Shadows on the Horizon
"Annie! This lunch is way too small today!"
"What are you talking about? It's the same as always. Just eat it without complaining."
Annie ignored the grumbling of Lyle, the guard stationed at the western gate of Roswell Village, and continued handing out lunches to the other soldiers. Delivering lunch boxes to the guards was one of her duties.
"Damn... that girl's grown up a lot. Seems like just yesterday she was a tiny kid..."
"Cut it out, Lyle. Didn't you see it before? Lady Aisha turned that dumb adventurer who messed with her into a pile of dust—arms and all. You could end up a cripple who can't even jerk off if you mess with her."
"Crazy... for real?"
Lyle shuddered at his comrade's words. For them, whose bodies were their only possessions, losing both arms meant starving to death.
"Hah... to think we have to grovel even before a lowly girl... If you ain't got the power, you die, you fucking bastards!"
"Quit your whining. At least we're getting a pittance of a salary."
Though it was officially working hours, the two maintained a lax posture that hardly qualified as vigilant. But since it was their usual routine, no one bothered to call them out on it. Only the guard captain could, and he was off duty.
That might explain why it was Annie, not the guards, who first spotted the object approaching from the desert horizon at the western edge.
"Huh? What's... that?"
"What 'that'?"
"Over there... doesn't it look like something's moving at the edge?"
Annie pointed toward the barren wasteland beyond. Sure enough, there seemed to be a human-like silhouette, but Lyle dismissed it with a wave.
"Oh, you see that sometimes. Mirage or whatever. Nothing real, so don't sweat it."
"...But didn't monsters show up nearby recently, even after you said that?"
"Hey! That was a freak exception..."
Lyle muttered irritably, but Annie kept staring suspiciously at the figure.
"Annie. If you keep dawdling here, won't Dalton chew you out? Better head back to work."
Dalton was the innkeeper where Annie worked. He'd picked up the orphan Annie and cared for her all this time, but only to use her for free labor—he showed her no real affection.
"Oh no...! Guess I'll get going then. Keep up the good work, uncles."
"Don't call me uncle. I ain't married yet."
"Married or not, you're old enough to be one."
"What!?"
"Hehe."
As Lyle raised his hand in mock anger, Annie giggled and scampered off. She paused one last time to glance at the western horizon.
She couldn't tear herself away.
"N-No way..."
If her eyesight had been even a little worse, she would have missed it. It was the knights from just a few days ago—the ones who'd stayed at her inn and left with an orc slave. The figure trudging across the desert sands wore the same armor.
"Uncle! Look... over there!"
"What now!?"
"It's not a mirage! Real people!"
It was Randel, the battered knight using his broken sword as a crutch, dragging his heavy steps forward.
...
Piria slowly opened her eyes. Though open, her vision remained dim. A nearby brazier with lingering embers provided just enough faint light to make out shapes.
She realized she was in a small cave.
"Mmph... mmph...?"
Having been unconscious for so long, her throat was parched. As she tried to cough, she noticed her mouth was gagged. By feel, it seemed like cloth.
The reason was obvious. She was a mage. Seal the mouth, no chanting. No chanting, no magic.
"Mmph..."
Piria tested her body. Naturally, it was bound too. But not so tightly she couldn't move at all—just her arms and legs tied with worn rope, left discarded in the cave corner.
No orcs in sight. She checked herself over; nothing seemed amiss. No signs of rape while unconscious, thankfully. Her robe was gone, and her underclothes torn, but she was still clothed.
Piria sighed inwardly in relief.
As her mind cleared, one thought surfaced: Maybe I can escape.
She scanned around quickly. Something sharp to saw the ropes on.
'!'
Luck struck. A jagged rock, sharp enough, and close by.
No hesitation—she crawled toward it.
"Mmph...! Nngh...!"
Scrape... scrape...
Reaching it, Piria strained her arms against the rock with all her might.
Please... cut... before the orcs come back...!
Time dragged eternally.
Snap!
"!"
The ropes broke. Tears welled up, but no time for that. Escape was just beginning.
Free hands made quick work of the rest. Legs unbound, gag removed.
She was loose.
"Ah... ah..."
She whispered to test her throat. Seemed fine.
No staff, but simple spells didn't need one. Hope flickered alive.
'Check surroundings first. Orcs could be anywhere.'
She hugged the cave wall, inching forward. Her spot was a corner; single path ahead. Tunnel about five meters wide—not narrow, but nowhere to hide.
If orcs came now, she'd be caught.
Suitable spells came to mind.
'Silence is easy. But the other... no staff...'
Silence wasn't hard. But alone, insufficient.
Another: Invisibility. Perfect for now—turn transparent.
But at her level, it required a staff. Advanced magic.
'No choice... no hope otherwise!'
Failure meant endless orc breeding slave, as Nerka promised. Better death.
'Randel... give me strength...!'
"-- ---- ------- - --."
Piria focused harder than ever, chanting.
"Invisibility."
It worked. No failure.
She checked herself.
"..!"
Success. People find hidden strength in crisis. This was it.
"..."
Piria moved forward again.
...
Separated temporarily from Aisha, Kang Minwoo decided to rest at an inn before properly touring the empire's capital, Imperial Town.
Truth be told, he'd barely slept last night—dealing with Aisha and Line back-to-back.
As a demon now, fatigue shouldn't hit him easily, but he hadn't shed his human habits. Unconsciously craving sleep.
An incubus sleeping like a mortal? Ironic. Still, Minwoo opted for a proper nap.
"Wait... those succubus sisters... they became my subordinates, right? How do I call them?"
Jerome had mentioned bringing them for a proper greeting... Dream demons—maybe summon via dreams?
Minwoo tilted his head.
"But the capital's warded heavily against demons... though dreams might bypass..."
From what he'd heard, Imperial Town was fortified—no casual demon entry. Even Siola couldn't be called; he'd sent her back to the Demon King's Castle beforehand.
Succubi traversed dreams, though—might differ.
"Screw it... dunno. Just sleep."
Minwoo drifted off.