She never liked this place.
The independent city, Glostin – also called the City of Outlaws. It was also the place where the most wanted criminals dwelled.
The roads were bustling with people, and rats that dominated the sewers.
Someone like her shouldn't even step into this place, let alone venture into it.
But here she was.
Inhaling deep to further steel her resolve, she calmly walked into the worn tavern in front of her.
Once she stepped her foot inside the tavern, the pungent smell of sweat and booze assaulted her nose.
Holding the urge to just throw up, she walked right to where the barkeep was.
The barkeep was a bald man with fair skin, silently polishing his glasses as he glanced at the young woman in a cloak walking toward him.
"What is it?" the barkeep asked curtly.
Before giving a response, she threw a small leather pouch to the counter.
The impact made enough sound to turn heads, attracting attention.
"I am searching for the one responsible for the Castle Massacre."
The barkeep's eyes sparked with realization.
"You mean what happened at Duke Midas' castle? I have to admit. That was not the work of a mere human," the barkeep made his remark as he reached for the pouch.
His face clearly brightened up after he took a glimpse of the content inside.
"So, you want to know his location?" the barkeep's tone shifted clearly.
"His? You just said it was not the work of a human," the young woman sounded confused.
The barkeep smiled.
"Oh, of course you didn't know. This was obviously the work of the Ronin."
What the barkeep said also piqued the interest of people around.
"The silver-haired Ronin," the barkeep continued. "Rumors have it that he is a contract killer. Some say he is a mercenary. Some say he is a criminal. But no one actually knows who he is or what he is."
The young woman listened intently along with the customers who were drinking at the counter.
"Many believe that he is not a human but a demon – the one that lives in people's shadows."
"People's shadows?" the young woman's brows knitted into a frown.
"Yes," the barkeep continued. "He moved like a spectre and held a thin blade. A katana... I must say. It is the weapon used by the ancient warriors of the eastern region. That's all I knew."
The young woman nodded. Although vague, she now had information on her target. She thought it was better than nothing.
"Do you happen to know his location?"
The barkeep gave a casual shrug. "Hell if I know. I haven't even seen him."
"I've seen him."
The conversation was interrupted.
Both the young woman and the barkeep tilted their heads in the direction.
A man wearing a black tunic leaned on his chair with one leg draped over. He wore an eyepatch on his right eye, and on his belt were two twin daggers neatly strapped.
Several people sat at his table. From the looks, they looked like a band of mercenaries.
"Are you sure?" the barkeep asked in disbelief.
"Oh, I am more than sure!" the man rose from his seat, walking toward the young woman.He leaned on the counter casually, glancing at her.
"He is neither a wraith nor a demon. He is just a mere human. Just like us," he declared. "I have met that man. As a matter of fact, I owe him."
The mercenary tapped at the eyepatch on his left eye.
"Days ago, we had a run-in with him in the Forest of Illusions. We only escaped thanks to the appearance of the Forest King. During our clash, I saw his face. And I can say for sure that he is a human," the mercenary turned to the woman. "So, what do you say? Wanna team up with us?"
The mercenary tried to put his hand across the young woman's shoulder, but she was quick to evade his approach.
"Thank you," she left one more gold coin for the barkeep as a token of appreciation and left the tavern.
"Tsk!" the one-eyed man clicked his tongue as he watched her leave and gave a slight nod to his squad.
The young woman quickly rushed toward the Forest of Illusions. It was already near midnight, and that was the most dangerous hour in that forest.
It was located some distance beside the city, so she decided to pass through a narrow alleyway as a shortcut.
There was nothing in the alleyway, except for the rats.
She was on her way and stopped when she heard a rustle.
Rats? No. It must be them.
Men appeared from both ends of the alleyway, trapping her in the middle.
"Not so fast, Missy," it was the mercenary with the eyepatch.
From the looks, these guys weren't here for a friendly conversation.
I don't have time for this.
The mercenary leader walked toward her, slowly taking out his twin daggers.
"Y'know, I thought you were just a normal adventurer," he said. "But when I saw the pouch you gave to the barkeep, I couldn't help getting interested."
He then walked around her and looked at her from head to toe.
"I can say you are quite the beauty under the cloak. How about you come quietly with us?"
"I will give you three seconds to leave," the woman said sharply.
"Hahahaha, you sure know how to jo—" his words were interrupted midway.He dropped his daggers as he felt a sudden force tightening around his neck. His hands clawed at the air as he struggled for breath.
"T-Telekinesis! She's a witch!" one of the mercenaries yelled.
The woman dragged the leader and threw him at the group behind him.
She easily dodged the two arrows aimed at her and redirected them with her telekinesis.
Another two attacked her with swords, but a fiery barrier protected her.
"You guys aren't mercenaries, right?" she asked coldly.
The leader, who just recovered from her attack, laughed at her words.
"We are the Fangtooth Bandits!" he declared proudly. "Maybe you know some magic. But we have dealt with people like you before."
He then signaled his comrades, and they all lunged at her.
Then, it happened.
First, they heard a crackling of flame. Then, as if they suddenly saw the azure sky, the blue flame erupted.
All the mercenaries were knocked back, falling down on the muddy floor.
The leader looked weakly at the young woman standing before him.
With long hazel hair that flowed gracefully down her shoulders and piercing eyes that complimented her suave brows, she was a beautiful young woman. The mercenaries didn't have time to be bewitched by her beauty, because beside her was a large phoenix, engulfed in a sea of blue flames. It spread its wings in a victorious squawk that split the air.
"Y-You are..." the mercenary leader stammered. "The Maiden of Blue Flames!"
She showed no response and extended her hand at him. The mercenary was once again picked up by the invisible force.
"Why is the second Princess of Valdoria doing here?" he exclaimed as he struggled through the grip.
"I will be the one asking questions," the princess said calmly.
The remaining mercenaries thought about helping their leader but gave up their plans after seeing the blue phoenix that flew protectively beside the princess.
"Tell me about the Ronin."
"I have already told you—arrrgh!" the mercenary screamed as he was slammed to the ground.
"I want to know everything. Every detail."
"F-Fine. I will tell you everything. Just spare my life!" the leader pleaded. The princess loosened her telekinetic force to let him speak properly.
"It was on the day of the storm. We had just ambushed and killed a group of adventurers in the Forest of Illusions. While we were looting, the world suddenly turned pitch black. And all I could see were the strands of silver hair gleaming in the dark. Then my men fell down one after another. His blade cut my left eye, and just as he was about to finish me, the Forest King interrupted. When the darkness suddenly subsided, I saw it. I saw his face."
"What is he like?"
"He looks young. Just about your age. I have never seen such angry eyes. But the most strange thing was that I couldn't sense a trace of mana from him."
"What?"
The princess was dumbstruck by his words. She had read all the archives and scrolls in the royal library, but she hadn't heard of this.
Everyone in this world—even the monsters—possessed a certain amount of mana.
Just what is he?
While she was lost in her own thoughts, the bandit captain silently signaled his subordinates to attack."Icarus," the princess whispered as she turned her back on the bandits, "finish them."
"W-Wait!"
There was a huge spark of blue flame that illuminated the dark alleyway that night. Passersby who were near the alleyway said they heard the screams of anguish. But no bodies were found.
After turning the bandits into ashes, the princess quickly darted through the plains.
The light of the full moon illuminated her path, leading her into the Forest of Illusions.
If she went to the forest, she could learn a thing or two about the Ronin's location.
This forest was famous for its ever-changing layout. Some say that it used to be a normal forest, but due to a curse from a certain wizard, it had turned into an ever-changing labyrinth. The monsters inside were also cursed to relive every death and trapped inside the forest forever. Some say this curse was inflicted upon this forest because the Forest King, the ruler of the forest, incurred the wrath of the wizard. But no one really knew what exactly happened, and any attempt to undo the curse ended up in failure.
And she was inside the forest during the dangerous hour. The monsters all come back to life at midnight. So, she was here when all the monsters revived back to life with the curse.
Of course, she was prepared. But to her surprise, the forest was eerily quiet. Not even a slight rustle was heard.
She proceeded with caution and looked around. There were no monsters at all.
Something is wrong. Is someone here?
Then, she stumbled upon a disfigured corpse of a monster.
Someone is here!
She ventured further into the forest.
Her footsteps stunted when she stumbled upon something. Something horrifying.
The bodies of dire wolves were sparse across the plain field, their blood painting the grasses. Amidst the corpses stood the figure holding a giant staff.
No... how did he already catch up to me?!
She felt a chill run through her spine as she realized who he was.
The man's eyes were darting around the field, examining the corpses.
His crimson eyes glinted with malice when they laid upon the princess.
"Ah! Greetings, Princess Cassandra. I thought you'd be here," he said nonchalantly.
"Vlad! Why are you here?!" Cassandra demanded as she conjured up blue flames, preparing for the battle.
"Looks like he already got here before we did." He ignored her questions, slamming his giant dreadwood staff on the ground. "But we still have a score to settle, right?"
At his command, the dead dire wolves slowly rose like zombies, snarling at their target.
"Then, Princess! Let us finish what we started!"