Vol - 1 Ch - 7: The cursed lands residents

"What is this place?" Abraham asked.

"It's a type of church. Although it's not that great since people around here move all the time, it is still quite nice I guess." Spoke a man named Vincent. He had brown hair, a long chin and golden eyes. Abraham and Vincent stood in front of a statue without a face. The statue was situated in a room resembling a church, however, it was all made of stone and wasn't particularly well built. "Vincent. Do you know more about how we got here?"

"I do. I made a contract. With 'him'."

"'Him'? Do you mean the god these people worship? And what were the details of the contract?"

"I… Don't remember. I just know that 'He' wasn't particularly… Well, how should I explain it, he didn't feel like a god. I remember talking to him. Being surprised at his appearance. But about how he looked or what we talked about…."

"I don't remember any of it…"

***

"Hurry up. We're almost at the gate" Abraham spoke, wiping off the sweat on his face. "Damn it… Why is this body so weak?"

Vincent grumbled. He had become extremely tired from walking around the entire village located near the church's base so many times. "Why do we have to patrol too? Aren't we supposed to be the special guests?"

"Stop complaining and hurry up. What have you even been doing for the past 2 months we've been here?" Abraham taunted Vincent. Vincent had spent most of his time researching this world's technology and trying to combine it with his. During this, he didn't give much time to his physical strength.

"Well, one of us needed to do that job! We can't just abandon all we had learned from our previous lives can we? I just didn't have enough time." Vincent quickly caught up to Abraham while complaining. "That's true I suppose."

"Anyways, we're almost there. Hurry up."

They continued walking through the muddy path surrounded by trees. The forest itself was not that dense. However, it was full of life and green. There were also some water puddles on the ground and the leaves were wet. It seemed to have rained recently. It was quite calm. There was a certain smell in the air- The smell of dirt after the rain. Overall, it was extremely peaceful. There were also a few regular birds around! And some squirrels on the tree!

However… Abraham noticed something strange. "Vincent. Is this what I think this is?"

"Yeah… They seem to be footprints of the residents of the cursed lands."They spotted a footprint slightly bigger than an average human. However, It was not like a human. Its shape was more like that of a wolf, but it still had some human-like characteristics. The footprints didn't seem to be that old either. It had rained just yesterday. 'This could be bad'

Abraham quickly took out a card from his bag and stood still for a while. 'Alright. Now I just need to push some mana in this card. And it'll be done'

Some small patterns appeared in the air. Floating around Abraham's hands. These are the 'runes' created through several generations of research to make the usage of mana easier. However, these runes weren't stable. They kept breaking apart. 'He may not be able to do it…'

Vincent thought. He became quite worried. The problem they were in right now, was that they did not know when they would be attacked. "Abraham. Let's just go to the gate. It's nearby… we can ask help from the guards there."

"And what if they have already been slain? It will only make sense that the enemy kills the gate guards and occupies it to try and block off the exits. Don't worry Vincent. I got this." Abraham spoke in a desperate voice. He had slowly begun doubting himself since he isn't particularly good at using magic. But fortunately, The runes were soon completed and the card disappeared.

"It's a success!" Vincent exclaimed. He honestly hadn't been expecting Abraham to pull it off. And was planning to make a run for it.

Huff huff

"They should be here any second now" Abraham responded after panting. His face was dripping from sweat. And he was holding his head with his hands. "Does your head hurt?"

They heard a familiar voice from behind them. "Yes. But more importantly, look at these footprints."

Abraham showed the footprints they had found earlier to Alfred. "Good job. You stopped a potential tragedy from occurring at this place."

Alfred responded calmly. It seemed that nothing was wrong from the way he spoke. But his expression said otherwise.

***

Everyone was running around. Busy packing their things and readying to evacuate. They were preparing all the things they needed to settle again. Several infightings were occurring. After all, there were all kinds of people who were trying to escape. Farmers, warriors, magicians, merchants, And much more. It was quite chaotic. "This way everyone!"

Several soldiers were guiding the people out of the town.

"Move! Let me leave goddamnit!"

"Dammit! I have a child in my hands can't you see?! Stop pushing."

"AAARGH."

People were pushing each other. Trying to get out of this place as fast as possible from the only available, safe narrow path. The entire situation was out of control at this point. Those who were weak got crushed beneath the crowds of people. And those who had a lot of belongings, had them destroyed.

"Everyone. May you be a bit quieter?"

Amidst all the chaos, A single voice emerged. And stopped all the people dead on their tracks.

"M-Miss Elyenfaen!" It was someone Abraham knew. The same old woman who had saved him back then…

"Get moving immediately, all of you. And do not worry, We will protect you. Until you're at a safer place."

***

"Damnit, Ellice! Vincent! Hurry up already!" A man in a leather cape with blonde hair shouted. This man's name was Rainard Silentglory

"We're here! Can't you see with your eyes?" Vincent shouted. Along with him, there were about twenty more people.

"Alright, everyone. Stay here and rest for a bit while we're discussing our plan." Abraham said. After that, the four of them began walking away.

After a while, they reached the end of a cliff. And below they looked.

"So that's where these bastards are hiding." Spoke a woman in a distraught voice. the woman had blond hair. And her name was Ellice Silentglory

It was a camp occupied by several monsters.

"So. What is the plan?" Asked Rainard.

"We will first set up a camp around here. And then keep an eye on these people. And once everyone has evacuated, we'll leave. However, if we get found out…"

"We'll have t-"

{Those animals… I will massacre them! And free all of us!}

Abraham's face turned pale. He quickly looked back at the monster camp with a distraught face. "What's wrong Abraham?"

"Ah… Did you all not hear that?"

"Huh? Hear what?"

This response made Abraham quite worried. Just what exactly did he hear that the others couldn't? The voice was extremely loud too.

"Are you sure you all heard nothing?"

'What is he talking about? Did he go crazy or something?' Ellice thought. She had only thought this in her mind. But for some reason, Abraham was able to hear her.

"Ellice… Did you just say something?"

This sudden question caught Ellice off guard. "What? I had been quiet the whole time. What are you talking about?"

A chill ran down Abraham's spine. Just how was he able to read her thoughts? Or… was that even what he's thinking it is?

However, he wasn't able to find the answers.

As soon enough… they found the owner of the voice Abraham heard.

A lion- No it looked to be more of a dragon with a lion's body. Its skin was red. And its tail bore flames. Its neck was covered with black hair and it had a horn on its forehead. Its claws were large and it had two pairs of teeth protruding like a sabre tooth on both sides of its upper jaw and its lower jaw. However, Its size was about thrice as big as a regular lion. There was also a saddle on its back. With a wolf-like humanoid creature on top.

With a roar, Both of them rose along with flames from the ground.

***

Next chapter: Faint hope

***

Author: PeacefulMyst

ED: Stein

Stein- I understood nothing from this chapter.

Author note-

A bit fast-paced. But that's Because I want to be done with the introduction to this world a bit quick. The slow-paced stuff will start once this battle is over.

And, for the people wondering why i was dead for so long. I had an eye surgery and was resting. And then a bit of procrastination. Anyways ill be editing all of the older chapters (and probably this one too) No changes to plot though.