“Apart from the injuries on the captive soldiers, the rest look relatively clean and patched up, weird to see from this leader.” Evelin reported as he sent away her soldiers and the group of settlers. Many thanked Lia and Mono before departing, one even hugging her on the way out of the camp.
Mono spoke with many of them as well, sending them off while bidding farewell, Kayd could swear he shed a tear as he returned to the team.
“No, that was the result of the healer’s help.” Ishmael patted Lia’s head.
Evelin’s healers patched up the team, even handing Lia some more supplies for the travel.
Around them the walls burned and fell, the last of the buildings were torn down and any surviving bandit was executed in front of them, this ramshackle camp for their leader was reduced to ash.
“Regardless, well done on killing the first leader, feel free to take what’s left here. We made staggering process and revived much of the trade routes. Commerce and income should start flowing in better.”
After she spoke, a question appeared in Kayd’s head.
“Princess Evelin.” She turned.
“Yes?”
“Trading for what? I dont know if deserts have anything useful…” She laughed loudly, Ishmael even joined in with a chuckle.
What’s funny about it? Is it obvious? Is the sand itself the commodity here?
“Well, i guess its fair to answer that. I guess Ishmael didn’t tell you all about it.” She kicked the sand beneath her, “We aren’t here for the crummy sand or just for more space. Its for what’s beneath.” She replied. The noise of something moving from the rubble caught their attention, cutting the conversation short.
What now?
Lia moved past everyone else, done with healing and now taking the helm in finding the source.
She stepped and climbed on the mountain of rubble, getting closer to what was causing it with a blade in hand.
“What’s she doing?” Mono asked, joining with Ishmael to investigate.
An arm sprung out from the rubble at the top, pushing debris off of it and pulling itself out, followed by a few damaged chains pushing away more rock.
No way…He’s still alive!?
“This ain’t over, ya got that!? A little rubble ain’t stopping me-” Lia knelt next to the leader and began stabbing him through the many large breaches in his armor, from the neck to chest, silently stabbing over and over and ignoring his struggle to fight back.
“What the heck is wrong with her?” The two were shocked at the sight.
“Quellin, is this part of your discipline?” Ishmael asked, he didn’t respond. Instead he walked towards Lia.
“Lia, stop.” Finally, his emotionless but stern voice snapped Lia from what she was doing, and she dropped her blade.
The man was already dead, his body beginning to vanish.
A windchime alerted them.
Side Mission added:
Burn down the first bandit leader’s camp: [✔]
Free the last batch of slaves: [✔]
Reward: 700 coins, Scorn of the Lawless title (One of three)
WEALTH BALANCE: 1765 COINS
A good amount, need more money though to buy from those stores. And more of these titles.
Kayd looked at the badge in his hand, it was square in shape with three heads and a shield above them. One of the heads was heavily cracked.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
One down, two to go.
“Ooo, a leader’s helmet, this will look good on my collection.” Ikari held the helmet of the dead leader. His body was gone, along with the chains, leaving his armor and weapon behind.
“I thought you take skulls, not helmets,” Kayd replied mockingly.
‘’Hey, can’t a gal just admire some unprofessional craftsmanship?” She laughed before handing the helmet to Ishmael. Who would take much more care with these helmets than her.
Lia returned to the team, some stepped away while others simply looked at her curiously.
That was, a very different reaction than what we saw…What did Quellin teach her?
He whispered something into Lia’s ear and her demeanor changed, no longer looking dejected but a bit lively and shy.
“We were supposed to kill him right? I did it, that was the main order to accomplish.” She finally spoke, her response only baffled them even more. Kayd gave a questioning look to Quellin, afraid of what these teachings were doing to the once cowardly but compassionate healer.
She needed discipline, but i don’t know if he’s taking it too far…I guess we’ll see later on…
Evelin gave a brief glance at Lia, sharing a similar feeling of shock and concern as the rest, but walked past her towards the rubble.
“As I was saying,” she cleared her throat. We aren’t here for the sand or anything that basic and simple, there’s something far better that lies far beneath this desert. Gold.” As if activated by saying that word, the ground began to shake, everyone scurried away as a hole began to form beneath the rubble, consuming the debris and rapidly growing in size until it fully devoured every single bit of the destroyed stronghold.
“Is that what you were talking about?” Kayd asked Evelin, responding with a smile and nonchalantly walked towards the hole.
Pitch black, illuminated by a single torch Evelin dropped down.
“Judging from the torch’s noise, it’s quite spacious.” She looked at the team.
“Thanks once more for saving these people,” Her eyes focused on Lia, “And patching up their wounds.” She extended a gloved hand and rubbed Lia’s head. She bowed to avoid anyone looking at her, but the moment was quick, and Evelin took her leave with the army.
For the first time in a long time for this part of the desert, silence consumed it.
A windchime rung out.
Now that the tyrant above ground has been vanquished, the desert and its inhabitants can breathe a sigh of relief. But the journey of the splendor seekers is only partially done. When it isn’t the lives of the people that are in peril, it shall be their wallets. And all know that wealth always comes from below the earth.
I think i’m piecing together what it wants us to do now Kayd sarcastically thought to himself.
“So, what now captain?” He asked Ishmael. She whistled into the nothingness, calling upon Pip.
He looked at Lia again, she looked more normal now, a bit flustered from what just happened but no longer looking dejected or murderous. The blade she just used rested on her waist, still dripping with blood.
Pip arrived after a minute, stopping in front of them and letting them onboard for the next trip.
“Mines, Princess Evelin mentioned them. And the possibility they may be used by the bandits as well, we can get decent loot here if we’re lucky but our order is to clear out any remaining stragglers here. If any still remain, and hopefuly find another camp to attack.” Ishmael gave her order, standing at the very front with a confidence tone and arms crossed, gazing at the pitch black hole.
Ishmael began lighting up torches and placing them across Pip’s body. Next stop, exploring whatever this hole led to.
—---
“Pip, take us down!” Hearing it’s master’s command, Pip started crawling down the hole.
“Hold on lads!” Everyone scrambled for the poles and anything that was nailed down as Pip began descending down the hall, leaving everyone hanging onto the platform.
On the way down, the high number of torches brightened the hole, and Kayd could get a good look on what was in it.
Scaffolding, holes, rails, ropes and pulleys, along with some pickaxes. There was an entire mineshaft below the stronghold!?
The descent stopped and they eached the bottom of the mine. Everyone regained their footing on the platform and looked around with a torch in their hands, ahead of them was a large tunnel with scattered minecarts and a partially destroyed railroad going towards it.
“Mining reports…Vein is dry, gift the vein to the other leader and abandon this route…Dated about 4 months ago.” Ishmael read from a tattered piece of paper on the floor.
“4 months is still recent, we could try to find the source of whoever was mining here. Hopefully it’ll lead to the next leader.” Ishmael ordered Pip to move forward, towards the tunnel.
While waiting, Ikari nudged his shoulder.
“Hey, mind cleaning our stuff again?”
—----
A clean blade makes a clean fight, clean armor makes a clean battle.
Kayd cleaned the blood and grime from their weapons and armor, a moment to rest and unwind from everything that had gone on. He wiped the blood off Ikari’s bow and her cloak, the last of the team to be cleaned.
“Underground, this feels just like the forest. You think rats live here too?” She asked.
“Please Ikari, i don’t want to think of getting ambushed by those things again. The lack of healing is already bad enough.” He replied in a whining voice. Ikari laughed and looked towards Lia.
“Say, what’s gotten into her? She’s much more feisty this time around like a hungry fox that just got a bit of meat.”
“I guess it’s whatever Quellin was talking about. Since he’s Ferrous Hands i’d assume just military and discipline stuff.” Kayd returned to cleaning his own sword and robes while sitting next to Ikari.
“Still, that’s a pretty big leap from what we’ve seen don’t you think? Feathers went from hiding behind us to just turning the leader into a pin cushion.” She responded. The worry was apparent in her voice.
“Yeah, but at least she’s willing to go to the front, albeit behind us still but still wanting to be at the front. You saw her throw that axe at the leader right?”
“Yup! That was less scary and more awesome to watch!” Her loud voice got the attention of Lia, but hesitated from talking. Ishmael reminded the two to keep quiet as Pip continued through the tunnel.
“Throwing the axe at the guy was so cool, and everything else she was doing before that, fighting against the chains by herself and not hiding behind one of us. You could just see the fire in her eyes like a cornered tiger-” She continued chatting to Kayd for awhile, another way to take a break from the constant conflict and the painful path of getting more titles, a time to reflect.
This desert is already getting more interesting than the forest. There’s even magic here, like that weird shrine…I guess that’s the bandit’s god here. I wonder if i’ll have to fight it as well. He chuckled to himself.
But…I really wonder what Quellin taught her, she may still look like a shy mess right, but something is different. He glanced at Lia and Quellin discussing with each other.
“Well, that entire fiasco was a pretty fun sight, apart from the whole getting chained and drained like twisting a wet shirt. I’ll go chat with captain and see if i can spot anything ahead.” With that, Ikari walked off, leaving Kayd in the corner. It was just him and his blade.
“How long since i last cleaned you huh?” He looked at his sword, polished and ready to be coated once more in red, bearing the wear and tear of countless battles.
“I’m starting to forget the old world, some of my classmates, and Master…” He looked at the etched markings on his blade.
Master…I’m gaining more titles, i shall make you and myself proud and spread the snowblade name to this place, just wait…
—----
His mind stayed quiet for a while, checking his cloak and sword until Pip stopped moving, they reached something.
“Looks light a torch over there.” Ikari pointed at a patch of red light in the distance.
“Might be another bandit. Let’s move.” Ishmael extinguished all the torches on Pip while everyone jumped down with weapons drawn. The light moved side to side, followed by another light appearing next to him, then another…Then another.
“I think we found those people from the letter.” Ikari whispered.
“Stick close and move slow, let’s see if they’re hostile or not. Quellin keep a close eye on Mono and Lia.” Ishmael