Chapter 13

Me and Alie decided to check out the orphanage that morning before the night. It very large. It towers over the home in the city. "This must be it. It's the only orphanage in the city." Its rather large for one. Normally there not that big. Children who don't have parents are frowned upon. 

"It's a shame. If only the other orphanages can have generous leader like the princess." "What do mean?" She frowns about it. "People believe children at a young age aren't looked as equals even among peasants."

"I don't understand?" "Parents are everything and are important to their learning. They are put in an orphanage either because it's too hard or expensive to take care of them. Or their parents died. Many people think of it as a waste of time to guide children when they have better things to do."

Learning about society is fruitful. Everything has showed me what I already know in this world. The world is messed up is some many ways. "Which is why I'm surprised a little at how big the home is. But this is Isabella. There are good things here."

"What about the people. They seemed to think lowly of non-humans." "People are hungry and angry. Sometimes they say things they don't mean when there angry and sad."

"I've never heard that kind of line before. I never even thought of it like that." Something was different about her today. She feels a lot like a leader or preacher. "Let's go. We should rest a bit more for the night. Laney and Tise will meet us up there on that abandon home."

I don't what it was but the people all around me caught my attention. It was like a need I wanted to experience. I blink my eyes to Alie. "Alie. I'll meet you back at the tavern." Alie quickly turns around. She was surprised by me doing something I want to do. "Are you sure?" 

"Yeah. I want to understand and learn things in this city. I want to see for myself what life is like." She was happy for me. "Be careful. This city is dangerous. Run if you have to." She hugs me tightly. "I'm not leaving Alie." "I know. Remember to come back before dark."

Now that I'm alone. I might as well walk around and take in everything. Even in all of these unruly events. People still tried to live a normal life. Children playing, people trying to fish in the ocean, and trading with one another.

"I thought they were running low on food." Fish...I guess this what there trying to survive. Though it's not enough. "Those fish are infected from the river." Laney appeared from behind me. He had his nonchalant smile as always.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Tise?" "She got annoyed and told me to fuck off." "I thought you two would be close." "We worked together on jobs that are rather difficult for us."

"Hm. Shes quite interesting." "I agree." 

"But why are you here Laney?" "I just happen to pass by, and you were there. What are you doing walking around in this dangerous city. Especially someone who has beast-men traits."

They gave me visibly dirty looks just by walking around. But I most of them don't give me that feeling of being different. "It's weird honestly." "Hm... the people here don't think lowly of beast-men. In fact, Isabella used to have people from the old beast-men kingdom tour this place."

"I would figure so. It's not too far from here." "Of course, that was before the invasion of the beast-men kingdom and these days no one cares." "Why?"

"Well people feel that the princess is prioritizing the beast-men more than her own people."

Before I meet Alie. I would think they were being selfish like every other human in the world. But...I think I understand. "What do you think she should do?"

"Me? Well, I'm not sure. I'm not a king or princess. But I think you should try and make it work. She should do what she feels is right. But again, she is a leader. She must make the decisions based on the needs of her country."

"I wonder what the non-humans think about all this." This guy is quite open-minded. "Your very different from your kin." 

"What do you mean?" "With the many beast-men I have meet. They either were sacred and timid or fierce and cautious. But you don't show many of those signs."

"..." "I don't mean any disrespect. I was just saying." I guess that is true. I don't feel like most people. Is this because I'm half-human?

"You want to see something?" "See what?" "Come. I'll show you." We did not travel far. This side off the city was much cleaner. Honestly it was a ghost town. "Why did you bring me here?"

"This area used to be a trading street. People all over the world used to come here to share cultures and trade. This is what Isabella is known for. But now it longer looks at such things anymore."

I want to see that someday but highly unlikely. But people don't have time for such things these days. "You still haven't answered my question."

"I don't want people to hear our conversation of course." Laney looks to me. The carefree face was gone. He looked more serious about this. "I don't why you're helping this city honestly. And I do want to know. But first your friend."

"What about her?" "What is she?" "What do you?"

"I don't know if you know this, but elves can sense spirits and other worldly things that are not from this plane. Tise had mention it when we parted ways last night." "Why do you want to know all this Laney?"

"I work for a certain someone who asked me to get questions from you. They are very suspicious of you two. Random people coming into this city."

"Is all this necessary." "I'm afraid so friend." 

It's her orders after all.

Laney. I have read your letter. I understand the situation. I want you to try and be civil with them. I want to know why there helping my city and what they want. Do not say who you work for and if they do. You know what to do.

I already have enough things to worry about. If they are friend than proceed with your mission. After you are done. Come back to the castle. 

Sincerely, Princess Mia.

"Why are helping us?" "

What should I do. If I say you're asking the wrong person. This could turn really ugly. Do I lie or tell the truth? "Ivalyo...I need an answer." "It's kind of hard to say." "...Sign..." Laney pushes his palms out releasing a force of wind towards me. 

The building behind me lost its front when crashing into it. "You're not giving me a good answer Ivalyo." I grabbed a large part of the brick wall that I had crashed into moments ago and slung it at Laney.

He done the same move he has used on me and broke it in pieces. I took the chance to get one on him.

Put a very light field of wind protected him from my blow. I did not take out my axe since he did not bring out his sword. But my strength has pushed out of the building.

He must be using some kind of defensive type of spell. "Damn...That could have broken my ribs or shattered my entire chest. Guess you're more beast-men on the inside than the outside."

"We don't have to do this." "You care about Lady Alie right and is willing to do anything for her." "She saved me." 

"It's the same for me. I'll ask you again Ivalyo. What are you two after?" "I'll tell you. If you tell me who you're working." "You have one last chance. I don't want to kill you and I really don't. You seem like a good person. But this is for the safety of Isabella and my employer. Why are you two here?"

"I don't have an answer for you Laney. At least not yet." "You should have given me one now Ivalyo." The wind suddenly had intensified. Laney pulls his sleeve up. Strange knifes strapped around his arm fling from his knife strap.

The knives had cut my body. I can sense mana in them. Another new magic I have witnessed. There floating like clouds around him. He flings a barrage of attacks at me. His attacks are easy to read. I can smell the mana on them No matter how fast they are I can smell were there going. His mana is a part of him I can smell it. 

They didn't feel as fast as the first attack. Laney was even impressed by my movement. His strength and speed as beast-men are problem. I can't let him get any ground on me. He will get tired from all this dodging. 

"You're starting to really be frustrating Ivalyo!" "I guess it's a gift!" I quickly through my axe at him. I took the small opening to attack Laney. His defensive spell was blocking my blows though. I repeated attack him. His mana field was cracking little by little.

He takes the chance to drink a position from his bag. His defensive spell had broken by the time he drank the potion. He lays a blow to my stomach with force that only beast-men could do. He lands another punch to my face.

"What did you do!?" "A rare potion let's just say." He attacks me with sword. I dodge forward to grab my axe that I had thrown earlier.

I can't beat him like this. The only way to beat him is to keep attacking him. Give him no time to cast spells or drink any more potions. He uses his knives again having them form an around him like a circle.

We fight for some time and fear had set on Laney's face. But I was hurt. His skill with swords and knives had cut my entire body. 

His potion was wearing off. After fighting for a while. I had survived his attacks. Laney was staggering trying to keep himself together. 

Suddenly Laney was caught by vines from the ground. "This spell!? Tise!" Alie and Tise had shown up from the alleys. "What are you doing!?" "I'm a Merc. We work for the those who pay us more." 

"You did well Ivalyo." "Yeah, thanks for enchanting me. I would not have last as long as I did. You to Tise." 

"Why do I feel like I've been played?" "Because you have. I know who you're working for Laney. And that you've been following us since we first came into the city." 

"I told you before Laney. I can see smells and mana. I notice yours at the top of the towers. Even when we got into the Tavern. Your smell was even on the poster we used to hire you." And how we know he's working for the princess. After I had told Alie of him spying on us. We needed to know who he was working for. Alie can change sizes and invisible too. She followed him that night and had saw who he was writing too.

Before this when I decided to walk around, I had smelled Laney. He was quite far but he must have not realized how far I can smell and see his scents and mana.

I know he was close by. Alie had placed her magic circle on me to find me when she hugged me. "I will be there as soon as I can. Alie had gone to Tise to ask for help. But not without some convincing.

Of course, I would not tell him that. Everything about Alie should stay a secret. "Heh...your more dangerous than I thought."

"And your ranking is a fake. Your far stronger than a normal merc." "..." Alie places her hand over his mouth sealing it so he would not cast any more spells when his mana pool replenishes. I did not question how she know that spell. Tise did not seem to care.

"Miss Tise. Would you mind watching over him in our Tavern. Of course, I will pay you even more rubies." "Very well. I will take him back. But what about the job tonight. "It's ok. I already have a plan. We have someone to meet at the orphanage."

"You didn't tell me this part Alie." "We didn't have enough time. We needed to capture Laney, or we might have been killed by him." Laney muffled yells caught our attention.

"We won't kill you Laney. That's not why we're here or our goal. I hope one day we can put this past us. We have a job to do first. And I thought you would hold back your intention after we saved those kids. It's disappointing."

"..." Laney know that. He must have had a hard time choosing what to do first. He never gave the energy of a bad person after all. We both know that. Even Tise felt that way. Alie searched his bag for a healing potion. "Here this will help Ivalyo." The taste was sweet and bitter but all in all very helpful.

"Now what?" "We have to go to the orphanage and wait for our guest." 

"What?" "The princess. I had left a note for her when Laney sent his report. She will be expecting us to be there." "For what?" "To help each other and understand each other. We need her help. She must take control of the city. So, we can do our part in stopping the Imperials from achieving what they want. But we need her support and to make sure events like today don't happen again."

"Wouldn't she just kill us on the spot?" "No. We have information and Laney as a hostage." "Kind of a bad impression." 

"We have no choice. If there was another way. I wouldn't have to use Laney as a hostage." She must feel bad about this. Laney was not to bad even though we just meet I can feel he was nice person. His eyes...I can see sadness in them. Much like my mother. Like he was abandoned.

"Let's go." "I will take my leave to with Laney." "Thank you...and be careful." 

"Of course.... lady Alie." 

Tise lifts him like a princess. We had bound his legs and arms with roots from Tise. He's doesn't like how he's being treat. "Shut up. If you weren't so dangerous and noncompliant, I wouldn't have to do this."

He squirms trying to leave her grasp. "I should have asked for more." She speaks in elven to enchant her legs with a strength boost. She lunges on the building one by one with ease.

"Let's go. The princess doesn't like to be kept waiting for things." 

The orphanage was empty of kids. Only Slova were there guarding the place. At the front of the entrance was Hen and Terra. "Oh...Hey." They were not very happy. 

"So, Lady Alie and Ivalyo. Explain to me how after a few days of being in this city that you have gotten yourself into a national crisis?"

"Well." Explaining things to them was not easy. We had lied to them after all, and we didn't want to lie anymore. But Alie was some with an unknown background. We had to make another lie. But Alie was honest about one thing.

"I am here to make a deal with the princess. I need her help." "This is no way to ask Alie." "I know. But there was no other way. I am not a royalty or anything. And she was trying to kill us." 

Terra voices her words "Alie. You could be killed even now. Her knight captains are with her and there even more powerful than me and could be as strong as the general. And we won't be able to help you."

"You have done enough to help us. I understand the situation. But I promise you I can convince her." "To do what?" 

"To help me build a home." A knight orders us to enter the orphanage. The princess was waiting. "Whatever it is. I hope you come out alive." 

"Thank you and sorry for lying." "Don't be. We understand a little. just be careful in the future. People aren't like us." "I get it."

We walked in the building. They took away our weapons before we enter the room where the princess was waiting for us. They open the door when told so. In the room was a chair and young beautiful women sat in it. There was also two older men standing side by side of her.

"So. Your Alie I take it." Her eyes widen when she saw me and confused too. "Your beast-men. Are you, her slave?" 

"No. I'm...her friend." "I see. I guess you earn some good points. You look like someone I've seen before. From a long time ago." 

"Princess. Focus." "Right. So, tell me. Why should I not kill you here." "Well, that would be dumb on your part princess." "How dare you!" 

"Quiet." He was about to unsheathe his sword, but he reluctantly let it go. The look of you disgusting bastards was showing. The princess stands up and walks to Alie. "Where is Laney?" "He is safe." At least we know she cares about him. So, we have an advantage.

"...Who are you two?" "Allies princess. This was the only way to speak to you and to make sure we don't have to continue to fight."

Hmm. She doesn't seem to be lying. They're both hard to read. But I don't have a choice but to listen to them. Laney is in trouble, and I can't afford to lose him in times of need. The princess sits down on the seat and crosses her legs. 

"Then speak. What do you want."