"speaking"
"Thinking"
On with the story
At the campsite by the borders of the cliff
Many beastmens were gathered there as all of them were saved by Natsu who stopped the execution
"make sure that all of the saved beastmen get proper treatment, report to me if they have any injuries or illness" Natsu ordered a soldier who nodded before going off to do his duty
Natsu was soon confronted by the two elves with the young elf girl
"thank you very much, Lizardius Natsu Dragneel" the male elf said with a bow as the female followed "if you had not come, our daughter would've been orphaned forever"
"I am simply doing my duty as a king and a Dragon" Natsu said in reply before the little elf girl gave him a small flower
"thank you!" she said with a big smile as Natsu smiled back before taking the small flower with gratitude
The elf family went away to join the saved beastmen as there were 20 saved from the town and in the forest
"my king" a soldier went to Natsu who turns to look at him "the ships have arrived bellow the cliffs"
"how many?" Natsu asked
"5 at the most" the soldier replied "they also brought back supplies for us, my king"
"very well, get the supplies out and get one ship ready to depart back to Dragnof with the evacuated beastmen" Natsu stated as the soldier nodded before going away
Natsu looks around as the campsite was being filled with evacuated beastmen who all were being hunted down
"this many beastmen….being hunted like some sort of animals by those human soldiers" Natsu muttered out before he gritted his teeth in anger "despicable! Unforgivable!"
Natsu soon grabs his gun before spinning around and fired a shot
BANG!
The gunshot was heard by all as everyone looks at Natsu who holds his gun and grips it tight
In the forest nearby, a tree had a smoking hole as Natsu's gunshot hit it
Natsu keens his eyes as they glowed red before he placed his gun away to his holster
"come out, this is a campsite for all" Natsu said as he spotted a few shadows in the trees "if you do not come out now, I shall brand you all as possible threats"
Before long, from the forest came out some beastmen and humans; all looking tired and some seemed to be injured
"some of you seemed to be injured" Natsu said outloud "come, your wounds will be treated here"
Slowly, the group of humans and beastmen came to the campsite where they got treated of their wounds and healed of their fatigue
Natsu place his hand on a scar on a human woman's hand and healed it with his power
"you shall be alright, just rest now" Natsu said as the woman thanked him
A soldier went to Natsu and started whispering some words to him
"what?" Natsu said as the soldier nodded "show me"
The soldier lead Natsu to some beastmen who all had collars on their neck and waist
"enslavement collars" Natsu said as he kneels and checks the collars on their necks, each one imbued with magic "not to worry, these seems to be from a minor enchanted mage"
Natsu wave his hand to the side as the collars cracks before shattering into pieces
"get them treated and have them rest for the day." Natsu ordered a soldier beside him "tomorrow morning, they will be set off on the ship to Dragnof"
"yes!" the soldier replied while Natsu walked away
As Natsu was walking away, Happy ran to him
"Natsu! Big trouble!" Happy exclaimed while jumping up and down
"what is it?" Natsu asked the blue feline
"I just got told by one of the beastmen that a kingdom had been capturing beastmen! A lot of them too!" Happy exclaimed as Natsu's eyes widen a bit
"where is this beastmen?" Natsu asked as Happy leads him to a tent
In the tent, were beastmen who were getting their injuries and wounds treated by some of Natsu's soldiers
Happy went to one beastmen who seemed to be a young female JubJub wearing white clothing as her feathers puffen it out
Jubjub, a subspecies of the Harpy family. They are unlike the Harpies who swoop down to catch their prey as the Jubjub seems to attract their prey with their beauty rather than forcing the use of physical prowess
"she's the one who told me of the kingdom!" Happy said standing beside the Jubjub girl who seems to be nervous
"you, huh?" Natsu said crouching down beside the jubjub "what is your name?"
"i-I'm….Yukino.." she said in a low and nervous voice while her body was shaking a bit
"you told my friend here that there was a kingdom that has been capturing beastmen, did you not?" Natsu asked as Yukino nodded "where is the kingdom that you speak of?"
"n-north of our location, sir. And…." Yukino said before she bowed down to Natsu while in tears "…my elder sister….please….save my elder sister.."
"your elder sister….was she captured?" Natsu asked as Yukino nodded to confirm it "you must know that I intend to save all beastmen, but even I cannot prioritize any other beastmen. The needs of the few outweighs the need of the many"
"please….please…my elder sister helped me escape from that kingdom…but she was captured because of me…please…please.." Yukino begged Natsu as her tears drips down to the ground
"Natsu.." Happy frowns sadly as Yukino seems to be in pure sadness and grief for her elder sister
Natsu looks at Yukino before he sighs and closed his eyes for a moment before opening them
"I can go to the kingdom to save the beastmen and your sister, but I can only prioritize her safety if you hire myself in a contract" Natsu said as Yukino raise her head to look at him "I maybe a hero, a king, and a dragon. But I am also a mercenary"
Natsu reaches out a hand as a scroll appeared in its grasp
"you desire to save your elder sister, but the question I ask of you is this" Natsu said placing the scroll down in front of Yukino "are you prepared to make the deal?"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye