The lively festivity in the banquet's hall is abruptly interrupted by a sentinel barging to deliver a message.
"The Wandering Merchant's Convoy has been ambushed by the Nifflers at the edge of the forest!".
Silence permeates the room, every troop, dejected but aware of the upcoming decision of Shlayla. "It's already raining. We can't assist them…".
"My Lady. I may be mistaken, but i saw the emblem of the Thova. If i am wrong. I will pay with my life if necessary…".
The Noble Widow turns thoughtful, deviating her sight to the two Vanguards clad in dark armor. "Vanguards. Could you assist us?".
"No". One of the two states flatly, while the other is more polite. "We are designated to escort and serve the Lost Souls. We cannot intervene, if is not alongside them".
"Can't we just go and help them?". Asks Bridgette, receiving a prompt answer from the old busty Vagrant sitting besides her.
"Young Lady. You are unaware of the threat the rain represents. The «Corruption» falling from the sky can trap you in seconds, killing you in minutes. But is not as dangerous as the «Nifflers», this Nomadic Barbarians are empowered, and not hindered by the Rain".
"Granny. Are Vanguards immune to this «Corruption» you talk about?". Inquires Bridgette, using her acting skills to interpret a spoiled Granddaughter.
"No, Young Lady. Vanguards can resist the Corruption for a certain period of time, but is not recommended they interact with it".
Natvoshka nods, and Ines stands up. "I will go. My family has faced Corruption even before becoming one of the Houses that supported Avrora Miuller Alzierich to found Clamour".
{I'm not a stupidly righteous hero. But if i pretend to fuck Shlayla. The best way is to prove my worth}.
I get up too. "Let's go Ba…". But i'm cut short by the unison distressed. "No!". Of every native in the room.
"Why not?".
"You still need to ask?!". The first Vanguard says haughtily, almost mocking as she hints to Esdrana's gender swap.
"Just because of that?. Corruption doesn't affect me?. Smartass".
"Hahaha. Men are always the same, Lost Souls are not the exception. The mission doesn't makes you special, you'll understand it when you end up like every Man will, «Becoming a Woman»".
"Noted and ignored". I comment mockingly, approaching to the entrance. But she shows her readiness to fight me, her hand clapping the sword's handle, as she stands in my way.
"Don't interfere". States the Second Vanguard.
Just to be scolded by the first. "Shut up, Cripple!. You know we can't let him go".
"Wrong. The Code of the Vanguards do not apply to us during our service to the Lost Souls".
"Your comrade is right". Says a busty young Vagrant. Silenced by the conceited Smartass Vanguard. "Shut up, Fatty".
The Vagrant feels offended, and appalled, she covers her large breasts in shame.
{By no means, that is fatness}.
Upset at hearing my Escort being harassed, on top of the delay in our departure. I do a quick step forward, clasping the Vanguard's neck with my left hand, while my right blocks her ability to unsheath the blade. Pushing her against the wall, i lift her from the floor. "Limit yourself to be pertinent and useful".
I release the Vanguard, she falls to her knees and coughs heavily, catching her breath after almost being strangled.
Natvoshka laughs. "You're just like your Venerable Father. Little Volttair".
I grunt ferally, not liking to be compared with the old man, because i'm not on the same bracket.
Ines and I depart from the stronghold with the company of «Amanda», the second Vanguard, jogging for twelve kilometers under the thick, black inkish rain.
The liquid slides off me, but my companions are wet, of course, the tar doesn't trap them like it did with Esdrana or Sehey.
The Convoy ahead is quite simple. The caravans sizes are not too large, enabling people to pull them. Making clear that taming beasts is not common in this place. Likewise, I didn't see any signs of livestock farms of any kind.
{How do the residents survive?. I didn't see any animals to hunt in the forest, and we ate meat at the banquet, along other products, like cheese, pâté or sausages…}.
"Bruttilda's Minion". Ines pronounce firmly, a golden sphere of light emerging from her large bosom, forming the silhouette of a dog, then becoming an almost real, big strong Doberman.
"Search". She orders pointing the caravans, the canine ensures to get the people's and assailant's scent. Barking at completing its task, looking away from the convoy. "Guide us".
The Doberman barks, running into the woods, reaching the porch of an abandoned hut.
"I patrolled this area two days ago. This wasn't here". Comments Amanda, wielding her runic sword, ready to engage in combat.
"Correct me if i'm wrong Barking Bitch. Is this an Enclosed Amalgam?".
"Worse. An «Errant Enclosed Amalgam». We don't belong to this world, so there's no problem for us when it disappears. You and me simply will be standing there. But the residents dragged inside, will be trapped, or sent to another world".
{This happened in my planet too?}.
"How much time do we have Ines?".
"Depends on what lies inside. But as we are from other world. We can force two or four hours based on luck".
"Let's delve in for «One hour and twenty minutes», then we return, regardless of our progress. We're not here to save anyone, but to send a message to this Nifflers. The Convoy's people are dead. We'll resurrect them if we manage to get them out".
Ines lustrous black hair gets shinier. "I'm so glad you are a Vecturion and not an Ethmeron".
"Haha. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Barking Bitch. I was just telling you, so you were not surprised by my brashness".
"I'm not a softy". She says materializing from thin air a yellow golden blade, distinct to the previous saber she showed. "Where's your weapon, Vurckair?".
"Haven't you heard the expression?. «I am the weapon»".
Ines rolls her eyes. "You're so conceited!".
"Well, Barking Bitch. You can judge on your own…".
She smirks, as we walk into the hut…