As the first light of dawn broke over the trees, Laguna and Julia packed their things. Laguna and Julia walked on the forest path toward Veredale Village. The woods felt more and more empty. However, after a few hours of traveling, they saw something suspicious in the middle of the road. A horse-drawn carriage had been overturned on the side of the road with goods scattered around it. Several people were seen lying down, injured, with faces full of exhaustion and fear.
Laguna immediately stopped and surveyed the situation. A group of men and women in merchant clothing lay on the ground. They had wounds on different parts of their bodies. A man in finer clothes than the rest—likely the group's leader—gazed at Laguna and Julia with hope.
"Help… we were attacked by Dark Elves. They took our valuables to auction off. We managed to survive, but we are injured and exhausted…" the man's voice was weak but clear.
Laguna narrowed his eyes. With his new ability, he glanced at their status.
[Olsen]
Race : Human
Skill : Bargaining Mastery A, Trade Negotiation A, Swordsplay C, more...
Str: 10
Vit: 3
Agi: 10
Int: 3
Wis: 3
Luk : 5
Most merchants had similar stats. These showed high levels of strength and agility. This was unusual for typical merchants. But what was even stranger was that one of them had an agility of 13. That made Laguna even more suspicious.
His focus quickly shifted to a more urgent matter: the food scattered around them. Laguna and Julia had run out of supplies, and this food could be their chance to replenish their supplies.
"Very well," Laguna finally said. "I can help you treat your wounds, but I'll trade you some of my medicine for some of the supplies you have."
The man looked relieved and immediately nodded. "Of course! We'll give you the food we have in return."
Julia and Laguna immediately helped bandage their wounds. But when Laguna examined the wounds with greater attention, he noticed something odd.
These wounds were strange… not ordinary wounds from battle. The scratches were directed at vital points, but not deep enough to kill. It felt like their attacker had total control and wanted them to stay alive.
'This is how Dark Elves are…?' Laguna thought. The more information he got, the stranger the situation became. But he chose to remain silent for now.
When the treatment ended and Laguna was about to leave, the leader of the merchant group spoke again. This time, he was more serious. "Wait… can you stay and protect us until we fully recover? We are afraid that the Dark Elf will attack us again."
Laguna immediately shook his head. "We can't. We also have a journey to continue."
"Wait a minute," the merchant said as he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small purplish-blue orb that emitted a faint glow. "I will give you this in return. This is a Vision Orb. With this object, you can see what this orb sees, or vice versa, show your vision to this device."
Laguna fell silent. This thing… could be something very valuable.
"How about it? If you agree to protect us until we recover, then this thing will be yours," the merchant continued in a teasing tone.
Laguna glanced at Julia. The girl seemed a little hesitant, but she said nothing. She let Laguna make the decision.
Finally, Laguna sighed and raised one index finger. "For one night. I will guard you only until tonight, no more."
The merchant smiled in satisfaction and handed Laguna the Vision Orb. Laguna and Julia chose to camp with the merchants that night. They didn't know something bigger lurked in the darkness.
As night falls, Julia prepares dinner with great skill, using ingredients from the merchants. The enticing aroma of the food fills the air, calming Laguna a little amidst his suspicions. Laguna enjoys the food and asks the merchants about the Dark Elf attacks they face.
Just as a merchant was about to respond, Olsen, the clear leader, stepped in to explain.
"Dark Elves… they are basically thieves. Unlike regular Elves, these ones are cruel. "They often attack merchants like us," Olsen said, giving Laguna a serious look.
Laguna frowned. "Then, what did they steal from you?"
Olsen took a deep breath before answering. "A bow that we were supposed to auction in the city."
Upon hearing the word 'bow,' Laguna immediately froze for a moment. His eyes widened before he sprang to his feet and shouted, "Everyone, take cover!"
Everyone was shocked by Laguna's sudden reaction. Before they could ask more, a whooshing sound came from the forest. An arrow shot out of the darkness.
A merchant fell with an arrow stuck right in his neck. His body convulsed before it collapsed, lifeless.
Without thinking, Laguna grabbed an empty barrel nearby and ran toward Julia. He rushed to place the barrel in front of him for protection and wrapped his arm around Julia to soothe her.
However, when he looked at Julia's face, the girl smiled with a gentle expression, without a hint of fear in her eyes. "I trust you, Master. I know you'll protect me."
Laguna smiled with a hint of uncertainty, sensing Julia's complete trust. But his focus returned to the threat at hand. He watched where the arrow came from and started to analyze its attack pattern.
He rushed into the forest. He dodged every arrow thanks to his Future Sight. The attack was coming from one direction, and he knew that he had to face this archer head-on.
When he finally got close, he saw the figure of a female dark elf with a bow in her hand.
[Eve]
Race : Dark Elf
Skills : Hawk Eye A, Archery Mastery B, Dagger Mastery C, more...
Str: 9
Vit: 7
Agi: 15
Int: 8
Wis: 7
Luk : 5
The Dark Elf immediately replaced her bow with a rusty dagger, preparing to fight at close range. Laguna also raised his sword, preparing to face his opponent.
The fierce battle began.
Laguna sharpened his gaze toward the shadow that flickered through the trees. The Dark Elf moved with such speed that it was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye. Laguna didn't just use his eyes. His Future Sight was on. It helped him track the opponent's moves faster than he could think.
A wooden arrow flew at high speed. Laguna tilted his head, allowing the projectile to pass by a hair's breadth. Eve, the Dark Elf, did not stop there. She immediately drew her rusty dagger and charged.
Laguna raised his sword, parrying the attack with perfect calculation. The clink of metal against metal filled the air. Eve did not pause; with a nimble leap, she spun in the air, trying to swing her dagger at Laguna's neck.
Laguna ducked and dodged, then tried to retaliate with a quick stab. Eve twisted her body in the air, avoiding contact, and landed in a low stance. Her breath was ragged, but her eyes were filled with deep hatred.
Laguna took his time. He watched the Dark Elf's attack pattern, watching for any gaps in his movements. Eve growled, then fired two arrows in quick succession at incredible speed. Laguna sliced through the air with such skill that wood splinters flew everywhere.
"You're only prolonging your suffering," Laguna said in a calm voice.
"Shut up, human!" Eve roared and dashed forward at a speed that made her look like a black shadow among the trees. Her dagger flew towards Laguna's heart, but Laguna had seen it first. He twisted his body, avoiding the attack with perfect precision.
As Eve passed through the gap, Laguna swung his sword hard. The Dark Elf's eyes widened as Laguna's sword struck his left arm. Eve fell, fresh blood flowing from the wound on his arm.
He growled as he tried to get up. But Laguna stepped on his hand, holding him down.
"You've lost," Laguna said. "Surrender."
Eve continued to struggle, struggling with hatred burning in her eyes. But Laguna no longer intended to fight. He raised his sword and then stared deeper into the Dark Elf's figure.
A rusty dagger. A sharpened wooden arrow. A bow that appears ordinary. Shabby and torn clothes. There was no sign that this was an elite warrior or a formidable bounty hunter.
However, the most striking thing was the chain marks on her neck.
Laguna frowned. He noticed something. The same marks were on Eve's wrists and ankles, like the marks of a slave's chains.
His mind raced. If this Dark Elf was a slave, then...
His eyes widened. Julia was still in the camp with the merchants.
Laguna tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, then sighed. He needed to consider his actions carefully. He had to pretend not to notice anything.
He bent down and tied Eve with a rope around her waist, making sure there was no chance for the Dark Elf to escape.
Without a word, he picked Eve up and carried her back to the camp.
However, when he arrived there, the sight that greeted him made his anger boil.
The merchants stood in a line, holding Julia. A knife was pressed against her neck.
Laguna stared at them with sharp, gleaming eyes.
"What are you doing?" Laguna shouted while raising his sword.