Chapter 13: Ghost Town

I woke up to a strange noise outside the inn—Is it 3 a.m.? Is it breakfast time? Who knows? All I know is I woke up still in the outfit I hadn't paid for yet (classic me), but at least I wasn't in the middle of a magical training session. Progress, right?

Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed, done with the whole crying and self-pity routine—definitely not my usual style. 

I acted like I had it all figured out, even though my brain was still running on half a cup of sleep. But hey, at least I was upright and moving, so that's a win, right? I tiptoed over to the window, trying to shake off the melodrama and see what all the noise was about.

I activated my Dragon Eyes, The instant they kicked in, everything outside became crystal clear, even though it was the dead of night. Seriously, is it always this bright when you can see things at a distance like that? Just the magic being all show-offy again.

Outside, I saw four cloaked men just... hanging around, which is exactly how I don't want to start my morning. And because one guy wasn't creepy enough, there was another sitting on a tree branch like a bad guy in a low-budget movie, just watching me. The real question is, who wakes up and immediately decides to lurk in a tree? 

I thought about the front desk lady who had told me the inn was full earlier. But now, I had to wonder: was she secretly in on this whole thing? Was I the target of a very poorly executed business tactic?

Just as I was thinking to myself, a needle came flying through the air. Great. More drama. I caught it because apparently, I'm turning into some kind of action hero overnight. The Dragon had taught me a little spell for this and that, and guess what? It works on needles too! Who knew?

I threw it back at the guy on the tree like it was a game of "How Badly Can I Freak People Out," and boom, he was out cold. I quickly opened a gate and caught him before he fall off the tree. I guess the needle has some drug or poison.

So then I start snooping through his stuff like any self-respecting adventurer would do. Found a weird earpiece in his ear, and sure enough, it was a communication device. Naturally, I popped it into my own ear to eavesdrop. Because, let's be real, this entire scenario just screams "spy movie."

"She's not in her room!" someone said.

"Check the bathroom!" another voice called. Look, I get it, I'm hiding in the bathroom sometimes too, but really? What's the plan here?

And then, of course, someone had the nerve to say, "If I see her naked, can I have a taste?" To which I couldn't help but snap, "What kind of weird fantasy are you living out, dude? Absolutely not. Get a grip."

That's when everything went to hell. People started shouting, running around in circles, and suddenly, I found myself throwing enchanted needles like I was auditioning for a new Olympic sport. Seriously, the green needles? Absolute game-changers. If snake venom was a weapon, I just made it my new hobby. I was practically racking up points every time one of them hit the mark. A guy with a sword? He was on the floor convulsing in seconds. A lady with a big, shiny axe? Same deal—she was down faster than I could say "sudden nap."

Meanwhile, the others were freaking out, yelling for "Lundel," the guy I had knocked out earlier with the enchanted needle, who had apparently fallen asleep on the job. Real professional, right?

But it got even better. In a moment of sheer theatricality (because, why not, right?), I decided to levitate. Casually floated into the air, my hair whipping around like I was some action movie heroine. Honestly, I was starting to feel a little ridiculous, but hey, if you're going to do something, might as well make it dramatic, right?

Below me, everyone stared up, and then it hit me—surprise, the whole town was in on it. It felt like I'd walked into a town of thieves, kidnappers and such. Even the lady I hadn't paid for my clothes earlier? Yeah, she was part of it too! Unbelievable.

I glanced down at the chaos below, my brain running through the options. I could bail—just zip away and let them stew in their confusion—but where's the fun in that? Might as well give them a show.

One of the marksmen from across the street took aim and with a flick of my wrist, I sent a gust of wind so strong it knocked the arrow off course, sending it careening into a nearby barrel. Nice try, buddy.

Fireballs came next, sizzling through the air, missing by a hair. I dodged, twisting mid-air like I was starring in my own action movie. Then I countered with a couple of enchanted needles that I got from LUNDEL. One of the guys fell, twitching uncontrollably.

"Why is she still up there?!" someone yelled below.

"Take her down!" another shouted.

Great idea, genius. But how? Because I wasn't planning on just sitting still for them to figure that out.

I gritted my teeth, throwing another burst of wind to knock a few more back. That's when I saw him—Lundel, the guy I'd knocked out earlier. He was somehow awake and looking even more panicked than before.

"Lundel, you good?" I called out, feigning concern. Then I shot another needle in his direction—this time hitting the man next to him.

Lundel jumped back, regret written all over his face.

I wasn't done. Not by a long shot.

As I surveyed the aftermath, a few of the remaining thugs scrambled to their feet, their eyes wide with fear. One of them hissed, "Someone secure the slaves before they get away, you fool!"

I rolled my eyes, processing the words. Slaves? Really? They hadn't counted on me overhearing their little conversation, and suddenly, everything clicked into place. My blood boiled.

The other thug, shaking, turned and stumbled toward the back of the inn, probably trying to find these "slaves."

"Hold up," I called, stepping toward him. "Did you just say slaves?" My voice cut through the air, dripping with venom. Their faces turned ghostly pale.

"Uh... no, no, not slaves. Just... uh, people we were keeping for... personal use," the first thug stammered, his voice cracking.

I narrowed my eyes, every muscle tensing. "Personal use? Really? So what—were you planning to sell them, or keep them as your personal punching bags? Because from where I'm standing, that doesn't sound like something I'm willing to let slide."

The second thug, visibly sweating now, tried to backpedal harder. "No, no! Not punching bags! Just... you know, for labor... They were—"

"Shut up," I snapped, cutting him off.

They exchanged uneasy glances, and I took a slow step forward, my eyes scanning the remaining thugs still standing. Some were still conscious, others barely hanging on. The air was thick with tension. A few exchanged hesitant looks, but they knew they were done.

And then, I didn't give them the chance to hesitate any longer.

Before they could think, I moved. Magic surged through me, and with a flick of my hand, I unleashed a barrage of enchanted needles. They fell one by one.

The first thug who tried to run? He didn't make it. One needle to the neck, and down he went like a sack of potatoes.

The next thug raised a hand in defense, but it was useless. A quick flick of my wrist, and he froze in place, paralyzed, before crumpling to the ground.

Another thug, crawling away, never saw the dagger coming. It sank into his back before he could get more than a few feet.

I glanced around at the carnage I'd left behind. Bodies. Broken debris. Blood. I didn't feel anything. No satisfaction, no remorse—just the eerie silence after a storm.

As I turned to leave, I muttered, "And that's what happens when you mess with me."

The air was thick with the scent of blood, metallic and sharp, cutting through the eerie silence of the village. I walked over the dead bodies without a second thought, stepping around them like they were nothing more than obstacles. 

The village that was basically a ghost town this morning was now dead silent—except for the scavengers and crows, of course, who were living their best life, munching on whatever was left of the chaos. I mean, if you're a crow, this is basically an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Humans are surprisingly fragile, I didn't even need to break a sweat. I didn't bother with the big flashy spells. Next thing I know, I'm standing in the middle of a scene that looked like a butcher's shop gone wrong. It was too easy.

In one corner, a group of kids who'd been ordered to check on the slaves earlier were huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. I glanced at them, my voice flat as I asked, "Where are you hiding the slaves?"

They didn't answer. Not a single one of them moved or spoke.

I sighed. "I'll count to three. If you don't answer, you'll end up like them."

I didn't exactly look like a heartless monster (okay, maybe I did), but I wasn't about to let these kids get away with pretending like they didn't have blood on their hands. They'd helped lead others to their deaths, after all, all in the name of survival. I get it, but that's not an excuse.

Maybe I'm being hypocritical, especially after I just wiped out an entire town. But you know what? Some humans are worse than monsters, and I was just doing what had to be done. Honestly, I'm starting to sound like one of those main characters who gives a dramatic monologue right before they save the day. I should probably throw in a "For justice!" or something.

"One," I said.

The kid, shaking like a leaf, finally spoke up. "Th-they're in the storeroom. The low-grade ones... only the low-grade ones are left. The high-grade ones were sent to the empire."

"Take me there," I said, but they didn't move. Just stayed there, heads bowed, like they were trained to be subservient.

I raised an eyebrow. "Were you slaves too?"

"Y-Yes," the kid muttered, their voice barely above a whisper. "Before we pledged allegiance to the slave town."

I scanned them more closely, my gaze lingering on their necks. It didn't take long to spot the tattoos—marks that screamed "ownership."

"What's that?" I pointed at the inked marks.

They froze, eyes wide like they were caught in a lie they weren't ready to tell. "Th-th-that's the slave contract."

 "What about these people? Who are they?"

"They're slave traders," the kid stammered, voice shaking. "They were part of a big organization. A lot of different people came and went, taking and selling..."

I raised an eyebrow. "So, this isn't all of them?"

The kids shook their heads, looking down at the ground like they were ashamed.

I was about to ask more when one of the children, the smallest one, stepped forward, voice cracking as they spoke. "We didn't have a choice..."

I looked at them, intrigued. "What do you mean? You're telling me you just went along with all this?"

The kid gulped, eyes welling with tears. "We had to bring food for the slaves... the ones they kept locked up. We didn't even get to eat much ourselves. We were always hungry." They paused, choking on their words before continuing. "They said if we didn't bring food, we'd end up just like the others. Nobody wanted us, so we had no choice. We worked, so we wouldn't get killed."

I frowned, feeling a weird tug in my chest. The story was tragic, and I wasn't expecting to get all emotional about it. These kids weren't villains—they were just doing their best in a world so messed up, even a cockroach would think twice before sticking around. They didn't even have the power to choose their fate. It was like they were stuck in a game they didn't even want to play. And here I was, a walking disaster with silver hair, judging them. What a mess.

I knelt down to their level, softening my tone. "So, you just... worked for these people so you wouldn't be killed?"

The smallest kid nodded, wiping their eyes. "Yes. They told us, 'Do what we say, or you're next.' So we brought food, cleaned up, did whatever they asked... just so we didn't end up in those cages."

My chest tightened. This was worse than I thought. These kids weren't the villains here—they were the victims, caught up in this whole mess. They'd been feeding the slaves like they were just doing their best to survive in a world that wasn't giving them much of a choice. It hit me harder than I expected.

I took a deep breath and stood up. "Okay, I get it now. You were just trying to stay alive in all this chaos. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook for, you know... being involved in this whole mess."

They flinched, eyes wide, probably thinking I was about to give them a one-way ticket to the afterlife. I immediately regretted being all tough on them. "Look, I'm not gonna hurt you. I just need to know how to get rid of those creepy slave contracts on your necks."

Hope flickered in their eyes like a dying candle. The kid who'd been talking earlier looked like they might pass out from sheer nerves. "The contracts can't be broken unless... unless the owner dies. But if they die... we die too."

I blinked. Well, that's a fun little twist.

I sighed dramatically. "Great. So you're basically in a 'live by the sword, die by the sword' situation, huh?"

The kids just stared at me, wide-eyed and hoping I had a magic solution to all of this. Part of me wanted to hug them and tell them it'd be okay, but the other part—the realistic part—knew they'd had a hand in all of this mess.

One of the kids spoke up again, voice shaking like a leaf in the wind. "The contract... it can't be broken without the owner's permission. But if they die... we... we die too."

So... they were gonna die anyway? Well, that made things simpler.

"Did your owner die?" I asked, trying to sound casual, like I wasn't about to send a bunch of people to meet their maker, they didn't answer and looked like they don't have a clue.

"Alright," I said, giving them a nod, "Can you just show me where the storeroom is? I promise I won't bite."

They slowly stood up and led the way, all of them practically glued together like a terrified little pack of puppies. They didn't look back at me, though, which was probably for the best. Who could blame them? I might not be as terrifying as I felt, but hey, when you've just wiped out a whole group of slave traders, you probably seem like the scary one.

-

Hundreds of people were crammed into this huge, depressing room. When the door to the storeroom finally creaked open, every single pair of eyes turned to me. Most of them looked like they were ready to check out of life—like they were one bad day away from becoming actual ghosts. A few had the energy to glare at me like I'd just ruined their lunch plans. The thing they all had in common? They looked like walking skeletons, covered in dirt, barely holding on. And the smell? Oh, God. Imagine a rotten egg crossed with a porta-potty on a hot day. I had to slap up a barrier just to keep out the smell

"The people who captured you had all died, so I'll leave this door open; it's up to you whether you want to leave or not; there's also food inside the houses, so feel free to rummage through them," I said before walking away, leaving the massive door open.

-

I walked away from the place where they stored the slaves and as I looked around the town, I couldn't help but remember stumbling upon that magic shop this morning. If this place was really some kind of bandit/ slave hideout—or whatever the heck it was—then all that stuff in the shop was probably stolen too, right? Not that I had a problem with taking it off their hands.

So, I quickly rushed back to the boutique I'd visited earlier. I grabbed a bag and started stuffing it with clothes—because, hey, might as well take what I could, right? After rummaging through the place like a pro, I made my way over to the magic store. 

Then I spotted a shiny enchanted staff tucked in the back of the store, along with some enchanted armor, weapons, and—hold up—poisons? Okay, I definitely wasn't about to leave without a few of those. Wouldn't want to be caught unprepared, after getting everything valuable, I turned towards the Staff, I took the enchanted staff to my hand and activated dragon eyes

I tried to look closely at the enchantments and found that the staff had a mana of its own and had quite useful enchantments, like lowering mana consumption by 10% when generating a spell using the staff, reducing spell cool down to 50%, Increasing mana regeneration by 10%, strengthening spell by 30%

The staff suddenly wiggled in my hand, and for a second, I thought I was just hallucinating from lack of sleep. I mean, who wouldn't after everything that's happened, right?

I tried to focus on the enchantments again, but then—bam—something totally unexpected happened.

A pair of eyes with eerie, yellow reptilian pupils suddenly appeared. 

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest. My fingers spasmed, and I instinctively let go of the staff. I thought for sure it would fall to the ground with a heavy thud—but it didn't. Instead, it hovered in midair, suspended as if held by an invisible force, gently swaying like it was alive.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My stomach twisted with unease.

And then, as if to make everything worse, the first notification I'd received since breaking free from the seal appeared in front of me. The words were short, simple, and deeply unsettling:

[The item is looking at you]