2-18 Maven’s Pass

EnroItzal

Unlike the paths Erin and Siv had traveled all this while, Maven’s Pass was brimming with life and peoples. There were merchants, adventurers, some commoners from nearby settlements, and many more. Erin felt like she could finally take a breather from her vigilance. In the forests, especially a wilderness that she yet had to fully grasp, letting her guard down was plain foolish. As far as her travels had taken her, she had survived this long due to her steadfast guard, but keeping it up was bound to take a toll on her mind and body.

The people, the paved roads, the groomed flowery bushes by the roadside, the clear vibrant sky not impeded by any overgrown branches, when all of these came into her sight, Erin finally allowed her shoulders to drop. It was even more pleasant when the pair picked up whispers that caravans of merchants had made their stop in the village ahead. Erin let out a groan of relief that one would not expect from a lady.

Siv heard her groan clearly but the Wolf-kin said nothing of it. What the Wolf-kin did say of however, was the matter of the Augur boy in Erin’s arms.

“Keep his face hidden. Anyone here could be the slaver,” Siv warned, her eyes scouring anyone who trod too close to them.

Erin held the same notion as Siv. Erin knew the slavers would not likely give up on an Augur slave. They would most likely be searching for the boy with all of their might as of now. Judging from the boy’s feet, he had run for quite some distance before falling prey to the creatures of Crawler’s Woods. She kept the boy’s face hidden by draping a simple cloth over the boy’s head. She had also got the chains off the boy’s legs before entering the pass.

“Can you tell what happened to this Augur boy?” Siv asked in a whisper. They were amongst strangers. It was best for them to keep their words absolutely between them.

“Appraisal doesn't work like that, Siv,” Erin answered also in whisper. They both had great hearing, so they didn’t need to raise their voice to have an exchange.

“How does it work?”

Erin shrugged. “I’m not savvy about it myself.”

“What about a name or his clan?”

“His name, huh...” Erin used Appraisal on the Augur boy in her arms. She had used it on him once but the circumstances before were too hectic to give a good read of the results. “Cynric Crimson-steel,” Erin read out. “I assume Crimson-steel is his clan’s name.”

“Crimson-steel?” Siv gasped.

“You know the clan?”

“You haven’t heard of Crimson-steel?”

Erin shook her head. “I may be skilled in combat but it’s best you treat me like someone who lived under a rock for her whole life.”

Siv fell silent for a moment but she shook herself off her silence a second after. “ V-very well, Lady Erin. If you wish. Crimson Steel is a metal that could withstand even the fiery roar of a Dragon. The Augur Clan, Crimson-steel, their territory is believed to have the largest veins comprising ores used in making Crimson Steel.”

“Isn’t this bad? A child of such a prominent clan has been kidnapped by slavers.”

“Not necessarily. Augurs have a tradition, similar to Beast-kin but not quite the same. They send their young to the world outside of their home to fend for themselves, only to return when they have discovered something that could benefit their people, be it resources or power.”

“You know their story well.”

“Our traditions crossed a lot of paths.”

“So you’re saying it’s highly likely the Augurs know nothing about one of their own being abducted into slavery.”

Siv nodded. “Even if they do know, they won’t do anything. The way they see it, it’s the youngblood’s fault for being captured.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Such is the world, Lady Erin. The humans have it easier than a lot of other races with their numbers. The Augurs are barely a quarter of the human’s numbers. They can’t afford weakness.”

While Erin felt sympathy, there was a slight sense of wonder in her heart. She had yet again discovered something new about the world and her adventurous heart was yelling at her for more wonders. This feeling was nostalgic. It reminded Erin of her own youth, when she had just set out to explore the world.

“But slavery is on the rise lately. I heard that some of the Elven tribes met a similar fate? Is that true, milady?”

“I’m afraid it is,” Erin answered.

Siv had a surprised reaction.

“What?”

“You told me straight away… you didn’t hesitate...”

“I trust you, Siv.”

Siv gasped in awe. “Y-you honor me… Lady Erin… Your magnanimity is underestimated in the rumors… Lady Erin, I—”

“You will keep this to yourself and speak none of it to anyone. Not even Nivia or your employer. And I don’t just mean the matter with the Elves. Matters about me too, keep it to yourself.”

“B-but Lady Erin, wouldn’t it be better if people know of your—”

“Siv,” Erin stopped her. “Don’t make me regret trusting you. I’m not asking this as a Fae. I’m asking this as a friend to a friend.”

“O-of course,” Siv nodded fervently. “Friend… she called me a friend...”

Erin pretended that she didn’t hear that.

“Oh god… a Fae...” a trembling voice hooked Erin’s attention.

She looked around and found the gazes directed at her had increased since she entered the pass. Furthermore, some even slow their pace to feast on the sight of her. “They are all looking at us,” Erin said, returning the glances of every passers-by.

“You, Lady Erin. They are looking at you, a Fae is already a rare sight, let alone a Fox-kin with three tails.”

“Oh right, my tails...” Erin mused woefully to herself as she glimpsed at her tails, which had become a part of her conscience. It no longer felt odd having tails, even as she sat or lay on her back. Erin had thought the curious glances would die down once she moved on from Green Scar but instead, the glances were even more intense than the ones back in Green Scar.

“We won’t be able to hide from the slavers with all these eyes,” Siv said.

“Good,” Erin muttered. “Save us the trouble of looking for them.”

“Lady Erin, I must warn you, slavers have powerful backers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have taken such risk.”

“Powerful, huh. Elaborate.”

“A noble house, a wealthy merchant, or some secret faction.”

“Any notable names?”

“Too much to list, but there is a noble house in this Kingdom of Yorun, House Rowin.”

Erin raised an eyebrow. “And this noble house still stands?”

“It’s just rumors and the Rowins are paying their tribute to the royals. The other noble houses would raise a commotion if the royals made a move on House Rowin without firm evidence”

Erin restrained herself from clicking her tongue. She was sick of the same tune among nobles. The true leaders are the nobles, not the royals; Erin couldn’t remember the last time she had not encountered a kingdom of nobles that weren’t singing this tune.

“Still, these are the affairs of humans. The Fae and Beast-kin need not bother themselves with it.”

“Oh, that’s right, I’m not a human anymore,” Erin told herself. Among all the changes that she strived to accept, her newfound race was one of the hardest. As a Fae now, humans’ affairs should not be her concern. She no longer had any obligation to it but she had been a human for more than fifty years. The philosophy of humans was ingrained to her mind. Erin wished Nyx had removed that part of her when she reincarnated her into a Fox-kin but Erin reckoned Nyx didn’t solely because it would be more amusing this way.

“Milady, did you smell that?” Siv asked an ominous question all of a sudden.

Erin perused every scent that her nose caught, one of which was the scent of Cynric, but not from Cynric himself. “Cynric’s captors.”

The man who had Cynric’s scent was trailing them just a few steps away. Erin silently applauded for the stalker’s effort in blending with the others. She would not have noticed if it hadn’t been for the scent lingering on him.

“Captors? There’s more than one following us?”

“The wagon with a cart of wooden boxes in front of us.”

Siv directed her gaze forward and saw an old musty wagon with two men at the coachstand. One armored individual walking slowly behind the wagon but always maintaining a certain distance. “Those boxes… I smelled only fruits. I don’t smell Cynric.”

“I smelled only fruits too. I don’t smell the musty wood the wagon is made of. Which means, the fruity scent is a disguise, sprayed on to hide the slave’s scent but inadvertently it also hid the scent of the wagon. Also, Cynric couldn’t have been in Crawler’s Woods for long. The slavers have got to be nearby. They won’t forsake their golden egg. They are moving slaves, they would need something like a wagon or a carriage.”

“But those boxes are too small.”

“Small, yes, but big enough for children.”

Siv clenched her hands into fists. “These animals…! And they called us animals…!”

“Control yourself, Siv. We can’t be rash. One wrong move, we might put the children in more danger than they already are.”

“We're just going to let them go?”

“Don’t worry, Siv. I will not let that come to pass,” Erin said cast Appraisal on the two men at the front and the armored fighter walking trailing slowly at the back. She smirked when she read the results. The ones on the stand were level eight and seven, and the armored fighter was level fifteen with only Sword Art, Body Strengthening, and Arcane Edge. Erin turned to Siv and entrusted the unconscious Augur to her.

Siv was startled. “L-Lady Erin… I-I don’t know—”

“You never held a baby before?”

“I had. My brother but I almost dropped him when I was a child.”

“You were only a child then, Siv. You can now hold and swing a sword properly. You won’t have any issue holding a baby.”

“You’re doing this alone?”

Erin smiled wryly. “Someone has to take care of him and keep an eye on the slaver behind us.”

“What if he runs away?”

“Not important. Cynric and the children over there are what matters.”

After making sure Siv became comfortable with holding Cynric, Erin approached the wagon with steady yet quick steps. The armored fighter noticed her approach and stepped in her way. The wagon also stopped after noticing Erin’s approach.

As everyone was already gazing at Erin’s way, a gallery quickly formed around Erin’s confrontation of the slavers.

“Halt,” the armored fighter named Orson demanded, towering over Erin, his hand closed around the hilt of the sword by his waist. “What business do you have with a purveyor of an esteemed house, Fox?”

“Nobles?” Erin threw on a shocked expression. “But I don’t see any crest?”

“None of your business. Move along, or suffer the consequences. Do not presume I will be lenient just because you’re a Fae.”

“What kind of consequences? Something worse than slavery?” Erin challenged with a wide smile.

The audience gasped.

Orson was trained and experienced but Erin’s perceptive eyes did not fail to catch the subtle flinch he gave. This told Erin enough on the escort’s degree of involvement.

“What’s this? No retorts?”

Orson’s grip tightened on his sword. “Impudent. It seems Fae are not as gracious as the rumors say.”

“They are only rumors after all. Not facts. And if you intend to fight me, know that you won’t manage to lay a scratch on me,” Erin said with all intentions to provoke Orson. She knew his kind, and they were the easiest to rile once their prowess was belittled.

“Arrogant mutt!” Orson shouted.

And Erin was proven true as Orson drew his sword and slashed at the Fox-kin. Erin deflected the blow with her sheathed sword and broke his stance. She drew her saber and swiftly cut down the vulnerable armored fighter at the exposed joints, the gaps between the armor plates.

Orson ignored his injuries and struck again, with his blade imbued with Arcane Edge. Erin could tell the spell was sloppy with the fainting glow. Erin simply moved out of the way with a small sidestep and let his blade meet the empty air. He swung to his side but Erin caught the slash with her saber. She led his attack away from his target. Orson resorted to fist as he raised his other hand. Erin spun a little and let her tails have the finishing touches. Her tails impaled Orson through the gap of his armor and straight into his flesh.

Orson gagged his last words as he choked on his blood. He fell to the ground, his hands reaching out to the audience, hoping vainly for a miraculous kind helping arm, but his final hopes ended with his life.

[Experience gained +15% - Level Progression: 45%]

“Whoa… that’s a lot,” Erin marveled at her gains. Strangely, she didn’t feel too bad taking a person’s life this time. She attributed the reason being the sin of the man she had just felled. A man who was knowingly defending, quite literally, child slavery.

“Oi! Are you smoking high on leaves?! Do you have any idea which house this wagon belongs to?!” one of the slavers shouted as he stormed his way to Erin. His apparels were simple but of good quality. Erin was all the more convinced of her suspicions.

“I don’t, enlightened me,” Erin said dryly. She didn’t let the other slaver out of her sight. She was mildly relieved that the other slaver was cowering in his seat, mostly likely knew of the consequences of offending a Fae.

“House Rowin!” The man shouted proudly. “One of the most powerful noble houses in Yorun Kingdom. You have doomed yourself, foolish dog.”

Erin fought hard not to just burst out laughing. It was evident the two slavers had become complacent with flaunting their master’s name. They must have wormed their way through troubles with such a method.

“I don’t see any proof,” Erin replied calmly.

“Proof?” The man scoffed. “You will have your proof when the house hears of this. You’re in the land of humans, foolish dog. Not with your filthy mutt tribes.”

“Mutt tribes? What are you speaking of?”

“What? You forgot the holes you were born in? You forgot the animals you called families?”

“Ah,” Erin uttered. She finally understood the man in front of him, or at least to the extent that she could. “It seems you’re more of an idiot that I thought. I’m surprised that they used someone like you. But then again, one can be too smart for their own good when dealing with such delicate matters. Maybe they’re afraid to hire those who think too much.”

“What fucking crap are you spouting now?”

Erin ignored the man’s question and walked closer to the cart of the wagon.

“Oi! Are you deaf? This wagon belongs to—”

“House Rowin. Yes, you have made it abundantly clear of which house is committing this foul deed.”

“F-foul deed?” the slaver shuttered. And then his eyes widened. Only now did he realize. “I-I don’t know w-what tomfoolery you’re s-saying. We have no time to spare for your nonsense. Be glad that I’m letting you off for insulting a noble house. Come on, Roni. We should—”

Erin shut the slaver up by hitting his jaws with her tail clad in Arcane Armor. His jaws were instantly broken and he stumbled into a fall. He wanted to stop her but his feet were shivering too much to carry his weight. He could only cry in mumbles.

Erin pried the nails off with her own fingers covered in Arcane Armor. Once she lifted the cover off of one of the boxes, she gently and carefully carried a little human girl into her arms from the box. The audience gallery gave a louder gasp than before.

The other slaver immediately bolted for an escape but the adventurers in the gallery knocked him to the ground.

“Fucking hell… slavers in the kingdom… and with the assistance of a noble house?”

“What kind of justice were they preaching all this time?”

“The nobles were playing us for fools!”

“Bunch of liars and thieves! They're not different than bandits!”

“Death to the nobles!”

These words echoed out in Maven’s Pass. At the center of it all, was Erinthea.

“Oh for heaven’s sake… what have I gotten myself into this time?” Erin grumbled in her heart. She could vividly imagine in her head Aedan making some snarky remark with a wry tone and a deadpan face. “Any how, let’s just get to Sapphire Fork as soon as possible first.”

Erinthea - Faerie-kin: Three-Tailed Fox-kin

Level: 14 | Status: Mild Exhaustion

Might: 20 | Arcane: 22 | Finesse: 19

Magic Arts

Spirit Magic Lv. 8 | Arcane Edge Lv. 4 | Arcane Armor Lv. 6 | Lightning Magic Lv. 4

Combat Arts

Sword Art Lv. 7 | Fleet Foot Lv. 5 | Brawler Lv. 4

Innate Skills

Appraisal Lv. Ex | Night Vision Lv. Ex | Sixth Sense Lv. Ex | Toxin Resistance Lv. 1 | Lust Deviant Lv. Ex

Unique Talent

Mystic Blade Lv. Ex | Revenant Lv. Ex

Level Progression: 45%

Remaining Skill Points: 2

Remaining Ability Points: 2