Chap 10

Splash~

The sound of water splashing over my body flooded the bathroom, as the cold, comfortable water ran over my body.

My gaze fell on my body, full of bruises and cuts that contrasted the white of my skin with the pale red of the wounds.

I ran my hand over them, noticing the small pieces of ice that closed them.

I was surprised, the wounds were closing faster than I expected.

Probably due to some healing potion that was administered to me, along with Ice Heart that somehow aided my recovery.

The last thing I remember is conjuring a lightning bolt that caused my eyes to close, by the time I opened them I was in the room I jumped out of to join the battle.

I got out of the tub and grabbed a rough towel to dry my hair, which now reached my lips.

From the closet, I grabbed a set of totally dark clothes and went down the stairs that were filled with a thick smell of blood.

Already at the entrance of the arch-shaped inn, five men could be seen standing in front of a carriage.

The sound of my footsteps served as a warning of my presence and the five turned toward me.

My eyes met those of a bearded man wearing a lightning bolt insignia on his clothing and walking toward me.

A few steps in front of me he stopped, kneeling on his right foot.

"Young master Adad."

Said the man stopping as the other four followed his example and knelt.

We regret our stupidity and incompetence that has led you to witness this unfortunate act on our part... Which has even led you to act.

His eyes, still staring at the ground, trembled and his quivering mouth fell open.

"We know that, like knights who have sworn to protect you with our lives, death is not enough to repay the harm done, so we will accept whatever punishment is meted out to us."

The man's words elicited a nod from the rest.

Except for the gray-haired, scrawny man who carried a cane.

"Get up."

I replied as I looked at the old man who had a deep gaze.

I shifted my gaze to the carriage which was covered with a blanket from which a pair of feet were sticking out.

"I need answers, no apologies."

I spoke of something I knew the answer to without looking away from the pair of legs.

I spoke of something I knew the answer to without taking my eyes off the pair of legs.

The breath visible in the chill of the afternoon forced us to move toward the inn, though for me the weather was perfect.

On the way, I traced my gaze through the houses and the forest looking for Tasha.

The knight. The head gentleman they called Daniel did not speak.

Miss Tasha came upstairs to clean herself up after administering a position while unconscious. She was fine physically, though mentally..."

"I see."

It was normal, in the game Tasha is a kind person who doesn't even kill an animal, so this experience must have been traumatic for her.

Already sitting on a couple of logs around the campfire Daniel proceeded to introduce the scrawny man.

The man was the village chief.

And according to what he had said they had been able to recover the escaped horses which would allow us to leave for the capital tomorrow.

"Young Master, then allow me to summarize what we have discovered so far."

As you know it is quite rare that a large group of bandits could...

Summarizing what Daniel had said.

It was unlikely that bandits would attack a carriage bearing the sign of a nobleman, let alone a duke, something that is certainly a crime punishable by death.

Even rarer is that a group of 40 bandits would settle in this area.

Merchants and people transiting these roads are usually escorted and the proximity to the capital meant that their numbers easily attracted the attention of the knights.

They were also well trained and most were of at least F rank.

With this, two options can be deduced.

One, they were a union of all the bandits in the area to kidnap me and Tasha and ask for money.

This was unlikely, as guys who make their living robbing small travelers and merchants would be brave enough to incur the wrath of a Duke.

The second. They are mercenaries hired by someone who knew our movements and the number of soldiers we had, though they don't know who would want to do this.

You didn't have to be a genius to deduce which one it was.

This was not something that took me by surprise.

The attack is orchestrated by Nickolas, thanks to this Adad develops a hatred for him leading him to be a villain.

A simple rejection was not enough to corrupt Adad.

This fact along with others at the academy would end up corrupting him, leading him into battle with Nickolas.

I knew a little of the future before the battle, but it might not happen because I depart for training.

But that doesn't change the fact that, if I don't handle this carefully a war between dukes may break out.

"So, sir."

Daniel cut off his words but seemed to steel himself as he turned to look at the carriage.

I want... no, we want to take the ashes of the fallen knights and scatter them in the forest and lake of Alactak. We know they didn't do their job perfectly, but ..... They died in the line of duty.

Silence filled the place until I answered, looking at the carriage.

"All right. Let's fulfill the wishes of our dead."

We advanced through the battle-destroyed houses as we picked up the bodies, even those of the enemy.

Since awakening as Adad I had realized that respect was important, it was shown in different ways.

In battles, the bodies of the enemy were cremated and a prayer was said without specifying gods.

People respected their word and a promise was worth enough to trust your life to it, which is why knights were loyal enough to give their lives for their lord.

We rode out of the village, past the destroyed stables, and stopped behind a huge oak tree, where there was a small inn.

The knights pushed the carriage and placed it on top of the tree next to the well.

Daniel approached the carriage, thrusting a pair of swords into the ground.

He knelt and placed his hands one on top of the other.

The others who followed mimicked him, including Tasha, who followed us silently.

"Goddess Necar."

"Please guide these souls with you and..."

As Daniel spoke, only one word remained in my mind.

Gods.

In this world, they were a real thing and part of their powers were tangible, but I couldn't help but wonder.

Were they thinking of us, their creations?