5-22 On the grey

5-22 On the grey

“Out of my way!” Erin roared as she ploughed right through her assailants without even giving them the opportunity to heed her warning.

Her enemies bellowed in fear and agony as they and their peers were torn to pieces right beside each other. Her blade wasn’t the only thing dyed red but also her tails, which she used alongside her sword to cut down her enemies.

To one who knew not the preceding story, one would easily mistake the scene as a mindless one-sided slaughter. In a certain sense, that notion wouldn’t be wrong but it wouldn’t entirely correct either. It was a one-sided slaughter but it was certainly not mindless.

Erin was the victim first until she turned the tables on them. She did no wrong towards them but they came for her head because of a bounty that wasn’t even just in the first place.

Erin’s foes and adversaries were more than a dozen but it was not an issue for her. They were only Acolytes, not Apostles. They were no match for her, especially when she was fueling her strength and prowess with her lust. She made quick work of all those who dared to draw their arms against her.

When respite, whoever remained was keeping their distance. Some had even given all up and ran away with their tails between their legs.

[Erynthea: Level 60 increased to Level 61]

[Skill Points +2 | 4]

[Ability Points +2 | 4]

For all the lives she had taken, it was enough to raise her level by one. A grin involuntarily crept up to her lips but allowed it so. It was quite euphoric after all. However, the dampener was the state of her cleanliness. She was covered in the bits and pieces of her fallen foes and also their blood.

Erin considered this one of the greatest drawbacks in her lust-consumed state, the neglect of her hygiene. It was easy to wash away the blood from her skin and sword but her tails were a whole other difficulty level. Extra attention and care were required.

Be that as it may, now was not the time to be worrying about her cleanliness. Erin looked around, not just with her eyes but also her other senses. She picked up no approaching threats but there were plenty that were at bay, waiting for the right window to strike.

“Come and get me already, you fucking cowards!” Erin growled. Her voice was low but her intent was felt by all those in the vicinity.

Had it not been for her companions who needed her attention more, she would have hunted the cravens down. She stayed her lust and shifted her focus back on track. As she did so, there was an explosion. It was of a smaller scale but her worries only grew.

“It’s coming from the direction of the ugly-looking tower,” said Amyra, who had easily caught up to Erin but she stayed a good distance away while Erin was making quick work of the foolish assailants.

“We better hurry,” Erin muttered and rushed down that direction. With Arcane Armour that was conjured of her current stats, she easily plunged right through all the rocks and trees in her way without taking any harm to herself.

When Erin got within yards of the dirt structure, a horn blared clearly and loudly. Immediately, Erin felt the forest stirring, brought upon by her hiding assailants, who all retreated as abruptly as the arrival of the horn.

“They’re all retreating,” mused Erin. She slowed her pace and continued the rest of the meagre distance with walking.

“They certainly are. Which rabble wouldn’t?” Amyra said.

“You know the horn?” Erin asked.

“It’s the horn that heralds the approach of the Greymoons.”

“The Greymoons?”

“Oh, you are not aware.”

“I am not, so tell me.”

“Basically, they are the kingdom’s army. They hail from the capital. They answered only to the Royal Family and their proxy should there be one.”

“Is it a common occurrence for them to be lurking about in an area such as this?”

“We are approximately only around two days away from an important town, Port Ikon.”

“Ah, is that so?” Erin vaguely remembered Rigetta telling her about Port Ikon but since they would be circumventing that town, she didn’t give it much thought.

“Best we laid down our arms for now. The Greymoons don’t discriminate.”

“What about adventurers?”

“They’ll arrest anyone who doesn’t comply with their wishes.”

“Is that even allowed?”

“What is that?” Aera asked.

“An outpost,” Lyra answered grimly. “Damn it. Looks like we will be crossing paths with the soldiers regardless of our paths.”

“Siv, Amyra, is there another path we can take?” Erin inquired.

“I wish there was,” Amyra muttered.

“Unfortunately, there is not, Mistress,” answered Siv.

Erin clicked her tongue. “It is inevitable, then. Let us hope these soldiers aren’t so... touchy or—”

“Death-wishy?”

Erin frowned. “We will not be killing anyone here, Amyra.”

Amyra shrugged. “It’s just a suggestion.”

With heavy hearts, the group continued on with their path. The rain had yet to stop but it was no longer a hindrance. The rain had become just showers of droplets. They had already been through a downpour. A little bit of rain now was nothing to them.

Gradually, they approached the outpost that spanned for a few miles. If the walls were taller and made of stones instead of just stakes, it would have been called a fortress.

The scouts of the outpost spotted the approach of Erin and the rest. The scouts alerted the other soldiers and in no time at all, riders were dispatched towards them.

“Here they come,” Lyra muttered.

“Everyone, don’t do anything until I say so, understand?”

Everyone nodded, including Amyra.

“Especially you, Amyra. Not a word. And don’t look at them like they were some unworthy prey.”

“Your words are my command, milady.”

The riders met Erin and her companions halfway. The riders surrounded the group and their hands were on the hilt of their swords.

“Halt!” cried the captain of the riders. “State your names and affairs.”

Erin stepped forward from her group, revealing her beauty that instantly drew gasps of awe from the soldiers staring down at her. They were utterly mesmerised by her. The captain recovered his composure first and he shouted for his men to do the same.

Erin smirked and let loose her tails, flourishing all seven of them.

The awes from the soldiers were even louder this time and the captain was no different. Eyes and mouth were wide agape.

“My name is Erynthea, an adventurer. These are my lovely companions. May I know the reason for this confrontation? Last I heard, there were no checkpoints in this area, much less a large outpost.”

Hearing her question, the captain shook his head to regain his composure. Thankfully, his helmet hid his flustered expression. “Forgive our discourtesy, Lady Fae.” Despite his elevated heartbeat, his tone was firm. “There have been reports and sightings of many unsavoury individuals lurking around. These unsavoury individuals were all part of a cult or a Faith.”

“I see.” Erin nodded. “Well, as you can tell, my friends and I are not one of them. We are merely adventurers, on our way to our next adventuring ground.”

“Whether you are part of the rabble or not, we shall be the judge of that.”

“I have my adventurer tag, perhaps that would suffice as—”

“You will be coming with us, Lady Fae. And your friends too.”

“Where to?” Erin questioned.

“You will know when we get there.”

“Oh? Is there a reason why you can’t tell us here and now?”

“My lady, if you do not come with us right here and now, then I will have no choice but to—”

“Wait! Wait!” came a sudden shout, filled with urgency, from behind the captain.