Skarlet moved towards the camp using the trees, as she approached she could see them dragging the fox towards them for some nightly fun. The rage built up once again as a burst of magic and a short incantation she flew from the trees and landed on the man's shoulder. Her sword was in it's sheath as her claws came out with a blind anger fueled by something she couldn't put her finger on. She ripped his throat too pieces till her claws began scraping bone.

"Holy shit where the fuck did she come from!?"

"She fucking killed him! Grab her!" Two voices yelled out from behind her as she back flipped off his shoulders and spun mid air before landing to face them. Her sword was out almost instantaneously, her rage was calming down as she pushed it away she felt a bit of confusion as it was dissipating.

Skarlet leaped forward, one of the men tried to grab her while the other swung his sword. Skarlet ducked and spun around the man trying to grab her, she then blocked the sword strike. With a bit of effort, she pushed his sword to the side and sidestepped. She then spun around as he stumbled past she let her eyes look around for a quick moment to make sure there weren't any more threats. After confirming these were her only threats, she brought her sword around and stabbed him in the back before kicking him towards his partner.

Skarlet leaped over the swordsman, using him as cover she took his partner by surprise and with a spin to increase her momentum she took his head clean off. Skarlet landed and panted, as the bodies hit the ground.

Silence, she held her body low, alert as she scanned around her but no other men appeared. She rose up and looked at the young fox girl, she was being viewed with fear. Skarlet sighed as she sheathed her sword, and removed her cloak to offer it. The girl hesitantly approached and took the cloak, wrapping herself in it.

"I'm here to wipe out the bandits, you can wait here for my return or head back towards town. Here this should get you in." Skarlet quickly pulled a notepad with a pen from her bag and wrote a note giving a quick explanation of her current progress with the quest and an extension to Jack on the topic of the girl she'd found. She had already realized that the cargo they had lost was slaves. So this girl was part of the merchants cargo which should protect her from the guards and people trying to snatch a slave as Jack was definitely connected to a powerful person. She was basically dropping the burden on him without asking.

Skarlet turned and headed down a rough trail, the smell of humans, food, wood, fire, blood, and other scents drifted from a cave ahead. Though it's entrance was dark she could make out two figures,

Skarlet approached quietly and got in position as she drew her new knife from her waist. She'd stopped to grab supplies before heading out on this mission. She leaped forward and slung her knife, bringing her sword to the front, she swung hard. The man blocked but a cracking sound alarmed him, Skarlet lifted her sword and smashed through his before he could react. His eyes widened as her sword sliced through his chest and opened him like a fish, she then turned to see the other man holding his chest as he slid down the wall. Having killed the guards she peered inside, then immediately ducked as a sword dug into the wall where her head had been. Alarm sounds rang for a moment, she leaped back and readied herself.

"Ooh, another pretty girl to join the party." A man holding a rather large sword spoke happily as he yanked it from the wall. Skarlet flipped backward narrowly avoiding the second swing. Damn, how big is that thing? She wondered for a moment, Doesn't matter, some measly human can't beat me anymore. She lunged at him and he smiled.

"Oh poor kitty, that was a bad move." He swung his sword downwards, Skarlet twisted around it and smashed her elbow onto the top of it. The sword smashed into the ground and Skarlet continued forward, the man released his grip and an explosion of white hot pain erupted as she suddenly found herself against the wall. She coughed, gasping as she tried to refill her lungs.

"A slippery kitty huh, damn almost got me I should be more careful." The man ripped his sword from the ground and began to walk towards her while rubbing his fist. What happened, did he punch me? Skarlet scrambled to her feet and picked up her sword. Lifting it just in time to block the strike, she felt her feet sink into the dirt from the heavy weight slamming into her sword. It was cold, she wore open toed shoes so her claws could come out, but this time it let the dirt in.

Skarlet sighed as she took one hand off her sword, the arm holding back the opponent began shaking with the effort as she chanted a fire spell. The man started to freak out as he was putting all his strength into suppressing her and couldn't break the lock and he realized he was gonna have to take whatever she threw. Though he didn't get long to think as a fire arrow buried itself in his stomach and threw him backwards.

Skarlet let his sword and corpse hit the ground before turning and heading deeper into the cave.

As she continued down the cave she could hear a collection of sounds, and a deep scent of alcohol and musky sweat. She ended up breathing through her mouth due to it. The sounds were a mix of laughter, glasses clinking, and voices. There was the background sound of sleeping and some light panting from some extraneous activity.

She soon came across a group eating and laughing, some sleeping bags were set up in an opening in the cave. There were more of the merchants cargo, naked Lithian slaves, some were passed out near or on the men others were actively being played with when she walked in.

The men stood up abruptly, shoving the girls off themselves as they grabbed their weapons.

"Careful, if she's this far in, she got past Grout." One of the men cautioned.

"No way! a little girly like her will be easy, grout must be sleeping." Another spoke up as he rushed forward with a horizontal swing, Skarlet slipped through his defense and offense easily and sliced his arm from his body, while he was gazing at it in confusion she spun her sword around and cleaved his head from his body.

"I think I like decapitation, it's. . . quick, and a guarantee." She spoke suddenly as the other men readied themselves.

Suddenly a rather large man walked in, he was carrying a large battle-ax on his shoulder. "Boys, looks like we have a guest, show her how we treat pretty little girls." He spoke out, "And the one who beats her can take her virginity." The men tensed up, a smile spread on their faces.

"You're on!" They exclaimed as they rushed at her, She ripped her dagger out and blocked two strikes simultaneously. There was a scraping sound and the breathing of everyone involved quickened as the fight truly began. Skarlet was forced to realize that she felt zero remorse or had any misgivings slicing through the flesh of a fellow human. The third man rushed her, forcing her to act quickly, she leaped backwards with a flip and a loud grating sound rang out as she dragged her blades down theirs. The third man skidded beneath with surprise on his face as her heel came down into the back of his head. The previous grating on their blades gave her grip so she twisted and dragged their swords towards one another causing the two men to nearly stab each other. All three miraculously survived and to Skarlet's annoyance; she was once again surrounded.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

She jumped back towards the man she'd heel kicked and let his sword slide under her arm, she wrapped her arm around his wrist and dragged his blade towards his comrade. Alarm sounds rang out as she sensed the third man behind her, she dragged her foot around and tripped the man she was dragging before falling backwards. The man trying to get behind her missed, his blade scratched her cheek as she lowered her body and smashed her heel into the ankle of the man in front of her. She landed on her back, her sword up in front of her as a massive battle-ax smashed into it.

"Boss got her. . ." The three sounded disappointed, stepping back from the encirclement as they lowered their guards and watched. Skarlet wasn't done, she put pressure on the axe as she slowly dragged her feet beneath her and pushed upwards. She twisted and slid out of its way letting it slam into the dirt. She then spun while still on the ground and slung her knife through the forehead of one of the men before leaping to her feet and bolted straight at the second, running him through the chest with her sword before he could react.

"This bitch is stronger than expected! Kill her." The boss suddenly exclaimed as he lifted his ax and swung it at her, she leaped and used the ax head as a stepping stone. Touching it for a brief moment with her foot, she leaped at the final grunt. Skarlet landed with a swing, chopping both hands off as he'd lifted them and his sword to try and block. She then brought her sword back as he was about to scream, she stabbed him through the chest. She then gave him a powerful kick, practically throwing him off her sword and slamming him into a wall with a thud. You're as ridiculously sharp as ever, She thought as she slung the blood from her blade and turned towards the boss.

"I'm going to kill you and then desecrate your corpse." He roared while scattering spit from his lips.

"You're disgusting, I will enjoy my time killing you," Skarlet replied venomously.

"Haha love the fight kitty." He lunged faster than he really should've been able to with that ax. Though his speed wasn't actually that much to Skarlet, she easily avoided his ax. She sliced one of his fingers off as she passed. She spun around and leaped over his shoulder, claws out, she ripped his ear from the side of his face.

"ARge." He exclaimed as he stumbled, Skarlet dropped the ear and stomped it into the dirt. There was a bit of wariness that had surfaced in his gaze, though pride and a little confidence still lingered.

"Disgusting." She spat as she leaped at him once more, he tried to block this time, but she just easily slipped past his defenses. Without much effort she ducked under his blade and came up with a quick slash through his wrist before once again leaping out of harm's way. He yelped and held it as blood gushed from the stub, She skidded to a stop, a devilish smile played on her face. With her red eyes and black hair, ears, and tail. . . She looked like a demon. There was a weird joy and exhilaration filling her, his growing dread and fear was so good! She wanted to drink in his emotions, the way he looked at her. She continued slicing him to pieces till he was crawling on the ground trying to get away, this was so much fun for her. She didn't know when, but at some point she'd started laughing as she followed him slowly. he dragged himself towards a jail-like cell at the back of the cage. Though as much fun as she was having, play time was over, just as he reached the entrance Skarlet stabbed her sword through the back of his head. Her smile almost immediately fell from her face as she gazed into the room, it was mostly filled with corpses chained to the wall, obviously feminine corpses.

She stepped inside, gazing around. It was basically like a dungeon, the walls were cavernous but the bandits had done work to make sure there were no crevices to hide in. It was dark obviously, but at the back a small hole was visible in the rock ceiling letting a small amount of moonlight in. The bars along the entrance had been cut crudely but weren't going anywhere Even with a decent bit of force. There were rings drilled into the stone for chains and cuffs. She felt sick looking around, but she gave herself a slap and approached one of the few girls that seemed to be still alive. She could see no life in their eyes, they didn't react to any attempts she made. She gave a sigh as she brought her knife up and slit her throat, it was the best she could do for the girl. Even if she left her here she wouldn't get help. The adventures and merchants who came to deal with this wouldn't be able to use a girl like this for anything other than selling to people who need a living body. Experimenting, torture, there were countless fates that would be worse than a quick death. Most would be sold as research bodies, some would be sold to nobles who for some reason have desire for a living corpse. A quick death was a mercy.

Skarlet finished releasing the three girls from their misery and made her way towards the back, where she stopped. The moon shone through a hole in the roof shining on a Lithian girl, she looked about twelve or thirteen, her eyes hollow like the rest.

Skarlet approached her, the girl had brown hair and droopy dog ears, and a short furry tail. She wore a slave collar with the letter S engraved on it, Skarlet crouched down in front of her. She lifted the girl's head and placed her knife at her throat, but then she paused, the girl's eyes held an emotion. . . one that Skarlet knew too well. A deep regret, those eyes reacted to her, but weren't looking at her.

Skarlet let her knife fall, as she gazed into the girl's eyes. Skarlet sighed as she cast a quick spell "Fireball." The chains burned and sizzled in her hands before melting, Skarlet shimmied in her armor as she managed to get her arms out of the sleeves of her shirt she pulled it out from behind her chestplate and slid it over the girls head before lifting her into her arms.

"This is so stupid." Skarlet admonished herself as she left; she raced through the forest, not towards town. She headed deeper into the forest. Skirting the town, and headed towards where she camped with Beatrice.

Skarlet skidded to a stop in front of the camp, Beatrice had cleared out an area and apparently hunted something as a makeshift tent made from a beast hide was set up and a fire burned quietly.

"Thee leave to explore town and return with a naked, traumatized child," Beatrice spoke a little hesitantly and slower than normal but with surprise and a hint of annoyance.

Skarlet paused as she set the girl down, "Y-yeah, well. . . You're speaking a little differently, been practicing or something?" Beatrice froze as a little blush crept up, she turned away with a huff.

"Of course not I has't just been studying thy speech and trying to adjust mine accordingly." Beatrice spoke with a huff, once again it was slow and hesitant.

"Um, sure, but the thing you fixed was your eths you add to the end of certain words right. But that wasn't really ever a problem? It's just that sometimes you use words I don't understand." Skarlet asked in confusion.

"What, well then wherefore didst thee not sayeth so!" She exclaimed, the slow hesitance was gone. "Nevermind yond, what art thee going to doth with yond child?"

"Um, there were several words I did not understand. . . But I think I can guess. I think Yond is at least similar to that. . . maybe I should buy you a book. . ."

"Skarlet." Beatrice didn't look impressed. "Mine own speech aside, thy avoiding the issue."

"Fine, I um, I can't take care of her." Skarlet finally relented.

"Oh? and wherefore not?"

"I-I don't know," Skarlet replied, she looked down and frowned. Suddenly Beatrice lunged at the child, her claws poised to rip her throat out. Skarlet instinctually moved to protect the girl and a loud clang rang out.

"Skarlet if it be true thee wonneth't taketh careth of this child . . . I shalt killeth her" Beatrice spoke bluntly.

"I c-can't." Skarlet choked out, it was surprisingly really hard to deal with the dragon's strength. Skarlet frowned with indecision as her arm shook and the ache set in.

"Then moveth thy sword"

"No." Skarlet spoke firmly.

"Then accepteth yond thee desire to holp this child and doth it" Beatrice exclaimed in exasperation.

"I-I guess. . ." Skarlet sighed as Beatrice retracted her claws and moved back to the fire. Skarlet sat down at the edge of the fire, her head fell into her hands, the girl had fallen asleep on her lap. Skarlet sighed as she realized she wouldn't sleep at all tonight.

"Haply buyeth me a booketh from the city, reading shall holp me grasp which words i'm making bad useth of" Beatrice spoke up after several minutes.

"Mhm, yeah I'll. . . Do that." Skarlet replied as she laid back and stared at stars above.