He was floating in a sea of neither warm nor cold embrace, he can't describe it, it's hard to describe it. He can't feel anything and he doesn't even know who he is, what he is or where he is now. All he knows is that he must rest here. But that rest is cut short, for he was being sucked in by something. Something warm and light and full of pleasant feeling. He followed it and allowed it to consume him and then he remembers everything.
He is Gelro Teggran, a slave and jewel merchant of the proud Tegrran Family. He is heading towards Bhenratre to sell and exchange his wares as well as t keep in touch with the merchants from the other families. But then he got ambushed by people that looks like a raider. But he didn't even give it a thought knowing that he had hired mercenaries personally recommended by the guild. They look like a strong bunch, especially the leader, so I had no qualms. Add to the fact that they are from the Gold rank guild Bloodsteel.
When he was a boy, he too wanted to learn the ways of the sword so he wanted to watch the guards fight valiantly for his sake but that's not what he got.
"Shit they're too many!" Borbos, the leader shouted. "Hey boss, leave that carriage and run with us."
"What are you blabbering about?! You're a 6th rank mercenary! You should be able to tun things around!" Gelro shouted, unable to believe the words of Borbos.
Normally, that's what they should have done. But this time however, the package would cost him his entire fortune. In the carriage are three high quality slaves and a chest full of jewelries, a literal treasure chest. He could not afford to lose any of those.
"Ah fuck it! Suit yourself!" he said as he destroyed the parts of the carriage that connects to the horses and ran off with them, leaving the defenseless Gelro behind.
The moment they caught up to the shocked Gelro, he tried to beg for his life but the raider mercilessly killed him off by putting a sword in his throat. He should not have cheaped out on the guards.... He should have asked the Platinum or even the Orichalhum guild for guards. Though heh said that, the light in his eyes vanished as he accepted his demise.
He knew he should have been dead. Gelro knew that but what awakened him was a very beautiful lady. She was gently shaking him and urging him to wake up.
"Sir! Please wake up! Please!" She wakes him up with upturned eyes and a worried look on her face.
"Am... am I in heaven...?" Gelro subconsciously asked to which the beautiful lady only replied with a soft giggle that soothes his worried heart for a short while.
"I'm glad, if you can talk like that then that means the you are alright." she said with a perfect grin on her face.
"What happened? I was stabbed right?" he asked while checking his throat and being surprised that not even a scratch remains.
"I'll gladly answer, for you see when they stabbed you, the Arlrog Nightwolves must've smelt your blood and cause them to attack." she said as she pointed to the corpse of a large red wolf.
The Arlrog Nightwolves are an apex predator of the jungle west from where they stand. They are skilled in launching surprise atacks, incredily fast, have a good sense of smell capable of tracking down their prey and with power to booth. They can also use magic to strengthen themselves. With these combined, no wonder the raiders are wiped out. But one thing doesn't sit right-
"Then who killed these wolves?" he asked.
"The raiders put up a greater fight than expected because of the one that is lying down over there, he gave commands like a veteran war commmander and even if he is a raider, I praise his skills in combat. It was a great fight but the Nightwolves prevailed with only 1 heavily wounded wolf standing and that's where I saw the situation. I finished off the wolf and saw you wounded but miraculously alive. I used the medicine that I have so that I can mend your wounds sir." she told her with a clear conviction.
"So that's how it is... I think I can understand Borbos' reason now. But I still can't forgive him." he said as he clenched his fist tightly. If not for the young lady, he would have died right now. And it is clearly stated in the contract that he and their guild have signed that he would, under any circumstances, protect him and his wares. Since Borbos and his gang ran away an deliberately cause him harm, they would pay him a hefty fine and expel Borbos and his men for violating a contract.
"Borbos? Who's that?" she tilted her head in an adorable way.
"S-so cute..." he said under his breath. "Oh ah, that's the mercenary that I hired who should have protected me rather than you, young lady.. He took a deep breath and fixed his clothes annd stance. "This one is Gelro Teggran. As I am indebted to the young lady, may I ask for your name?" he asked.
The moment he said that was the time when he sharpened all his senses to see the reaction of his adversary, the young lady in front of him. She may have been the one to save him this time, but what will happen to him next. He's still not out of danger, this is the Nightwolves Prairie where monsters roam free. This isn't his usual path to Bhenratre but because the raiders have chased them too far from the main road where it's relatively safe because of the human traffic, he has no choice but to rope this young lady in his travel and hope that he will guard her.
She is young and beautiful but she also has this air around her that he is too familiar with. It usually comes with being young, it's naivety. She still has the air of naivety around her. Gelro is truly greatful for her help and he may be saying this in his heart again and again but he is truly beautiful to the point that he wanted to take her as his second wife. But his survivability comes first. If she really survived here without outside help and isn't just stupidly lucky, then she must have the strength to protect herself for this prairie does not let those who are weak get away.
"Please sir, no need to be so formal to this one, I am called Chloe Bellrialle. It's a pleasure to help." she then flashed a sweet and innocent smile towards the man which tugged on his heartstrings a little bit. No, I must stay focused. I am terribly sorry to do this to a young lady but... please just take this as a lesson..
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"We of the mercantile house of Teggran always pay our debts so please, name it. If it is in my power to give then so be it." Now is the crucial time for negotiations, if she asks for anything in particular he will just say that that is excessive but he will grant it in exchange for taking him back to Bhenratre. Of course without a contract, which they can only get from a guild, all will just be verbal promises. Please learn from this young lady.
"Really? Then I want those two slaves in exchange for the elixir that I use on you." she said with an innocent smile plastered on her face.
"What?! These slaves? B-but young lady, these slaves are nothing but a canon fodder. Look at them, the two are naught but young ladies even younger than you and the other is just an old man. I can give you gold and jewels instead if you like." he said. Gelro can't really say that he did not expected the young lady to ask for the three slaves. But he figured that she would rather ask for some gold, jewels or even magic items. Wait, did she say... an elixir?!
"I beg your pardon my lady but surely you would not expect me to believe that you would use an expensive item such as an elixir on a stranger?" said Gelro as he could not believe what he just heard. An elixir is an unbelievably rare item that not even a big merchant house like him could get nowadays. Rumor has it that an elixir is a cure all, heal all type of medicine. It can regenerate lost limbs and it can dispel even demonic curses. That's why elixirs can even be considered as national treasures. For her to even have it is unthinkable and for her to use it on a stranger is just mad. Gelro couldn't even think of a price for such a treasure.
"Elixir? Surely you jest..." he said as he tried to hide his surprise. But he opened his eyes wide when he produced two gorgeous bottles with an intricate and sophisticated design that has a golden glowing liquid inside of it. If this isn't the elixir of legends then he doesn't know what is.
"T-that... can't be..."
"Surely the knowledgeable merchant of the Teggran family knows that this is an elixir, right?" her air of naivety, for just a slight instance, vanished and into its place is that of a terrifying schemer.
Gelro's back is then covered in sweat as he tries to widdle his way out of this but he can't take his eyes off of the golden vial that Chloe is waving around.
He breath a deep breath and adjusted his position. He then went to the broken carriage and grab the box that was hidden in its compartment. He didn't even look at the three slaves that the young lady wants.
"Here is a box of gold and jewels that I have procured. Please accept this as a token of my deep gratitude." he then bowed. "But these slaves already has an owner and they have already been bought. I understand the price of that elixir but-"
"You want another one of this? Here you go." Chloe said as she handed her a vial of the elixir. He didn't even need to examine the contents of the vial for even he can feel the amount of magic power inside the vial. But then she made another remark that made him smile like a devil inside.
"Master said that I can use this anyway I want so this is probably okay." she said non chalantly. "So these three are mine now, right? A great merchant such as yourself will keep his word... Right?"
"No need to flatter me, young lady. This one shall keep his word to the dot. I hope that the young lady and I can be acquaintances if not friends so we can help each other out." Gelro said as she reach for the hand of Chloe to which gleefully accepted.
Too naive child, you're too naive. Gelro said as a scheme is forming in his mind. With the remark that she said, she knows someone who can make an elixir and casually give it out to his student. If he can get acquainted with such a person and have a monopoly of selling elixirs, their house can even expand more. Getting the information on making the elixir is also within the realm of possibilities. Forget inheriting only a part of the Teggran house, he can inherit all of it.
If all works out he can even trap this naive lady in working for him. I'm thanking you from the bottom of my heart young lady but ignorance is your sin. Consider this your fate.
He has no plans to trick the young lady right now as to gain her trust. He beckoned her to come and perform the slaves ceremony.
"Now young lady, we both just need to willingly pour our magan into the collar and you just need to confirm what I say." she nodded.
"I, Gelro Teggran, willingly wish to pass this property to Chloe Bellrialle. Do you accept?" he said as the finger that is touching the collar of the old man glows red.
"I, Chloe Bellrialle, willingly accept these property that is presented to me." and her hand absorbed the red glow which spread into the collar of the old man. They did that with the other two slaves and the ceremony was finished.
Truthfully, Gelro wished for her to just nod or say okay and then claim them back some time later, but it cannot be helped that she made a smart move.
"With this, these three are now your-" Gelro couldn't finish what he was saying. He couldn't for the very air withered and trembled at the sight of the beautiful young lady smiling. But there are no light in her eyes. Only the darkness of a bottomless abyss.
He took a step back and without even noticing it, a sword of pure light is stabbed his abdomen.
He wanted to scream but couldn't. He couldn't even understand the situation. Not even feeling the pain and the blood loss from the sword of light, he desperately tried to run but his legs kept trembling and just takes a step back.
He hold out her slender hands and out comes a blue bladed sword that is emitting a golden glow. He hasn't seen a sword this gorgeous before and even he could tell the absurd amount of power within it.
He was so focused on the sword that he failed to notice that Chloe Bellrialle, the young naive lady has now six large pair of golden wings that emits a beautiful and noble aura.
Gelro is mesmerized by it but at the same time, fear found its way into his face.
"S-step back..." he pleaded.
"Step back!" this time a shout finally came out but the lady, with a sword in his hand didn't stop.
"STEP BACK! GET AWAY FROM ME!" this time he gave a powerful warcry. With snot, tears and saliva in his face and a flowing piss in his crotch. For he knows... he knows that the young lady will kill him.
The young lady right now is a divine incarnate but he cannot see the light of mercy even in her angelic form right now. He can only see... indifference.
"Thank you for the lesson sir, I shall keep it deep within my heart." she said with a mocking smile on her face as she separated the head of Gelro and his body with a slash of her brilliant sword.
During the fleeting moment when his head is flying, his head accidentally faced her way only to see Chloe with a thumbs down and a sinister smile full of mockery. Despair finally painted his face and that was the last emotion that he left on his face.
He had been calling her naive all the time but he forgot that he too is a naive person. On his final moments, he cursed an cursed and cursed his own fate and finally embraced the darkness that is as dark as his emotion.
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"Houu... Acting is hard. Now I know why actors are paid more than the medical professionals." she said with a smile while wiping her non-existent sweat on her forehead. "To think that I learned a lot during that conversation. I really am glad to have met that man... And you three, it looks like what you said is true. That man really does think that he's some sort of a great schemer." she looked at the three kneeling slaves in front of her.
"We have no intention of deceiving you from the start... master." said the old man.
"You have spared us the shame of serving such a disgusting man." said one of the blond haired girl.
"Is the man that you're suppose to serve that much of a trash?" she asked.
"Trash has it's uses master. That man is the shinning example of a scum." said the other blond with a contorted face.
"Well, I'd like to hear more of it but not here. Shall we go?"
"Yes, master." all the three of them responded. Leaving nothing, not even the corpses of the raiders and Gelro. The only mark that a massacre took place here was the blood stains and the stench of death.