Out in the more suburban areas of Rohan, a little girl was worriedly scurrying back and forth.
“Please Mister, help me.”
“Go away, Brat!” The man swatted her away and continued walking. The girl then ran to another man.
“My family is in danger!”
“Street Rat, get away from me, or I’ll show you!” The man beckoned with a fist. The little girl then saw a dashing young man and ran toward him.
“Mister, bad guys have taken my family. Can you help me?”
The man stopped in his tracks and crouched down. His hand brushing away the dirt from her cheek.
“What’s the matter, Child?” His gaze looked compassionate as he brushed off the dust on her clothes.
“Mmm…” The girl uncomfortably looked up at the young man, but shook her head and answered, “My family needs help. They were taken away by bad guys. Can you help me?”
The man’s eyes softened as he spoke in a soothing voice, “Naturally. Why don’t you follow me and I’ll take you to report this to the town guards.” He reached out his palm, waiting for her to take it.
“Nngh…” She subconsciously pulled back and looked over the clean young man one more time. Finding that there’s nothing discernible in his concerned eyes, she reached out to grab his hand.
“Get away from her, Scum!”
*Bam!*
A clean boot landed on the young man’s face, launching him a few meters to the side. The owner of the boot adjusted his balance as he positioned himself before the girl. Another person suddenly embraced the puzzled child and brought her away as the youth drew his sword.
“Which person dare’s to kick this lord’s face?!” The young man angrily shot up from the ground, his eyes shooting beams of red light.
“I dare,” Vincent replied calmly, too calm that it sounded abnormal. The young man managed to identify his assailant, but when he met Vincent’s gaze, he swallowed the next words that were about to come out of his mouth.
“…”
“What were you going to do to this little girl?” His sharp gaze narrowed slightly. There were multiple angles he could attack the young man from, it was only a matter of which would bring more pain to his target.
“N-nothing. I w-was just helping…” That man broke out in cold sweat as he felt the intimidating glare coming from Vincent.
“Did that man do anything to you, Little Sister?” Aya gently coaxed.
“Nuh-uh.” She shook her head, but still looked worried. “Big Sis, I need help to rescue my family.”
“Okay. Wait here.” Aya looked over at Vincent, “Let him go, we don’t have time for him.”
“Tch.” Vincent clicked his tongue and sheathed his sword. “Get out, before I change my mind.”
“Hieee~!” The man ran off.
“Where’s your family? What happened?” Vincent then turned around to question the little girl. He recognized her, she had the brightest smile on her face when he rode by their cart.
“Nngh!” She shrunk behind Aya after seeing Vincent’s cold glare.
“Ah! Stop that!” Aya chopped at Vincent’s head, to which he casually dodged. “You’re scaring her. Okay, Little Sister, show us where your family is, we’ll help you.”
“They’re over here.” She began to run through narrow alleyways. The pitter patter of her bare feet sounded out as she ran. This realization brought a frown to a cold youth’s face, so he decided to do something about it.
“Uwaa~!” The girl felt herself float up and finally in the arms of the cold youth.
“Vincent…” Aya trailed from behind, part of her felt relaxed while another part was giggling at his awkward interaction with the little girl. “Stop for a minute.” She ran up and carried the little girl off of Vincent and placed her on his back.
“Mmm, much better.” Vincent thanked Aya and continued, “Show me where they are.”
“Un!” The little girl felt safe and secure while riding on the young man’s back and began to point them the way.
Soon after, the trio stopped; not far from their location was an aged and abandoned warehouse in the suburban part of the town. This place might’ve been prosperous when the town was first founded, but by now the warehouse and its surrounding houses make up a part of the slums of Rohan.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“There. The bad men tied us up and threw us in there.” The girl was shaking as she pointed to the warehouse. She was the smallest in the family. She had managed to escape through a small hole in the dilapidated building with the help of her father.
“Alright. You wait here.” Vincent let down the little girl, choosing a spot to conceal her, before performing the last check on his gear.
“What are you doing?” Aya questioned, her brows furrowed with concern.
“I’m going to save them,” Vincent replied as if stating a fact.
“How? Are you going to go through the front? Drawing the attention of every man within one kilometer of the warehouse?” She sternly reprimanded. It was at times like these that she found his mature disposition had cracked and revealed an innocent interior; it was a refreshing change.
“Don’t worry, they won’t find me,” Vincent said confidently. “You wait here and watch the girl.”
“No.” Aya vehemently rejected. “I’m in charge here. This mission is out of your jurisdiction. You will follow what I say. Right now, you will wait here and wait for my signal.”
Vincent finally looked up from examining his weapons when he heard her change in tone. Just as he was about to argue with her, he felt a soft and moist warmth press against his lips. There was a taste of candied cherries in his mouth left over after Aya moved away.
“We’ll do it my way.” She playfully watched his innocent stunned expression and sauntered off toward the warehouse. She didn’t do anything to hide her presence as she languidly approached the warehouse door.
At the gates, the two henchmen looked on with interest as a provocative lady approached them. She had on a leather corset that significantly enhanced her hourglass figure. She was also sporting a beauty mark under her left eye as she shot beams of interest their way. It was already late evening, the sun had just set, and it should be around this time that the night-life of Rohan woke up.
“Excuse me, boys.” She blinked, drawing attention to her fine and long lashes. “I seem to have lost my way, and I was hoping that one of you two would be able to show me to the adult entertainment street.” Her sharp gaze traced over the henchmen’s bodies like they were undressing the men.
The two men felt a hot flush gather in their groin area as lascivious smiles traced over their face.
“Look Gim, you were complaining that we won’t get any action tonight. And now it’s here.”
“Hur hur hur.” The other man dumbly laughed as drool pooled out from the corner of his mouth.
“I’ve never heard of a traveling whore before, but I ain’t complaining.” The first henchman said as he looked back at Aya.
“I prefer the term, entertainer. Please, if you treat me nicely, I’ll also treat you nicely.” She giggled as she reached up and stroked the man’s coarse face. The man felt a tingle pass through his spine upon her touch.
“Come here, you little minx!” He crudely grabbed her outstretched arm and started dragging her inside.
“Ah~ You should be a bit gentler to the opposite sex.” Aya teased. She shot a sharp glance back in the direction Vincent was at. Warning him to put down his bow that he had prepared to use. Then she mouthed out the words, “Watch the entrance,” before being pulled inside.
“Gim, watch the entrance, I’ll have fun with the whore first.”
“Hur hur hur.” The man dumbly laughed and vigorously nodded.
“Big Brother, you’re not going to save Big Sister?” The little girl worriedly asked.
Vincent clenched his fist but remained still. “She’s a strong girl. Trust her a bit more.” These words were more for himself than the girl. Even though he wasn’t allowed to interfere, there’s at least something he could do. Vincent got up and hurriedly hid the girl behind a stack of barrels and crates.
“Where are you going, Big Brother?” The little girl asked.
“Stay here, no matter what happens, do not come out. Be good.” Vincent left without waiting for a reply.
He looked up at the surrounding houses and quickly sunk into the shadows. Night has fallen.
Quietly on his perch like a stone gargoyle, Vincent silently waited. It had been half an hour since Aya had entered, but nothing has happened as of yet. This only made him feel more concerned as his fingers brushed over the shafts of his arrows nervously.
Finally, after almost an hour has passed, a disturbance broke the silent night.
*CRASH!*
A lifeless body was thrown out of the second story window of the warehouse.
Gim, the dumb henchman out front woke up with a start and ran over to see the commotion. He saw a man laying on the ground bleeding out from stab wounds. Gurgling noises rose up from the man as blood pooled into his throat.
“Ah! AH! ENEMY ATTACK!” Gim screamed as if his life depended on it, afraid he wouldn’t be heard, but shortly after he was silenced permanently.
*Thwack!*
An arrow embedded itself into his neck and he fell over.
“Shit!” Vincent cursed at his slow reaction, but it was already too late. All around him, the buildings and houses lit up as people began to groggily dash out. Some people were half-dressed, and others were still in their sleepwear. All of them were enemies.
Vincent’s eyes flashed with terrifying resolve as he stood up from his perch. Like a deity protector, Vincent drew back his bow into the shape of the full moon and rained judgment down onto the half-awaken men below.
*Thwack!*
Each shot…
*Thwack!*
Signaled the end of life.
*Thwack!*
Pretty soon, the men below understood that someone was killing them off from afar, but they couldn’t find out the location of the assassin. They saw a dozen of their brothers go down from the unknown assailant’s arrows and felt a cold frost pass down their spines. Right now they were trudging through the darkness into their own deaths. They helplessly retreated back into their homes and didn’t dare poke their heads out.
“This is as much as I can do. I can only wait for her to come out.” Vincent sat back down onto his perch. His vigilant eyes surveyed everything below him; he was like a sovereign beholding his kingdom.
Not long after, the front doors of the warehouse pulled open and a bunch of shaken people staggered out. A few of them were sobbing while others were crying with happiness. Following behind them was a tattered girl who looked like she was limping. Vincent felt his heart shaken, but he maintained overwatch, waiting for everyone to leave before he retreated; he didn’t forget to pick up the little girl.
When everything concluded, a few of the more courageous thugs approached the warehouse. They saw their dead companions bathing in pools of blood as they laid on the ground. Even worse, just behind the entrance of the warehouse, were dozens of lifeless bodies each with their throats slashed. They were men who have killed before, but they’ve never seen such a ruthless sight.