The moon had risen and everyone in the tavern had already retreated to their except...
After the brutal defeat of Basm, his men with no regard of Basm in their mind. The now bloody Basm was tied up to a pillars in the tavern were he was not able due to him not having the strength to struggle.
Rodric approached the server which was Mr. Topun where she was busy attending to her father's several injuries caused by the monsterous Basm.
Rodric looked at the young woman, his expression unreadable and asked.
"I seemed to have forgotten my sword here last night did you happened to see any rusting old lying around".
Firaana immediately dropped what she was doing and attended to Rodric. She didn't even ask his main she just bowed her head to so appreciation for all what they had done for them.
"Thank you so much for all what you guys have done, without you guys you guys I don't know what would have happened to my poor father".
'What do you mean you guys I bearly did anything except to watch'. Eira thought feeling a little guilt inside.
"Yeah yeah did you see it or not I really need that sword". Rodric said being all hypocritical.
Firaana rushed to the back room at the counter and brought a sword wrapped with a black cloth. It was quite heavy for Fiaana as she was left gasping a little when she handed Rodric his sword. With just his left hand Rodric lift the sword like it was a children's toy and strapped it to his back.
"Thank you call that even wouldn't you say? and now we will be on our way". Rodric gave Firaana a thankful and reached out for the exit.
Just when he was about to reach out for the door Firaana voice rang out stopping Rodric from his tracks.
"Why don't you stay for dinner, we also have spare rooms in tavern you guys could use the rooms for the night after all your help I mean that's the very least we can do". Fiaana insisted.
"I really think we should stay it's dark already and we can go on an empty stomach". Eira reasoned out the situation.
Rodric took a deep breath and let out a big sigh covered with an hypocritical smile.
"Why not, sure but as soon as the morning d*ck gets pulled we are out of here do you understand". Rodric notified Eira which Eira accepted with a nodd.
***
The night retreated with the glistening sun replacing it place.
Eira slowly woke up from her cold-night slumber when she opened her to see that same holographic screen in front of her again.
[Innate Ability unlocked-Absorption].
[You can now use absorption].
Eira being a sleuth, she tried touching the screen but noticed her hand passed through.
"What the hell is this, is this some kind of illusion".
She blinked and the screen was gone just like last time, Eira remained puzzled for a long time.
Eira went down stairs were she met Rodric sitting on chair he looked like he was waiting, constantly tapping his leg.
"Are you ready to head out". Rodric asked.
"I mean yeah sure, but wait where will we be going to". Eira replied confused.
"Excuse me just before you go". Mr. Topun said, coming up to them.
The old man went down on his knees and bowed his head showing a grateful smile on his face.
"Thanks you young lady, what are the chances you would come to our rescue and at a desperate time at that. Call it anything you want but I believe it was fate we met and I can't be grateful enough to you". Mr. Topun said holding back his tears.
'Why is he thanking me I didn't do sh*t and besides...' . Eira furrowed her eye brow trying to understand the reason for the old man action.
"I think you must have gotten the story wrong, the real person that saved was this guy". Eira spoke while pointing her fingers at Rodric who was right next to her.
The old man laughed so hard that he re-opened his face injuries and was immediately treated by Fiaana who then scolded for re-opening his wounds.
While still dressing his wounds, Mr. Topun said with a smile:
"Everyone watched as that bastard acted, and no one could intervene because they felt powerless. And I'm not judging them for their inaction; the last thing I'd want is for others to suffer because of me...
...But you. You were the only one who did something, even knowing your own weakness. Sometimes, true power isn't about brute strength or magic. It can reside within the seemingly weakest among us, fueled by the bravest of hearts. Besides," he added, a knowing glint in his eye, "the larger one chipped in because he was strong, and also because you were in danger."
Eira was moved by the old man's words that she felt she could cry while Rodric face remained the same, his seriousness wouldn't allow him to carry any emotions.
Having received provisions from the old man, and with their final goodbyes exchanged, Eira and Rodric ventured forth.
***
They continued walking in the forest until the sun's intensity forced them to seek shade and rest.
"What your goal". Rodric said with curiosity.
"Duh am going to find my way back my family and friends and I really missed them, they probably think am dead". Eira answered with a smile as the sudden flashbacks brought happy memories.
Eira looked at Rodric trying to discern his inscrutable expression.
"Why are you helping me, there's nothing good that will come out from helping me so what do you want".
"Am trying to look for a friend in the new world and seeing who you are might just be what I need to get to the new world".
"You wasting your time counting on some dumb old card, even if I was some kind of royalty new worlder I have not a single clue on where to go, am just lost and at this point I don't think I can be found".
Eira brought out the card from her satchel which was filled with provision earlier, she took a deep look at it trying to find a clue that can that can take them to the new world and what it was actually for.
'It couldn't just be a metal insignia it had to be something more than that, it just have to". Eira believed.
Rodric left Eira to take a leak at somewhere private leaving Eira all alone. The evening sun set was slowly receding and gradually brought out the pale white moon.
Eira was starting to get scared, the loud holler of wolves from the distant, the irritating cricks of the cricket everything in the forest creeped her out.
'Where the hell is he, even though am not a man I sure do know it doesn't take two hours to take a pee'. Eira's frightened mind thought.
Three figures emerged from the forest shadows, swiftly overpowered Eira despite her fierce resistance. They nagged her with a rag to silence her cries for help.
The figures dragged Eira to a nearby camp. The camp's ramshackle shelters and scattered gear suggested a hastily assembled hideout.They led Eira to a central tent, the men tossed Eira before the chubby man, who lounged on his stool like a king on his throne, his beady eyes fixed on her with an unnerving intensity.
"Boss look at what we found, isn't she pretty". One of the abductors said with a weird grin on his face.
"What is wrong with you guys, you couldn't just rob her then come back to the camp instead your dumb f*cked up brain her right to our doorstep". The chubby man said berating his accomplices.
"Where did you find her?".
"Um...in the woods we got her stuff but we didn't find any gold only food". The abductors presented Eira's satchel to the chubby man.
The chubby man took a deep sigh, looked at the tied up woman in front of him.
"Will just have to silence, you already know too much and who we are, so we can just take any risk". The chubby man shook his head with pity.
The chubby man's gaze lingered on Eira, his expression unreadable. With a lazy gesture, he signaled to one of his men, who roughly yanked the rag from Eira's mouth. She gasped, her voice hoarse as she demanded, "What do you want?".
The chubby laughed so hard it felt like is fat stomach was going to burst.
"Five minutes of being kidnapped and you're already a genie. I want a big mansion and as for second wish I want all the beauty to love me and to close the deal I wish I had more wishes". The chubby man teased.
"Valeria!!". The chubby man yelled his tone serious all of a sudden.
A young woman with a captivating presence entered. Her long, black hair flowed behind her, drawing attention to her unusual purple eyes. She moved with a natural elegance, her long legs emphasized by the short cut of her gown.
"What now, Jareth". Valeria spoke in a rather nagging voice.
"I need you to, you know, do your stuff". Jareth said hinting at the obvious.
"I don't understand what you mean, if you won't speak then I will leave". Valeria said in a sluggish tone.
Jareth shrugged:
"Really you still don't understand what am saying,make this woman forget, really Vale learn to read the room".
Looking at the back and forth conversation, Eira knew without a doubt that the were going to do something bad to her, she had to do something to stall for time.
"It's not too late, you can quietly release me and I can go back without anything happening". Eira said desperately.
Instantly Jareth and Valeria turned their gaze at Eira with a furrowed eye brow.
"What do you mean about that". Jareth asked.
Eira took a few seconds to contemplate her thoughts before answering.
"My companion if he come, there's no hope for you people".
A soft sigh escaped Jareth lips, his eye brow furrowed. The 'damn it' was plain on his face.
"You have a partner, damn it we need to bring him to".
He ordered one of men to go and searched for Eira's unknown partner.
It wasn't precisely what Eira had envisioned, but it was an improvement. Now, with their clumsy maneuver, Eira felt certain Rodric would come to her rescue.
"Who exactly is this your partner". Valeria asked out of curiosity.
Eira had an a mischievous grin spread to the corners of her lip.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told, but either way am just gonna to tell you; they call him the left-hand of this world, Rodric Thorn field".
At first the whole room but slowly but surely turned into a wild crackle. Everyone laughed at Eira's outlandish ly as the deemed that impossible thinking Eira was straight telling a fat joke.
Amidst all no one took it harder than Jareth even though the party crackle had ended seconds ago he still kept on laughing rolling on the floor looking like ping-pong.
With that aside Valeria begin her memory erasure magic, she brought her face closer to Eira face her purple eyes lit making Eira's eyes radiate with a lilac glow.
Just moments before Eira's memories got erased a screen appeared before her.
[Magic ability detected].
[Do you want to use absorption?].
[Yes or No].