The Chase Begins      

Rain was about to speak when the orc suddenly interjected.

"Lord Izu," he whispered softly, "Lady Petals is expecting you today. She might take offense if you bring along a dirty and unrefined woman." He ran over his eyes at Hana with a look of disgust.

Izu grumbled under his breath and without warning, slapped Lyncon aside. "Who are you to tell me what to do and what not to do?!"

Rain and the others were stunned when the pig went flying and landed against barrels of fish, his expensive robe now soaked and reeking of a slimy, fishy smell.

Lyncon immediately prostrated on the ground, trembling in fear. "I'm sorry, my Lord. I am out of bounds! I will accept any punishment!"

Izu's anger was boiling, but seeing that many eyes were on them, he fixed his robe and regained his composure. He couldn't cause too much commotion in the town or risk being punished by his father again. He had just caused some problems a few days ago and was still hot in his father's eyes.

"Very well. I'll see you tomorrow, Hana, and we will settle what's due. Come along, everyone." Izu went ahead, followed by his entourage.

Rain only then noticed the guards around him.

How on earth did I bump into him and not the guards?! Rain lamented.

He then helped Hana to her feet, her face still pale.

"Are you okay?" Rain asked, relieved that no major drama had occurred. "Who's that guy?"

"That's Lord Izu, Lord Izumi's son."

Rain and Chi were surprised.

"You mean . . ." Rain's face turned pale. Did he just narrowly avoid a bullet there?!

Who could have predicted that he would actually bump into a young master — and the Lord's son, no less?!

Wait, did he offend him? He really hoped not.

Hana really saved him there.

"Let's go," Hana said, her eyes blazing with determination. "Lord Izu wants me as one of his many mistresses. I don't know how much longer I can fend him off. If I stay here, I'm afraid I'll be confined in that castle like his other concubines. I'd rather die out in the Barren Wasteland than accept that kind of fate."

Rain nodded. "Let's hurry then."

=======

"My Lord, are you really letting them go?" asked Lyncon, glancing back at Rain and the others with evident concern.

Izu sneered, his expression turning menacing once they were out of the public eye. "Don't be ridiculous, Lyncon. I'm merely holding back. As long as I remain in my father's good graces, I can't afford another public commotion."

"I see. As expected of Lord Izu," Lyncon said, rubbing his hands together nervously, trying to please the young lord despite the pain from his injured cheek.

"You two, take care of that player and bring Hana back to me by force if necessary," Izu ordered, his tone cold and commanding. "And do it discreetly. I don't want my father or anyone to find out."

"Yes, my Lord," the two Ebizo guards replied immediately, heeding their Lord's warning.

Though they were fierce and menacing, their heavy shells forced them to move slowly as they began to follow Rain and the others.

Izu grinned, his eyes glinting with evil intent. "In this town, no one dares to bump into me and get away with it."

"Yes, you're absolutely right, my Lord," Lyncon affirmed, his voice dripping with sycophantic admiration. "But . . . are you sure? That guy is a player, right? What if more of them come here when he dies?"

Lyncon scoffed. "As long as no one knows it's me, everything is good. Do you know how many players have died because of beast attacks?"

"Oh, as expected of my Lord. You're truly a genius."

Izu basked in the praise, but then his smile turned to a grimace as he felt his head spinning slightly. "Damn this heat. Damn this place. Why is it so hot here?! Lyncon, hurry and prepare my bath back at the castle!"

"Y-yes, right away!" Lyncon stammered, rushing to comply with his lord's demands.

As Izu watched Lyncon scurry away, his thoughts darkened. No one defies me and escapes unscathed, he thought.

That guy will soon learn the price of crossing me.

=======

~Chi . . . ~

Chi leaned over to Rain and whispered in his ear.

"I know your concern, Chi," Rain whispered back, his tone measured. "But Lord Izu has many concubines, right? I don't think he's that determined to get Hana. He wouldn't risk his soldiers' lives just to explore the northern part of the Barren Wasteland to find her."

~Chi~

'I hope you're right,' Chi thought, eyes piercing at Hana.

"Let's just hurry and go back home," Rain said, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Don't worry, the Seadwellers can't last long in this heat, so they wouldn't risk being away from water for far too long. I don't think they would travel for days just to get me back."

Rain forced a laugh. "Ahahahaaa . . . you heard that."

Hana only smiled, a hint of worry still lingering in her eyes.

Rain then changed the topic. "So, you mentioned that the Ebizu and Zuwai can't tolerate the heat for long. Why did they come here then? They could have chosen a territory without such intense heat like this."

Hana shook her head. "I don't know either."

"They can use water magic, right? Could they last longer in this heat if they used their magic on themselves?" Rain asked, thinking about the potential of having them as troops to produce water in his territory until he could find a more sustainable source. But that seemed unlikely now. 

"Perhaps, but using magic requires a lot of energy. They couldn't keep that up forever," said Hana. "Besides, venturing into the Barren Wasteland for a race like the Ebizu and Zuwai requires extra effort and a lot of resources, like rations, water, transportation, and soldiers to fend off beasts."

"They couldn't just go outside on a whim because of the threat of heat. I don't think Lord Izu would be that foolish to send his troops to their death out here just to recover me."

Rain looked up at the sky, trying to appear more relaxed than he felt. "Well, if you put it that way, then I feel somewhat at ease." That was a lie; he still felt uneasy.

Izu was still the Lord's son and had the authority and power to lead a small army. But as Hana said, would he really be that kind of idiot to waste his soldiers and resources just to get Hana back?

Rain really hoped he wasn't that kind of idiot.

"WAIT!"