14

Nira's expression changed in realization and she glared at Ihka with hostility.

"Abel saved my life. I owe him." I heard her say as I continued to back away slowly.

Ihka looked at me with a mixture of surprise and doubt. "A human saved a Shal'Iri slave? You expect me to believe that?"

Nira gritted her teeth, "It's true!"

I nodded in confirmation, my last dregs of hope depended on the next couple seconds.

Ihka seemed confused for a moment, but then her eyes widened as a certain thought must have taken root in her mind. She unsheathed an elegant silver blade and glared at me with hatred.

"Release her!" She stepped towards me with all semblance of cordiality shed. The kind aunt had disappeared, replaced by a vengeful demon.

'These Shal'Ir are bipolar as fuck!' I lamented.

Still, the time to reason with her had passed. I knew anything I said from this point would fall on deaf ears.

I was about to turn and run, when a deep voice echoed from above.

"Oh? And what do we have here?" Three shadows dropped in formation around Nira and Ihka.

"A couple of Shal'Iri scum actually dares sneak around our territory?"

Ihka looked visibly livid.

I wasn't sure if she was more angry at me, or the Dusksworn who interrupted her from lunging at me.

The Dusksworn, bless their hearts, didn't seem interested in me - yet.

They were all clad in a mixture of dark leather and black steel. Their faces were covered in a twist of black silk, leaving only their eyes exposed. Each one carried a lone black sword which looked to be about three feet long. The sword was simple looking at a glance, but I didn't doubt its lethality. Not after seeing the Horlir's head get cleaved off in a single swing.

Nira had already nocked an arrow and was looking around fearfully - her mask of focus nowhere to be seen.

I had absolutely no idea what to do. Run? I wouldn't get far. Fight? For who?

Ding!

[Quest received. Assist the Shal'Iri or the Dusksworn. Reward: ???]

'Damn it. That doesn't help!' I reluctantly gripped my spear, observing the confrontation.

Ihka must have realized she would need to deal with the Dusksworn first, so she finally stopped glaring at me and looked around.

"Only three of you?" She scoffed. "Just disappear."

She lowered her stance and held her silver blade horizontally - edge to the sky - pointed at one of the Dusksworn. Running her free hand down the edge of her blade, she whispered something I couldn't quite make out.

The edge of the blade started glowing red. Waves of heat rose from the blade, distorting the air around it.

"She's a Remnant!" One of the Dusksworn cried out.

"Kill her!" Another shouted.

With zero hesitation, all three Dusksworn lunged at Ihka - their swords cutting sharp arcs through the air.

Nira looked at me.

I nodded back.

I had to gamble, and as far as I was concerned I only had one ally amidst the five.

That didn't mean I was going to rush into the melee though.

I raised my spear into a throwing stance. It would be the only assistance I offered, but I would try to make it count.

As the three blades sang through the air, Ihka moved.

Her blade moved so fast it disappeared. I could see where it had been though, as a red afterimage was left behind.

A deadly red circle formed around her, carefully avoiding Nira. The blades of the Dusksworn however, were cut clean through.

Ihka stopped and fell to a knee. Her arm was extended, holding the blade above her head.

She brought it down to hold the grip with both hands, and glared at the Dusksworn - who were frozen a few feet away.

At that moment, I heard a familiar whistle tear through the air. Just a few feet from Ihka, Nira had released her arrow at the closest enemy.

Everyone, including Ihka, jerked their heads towards Nira in surprise. One of the Dusksworn, Nira's target, paid the heaviest price.

The arrow tore into his lower body, twisting and wreaking bloody havoc until eventually getting stuck in bone.

The man roared in pain and fell to his knees.

The second Dusksworn used this moment to reach into his clothes and retrieve a small black knife. He didn't waste the distraction Nira had unintentionally awarded him. He raised the knife, aimed, and threw it.

The knife must have had a Spell imbued in it, because it vanished the moment it left his hand.

"Agh!" Ihka groaned, holding her neck - which was now spewing blood. She gritted her teeth and yanked the knife out, sending it flying back at the man in one swift motion.

More blood spewed from the wound, but the knife once again disappeared - entering the second man's eye. He collapsed.

The third dusksworn snapped out of the daze and shifted his attention in time to see Ihka throw the knife back.

He was the last man standing, and he knew it.

Not wasting any time, he withdrew a dagger and lunged at Ihka.

Nira was nocking another arrow, but she seemed slow and lethargic - I doubted she would be able to fire another.

'I could just…' I thought about letting the Dusksworn finish Ihka off, but something inside me pressed me forward.

I took one step and tightened my muscles, sending the spear sailing through the air - at the last Dusksworn.

He heard my spear and halted his charge, allowing the spear to pass by harmlessly in front of him. Sending a quick glance in my direction, he continued his attack.

That second I bought Ihka though, wasn't wasted.

She turned her body just in time to plunge her silver blade straight through the last Dusksworn's heart.

They both collapsed.

'Holy shit.' I stared wide-eyed at the scene. It had only lasted a few seconds, but so much had happened.

'My quest isn't complete.' I frowned.

Staring at Ihka's sorry state I realized if I wanted the quest reward, I had to follow through all the way.

Nira shifted her gaze from Ihka's ailing figure to me.

She looked at me with a pondering expression, as if wondering if I would heal her or not. She didn't seem to care which decision I came to.

I slowly walked over and stood above Ihka. She was staring at the canopy above, a hint of melancholy in her gaze.

"You can't heal yourself?" I asked.

She blinked, then grimaced as she shook her head. She didn't forget to glare hatefully at me, as if her current situation was my fault.

I scratched the back of my head and said, "I don't know what kind of misunderstanding you have, but Nira isn't my slave. She's free to leave anytime she wants. As for your mission… Well, I can swear on my life I won't mention even a whisper of meeting you here. That's all I can offer."

"If you want to live, and promise not to harm me in any way, I can save you." I added.

"Do you accept?"

Ihka stared blankly, her skin was starting to pale as she continued to lose blood. She closed her eyes for several seconds, then opened them and nodded.

I sighed, it was still a risky gamble. But the quest depended on it.

I crouched down and held out my palm above Ihka's wounded neck.

"Min'Hel."

[Health restored to Ihka Red Blade: 73.

Mana -10]

Blue light dropped from my palm and nestled itself into Ihka's neck. The blood stopped first, then the wound slowly stitched itself back together. There was still a deep gash, but it was no longer life threatening.

Ding!

[Quest Complete! You chose to assist the Shal'Iri. Reward: 1000 EXP. Ihka Red Blade's favor (temporary).]

Ding!

[You have leveled up. You grow stronger.]

I felt a good chunk of my energy escape my body as I stood silently, watching Ihka touch her neck. She was running her fingers along the wound with wonder.

She sat up and looked up at me.

"Are you human?" She asked with a strange expression.

I sighed, I had been through this before and I didn't want to try and explain again.

Luckily, Nira came to my rescue.

She walked over and stood next to me, frowning at Ihka.

"I told you he saved me. Why were you being so unreasonable?" She took the opportunity to grill her older counterpart.

"I…"

"And I'll have you know he is indeed human! I think…" Nira brought her hand to her chin as she tilted her head.

'Don't sound so positive if you're just going to question yourself a second later…' I grumbled internally.

I held my hand out to Ihka, which she took. Pulling her to her feet, I said, "I'm human, just nothing like the ones you're used to." I flattened my lips - intent on leaving it at that for now.

"Well alright then." Ihka still seemed to have questions, but took the hint.

A low groan suddenly rang out from the man Nira had shot. It seemed he was still alive.

We looked over.

He was reaching for something in his pack.

Ihka dashed forward, pinning his arm to the ground with her blade.

"Ahh!" The man screamed in pain.

"What's with you boy?! Why did you help her?! And what did you even do?!" The man became hysterical, shouting at me.

I walked over hesitantly, asking Ihka, "Should we interrog-"

"No. It's a waste of time. Dusksworn are the Darkheart Patriarch's men. They are all under certain restrictions. They can't say anything useful even if they wanted to." Ihka stepped on the man's arm, pinning it with her foot while she removed her blade.

The man's eyes widened, "W-wait!"

Ihka didn't wait.

Her sword plunged down into the man's eye, silencing him.

I shuddered.

'That could have been me.'

Luckily, it wasn't. Maybe Nira was right about the Goddess of Luck comment.

Looking around at the bodies, my thoughts shifted.

'Gear!' My eyes sparkled.

Nira seemed to be on the same page, as she crouched near one of them and began to fiddle with his clothes.

They wouldn't fit her of course, but she could make some adjustments and use some of it. I walked over to the other man looking at his broken sword in regret. If there was one weapon I fancied aside from the bow, it was the sword. The black sword had appeared simple, but it was about the right length. It could have served to replace my spear, but instead it lay broken and useless.

I sighed with regret.

'Such a waste!' I lamented.

Shifting my eyes from the weapon, I looked at the armor.

Ihka walked over.

"You could definitely use his armor. Although it'll raise some questions if you go to Darkheart Stronghold, out here it'll give us a good alibi." She commented.

"In fact, before I ran into you two, I had been tracking these Dusksworn." She paused. "They're part of a contingent sent out to protect a slave caravan, you see."

"A few miles east of here is the main road between the Paruven Capital and Darkheart Stronghold. These three broke away from the caravan to hunt." She added.

I looked over, "That means…"

She nodded, "They're going to notice they're missing."

"Then why would I-"

"Wear their armor?" Ihka chuckled. "About that… I do have a plan."

"Interested?" She smiled.

I shook my head. "No way."

Ihka laughed.

Nira walked over with curiosity. She was holding various garments of clothing and looking at Ihka curiously.

"Ihka, the slave caravan…" Nira trailed off, but Ihka knew what she wanted to ask.

She nodded. "Yes, there are Shal'Iri among them. Mamoei too. Hell, even other humans." She spat.

She glanced back at me, but continued, "There's no harm in telling you at this point."

"My mission in the Kingdom of Paruven has always been to observe the main road as an advanced scout. I was sent here to give advanced warning if the humans marched north." She spoke the last part with heavy regret.

Nira's eyes narrowed.

"I didn't fail my mission though." Ihka hurriedly added, "The humans didn't use the main road…"

She stared at the forest around her, then eventually looked west.

"They used the coast." She paused angrily, "Wrapped all the way around the Northern Mountains, those bastards."

A few minutes passed in silence as I watched the two Shal'Iri contemplate the past.

Eventually Ihka spoke up, "Since the Eradication though, I've been working on my own missions." She looked at Nira, and continued, "I've given myself two duties. First, to grow strong enough to avenge our people. The Paruven Forest is a pretty good location for growth after all. Second, I've been infiltrating human settlements, searching for Remnants. Gathering them."

"Naturally that included your mother, but it was years ago when I had come across her. I was much weaker than I am now back then, and your mother's only Spell was…" Ihka looked at me, eyebrow raised, "Come to think of it…"

I smiled awkwardly.

Ihka shook her head, "We can talk about that later."

"Anyway, it was an impossible mission to face the wrath of the Darkhearts with a scout and a healer. Your mother knew it too. I told her about my plans and she supported me. Gave me faith in myself..." Ihka's voice choked up.

"When I left her behind that day, I never thought…" Tears formed. "I'd see her again."

She stared at Nira, who was also tearing up, "I thought you two wouldn't last a month…"

"I'm sorry Nira." She lowered her body and pushed her forehead against the dirt.

Nira stood in a daze. She had no clue any of these events had transpired right under her nose back then. But she knew even if she did, nothing would have changed. Nira knew her mother made the right choice.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke, "I don't need an apology. We weren't your responsibility… But, I do want to know…"

Nira's eyes sharpened, "How many Remnants have you gathered?"

Ihka raised her head, a mixture of dirt and tears smeared across her face. She smiled though, an ambitious smile.

"Hundreds." She said.