Alonso and Astra made their way toward Forest Hill City, the sun dipping low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the road. Alonso's mind was focused on his plan: meet with Cheng, inform him of their successful dungeon conquest, and inquire about the whereabouts of a dragonheart-a rare and powerful item he needed for his next objective.
As they approached the city gates, they encountered the same two guards from Alonso's previous visit: Declan, the younger one, and the older, grizzled veteran. Declan's sneer returned the moment he spotted Alonso.
"Didn't we tell you not to come back? Your kind's not welcome here."
The older guard grumbled in agreement, his voice laced with irritation. "I'm sick of seeing you monsters walking around like you belong here."
Their expressions quickly shifted, however, when Astra stepped forward. Declan's sneer faded into an awkward smile, his cheeks reddening as his gaze fell on her. "Uh… and who might you be?" he stammered, clearly flustered.
The older guard narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Yeah, never seen anyone like you before. What race are you supposed to be?"
Astra's eyes scanned them both with calm precision. Her voice was smooth and efficient, with a slightly unnatural rhythm, as if programmed for clarity and directness. "I am an Automated Systems Task Response Assistance. You may call me Astra."
Declan blinked, visibly confused but still caught off guard. "Uh… Declan. I'm Declan," he replied, stumbling over his words.
Astra tilted her head slightly, her gaze calculating. "Age: approximately 25. Blood type: A-neagtive. No detectable illnesses. However, your heart rate is elevated, suggesting physical attraction. Please be advised that without my master's consent, I am unable to engage in intimate relations."
Declan's face flushed a deep red, and he opened his mouth to speak but found no words. Alonso sighed, stepping in with an apologetic look toward the guards. "Forgive her," he said. "She's not accustomed to… normal social interactions yet."
Before Astra could continue her analysis, Alonso gently placed his hand over her mouth. The older guard, shaking his head in exasperation, waved them through. "Just get inside. I don't have the time for this nonsense today."
As they approached the adventurers' guild, Alonso glanced at Astra, his brow furrowed in frustration. "You claim to have access to vast knowledge, yet you fumble the most basic social interactions. How can you be so... clueless?"
Astra's eyes briefly dimmed as if processing his words. "I possess data on a wide range of subjects, Master Alonso, but application is different from theoretical understanding. I am still calibrating my responses to... human interaction. Please note, I have only been operational for a few hours."
Alonso sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I get it. But in the future, don't blurt out personal scans to strangers. It's... unsettling. Understand?"
Astra tilted her head slightly, acknowledging his words. "Understood. I will refrain from sharing unsolicited diagnostics unless further instructed."
As they passed the town hall, the scene ahead caught Alonso's attention. A crowd—easily 400 strong—of demi-humans and magical beasts had gathered in a chaotic protest. City guards struggled to hold them back, but the mass of bodies and the deafening cries for justice overwhelmed the streets. On a makeshift platform stood a beastman, his voice cutting through the noise.
"We want justice! Now!"
The crowd echoed his fury, their collective voice a force of anger and desperation.
Curiosity piqued, Alonso approached a nearby demi human at the edge of the gathering. "What's all this about?" he asked, his tone measured but interested.
The demi human—a hulking figure with scarred skin and sharp eyes—glared at him, incredulous. "You haven't heard? It's been the only thing anyone's talking about. Two half-elf kids—murdered. Their mother? Arm severed, missing ever since. And you know what? The city refuses to investigate. Why? 'Cause they ain't human. We're demanding justice, but they don't care about us."
As Alonso heard the demi human's words, his world seemed to slow down. The mention of two half-elf children murdered—half-elves, like Maria's kids—struck him like a hammer. His chest tightened, and for a moment, he struggled to breathe. His usually sharp and calculated mind was flooded with a rush of thoughts, fear gripping him like a vice.
"What if it's them?" The thought repeated in his mind, his face growing pale. Maria. Tom. Jack. Were they the ones who had been killed? The dread overwhelmed him as his heart pounded in his ears, deafening him to the crowd's chants. His composure faltered for the first time in a long while, panic settling in his chest.
Astra noticed the sudden shift in Alonso's demeanor, her gaze flickering as she scanned his vital signs. "Master Alonso, your heart rate has spiked considerably. Are you unwell?"
He didn't respond, his mind consumed by the terrifying possibility. His imagination ran wild, picturing Maria's lifeless body, her children's innocent faces frozen in terror. He had failed them—he had been away too long. Why hadn't he acted sooner? Why did he think they were safe without him?
"I need to find them," Alonso muttered, his voice shaking with an emotion that he rarely allowed himself to feel—fear. His usually steady hands clenched into fists as guilt and worry gnawed at his insides. He couldn't let himself lose control, but the images in his mind wouldn't stop.
"Master Alonso?" Astra's voice broke through his thoughts, her usual cool tone now carrying a hint of concern.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe, but the distress lingered in his eyes. "We have to find Maria. Now," he said, his voice low but urgent. Every second felt like an eternity as the need to know their fate became unbearable.
The crowd's shouts faded into the background, and for once, Alonso found himself not thinking strategically, but reacting emotionally. He couldn't lose them—not Maria, not the children. His mind raced, hoping beyond hope that it wasn't Without a word, Alonso channeled his mana, energy crackling violently around him as he shot toward Maria's house, his expression a mask of grim determination mixed with dread.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Astra, stay close!" he called over his shoulder, urgency lacing his voice.
"A-Alonso, wait for me!" Astra responded, activating the propulsion engines in her feet and hands to keep up with him.
The crowd below gaped in astonishment, whispering rumors of grand magicians as the two figures flew away, leaving a trail of awe in their wake.
Alonso landed in front of Maria's hut, his heart pounding in his chest. The door lay shattered, and blood painted a horrific tableau across the floor. As he stepped inside, a chilling weight settled over him. There, amidst the chaos, stood Abigail, her gaze fixed on the scene.
"Who are you?" Alonso's voice was low and menacing, a storm brewing within.
"I could ask you the same," Abigail retorted, her voice firm and her expression grim as she assessed the figure before her. However, the moment her eyes locked onto his face, recognition flickered across her features. "Its you?" she said, her tone softening with a hint of surprise.
"I came to see if what I heard was true," Alonso replied, his voice taut with barely restrained fury as he scanned the devastation. "Where is she?"
Astra entered the hut, her sensors glowing as she analyzed the surroundings. "Data analysis initiated. Casualties: Two half-elf children confirmed deceased. One adult female missing. Blood and biological matter consistent with violent conflict detected."
"No!" Alonso gasped, horror crashing over him. "Maria… she's been taken!"
As the weight of those words sank in, a wave of grief and rage erupted within him. Alonso's eyes blazed with fury, and his mana surged uncontrollably, the air around him crackling with dark energy. The walls trembled, and debris exploded outward as he unleashed a torrent of raw power, a visceral expression of his despair. Shadows twisted and writhed, and a dark vortex of energy formed above him, sending objects spiraling through the air.
"Alonso, stop!" Abigail's voice pierced through the chaos, but it was drowned out by the crescendo of his mana. She rushed toward him, her heart pounding in her chest.
Alonso was so overwhelmed with emotion that he failed to notice the flicker of recognition in Abigail's eyes or the fact that she had just spoken his name, even though they had never met before.
"I have to save her!" he shouted, anguish spilling from him as the ground beneath them quaked. "I can't let them get away with this!"
"Listen to me!" Abigail urged, stepping closer as the intensity of his power threatened to consume the room. "You're not alone in this! Letting your emotions run wild will only make things worse! You need to stay focused!"
As the raw energy pulsing around him threatened to overwhelm everything, Abigail pressed forward, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "You're hurting, I know, but this isn't the way! We can't afford to lose control. I won't let that happen."
At first, he stiffened, his mana thrumming violently in the air, but her warmth began to penetrate his grief. The storm of energy crackled and flickered as he inhaled deeply, feeling her presence grounding him.
"Hold on," she whispered, her voice steady yet filled with compassion. "We will find her. But you have to center yourself if you're going to help her. I'm right here with you."
Slowly, Alonso's breathing steadied, the tempest of his mana receding as he absorbed her words. With a shuddering breath, he released the last remnants of his power, sending a final wave of energy rippling through the air, causing the debris to settle as the room returned to an uneasy stillness.
"Okay," he said, his voice trembling but resolute. "We need to find out who took her and where they went."
Abigail nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I believe Maria was taken by slavers," she revealed, her tone steady despite the gravity of the situation. "I'm about to question her former master. He's my prime suspect."
Alonso clenched his fists, his expression hardening. "We don't have time to waste. We need to act now. I won't let them keep her from us."
Astra's eyes flickered as she completed her analysis. "Scene reconstruction complete. Would you like to initiate playback of the events?"
Alonso nodded, his voice heavy yet resolute. "Play it."
A brilliant light shot from Astra's eyes, projecting a 3D hologram of the room. Shadowy figures played out the events—the brutal struggle, Maria's capture, and the horrific murder of her children. The scene unfolded in haunting silence, the violence evident in every horrific motion.
Abigail gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What… what is this? Is this a divine blessing?"
"No time for explanations," Alonso replied, his tone gravely serious. "Merely observe."
They stood frozen, transfixed by the gruesome replay of Maria's fate. Abigail's expression shifted from shock to horror as the children's deaths became apparent. "Those poor boys… Tom and Jack. This is… unimaginable."
Alonso's heart felt as though it were being crushed, the weight of grief pressing down on his usually sharp mind. "I made a solemn vow to aid her in her time of need… yet here I stand, having failed both her and her innocent children."
Abigail, her own strength wavering under the gravity of the moment, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We will make this right, Alonso. We cannot allow their deaths to be in vain."
Astra's expression softened, her voice tinged with empathy. "I understand this is difficult for you both. The pain of loss is profound, but together we can seek justice for Maria and her children."
Alonso's voice turned cold and resolute, yet wise. "We shall seek out Maria. Those who perpetrated this foul act will be made to answer for their transgressions."
Abigail nodded firmly, her eyes steeled with determination. "I've been keeping tabs on Maria's former master. He's currently at a brothel, and it seems he has come into an unexpected amount of wealth."
Alonso, Abigail, and Astra made their way through the shadowy alleys of the slums, eventually arriving at the red-light district where Michael was known to indulge himself. The air was heavy with the scent of cheap perfume and smoke, and the faint sound of laughter echoed from dimly lit buildings. Abigail took the lead, her steps purposeful and commanding. When they entered the brothel, they were greeted by the manager—a stern-faced old woman whose hardened expression spoke of years spent running this establishment.
"Abigail stepped forward, her expression cold and unyielding. "I'm only gonna say this once," she said, her voice sharp and commanding. "Go upstairs and bring Michael down here. Now."
The old woman hesitated, her lips tightening into a thin line. Clearly, she wasn't happy about the disruption—losing business meant losing money. But Abigail's reputation left no room for argument. With a reluctant sigh, the woman turned to two burly men standing nearby. "You two, go get Michael," she barked before glaring at the rest of the staff. "And the rest of you, evacuate the building."
Within minutes, the brothel was emptied, its usual liveliness replaced by an eerie silence. Michael was dragged into the room and slumped onto a worn sofa, his hands trembling as he clutched the armrests. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead as his wide, frantic eyes darted between Alonso, Abigail, and Astra. The tension in the air was suffocating, their piercing glares practically pinning him in place.
Michael swallowed hard, his voice shaking as he tried to mask his panic. "I didn't do anything! You've got no proof—nothing! You can't just hold me here like this!" He forced a weak laugh, but it faltered, cracking under the weight of his fear.
His thoughts spiraled in desperation. I should've skipped town when I had the chance. Why did I wait? Too much time wasted… too much time indulging myself… His mind clung to one last hope: They've got no evidence. None. Everything can be pinned on Nightowl and his gang. That's my out.
Alonso stepped forward, his presence imposing. "So, it is you—the scum who dared to assault Maria when I first arrived in Forest Hill City." His voice dripped with contempt. "If I discover that you played any role in this vile act, you will come to know the true meaning of regret." Each word was a promise of impending judgment.
Michael's bravado began to falter under the weight of Alonso's piercing gaze. He had been reckless, brazenly selling Maria out, thinking he was untouchable. Now, with the eyes of Alonso, Abigail, and Astra trained on him, his confidence was rapidly crumbling.
Alonso's gaze intensified as he turned to Astra, his tone commanding. "Astra, initiate neuro transmission to extract any pertinent information he possesses."
""Acknowledged," Astra said in a calm, measured tone. Her piercing gaze locked onto Michael as she added, "Commencing neuro-transmission protocol to retrieve the necessary information. I strongly advise cooperation. Noncompliance will result in... unfavorable outcomes." Her voice was cool and clinical, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.