I will save you

"Let's head back"

The fire had wiped out the whole camp , staying there any longer would be a waste of time.

Ellaria led the bandit to one of the hidden caves . The area was known only by the village's elders and few hunters , Ellaria found it by chance during one of her previous hunts .

"A-Are you going to kill me?" the bandit trembled as he voiced his thought.

The girl who indifferently murdered his comrade suddenly brought him to an isolated area , anyone would come to that conclusion.

"I won't kill you "The girl paused for a moment then looked at him icily "At least for now"

Ellaria didn't talk further, she took out a rope , and tied the bandit's legs and arms .

When the man heard the replay, his face got paler . There were no escape from death, his fate had already been carved in stone .

In his despair , the man started pleading "Please ,d-don't kill me ,…..I beg you….. , I'll do anything you want, just , just don't kill me"

Ellaria glanced at him, then coldly responded "I will not forgive you , you have destroyed my home , harmed my sole and only family, how can I let you off?"

The man lowered his head , he can't deny her statement ,if only he had knew that such a monster was hidden in that desolated orphanage, he would never ever step in that cursed place.

While he was busy blaming his bad luck , The cold voice resounded again "Perhaps…"

The bandit lifted his head. Is there still some hope for him?

"…If you behave yourself, and listen obediently to my orders, you may preserve this filthy life of yours"

This sentence sounded like music in the bandit's ears .

"Yes , yes , of course, all master's wishes are my orders" Without wasting time , He hurriedly gave his agreement , afraid that Ellaria would change her mind the next second.

The little girl looked at him with disgust. She promised to let him alive but she didn't say anything about what his following days would be like .She isn't a saint or someone who forgive those who hurt her .

That wishful bandit would become her new guinea pig .

When she reaches the second stage, Mind control , she will need a healthy brain to train on . Whether the man would survive or not in the process , was none of her concern .

If it was in the past , she would have felt ashamed or guilty for her deeds, but now in this new world ,it's different, she long ago prepared herself for the worst, when she accepted to become a puppeteer , knowing their tragic history , she knew that her hands would be tainted by blood sooner or later .

The bandit obediently entered the cave and sat down on the cold ground .

Ellaria didn't bother herself with him longer and quickly returned to the orphanage . If the bandit escaped, the ferocious beasts in the area would be rather happy to take good care of him.

***

When she arrived the fire was already blown off ,thanks to the cooperation of the neighbors , only the thin smoke and pungent smell remained.

The men were searching the ruins for any survivors while the women were regrouped at the side .

Ellaria slowly approached them .

"Oh god !" Soon a lady noticed her.

"There is a survivor !!"

The lady run toward Ellaria , then enwrapped her with a blanket "Sweetie, It over , you're safe now , Are you hurt ? Did you injure yourself somewhere ?"

The lady was honestly concerned about the little girl , such frightened accident , would leave a deep scare ,either physically or mentally .

Ellaria shook her head to appease the woman's worries .

"I will take you to see the doctor to make sure that everything is alright " the woman took Ellaria in her arms , they headed toward a nearby wooden house ,a gentle looking old man welcomed them and brought them to the back room.

A doctor was currently healing two other patients, when he heard footsteps approaching , he lifted his head , surprise was hanging on his face .

"A child has survived !"

The doctor was astonished but quickly reverted to his usual professional expression "Quick ! put her on the chair , I'll examine her right away"

The lady obediently followed his instruction, and put the girl down .

Ellaria didn't resist , and let the doctor examine her, she wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing, she focused her gaze on the other two patients .

The doctor noticed her stare , and quickly comforted her .

"Don't worry , they are fine…."

In the midst of his sentences ,he throw a quick glance to the old man at the back ,who sighed in return ,then resumed with a smile "They will wake up soon "

Even if he said that , Ellaria knew that Granny and Uncle Dan state were critical, their bodies were covered with bandages , she wasn't able to see clearly the wounds but their weakened breathing was not a good sign .

Without the needed technology from her previous life, Ellaria won't be able to save them . Their only hope to wake up was to find a healer .

"How are they ? Doctor !!"

A lady opened the door all of the sudden , it startled all the people inside the room .

"Ah ! Ellaria , honey!"

Auntie Tania entered the room ,and went to hug Ellaria .

When she heard about the incident ,she immediately took the carriage ad raced to the scene . Granny was her friend , they always supported each other in every crisis .

"Ellaria , are you alright ? Are you injured ? Does it hurt anywhere ?"

"She is fine"

It was the doctor who replied on Ellaria behalf " Beside some small burns , and the tiredness, she is in perfect health , she will recuperate with some rest"

Hearing that , Tania slightly calmed down , but her anxiety was still visible .

"And … what about Granny and Dan ?"

The doctor didn't replay , he showed a complicated expression, he glanced at Ellaria then at the lady who brought her in.

The woman nodded , she turned toward Ellaria .

"Sweetie, Let go outside to fetch some water , we should get rid of those blackish spots "

Now that she had mentioned it , Ellaria skin was covered with dirt .

Ellaria took the woman's hand and followed her outside .

Now , alone in the room , the doctor could talk with ease to Tania .

"Their situation is bad, they have a lot of internal injuries" The doctor looked at the two patient on the bed "With my medicinal skills , I can't heal them , Only magic could "

"Can't you do anything ? Healers are not common in Western Dial City, we have to wait until some adventurers came in the city"

"I know, old Gu , has already made a request to the guild , they would immediately inform us if a healer show up, All what I could do is to appease their pain and make sure they stay alive until then "

"How…..How much time do we have ?"Auntie Tania difficultly voiced the question that haunted her mind .

"I can't tell for sure,Dan could endure it for at least two months, but Granny, because of her old age, and heavy injuries , one month if not less"

Tania was quivering , she tightly clenched her fists" What happened exactly? Is that the deed of slave traders ?"

Slave trades aren't illegal . Criminals or people who couldn't pay their debts would be captured and sold as slaves, but some immoral traders would kidnap innocent villagers , ladies and even children, no one was safe . The city lord would give a blind eye to the matter, after all thirty percent of his income came from the slave traders' bribes .

"They didn't found any children corpse , it's likely to be them" It may be the bandits , but they erased this thought from their mind, there is nothing to steal in an orphanage , and the children weren't found , the slave traders were most likely the culprits

"I'm curious, how did the little girl escape ?"

"Granny must have hidden her somewhere before they noticed her "

"Mmh, maybe " The doctor felt that something was not right , but he didn't gave it too much thought "Poor , little girl , she is all alone now"

"I'll take good care of her, I want to be in charge of her!"

This is the precious child Granny worked hard to raise , and protect , Tania will make sure that nothing happened for her .

"It would be for the best "

**

While the two adults where discussing about the situation, outside, Ellaria has already cleaned up her face and dirty clothes, the gentle lady had helped her greatly.

<Master, I'm back> Unaware of others , a white rabbit with a long hat , exited the wooden house , he quickly returned to his master's side .

[What did they say ?]

When Ellaria was leaving the room , she let Fluffy stay behind to hear their conversation .

Fluffy shook his head <Things aren't looking good, if a healer didn't came in a month , they won't be able to make it >

[I see…]

Although she seemed indifferent , she couldn't hide the sadness expressed by her eyes .

Soon Aunt Tania exited the house and came beside Ellaria. She squatted down , hugged the girl and said in a gentle voice .

"Ellaria , I know that this day would come haunt you in the future , I can't ask you to forget it , I know that it would be difficult , but at least you should walk forward , don't let the events of this day be a burden in your life "

Tania bit the corner of her lips ,once one fell in the hands of the slave traders , they won't be able to regain freedom and no one would be able to bring them back , that the cruel truth of the world , those orphans were lost forever .

"Granny and Dan are sick , they are recovering with the good doctor you met earlier, there is o need to worry , they would be fine soon , but in the meantime ,you will stay with me and Roy, okay?"

Ellaria weakly nodded.

"Good, then let go back , you must be tired , aren't you ?" Tania picked up the girl in her arms and walked back toward her carriage .Uncle Roy was waiting there , He saw his wife approaching , he looked at the girl in her arm in worry before shifting his gaze to Tania , He wanted to ask about the situation of their friends but stopped himself from voicing the question .

Aunt Tania understood her husband's concern and slightly shook her head . The situation wasn't looking good .

The carriage quickly set off , Tania was sitting at the back , tapping from time to time of the back of the little girl who buried her head in her shoulders .Although she couldn't hear , she felt that her clothes were slightly wet by the tears of the little girl .

"It alright now …" Tania caressed the girl back gently , hoping that would comfort her a bit .

They soon arrived at the city , the carriage halted in front of the bakery , Uncle Roy and Tania walked in the store, and took the stairs to the first floor . They lived just above the bakery in this two store building . Aunt Tania headed toward a vacant room .

It was their late son's , he was born with a incurable disease that made him spend his whole fourteen years bedridden , until it took him away from his parents . Although it has been seven years already , the room was clean , Tania made sure to tidy it every morning , a habit that she couldn't get rid off .

Tania walked to the bed and gently put Ellaria under the blanket , the girl has falling asleep during the journey , Tania wiped gently the dried tears on her cheeks before exiting the room , she peeked one last time at the girl with a concerned expression before closing the door completely .

Screeech….Tanc!

The sound of footstep gradually faded as Tania walked away .

In the quiet room , only lighted up by the moon's light that slid through the window , Ellaria opened her eyes , she looked at the ceiling then turned her head toward the closed door , she took a deep breath before reverting her gaze to the ceiling.

"If only I was there , I would have been able to protect everyone" her voice seemed like a whisper.

[No, master , if you were there , things would have turned more chaotic, if you had used your magic , the mastermind would have discovered your existence and use all means to capture you...]

"Then , what is the problem ?! Is that because I'm still too weak to protect even myself ?"

[….]

Ellaria stood up from the bed and walked toward the window , her eyes were still red and watery . but her gaze was sharp and determined

"No matter who they are , or where they came from , I'll hunt them down one after the other and make them suffer "

Ellaria lowered her head and grabbed the necklace around her neck

"And I'll find them all .Tess , wait for me , I'll come to save you "