Lespada - Part 3: A Glimmer of Hope

Life at home was going very well. Since the arrival of her slave, John, she had never felt better in her life. She was now certain that she had made the right choice in sparing him, and was even coming to regret not having met this man earlier.

The beginning of their cohabitation had been tumultuous and Elizabeth was afraid that it would fail. Indeed, John was a wild person, who was not easily tamed, no matter what means were used. However, with time, things became easier and easier and although his manner now showed a form of docility on his part, he was fundamentally not. She knew that it would be very difficult for her to have a total hold on him, but that was also part of his charm.

However, Elizabeth's apprehensions gradually dissipated. John was becoming more and more competent and was beginning to find his feet in his new environment.

In the kingdom of Lespada, slaves had no rights, even those to die. They owed total obedience to their master and could only acquire their freedom with his explicit permission. In general, a slave remained as one until his death. The labor they provided helped the citizens of the kingdom enormously and it was obvious that their disappearance would have a strong impact on their livelihood.

John's case, however, was special in many ways. Elizabeth knew that if she gave him so much freedom, he would eventually get a taste for it and wish he had more. Alas, the beautiful one was under an incurable disease and this, since their torrid night.

Since this moment, the thirty-year-old had developed feelings for this slave and ended up giving him more freedom than he needed. However, the relative "freedom" of each slave was at the discretion of their masters. Thus, between two slaves, each would receive different treatment.

Objectively, nothing was forcing Elizabeth to do what she was doing, but she seemed to have some internal conflicts and wasn't sure how to handle them. After all, this was the first time she had felt these feelings and also the first - and probably the last - time she would take a slave.

Since her audience with King Gaius, things had gone relatively well. The latter had not shown any reluctance to Elizabeth's choice, nor did he seem to hold it against her. However, it was different for the others. Other officers had expressed their doubts about the usefulness for the General of having taken in a slave. Indeed, for them, the image of the kingdom would suffer and weaken it politically.

Others, who were more jealous of this choice, claimed that this man would dull Elizabeth's skills and that she should get rid of him as soon as possible.

Fortunately, she didn't care about their slander and just followed what her heart told her. She had always lived this way and would continue to do so until she died. The one variable she could never anticipate was John.

Recently, the General had received news of her brother, Salhem.

He was currently residing in Mostessa, a city similar to the capital, and enjoyed great prestige. His brother had been sent there as Lespadian ambassador and was in charge of ensuring good relations between the two nations.

It had been a while since he had left and she had heard no news from him since then. His job was taking up all his time and he must not have had much free time, however, Elizabeth longed to be left out.

To reach Mostessa, several days of travel were necessary. It was necessary to pass the "Honored Tolling Bell" col and then cross the Masur-Inda valley to finally reach the city.

Before, the road was difficult. Countless bandits were rampant in the region and made any travel dangerous. Finally, after eternal negotiations, the two kingdoms had decided to clear the area of any evil incursions to establish a road linking the two cities.

While John was preparing food, Elizabeth had made herself comfortable in the living room and was reading the letter she had received a few days earlier with anticipation.

"Dear Elizabeth.

Please forgive me for not being able to give you any news lately. Things are not going as I would have hoped here in Mostessa. However, there is not a moment when I do not think about you. I hope you are doing well. Here the nights are cold and the weather is bad. I miss the warmth of the Kingdom.

I don't think I'll be able to come back anytime soon, because soon the Sound Table will be gathering in Mostessa and I have a lot of things to prepare for King Gaius' coming...."

As she read the letter, Elizabeth felt disappointment wash over her.

"Again..." she sighed with irritation.

Wearily, she placed the letters on the table and took a sip of wayne. Tonight, John had tried to prepare something different. Since she had shown him how to do it, he had improved greatly and the meals had become better.

"Still, something intrigues me," she muttered as she stood up. "How does he get the fire going so quickly? Could he be a magician? No, if he was, he wouldn't have ended up as a slave."

She went into the kitchen and watched the man work with concentration. Seeing him so serious gave her a flush of warmth, which surprised her even more because she didn't see why she was reacting this way.

She patted her cheeks lightly and felt her face hot.

"Why am I like this? He's only a slave though..."

Despite her concerns, she couldn't help but look at him passionately. Then her gaze went to the fire that licked the logs voraciously. Without a stonefire, she couldn't do this without tools, but John seemed oddly adept at doing so.

Unfortunately, every time she had wanted to know more, the man had remained completely silent. Even if she forced him to talk, she wouldn't understand what he would say. She had given up. It was not something important.

Other than that, their relationship was going relatively well. John was now sufficiently autonomous to do his duty as a slave. Elizabeth had little to reproach him with, and she was beginning to feel confident enough to leave him alone.

Besides, their relationship had only just begun. They had plenty of time to deepen it.

When John was finished, he brought her a plate with an omelet of meat and vegetables on it. It wasn't a particularly elaborate dish, but the slave was becoming more and more skilled as she was assigned to the kitchen. Although she knew that the taste would not be extraordinary, she enjoyed being served by this man very much.

While tasting her dish, she threw small glances in the direction of John who was waiting in front of her. She had tasted to observe it when she could and to see it in front of her was a spectacle of most pleasant to look at. It was in any case much better than having this big pig of Gaïus who knew only how to make to show his crotch. While staring at the slave, she could see that he was tripping with impatience and his eyes kept staring at his plate with envy.

"Hmm, I know you want to come and eat, but you'll have to wait..." she thought with a little giggle of euphoria. "Maybe I should take him tomorrow, it might be interesting to show him what real soldiers look like."

When she had finished her meal in turn, she finally allowed the slave to eat. In all honesty, she could have had him eat in the kitchen or on the floor, but it was more interesting to have him face her. The only thing she had to take care of was to avoid ending up in the same situation as last time. She didn't want them both to end up in bed, she wouldn't be able to look each other in the face if that happened.

John walked over to her with great strides and poured himself a copious amount of omelet. Elizabeth didn't mind him eating more than she did. It would have been considered outrageous in other houses, but not here. To her, this man's well-being was more important than the trivial considerations of the nobles. If she took care of him, he would inevitably be grateful. At least, that's what she thought.

After John had cleared his plate and cleared the table, she invited him to join her in the living room. She wanted to benefit from this evening to deepen their relation, but also to educate it a little. If they managed to communicate better, John could make himself even more useful and their cohabitation would be only more pleasant.

The man sat down in front of her while showing an expression tinged with suspicion.

"Come on, don't be so uptight with me," Elizabeth thought with a sigh. "How do you expect us to get closer if you won't let me try?"

She watched him for a few minutes, trying to find a way to teach him his language. The Humans on this continent spoke many languages that depended on the regions they lived in. It was sometimes difficult to communicate with each other, so a common language had been created that everyone could speak with any other nation. This language was not reserved only for Humans, as a great majority of different races had learned it to be able to communicate with them. Among them were the Dwarves, but also the Elves, the Dryads, the Yeonjahs, etc. This desire for unification had its roots in a distant era when the different races had lived together peacefully. Over time, the relationships had been broken down and to this day, only the custom of the language remained, but it tended to be lost over time.

Some races still spoke it frequently. However, not all used it for the same reasons. The Dwarves, for example, used it to trade regularly with the Human nations. The Elves, on the other hand, only used it to communicate with the Humans they encountered, and not all spoke it, of course. Because of their deep antagonism, few Elves wandered into Mercastelia of their own free will.

"How am I going to do this," Elisabeth asked herself while frowning.

The more time passed, the darker her expression became. John had even come to look at her curiously when she didn't say anything.

It was then that her gaze unconsciously went to her glass filled with wayne. She looked at it for a few seconds before thinking, "I could start there."

She then grabbed the glass and showed it to John.

"This is wayne. Wayne!" she repeated, emphasizing the word.

John's eyes flicked a few times to the glass and she nodded. Pleased, Elizabeth smiled slightly.

"Good, now let's move on."

She continued by introducing herself. Since John knew her first name, he knew immediately what she meant. Once the frame was placed, they could begin. She began to point out several objects and have him recite their words so he could remember them. John may not have been the smartest person in the world, but he seemed to be able to understand the simple words. After a few minutes, he was able to name a multitude of objects, and although he was still getting a lot of things wrong, she could see that he was gradually getting those concepts into him.

"I didn't think teaching him our language would be any easier than I thought," she remarked enthusiastically.

Carried away by her enthusiasm, she began to teach him more sophisticated words. In greeting, the citizens put their hands over their hearts and leaned slightly toward their interlocutor. Elizabeth stood up and urged John to do the same. When they were face to face, she took a breath and then raised her thumb and mimed it.

At first, the slave was wary of Elizabeth's greeting, but soon John copied her. Elizabeth nodded her head. They repeated the movement several times until he could do it on his own. Now he could say hello. She raised her thumb and forefinger and then mimed something else.

This time she placed her right hand over her heart and raised her left hand, then nodded while saying "Goodbye." In the same way, John mimed the movements and repeated Elizabeth's words. It was then that a flash of clarity crossed his face and he nodded with understanding.

Seeing that things were getting better, she grabbed a glass and gave it to him immediately. Then she told him to give it back to her while moving her hand back and forth. John's eyes widened slightly and he looked at the glass in his hand and handed it to Elizabeth. She said, "Thank you."

The evening continued like this until it was time to go to sleep. As she was about to leave, John came up to her and said, "Thank you, Elizabeth!"

She smiled broadly and wished him a good night. Once the door to her room was closed, she took off her clothes and lay down in bed. Now naked, she could feel the roughness of the sheets and mattress against her skin. The room was cool, but the warmth of the sheets gradually warmed her. While looking at the starry sky from the window, Elisabeth let her thoughts wander into the night.

"Tomorrow will be busy," she murmured as she stroked her stomach.

The day had gone well and she had even managed to draw her slave's attention to her.

"He seems to have enjoyed my teaching," she added while blushing slightly. "Ah, how childish of me..."

While burying her face under the blanket, she made a small pout that made her more displeased. She didn't like being like this, but she had to admit that this feeling of well-being felt good.

After calming down, Elisabeth took her head out of bed and looked at the sky again. The moon was shining brightly and its light was lulling the darkened room. Gradually won over by sleep, the warrior gently closed her eyes and let out a small sigh of exaltation.

"I hope that... Everything will go well... Tomorrow..."

***

The next morning, like every morning for that matter, I was making breakfast for Elizabeth. The day before, she had spent some time teaching me some basic phrases so that I could communicate with her a little. I still wasn't completely comfortable with some of them, but I was able to understand many of the words now.

"Hello, Elizabeth," I said to the woman who had just entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, John," she replied as she stretched.

Still, in her nightclothes, she approached me and sniffed carefully the scent of the dish coming off the stove with a faint air.

"Beans?" she asked.

"Yes! Beans, fish, vegetables," I replied immediately.

I couldn't help but notice her very nonchalant attitude and wondered if it was something natural with her or not. Compared to the first few days, her behavior had gradually changed, at least when we were alone. When we had to go outside, she was back to the cold and untouchable woman I had met at the very beginning. The change had been so drastic that I suspected that something must have triggered it, but I couldn't remember it clearly.

"I feel as if this is about me..." I thought as I stirred the pot. "Well, let's not think about it!"

Everything was supposed to be normal this morning, Elizabeth would eat first and then leave for work and I would take care of the house until she returned. Everything was planned, but for some reason, she invited me to come to eat at the table with her.

"Really?" I asked in a surprised tone.

She motioned for me to come closer with a quick wave of her hand.

"If that's what she wants, I'll be happy to oblige," I thought. "I wonder what she has in mind."

Without paying any further attention, I immediately sat down at the table. II hesitated to eat straight away, however, because I knew her bad temper and I didn't want to be killed in the morning for my disrespect. However, she pretended that nothing was wrong and just enjoyed her food until she looked at me and said, "Aren't you going to eat?" or something like that.

I shook my head immediately and got to work. However, my eyes couldn't help but stare at her exposed breasts in front of me, it was a very pleasing but also incomparably disturbing sight. I was a man after all. I had urges and it had been a long time since I had slept with someone. Seeing this frivolous woman waddle before my eyes every day with such a casual attitude frustrated me, and there was no way she would sleep with me...

"I better stop thinking about that. I feel like someone is reading my mind."

Once my dish was finished, Elizabeth ordered me to get her ready to leave. Once she had her armor on, she had me get ready as well while she went to the bathroom.

"I wonder where we can go this time."

After getting dressed, I found Elizabeth waiting patiently in the living room, dressed in her lavish armor. I could see that she had made a point of putting on a little more makeup than usual and there was a solemn aura about her that I hadn't seen until now.

When she saw me appear, she looked me up and down and then came to slightly rearrange my clothing. When she was satisfied, we went out. The horse was in his little stable and he neighed slightly when he saw me. Over time, he had become accustomed to my presence and less nervous.

Elisabeth locked the door of the house, then mounted her steed and the three of us set off. I was still chained, but I noticed that my mistress's pace accommodated mine to some extent. We reached the city center very quickly and I could see that there was a certain excitement in the air. It was not particularly from the onlookers but rather from the soldiers themselves. Eventually, we made our way to the castle courtyard, much to my surprise.

Once there, I noticed that it was swarming with people. There were so many soldiers that I could not count them. What struck me, however, was not so much their number but something else. I noticed a very large number of women in the troops. Most of them were wearing armor that looked a bit like the one Elizabeth was wearing.

Suddenly, in a flash, all eyes turned to us, or more precisely to her. It was quite a surprising sight and seeing so many people watching us was particularly disturbing. I was not particularly shy, but with so many people looking in our direction, I felt like I had committed the worst ignominy. However, perhaps this feeling was not completely insignificant. Indeed, if everyone - and especially the women - showed an ostensible veneration towards my mistress, it was quite different towards me.

Disdain, envy, jealousy, all these words perfectly described the atmosphere surrounding me. In particular, one group stood out from the crowd. It was three women with an elegant and distinguished look. If they weren't wearing armor, I might have taken them for perfect damsels, but that was without taking into account the hostility they were openly showing me through their glares.

Just as Elizabeth was getting down, these three people approached us and performed a perfect military salute. Elizabeth looked at the three women and saluted them coldly. Although her attitude might have made many people cringe, they did not seem to mind. On the contrary, this somewhat condescending attitude seemed to incense their admiration.

The one who admired her the most was wearing grayish armor turning white. Slightly soberer than Elisabeth's, it exuded the same deadly aura as her superior. She had the particularity of having pink hair and eyes. Her immaculate complexion and thin lips made her an exquisite creature, but her stern look made it clear that she was not to be trifled with.

As she stared at me, I could discern a deadly hostility emanating from her before disappearing the next moment she stared at Elizabeth. The group exchanged a few words and then all turned in my direction and the eyes of the three soldiers froze. Immediately I could feel the tension in the air as one of the officers reacted with incomprehension, but Elisabeth silenced any opposition with a calm voice. The pink-haired woman and her cronies bowed their heads in resignation but continued to watch me with an evil eye.

Then Elisabeth tied me to a post and left me to her duty, accompanied by her subordinates, in another building a little further away. During this time, I could observe the surroundings in more detail. The excitement I had felt earlier was denser here. Something big was about to happen. I had no idea yet, but I could see that every soldier present was wearing shiny, impeccably maintained armor. It must have been an unusual event in their daily lives, but there was a sense of pride in each of them.

The men were wearing rather heavy armor and were equipped with heavy swords. The women, on the other hand, were wearing lighter armor, but more elaborate than their male counterparts. Strangely, the women did not mix with them and were grouped. There were of course a few exceptions, but for the most part, there was a clear distinction between the two genders.

The women seemed to be more proud of themselves than the men were. I knew there were women in the military, but in my world, they were not as numerous and did not have particularly prestigious positions, or very few exceptions. Yet here, these women seemed to be part of an elite.

Somehow they reminded me of Elizabeth. Had she also passed through this stage before she became who she was? I still had no idea what her position was, perhaps she was a general or a colonel, but since I didn't know the words, I never really paid attention. After all, I didn't really care about her professional life.

What I cared about were my survival and my freedom. I still hoped that Myra and Nyfeirg would come for me, but I didn't want to rely on them either. I had to figure out how to get out of this situation on my own. The only reason I was so compliant was that I was afraid that my life would be blown away with the stroke of a blade. I knew that this situation would disappear the moment I ran away, but until then I had no choice. It was a rather paradoxical situation, forcing me to act against my nature, but a pointless death was not worth the risk.

A few minutes later, the atmosphere changed abruptly. As the officers exited the building, the soldiers rearranged their posture and stood ready to act on the slightest command. From their side, I could see that Elizabeth wore a solemn expression and walked with others to the front of the troops amassed in the large courtyard.

When they were only a few meters away, there was instant silence. Everyone listened attentively to the speech of the officer present. He was imposing and had an incredibly cold aura about him. Everyone was on the lookout and no one dared to intervene or even cough during his speech. I had the impression that if someone did, he or she would be instantly cut down by his or her peers.

The officer's attitude reminded me of those club leaders who were feared by all and listened to when they opened their mouths. It was an amusing memory, though I was careful not to express it.

When the officer finished speaking, a horn sounded and everyone started walking towards the back of the castle. Elizabeth came back to me and ordered a nearby soldier to lead me to the castle. He nodded fervently and led me into the building while Elisabeth went to her regiment, which was waiting patiently. It was the women's group and they were all waiting for her orders to start moving. Everyone was watching their leader arrive with eyes sparkling with excitement and admiration. The three women seen earlier were at her side in a tight row.

Under Elizabeth's orders, the platoon responded with one voice. A movement of the arms and each soldier moved forward in a perfectly orchestrated order. There was not a hint of awkwardness in their movement, they were like one entity moving with pinpoint precision.

I made my way through the immense castle until I arrived in a large cell at the back of the property. There, several nobles and other important people were present and stared at us when I appeared. However, the soldier paid no heed to them and took me outside. There he tied me to an old stump and left immediately after his work was done without even bothering to check if I was going to escape

All I could do now was waiting. I was currently in an area overlooking a huge flat land with forests and swamps in the distance. In the center of this area were the soldiers I had seen earlier, perfectly lined up. When Elisabeth and her troops arrived, she came to stand aside with the other officers, while the rest of the troops were also lined up.

Behind me, there were many murmurs. As I turned around, I was amazed at the number of people gathered at the entrance, but also on the balconies on the upper floor of the castle. This event had attracted a lot of curious people and they were all watching with anticipation what was going to happen before their eyes. I could make out a few eyes on me, but soon their interest shifted to the center of the military zone.

At the sound of the horn and drums, the entire army moved into attack position, then at the second sound, the soldiers scattered into different configurations. Some looked like animals while others looked more complex. However, each seemed to be perfectly synchronized with one or another of the formations present. The women acted together and the men on their side.

The rhythm of the drums orchestrated the rhythm of the movements, and when it accelerated, the soldiers accelerated. It was really interesting to watch and I could see that I wasn't the only one who thought so. I could hear some of the nobles exclaiming with fervor while others were chatting with each other with a smile on their faces. This show was there to impress them and, obviously, it had served its purpose perfectly.

After several maneuvers, the drums suddenly stopped and the horn sounded once again. The soldiers mingled at this point, both men and women, drawing their weapons and fighting each other ferociously. The clash of swords against shields echoed through the area, creating a metallic cacophony that gave an air of chaos to the scene, but still controlled.

Among the troops, the women stood out. While their male counterparts were heavily armed and slow, they were light and agile as doves. Although they did not wear heavy armor, this did not put them at any disadvantage against their colleagues. On the contrary, they managed to gain the upper hand over their attackers. The men seemed to be focused on defense while the women, as they were dressed, were more offensively inclined.

"Wow... Can women fight like that too?" I exclaimed in amazement.

After several exchanges, the horn sounded again and the drums began to beat slowly. Immediately, the mass of soldiers moved away from the center, leaving a chasm about a hundred meters in diameter, and everyone took up a waiting position.

At that moment, two soldiers appeared in the center. They were Elisabeth and another officer. The latter was the man who had spoken to the troops earlier in the morning. His look was calm and unruffled. Of course, I did not doubt that he was a master swordsman, as much as Elisabeth.

At that moment, the soldiers began to bang together their weapons against their armor to the rhythm of the drums, creating a solemn and epic atmosphere. Elisabeth was standing about ten meters away from her opponent and did not let him out of her sight for a moment. She had put on the cold and merciless attitude that characterized her so well. I felt the tension rise suddenly and my heart began to beat faster and faster.

Around me, too, the tension was at its highest point.

"I'll finally get to see what she's capable of."

When the sound of drums and metal stopped, I knew the fight was about to begin. In fact, it may have already started when the two opponents entered the "arena".

No more noise was heard. Only the sound of the wind blowing echoed in our ears. The two officers were looking at each other, motionless like stone statues. Here too, everyone was holding their breath. Who would win?

Suddenly, everything started to move. Elisabeth dashed towards her opponent at full speed. Her steps were light and yet carried her with incredible speed. In a few moments, the officer was only a few meters away from her opponent. Yet neither of them seemed to have drawn their weapon. Elisabeth threw her fist towards her opponent's throat and the latter dodged at the last moment. Without waiting, she followed up with a back kick on the officer who immediately grabbed her leg... At least, that was what was expected. With incredible agility, Elisabeth stepped back and put herself in a fighting position, triggering hysteria among the crowd.

Her opponent, however, did not flinch for a moment and immediately counterattacked. Although he wore heavy armor, it seemed to be made of paper, so great was his agility. His movements were also precise and deadly. However, Elisabeth avoided each of his attacks while staring at his eyes without flinching. The man approached and began to link the punches one after the other. Elisabeth dodged each one of them, twirling like a flower in the wind. Her steps were as precise as their opponent's blows.

Suddenly, the man stopped and grabbed his sword. It was huge and had overwhelming power. Immediately he brandished it and unleashed a powerful horizontal lunge on Elisabeth. She drew her weapon and chose not to block her opponent's attack. Instead, she used the inertia of her opponent's weapon to avoid the attack and her body began to flutter in the air like a bird. It was a beautiful sight to see, almost worthy of a theatrical performance.

As she hung in the air, she whirled her weapon and delivered a masterful blow. The man shielded himself with his sword and then split the air with one blow. The blade grazed Elisabeth naturally and she fell back to the ground gracefully before attacking again immediately.

All this had happened before my eyes as quickly as it had taken me to bat an eyelash.

"Amazing," I muttered in awe. "No wonder she's not afraid of me. Even with all of my strength, I wouldn't be a match for her."

I had to admit that this woman was stronger than me. My pride as a man took a hit, but wasn't it good after all? I didn't think I was the strongest in the world, but I had always looked down on the women in my world. However, I was forced to realize that I was very much mistaken. Here, it was the women who were the most powerful.

"If they were here, they wouldn't believe their eyes," I sneered, thinking of my friends.

It was true that in my world we no longer fought with swords or lived in antiquity, but we had lost that heroic side. Here, there were no firearms, only physical strength. The strong survived and the weak perished, that was the immutable rule of this world.

And me, in all this brutality, who was I? A weak slave unable to save himself? My blood was boiling. I had only one desire: to become stronger.

And suddenly the crowd cried out. I looked toward the fight and saw Elizabeth swinging her sword at the jugular of her enemy, who had also brought his weapon against her chest. It was a draw.

Both of them sheathed their weapons and shook hands, creating hysteria among the soldiers once again. The fight, which had not even lasted ten minutes, had captivated the whole assembly. These two people represented the elite of the country, two figures that everyone dreamed to equal one day. It was understandable, no one was better than them.

Here, everyone applauded enthusiastically. And even if the result seemed to be known in advance, it did not take away their admiration and the patriotic feeling that burned in each of them like a hellish fire.

The horn sounded again and each soldier got back into a tight row. Then the drums sounded again and the garrison moved back to the rear yard.

In a short time, the field was emptied of its occupants and all that remained was the hubbub of conversations scalded by the performance. As I looked out over the horizon, a scream sounded behind me.

Turning around, I saw a crowd in the large room in front of me. In the middle was a man, looking quite angry, attacking a scantily-clad woman. He was accompanied by a colleague who was watching the scene with concern.

"It seems to me that I have seen her somewhere before, but where?" I asked myself while staring at the young woman.

She had blue hair, eyes as light as lapis lazuli, and a complexion as white as porcelain. She was a woman like one rarely saw in the streets. Surely I had seen her before, but I couldn't remember. The most peculiar thing was her long, pointed ears.

"Oh yeah ! She is the Elven from the other time, doesn't she ?" I exclaimed suddenly after a few seconds of intense thought. "If I'm not mistaken, she was in the throne room at the time."

She seemed to have been forced to spoil the king with her mouth and had walked away with tears in her eyes. I remembered the hatred I had felt at that moment. Seeing her like that had made me angry, yet there was nothing I could do about it at the time. Acting against her will was something I hated. I had wanted to slap that petty king, but I had miraculously held back. If I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have been in this world at that moment.

It was then that another person stepped in between the two people while bowing. It was a person I had never seen before and her appearance was unique: It was a small fox-like woman with big ears on her head and a long bushy tail on her rump. She looked like a maid from the clothes she was wearing.

Despite her plea, the man in question did not give up and became even more upset. He pushed the young woman violently away and she dodged the attack naturally, which surprised me greatly. Her movements seemed too natural to be performed by a mere servant. The man did not care and approached the Elven lying on the ground. Her friend had come to her and was supporting her with a worried expression. The man then grabbed the blue-haired woman's arm and squeezed until she screamed in pain.

Inside me, my heart was racing. Something made me want to help this woman. I felt that something tragic would happen. Where my chain was tied was a tree with no real resistance. As I pulled, it bent, so much so that my fingers nearly tore off my palm. I had grabbed the chain so tightly that blood was pouring from my hand. I was also pushing so hard that the veins in my face popped out one by one. When the tree finally gave way and released me, I ran as fast as I could and charged at the man with the chains around my hand.

My fist lodged in the jaw of the bastard who was about to hit the woman and he was carried away by my momentum, thrown a few meters away before falling limply to the ground while wriggling like a fish out of water.

I turned and approached the two Elvens on the ground.

"Is everything all right?" I asked, holding out my hand.

The latter, probably frightened by my appearance, cried out in fright and her friend came to protect her. She must have thought that I had come to hurt her. To prove my sincerity, I did not react and just smiled at her. Little by little, the blue-haired Elven calmed down and then, after swallowing a bit, held out her hand to me. I straightened her and took her in my arms before raising her friend a little later.

For some strange reason, the fox maid was staring at me in shock. All around us, there was silence and no one dared to say anything until Elisabeth appeared.

Her presence cast a considerable chill over the crowd and I felt that no one dared to move. Even the two Elvens and the maid seemed genuinely frightened by this woman.

When Elizabeth approached me, she saw my bloody appearance and immediately ran over with the fear that something had happened to me.

"John, are you okay?" she asked me.

"I'm fine. No problem," I replied.

She seemed really worried about me, which touched me. Then she noticed the two Elves and the man lying a little further away. She then stepped towards them with a threatening look. I saw the complexion of the two Elvens turning pale and I felt that if I let her go on, she was going to do something irreparable. Not wanting to create more chaos, I immediately held her back while explaining that everything was fine. Elizabeth gave me a puzzled look but complied nevertheless.

Then she turned to the assembly and shouted. The crowd immediately dispersed, along with the two Elves and the maid. The man on the ground was carried away by his acolyte and disappeared a short time later.

Elizabeth watched the two troublemakers disappear before sighing a sigh. She then turned to me and said a few words before calling out to a nearby guard. He approached and stood at attention in front of her. After ordering him to do something, she nodded and looked at me one last time before walking away.

"I wonder what she's up to," I thought as I watched her disappear into the darkness.

A few minutes later, I glanced over to my side and saw the soldier staring at me with some disdain.

"What's wrong with you? Do you want my picture? You jerk..." I muttered with a sneer.

The guard didn't like my rebellious look but didn't do anything else. He must have been afraid of reprisals if anything happened to me. I didn't intend to play this game for my life, but I realized that I had a certain immunity in the palace. The only person who could get me into trouble was...

"Fortunately, he didn't seem to be there this time."

To tell the truth, I suspected that he must have been present at the military performance, but out of my line of sight. Just as I thought the trouble was over, my lucky star —the one that never betrayed me— struck again.

As we stood still in the room, I was surprised to see the three female warriors approaching from another gallery. The pink-haired woman looked at me with eyes full of hostility, but it didn't affect me. Pretending to ignore them, I watched them from the corner of my eye as they passed us. However, as if my misfortune was not enough, they stopped only a few steps away from me and glared at me.

I could hear their cackle ringing in my ears. Since I didn't understand anything, their words didn't reach me, but hearing them grumble was unbearable. So I decided to react to make them understand that I was not afraid of them.

"Tch!" I said with a sharp movement of my hand. "Get out of here, you're annoying me..."

Their reaction was not long in coming. The pink-haired woman shouted and drew her sword. She grazed my neck and pressed her blade against my skin. I could feel the edge slowly lacerating me, but my opponent knew perfectly how to measure her strength. While smiling slyly, her eyes stared at me with treachery. I could see in them the desire to see me decapitated in an almost sickly way.

"Come on, what. What are you waiting for? Go!" I said fearlessly. "We're alone right now."

This one barked something before insisting more strongly. His colleagues were exulting in joy as they saw me struggling not to flinch while the soldier was unsure what to think. He was probably wondering how he was going to get out of this one.

I had no allies here, I was alone against all. However, my smile did not leave my face, which enraged the woman in front of me. I could feel her desire to kill me, but she held back. She probably didn't want to alienate Elizabeth. I knew that if she found out what had happened, I wouldn't give a damn about her. Nevertheless, since we were alone and Elisabeth still hadn't returned, she could act with impunity.

As the sword was sinking deeper and deeper into my flesh, I could see the Pinky soldier's face showing signs of hesitation. At the same time, her previously excited friends were also showing signs of reluctance. The man, for his part, did not dare to retort but I could notice drops of sweat beading on his forehead.

"So, are you going to do it or not?" I asked nonchalantly.

My only motto was to never give in to adversity, no matter what it was. I wasn't going to let this bitch get the better of me and she understood that. That was what was upsetting her and I was taking malicious pleasure in taking advantage of it.

While the tension was at its peak, the sound of heels resounded in the hallway now empty of its occupants. The pinky soldier opened her eyes and immediately turned her head in their direction. As the noise got closer and closer, the atmosphere in the air became icier. Fear was displaying on the faces of all of them. Suddenly, two green eyes flashed in the darkness, like two fireflies announcing the coming of the great reaper. A woman was standing in front of us, her gaze murderous.

When Elizabeth appeared, the four soldiers froze, paralyzed with fear. I could see their faces turn pale with incredible speed as their foreheads were covered with perspiration.

Standing only a few feet away, the officer stared at her subordinates with eyes so piercing that one would have thought they were capable of killing anyone who crossed their path. She asked them a question, but even though I couldn't understand her, it wasn't hard to guess her words.

No one answered. The four soldiers stood like stone statues, unable to react. Elisabeth repeated her words, but with a much more threatening tone. As if awakened from their torpor, the three women knelt facing their superior while looking at the ground. Their bodies were shaking like dead leaves. I could not imagine what they must have felt at that moment.

The soldier, on the other hand, was slow to react and knelt awkwardly right after. He was perhaps the one of the four who was scared of her the most.

She glared at them before giving me a thoughtful glance. When she saw my cut, her eyes suddenly flared with uncontrollable anger. Her hand instinctively went to her sheath and the sword was drawn. Hearing the sound of the weapon, the four thugs began to plead their innocence one after the other like poor dogs being led to slaughter. Their voices were erratic and none of them could express themselves properly. Yet one word from Elizabeth was enough to silence them. Her voice echoed through the hall like lightning striking their heads.

She approached the pink-haired woman and raised her face with her sword. This one did not dare to look at her interlocutor and answered her feverishly.

Their exchange was icy when suddenly, Elisabeth violently crushed the head of her subordinate to the ground. Her voice echoed through the hall again, but it was barely audible, yet it sounded as clear as if she had whispered in my ear.

Shortly after, Elisabeth hit her subordinate who rolled to the side and barked an order to the others who reacted immediately. Quickly rising to their feet, they bowed to her once more and ran off.

The pinky warrior glared at me one last time before disappearing from my sight. When calm returned, Elisabeth remained silent and beckoned me to follow her. I wanted to say something, but she suddenly waving her hand, making me understand that she didn't want to talk anymore. I did not insist and simply walked behind her.

Through the large, deserted corridors, the only sound I could hear was the sound of our footsteps on the large, dark red carpet that covered the floor. I understood perfectly the reasons for this silence and said nothing until we were out of the castle.

"Elizabeth, are you all right?" I asked.

But she remained silent. We went back on the road without either of us saying a word to each other. I could feel that something was wrong, but I couldn't figure out what it was.

"I wonder what's wrong with her..."

***

Elizabeth couldn't calm down. The day was supposed to be going well though, she was supposed to be in this training and finish the evening with John. Everything seemed to be going well until this incident happened.

"First this story, and then this? But what did I do to deserve it? Why did he have to hug her in the first place?" she muttered indignantly. "Couldn't she protect herself? No, of course not. That bitch only knows how to open her thighs..."

As she tossed and turned in bed, she kept replaying the latest events of the day. She grumbled all the frustration she had stored up during the end of the day. After coming home, she had locked herself in her room and hadn't come out all night. Even when John had brought her food, she had dismissed him without a second thought. She did not want to deal with him under these conditions. And as she always put a point of honor to control everything, it was all the more inexcusable that she was in that state. After a long moment, Elizabeth buried her head in the pillow before inspiring a great blow.

"Anyway, let's not think about it anymore... However, I'll have to take care of this dim-witted of Ealora. I didn't expect this kind of behavior from her... It seems I have to teach her what it costs to attack what belongs to me..."

At that moment, Elizabeth looked out the window. The sky was overcast and not a light was shining through the thick layer of clouds that rippled like the waves. She remembered that she had heard about a strange individual moving like a ghost on the rooftops of the city for a few days. No one knew who he was, but rumors were flying. To Elizabeth, it was nothing more than a woman's story and not worth her attention.

"Hmpf! Like I care."

***

Somewhere in Lespada...

"Crack!"

The sound of a vase breaking was heard from a cottage, then furniture was knocked over violently before everything calmed down soon after. The cottage was quite modest but was a testament to the status of its inhabitant. The wooden shutters were half-open and a faint glow escaped through the gaps. Outside, no noise disturbed the quiet of the night, despite the gasps of the inhabitant.

"How dare he?" cried Ealora breathlessly. "That vile shit! How dare he humiliate me like that!"

She couldn't believe it, couldn't understand it. It was simply intolerable. Beyond being brutally reprimanded by her superior, the Lieutenant could not forgive this insignificant slave for his audacity and temerity.

"Why did she fall for this nobody? I've always been there for her. If she asked me, I would give her my life, my heart! But no, it had to be that horny male."

After she calmed down, she put away her cottage and went to wash up. She had had enough. Her day had been the worst of her entire career, she didn't even know how she was going to deal with her superior now. She who had always respected her always admired her.

"I swear I'll kill him..." she said in a dangerous tone while staring at the water in her bathtub.

***

In the castle's jails, a man was sitting on a dingy bench, his head bowed and his gaze focused on his clasped hands anxiously. It had been several hours now since he had been locked up without a chance to explain himself. The only thing he remembered was that blow against his person that had knocked him out. He had come to his senses in that cell, completely unprepared, and when he had finally seen the jailer approach him, he had smiled machiavellian without answering him before disappearing a short time later.

The man was incensed by such treatment. Indeed, Hectorus was not just anyone and he knew that the King was making a horrible mistake by holding him captive.

"As soon as I get out, I'm going to complain to the department," he said indignantly to himself.

He had no idea how serious his action was.

Several hours passed before he heard rapid footsteps in his direction. He immediately approached the bars to see who was coming when he was overwhelmed with joy to see his colleague arriving in the company of the guards and the jailer.

"Oh, Antonis! I knew you would come to free me," he exclaimed with uncontained joy. "Hurry up and get me out of this shithole!"

However, the expression on his friend's face was not one of joy. When he arrived in front of Hectorus, he stared at him with a dark look, triggering a doubt in the latter.

"Hey, what's going on, my friend?" he asked worriedly.

The atmosphere was austere and silent. Hectorus began to get goosebumps as his friend did not answer him.

"Say something, Antonis. Don't leave me like this!"

It was then that his colleague opened his mouth.

"Hectorus, I'm sorry."

"What?" exclaimed Hectorus with a touch of fear. "What do you mean by that?"

"Do you remember the two Elvens we met earlier?"

"You mean those sluts? What does that have to do with anything?"

"It turns out that those 'sluts' are the King's favorites," Antonis said gravely.

Suddenly, Hectorus' face paled and he felt his energy leave him.

"By attacking them, you have attacked the King himself. As such, you have been judged guilty of the crime of Lèse-Majesté. The sentence you have been given is death by decapitation. I just wanted to tell you in person..."

Hectorus blinked several times, not understanding the situation he was in. His mind could not integrate the words that had dictated to him. He thought it must be a mistake, a bad dream.

"What... what are you going to say there, Antonis? This is a joke, isn't it? Do you want to scare me, admit it?" the merchant asked in amazement.

But unfortunately, Antonis did not show any uncertainty. His eyes were downcast, and he just looked at the ground with a solemn air. Suddenly, the jailer accompanied by the soldiers came forward and opened the door. Hectorus came to his senses at that moment and instinctively stepped back.

"What are you doing? Step back! Do you even know who I am? I am Hectorus Littlewood, a member of Libercio! You have no right!" the man cried out in despair as the guards entered his cell.

Without waiting, the guards seized the madman and tackled him to the ground. Helpless, he kept struggling while claiming his innocence.

"Antonis! Help me! You can't let them commit this ignominy! Antonis!!!"

But his sidekick remained mute to his plea. And when he saw the ax that was about to cut his head off, Hectorus' mind shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Ah ah ah, this is all a bad dream! Ah ah ah! I will wake up and all this will disappear! Ah ah ah, I can't die here, I can't -..."

His voice abruptly fell silent in the darkness of the cell, allowing only a deathly silence to fill the jail.

***

It was a rainy morning. As usual, the morning's program was simple: cook for Elisabeth - and incidentally for me, clean the house, receive the mail and wait for her return. Without question, it was a perfectly suitable routine for me as someone who was used to this kind of activity. As the days went by, I felt less and less uncomfortable. I had become perfectly accustomed to my surroundings, perhaps even too much so - again.

"When can I escape from this hole?" I asked myself while stirring the water in the pot.

After Elizabeth left, I took my station and busied myself with my chores.

"Seriously, is this my new life? Playing maid?" I indignantly said while sweeping outside the door. "Maybe I should have listened to my parents and kept studying..."

***

Meanwhile, in the great throne room...

"General Elisabeth Aiglonoir, Report!" the woman saluted militarily in a voice slightly tinged with sarcasm.

"Um... Elisabeth, as you know, tonight is a very important event for me. This banquet will serve to demonstrate to our guests the abundance of our city. So, because I am good, I will allow you to bring this savage with you." declared the King with some dissatisfaction in his voice.

"Very We—... Excuse me?" she interrupted suddenly.

"What did you not understand?" asked Gaius in a slightly displeased tone.

"It's nothing, Your Majesty. It is that I did not expect such an honor..." said Elizabeth. However, inwardly, her mind was whirling at a rapid pace. "Strange, it's not like him to deploy such stratagems to make a fool of me... So who can it be? Oh, I see... So this is their work... Those old wrecks still haven't digested the affront I gave them..."

Elizabeth left after she met with the king, but her mood was not the best. She did not like the way things were going against her. Her rise in the hierarchy had not made everyone happy. Some personalities were openly critical of her position and did not hesitate to put obstacles in her way. One particular event had fanned the flames of discord when Elisabeth had triumphantly demonstrated to her superiors that they were all incompetent and senile. Certainly, they had not forgiven her for this affront.

"Wait a little tonight..." she muttered grimly. "I won't let this happen without a reaction. Whoever messes with the Invincible Rose, gets deeply stuck in it..."

With that, the General faded into the darkness of the hallway.

***

In the afternoon, Elizabeth came back to the house when I was about to rest.

"What happened to her? On vacation?" I asked as I saw her approaching. However, I changed my mind when I saw the sullen expression she was wearing. "It doesn't look like it..."

I straightened up and came to greet her at the door. She quickly got off her horse and took me to town shortly thereafter without my being able to react.

We walked briskly through the crowded streets of the city. Many people —mostly citizens— were moving aside as we were approaching. Most of them seemed to be in awe of Elisabeth. However, she simply ignored them and made her way through the swarming mass. This insolent behavior nevertheless did not arouse any negative reaction from the plebs.

Remaining totally invisible to them, I was following my mistress like her shadow until we arrived at a store with a strange sign. The image represented a kind of crystal surrounded by light that left behind a bluish plume. The store in question was selling fabrics as well as clothes made with great care. Many people were busy inspecting the items on display. Without further ado, Elisabeth entered the shop under the surprised eyes of the onlookers.

Inside, the smell of fabric and perfume invaded my nostrils. It was so intense that I could not help but wince slightly. We were then greeted by an outgoing-looking man who showed off his slender legs while his torso was half-covered by the top he was wearing. His hairstyle was very contemporary to my world and fell to the side of his head. Yet, what surprised me the most was not so much his style of dress, but his mannerisms.

He was behaving like a real diva, and for a moment I wondered if he had been a woman dressed as a man, but it was not so. The customers in the store seemed not bothered in the least by his very effeminate attitude. Moreover, I assumed that he was probably the store manager.

When the man saw us approaching, he cried out as if he had just reached an orgasm. He immediately closed to Elizabeth and, without fear, grabbed both her hands with great enthusiasm. My eyes widened in astonishment and I stared at the man in bewilderment. Knowing the reputation of the military woman, I expected him to pass quickly from life to death, but he did not. Elizabeth greeted him as if nothing had happened.

"Unbelievable," I thought. "Then there are such people in this city..."

My fear turned to admiration. The man —or woman— in front of me may not have been a warrior, but his courage was unmatched.

Elizabeth and the extroverted merchant began to talk to each other before the latter's gaze fell on me. I suddenly felt goosebumps crawl up my spine as I watched the man's eyes devouring me as if I were a delicious dessert.

"Listen, buddy, I'm a very open-minded person, but not that open..." I whispered while backing away.

Elizabeth noticed my reluctance and forced me to stay with her. I felt the harness pressing my neck forward and I could only move reluctantly. The man, meanwhile, approached me and started to palpate me a little bit everywhere.

"If you dare to touch my... Oh, bastard!" I cried indignantly.

I thought that at least my mistress would react to this affront, but she remained placidly still while watching me being violated. My fists clenched and just as I was about to slap him, he suddenly moved away as if he had assumed the worst. Once again, he cried out like a lovesick damsel and fled into the depths of the store, leaving me with the bitter feeling of having been dirtied in my intimacy.

A few minutes later, the rascal returned with a multitude of fabrics and clothes in his arms. With the agreement of Elisabeth, he took me to a small cabin and made me try on an astronomical quantity of different outfits, marrying the most improbable colors and forms between them. Each of my attempts was then judged by Elisabeth, who nodded or shaked her head each time I presented myself to her. I felt like I had become a clown, but there was nothing I could do about it. This man's infatuation with dressing me up was beyond my own passion for motorcycles, it was appalling.

Once this incessant dance in front of the amazed eyes of the customers was over, an outfit was finally selected. If I was reluctant at first, I had to admit that in the end, this man had managed to find the one that suited me best. Thus dressed, I blended in with the urban landscape and even could look like a nobleman if one forgot the harness that hung around my neck. Elisabeth seemed equally pleased with my outfit and simply nodded with a mischievous smile on her lips.

The man, who was sweating profusely from his forehead, also seemed happy to have satisfied my mistress and hurried to put away the outfits I had tried on. After having paid him, we left towards the house of Elisabeth under the enthusiastic goodbye of the employee.

"Don't hesitate to come back and see us!" he said, certainly.

I felt a chill run through me at that moment and prayed that I would never have to deal with that man again.

The sky was slowly turning orange as the streets emptied of people. The evening was coming and a strange clamor was developing on the side of the castle. I could see the lights swaying slightly as a large number of guests made their way towards it.

"It looks like something big is coming," I thought as I walked.

Elizabeth was also watching the castle with a hint of anticipation reflected in her eyes.

When I returned, I saw her rushing into the bathroom. As I waited in the living room, I saw her reappear a whole hour later, glowing. I was stunned by her beauty.

Elisabeth had put on a blue satin dress that generously emphasized her waist and her chest. Her arms were unclothed and her legs were partly hidden by the hem of her dress which moved with each step. Her hair was sumptuously coiffed and rested delicately on her shoulders. She had attached small earrings and an elegant cuff on her left arm. On her feet were heeled sandals that made her walk majestic and dignified. As she approached me, Elizabeth twirled gently and looked at me with anticipation. However, my mouth remained wide open. At the same time, I couldn't help but stare at her bouncing buttocks, which were showing under the contours of her dress.

Elisabeth blushed slightly and, while showing a delighted air, enjoined me to wash as well as to put on the outfit she had bought me. By the way, I had not yet thanked her for the gift. It must have been something expensive and despite my hesitation about it, I wanted to thank her properly. It was important to me to always thank others for their generosity. It also showed the respect I could show them.

Once inside the bathroom, I took a few moments to observe the outfit Elizabeth had bought me with an ounce of disbelief.

"Will I... really wear this?" I questioned. "What kind of place requires such costume? Don't tell me that..."

A thought crossed my mind. If that was the case, then it was understandable that I would dress well, but as a slave, did I have the legitimacy to wear such clothes? I wasn't going to turn down such a gift, though.

It was a large ochre tunic decorated with black piping forming a single piece of fabric. It was tailored and fitted me perfectly. Its general shape reminded me of pajamas and made me laugh with embarrassment. Concerning my underwear, they had been thrown away a few days ago and I was naked under my jeans, which was very disturbing when I was walking. However, here, no underwear either. I was completely naked under this garment.

"I... Suppose I have no choice?"

I didn't know if there were also underwear here like the ones I had, but since I hadn't received any, I had to settle for nothing.

After washing myself thoroughly, I put on the tunic and combed my hair, which had grown longer by then. Looking at myself in the mirror, I had to admit that the garment looked good on me, but that flapping feeling between my legs made me uncomfortable.

Finally, I left the bathroom and joined Elisabeth who was waiting for me in the living room. She looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. Faced with her very enthusiastic attitude, I couldn't help but smile awkwardly before scratching my head. This one got up and approached me to better contemplate me then put her hand on my shoulder before stretching a fold that had slipped on my dress. Satisfied, she moved aside and inspected me one last time before nodding her head in approval.

The sky had cleared and a curtain of orange-red colored the houses and trees. As we walked out, I noticed that several officers were also heading in the same direction as us. All were dressed lavishly. Their wives were also with them and each was dressed elegantly for the event.

When the officers saw us, their first reaction was one of delight at seeing how sublime my mistress was, much to the chagrin of their jealous companions. However, when their gaze turned to me, they wavered strangely. Being a slave, they didn't expect me to be so well dressed, and as they stared at me in amazement, I could see some of the women glancing at me. I assumed that they must have liked me to some extent. Some of the husbands noticed this and became indignant, even though they had done the same thing before.

Elisabeth, on the other hand, was content to walk nonchalantly to her destination without worrying about the gossip or arguments of the couples around her. This was a side of her that I liked. She didn't give a damn about what other people said or thought, she just kept on going regardless.

After a good half hour of walking, we finally arrived at the edge of the palace. Night had recently fallen and the large torches scattered along the streets illuminated our route with their flickering light. As we got closer and closer, more and more people joined us, until we formed a heterogeneous mass. Some people came to greet Elisabeth and chat with her briefly before rejoining their group shortly after. However, all the men had the same reaction to her. Their eyes crept insidiously into her cleavage and onto her buttocks when they had the chance.

As we were about to enter the royal domain, I saw a familiar face approaching us. It was the young nobleman who had approached us the other day in the street. This one had eyes only for Elisabeth and he hastened to greet her with great fervor in his eyes. She reacted favorably and greeted him in turn, and then both began to exchange a few words naturally. However, I could notice that the man avoided at all costs to carry me the least consideration, he really did not like me. However, several times Elisabeth put me in front of their exchange without her interlocutor understanding what she wanted to do.

After a few words, my mistress took leave of her compatriot, to the great dismay of this last one, then led me inside the palace.

To reach the interior, we had to walk up a long staircase that snaked through rocks and military barricades. After all, such an event had to be perfectly secure. Every time Elizabeth met one of her subordinates, he would stand at attention and let us pass after a quick inspection. Not even she could escape this, but she must have been used to it, as she let herself go without flinching.

Once inside, I was amazed by the number of people present. The corridors, the aisles, the seats were crowded with a multitude of personalities, some of whom were very rich. There were also many slaves, but they were poorly dressed. Nevertheless, some of them had the chance to wear beautiful clothes, sometimes more elaborate than mine.

Our entrance made many people look away and I could feel a certain tension in the air. Everyone knew who my mistress was, but very few dared to come and talk to her for some strange reason. Was it her cold and haughty attitude that put them off or was her fame speaking for her? From my point of view, she may have looked like that, but deep down I liked to think it was different. They didn't live with her and didn't know who she really was.

After a few greetings, Elisabeth went deeper into the castle. People willingly gave way to us to let us pass and we were able to move through the crowd without difficulty.

We first passed through an enormous hall that opened onto large cells where starlight majestically illuminated the surroundings, creating an air of mystery around me. The hall gave access to the throne room, which I knew by now. However, we did not go there. Most of the guests had gathered in the huge inner garden and I could hear music reaching my ears. Moreover, an army of servants - mostly women - moved around and offered food and drink to those who wanted it. It was a real feast where the means had been profusely deployed.

"This jerk really has money to throw away..." I sneered inwardly.

Another familiar face appeared in my field of vision. It was the young fox woman who had accompanied the two Elven slaves I had seen the other day. She seemed to be overworked and was doing her best to complete her task.

In the garden —or should I call it a plain— a huge crowd had formed around a beast proudly displayed for all to see. I knew this beast very well, it was the dragon that had chased me several weeks ago. All that was left of him was his carcass and his scaly skin, which glistened in the moonlight.

As I looked at him, I realized how lucky I was to be alive today. Its size was phenomenal for a lizard. I could hear cries of fright, fascination, laughter, and conversations swarming wildly around this deadly trophy.

As we approached, people turned towards us. I was surprised to see the one person I never wanted to see again in my life standing in front of me with a triumphant look on his face. He was surrounded by his two slaves and they were wide-eyed when they saw me.

I discreetly greeted them and saw that the blue-haired Elven had suddenly turned as red as a peony.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked. "I know I look like a clown, but still..." I added while inspecting my clothes with boredom.

The King was watching us arrive and was clearly displeased with my appearance, but said nothing. Elizabeth greeted the King and told me to do the same. However, I was dejected at the idea of bowing before this scum. However, I didn't want to create a scene and reluctantly bowed quickly, but my face made my intentions clear. The King frowned and spoke to Elizabeth in an irritated tone. As their conversation progressed, the tension gradually diminished until he grabbed his two slaves in front of us without any restraint. They moaned delicately, but I could see the blue-haired Elven looking at me with total embarrassment.

"Still forcing her to act against her will... Maybe I should finally..."

But no sooner did the thought cross my mind than the King noticed the strange attitude of his slave. He glanced at her and saw the expression she had. After a few exchanges, the two escorts left without asking for their rest. However, I could see the crimson-haired Elven glaring at me before they disappeared into the crowd. Elisabeth followed the two women with her eyes before returning to the King, who looked disillusioned. He now looked rather pitiful. He coughed for a few moments before dismissing us, to be joined by other guests who took the opportunity to deepen their relationship with the monarch.

Elizabeth then took me to the dragon's carcass. She wanted to see this monster again, which I had faced before. It may have been dead, but it still made quite an impression on me. This beast was the king of the skies, for sure. The other onlookers watched us out of the corner of their eyes without making too many comments about me, probably so as not to attract the wrath of my mistress who was watching the dragon with disbelief.

At that moment, a rather elderly voice sounded behind us. Turning around, I saw a group of men dressed splendidly accompanied by their wives. Without searching very far, I guessed that they had come to quarrel with Elisabeth. The latter, looked at them coldly approaching but did not say anything that would betray her most secret thoughts.

When the group arrived at the same level as us, Elisabeth greeted them succinctly, but they were content to snigger among themselves.

"Who are these old buffoons? Do they think I'll let them make a fool of her?" I thought coldly.

As I was about to step forward, Elisabeth beckoned me to stay in my place.

"I don't need you to take care of them," she warned me.

The leader of the troop, about fifty years old, had a small mustache and short hair slicked back. He glared at Elisabeth as if to make her understand that she was just an insect in the great chessboard. His wife, who happened to be the same age as him, was dressed ostentatiously and proudly displayed the jewelry she was wearing on her neck and fingers. Her haughty demeanor and slight look told me that she was not a good person.

She stared at me for a moment before looking Elizabeth up and down as if she was having fun judging the latter's interest. Her husband then said something, but Elisabeth just stared at him without giving way once. My desire to hit them was growing stronger and stronger, but there was nothing I could do. This was not my fight and Elisabeth had been very clear about that. Knowing her, I wouldn't give a damn if I disobeyed her.

Suddenly, as the conversation was heating up, Elisabeth took me by the arm and, after having greeted our guests, led me elsewhere under their stunned gaze. I could obviously hear some reactions behind our backs, but Elisabeth didn't care.

After that, we went to eat. The encounter we had just had had had given me an appetite. Here, food was plentiful as was the wayne and everyone was happily helping themselves to the dishes laid out appropriately before our eyes.

Seeing how everyone was stuffing themselves like geese, my disgust was only exacerbated. Yet, I could not resist the delicious smell that titillated my taste buds and while my eyes glistened with greed, I was struck by the presence of some slaves who, like me, accompanied their masters during the feast. There were slaves of all races: Elves, beast-men, some even stranger, and also Humans. It wasn't really their presence that concerned me, after all, I had been used to the sight while walking around town with Elisabeth, but rather the attitude they displayed. Most of them didn't seem to want to be here, or even to be in this situation.

How could you blame them? No one wanted to watch this royal circus.

I thought that some of the owners would at least show some restraint among those present, but I was wrong. As it turned out, they were all behaving like the other guests: they were living in their own little world without any concern for what was around them. They showed no consideration for their slaves —they were more here to entertain the crowds than anything else— and were happily filling their bellies.

Just when I thought I had seen it all, my gaze was drawn inexorably to several gatherings away from the crowd.

"You're kidding me... How is this possible?"

Like food, decay was flourishing. In several places, I could see men and women being savagely picked on by unscrupulous guests. Some were even busy pleasing their masters by cajoling them with an unwelcome treat while others watched with envious eyes.

"Everyone seems to find this completely normal... What world have I fallen into? This society is run by a useless monarch and the nobles who compose it are the same," I rose up inwardly.

Elisabeth did not seem to be disturbed by this obscene spectacle and was content to pick at various foods in the various dishes present. I could have thought she was completely indifferent to this, except for seeing her eyebrows slightly furrowed, betraying her vain attempt to control herself.

"At least I'm not the only one who finds this objectionable..."

I then showed Elizabeth a food item and she, as if awakening from a bad dream, flinched slightly.

"What is this?" I asked.

I didn't know if she understood me, but she started to tell me about what was in front of me. It looked like pork, but the color was turning orange and the smell was particularly appetizing. My eyes then strayed to a jar of sauce lying next to it. The color reminded me strongly of something.

"Don't tell me that..."

An irrepressible desire to taste it overwhelmed me like a tsunami. I couldn't help but dip my index finger in it and put it in my mouth... When I was struck with amazement.

"My God! Mayonnaise!" I cried.

"Majo... Nayz?" asked Elizabeth while putting on a thoughtful look before exclaiming, "Joneso!"

"Ioneso?"

Elizabeth shook her head and repeated more slowly, "Joneso, Jo, jo!"

"Jo... neso?"

She nodded and dipped a piece of meat into the mayonnaise —well, the Joneso— and handed it to me as if she wanted to feed me herself. Surprised by this sudden situation, I looked at her with a troubled expression as she handed me the meat with a look of hope.

"Do I really have to do this? I feel like this will cause more trouble than it needs to," I thought.

Still, the temptation was too good. I decided to put my apprehensiveness aside and happily bit into the piece of meat that was handed to me. The combination of both was simply exquisite. A slight groan escaped my throat as I gobbled up my bite.

Around us, a few observers could not help but be shocked by the scene. I could already hear a few whispers audible enough to reach us. It was obvious that they were intended for Elisabeth, but she didn't seem to notice. Or rather, it was as if she was expecting these reactions.

"It's like..."

But no sooner did I have time to think about it than Elisabeth bit into the meat in turn, creating fear among the crowd.

"Definitely... She definitely premeditated it!" I cried silently.

Indeed, Elizabeth was acting as if she knew exactly what was going to happen. Her actions were drawing strong reactions from observers. What was her purpose? Was it to taunt them? Or was she just having fun with the situation? I couldn't figure it out. I didn't want to think about it. All I cared about at that moment was eating. I took a second piece of meat, dipped it in the sauce, and ate it in one sitting. Elizabeth then presented me with several other dishes, all different and very tasty. That night I learned new words.

***

Back in their room, Alyndra and Shalia were resting in the large bed that occupied the room. They had left the party after Shalia had started acting strangely. The origin of all this, Alyndra knew it perfectly: it was this Human who had appeared a little earlier in the evening. She did not expect to see him again soon. Even his appearance seemed to have changed. She had thought he looked rather handsome dressed like that, but the thing that was worrying her at the moment was the emotional state Shalia was in. She was humming a soft melody while looking at her beautiful polished nails.

Usually, she only did this when she was about to meet the King, but this time was an exception. Besides, it was no longer a surprise to her now that she knew the ins and outs of this story.

"Shalia, is everything okay?" she ventured to ask, knowing the answer in advance.

"Um, what did you say, Alyndra?" the Elven asked, her mind wandering elsewhere.

Alyndra sighed and shook her head resignedly. She had lost her for good.

"It's nothing," she muttered before looking out one of the windows lining the room. Outside, it was quiet and the stars were shining dimly. She was about to stretch when her attention was immediately drawn outside. Shalia hadn't heard anything and was still frolicking gently. Seeing that she didn't react, Alyndra figured she must have been hallucinating and put aside her apprehension when suddenly, another noise was heard.

"Did you hear that?" she asked curiously.

"What?"

"The noise outside, I heard something."

Shalia straightened up and strained her ear. The noise reappeared soon after, waking the Elven from her daydreams. The noise was distinct from the ones they were used to hearing. Something was moving outside and was slowly approaching their room.

"Do you think it's a thief?" Shalia hesitated in an anxious tone.

She didn't want to deal with one of those thugs that were running around town.

"I don't know. Wait, I'll see," Alyndra replied, taking a deep breath.

She straightened up and took her courage in both hands, then walked with a firm step in the direction of the window.

"Be careful," Shalia exclaimed while biting her lower lip.

It was her habit when she was anxious.

Alyndra approached the window when suddenly a head appeared. The Elven instinctively recoiled in fear before stopping dead in her tracks. Indeed, the individual who had just appeared was a woman, and not just any woman.

"An Elven?" she exclaimed, her eyes wide open.

Although her face was partially hidden by the hood that covered her head, Alyndra knew immediately that it was one of her kind. The two Elvens could discern were two sky blue eyes similar to two jewels that gleamed in the half-light. The newcomer also had the same reaction when she saw them. She was obviously not expecting to meet people here. She pulled herself up one last time and fell slightly to the ground.

Alyndra stared at the woman in front of her for a long moment. She noticed a dagger strapped to her owner's leg and a bow on her back. Clearly, she was a huntress. Her memories came back like fireworks exploding in the night. However, she knew that this woman was not from her home forest. Elves had this ability to recognize their kins instinctively, just as one would instinctively tell two different flowers apart. This Elven did not smell like her, but not completely so she must have been from a nearby region.

"Good evening," the Elven exclaimed in a quiet tone, "I didn't expect to meet my kind in places like this."

She had leaned against the windowsill and was watching her interlocutor meticulously, but Alyndra could make out the slight movements of her eyes darting around every corner of the room.

"Good evening, my name is Alyndra and this is Shalia," she said with a wave of her hand. "Who am I honoring?"

"Myra. I'm looking for someone. Perhaps you could help me?"

"Describe this person and we can think about it... But before you do, how about a cup of tea?" offered Alyndra as she presented the table to her.

Myra seemed calm, but Alyndra felt distrust in her. After all, this place was the stronghold of their mortal enemy. Anyone who dared venture here had to be either desperate or firmly resolved to brave adversity. So the Elven wanted to appear as welcoming as possible to put their surprise guest at ease.

Shalia, for her part, watched the Elven with curiosity. She didn't meet one every day and to see one, who was free, was a rare thing in this kingdom. In fact, it was perhaps the first time she had met such a person since her captivity. She may have been a fugitive, but she was first and foremost free, unlike herself.

"I'm sorry, but all I want is to find this person as soon as possible. I don't plan on staying in this prison forever," Myra replied with dislike.

Alyndra smiled awkwardly. She shared the thoughts of her fellow man, but could not put them into practice. She had resigned herself to her sad fate. She had come to terms with her captivity and accepted it.

"You have my word, you are safe here. No one but the two of us is allowed to enter these premises."

"Why should I believe you?"

"I understand your reluctance, but if we meant you harm, don't you think it would be done already?"

At the sound of these words, the Elven slowly relaxed, but still did not move. She snorted with disdain then removed her hood as well as her scarf, revealing then her magnificent blond hair and her sumptuous face under the meditated glance of her fellow women.

They caught themselves admiring her for a moment before being pulled out of their dreams by Myra's sharp voice.

"I am looking for a Human named John. He has long hair, a goatee and black eyes. He is about my height and speaks a strange language. I saw him enter this castle some time ago. Help me meet him!"

When Shalia heard Myra's description, her mind froze.

"This woman knows him?" she questioned, thinking back to the enslaved Human.

Alyndra had the same reaction as her partner and widened her eyes. On her side, Myra observed them without saying a word, but her look showed a certain impatience.

"Well? Will you help me?" asked the huntress.

The two slaves looked at each other and then back at Myra.

"That's... We don't know him personally. He's currently accompanying someone important that we can't approach," Alyndra replied hesitantly. "Besides, we've been ordered to stay here... I'm sorry!"

The guest, annoyed, sighed and clicked her tongue nervously. Neither of the two harlots knew how to help her.

"We can't help you directly," Shalia suddenly exclaimed. "But we know the person he's accompanying. Her name is Elisabeth Aiglonoir."

Myra crossed her arms and immersed herself in deep thought. After a long moment, she raised her head and asked, "This woman, what can you tell me about her? Where does she live? What is her relationship to him?"

"She is a terrible and merciless woman," Shalia replied, trembling.

Alyndra came to comfort her and added, "She is one of the Generals of the Armies. This human, John, has been her slave for some time now and accompanies her almost everywhere she goes."

Her interlocutor's eyes widened at the words.

"Her... slave?" she asked in amazement.

Alyndra and Shalia nodded weakly.

Myra remained speechless for a moment before resuming.

"If what you say is true, then that means he must live with her, or if so, near her, right?"

"I'm not sure..." admitted Alyndra.

"I suspected as much," she muttered with disappointment.

Suddenly, Shalia stepped forward.

"I think I know where to find her..."

Myra rested her gaze on her, indicating for her to continue.

"There's a place where officers reside exclusively... I remember it's called the Suburb of Dawn."

"The Suburb of Dawn? Oh my! How could I not have thought of that?" said Alyndra.

"How do I reach this place? I've been wandering around the city for several weeks now and I'm starting to lose hope."

Then Alyndra mused, "She's been in town all this time and has never been stopped until now? But how did she do it?" But she didn't. Alyndra approached Myra and pointed out the direction through the window. While remaining on her guard, she let herself be guided..

"It's this way, if you follow the ramparts for about twenty minutes, you should get there. On the other hand, the place is constantly watched. It will be difficult for you to access it," warned Alyndra.

"Don't worry about me, I can handle it."

Alyndra noticed the condescension her fellow Elven being had towards herself, but she didn't blame her. She was used to being hated for what she had become, even by her own kind. She sighed slightly before she caught sight of Shalia. Shalia had approached with a sheepish look on her face and, while gathering her courage, tried to ask the question that was burning in her mind.

"Um, what is your relationship with this Human?"

Myra looked at her in surprise. Shalia waited for her answer, as well as Alyndra. Both were curious about this woman's motives for daring to venture into this evil land in search of a mere Human.

"That's none of your business!" replied Myra in a frantic voice.

She motioned with her hand to signify that she would not answer any more of their questions about her relationship with John.

"Thank you for the information. Well then..."

As Myra was about to step over the window, she was stopped in her tracks by Shalia.

"Can you at least tell us what forest you are from? Please..."

It was the second question that burned in her mind. She didn't have many visitors, and the only discussions she could have were of the daily routine at the castle. She wanted to hear from the outside world, from her homeland, from her people. Even though Myra was not from the same place as her, being able to talk to her was good for her.

When Myra heard her question, she sighed and stared at Shalia intently. After a few seconds, she said, "Thaldae."

"Thaldae? That's the great forest beyond the mountains, isn't it? Alyndra and I are from Neremyn!" the Elven exclaimed in a cheerful voice.

"Neremyn? That's a name I haven't heard in a long time," Myra said thoughtfully.

Elves rarely left their forests. Normally, they never ventured outside the perimeter decided by their village elders. Yet on very rare occasions, a few of them would cross the boundaries to other forests or other civilizations. As Myra had never set foot outside her native forest, she did not know Neremyn very well, but Azarccaran the Elder had mentioned several times this ancient forest near theirs. It was a mysterious place, where the inhabitants possessed extraordinary abilities. Obviously, Myra did not expect to find any natives here.

"How did you end up here?"

Shalia and Alyndra smiled awkwardly but did not answer. This was a delicate subject and they preferred not to answer it if they didn't have to. Seeing the discomfort generated by her question, Myra retracted.

"Sorry for the rudeness," she said, shaking her head. "On that note, take care of yourself."

She hid her face again, then escaped through the window and disappeared shortly thereafter, leaving the two Elvens to their thoughts.

***

After descending, Myra took refuge in the shadows of the houses before taking one last look at the castle window, then climbed one of the nearby walls and landed on the roof of a small house. Silence lulled the city into night. Since infiltrating the city, Myra had not been able to get any information about John's situation. Was he still alive? Where was he now? After several weeks of fruitless searching, she had finally obtained a crucial piece of information.

"All this for a mere Human," she said sarcastically. "Naifagu, what could you possibly see in him?"

Quietly, the Elven set off and, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, headed for the Dawn Suburb.