Chapter 49: Damn, we're back in action

Strax's journey continued as his first wife began to face problems and her own challenges... After all, selling the noble title was no easy task, especially for a baroness like her, whose family was seen as bloodsuckers.

"Why do you ask?" Beatrice's father was just a big piece of shit who only brought harm to everyone, although she didn't know it directly. She already had an idea of what that man was capable of, and if her family had that reputation... There was a reason.

"Damn," she muttered, biting her nails as she waited in the armchair for the accountant to arrive. "Calm down, my Lady," Monica said, gently placing her hand on her shoulders.

Beatrice took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions that were not at all well. She couldn't let this anxiety consume her at this moment; a lot needed to be sorted out, and she had to think carefully about all her steps. Unfortunately, even dead, her father was still causing her problems, and that made her exhausted just thinking that the stakes now were very high.

Monica by her side, as a loyal confidante, was serene. She wouldn't leave her side and would offer all the support amidst all the problems Beatrice would face. "My lady, what troubles you?" Monica asked, trying to gently calm the girl. Yes, the girl. Monica was around thirty-eight years old, while Beatrice was only twenty-one, so, for her, these were just the problems of a child.

"My parents... even Strax bothers me! I'm exhausted. After he left, it's like an endless flame is burning inside me, wanting to see him." She sighed heavily as she looked at the paintings on the wall of the room. "Is that what bothers you? Fufufu," Monica chuckled lightly.

She thought this girl was afraid or bothered by something, but it was just her passion.

"There's something else that bothers me," Beatrice said, and Monica waited for her to speak. Then quickly, she spoke: "I'm afraid of him leaving me now." She blurted out. "I understand... You don't feel enough?" Monica questioned. It was a conversation between women now, and Monica stopped seeing her as a child. "I was foolish not to trust him...

and to let him suffer. The guilt is killing me..." Beatrice commented. Monica looked at her with a melancholic look and revealed, "I was prevented from warning you." Beatrice, upon hearing those words, quickly turned and looked at Monica, questioning, "What do you mean, forbidden?"

Monica took a deep breath, hoping she could get out of this situation smoothly, but she had already said too much... "I don't blame you for not going after him, and you shouldn't go. After all, his life was at risk." Beatrice heard that and became increasingly curious, and Monica just revealed, "Everyone around you was lying to you. Even I was forced to lie.

After all, Lord Steinhardt put a killer to stand by Strax in the mine. If you went near that place... well, he would die. That's why I never told you anything." Monica said, lifting a weight off her shoulders.

"You're saying that..." Beatrice didn't even finish, and Monica had already agreed. "Any wrong step, his life was in danger, and you would never forgive yourself if something happened to him. That's why I took the initiative to keep everyone under control and always treat him badly, to influence your mind." She concluded. Beatrice... fell into thought for a few moments.

"Why did he accept me then? My family wanted to kill him..." Monica heard that and faltered for a second, but she commented, "Not everyone in your family wanted to kill him." She said. Beatrice, however, didn't understand what she meant, but they couldn't continue this conversation anymore; finally, the noise of the door was heard, the accountant had finally arrived.

"Jason!" He called, but he didn't hear or see the man. However, he had no choice.

"Behind them!" A male shout came from the background, accompanied by several horse sounds, as if an exploration troop was chasing them. "We're going to have to face this!" Strax shouted as Samira looked at him, galloping strongly, the men pursuing them were getting closer.

Both their hearts were racing, beating heavily as they galloped through the vast forest. The sun was already setting, bathing only the orange light over them and small sunbeams ending at the horizon, and it would soon get much more dangerous with the darkness. Strax looked around, searching for Jason, but only saw something graze his arm.

"Arrows!" He shouted, seeing several projectiles coming his way. Fortunately, Apocalypse was already aligned with Samira's white mare. With a move...

[Ice Manipulation]

He created a shield supported only by his muscles to protect both the horses and their backs. Holding the broad shield with his hands, he made Apocalypse walk slower due to the elevated body weight.

Crik! Crik! Crik!

He felt the countless arrows hit his shield, giving him a slight shock, startling him, but he didn't stop holding, just kept steady protecting Samira's back. "Take down the shield!" Samira said with a fireball in her hand.

Strax quickly removed it, and she threw the fireball, hitting two of the pursuers. However... the sound of horse hooves was approaching even faster. They didn't have time to look back, because ahead of them was a wall of leaves and vines. "Fuck!" Strax shouted and prepared a fireball, making Samira's eyes widen completely. "Get out of my way!" He shouted, launching something.

[Fire Manipulation]

The fire was quickly shot ahead of him, opening a hole in the spot. Fortunately, they had somewhere to pass after the leaf wall. With a jump in the middle of the circle hole, they finally emerged within the dense vegetation and entered a spacious clearing. The space was a relief, but it didn't change the sounds of horse hooves accompanying them in the background; they were still in danger.

Several horses began to emerge, about fifteen men wearing armor and thicker clothes. Strax could run, but no, that would only make things worse. What if the arrows were poisoned? What if they had more people ahead? Combat could no longer be avoided. Strax looked directly at Samira, who agreed.

"Get ready for battle," he said seriously, summoning an ice sword.