Ashe, who had just arrived in the city of Zalindar, had to leave it. This was not only due to his emotions. There was also a logical basis for his decision.

Ezio's family was standing in front of his corpse. Many people saw him and his sword. The boy came from a noble family with influential members and numerous Binders. There was a high chance that at least one of them would suspect something.

This doubt could turn into action. Action would bring them closer to the truth and reveal Ashe's connection to Ezio's death. If he tried to escape at that time, it would be too late.

With regret, he boarded the carriage and chose a distant city. 'I still didn't get to find out how the situation in Bone Village turned out.'

From his options, he selected the grandest city. The capital of the planet was the most resource-rich and, at the same time, the most prosperous city. Piranesi was the centre of the universe, and no one could find him there.

According to the carriage driver, the travel speed would depend on the weather. However, it would take at least a few days. The boy hadn't brought any food or even apples with him. He had already spent 9 orbs today and was left with merely 8 orbs.

He had money for food, but where would he spend it in the middle of the carriage? Fortunately, a saviour appeared.

"Do you want it?" He heard a soft voice, belonging to a girl dressed fully in black. She offered him a sugary dessert made of some kind of dough. He could tell that the girl was a Binder. Not an ordinary one at that.

Ashe looked at her closely and took his time to study her. The girl was in her mid-twenties; she was dressed in a black dress that covered her entire body and had dark makeup on her face. She appeared cold, but once one saw her smile, she seemed friendly.

Ashe took the food. It was a little hot like it had just been baked. "Thank you." He said and was about to offer compensation for it.

Extending orbs, he received a stern refusal. An enigmatic smile followed. "No need; I baked it and want to know what you think." All this time, she was maintaining eye contact. "But be careful not to burn your mouth."

Eagerly exhaling, Ashe tasted the food and narrowed his eyes. It was delicious; the texture and sweetness were exactly in his fancy. "I didn't expect it, but it's actually good." Ashe did not hide his preconceived notion.

Smiling, the girl extended her hand and appreciated Ashe's sincerity, "Aigis," and said her name without clarifying.

"Ashe." The boy also shook her hand, and notions of making a new acquaintance slipped into the back of his mind. As soon as he let go of her wrist, he saw the sigil on the girl's wrist. It was but a small tattoo that looked more like Mark. Ashe moved his eyes effectively over her face, not revealing anything.

The journey continued pleasantly. Except for the fact that the boy would occasionally remember Ezio's corpse. Otherwise, everything was going well. A few passengers joined the carriage, and the day became even livelier.

Ashe knew all too well that his Chosen One status imposed a certain responsibility. His mission was the highest priority, and that was why he stole the sword. An accident had happened; yes, it was his fault, but he couldn't change anything.

The changes in his character remained unnoticed. For the most part. Observant Aigis was looking at him as she noticed the boy's eyebrows lowered and his averted eyes from the world. It was an occasional thing, but she said nothing and didn't reveal her reflection.

Several days passed, and Ashe fed on the necks of his companions. They fed him, asking nothing in return. No one asked questions; no one wondered why he was travelling with no supplies.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

After a few more days of travel, only five people remained in the carriage. Ashe, Aigis, a burly man named Gogi, his gentle wife Maia, and the driver. Gogi and Maia were a middle-aged husband and wife.

They were stereotypical, and the man was having a midlife crisis. He complained about everything, although only his wife could calm him down.

One evening, when the carriage stopped for the night, a strange noise was heard. The road was well-paved and well-maintained, but there was only a track around. Dozens of kilometres away was the nearest settlement, and it took at least two more days to get to Piranesi.

This sound was of a wild nature. It brought cold and pain. It seemed to enter the body and freeze you from the inside. Hearing this, both Ashe and Aigis stood up. The girl was the waggon's escort, and as it turned out, they only travelled with attendants, and this time Aigis took on that role.

Ashe had a sword to fight with, but his story of being a Binder was no secret. Both of them left the cart to investigate the approaching sound. Echoes were heard across the open field, in a place where they shouldn't have been.

The only source of light in front of the carriage was a fire. Silhouettes appeared in the darkness in their colourful glow. One, two, and finally ten four-legged creatures surrounded them. Resembled wolves, but they also had a more monstrous, magical nature.

The physical side was not their main area of action. Using their voice to communicate, they scare victims, were three meters tall, yet thin, as if they had trouble finding food.

But that would be far from the truth. These predatory creatures were Wolfgangs and belonged to the rank of Sinarch. Accordingly, there was not one but many other lower grades in the food chain than them.

Aigis did not show fear. The girl dressed in black had a maniacal smile. She did not look like a prey, as if she herself were a hunter and was facing food.

"Scary woman," Ashe said loudly and released his sword.

The girl ignored his words but liked the gesture. Light appeared from her hand, hidden in her clothes. Simultaneously, objects appeared in her hands. A lamp in one and a switch in the other.

Suddenly, she ran and headed towards the monsters. She anticipated their action and was the first to attack.

Ashe did not lag behind her, running in the opposite direction. Despite that, he didn't forget to pay attention to Aigis and assess her skills.

As a matter of fact, the whole battle was more dangerous than it seemed at first glance. The initial ten monsters were just the beginning; dozens were hiding behind them, and they were also ready to attack. Ashe didn't know how much information the girl had about this, so he warned her by calling out.

"There are more; I advise you to save your strength and be quick."

The girl heard his words. Aigis hesitated for a moment, a hint of worry appearing in her manic expression, but ultimately she didn't change her course of action. "Thanks, I couldn't detect that." She called out and got down to business.

Ashe himself met the rushing opponents with his sword. His barrier and protection capabilities were being tested anew.

Every swing found a victim. Not a single one was enough to slay them. Instead, he caused sufficient harm to finish his kill. When he could dodge, he did just that. At times, the barrier covered his body and shielded him from any danger.

As for Aigis, she ran holding her lamps. She was quick and nimble. Jumping like an acrobat, her long dress didn't hinder her from performing stunts. Each lamp was attached to the monsters. She tried to place several lamps per monster so that she wouldn't get hurt.

After filling the first monster's body with lights, she turned on the switch in her other hand. Different colours illuminated the lamps. It was as if she was decorating a Christmas tree for the New Year. Within a second of the light appearing, these lights busted and tore apart the monsters.

Ashe watched all this with one eye. He noticed the lights that had formed endlessly in the girl's hands and was fascinated. 'What god did she receive a covenant from?' Her abilities were exceptional.

While observing the fragments, he concluded the girl was Eminent and not far from Eternal.

This did not change the difficult situation they were in. It was enough for them to miss even one Wolfgang, and the rest of the carriage company would be eaten on the spot. The only solution was a quick and effective slaughter, which they tried as hard as they could.

Unfortunately, the number of opponents was growing faster than they could drive them away. As a result, the siege was getting smaller and smaller, and the level of danger intensified.

Both of them received wounds. The increase in the number of voices caused, if not fear, at least numbness that slowed down the speed of their body control. It created a slight delay, which was enough to weaken the movement.

Ashe, who looked at his hands, was clenching his teeth. He took a deep breath and called out to the girl. "Stand by me. Come closer; I can protect you a lot better than you can protect yourself."

Aigis was surprised by such a strange request in the middle of a battle. There was no time to spare for questions, and she did as she was told.

This was the first time the Chosen One used Protection to protect another. A skill that, under his command, was supposed to protect the entire world.