"Uh... Sir, it's usually some random nobody. Some dumb bitch is all. But here! Have some-"
Seeing him raise his hand, the other vendor could only fall in silence. 'Why would such a person gain interest in such a lowly stall?'
The person mused as he saw this. It wasn't just him but a lot of people thought this. Was there something in particular that had grabbed his attention to come here?
Most thought however looking at the items on display, they doubted it. Some of them were regular while others seemed as if they were on the verge of rotting.
The sounds of thunder were heard from a distance. Orsen tilted his head as he looked back the neighboring stall. Looking at the products advertised on this stall, it was a pale comparison to what the next had.
A lot of people seeing the rain, determined on raining started packing up while he remained in place and it wasn't long before a light drizzle came about.
"I heard that you were here." A voice came from behind him. He didn't need to look to know that it was Hedon, however for the rest, the presence of two tier four experts was baffling.
"You didn't kill another person, did you?" He posed a question as his body was cloaked with a barrier that prevented his body from being drenched in water.
"Not dead but rather broken." He joked as he gave off a small laugh. Seeing the presence of two tier four experts, most people started to vacate the premises.
Should a conflict arise, there was no assurance of their own safety and with the weather, few people were left however they lost interest with the two.
"So what do you think?" Orsen asked as the two looked at the stall. "Potential, however I feel that there will be a strong resonation. A lucky pick though."
"Well the humans are lagging behind considering the leaves already have a prodigy with them, might as well even the scales." Orsen mused as they looked around.
The two heard the shuffling of boxes not far and looking at the source simultaneously, a figure emerged.
She seemed extremely weary, her clothes in tatters and a look of both shock and exhaustion covered her face. She had multiple scars on her hands which already seemed weak and frail to begin with.
Her faint short pink hair was disheveled, lacking in luster which bits covered her face. Her body was covered in water as the rain increased its torrential downpour.
Looking at her stall, she was shocked to see two tier four experts there. However no emotion showed on her face. She put down the boxes down as she looked at the two.
"What may I interest you in? Considering that you both have already had better selections before coming here." Her frail yet distant voice spoke as she looked at the two.
There was no form of admiration or reverence in her pink eyes, it seemed to reflect a hollow shell beneath them.
"How much for your time?" Hedon mused with a smile. "Nothing." She said weakly. "We have an offer for you Arabella. I want you to work for me."
Orsen said flatly. He had formed a barrier to cover both their figures as well as the stall. Arabella didn't seem pleased with such a proposition. "What will it be? Let me guess? Sucking you dick or what?!"
"Hahaha!" Hedon broke off into a laughter. "I like her already." Orsen however seemed unbothered. "If I did then I wouldn't be wasting my time here."
Arabella looked at the two with more detail. They were tier four experts sure but if they wanted such a service then they wouldn't be wasting their time in such a place.
"What is it then?" She asked flatly as she shuffled the fruits back into the empty boxes she had brought along. "I want you to help me with something. I'm sure you've heard about the Hydra that was killed by that mysterious lady, right?"
Of course she had. Everyone knew about this and it was a hot topic of discussion for some time till now. There were conversations that would come up about this.
Some speculating that it was the queen of the demons, to let loose the demons and strengthen her force while others thought that it was a goddess. Regardless, the topic was too big for one to not have heard about it.
"Yes, what about it." Orsen gave a slight sigh. "Well I want you along with the party of a few others to deal with that crack."
Arabella paused as she heard this. "Are you blind? Why don't you along with your buddy here deal with it?!" Hedon calmly watched her movements.
"And get rid of that smile you fucker!" She stated as she looked at Hedon. The calm smile that had been on his face quickly faded. "Trust me darling, you don't want to test me." Arabella could feel a cold pressure engulf the vicinity.
She felt it press hard on her body, her heartbeat slowly reducing its pace before the pressure was withdrawn. "You bitch, just because you failed to breakthrough and your brother died makes you think that you can act the way you like?"
Arabella despite the beads of sweat forming on her face, she had a calm look on her face. It wasn't a secret that everybody knew about her tragic backstory.
"Since you want to die so bad, then why don't you." Hedon mused as a quick slash instantly beheaded her. Her eyes were closed as a peaceful look appeared on her face.
Her soul was suspended in a black void before her eyes were filled with a radiant light. Before her, there was a large plane which seemed calm and peaceful and a faint figure appeared from afar.
"Brother!" She shouted as she ran towards the figure. The two were clothed in beautiful white robes, her brother had an older charm and a peaceful air around him.
Noting the figure charging towards him, he gave a slight smile ushering her into his embrace. Tears of joy slid down her cheeks as she got closer and closer till...
*Stab*
A dark tentacle manifested itself as it stabbed his older brother. "What?!" She paused in her tracks as she saw this. Wasn't this the afterlife where they could spend it with her parents and familiars?
In a swift motion, her brother's soul was instantly crushed as the world around her started to shift and change. The once radiant world lost its vigor as it was swallowed with an indescribable red blood thirst and malice.
She fell onto the grass which too shifted from green to a red tint as it absorbed her blood. Shocked, she frantically stood up only to see a myriad of shadows engulf the plane.
They all seemed otherworldly and alien, with power brimming within them and yet under the huge spider like net, they all seemed entangled, unable to escape their horrid fate.
Within a flash, torrential streaks of blood passed through them as the world around her completely delved into a red hue mixed with absolute blackness.
"Let's see if we can fix that attitude of yours. Hahahahaha!!!!" An eerie laugh came from below as a web of threads covered the skies making it pitch blackness.
Her soul being the only source of light in the abysmal void was like a wide target for her. The darkness felt maddening as she slowly felt her sanity was slipping through her fingers.
It was cold and unruly. A suffocating presence engulfed her soul as she felt her existence fade reality. Compared to earlier, this was something she could never comprehend even in her wildest nightmares.
Complete and utter fear consumed her being as she saw a thread stretch towards her.
"Noo-" She screamed in fear however he screams were cut short as a red thread ran right past her neck. "Too noisy." The voice spoke once more.
Just as it was about to reach her head, she jolted back to reality as she tightly clenched her chest. 'What was that?' She thought.
"You're awake." She heard a voice. Looking at it, she was stunned to see Orsen waiting as he looked at her. As she tried to voice her complaints, she realized something.
"In the process of reviving you, we decided to keep you silent for the time being. However it will heal in the time." These words seemed to pass her.
She was too engrossed in her thoughts to even comprehend what she was being told. She was dumb, her vocals were stripped from her.
*Snap*
She felt her mind go blank and subconsciously looked at Orsen. "I appreciate it that you pay attention as it will be important to you."
'As for what that was? You were pushing your luck.' A comment came to her in her own mind. 'Did he just-'
'Yes I did. Now rest up as we have a busy day tomorrow.' He said as he closed the door behind him. 'What have I gotten myself into?' She thought as she clutched her face with her hands covering them completely.
There was food laid for her and the door wasn't locked meaning that she had the opportunity to leave if she wanted but she had a pressing matter on her hands. She couldn't talk.
So what if she left, then what? She had no familiars whatsoever as they all fell victims as prey for demons and the fact that she couldn't talk now was just another disadvantage for her.
'I can't believe that I have to stay here.' She was well aware of the situation that she was in thus she could only succumb. 'Brother...' She thought as tears poured out of her eyes.
She looked around as she realized that the room she was in already had a place to wash herself up in and clothes were already laid out for her. Checking her body, she was untouched however her mind was overloaded with questions.
...
Waking up the next day, she had already taken a bath and the weather outside seemed forgiving in comparison to yesterday.
Like a bucket of cold water, the realization of where she was appeared on her face. 'Might as well.' She mused as she put on a short orange dress with leather strappings.
Stepping out of her room, she was shocked to have walked in a conversation. In front of her was Zayne and the two demons that took her hostage.
"Prince Zayne?" She said, perplexed with what she saw. Zayne looked back at her, he was shocked to see her.
'They have another expert with them? But I can't sense any mana ripples around her? Maybe she has a cloaking artifact with her.' Zayne thought as he looked at him as his attention went back to Orsen and Hedon.
"Very well, we understand." Orsen said as he leaned back into his seat. Hedon was sipping on some tea. Zayne got up and left leaving the room alone to three.
She couldn't talk this her eyes landed on the two. There was a hotchpotch of emotions in her eyes, fear, anger, hopelessness and despair.
"What you experienced was merely the tip of the iceberg! You're lucky my friend here fancies you or your purgatory was merely just beginning."
Hedon mused as he continued to take a seat. Understanding the situation, she took a seat as well.
"Tea?" Orsen gestured at the kettle on the table. 'What do you want from me?' Her thoughts rang through their heads.
"Didn't I explain myself earlier? I want you to deal with that crack but don't worry, you won't have to deal with alone." Orsen said as he took a bite of the treats that were present.
'But why me? I don't have a mana tier, I'm crippled, lack a background not to mention now I can't talk.' Her eyes were on the verge of tears. She couldn't believe that such a fate had occurred to her.
She thought what she had committed to be in in this situation.
"You may not be pretty, but you got it going. Besides, I think I like your fiery personality though you do need to watch your mouth from time to time." Orsen said casually.