Most of the followers were dead - slaughtered like cattle, without hesitation or pity. Three guards fell, and the ritual was interrupted.
Yet, a skilled executor like Olaf was not going to accept this. He had to finish the ritual.
With a wave of his cloak, Olaf stepped forward, pointing the staff at the girl.
"Who are you? How dare you disturb a ritual for the Curved Horn!" his menacing voice echoed.
"My name...?" she muttered, taking a fighting stance. "You are not worthy of knowing this since soon you will die."
Olaf's eyes went wide in pure anger. He reached out his left hand, clutching the amulet tightly.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
In a heartbeat, the girl turned into a shadow in a straight line, sweeping from her spot and ending up behind Olaf's back.
Two crescent lines flashed at his shoulder, then his arm flew aside, spinning in the air and scattering blood around, falling next to Kain's feet.
"AAAAAAAAHHH!" Ignis's terrified scream rang out.
With a face as pale as a sheet of paper, she crawled backward. "It's his... his arm!"
Unlike her, Kain was not frightened, instead, he couldn't contain his grin as he looked at the amulet clutched in the hand.
'His arm? Hah, there's something much more important here, but...' he turned around, the fire still burning, 'It's not enough.'
Grasping his shoulder, Olaf gritted his teeth.
"You..." he growled viciously. "You're not leaving alive after what you've done! I swear by the Curved Horn! I WILL KILL YOU!"
Suddenly, four claws grabbed Olaf's head, digging into his old, wrinkled skin.
"Agh...?" a confusion reflected in his eyes, forgetting the pain.
In wide motion, the paw ripped his head off the body, a fountain of blood gushing from his neck.
The girl looked up to meet the black-haired giantess's eyes. Her hands became beast-like, gradually reverting to human form.
"Why?" the girl asked calmly. Such a scene couldn't make her heart beat faster.
The giantess turned around, looking at the carnage she had set alone. None of the followers were left alive, only one guard and the Sacrifices.
"Well... That old man thought he stood a chance against you, but he didn't, right?" the giantess's gaze lingered on the girl. "You're much stronger than the rest of us. If you wanted to, you could turn me and everyone else into mincemeat."
"What do you want in return?"
The giantess smirked.
"Not much. Just let me and him go," she pointed at the remaining guard. "I'm something of a group leader, so I'll save at least his hide. We have a deal?"
The girl nodded slightly, striding beside the giantess like a ghost.
"Sure, I'm not interested in you."
She walked towards the seal, the five youths trembled, they prepared to die. But, the girl just passed by, the dark hounds disappearing into her shadow.
At the same moment, Kain realized it.
Kain grabbed Ignis about to drag her into the forest behind him, but a second guard suddenly appeared beside her, snatching her from Kain's grasp.
'Agh?'
Their gazes met. Ignis was frightened, wishing for his protection.
But...
Kain didn't know her well enough to waste more than a second on this.
Without hesitation, Kain jumped into the bushes, disappearing behind a grove of woods.
Despite his escape, the girl was in no hurry. She stopped to stare at the second guard holding Ignis.
Soon, a serious male voice rang out. "I hope your target isn't Miss. Ignis? If not... I won't have any other choice."
He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"So you've been working undercover? Impressive..." she emotionlessly replied. "No, this girl is of no value to me."
"However...
"I must warn you not to let the Ash Feather dare stand in my way or my master's."
Without saying another word, she leaped forward, fading away.
Then, Ignis broke free from the guard's grip, staring at him with fear.
"Who are you?!"
The man removed his hood, black hair, a prominent jaw, and a noble look not common to filthy mercenaries.
Ignis's eyes went wide, she recognized this man.
"R-Roland...? What? What are you doing here? My mother... I mean, she's..." her eyes wet ready to burst into tears. "She gave me to those bastards!"
"Yes, but I and others couldn't accept that," he got down on one knee holding his palm to her chest. "Please, follow me.
"It's time to go home, to our new home, up north, at the Hollow Patch."
...
At the same time, Kain ran through the forest with all his legs.
'That girl... She looks dangerous. I hope she doesn't catch up with me, but even if she does,' he looked at the red amulet in his hand. 'That should help me at least buy some time!'
In a final leap, Kain made his way out of the forest, finding himself in front of a river.
'Water, right... I need to come to my senses. Too much shit has happened lately!'
Leaning over, Kain washed his face, removing all the dirt along with the underlying fear that lurked in his heart. Perhaps the Frost Veins helped him keep his composure in battle, but he was a man, not a machine.
"Agh... That's much better..."
A shadow fell upon him, greeting him with two blue eyes shining in the darkness.
'Fuck!'
In a heartbeat, Kain tried to run away but slipped on the wet ground about to fall into the powerful current.
Before he realized it, the girl grabbed his wrist and threw him backward.
In a rush, Kain looked at the amulet.
'I must use it, but how?!'
Before he could figure out how the Artifact worked, the girl got down on one knee in front of him. She removed her hood, revealing her blonde hair, gazing at Kain as her last hope.
"Please, Highest Sacrifice, there is no need for this. I have no intention of fighting you. There's no way I'm going to hurt you."
Kain gulped something in her voice, making him stop.
"You've caused a slaughter..." he stammered. "Who are you?"
She bowed her head, pressing her palm to her heart.
"My name is Valkyra, the Shadow Blade."