Chapter_04: Lowfire District

Damian rose wearily, his eyes catching sight of a long stick in the room, prompting him to walk over to it.

Taking the stick, he looked at Ragnar and suggested, "Why don't you use this for support, Ragnar?" with a smile.

That's kind of him. I'm starting to like this guy. Ragnar nodded in agreement as Damian approached him.

Damian extended the item to Ragnar with a gesture of reverence, maintaining eye contact as Ragnar acknowledged the offering.

"You may all leave this room, so I will close it," he pronounced, the lance poised at his side.

"We may," Lady Ana murmured gently. "Let's go, Ragnar," she suggested, striding towards the door and casting a meaningful look at Ragnar.

Her eyes met Ragnar's, and a gust of wind outside gently tousled her hair, causing it to sway with grace. Sunlight shimmered in her eyes as she kept them locked on Ragnar.

Ragnar leaned heavily on his stick as he slowly moved towards the door.

"Don't be so slow; walk like a man," Lady Ana quipped in a jesting tone.

Ana chuckled softly, her delicate hands covering her mouth.

Ragnar took a step, then another, pushing through the pain. His next step was shorter, and he glanced back at Lady Ana, who had a sly smile on her face.

It hurts; how deep were the ghouls biting into my flesh?

"You can do it; I'm here to support you," she reassured him with a gentle and kind tone.

Her soft voice reverberated through Ragnar, echoing in his mind, fueling his determination to reach the door as if his life depended on it. With each painful step, he pressed forward, feeling a stinging sensation throughout his body.

I will reach the exit of this room! I will walk through this pain despite the demons trying to bring me down. He vowed, as he pushed to his limits with all the remaining strength he had left.

Struggling with each step, it felt like invisible forces were dragging him down, impeding his progress.

Flushed and sweating, Ragnar finally took the last step, reaching the door.

"You're quite tired, aren't you?" Lady Ana inquired as she strolled outside, allowing Ragnar to follow.

Surprisingly, Ragnar kept up with her. Looking outside, he was greeted by a breathtaking view. Taking a deep breath, a sense of relaxation washed over him.

Stepping outside, a gentle breeze carried birds and eagles through the expansive blue sky. Situated on a majestic mountain, the building provided Ragnar with a stunning vista of the vast landscape below.

Moving forward cautiously, Ragnar approached the wooden railing, revealing that the entire structure nestled amidst the mountain. Houses and buildings dotted the path leading to the peak, ending at a majestic castle adorned with a fluttering blue flag.

This is beautiful!

Lady Ana paused, letting Ragnar absorb the breathtaking view. She watched his emotional reaction, meeting his gaze with a knowing smile.

"Perhaps we should focus on healing your body first, so you can explore this place without hindrance," Lady Ana suggested kindly.

Ragnar quickly looked back at Ana with joy and approval written across his face.

"If you want to, then let's go," Ana said with a mischievous glint in her eye as she started walking, leaving Ragnar behind.

"Remember, I won't wait for you," she taunted, her voice carrying a playful edge.

Ragnar took a deep breath, his determination renewed. Gripping his long stick tightly, he followed Ana with steady, resolute steps. The magnificent view and the hope of healing propelled him forward, despite the lingering pain.

Suddenly, Lady Ana halted, her eyes fixed on Damian as he diligently moved all the chairs from outside the structure to the inside.

"Should I wait for you, Damian?" Ana inquired, her tone a blend of seriousness and gentle concern.

Damian paused his activity, meeting Ana's gaze with a warm smile. "It's alright, Lady Ana. Both of you should go on ahead," he said, his hand absently scratching the back of his head.

Lady Ana smiled back, her hair gracefully swaying in the wind as she continued walking, Ragnar catching up to her.

"If you say so," Lady Ana responded quietly, her gaze distant and her thoughts elsewhere as they moved towards their destination.

Ragnar and Lady Ana continued their descent down the mountain, walking steadily and purposefully. To their left, houses and buildings lined the path, while on their right, the breathtaking view stretched out, captivating them with its natural beauty.

Redwood trees, Cedar trees, Yew trees, and Fir trees towered on their sides, creating a lush and vibrant forest. Among the majestic trees, creatures such as cats, squirrels and raccoons were seen on the side.

"Where are we heading?" Ragnar's gaze remained fixed on the breathtaking view as they continued their descent down the mountain.

As they walked, children played along the path, their laughter echoing through the air as they ran in the opposite direction. "Be careful, little ones," Lady Ana cautioned with a warm smile, bidding farewell with a wave.

"Well, we are heading to Lowfire District," Ana explained, her gaze shifting towards Ragnar as they continued their journey downward.

"The place is filled with criminals and Grimiores," Ana said with a gentle tone, while Ragnar's expression betrayed a hint of fear.

Grimoires? Ragnar wasn't familiar with the term.

"The presence of dark forces in this village is almost unreal, but there are documented cases of people being affected by these evil energies, especially the homeless. Just recently, a family was attacked by a Grmoire, serving as a grim warning." Her gaze turned to Ragnar, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

"This is why we must get rid of you if you are indeed a Grimoire." Her smile remained, and her words hung in the air with unsettling weight.

Wow.. that's terrifying. Ragnar didn't want to remember what Lady Ana had said since it would remind him of being eaten by ghouls again.

Her gaze snapped back to its usual focus, locked straight ahead. A new path veered off to the left, where carriages were clustered.

"Look, we're nearing the district," Ana exclaimed, pointing ahead eagerly.

Following her gesture, Ragnar turned his gaze in that direction and saw a fresh cluster of buildings emerging to the left, while the path continued further ahead.

The entrance to the district was adorned with numerous decorations and intricate designs. Laughter filled the air as people ran and played.

"It's so beautiful here; how can it be dangerous?" Ragnar asked, genuinely puzzled.

"You'll see," Ana replied with a mysterious tone.

As they neared the district, a group of people warmly greeted them, especially Lady Ana, who accepted their kindness and respect graciously.

Ragnar glanced up at the impressive sign "Lowfire District," decorated with intricate designs. Fewer people greeted him, likely due to his imposing stature and the bandages that covered him.

"See you next time; I'll miss all of you." Lady Ana waved to the people as she continued into the district.

"Let's go," Lady Ana said to Ragnar, who seemed confused. However, Ragnar stopped and gazed at the vast size of the entire district.

The district spread widely despite its narrow entrances, clinging to the mountainside in a diagonal pattern. The tightly packed groups of houses created a sense of suffocating closeness throughout the area.

As Ragnar entered alongside Lady Ana, they felt surrounded by a cramped and bustling environment. Moving forward, they navigated through a maze of buildings, each one a dimly lit house or shop.

The district was filled with drunken and aggressive individuals wielding weapons. As they descended further, the surroundings became more dangerous and grim, with rats and corpses scattered in every corner.

"Are you sure we'll be safe?" Ragnar asked, clearly concerned.

"We may not be, but I can protect us," Lady Ana replied with confidence.

"We're close to our destination, so you can rest now."

They turned left and approached a small, rundown structure labeled "Arawn's Cabin" with a sign atop. The weathered building had dusty windows and a broken door.

Ana carefully pushed open the already damaged door, with Ragnar trailing closely. Inside, they were met by an elderly man with a bushy beard standing behind a counter, wearing metal plates and a metal mask.

"Lady Ana, it's been a long time since you've visited me. Falco has been very excited to see you." Arawn greeted her warmly, quickly removing his metal mask upon seeing her.

"Oh, Falco. He has been maturing. I'll see him after my request," Lady Ana replied with a gentle tone.

Arawn noticed Ragnar standing silently and covered in bandages. "Who may this be? And what is your request?"

"My request is quite simple. I just need you to fix him with that ironclad of yours," Lady Ana stated as she took a seat.

"It's a straightforward request," Arawn replied, gazing at Ragnar. "You may take a seat," he added kindly to Ragnar.

Arawn swiftly removed his metal plates and hurried to other rooms in search of the Ironclad.

Ragnar and Ana waited in silence in the main room, but soon Ana's laughter filled the space.

"It'll be easy; nothing will happen to you with that ironclad," Ana chuckled in a light-hearted tone.

I know something's wrong. Ragnar felt puzzled by Ana's sudden laughter.

At last, Arawn arrived with a box filled with metal armor and placed it on the table, catching his breath.

"Here it is, Lady Ana," Arawn said, still catching his breath. "You may put it on, sir," he continued.

Ana stood up and began helping Ragnar put on the Ironclad. Her smile was menacing to Ragnar, and as she put on a piece of the Ironclad, she chuckled quietly.

Finally, Ragnar wore the entire Ironclad, and the armor was surprisingly huge for Ragnar, leaving him still unable to stand or talk.

Arawn stood up and said, "Be careful; it might feel painful, so say when I should start it," in a worried tone.

Painful? Explains why she chuckled earlier!