— … Why…?

— Why… do they all treat me like this?…

— I’m… normal…

***

Somewhere in Bastet, amidst the gloomy forest, in the most remote places devoid of any normal souls in this God-forsaken place.

The stars of the night sky weakly pierced through the murky fog, somewhere in the forest a small flame burned.

Several horses were tied to a large tree. Three horses in total silently glanced at each other, munching on dry grass.

By the campfire sat several bandits, transporting stolen goods to somewhere to resell all these trinkets in their large bags.

— Hey! Roy! Are you coming soon?

The unshaven face, scar on the right eye, the man looked at least 35 years old. The man was waiting for his partner, sitting by the fire.

— And what are you staring at me for?!

The man looked at the person in the long, gray robe with his irritated gaze, clicking his tongue.

The man was in very sturdy iron handcuffs, he sat next to this bandit, while his body trembled with fear.

—N-nn..

The man tried to hear what he wanted to say, listening to him. He couldn't hear anything at all, he got even more angry, sitting by the fire.

—What are you muttering about?

The man looked puzzled at the person in the long robe, his face hiding under a very long hood. Out of some rage, he grabbed the wrist of this person, squeezing it with all his might.

—What are you babbling about?! Just say it already!

The man abruptly pulled the hood off the person, it turned out to be a girl with long, ashen hair. Her face was very attractive, sharp ears stood out in her appearance.

She was an elf, her purple irises reflected off the burning flame.

The girl's skin was dirty, as if she had just come out of a bloody bath. Her clean, white skin disappeared amidst all the dirt.

— D-Don't… kill me…

The girl spoke quietly, her empty eyes looking through the man, lowering to the ground.

The girl didn't cry, she couldn't cry at all, it seems, in her eyes there was nothing left to cry about.

— Tch… fool…

The man said sharply, throwing her hands on her knees, he looked at her with his cunning gaze, continuing to feel annoyed at the sight of her.

— I'm not going to kill you, we have other plans for you... — Said the man with a sly smile.

There were only three men here, and she was among these bandits. She no longer longed for life, it was evident from her eyes that she was expecting her death.

The man sitting next to her was called Roy.

— Roy, I'm here! — The man coming out of the bushes apparently relieved himself.

He adjusted his pants with one hand motion, approaching the campfire.

— Have you finally realized what blood she is?

The man smirked slyly, approaching Roy, he grabbed the girl by her ashen hair, pulling her towards him, she didn't even flinch.

— No… I still don't know yet… — Another man added quietly.

— Oh, what a fragrance!

The man clearly felt the woman's scent, he was excited by her.

— Are we really supposed to give her away?

The man said through a heavy smirk, he liked that this girl was so open. With her, you could do whatever you wanted.

Another man with a thick beard and in a cuirass raised his leg, he kicked the girl towards the fire with all his might.

— Exactly, she'll be useful to us, we can sell her.

The third hefty man caught her with his foot, the girl remained silent, she did not show any emotions even in such a situation, her body trembled with fear, she didn't know what awaited her ahead.

— Oh, for sure, you're such a quiet one..

–Hey! Tichch, who is this girl anyway? — Roy asked, sitting closer to her.

— I don't know, met her on the outskirts of the city, she was wandering near the tavern. Maybe she wanted to eat, so I lured her with a piece of bread.

The hefty man, named Tichch, scratched his belly, flipping a log with his sword, which hissed from being touched.

— What a catch, an elf in a human kingdom! I think she's still a virgin.

Said the third man sharply, who kicked the girl with his foot, he licked his lips, stroking her head.

— When we get out of the forest, we'll sell her to one of the brothels, elves are expensive nowadays.. — The third man said sarcastically.

All three men started laughing, looking at the girl with their insane eyes.

Suddenly, small raindrops began to slowly fall from the impenetrable dark clouds, the trees stirred slightly from the weak gust of wind.

Tichch trembled, his belly rose with his body, he took an iron, rusty sheet, covering the flame.

This way, the flame continued to burn despite the weak wind, the men sat in the forest under the light rain, waiting for dawn.

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The black forgotten forest was located in the southwest, far from human civilization. From the human kingdom to this place was only a 2-day ride on horseback, the men wanted to cross the forest to reach a small town where they could sell the girl for a huge amount of money.

They were heading to Gorklid, where people lived in decline, using everyone to their advantage, there was a carefree life without debts, taxes, or any kings.

A city of murderers, bandits, prostitutes, and traders who would easily buy the elf for a lot of money from them.

— So what? We only knocked down a couple of skeletons, I wouldn't say this forest is dangerous.

Tichch was sure that his life, the life of a killer and thief, was what he needed. He thought that this huge forest posed no threat to people like them.

— You think skeletons are flowers? Pray to God, bandits, that tonight we make it out of here...

— Ugh..

Roy spat into the fire, and the fire hissed angrily at the same moment, making quiet sounds in their company.

Tichch looked at the girl with a brief glance, he sighed heavily, thinking about another meal.

— What's your name? — Bruz asked shortly.

The bearded man twirled his dagger in his hands, cunningly looking at the girl, his greasy long hair getting wet in the rain.

— Elmerian He'Vin Oek… — the girl slowly said her name so that the men could fully hear it.

The men glanced at each other in complete silence, trying to understand where the name was.

Bruz cast a heavy glance at the guys, apparently unable to resist, he turned the girl towards him. This guy was even worse scum; he had killed numerous men, children, and raped girls.

— Why are you hiding your face under the hood? — the man whispered, raising the tip of his dagger to remove her hood.

— Hey! Hey! — Roy stood up, trying to stop Bruz.

Bruz stopped the second one, extending his dagger, his heavy gaze looking at the man through a snarl.

— Calm down, I won't do anything to her. — Bruz said through a cunning smile.

Roy sighed heavily, watching his actions; they watched him warily. If they killed the girl, they wouldn't gain anything from it, and they really needed the money.

Every strand of her hair was like a treasure trove of golden ingots, ash-colored hair, eyes, and snow-white skin.

Even her clothes could be worth as much as two small sacks of gold.

— Well, well, if we can't touch her, then maybe something else is allowed...

Bruz's smile widened to his ears, his face approached the girl, and his tongue went into her ear.

The girl felt nothing, she wrinkled, showing indifference. Elmerian's eyes were empty, like those of a zombie, the men looked at her as if she were a big, fat piece of meat, licking their lips.

— And the girl seems not to mind... — Bruz whispered in her ear.

These men continued to watch with smiles and perversions as Bruz began to touch the girl, lowering his knife lower.

— Is this a good idea to do like that?

Tichch asked Roy with a smile on his face, watching Bruz's actions.

— Let's enjoy the moment...

His eyes were literally ready to tear the girl apart; he put his hand under the girl's rusty, long robe.

He tried to take her firm breast, licking his lips, the girl trembled with fear, she didn't know what to do.

— Ugh!

The dismayed girl kicked Bruz with her foot into the nearest tree; she instantly covered herself, showing her snow-white teeth out of anger.

Bruz was pinned to the tree; he cast a heavy look at the girl.

Some kind of spark appeared in his eyes; he clenched his knife and turned the girl towards him, swinging his hand.

Two men stood up, their eyes widened at this turn of events. Roy was faster than everyone; he tried to throw himself at Bruz with all his body to protect the girl.

He pushed Bruz away from the girl, but still managed to scratch the girl's cheek, leaving a small scar.

The girl sat calmly on the log; she didn't even blink, although she continued to tremble, her empty gaze unchanged.

A wound slowly opened on her cheek, burgundy blood burst from a small cut, falling together with the weak rain onto the dirty ground.

— She hit me!

Roy held the man on the ground, restraining his arms, while the other struggled to break free from his grip. Bruz was too hot-headed, brandishing his dagger.

— Come on! Little piggy over here… — Roy quickly glanced at the excited fat man. He got up, slowly approached, kicking his dagger into the bushes.

— You got too carried away. There, she kindly put you in your place, — Roy weakly smiled, holding his arms.

Tichch and Roy started laughing, looking at the displeased face of the brute. He looked at them with his cold gaze, sighing heavily at their wild laughter.

He remained silent, hiding his disdain. Roy slowly released Bruz, extending his hand to him, leaning on the ground. As he stood up, the man turned around, trying to find his dagger.

— Where did you throw it?

Calmly asked the man, looking around, scanning the dirty ground.

— In the bushes, I think, — Tichch said, looking at the girl, waving his hand forward and sitting next to her, inspecting her cheek.

— Do we have any alcohol?

Tichch asked the guys, pulling out a bottle of rum from the sack. He uncorked it with his teeth, poured it onto the corner of the rusty robe the girl was wearing, and pressed it to her cheek.

— Does it sting? — the man asked quietly, looking at the girl. She sat there like an elegant statue, untouchable.

She just nodded approvingly, continuing to stare with her empty gaze through the man, unfazed after he pressed the piece of fabric to her cheek.

Roy first felt a strange discomfort. The rain was intensifying rapidly, thunder continued to pound the sky, throwing white flashes.

Roy flinched, clutching his steel sword to himself.

— It's like something struck the ground, scattering rocks in different directions.

—That's thunder, and why did you clench your sword like a girl?

Bruz smirked, looking at him with a playful grin, while the others waited for the rain to stop.

—No, it's just that thunder can't move the ground itself.

Roy was a former mercenary, killing only for money. Now he was just a thief, robbing carriages with precious items in this group of people.

He literally loved the most insane thefts; the guy in their company was careful in his judgments.

—S-so, maybe we should leave?

— Why are you so scared, afraid of lightning?

Tichch raised his left eyebrow. The men glanced at each other as the girl simply sat there silently, listening to the men.

—N-no…— for the first time in so long, the girl said something through chattering teeth. Her empty eyes looked at the men.

—You see, she can talk?

With a sneer, Bruz said, looking at her with his crazed gaze.

Tichch pointedly reached out, covering Bruz's mouth; everyone fell silent, staring at him. The rain continued to pick up pace, while the flames burned through the thunder and the creaking of trees.

— No, no, she's trying to say something…— Tichch looked at the girl, nodding positively, waiting for the girl to speak to him.

The men all turned their heads towards the hooded elf girl at once, raising their eyebrows, trying to hear what their hostage would say.

In general, it was strange for the guys that the girl spoke normally for the first time. She was generally nothing, and this was a unique opportunity to try their luck and get the girl talking on this dull night.

Bruz toyed with his knife, pressing his right hand to his forehead. He couldn't wait any longer. His boot thudded against the dirty ground, creating an unpleasant squelching sound.