One of the adventurers charged at them holding a mace. Melora skillfully dodged and incapacitated him. Adeline then threw a rock with great speed, and another adventurer fell over. More of them stepped forward.

  “I can deal with them.”

  The adventurers unleashed a series of attacks. She watched as they pitifully tried to nd a hit. These were probably low-ranked adventurers, but they were still enough to overpower the elves. She wondered if the orcs were around, things would be for the better or worse. She unsheathed her sword, and blood instantly sprayed over the green field. One of the adventurers fell to their knees, holding their severed hand.

  It was then they realized these two were not normal. They started to back off as Melora advanced. In an instant, she shot forward, and another adventurer lost a hand. Panic ensued as the adventurers started to flee. The one who was their leader was already several steps ahead as he dove inside the carriage and told the coachman to flee, leaving behind the screams of terror.

  The carriage slowly pulled away but then suddenly turned back. The adventurer started to watch in terror as he cursed and kicked, hoping the coachman would stop. He then swung the door open and decided to jump out. He quickly gave way as he started to run towards the forest in a panic.

  After some time, he stopped as he caught his breath. He needed to escape and tell the church what he saw. A human fighting with the monsters was deemed bsphemy, and the price was death. He suddenly heard the sound of branches snapping as the bushes rustled. He quickly got up and unsheathed his sword.

  “Come out, you monsters!”

  He screamed towards the forest. He suddenly felt a sharp pain on his neck as he crumbled to the ground. Adeline looked down on the body with a bnk expression. She went through the body then carried it back to the carriage. Melora was busy unshackling the tearful elves as Joseph was healing the wounded elf. Thankfully, the healing potions were enough to stabilize her condition. They pced the prisoners inside the carriages and started to make their way back to the elven city. Joseph made sure to hide their tracks and add a new set leading them away from the stone pilr.

  When they reached the city, the elves were reunited with their brethren, with the injured being hurried off for further treatment. Gena approached the duo with tearful eyes as she bowed.

  “Thank you for returning them home to us.”

  “No need for that; we do have a favor to ask.”

  “We will do anything you ask of us.”

  “We want you to lend us a pce for these prisoners, preferably somewhere secluded. I would also like if you prepared buckets of cold water.”

  “We do have a pce under the pace where we grow some herbs. Please, this way.”

  The elven guard carried the adventurers towards the pace in a hurry. Following Gena, they went into an underground dungeon with minimal light. They pced the prisoners there after making sure none of them would bleed out and administering basic healing, and tied them up to a nearby root. Adeline turned towards Gena with another request.

  “Can we have some healing potions?”

  “How many?”

  “Ten potions should suffice.”

  Gena turned and instructed one of the nearby elves who promptly left. Melora stood over them with a cold gaze as she turned towards Gena.

  “No matter what you hear, do not enter this room.”

  Gena did not dare question what they were about to do and promptly left the room. They poured a bucket of cold water over the adventurers who abruptly woke up. They started to squirm in fear as they looked around the dark room; they could only see dark red horns and golden hair. Their leader was first to speak.

  “I am Monza, the captain of this group. Release us at this moment, and we will be generous.”

  “You still don’t understand what position you’re in.”

  Adeline slowly stepped forward, revealing herself. She stared at the man who started to plead.

  “Is it gold you want? I have a lot of it. I also know a lot of nobles; I can set you up big.”

  “I have no use for all that; I just want to know something. How did you know the elves would be here?”

  “A noble sent me here, gave me the map and everything. We made our way from the port city of Joma. He told us we needed to catch as many elves as possible then send them back to the Grand Duchy of Credoa. I swear that’s all I know.”

  Melora’s face contorted in anger as she stepped forward and punched him.

  “You will tell me everything you know.”

  “I just did, I swear.”

  Melora reached on her leather belt and revealed a rusty dagger. She slowly started to trace it down his body as Monza started to sweat profusely.

  “This dagger is important to me; I found it back when I was a prisoner.”

  “Lady, please, I know nothing.”

  “We will find out.”

  She then plunged the knife into his thigh as he let out screams. She slowly started to drag the knife down his thigh. Adeline was slightly surprised at how ferocious she was; she did not see the need to interfere. The screaming continued as the other adventurers closed their eyes in horror. She continued to carve the man as if he was a doll.

  “Stop it, please, I am sorry.”

  A small tear appeared on the man’s face. Melora stopped and wiped some blood on her face as she turned and picked one of the healing potions.

  “You want this, then tell me everything.”

  Monza stared at the dangling potion with pitiful eyes.

  “You don’t understand; they will kill my family.”

  “The elves you abused, killed, and passed around like commodities, didn’t they have a family?”

  “I don’t understand; they are just monsters.”

  “Not so long ago, I would probably looked at this with disdain but let you go but I have to realize my actions were wrong. Here, have this.”

  Melora fed the potion as his wounds slowly healed, a huge smile appeared on his face.

  “Thank you, will you let me go? I promise I will just retire and never do this again.”

  “I believe you.”

  Melora stared into his eyes, she then released the man’s restraints and held his hand and started to caress it. Monza smirked thinking his bluff worked but that’s when the sound of a breaking bones could be heard.

  “Tell me what I need to know and I will set you free.”

  One of his fingers was facing the opposite direction, she then moved to the next finger. She violently pulled it back as another snap could be heard, Monza screamed in pain as she moved to the middle finger.

  “OKAY STOP I WILL TELL YOU!”