Vol.3 Ch.207 Tell Me Who Was Your Target.


    <span ss="userText">


    <span ss="userText">The rain seemed heavy as c, Doug, Mast, Cyril, and a few<span ss="aiText"> of the other <span ss="editText">thieves<span ss="aiText"> gathered up, regrouping for their next move.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">That was a fucking ughter<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">What type of fucking sorcery was that<span ss="aiText">? How could that dark elf summon so many <span ss="editText">exploding <span ss="aiText">golems?" <span ss="editText">Doug<span ss="aiText"> cursed as he tried to catch his breath.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I thought I''ve seen everything that a mage<span ss="aiText"> could do, but I never knew a mage could <span ss="userText">make suicide<span ss="aiText"> golem bombs. Those were not ordinary golems either," Mast said, wiping the sweat off his forehead, "We are lucky to be alive."


    <span ss="aiText">"Where the fuck is Remy? He was supposed to<span ss="userText"> watch the convoy<span ss="aiText"> and report if anything happened. Damn it, now we lost a good fighter because of this shit," cined.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I don''t know what he''s doing. He knows where to meet up, if things went sideways<span ss="aiText">. But he hasn''t shown up," <span ss="editText">Mast<span ss="aiText"> answered.


    <span ss="aiText">"What should we do?" Cyril asked.


    "We need to get out of here and report back to—"


    <span ss="userText">"AAAHHH!" one of the thieves screamed as he was pulled into brush<span ss="aiText"> and bushes.


    <span ss="aiText">"Shit! Get the torches! They''re in the bushes!" shouted another thief.


    <span ss="aiText">"FUCKING HELL!" screamed another one.


    <span ss="aiText">c quickly grabbed a torch and held it up, "Don''t move! Show yourself, whoever you are! If you are one of ours, speak up now!"


    <span ss="aiText">Silence filled the air<span ss="userText"> while the rain<span ss="aiText"> kept pouring. No one moved or spoke <span ss="userText">until they saw blood streaming<span ss="aiText"> out from the bushes.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I-Is he dead<span ss="aiText">?" Cyril stuttered.


    <span ss="aiText">"I don''t know. Maybe," c replied.


    <span ss="aiText">"This isn''t normal. I''ve never heard or seen anything like this before. It feels like the shadows are alive," Mast said, "Maybe we should split up<span ss="userText"> and—"


    <span ss="userText">They heard footsteps<span ss="aiText"> approaching them from behind and heard someone running towards them.<span ss="userText"> They turned to witness a beautiful Dark Elf, wearing what looked like a bikini, running<span ss="aiText"> towards them.<span ss="userText"> Normally this would have been<span ss="aiText"> an arousing sight, but this was a nightmare<span ss="userText"> because it was one of Rya''s golems<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Oh fuck, it''s her! RUN!" screamed one of the thieves.


    <span ss="aiText">"Fuck, Fuck, FUCK!" c shouted, "<span ss="userText">We need to<span ss="aiText"> get out of here!"


    <span ss="aiText">They tried to run, but <span ss="userText">one of the other thieves got<span ss="aiText"> grabbed by the golem and was pulled into the darkness.


    <span ss="aiText">"AAAHHH!" the man screamed while being grabbed.


    "We don''t stand a chance against her golems! Split up and regroup at the meeting ce!" c ordered.


    <span ss="aiText">The group split up into different directions and ran.<span ss="userText"> c tried<span ss="aiText"> to find a way out of the woods but he found himself lost and running around in circles. He couldn''t tell where he was going or how far he had run.


    <span ss="aiText">He didn''t know if anyone else made it out, or if the golems had gotten them already.<span ss="userText"> He could hear three more screams<span ss="aiText"> in the distance, but he didn''t know who was screaming.


    <span ss="aiText">Suddenly, he bumped into someone who knocked him down on the ground. He quickly looked up and saw that it was <span ss="userText">Mast, who was lying on the ground after<span ss="aiText"> colliding with c.


    <span ss="aiText">"Ow, dammit, I think I sprained my ankle," Mast said while holding onto his leg.


    <span ss="userText">"Mast! What the fuck, man? You scared the shit out of me!" c said,<span ss="aiText"> getting up.


    <span ss="aiText">"Sorry, <span ss="editText">Sir<span ss="aiText">. I didn''t mean to. I just got caught off guard when I bumped into you," Mast apologized, "I''m having trouble walking."


    <span ss="aiText">"Shit. Can you walk at all?" c asked, helping his subordinate up.


    <span ss="aiText">"I think so, but it''s a bit difficult," Mast replied.


    <span ss="aiText">c then heard something moving around nearby, and it sounded like something big was heading towards them.


    <span ss="userText">Both of them stayed quiet as they prayed<span ss="aiText"> that whatever wasing towards them wouldn''t notice them. But their prayers were not answered as <span ss="userText">a bloodied hand of the Rya clone grabbed Mast<span ss="aiText">''s shoulder and pulled him away.


    <span ss="aiText">"AAAHHH!" Mast screamed as he disappeared.


    <span ss="aiText">"Shit! MAST!" c yelled <span ss="userText">he wanted to go after him but he knew<span ss="aiText"> he would probably get killed.


    <span ss="aiText">"AAAHHH! AAAAAH!" Mast screamed as he was dragged away.


    c didn''t wait to be grabbed next so he decided to run in the opposite direction. After running for a while, he heard another scream and then silence.


    <span ss="aiText">He was getting tired and exhausted. His heart was pounding rapidly as he ran through the rain-soaked forest.


    ''Did I finally lose her? Or is she following me?'' c wondered while staying still hoping the dark elf wasn''t following him.


    <span ss="userText">''I can''t keep running forever,'' he thought as his vision started to blur and his breathing became heavy.


    <span ss="userText">''I have to hide somewhere, anywhere,'' c decided as he found a hollow tree trunk and quickly crawled into it. The tree trunk <span ss="aiText">was big enough for him to fit inside. He climbed into it, closing the opening behind him, and waited.


    He listened intently, trying to hear anythinging his way but all he heard was the falling rain hitting the tree trunk.


    <span ss="userText">He let out a sigh and then.


    <span ss="userText">*Pow!*


    <span ss="userText">A female fist punched through the<span ss="aiText"> tree trunk and grabbed him by his neck. He was then pulled out of the tree trunk.


    <span ss="aiText">"Aaah!" he screamed<span ss="userText"> as he grabbed his dagger.


    <span ss="userText">c saw a glowing from the golem''s eyes as she held him like a rag doll. He didn''t hesitate to stab her.


    <span ss="aiText">The golem ignored the wound and lifted him up. She then pulled him over her head and mmed him down onto the ground.


    <span ss="aiText">*Crack*


    "Aahh!" c screamed in pain. He was mmed down so hard that he felt a few ribs break.


    <span ss="aiText">He tried to get up, but the golem kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backward andnding face-first in a puddle of mud.


    <span ss="userText">''T-This can''t be the end!<span ss="aiText"> I-I can''t die like this! I still have so much I want to do!'' he thought, ''I haven''t even seen my kid yet! I have to live!''


    <span ss="aiText">His body hurt and was covered in mud. He was barely able to breathe, and his vision was blurry. He could feel blooding from his nose and mouth.


    <span ss="aiText">''Please... Please, someone help me!'' he pleaded silently as his eyes began to close.<span ss="userText"> Soon he felt his hair getting grabbed as<span ss="aiText"> the golem picked him up and threw him on her shoulder.


    <span ss="aiText">c didn''t fight back. He was too weak to fight. Instead, he passed out and hung limply on the golem''s shoulder.


    <span ss="userText">***


    <span ss="userText">Everything seemed dark and painful<span ss="aiText">. A golem was dragging c through a <span ss="editText">forest<span ss="aiText">, his hands and feet tied. The golem''s grip was strong, and her speed was incredible<span ss="userText"> as she swiftly ran through the dark. It took about ten minutes before she stopped and c was dropped onto<span ss="aiText"> the wet <span ss="userText">mud.


    <span ss="userText">"Ugh<span ss="aiText">..."


    <span ss="userText">"My my my? What do we have here," said a beautiful woman''s voice.


    <span ss="userText">c opened his eyes<span ss="aiText"> and saw <span ss="userText">the Dark Elf. She was sitting on a rock throne that she created. Also, the prince was there with his Royal Knights all standing next to her underneath a stone canopy as they were getting dried by her me Familiars.


    <span ss="userText">c gritted his teeth<span ss="aiText"> and stared at her. He was angry, and his body was in pain. He was tired, cold, hungry, and dirty.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-You... bitch! You will pay for this!" he growled.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya ignored him and smiled as she waved her handmanding <span ss="userText">her golem to grab him by the back of his cor and brought him up to his knees<span ss="aiText"> in front of her.


    <span ss="aiText">"So you must be the leader of these pathetic thieves," she said.


    <span ss="aiText">"Fuck you!" c cursed.


    <span ss="aiText">"What''s your name?" she asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Go to hell, you evil witch!"


    <span ss="userText">"It''s funny... Early you had the look of<span ss="aiText"> fear in your eyes<span ss="userText"> before 2E caught<span ss="aiText"> you. And now you''re all high and mighty," Rya said<span ss="userText"> with an amused tone.


    <span ss="aiText">"Fuck you, you evil bitch!"


    <span ss="userText">Quinus and the rest of the knights<span ss="aiText"> stood quietly as they watched Rya and the captured thief talk.<span ss="userText"> She told them she had a n to make the thieves talk and she only needed them to stand there menacingly.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You call me evil when it was you who sent over, one hundred fifty men to their deaths, and for what?... To kill Johan Dule?<span ss="aiText"> Who was it that ordered the Young Lord''s death?" Rya asked.


    <span ss="userText">c panicked inside<span ss="aiText">. He was wondering how the Dark Elf knew that.


    <span ss="aiText">''She must have interrogated the rest of the crew,'' he thought, ''Damn it!''


    <span ss="aiText">"You''re a monster! <span ss="userText">Don''t any of you see it!? She''s a dark elf and she''s manipting<span ss="aiText"> you!"


    <span ss="userText">The knights <span ss="userText">just smirked while Dous couldn''t help but feel ashamed. He couldn''t help but feel like a fool after everything Rya<span ss="aiText"> did for him after he used her simrly, just like this thief.


    <span ss="aiText">"Manipting? How exactly am I manipting them? By showing them kindness and treating them with respect?" Rya asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"You''re a dark elf!"


    <span ss="aiText">"And you''re a human, so what?<span ss="userText">"


    c hoped to divide them, but his words didn''t affect them.


    "Well... if you won''t talk... Then perhaps one of them will?" Rya said as she looked past c which caused him to turn around to see three of his crew tied up and gagged behind him.


    <span ss="userText">''No!... Doug. Mast. Cyril... No one escaped<span ss="aiText">,'' he thought.


    <span ss="userText">His surviving crew wasn''t in<span ss="aiText"> good shape. Their bodies were covered in bruises and cuts. Their clothes were torn and dirty.


    <span ss="userText">She stood up from her throne and started walking towards c. With each step she took, the stone canopy grew and followed<span ss="aiText"> her, allowing <span ss="userText">her to<span ss="aiText"> stay dry <span ss="userText">as she approached.


    <span ss="userText">c turned towards her<span ss="aiText"> and tried to act bravely in front of the approaching Dark Elf.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Y-You<span ss="aiText">!"


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes?" Rya responded with a raised brow.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You won''t get away with this<span ss="aiText">," c threatened<span ss="userText"> with a shaky voice.


    "That''s riching from a pawn. Now... We can do this the easy way... Or?..."


    <span ss="userText">c was lifted to his feet as another golem grabbed his right hand<span ss="aiText">.


    "We can do this the hard way," Rya said in a cold voice and stared at him unamused.


    <span ss="aiText">"You won''t break me! I''ve been trained to withstand torture! I will not talk!"


    <span ss="aiText">"We''ll see about that."


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">c screamed in pain as his index finger was snapped backward.


    <span ss="userText">"Ahhh! Ah ha! Ha ha! Is that all<span ss="aiText"> you got, bitch!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"Ahhh! AH Ha Ha Ha!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"ARG! Arrggg! Fuck! Arghhhh!<span ss="userText"> Grrr! I only have so many fingers<span ss="aiText">! Ha ha ha!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"AAAARRRRGGGHH!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"Grr! ARGh! Grrrraaa!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"GRA! GRAAA! Ahhh! AHA! HA! HA!"


    <span ss="userText">c''s right hand<span ss="aiText"> was mangled and bloodied. All his fingers were broken, and his wrist was dislocated.


    <span ss="userText">"Hahaha! Looks like you can''t break any more<span ss="aiText"> bones," c taunted her with a cocky smile, "You have no power over me!"


    <span ss="aiText">Rya just shook her head<span ss="userText"> as her azure eyes started to glow. Soon c felt all of his injuries beginning to<span ss="aiText"> heal, and his hand was being reset.


    <span ss="userText">''F-Fuck!'' c thought as a sense of dread<span ss="aiText"> filled him.


    "Oh... I''m not done with you yet... I was just getting warmed up," Rya said with a smile.


    <span ss="userText">*Snap*


    <span ss="userText">"ARrrggggrrraaaahhh!<span ss="aiText"> Ah ah hahahaha! Aaaaahhhh!"


    <span ss="aiText">c''s screams of agony echoed through the forest, but nobody came to save him.


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"ARRRAAGGGGHHHAHAAA!"


    <span ss="userText">He gritted his teeth. He never thought the day woulde when he needed to use his suicide<span ss="aiText"> pill, but here it was.


    <span ss="aiText">"I-I''ll tell you nothing!"


    <span ss="aiText">"Hmm? Really?"


    <span ss="aiText">"Fuck y-"


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">"AAAAAAAAHHHHHA!"


    <span ss="editText">The pain was getting unbearable and his resolve to use<span ss="aiText"> the suicide pill was b<span ss="editText">eginn<span ss="aiText">in<span ss="editText">g<span ss="aiText"> t<span ss="editText">o<span ss="userText"> strengthen<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.


    <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">''I-It''s now or never,'' he thought, ''If I can get my jaw open, I can crush the pill and bite it. This will poison me, and I''ll die.''


    <span ss="userText">The pill was in his ne<span ss="aiText">. If he bit down on it, it <span ss="userText">release<span ss="aiText"> a deadly toxin into his body that would kill him in under a minute. He had to make sure <span ss="userText">she didn''t stop<span ss="aiText"> him from doing it.


    <span ss="aiText">*Snap*


    <span ss="aiText">c screamed once more as he was left shaking and convulsing.


    <span ss="aiText">"Tell me, what is your name?"


    <span ss="aiText">"-c," he answered.


    <span ss="aiText">"c? That''s it? What a simple name. Not even a surname? Or is that fake as well?"


    <span ss="aiText">"No."


    <span ss="aiText">"Alright, so, tell me, what are your orders?<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="userText">"My orders were—"


    <span ss="userText">c tried to move as quickly<span ss="aiText"> as he could and bite the poison pill<span ss="userText">. Rya just looked at him with amusement<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">''At least I will die on my own terms,'' c thought as the pill broke open<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> and the poison was released.


    <span ss="userText">He felt the most excruciating<span ss="aiText"> pain in his jaw and head, and <span ss="userText">just as everything was about to go ck. He felt a warmth flowing through him as his body was healed again.


    <span ss="userText">"N-No<span ss="aiText">! NO! WHY CAN''T I DIE?!" he cried as he stared at the Dark Elf in terror.


    <span ss="aiText">"Hehehe, did you really think I''d let you off that easy?...<span ss="editText"> Not after I learned your name... Now?<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="userText">Rya pulled out a small bag from behind her.


    <span ss="userText">c didn''t know what<span ss="aiText"> was going on, but he was afraid of the contents inside the bag.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya held up the bag and <span ss="userText">then she pulled out two little wood nubs. They had an elegant<span ss="aiText"> pattern carved into them. <span ss="userText">She took one in each hand then she put them in her ears.


    <span ss="userText">"W-What are those?"


    <span ss="userText">"Ear plugs. Nieren hasn''t been using them so I thought they would be useful."


    <span ss="userText">"W-Why are you putting them in your ears?"


    <span ss="userText">"Because I don''t want to be deaf after 4R peels your fingernails<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">"What?! No! Nonononono!"


    <span ss="userText">*Rip!*


    Everyone including Rya grimaced as c''s fingernails were slowly torn off and discarded.


    <span ss="aiText">"GRA! Aaaah! Gaaaaaahhhh!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Rip!*


    <span ss="aiText">"Ahhh! Gra! Arrrrrghh! Ahhhhh!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Rip!*


    <span ss="aiText">"Argh! Argh! <span ss="userText">Aaaaahhhh! Stop! STOP<span ss="aiText">!"


    <span ss="aiText">*Rip!*


    <span ss="aiText">"AAaaarrrghhh! Grrrraaaaa!"


    <span ss="userText">4R was about to rip off c''s thumbnail.


    <span ss="userText">"Stop! I-I''ll tell<span ss="aiText"> you! Just stop! Please!"


    <span ss="userText">Rya raised her hand<span ss="aiText"> and 4R stopped <span ss="userText">but she still had<span ss="aiText"> his thumbnail in its grip.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well... I''m waiting<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="userText">"W-We were hired to capture or kill Johan Dule! His uncle is eyeing to be the new Baron of Eder Hills! And he would be an ally to the Duke!" c confessed.


    <span ss="userText">Rya looked like she didn''t<span ss="aiText"> believe him.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Really? With one hundred and fifty men<span ss="aiText">?"<span ss="userText"> Rya said<span ss="aiText"> as she tilted her head.<span ss="userText"> Causing 4R to slightly<span ss="aiText"> pull on c''s thumbnail.


    "Araghhh! W-We witnessed your battle with the ck Roses! We needed cannon fodder for a distraction! And they were the perfect bait! We had no idea if they were capable of killing you or the prince! Argh! H-Hold on!... But we knew it was a long shot if either one of you died! Our focus was on the Young Lord! By the goddess''s name, I swear it''s the truth!"


    <span ss="userText">"Is that all?" Rya asked again looking into the pain-filled<span ss="aiText">eyes of the <span ss="editText">spy<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Y-Yes! That is all we were tasked with! I promise!<span ss="userText">"


    <span ss="aiText">"Hmm...<span ss="userText"> So if the Young Lord didn''t join us on our trip. What would you<span ss="aiText"> have done?"


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">W-<span ss="aiText">We were ordered to<span ss="userText"> observe you all! I-I can tell you what the Duke knows!<span ss="aiText"> Please! Show mercy!"


    <span ss="aiText">"Fine.<span ss="userText"> What<span ss="aiText"> does the Duke know?"


    "The Duke knows about you being engaged with the prince! He knows that you''re a Mage and a Healer! He knows that his son is dead! And he''s nning on undermining the Prime Minister''s peace n with the Holy Alliance by sabotaging the arranged engagement with Princess Hilda! He''s also nning a coup d''état!"


    <span ss="userText">General<span ss="aiText"> Dous<span ss="editText"> and his knights <span ss="aiText">couldn''t believe their ears.<span ss="userText"> While Quinus, Percy, and Sir George didn''t seem fazed<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Well... I wouldn''t mind seeing Duval getting hiseuppance," Sir George muttered to the prince.


    <span ss="userText">"Yeah... But he''s one of the few people putting up<span ss="aiText"> a fight against <span ss="editText">my uncle <span ss="aiText">and <span ss="editText">his<span ss="aiText"> Noble Faction," Quinus answered.


    Back to Rya who was deciding whether to let c live or die, was processing everything she was told.


    ''He did say a lot of useful information. But I can''t let him go or he will report back to the Duke... Unless he would be willing to be a double agent? Hmmm.'' Rya thought to herself.


    It took a moment for her toe up with an idea to turn him to her side. Hopefully, he will y along with her. But if not, she''d have to kill him even if she didn''t want to.


    <span ss="userText">"4R... Continue," She orders with a straight face.


    <span ss="userText">The golem nodded and grabbed c''s thumbnail. It started to pull the thumbnail slowly.


    <span ss="userText">"Whoa! Whoa! Hold on! I told you<span ss="aiText"> everything! I did! Stop! SToOOOoooop!"


    <span ss="aiText">4R slowly peeled c''s nail <span ss="userText">and stopped to let her creator<span ss="aiText"> decide his fate.


    <span ss="aiText">"What?! Why?! Stop! STopstopstopstop!<span ss="editText"> Why are you doing this!?<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">Rya walked over to c''s right ear and leaned in.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Because I think you''re lying about everything... All you''ve done is use your words but your actions have<span ss="aiText"> said otherwise."


    <span ss="aiText">"N-No! I''m not lying! I-I have no reason to lie anymore! Please!"


    <span ss="userText">Rya stepped back and looked at the miserable<span ss="aiText"> spy.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Then what can you do to prove that you aren''t<span ss="aiText"> lying to me."


    <span ss="aiText">"I-I<span ss="userText">''ll do anything! I can go away, I can <span ss="userText">stop my<span ss="aiText"> job!<span ss="userText">..."


    <span ss="userText">4R started pulling his<span ss="aiText"> thumbnail again.


    <span ss="aiText">"Stop! AAAAH! STOP! PLEASE!"


    <span ss="aiText">"That isn''t helping your case," Rya said with a smile.


    <span ss="aiText">"I''ll be a double agent!<span ss="userText"> I''ll sign a damn blood contract! I''ll even order my men to sign it!<span ss="aiText"> Just please! I don''t wanna die! Not like this!"


    Rya was surprised that he offered to sign a blood contract. She had totally forgotten about them after she read up about how they worked back at the Mage''s Giuld''s library.


    <span ss="userText">Blood contracts sounded way more foreboding<span ss="aiText"> than they actually are. In short, it is a magically binding agreement. If the user breaks the contract, then the penalty is usually <span ss="userText">weakening a mana vein and the other thing was they weren''t permanent. Over time the effects of the Blood Contract would<span ss="aiText"> disappear and the person could return to normal. <span ss="userText">Plus it was hard to inflict those who had a strong mana vein with a standard or umon blood contract<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> From what she''s read, only the legendary Blood Contract can do anysting<span ss="aiText"> damage to the <span ss="editText">recipient<span ss="aiText">. But few people in the world have seen such a document.


    <span ss="aiText">A rare and powerful contract could also force the victim''s <span ss="userText">mana vein to shrivel up to nothing and kill them<span ss="aiText">. It was a horrible death. And it was called a legendary Blood Contract because not many were ever made and it was the rarest and most powerful contract.<span ss="userText"> Frankly, it was simpler to cor somebody with a ve cor than to get them to sign a piece of parchment with their own blood.


    <span ss="userText">''That reminds me. I wonder what Blood Contract Quinus used on Marko Aitken, back in the vige of Kishin. If we ever visit him again, I would like to use the Seer Stone on him<span ss="aiText"> and see if the Contract is still active or not. Maybe I could learn a thing or two.<span ss="editText"> Gah! Focus Rya!<span ss="userText">'' She<span ss="aiText"> thought.


    <span ss="userText">Rya stared at c for a while before she pulled out her earplugs.


    <span ss="userText">"Quin? Do you have any more of your Blood Contracts<span ss="aiText"> on you?"


    <span ss="userText">Quinus looked over to his retainer, "George take this key and open my case in the dwarves'' carriage. I have two of<span ss="aiText"> the contracts inside."


    <span ss="aiText">"As you wish," the Knight answered.


    <span ss="userText">''Huh... So, Quin does have more of them. I wonder why he has them in the first ce?'' Rya thought as she looked over to see Quinus walking towards her.


    <span ss="aiText">George left and was back in no time.


    <span ss="aiText">"Here,<span ss="userText"> my Lord,"<span ss="aiText"> George said as he held out the case to the Prince.


    <span ss="aiText">Quinus took the case and unlocked it. Inside were some scrolls, a book, and the two Blood Contracts<span ss="editText">. He used to have three but<span ss="aiText"> he used <span ss="editText">one <span ss="aiText">when he first met Marko,<span ss="userText"> who was the new Mayor of Kishin.


    Quinus poked his finger with the tip of his dagger and let some of his blood drip onto the contract. He signed the contract first and then brought it over to c who poked his finger. c signed his name underneath the prince''s name. After that, one by one of c''s crew was forced to sign the contract.


    <span ss="userText">After that was done, the contract glowed a blood red and the four men glowed as well. The parchment vanished into thin air<span ss="aiText">, while the men felt <span ss="userText">something attaching to their mana veins.


    <span ss="userText">As this was going on, Rya pulled out her Seer Stone<span ss="aiText"> and saw the magic working its way into the men''s mana veins.


    <span ss="userText">Her eyes widened as he noticed a simr seal that was on Nieren''s veins before she healed it. Then the seals broke apart and floated around their<span ss="aiText"> veins <span ss="userText">with simr brown particles that were in Johan''s<span ss="aiText"> veins.


    ''What the fuck? Did Nieren and Johan sign blood contracts or something? N-No, Nieren was simr, but hers was worse than what happened to Johan. This just raises more questions!... I need to get a look at thatst Blood Contract. Maybe I can tell how potent it is.'' Rya thought as she put away the Seer Stone.


    <span ss="userText">She walked up next to Quinus and looked down at the four men.


    <span ss="userText">c and his men soon felt their wounds healing up as the ground beneath their feet showed Rya''s healing rune<span ss="aiText">. The prince and his knights watched as Rya was healing the enemy.


    <span ss="aiText">''This girl is full of surprises. But I''m d she''s on our side,'' <span ss="editText">Dous <span ss="aiText">thought.


    <span ss="userText">Sir George and the rest of the knights started gathering their things as they were getting ready to move out.


    <span ss="userText">Quinus and Rya stared down at the men.


    <span ss="userText">"Now... I will contact you with a raven if need be until then keep my uncle upied," Quinus<span ss="aiText">manded.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">But... What should we tell Duke ric<span ss="aiText">, my lord?" c asked.


    Quinus sighed and looked at Rya. If there was one thing he knew about his uncle, it was failure was not an option. And he knew that his uncle was not a forgiving enough man to let them walk away unscathed. He might kill all of them if he didn''t get what he wanted.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya was thinking the same thing and smiled.


    <span ss="aiText">"Simple... <span ss="userText">Tell him about my Trojan Horses<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">c looked at her confused, "You''re what?"


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">My earth horses... Just make sure you leave out the part about them exploding.<span ss="aiText"> We want him to feel a false sense of security. Right, Quin?" Rya said.


    <span ss="aiText">Quinus couldn''t help but smile and nodded his head, "<span ss="userText">Yes... That''s a good half-truth... I will let youe up with the best way to keep my uncle off your trail<span ss="aiText">. Now<span ss="userText">, step aside... We''ve been dyed<span ss="aiText"> long enough."


    <span ss="aiText">c nodded, got up, and went to the horses. His men soon followed him. They took their time,<span ss="userText"> as they waited for the Prince''s convoy<span ss="aiText"> to leave.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya and Quinus <span ss="userText">were walking toward their carriage and once they entered<span ss="aiText">, Dous came up to the window and knocked.


    <span ss="userText">Quinus answered<span ss="aiText">, "What is it, Dous?"


    <span ss="aiText">"My Prince, <span ss="userText">I just wanted to say we are just about ready to depart<span ss="aiText">," the general said.


    <span ss="aiText">"Good... <span ss="userText">Do you want my fiancee to summon up some me Familiars?<span ss="aiText"> Or will you be fine by yourself?"


    <span ss="aiText">"If it''s not too much trouble, I would like her help," Dous said.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya popped her head out the window, "No problem. Just give me a minute."


    <span ss="userText">Soon twen<span ss="editText">ty-<span ss="aiText">four me familiars were summoned and were <span ss="editText">floating<span ss="aiText"> along with the convoy.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Thank you, Mdy... And if I may ask you onest question?"


    <span ss="userText">Rya was confused<span ss="aiText">, "Uh... Sure."


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Are you sure you aren''t evil? That was pretty brutal what you did to that spy<span ss="aiText">..."<span ss="userText"> Dous asked in a sarcastic<span ss="aiText"> tone.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya <span ss="userText">cracked a smile and shook her head.


    <span ss="userText">"Only if someone targets me and my friends.<span ss="aiText"> Otherwise, I''m as innocent as a little <span ss="editText">elf<span ss="aiText">," Rya replied.


    <span ss="aiText">Dous chuckled and shook his head.


    <span ss="aiText">"Somehow, I doubt that.<span ss="userText">.. But I can''t argue with<span ss="aiText"> the results."


    <span ss="aiText">Dous tipped his hat to Rya and walked away.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, looks like <span ss="userText">you made an impression<span ss="aiText">," Quinus said with a smile.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya rolled her eyes then she went back into the carriage and sat down <span ss="editText">next to<span ss="aiText"> the prince.


    <span ss="userText">Tanya was snuggling with Johan, while Dalia<span ss="aiText"> was resting her head on <span ss="editText">Percy''s<span ss="aiText"> shoulder. <span ss="editText">Percy<span ss="aiText"> felt Dalia''s tail tickling <span ss="editText">his<span ss="aiText"> leg but didn''tin.


    <span ss="userText">Nieren and Yuliana just shook their heads.


    <span ss="userText">"Did you really have to torture the pathetic human<span ss="aiText">?" Nieren asked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yes, yes I did... Because he was trying to kill me and my friends<span ss="editText">. They could have killed Tayna... He''s lucky that I didn''t kill him and the rest of the crew<span ss="aiText">," Rya answered<span ss="userText"> with a pout<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Nieren had never heard Rya talk like this, but she could understand where she wasing from. She would have done the same if her mother had been a target.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, <span ss="userText">I wish I had those earplugs<span ss="aiText">," Nieren said.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">You never used them. And I made them for you," Yuliana<span ss="aiText"> stated.


    <span ss="aiText">"That''s because they''re <span ss="userText">not useful for nighttime<span ss="aiText">, Mother," Nieren argued.


    <span ss="aiText">Yuliana just rolled her eyes.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Lady Rya... I''m d you are getting some use out of my earplugs. Some people just don''t<span ss="aiText"> know how to appreciate good craftsmanship," Yuliana said.


    <span ss="aiText">Rya smirked.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, thank you... I''ll put them to good use."


    Rya smiled and then she pulled out thest Blood Contract that was in Quinus'' case. She was examining it as the carriage started pulling away.