The Giant was the first to break the silence. “I knew someone with the same name as you but he’s an Enui.”

“Is that so?”

It was too soon to draw conclusions to the Giant’s statement. It was likely one of the soldiers that helped him escape Rozzosea’s palace back then. It could even been one of the workers from Lemi’s clinic from. Like everyone he met, he learned to not take their words at full value even if they seemed to have told the truth without evidence.

For that, he decided to probe about her past.

“It was hell, I heard. How did you get out?”

“I got lucky, I guess. I blacked out in the middle of a kill zone and when I woke up, I found myself fallen in the sewers. I couldn’t find a way up so the only choice was to get away as far as possible.”

“Were there others?”

“If you’re referring to if there are people with my distain of the king, there are. We’re all working with the Queen to help her rightfully reclaim her throne.”

Kihet wondered what happened to Rozzosea’s Queen. Last he heard, Rozzosea’s Queen managed to escape before the King’s soldiers caught her snooping around.

“And where is this ‘Queen’?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you. Maybe after you help me get what I want, I may disclose some details.”

“You’d have a better chance at meeting your cousin if you stayed with the Dragonkins.”

“And let the Beastmen continue stealing my stuff? Besides, the Dragonkins will just send me to fight their battles. I feel I have a higher chance to survive if I stuck with your group.”

That comment almost made Kihet scoffed loudly. Not because he found it ironic, he also disagreed with her statement.

Perhaps it was just him, but he was familiar with approaching death. It came to claim him several times and failed. He tested his limits and with each time he met death face to face, its scythe inched closer towards his neck. If anything, he thought the Giant lowered her own survival chances traveling with him.

However, he did not return his argument. It was the Giant’s choice. Instead, he reached for the back and dimmed the lanterns on the cart.

“Why are you turning off the lights?”

“Over there.” He pointed towards ruins of a structure poking out of the forest. “I’d thought you’d be the first to see since you’re tall.”

“My awareness on my right is lacking.”

“Injury?”

“I’m still able to use a bow and swing my weapons without issues.”

The fact Giant walking beside him at this moment proved her weakness wouldn’t be a liability as much as he’s thought. To have travelled to Stusis alone a month ago when the borders were patrolled by Tower monsters was a commendable feat.

However, if she were to make a mistake on the battlefield, Kihet won’t be held responsible for her life.