"Uhm… Thanks." Neo wished he could bury himself in the ground for making such awkward sounds in front of her. But she just smiled, her laughter tugging at his emotions.
"You're heading toward the mountains, right? Can I tag along? The granny I'm staying with asked for something called 'Kamnero roots,' and I have no idea what they are."
Neo knew exactly where the 'Kamnero roots' grew in abundance. He could lead her there, show her how to gather them… and spend more time with her.
'No, I need to train. I don't have time for this.' Neo reminded himself.
Besides, the path to the dungeon was a secret, and he had to keep it that way at all costs.
"You people are so powerful," she said, glancing anxiously at the mountains ahead. "I can't even defend myself…"
'Damn it, I can't let her go alone. Who sent her on this stupid task?'
"Uhh, come with me," Neo said, despite wanting to dash straight to the dungeon. "I'll show you the place and stay with you until you've got what you need."
"My hero!" she beamed. "You're such a nice boy. I can't thank you enough. Maybe I'll treat you to something someday."
Neo didn't let his mind wander to what she might mean, or he'd explode on the spot. They walked to the edge of the lush mountain, where he showed her the location and even helped gather the roots. Afterward, he pointed her toward the village and ran at full speed to the dungeon.
It was the stupidest thing Neo had ever done, and not a second passed without him regretting it. Even though Kazak and old man Shin had warned him never to reveal the dungeon's location, he'd made a grave mistake. He didn't know it then, but she had followed him. She wasn't as weak as she had pretended—she was fast enough to keep up with him.
Ten days later, they faced another group of Ashenvale soldiers. This time, even the lord and his full army were needed; the enemy numbered in the thousands.
That battle was the worst thing Neo had ever experienced in his life. The human soldiers broke ranks and left, and half the Ashenvale forces flanked them. They were already outnumbered, and now they were trapped.
Neo saw Gorran, the quiet farmer, cleaved in half by a high-level Ashenvale soldier's ax. Big brother Krothar, who always smiled and brought fruit from his hunts for him, was impaled by a bloody spear to the chest. Nimara, an arrow buried in her skull just as he looked—Damn it, she even had a child younger than him.
If it weren't for Kazak pushing past his limits, or old man Shin—who Neo hadn't even known was a mage—hurling balls of fire and huge arrows of ice from deep within the woods running towards them from afar, they would've all been dead. Neo himself would've died ten times over if not for the villagers besides him fighting desperately to save him and the other children like him.
They were nothing, Neo was nothing. What kind of fighter was he? They were just a burden, and so many had died to protect them. So many lives lost, families shattered, and it was his fault.
Because he had revealed the dungeon's location, the greedy lord had found it. That woman—he cursed himself for ever trusting her, or saving her. She was human, after all. How could he have been so foolish to find her attractive? In the end, all Neo felt was disgust—disgust for himself.
Why hadn't they just let him die? He deserved it more than anyone here..
"Brat, just because you've learned some tricks doesn't mean you can match those at this table," Lord Vincent growled, annoyance clear on his face.
Damian ignored him, fixing his gaze on the Beastmen leader and the trusted elder fox beside him. His eyes demanded an answer.
"Unconditional support?" Kazak replied, his tone wary. "I give my word to fight alongside you, but opening my lands to so many foreigners requires more than a human's promise. I've sent scouts around the mountain, and when they confirm the news, you'll have our full support."
At least he hadn't claimed to follow them to the world's end if they punished the lord. That much Damian could believe and accept. He himself would never seek foreign help unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Well then," Damian said, walking slowly around the table, with each deliberate step making his way towards the arrogant captain. "What punishment do you think he deserves for his crimes?"
Every captain he passed got up from their chairs, either too shocked at the situation or too scared to try and stop him, or to get in his way. They had to calculate everything they did. They, the powerful ones, the supposed rulers of this land, could not even do this one simple thing.
"We lost friends and family because of that bastard's greed," the old fox said, his voice almost breaking, only held together by his suppressed anger. "Even a thousand deaths wouldn't be enough… but one will have to do for today. We demand blood for blood..."
Kazak on the other hand, like the other captains, was too busy watching Damian close in on Lord Vincent, who pushed back his chair with a force, toppling it as his two guards moved forward to protect him.
Finally, someone regained their senses. Royce's voice rang out from behind Damian.
"Maximus, you can't do this.. You can not kill a lord, you have no authority to pass this judgment…"
"Then write a report to your lady," Damian retorted, dismissing the mage's plea. "And don't forget to include that you have evidence this time.."
Damian unsheathed his blade, pointing it straight at the three men standing ten meters away.
The soldiers charged, however both Damian and Lord Vincent ignored them.
Damian changed his stance to the 'Leap of the Mountain', his feet digging deep in the grassland below, as he pushed against it, launching himself at a blinding speed, passing the incoming soldiers in a millisecond, straight towards the lord who at last sensing the threat, raised his sword, however before The high Lord Vincent, seat of Windhaven, had a second to be surprised at his enemy's strength, blood sprayed through the air, splattering the green grass red, along, fell a head to the ground—now without a body.
The Lord of Windhaven's eyes finally managed to widen in surprise, before becoming lifeless.