The horse was exhausted after coming down the mountain pulling Bakurak's huge head.
The villagers were all waiting for them to return. The children saw them as heroes, and the adults came to respect them as companions.
Most of the peasants hadn't expected to see the three of them again, but they were happy to see them approaching on the horizon.
Colin decided to take the head as a prize to bargain for elsewhere, since bringing back the monster's entire body would be impossible.
Brighid's magic had forced them to the limits of their bodies.
Colin was dragging his feet, Safira was practically sleeping. Brighid was the most normal of the three, even though she was performing three functions at the same time, she didn't feel so pressured.
When they reached the village, Colin thought about sitting down on the ground to rest, but he gave up the idea as soon as he laid eyes on the approaching elder.
The mark on his right arm was still there, running the length of his forearm. Rushing forward, Colin grabbed the old man by the collar and lifted him up.
People from the village took a step back. They had killed a demon; what chance did they have if they decided to go against him?
"What the fuck is that on my arm?"
Colin lifted the old man a little higher, and he began to cough.
"Cof! Cof!"
"Don't play the poor guy, I'm running out of patience!"
"W-wait, I can explain!"
"I'm waiting."
"When I made the contract with you, I put a condition on you being able to repel a mortal power... this is a strong condition, but depending on the level of power repelled, it only works once, and when it runs out, it leaves permanent marks in place of the contract. The magic stone was a kind of amplifier of this contract." The elder looked at Colin's forearm. "Looks like it worked, doesn't it?"
Colin was furious. His entire forearm was tattooed with strange symbols and letters that he couldn't identify. He let go of the old man rather aggressively, and the old man fell to the ground with a thud.
"You should have told me, old man; now I'll have that shit on my arm."
"I had no choice... I couldn't let you die. You were our last hope."
Colin looked away and waved one of his hands, feeling an intense pang in his chest. The side effect of Brighid's magic had reached him aggressively. Exhausted, he sat down on the floor again.
"You really did it..." said the old man, seeing Bakurak's head tied to the horse.
"Of course we did it, old man, who do you think we are?"
Safira threw herself down on the spongy grass. She gasped as she felt overwhelmingly sleepy; she fought against the heavy eyes that were struggling not to close, but they weighed tons, so she was the first to sleep.
The villagers approached Colin and helped him to his feet.
"Thank you..." thanked one man, barely able to hold back his tears.
Some children devoured the apples from the apple trees, others drank the water from the stream beside the road with gusto. Soon it would be harvest season, and they would work hard to rebuild the roadside village. But that wouldn't happen today, tonight would be a night of celebration.
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Colin slept so long that he was only woken up by the sound of the festivities. Singing invaded the dark room, with a few lights coming from outside. The lights illuminated a change of clothes on the bedside table.
He picked them up and put them on.
As he took off his blouse, he looked down at his body and was surprised by the transformation. His muscles stood out in a well-defined way.
His eyes traveled to the runic tattoo, which, instead of being black, was completely whitish, looking more like a work of art on his forearm.
"That's not a bad tattoo..."
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
STATUS
NAME: COLIN SILVA
AGE: 23
--------------------------------------
POWER TREES
PRIMARY TREE: HEAVING - LEVEL 01
SECONDARY TREE I: MIGTH - LEVEL - 01
SECONDARY TREE II: CHAOS - BLOCKED
--------------------------------------
VITAL ATTRIBUTES
HP (VITALITY): 1500
MP (MANA): 325
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COMBAT ATTRIBUTES
STRENGTH: 40
DEXTERITY: 36
AGILITY: 33
INTELLIGENCE: 34
STAMINA: 38
--------------------------------------
So I got some points just by killing a Bakurak!? The most incredible thing is that I've managed to improve my skills so much, it's almost unbelievable. I think I can get up to the first levels in no time if I train.
Walking in front of a large mirror, Colin stared at himself. He made several poses and stroked his small, close-cropped beard along with his big, messy hair in such a short time.
I look awful... at least my dark circles are going away.
He looked at the bedside table next to him and took a pair of scissors from the drawer, cutting his hair himself.
Even though he hadn't had a haircut in months, he made an effort to make it look like the cut he'd worn as a teenager.
He cut off the ends and left a small fringe covering his forehead. Then he ran his hand over his chin and, with one of his daggers, removed all the beard that had grown on his face.
This new look made him look years younger.
After changing, Colin left the room and walked through the house until he came out of it.
People were dancing around a huge bonfire. Brighid was on the other side, sitting at a table, drinking wine from a tiny glass.
It was hard to believe they had a glass that size.
Safira was in the middle of a circle of people, smiling as if she were at a comedy show. Colin smiled a little, then felt a pat on the back. Turning his head, he saw the old man offering him a glass of wine.
Without saying anything, he took it.
"It's been a long time since people were so happy," said old Betidor.
Colin shrugged and drank all the wine in one gulp. He was used to getting drunk, he did it often to escape his harsh otherworldly reality. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sniffed.
"This wine is a bit strong."
"It's one of our specialties," said the old man, smiling under his long gray beard.
"I didn't know you made wine."
"These lands can produce anything."
Colin nodded and once again observed the joy of his companions. His mind needed to think of somewhere else to go, somewhere new where they could once again test their skills, and he knew exactly what that place was.
Despite the success of the mission, he felt he couldn't depend so much on his companions. He would have to get stronger. This was a magical world, so there should be peaceful places to go; maybe he could join a guild and make a living as a mercenary, since that also seemed to be the easiest way to get money.
"How do I get to Ultan from here?" he asked.
The old man rested his hand on his chin and looked at the horizon. He pointed with his index finger beyond the mountains to the north.
"Virgin valleys lie beyond those mountains. You should be able to find your way there. From that point on, everything is run by the Ultan Empire. The war has not yet reached its gates, but be careful, the way there is quite tortuous."
Ultan Empire... So I'm getting close to the bastards who captured me.
Even if his current power wasn't great, he had just beaten a legendary being. Facing road bandits or small garrisons wouldn't be a challenge for him.
Colin scratched his cheek with his index finger and shrugged.
Glancing around, he noticed Roseline whispering to another girl while staring at him. As soon as Colin laid eyes on them, they both smiled gently.
It'll be my last night here, so...
Just as he started to approach the girls, the Fairy suddenly appeared in front of him and Colin almost fell backwards in fright.
"Colin! You're finally awake!" she said excitedly. "I didn't know humans had such fun parties! Did you see how much food they have? Follow me, I've saved some delicious sweet bread for you to try!"
"Not now, Brighid."
"Why not? Aren't you hungry?"
"No. We'll talk later."
Colin walked past Brighid without paying her any attention and she felt uncomfortable with the way she had been ignored, especially after seeing him chatting animatedly with two girls. A painful tightness settled in her chest and then anger took over, causing her to turn away.
"Colin asshole! If he doesn't give a damn about me, then I don't give a damn about that ingrate! I trained him, strengthened him with my magic, fought that Bakurak for him and he still treats me like this." She scowled. "I just wanted him to eat the sweet bread I saved..."
"Is there a problem?" asked the old man behind her.
Brighid crossed her arms and pouted.
"The problem is that Colin is an idiot!" Annoyed, she flapped her wings and flew away.
As Colin's companions walked away, he approached Roseline and her friend. After a little more conversation, the friend left, leaving Colin alone with Rose.
"I knew you'd win!" said Roseline, with a glass of wine in her hand.
She was wearing a white dress that hugged her curves. Her hair was braided, and red lipstick marked her lips.
"The sword you gave me was very useful, do I thank you or your father for that?"
Rose waved her hands.
"It was nothing, but I'm glad I was useful to you in some way. Would you like to dance, Mr. Elf?" she asked, standing close to him. Roseline tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and put her hands behind her, smiling kindly.
Colin's eyes quickly raced around the party. Her father was further away, his face flushed and a broad smile drawing across his lips. He was so drunk he probably couldn't remember his name.
"I can't dance," he lied. Colin could dance, and very well.
The girl left her glass on the table and offered him her right hand.
"Do you want me to teach you?"
He stared at her hand and then rested his eyes on her sweet smile, but his eyes went a little lower, seeing a beautiful woman with a beautiful curvaceous body.
"All right, I just can't guarantee that your feet will be free of my stomps."
The lute, the tapping of feet, and the sound of flutes brought a lively ballad to that festive evening. Glued to him, the redhead taught Colin how it was done, and he picked up the steps very quickly.
After the first few seconds, it was he who led her, spinning her around and around in a choreography that they both synchronized without much effort.
As soon as the ballad came to an end, the two of them stood together, staring at each other, feeling each other's breath.
"Mr. Colin…"
"Your father's cache of swords." She raised one eyebrow. "I saw a sword there that I was interested in, can you please show me?"
Roseline was naïve, but she wasn't a complete fool. She knew what he wanted, and she knew she was going against her father's wishes.
"Mr. Colin… I don't know if…"
"I'm leaving the village tomorrow, Rose," Colin said, stepping closer to her. "I don't want to miss the chance to get to know you better, and there are certain opportunities that never come again." He gave her a gentle smile, looking deep into her green eyes. "I can show you something you'll remember for the rest of your life, what do you say?"
Roseline faltered for a moment, her eyes searching for answers in Colin's confident expression.
His flirtatious charm seemed to have conquered a part of her reason, and she, wrapped up in the illusion of romance, was about to give in.
Rose felt her heart beat faster.
Colin took advantage of her hesitation to move closer, holding her gently by the waist.
"You don't have to worry, I won't do anything you would rather not do. Besides, I also want to thank you for the sword you gave me," Colin whispered, his warm breath brushing against her cheek.
She let out a sigh, as if she were about to give in to his charms.
"Aren't you curious what it will be like? Your village will prosper from now on, don't you want to remember this night as a turning point? To really feel it?"
Jeez, when did I get so good with words?
Rose knew that Colin was an adventurer like any other.
Smooth-talking flirtatious men who are nice until they get a woman into bed, after which it's as if they're of no use. She'd seen it happen to dozens of other girls, and in the worst case, they ended up alone with a child to look after.
She assumed that he had other women, that he might not even remember her afterwards, but she also felt an irresistible attraction to him at that moment, a curiosity to know what it would be like to be with him, what it would be like to be with a man for the first time.
Dozens of times she had seen her friends fall for that kind of small talk, and wondered how anyone could be so stupid, but now she was feeling it.
It was difficult to organize her thoughts, to resist the urges of the flesh. If she gave in, what would happen then? Men like him would never be seen again, and their dangerous way of life could cost them their lives.
What if she had a child with that man? Would it be a half-breed, hated by the whole village, and how would her father feel about having a daughter who disgraced him like that?
Rose was confused, on a tightrope, not knowing which way to give in.
She remembered the sword she had given him, the way he had danced with her, the charming smile he had. She wondered if he would be kind and caring, if he would make her feel special, if he would make her happy, if only for one night.
As soon as he started leading her towards her father's cache of swords, exchanging complicit glances, Colin smiled mischievously.
"Come on, Roseline. A brief visit to the hiding place under the starlight. It'll be our little secret."
As they approached, Colin continued his gallantry, complimenting Rose's beauty and slipping out sweet words that, even as part of the seduction game, sounded genuine.
"Mr. Colin, I really shouldn't..." Rose began, but the look in his eyes made her hesitate.
"You know... sometimes you have to follow your heart, even if it means defying convention." Colin looked into her eyes, making her feel like she was living a fairy tale. "Come on, that'll be a good story to tell."
Arriving at the hideout, Colin kept up the air of mystery: he conjured lightning from his fingertips, illuminating the swords as he examined them as if he were really interested.
"Your father's really good with that, but I think I'd need a more… practical demonstration." Colin winked at Rose, raising the tension even more.
Roseline, enveloped by his charm, felt her heart race. She looked at the sword and then at the false elf, still smiling with irresistible charm.
"Mr. Colin, I... I really don't know if I should. My father would be furious, and…"
Colin interrupted her, putting a finger to her lips in a theatrical gesture.
"Don't worry about your father, he doesn't even need to know," he murmured in a soft voice.
She nodded in agreement, with a slight smile playing on her lips. Colin picked up the sword, analyzed it in an almost theatrical way, and turned to her with a burning gaze.
"Do you want to know how I ripped the demon's head off?"
He placed the sword carefully in Rose's hands, the touch of their hands meeting.
"Hold it tight, like you're about to face a monster," he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear.
The heat between them increased. Rose held the sword with determination, her eyes fixed on Colin's.
"Now, strike a blow, Rose."
She hesitated, but the mood spurred her on. With a graceful movement, she executed a cut in the air, holding the sword with elegance.
Colin applauded exaggeratedly, as if she had done something extraordinary.
"You should think about becoming a mercenary. You'd do very well." He deftly turned the sword and put it back.
Keeping his charm sharp, Colin stepped even closer, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that sent shivers down the young woman's spine.
Rose's heart raced when she felt his closeness. Instinctively, her hands went to his shoulders.
"Mr. Colin, I…"
Before she could finish, Colin silenced her with a soft kiss. His hands slid around the curve of her waist, and Rose, intoxicated by the moment, surrendered to the warmth of his touch.
The sword was now just a forgotten detail.
The kiss deepened, and the world outside disappeared, leaving just the two of them, united by a momentary but intense passion.
She heard him whisper something in her ear, but she didn't understand. All she knew was that she wanted to go with him, wherever he wanted to take her.
Roseline let herself be carried away by emotion, without thinking about the consequences. She forgot her father, her friends, everything. She only thought about Colin and what he could do to her.
So she gave herself to him, without fear, without guilt, without regret.
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
We've reached the end of Volume 1! 🚀✨ Every page, every battle and every twist and turn has been possible thanks to you, who have accompanied Colin, Safiraand Brighid on this adventure full of mystery, magic and blood.
It's been incredible to share this story with you, and every comment, support and message has motivated (and still motivates) the creation of this world that I've been envisioning for a few years now. The introduction is over, but the secrets have only just begun to emerge... and the next arc promises to be even more intense!
Get ready, because new threats, unexpected alliances and shocking revelations are to come.
Once again, thank you very much for embarking on this journey. Let's move on together to Volume 2!
With gratitude, Mr. Stuart.
💡 P.S.: If you'd like to leave any theories, feedback or just say what you thought so far, I'd love to know!