Long shadows loomed over the golden-red carriage, which rolled over the unpathed roads, having departed from the mansion of Roswaal L Mathers, some hours ago. Flanked on both sides by soldiers in iron armour, the convoy steamed southwards, intending to reach their destination by late noon.

Baroness Ameria Noppen, Head of the House of Noppen caressed her long dark blond hair, lost in thought. Her dark red pupils possessed a shimmer of brilliance as if analyzing hundreds of possibilities at the same time, reaching a conclusion for each of them, before carefully sorting them, sealing them behind her hidden smile. Her smile remained poisonous and deceptive, her goals cryptic.

Seated next to her, on top of the royal red bench sat her knight, Elizabeth Vaughan. Her left hand never dared to leave the blacked leather grip of her sword. Her furious white eyes glared at no one in particular, merely being obstructed by her light blue hair. Her other fingerless glove ended in a white motionless ball of mana, which originated from her muscular hand.

Across from her rested Garfiel Tinsel, the bodyguard of Emilia camp, gazing into the white forest, white flakes carefully covering the land around them. Two metal shields rested on his forearm, his torso exposed to the cold air in the dwindling winter morning. His sharp teeth formed into a wide smile, not unlike the one previously found on Reid Astera. Gently, Garfiel traced the massive scar on his face, inflicted by the aforementioned.

Elsa Granhiert, the private assassin of Natsuki Subaru, relaxed back against the bench, her long wavy black hair overflowing the headrest. A long braid reached her hip, woven by her younger sister Meili. Elsa armed herself with countless knives, which were masterfully hidden inside her long black robe. A single ring containing an emerald green gem, rested on her left index finger, enticingly sparkling in the dimly lit carriage.

At the end of the carriage on a separate bench, Beatrice, a Great Spirit of Yin, rested on the lap of her sleeping contractor. Her tiny fingers interlocked with his, the bags under Subaru's, now closed, eyes caused by the sleepless nights he had to endure up until this point. His formal knight garb was equipped with pink fur which Beatrice glad used to rest her head on. Her unoccupied hand clung to a small porcelain cup of tea, from which she occasionally took a sip.

Beatrice: "So are you finally going to tell us what we have to do for you? It's been a few hours since we left Roswaal's mansion, I suppose."

Ameria ripped from her thoughts and offered Beatrice a blank stare before collecting herself again.

Ameria: "Apologies, Great Spirit. I simply wondered something. It's fascinating to see how much of the rumours surrounding Subaru-kun are actually true."

Beatrice: "What do you mean, I wonder."

Beatrice glared at the Baroness in annoyance, to which the latter merely offered a disarming smile, before dropping the point and beginning anew.

Ameria: "Have you ever heard about the merchant town of Röter Fen?"

Elsa: "Indeed. One of the most important towns in the south-western corner of Lugunica. The town connects two major merchant routes, which in turn allows it to offer almost any goods from all countries spare Gusteko. On top of that, every mercenary from that region offers their services to the merchants there."

Beatrice: "It's a rather new town, so Betty possesses no knowledge of that pitiful place. Where is the green one, when you need him, I wonder? How do you know all of this, I suppose?"

Elsa: "The town offers transportation into two foreign countries as well as outposts for various merchant companies. Mother's clients had a tendency to use the town to escape their business contract."

Ameria: "My, how interesting. Anyhow, the town is indeed a major trading hub inside my domain, which allowed the barony to flourish under my predecessor's control. The problem right now is that the major source of food comes from a village in the south, named Appa Hunt. Since you likely don't know, the area around the town has been traversed by one of the three great Mabeasts and left infertile for eternity. However, the soil and animals of Appa Hunt are supposedly blessed by an ancient deity, but those claims are vague at best. The former Viscount, in fear of angering a god, never called in the standardized rate of crops. After my ascent and the subsequent replacement of the viscount, the village is in open revolt. Importing food is not a viable option because of the long distance and expenses, so you have to break the siege."

Garfiel: "My amazing self fails to see why yer problems are important to me n'Captain."

Ameria: "Of course, I tried to break the Siege by sending a small task force of the Barony Forces, but due to fortification the first attack was repelled. Since the rationing, the morale of the soldiers dropped considerably. Reinforcements are on their way, but to ensure a victory, I negotiated a deal with the margrave. Subaru-kun will make sure the mission is a success, which in return will make the headlines. Think about it, Subaru Nastuki's heroic deeds continue, he bested an ancient deity to ensure the goods of Lagunica can flow through the city once more. Furthermore, this should secure support from one of the toughest groups to convince, the merchants."

Beatrice: "What do you get from it, I suppose? You are not the type to work without receiving something in return."

Ameria: "My only reward from this exchange is of course the return of the trade note to my domain."

On her face, the same disarming but poisonous smile crawled again, the same she demonstrated at her coronation to the Baroness.

Garfiel: "So my amazing self is gonna have to clean up yer mess again, eh!"

Although Garfiel sounded rather disappointed with this turn of events, secretly he was happy to test his skills once more after the humiliating defeat at Pleiades.

Elsa: "I for one, am no one to shy away from work, even if it's rather dull and unengaging."

While a peasant rebellion did not sound like the most enjoyable work, it still appealed more to her than to target impoverished, depressed nobles.

Beatrice simply rested her head against her contractor, vowing to keep him safe.

Ameria allowed a coy smile to form on her face, hidden behind her floral pattern, gold-red fan before leaning back, letting her plan unfold the same way she anticipated.

With a quick break, the carriage halted outside the city, coming to a standstill on the frozen muddy terrain. A glance out the window revealed hastily erected military barracks a few meters away from them. The wooden structure was draped in cloth, proudly flying different flags, one of which Subaru deduced as the floral pattern of the House of Noppen. Subaru couldn't see anyone outside, white smoke rising into the cold air from behind the military camp.

A forceful swing, from a young man, opened the door. His rose dark hair simmered against the falling snow. His hairstyle resembled that of a modern sidecut, stirring unpleasant memories in Subaru yet again. His uniform was identical to Elizabeth, simply created in a masculine style. Dusty green eyes offered a gentle aura, reflecting in his chivalrous behaviour. In contrast to his normal appearance, the knight had a long scar on his face. It stretched from his nose to his chin, leaving a white mark on his white flesh.

Getting on one knee, he shaved his shortsword before speaking in his affable voice.

?: "It brings me great joy to see you have arrived safely and in good health, Ameria-sama and Elizabeth-sama."

Elizabeth: "Good to see you are still alive, Hartwin."

Ameria: "You flatter me Hartwin, but I have to disappoint. I will depart from here shortly, but I indeed brought the military advisors from the margrave. They shall take control of the forces stationed here."

Hartwin: "Very well my lady. I wish you all the best with your departure. I will assure you will receive positive feedback in no time."

Ameria: "I am counting on you Hartwin and Elizabeth, don't disappoint."

Concealing her expression once more behind her fan, Ameria Noppen stepped back into the carriage. After the door closed, the carriage began to pick up speed leaving the place behind her. Her four armoured Guards escorted their liege as they sped into the snowy day.

As the carriage left, Subaru pulled down the hood of his knight uniform. The hood not only helped him shield himself against the cold air but also readied the embedded spell which would stop any recognition from the outside unless he allowed it to happen.

The young man turned around to them, letting his finger trace the silver grip of his sword in a similar manner to Elizabeth, who herself stood next to him with her arms crossed.

Hartwin: "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Hartwin van Beckte, junior knight of the Baroness Ameria Noppen. I am currently undergoing personal training by Elizabeth-sama. May I inquire about your name?"

Shooting a side glance to Beatrice, he hastily added something.

Hartwin: "Of course we also have a place for your little sister to stay, . I do not think an active combat zone is the best place for a small girl to stay in."

Before Beatrice could explode in his face, Elizabeth interrupted.

Elizabeth: "Hartwin, what did I tell you?! Stop judging people based on their first appearances! While she might look like a little girl, there is hardly any sense in both Ameria-sama or the margrave sending them down here if they were not strictly necessary."

Hartwin: "Excuse my insubordination, Elizabeth-sama"

But Elizabeth wasn't one to hold grudges, as she turned away from him and created her little ball of mana again.

Elsa: "My, My. If I may, my name is Elsa."

Hartwin: "Elsa-san, it's a pleasure to meet you. Your profession is that of a bounty hunter, I presume."

Elsa: "Let's leave it at that. I serve clients with any legal trouble. Although I had a change of employer rather recently."

Shivers went down Subaru's spine, him recalling past events with his new employee. At first, she had insisted on calling him Father, but Subaru quickly shot that one down.

Garfiel: "My amazing self's name's Garfiel Tinsel. Before ya ask, I am a bodyguard."

Beatrice, who had contained her rage until now, vented her anger at the kneeling knight.

Beatrice: "My name is Betty, in fact. But only Betty's Subaru may call Betty that. You can either refer to me as Beatrice-sama or Great Spirit. If it was not for my foolish contractor I would have turned you into condensed mana, I suppose. Hmph!"

Hartwin's face paled, almost reaching the same colour as his facial scar. The thought of even meeting a great spirit was so minuscule that it could be called almost entirely impossible. Furthermore, the spirit herself had exclaimed that she had a contractor. Combine that with the fact that the Kingdom only had two spirit art users and that the knight before him possessed black hair, Hartwin almost fainted.

Hartwin: "It can not be... Natsuki Subaru?!"

Subaru awkwardly scratched his head, before turning back to the junior knight that glanced at him in fear and awe. Subaru still had to come to terms with the reaction he received whenever he revealed his name to someone.

Elizabeth: "Hartwin, I hope you understand that Subaru-dono has not been here and will only reveal himself tonight once he is scheduled to officially arrive. I hope you understand me, for your sake."

Hartwin: "Of course, Elizabeth-sama."

The advisor rode down into the cent of the city. The trade node connected three major highways for merchant goods to traverse, creating a junction at the central plaza of the down. The city itself stretched around the intersection in a circular form. Naturally, the few nobles occupied the middle of the town, mixed with some dominant trading companies and rich merchant families. The further one moved away from the center, the worse the conditions would get.

Reaching the central plaza, Subaru discerned its visible emptiness. Earth Dragon patrols mixed with an overwhelming presence of the city guard, which all led to an enormous building in the centermost place of the town. Beautiful woodwork skillfully crafted marked the building as the centerpiece, although Subaru distinguished the style to be more closely related to that of bourgeoisie, instead of nobility. Without a doubt, this hotel was the place that the Viscount had invited them to.

Opening the large metal door, the group was greeted by an underlit room. The lobby itself was tastefully decorated, dead animal heads suspended from the wall. A small fireplace with an abundance of wood spread warmth through the wooded area. The lobby itself was empty, except for a single man that occupied it. His slender, almost skeletal, figure illuminated from his back as he stared against the wall. Messy long brown hair flopped around his scalp. In one hand he held a simple glass, his long fingers adorned by many different rings.

Subaru: "Viscount Röten?"

With a paranoid swing, he turned around. The tasteless vest and shirt he wore, accompanied his almost comical hat with brownish accents, which rested on top of the table. Long bags, akin to Subaru's, pestered the skin beneath his eyes. Hastily, he forced a polite smile on his miserable face, releasing the horrid smell of alcohol into the room. From his attire and behaviour, Subaru discerned that Maximilian Röten was not of noble birth, rather reminding him of Otto.

Maximilian: "You are the advisors Mrs. Niooen sent, right? A Knight, two mercenaries, and a small child ?! Is she taunting me?!"

The group exchanged glances of confusion, except for Elsa who remained as apathetic to the situation as always.

Subaru: "That is indeed correct, we were sent here by the Baroness. Are you sure you are feeling alright?"

Maximilian: "It's nothing. You wouldn't believe how much trouble it is to watch after this city. Yes! Yes! Nothing but trouble! All the families, the criminals, the mercenaries, the demis, the traders, the travellers, and now the grain. Nothing but trouble! I have to handle this. Yes, I can handle this. I can still fix this!"

Ranting to absolutely no one, the Viscount muttering went silent before he took another gulp of his wine.

Maximilian: "Ah the keys, the keys, apologies! Where was my head."

Reaching into his pocket, the man fished out a bundle of keys. The bronze keys carried the same insignia of the town, as he slammed them on the table before departing from the hotel, leaving the four alone.

Beatrice: "This man has a screw loose, I suppose. Betty can't think of a reason that foolish noblesse would place this airhead in charge here. As usual Betty's Subaru and Betty have to take care of it again."

Garfiel: "I agree with th'midget, Captain. Luckily he ain't in charge of th'operation here, but he look'd starv'd."

Subaru: "Agreed. Apparently, the city is already fractured into powerful factions as it is. Now with the grain problem, can we blame him?"

Elsa: " . Why philosophies about such trivial matters as blame? What the Baroness cares about is results no matter how. He already seems to be overwhelmed as it is, but now. The problem will likely solve itself, but if his rambling annoys you."

Pulling her cloak aside, she revealed a serrated knife. Enticingly she ran her fingers across it before locking eyes with Subaru, her glance full of desire and longing. Her tongue ran across her lips, sadistically anticipating his approval. Once again Subaru was reminded about the beast at his command, waiting to be unleashed.

Subaru: "Elsa, no. Just no."

After visiting their respective rooms, the group split up, deciding to explore the city before the inevitable battle, pledging to be home before nightfall.

Subaru and Beatrice dawdled down the long alee of the centermost street. Carriages pull along it, following the trade route of the three countries. Different stalls offer anything imaginable. Exotic fur, opulent clothing, mysterious books, priceless jewelry, and anything in between. Traders from all over the world assembled themselves in this sizable town, attempting to sell their goods to the noblemen, merchants, soldiers, and travellers that have ventured around the world. From giant merchant companies to smaller family-run stalls, everyone offered something in this, the streets plastered with taverns and hotels.

Luckily for Subaru, his employer paid him far above what was normal. As such money was rarely an issue for him, the weight of countless silver, gold, and even a few holy gold coins occupying his wallet. Flashed by the different styles of the people and stalls, he shrieked when someone placed their hand in his. With a small glance downwards, his eyes found a smug Beatrice.

Beatrice: "Betty is being the responsible older sister, I suppose. It's only natural her foolish contractor would be amazed by the city and get lost in the crowd. You may praise Betty, in fact."

A smile rushed on Subaru's face when confronted with Beatrice's prideful stance and awaiting smugness.

Subaru: "Thank you, Beako. You really think of everything. So keep me safe."

Together they continued to walk down the long streets, the jewelry stores slowly becoming more sparse and being exchanged for stalls with all kinds of different food found in this place. Suddenly Beatrice stopped walking, causing Subaru to do the same.

Subaru: "Anything you like, Beako?"

Beatrice: "Of course not. Betty merely spotted a stall with sweets, in fact. Since Betty knows how hopeless Betty's Subaru is, Betty figured that her contractor would want a snack. Because Betty is feeling gracious today, Betty will pay for them and get herself some sweets too, so Betty's Subaru won't feel lonely."

Walking up to the store, Beatrice began to order the man behind the counter around. After a while, she had amassed over 25 different pieces of coloured sweets.

Store Owner: "Anything else, young lady?"

Beatrice: "That's enough, in fact. How much is it, I suppose?"

Store Owner: "This makes one gold piece, please."

Beatrice handed him the money, nearly her entire monthly allowance before taking the brown bag out of his hands. Meanwhile, Subaru's head began to spin. One gold piece was a lot, especially for something as small as this. However, he didn't bother himself with such thoughts as Beatrice tried to shove a piece of candy in his mouth. The blue earth dragon reminded him of gummy bears texture-wise. Taking a bite, a familiar flavour of blueberries, sour-sweet, overwhelmed his taste buds. If Subaru had to describe it, wine gums wouldn't be too far off. Hastily Beatrice shoved four more sweets in his hand, before hiding the bag to the best of her abilities. Subaru took a moment to examine the gummy bears, finding a violet one that resembled a young man with two swords, a red one that appeared to be Reinhard, a yellow one mirroring some noblemen, and a black one that looked like himself. Happy, Subaru and Beatrice continued their stroll forward, before halting at an antique store

Subaru: "Beako, let's go in here for a moment. I still have to buy a gift for that pink douche. There should be some boring artifact in here, which he likes."

Stepping into the store, Subaru was greeted by an old man behind the counter, whose appearance reminded Subaru of the most clique sensei. A bamboo sheave rested on his left side, a bowl with tea resting on top of the counter.

Suddenly they were approached by a petite female in an emerald green kimono. Her green eyes shimmered with the same intensity as the gem inside Elsa's ring, spilling over with her aura of a warrior. While nothing impressive by the standards Subaru faced, it remained an odd detail. Her long black hair curled around her lower back. On her right exposed arm, an enormous green fox tattoo rested.

?: "You are with the military camp, right? Are you in need of a mercenary service? I can watch over your little sister, while a noble knight like yourself can finally wind down in the "other" parts of town."

Shellshocked by the offer, Subaru was at a loss for words. However, Beatrice, fed up with being confused for a little girl, twice today exploded.

Beatrice: "Betty will let you know that her lifespan exceeds yours by centuries, Human. Stop measuring a noble being like Betty, by your standards. And even if Betty would need someone to watch over Betty's Subaru, she wouldn't let you do it, in fact."

Subaru: "Beako."

Finishing her childlike tantrum, she pouted before taking a firm hold of Subaru's hand again.

Subaru: "Please, excuse my little Sister's behaviour. We're in no need of assistance, but we appreciate the offer."

Subaru who practised his chivalry training for a long time finally seized the opportunity to put it to good use. Shrugging her shoulders, the woman turned back and walked outside the door, approaching other potential clients.

Countless ancient scrolls and books laid around packed together with a sizable collection of swords. Most of the swords, however, were in poor condition. Nonetheless, Subaru and Beatrice in the end spotted an older blade, partially crafted from different metals.

The transaction remained uneventful, but Subaru couldn't help but notice the black dragon tattoo across the old man's arm. This little detail slowly but surely left his mind as he spent the next hours with Beatrice evaluating other stores, before returning to the hotel at the promised time.

Meanwhile, in another part of town, Garfiel visited the inner ring of the city. Passing a tall stone gate, he passed a few city guards before truly entering the district itself. Most of the builds here consisted of small houses, often attached to a small shop, a forge, or a tailor. Occasionally small food stands would occupy the area, which at this evening hours of the day were already closed.

Garfiel couldn't help but wonder, wasn't this a dream, for him? Living in a small district of a middle-sized town in peace. Together with his sister and his mother, far away from all the troubles. Garfiel allowed himself to dream for a while. What if he had been born in a neighbourhood like this? How would his life have ended differently? Surely it would have been rough for his single mother, but would he have been happier? Is that what he really wanted? A peaceful life?

Garfiel let his sharp teeth crash together, shattering the illusion to an unanswered question. Hastily he crossed into a smaller side street, leading him away from the smaller house shops and into the entrance of a big tavern.

Before him, a middle-aged woman appeared blocking the way to the tavern. Her green eyes alluded an aura of desperation, her slender figure plagued by starvation. Her long golden hair braided into a ponytail. Clothes that hinted at her being a mother left a sour after-taste in his mouth.

?: "Hey, handsome. Are you looking for some fun after your hard battle?"

Garfiel: "Not interest'd."

Her advances onto Garfiel were clumsy, not what he had expected from someone offering their body in exchange for money. Garfiel damned himself for his choice of clothing which not only hinted at him being a mercenary but also were quite revealing.

?: "Come on, there is no harm in it. Aren't you bogged down after all the fighting you had to endure? A little break won't hurt, and nobody has to know."

Garfiel: "I told ya, my amazon' self not interest'd. Push off!"

Without wasting another glance, Garfiel pushed past her into the bar. Inside the smell of blood, piss, sweat, and beer mixed, almost making him throw up. A shady bard sat atop a small podium, playing a tune that drowned in the loud tavern. The people inside the bar all resembled that of mercenaries, the tall building certainly offering a place to sleep.

Garfiel went up to the counter, before ordering himself a glass of milk and sitting at the back of the room. The milk itself was murky, barely drinkable, and certainly watered down with something. However, Garfiel had little choice in what he could pick, so he sat at his table while quietly eavesdropping on the conversations between the mercenaries.

All of a sudden an old man spoke up. Greasy gray hair mixed with pearls of sweat, and the plaguing stench of alcohol that erupted from his mouth. Beer, blood, and other fluids stained his clothes, the drunk having a difficult time speaking up.

?: "All of you, listen up!"

The few tables next to him began to quiet down, slowly drawing more attention to him. Even the shabby bard stopped playing his harp, offering his full attention to the drunkard.

?: "Huxley is about to tell another story, eh?"

A giant of a man, with a small wooden child on his back, spoke up, apparently knowing the person in front of him. Garfiel, who had no other plans this evening, decided to lend his ear to the old man.

Huxley: "Word reached me from an old friend of mine. Wilhelm van Astera, the [Sword Demon]. He told me the truth about what really happened in the battle against the White Whale.

Garfiel's ear sharpened. Subaru never talked about any of his legendary tails, and this guy seemed to know Willhelm personally. So finally, Garfiel could listen to the legend about his boss.

?: "How does an old geezer, like you, know anything about Willhelm?"

A tiny mercenary that looked to be underaged called out.

?: "Huxley was part of the famed Zellgef Squadron. He fought alongside two of the greatest Heroes, Theresia van Astrea and Wilhelm van Astera."

Amazed murmurs made their way through the crowd, which quieted down again, apparently agreeing to at least hear the old man's story.

Huxley: "By now all of you should know about the heroic tales of the [Sage Knight], Natsuki Subaru. So let me tell you the one and only truth about what really happened beneath the [Flugel Tree]. A combined force of thirty of the strongest mercenaries and knights was present, only spare those knights that represented royal candidates."

The old man took a big sip of his beer, leaving a suspenseful pause.

Huxley: "The whale appeared beneath the tree in the night, only because Natsuki Subaru obtained cryptic and mysterious knowledge of the whale's appearance. To this day, no one knows how or why he possessed such information. Equipped with nothing but a rusty blade, Natsuki Subaru rushed towards the whale, crossing even the mist that erased people from existence. It was a fearsome battle, costing the lives of many attackers, but with the combined strength of magic and physical attacks, they almost managed to defeat it. But then, all of a sudden two more whales appeared."

Huxley left another pause in his narration, allowing the suspense to set in as Garfiel clawed at his drink. He still had to ask Subaru about the validity of these claims, but his boss told him once that it indeed was able to split into three parts. Turning back, Garfiel let himself get enraptured by the story once more.

Huxley: "Then he did the unthinkable. In mere seconds he summoned a spear of magic so big it could rival the size of the [Divine Dragon]. With one hit, he turned one of the whales to pure dust. The survivors of the squadron with help of Willhelm and the Duchess managed to kill the second one. But too exhausted to watch their flank, the unthinkable happened. The whale managed to swallow Willhelm. Enraged by this, Natsuki Subaru ripped out the [Flugel Tree] with his bare hands, and with the strength, only Reid van Astrea himself could personally rival, split the whale in half to rescue Wilhelm van Astera."

Finishing his beer the man stopped his rambling, sending the bar in a wild discussion about the claims of the old man. Garfiel himself reached a predicament. His captain was weak physically, most of the time he had to rely on others to help, however, what happened at the [Pleiades Watchtower], changed that view for eternity. There Subaru not only managed to force Reid van Astera to kill one of the Sin Archbishops but also convinced the [Divine Dragon] to help him. Maybe, just maybe his captain hid a lot more from him and the others than they knew.

Huxley: "But do you want to know the most important information? The sage council themselves send down Natsuki Subaru here to slaughter the deity that plagued this city for so long."

Once again the tavern fell into a huge discussion about the validity of these claims. For the rest of the night, Garfiel listened to mystic tails and wild claims, before returning to the inn at the designated time.

Elsa had long separated herself from the group, following her own plans for the evening. The rundown streets of the outer shantytown of the city. The alluring lingerie sense of desperation created a sadistic smile on her face. Poverty struck these parts, people living in rundown huts, trash collecting at every corner, fights between smaller syndicates and city guards avoiding these parts of town, only responding to quell a rebellion. All of these factors mixed with the light fog that covered her every move, making her feel at ease. The cold invaded her thin clothes, piercing her body, only adding to the pleasurable experience.

Aimlessly she hunted them victims to satisfy her uncontainable bloodlust. The larger the group the better, combat experience multiplying her bliss with the encounters. Suddenly, the beautiful music of a nearby dispute caught her ears. Hastily she closed the distance between herself and the creator of the sounds as enticing screams of pain sounded through the emptied streets.

Her purple eyes caught only the end of the dispute. Three men kneeling over another one. The first clothed himself in tasteful merchant garb, fitting for the cold climate. He wielded a simple club, which he brought down on the kneeling man's head. His movements were amateurish, untrained, and almost pathetic. His two helpers watched on, in their light leather armour, crude blades hanging from their belts. The last one revealed itself to be a demihuman, his dog ears releasing the sweet scent of blood. His blacksmith attire being completely unfit on a man with such tiny arms. All the while compelling screams of him piercing her ears.

Elsa: "My, my. What is going on here?"

Faking a surprised, almost frightened expression Elsa turned around the corner, only to be addressed by the merchant.

Merchant: "Get lost, woman! This is none of your concern!"

Elsa: "I do think beating an upstanding citizen is someone's concern. Or am I wrong?"

Merchant: "Don't you see? He is a demi, he should starve to death. There isn't enough food for everyone, so naturally, these maggots have to die. Now, beat it!"

The merchant pulled on the dogmans ear, making his throat emit a pained groan, which pushed Elsa over the limit. Her bloodlust finally took over as she reached into her coat.

Elsa: "My. You truly have no manners. I am going to help you with your little problem."

Launching forward at inhumane speed, Elsa reached the first guard. With a quick horizontal slash, Elsa cut him in half. Not a second later she reached the second guard, disemboweling him in the same manner.

Merchant: "What the…"

The [Bowel Hunter] deemed him too pathetic to invest any further. Her knife found its way into his eye, as her teeth buried themselves into his neck. Any screams died in his throat, as his blood warmed her skin. Those moments were the ones, Elsa felt alive. The blood seeped further down her body, Elsa basking herself in his blood. Dropping his lifeless body, she retrieved her knife before inspecting the intestines of the fallen guards. They felt cold, just as expected. Their guts were too dull to remain a point of interest as she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

The demi-human fell backward, too stunned to speak. His arms clung to his precious food. Elsa discerned from his injuries that he was blinded, blood seeping from the wounds that were once his eyes. With a small dash, she closed the distance between them too, letting her breath hit his face. Panicked the dogman began to hyperventilate, fearing for his life.

Dogman: "What are you?"

Elsa: "Now then, there is no point in telling you."

With a sadistic smile on her face, Elsa decapitated him. This night dozens of victims fall to quell her desires, nobody ever found what remained of the fallen. Once the moon replaced the sun, Elsa covered in blood and reeking of corpses, returned to the inn.

AN:

Thank you for reading the first chapter of Shattered Glass.
Most of the Oc's here are just props to be used and reused since we are in a foreign city.
If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions please leave them in the comment section below.