16. Her true nature

"Hurry up." A man yawned, directing his comrades.

"You heard Enoch, get them in the cages." His assistant yelled.

Several Catwomen, Wolfhounds and Fenrir were forced into cages by men with blades and whips, "Whatever you think you can do, don't." One of the men ordered a Fenrir who stopped midway into the cage.

"For my LIEGE!" A Fenrir lunged at the humans who had captured them, slashing one across the face before jumping to the next, instantly dealing a fatal blow.

Enoch, seated atop the mountain, observed the slaughter of his comrades by the Fenrir. "Well, this was bound to happen," Enoch remarked, yawning as he descended the cliff, his katana materializing in his hand.

The Fenrir observed Enoch approaching, recognizing him as the leader. Charging with the intent to end him in one slash, the Fenrir adult pondered, "If I take him out, the others will jump in."

"Form 1: Sakura Blossoms," Enoch slowly raised his sword, then dropped it into his storage. Behind him lay the Fenrir's body, reduced to mincemeat by razor-like cherry blossom petals. "Anyone else wanna try?" Enoch pondered, gazing around at all the Fenrir. "Why's everyone stopped? Continue your fucking job."

His comrades quickly regained focus, corralling the Beastmen into their enclosures and securing the cages when filled. Despite the overwhelming odds, having Enoch present on the battlefield was the ultimate guarantee of their security.

"You certainly did your thing, Enoch." A man approached Enoch, clutching a sack of coins.

"If it isn't my esteemed Azure Fri- Clients," Enoch bowed. "Your merchandise is safely delivered. I trust my compensation is ready."

He passed the sack to Enoch, who grinned before heading toward his men, all of them sharing a sly laughter. "The Azure have done it once again, men. We're having Chicken and women for dinner!" Enoch laughed, shaking the sack of coins in joy.

Erra awoke, beads of sweat clinging to both her forehead and the pillow beneath.

Harvey had been watching her ever since she drifted into sleep. Even though she hadn't uttered any words, he had a fairly good grasp of the nature of her dreams. "You okay?"

Erra gazed at him, using her sleeves to wipe her face before nodding. "I'm fine."

"Pretty bad nightmare huh." Harvey stood up, opening the windows of the room. It was morning already. "Wanna share?"

"Its...no, not-"

Harvey settled back into the chair, leaning forward. He had no intention of pressuring her to share with him, just as he wouldn't compel her to fight or engage in any other activity. Despite her virtual existence, he wanted her to make her own decisions and harbor her own choices.

"My people, my father. We were sold off and killed by the Azure."

"Do you have any idea why?"

"Fenrir are strong, we are the second strongest Beastmen. They use us as their army and when they have enough soldiers, they sell us as Sex toys for powerful men who want a kick out of degrading a stronger being."

Resting his chin on both hands, a bulging vein on Harvey's neck hinted at the struggle to restrain himself from actions he might later regret. "Thank you," Erra expressed, and Harvey gazed at her.

"No, there's no point in thanking me. I'm no better than them."

"You are, you fed me, you clothed me, you got angry on my behalf. You don't see me as a slave or a beast." Erra looked down at her hands, fiddling with them.

Harvey smiled as leaned out of the chair, "Hey Erra, can I tell you something, I know I told you that I wanted your help yesterday but I didn't tell you the full scope of everything." Harvey breathed in. "There's nine bad men I have to kill, they're strong. Maybe stronger than me, I'll understand if you want out."

Erra shook her head, "No. I want to do it."

Harvey looked into her eyes, the nature of a Beastman in general was war, it was all their history had ever known. He felt bad adding to it. "Thank you."

After grabbing breakfast for Erra at the inn, they ventured toward the Wilsk Forest, like most places in the starter city it was meant for beginners. "How much combat experience do you have?" Harvey asked as they continued walking through the dark and gloomy forest.

"Not much, Meed taught us how to defend ourselves if we were ever stolen, but not so much that it could be considered experience."

"I see," Harvey observed three wolves approaching, using his tuned ears and a quick turn of the head, he confirmed their positions. "Erra, you're surrounded by three monsters. Two are in front of you, and one is to your bottom left," Harvey alerted, tossing his Marsh daggers to her, which she caught awkwardly.

"What do you do?" Harvey asked as he backed away, leaving Erra in the limelight.

Erra panted in fear, hearing the growls of the approaching beasts. Harvey wasn't in her view anymore, and the wolves were slowly entering it. Her heart skipped multiple beats as they drew closer. "Calm your breathing," Harvey advised, and when she turned back, he was no longer there.

A wolf leaped at her, causing Erra to fall to the ground. The only thing preventing the wolf's teeth from biting into her flesh were the daggers she jammed into its mouth. "Master, I can't do this!"

Harvey resisted the urge to intervene immediately, it was part of her training process, akin to how he had learned to play video games. "I won't always be there to save you," His echoed voice reminded her.

"Please," She begged once more.

"Calm yourself... Think. Hear. Smell. See."

His words were difficult to absorb, but Erra gradually began to comprehend their meaning. She took three deep breaths while still grappling with the wolf, the other two wolves rushing toward her. "You can't win a gang battle, retreat and use the forest to your advantage. It's in your nature, they might live here but this is your home."

Erra shook off the wolf, swiftly disappearing into the forest as Harvey had suggested. One wolf gave chase but halted as she vanished into the woods. The three wolves gathered, searching for her presence.

"One," Harvey murmured.

A dagger descended from the sky, piercing into a wolf's head. Before the other two could react, Erra emerged from the shadows, driving the second dagger into the head of another wolf. However, she found the blade stuck.

"No matter how I want to sugarcoat it, this is what she was made for." Harvey thought to himself, "While Fenrir's aren't necessarily as violent as other beastmen, this isn't the same for Erra. She isn't a wife, a cook—"

Erra abandoned her blade lodged in the head of the second wolf and rushed towards the third one, a smile gracing her face as her palms opened, revealing her claws. She tore at the wolf, slicing its stomach and eye, sinking her fangs into its flesh, relentlessly clawing until it lay motionless.

"She's a killer." Harvey finished.

Harvey observed Erra collapsing on the ground, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of three wolves. Blood adorned her face, and a broad grin stretched across her features.

She laughed.