Monster - Kaede

I had passed out on my attacker's bed after finishing my meal with him. His corpse was pushed off the bed afterwards as I didn't want to wake up to his disgusting face. Sure he was handsome, but thinking what he was going to do to me, makes me think of how many times he has done this, luring young women with his pretty face. It made me sick.

Suddenly, I heard the door open from the house, waking me up.

?: "We're home~"

A woman's voice? Was she saying this to the man I just killed? Looking over at the bed, I notice that it was a large double bed, with many pillows. "Is this man married?" How could a sick person like that have a wife coming home to him. The footsteps became louder as I desperately put on my dress he had stripped from me earlier, working as fast as I could before grabbing my bags-

?: "W-who are you?"

I was too late... I had just finished putting on my dress when she opened the door to the bedroom. She hadn't seen my face as I was turned around. I still had a chance.

?: "Dan!?"

Kaede: "Sorry"

Quickly grabbing my things as she rushes inside after seeing her husband on the ground, holes in both his chest and nether region. Grabbing my things, I bolt out the room, making sure to keep my face hidden as I run out the room when suddenly, I stumble into a kid; he could easily see my face. He looked confused, but I didn't want to hurt the boy, so I continued running passed him, out the front door.

Woman: "What have you done!"

I could hear the woman's screams as I close the door, running away from the scene. Some people noticed me running out from the house while walking down the street. "Fuck. I need to get out of here, right now."

Maybe it would've been a good idea to kill his wife too. No, I couldn't. How would that boy grow up with having lost both his parents? I felt bad for him already having lost his father, so it's impossible for me to take away his mother as well.

While I continued to run, I eventually slowed down, looking behind me to see that no one was following. The storm from yesterday had cleared up thankfully, so I continued walking until finally. I approached the north gate. The guards allowed me to pass without stopping me as I breathe a sigh of relief; but where am I supposed to go now? Thinking back on what Faye said to me, I'm pretty sure she said Oakvale was close to Azalea. Maybe if I head northwest along this path, I could make it there, however I had no idea how long that would take.

After some time walking along the dirt path, I was greeted by a caravan, but this time, this caravan stopped. The horses looked like they are well looked after.

Driver: "Where you heading?"

Kaede: "Ah, Uhm~ Oakvale!"

Driver: "I figured as much. Hop on. It's a long ride and who knows when it will rain like that again. Oh and don't worry about the fee, it's on me."

Kaede: "Thank you so much."

I climb onboard the back of the caravan as I notice there were many boxes filled with vegetables and other produce. Finding a spot to sit down, I get myself comfortable, or as comfortable as I could get.

Driver: "I will ask you to not take any of the food back there."

Kaede: "Understood."

Driver: "Great, well then we'll be off~ It should take us the whole day, so if you want to rest, feel free to do so."

What a nice man. I'm glad there were people like this in Clesbridge, and not just people like that guy who tried to rape me. However I wasn't tired in the slightest, so as the caravan started to move, I rested my back against the wooden walls, thinking about everything that had happened recently. Luckily I had feasted on that man, otherwise I don't think I could last a whole day being this close to this driver.

Driver: "My name in Bennet by the way."

Kaede: "Kaede..."

Bennet: "Nice to meet you Kaede. May I ask what your business in Oakvale is?"

Kaede: "I... I just want to go home."

Bennet: "Well you'll be there in no time, so don't you worry"

I wasn't talking about this world. I wanted to go back home, to my real home, but I knew I was asking for the impossible. Bennet seemed to keep quiet, letting me rest as we continue our journey to Oakvale.

Along the way, which felt like a couple hours, the caravan suddenly came to a halt. Taking a look, I notice a large tree was blocking our path.

Bennet: "Seems like the storm had blown over this tree. Give me a minute"

He stepped out from his seat at the front of the caravan and took an axe along with him. Looks like he is used to stuff like this happening as he approached the fallen tree, getting ready to start chopping.

Suddenly, a group of armed monsters came out from the tree line, heading straight to Bennet. They looked different than anything I've fought before, having dark skin with tusk like teeth coming from their mouths.

Bennet: "Run! Orcs!"

So that's what they are? Sorry Bennet, but I don't plan to run, especially after the kindness you showed me, time to repay you.

Jumping out from the caravan, my eyes narrow in on the orc that is fast approaching Bennet as he held onto his axe, waiting to defend himself. I extend my hand as a portal of light appeared to my side before firing a spear of light straight into the charging orc, sending him flying and pinning him to a nearby tree. The other orcs took notice and began charging me instead. I counted 5 of them, surrounding me as they all began to attack. Quickly, I cast a protection barrier around me, as the attacks repel off of me, taking the opportunity to plunge my hand into one of the orc's chest, going straight through their armor.

Maintaining the barrier, there was nothing they could do, as I could see their panicked expressions, and once I felt the orc's body go limp, I take out my hand, simultaneously bringing out the blood from the hole I created to make a blood sword, taking it up in my hand before slashing it to the side at the other orcs. The blood blade extended to the range of the orcs as it easily dismembers them, cutting 3 of them in half, leaving just 1 orc left. Turning to my side, I could see the last remaining orc had gotten hold of Bennet, like he was a hostage, putting a blade to his throat. "Damnit."

Moments pass as the orc kept a strong hold on Bennet before I give up, my blood sword turning back into a pool of blood as it sinks into the dirt. Then when I saw that the orc had loosened the blade on Bennet's neck, without moving a muscle, I paralyze the orc, bringing him to fall to the ground with Bennet still standing, speechless.

Bennet: "H-how... W-what was that?"

Kaede: "Think of this as payment for the ride, haha"

Bennet: "No no, I didn't mean that. I meant that magic you used just now-"

I screwed up. It felt so natural to me that I completely forgot that Bennet was watching, more than that, he looked terrified while looking at me.

Bennet: "What are you?"

Kaede: "I-I'm... To be honest I don't know. I'm just trying to live my life, a normal, healthy life"

Bennet: "I won't say anything. You did save my life, so this will make us even"

Kaede: "Thank you"

I bow at him, thanking him for keeping this a secret. I shouldn't of slipped up like this and just stuck with using light magic, but I'm glad that it turned out okay in the end.

After I helped with the tree, using light magic to cut through the wood. We hopped back into the caravan and continued our journey to Oakvale. "Orcs" I had heard the name back in my old world, but this was the first time I had seen them. They looked to be more civilized than goblins, sort of like the kobolds I fought not too long ago.

We didn't get any more unexpected stops along the way to Oakvale, as after a long trip with the sun starting to set, we finally arrived at the gate.

Guard: "Ah, welcome back Bennet. You're a little late"

Bennet: "Yeah sorry about that. The storm blew a tree over the path so my friend here and I had to clear the path"

Guard: "I see"

The guard took notice of me, as I smile and wave at him, trying to put on a friendly act.

Guard: "Well you still have time to unload at the market. Better make it quick"

He allowed us to pass through, and after some time, I got off from the back.

Kaede: "Thank you"

Bennet: "No problem, and thank you for saving my life. Maybe I should hire a bodyguard when I do these travels, haha"

With our small chat, he continued off to the market, leaving me with my bags in the middle of the street. This wasn't where I wanted to be, as I wanted to be back in Azalea, but at least I'm getting closer. For now I should find a place to stay, hopefully not with a guy like that before...

Oakvale was bigger than Clesbridge, as I noticed a few different inns. I chose the one that had the least amount of people in it, in case I chose to stay longer and not wanting to deal with suppressing my hunger. It was reasonably priced at only 5 silver a night, so after paying the innkeeper, I moved upstairs into my assigned room before tossing my bags to the side, immediately slumping into the bed.

Kaede: "What a day..."

I feel like a criminal, running away from a scene of a crime. If only I could just have a normal life... It feels like my entire life so far has just been filled with blood...