Chapter 290: Experiments

As Aiden's erratic aura quietened down, the thin figure lowered his arm. 

"Now, now, boy. Calm down, there is no need for that. I have said that this is the current theory. No one knows for sure, and even fewer even knows about them at all. There are no definite records surviving from their era. What we know is coming from myths and legends going from mouth to mouth." He said with a calm tone.

Aiden was flabbergasted, and to be perfectly honest slightly wary of this man. With a single move of his hand, he forcibly calmed the violent, raging storm that was his emotions. He had incredibly powerful servants with mysterious origins, he controlled and manipulated the Horde, this gathering of creatures without even moving a finger.

"What was your purpose with these Orcs? What was the plan with the Horde?" After calming down a bit, Aiden asked the question, that he was originally tasked to come here for answers.

The thin man chuckled at the boy's inquiry once more, before answering.

"Hehehe, I guess it's not that important now…" He muttered to himself, before answering. "While I could answer with big words like 'This land originally belonged to them, they were the natives while these big families, this empire filled with racists were the invaders… But the truth is… this was all just an experiment that mostly I was interested in." 

He flicked his right hand again, and a short, gnarled stick with a scarlet ruby gemstone etched in its top materialized from thin air. 

Seeing the familiar 'sacred stick' that granted power and also corrupted the holder's mind appear in the figure's hands shocked Aiden.

"Y-you…" He muttered, as he slowly pieced all the puzzle pieces together. "Did you create these objects? Are you the one manipulating all the orcs and goblins?"

Seeing the boy's reaction, the thin shadowy figure chuckled once more.

"Ahaha, yes that is right. I needed willing test subjects to examine the effects of what the power would have on these primitives. I have to tell you… It was an incredibly fruitful experiment! I received such varying results, you wouldn't believe!" 

"You… You are the one that caused all the suffering to all of them…"

"Oh and what of it? They are just ants." He sneered. "Besides, they were useful in providing useful data at the very least, and at the same time, they were working towards a goal that they all truly wished for. Their desires were true, I have not planted false thoughts into them. Everything they did was their own decision."

Listening to his words, Aiden could feel his blood boil, his anger rising. He clenched his fists tightly as he forced to remain seated and not act rashly. Just from their menial interaction, he has already realized that this figure was incredibly powerful.

"What was the point of all these… experiments? What were you... testing?" Forcibly calming himself, he slowly growled out a question. Although this information was already probably enough to mark the quests and even the Madame's mission as completed, he wanted to learn more about this man, this unfathomable opponent of his.

---

While Aiden was facing off against someone or something shrouded in complete darkness and mystery, at the other side of the forest, a large convoy of people, after trekking with a forced pace, finally arrived at the edges of the treeline. 

As they finally left the territory of this godforsaken forest and stepped on the dewy emerald grass, one of the two girls leading the front, a disheveled, weary woman with a haystack of purple-colored shoulder-length hair fell on his knees. She almost cried as she finally felt the first rays of the dawning sun caress her mud-, blood- and sweat-covered glistening face. Finally, they survived this nightmare, this hellish ordeal.

"Finally… It's over…" She sighed in relief as she gazed at the gradually lightening gray sky. However, as the words left her dried lips, the figure of a creole-skinned, golden-eyed boy popped up in her mind.

With worry and concern, she hurriedly looked behind her, trying to pierce through the thick woods, hoping to see his figure emerge from behind them.

"Waiting for someone, girl?" A cheeky remark came from her right. A blonde, tall woman, draped in ragged, torn cloaks plopped down on the grass next to her. There was a mysterious aura, a strong presence oozing out from her. 

"He is still at the orc camp. Last I felt his presence was hours ago, then suddenly…" She mimicked an explosion with his hands as she continued. "Puff! He just vanished. My guess? He is either dea-" 

Before the amazon, or more precisely the presence controlling her could finish, the purple-haired girl's eyes lit up as she turned to look at her with a scowl on her face.

"Don't you dare finish that thought. I don't care how powerful you are, I promise you I will end you." She growled, muttering the words under her breath.

Instead of scared, the amazonian woman chuckled at her response. 

"Ahaha, don't worry miss, I don't want him gone either. My d- ehm, Naybeah here would be devastated if that were to happen." 

Ignoring the piercing looks of the purple-haired girl, she gazed at the grey sky. 

"Anyway… I need to leave. I have already put this body under great stress…" She heaved a long, tired sigh, before continuing. "Sarah, was it? Please, look after Naybeah. After I leave, she will probably faint. She is way over her limits by now."

"Then, don't leave! Help her get back to town!" The purple-haired girl, Sarah retorted, not understanding the need to leave so suddenly. If she could stay and assist them to get out of the forest, why couldn't she stay a bit longer?!

Naybeah, hearing the expected question, smiled wryly, shaking her head.

"No. I can't. I should have left long ago. The more I stay, the more stress Naybeah is under, and the harder the recovery. Normally, I shouldn't even be doing this at all, but I just couldn't sit back and watch as she dies… She is…" A single tear escaped from the corner of the blonde amazon's eyes. Her voice faltered, the powerful aura of the presence that controlled the previously beat-up body vanished. 

With the controlling power leaving the body, Naybeah's eyes closed, she plopped down the ground, sprawled out. Just as the voice said, with her own soul regaining the wheel, she instantly fainted, the strain she was put under was way too much for her to handle.

Just as she fell down, a dagger-wielding, leather armored redhead girl, walked out of the forest. Like all the others, the mixture of people and races, her body was dirty, grimy, glistening with sweat. Her fiery red hair was in a messed-up state.

Seemingly not bothered by the motionless large body of the blonde amazon to the right, she sat down on Sarah's left.

Finally, out of this nightmarish place, and safely surviving the night, she let out all the pent-up air from her chest, heaving loudly.

"Haaaa! Not sure about you guys but once brother gets back, I'm sure as hell never returning to this place."

A timid-looking curly brown-haired girl walked towards them after the urging of the group of people laying a few steps behind them.

"E-e-excuse me, misses… W-what should we do now?" She asked meekly.

Sarah sighed at the question as she slowly pushed herself up, turning to face the girl and the rest of the slaves they had just freed.

"Listen up everyone!" She pointed to the right, shouting loud enough for the entire crowd to hear her. "Towards the north-east, about half a day's distance there's a small human settlement. After our friends return, we will lead you all there. You can stay there while Adventurer's Guild will work to find a place for you to live." 

There was a mixed reaction from the crowd upon hearing the girl's words. While most, mostly the humans were relieved to hear that they can finally rest, they were also eager to leave and wouldn't want to wait any longer than necessary. However, knowing the strength of these three, they didn't dare voice their complaint.

On the other hand, the non-human races of the group were exasperated. The fact that after being at the mercy of these savage orcs, now they would be facing the racist humans didn't sound that much better. Still, just like their human brethren, they didn't dare to voice their opinions.

Sarah didn't really have the strength and willpower with them and turned away, plopping down the ground. Her main concern was the return of the black-haired youth, that after learning the situation they were facing, decided to brave the dangers by himself.

Scarlet, however, after noticing the frowns and annoyed looks on the group, flared up with anger.

"You ungrateful lowly bunch! How dare you react like that?! Without us, you would still be nothing but cattle! We risked our lives setting you free, and this is how you repay kindness?!" 

She pointed towards the road with the bloodied dagger in her hand.

"If you rats are so eager, go ahead and leave! The less of you remain, the less we have to deal with!"