Elena Hardlett

Seeing the sky darkening, Bisca ordered to stop for the night. Fried and Goth went to secure the perimeter and to watch for any monster.

"No monster in the vicinity. I think this area is safe to camp", Fried came back and reported.

"Okay, we will be staying here for the night. Start putting the tents and prepare the fire", Bisca ordered.

Sam, Fried and Goth started putting up the tents while the carriage driver collected woods. "...fire ablaze", he casted a spell and a flame shot from his hand and the woods started burning furiously.

Seeing the tent set up and fire burning, Bisca went to the carriage and knocked on the window, twice and opened the carriage door.

A young lady stepped out of the carriage and as the moonlight fell on her, her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall of shadows, framing a face that could launch a thousand ships. Her piercing gaze, as dark as midnight, held a hint of mystery, drawing all eyes to her radiant presence. With each graceful movement, she exuded an aura of confidence and allure, captivating everyone present there.

'Isn't she a total beauty', Sam felt as time had stopped moving and he could feel himself drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.

Sam's trance was broken by Bisca when she said, "Try not to stare at young lady for too long or you will be punished".

"...fufu", The young lady smiled and came closer to the fire and introduced herself, "My name is Elena Hardlett of the Hardlett family. Feel free to call me Elena".

"Bisca, what are we having for dinner?", asked Elena. 

"Marlene Potato stew, my lady", replied Bisca while handing her a grilled marshmallow.

Cooking dinner was the responsibility of driver while Sam and others were on lookout, a distance away from Elena. They were not allowed to come close to her.

"Psh, Goth what do you know about the hardlett family", Sam asked Goth who was standing near to him.

"You know there are five viscounts in the kingdom. Lucienne Hardlett is one of the viscount and the head of Hardlett family. You can say they have immense control over the army as many of the family members occupy high positions".

'Hmm, so she belonged to a powerful house', Sam decided to not associate too much with her to avoid trouble in the future.

Elena who was bored of sitting saw Sam and Goth talking and came near them. "What are you both talking? Is it some interesting thing?", Elena asked with a sweet smile.

"Nothing interesting milady', Goth replied to her. 

"Is that so", Elena clapped her hands and continued, "Then how about we play a little game".

"Game?", this time Sam said. 

Elena asked Bisca to fetch her toy and the three of them sat around it. It was a game Sam was familiar, unlucky barrel uncle. A toy which has slots for keys and one slot pops the uncle figure on top. That person is then dared for a task.

'...unlucky Barrel Uncle, huh', Sam had played this game many times in his childhood. "I am quite confident in my luck", Sam got a little excited and said.

"Then let's bet. How about the loser sings us a song", saying this Elena took a key and put it in the slot. "Safe..".

Next Goth tried and he was safe also. "Your turn Sam".

*Badum *Badum

Sam started feeling nervous while trying to put the key inside but he was safe too. In the next round Goth popped the figure out and as a result sang a song from his hometown.

New game started and this time Elena popped the figure on her first try. "Guess it is my turn", she stood up and sang a song. 

Unlike her beauty she was a total noob at singing and her singing felt more like pain to ears. After the third round, Sam popped the figure and this time he was made to sing a song.

'I only know song that I used to hear. Will it be alright', without thinking any more Sam started singing a rap song.

"Is this some kind of torture", Elena called out to stop Sam. "Sam, you are dared to something else. ..Hmm how about summersault. Three", Elena said.

"Guess I suck at singing", like that the night continued and did whatever Elena told them. 

The carriage of Hardlett family was magically and technically modified and it acted as a bunker. The inside space had been extended using magic while it housed protection artifacts outside.

Elena went back in the carriage to sleep while others went to the tent.

'I am never playing with her again', Sam was completely tired that night and went to sleep.

The next morning Sam was walking away from the camp when he caught sight of Bisca going somewhere with a sword. On closer look blood could be seen dripping from the sword.

"What is she doing?", Sam started following her only to see her hunt down a deer.

"Maybe I read too much. She is just hunting for food". 

Unknown to Sam, in the bushes nearby two dead bodies could be seen. From the state of murder, they were killed very recently.

-------- The organization's hidden base

"What..", Redfield hit the table hard with his hand causing the messenger jump in fear. Redfield was one of the master, here in the organization.

Hearing that the three assassins sent to take care of Sam were killed, his anger reached sky high.

"Looks like we are dealing with a bug here", said Grayfield, another master who was sitting in the same room.

"Do you have his location?", asked Blackfield, the third master present in the room.

Redfield, Blackfield and Greyfield were alias name of the three master that ruled here. They were ordered by the higher ups to dispose Sam and take back the monster. 

Currently they were sitting in the room discussing on further plan for handling the situation. Their two attempts at recovery had already been foiled and further wait would create trouble.

"Release, Magi", said Greyfield after thinking long and hard.

"Are you sure, Greyfield", Redfield asked.

"Yes, we cannot wait anymore or the higher ups are going to chew us", replied Greyfield. 

"What are you waiting for. Get out!", Blackfield shouted at the messanger.

"Yes", the messenger ran out of the room in a hurry.

"Are you sure", a guard asked asked the messenger about releasing Magi. The messenger replied in yes and the guard proceeded to open a room and both went inside.

"Aaaagh", the scream of the guard could be heard in the hallways and a while later the messenger came out, all bloodied and cowering in fear.

"Monster". He dropped on the floor and fainted. 

After him a man wearing a black robe could be seen exiting while licking the blood on his mouth and his devilish smile only meant the silence before a storm.

--------

Sam continued his travel while unknown of the dangers ahead.