Chapter: 46

“ANYA WAIT”

The yell startled Anya and she squeezed harder, releasing the bolt – however, the unexpected happened.

The captain grabbed the crossbow before the bolt could leave it, gripping it so tightly that the bolt couldn’t escape.

Anya was shocked, but looking at her captain’s expression, he still seemed bored – even while the veins in his hand were bulging as they threatened to snap the crossbow into two pieces.

“It’s human,” he muttered. “Return to duties” he said casually as he disarmed the crossbow and gave it back to Anya. The spearmen all raised their spears, then with a salute, they all left. The captain gazed at Jay, checking his stats.

Jay – Level 5

[HP 100%]

[MP 100%]

‘Level five already huh? Impressive kid. Sullivan’s gunna have his hands full this year’ he smiled.

The ‘monster’ continued to approach, covered in black muck with traces of flesh and blood sprinkled throughout – but at this point, Anya couldn’t care less.

“He may as well have snapped it, the damage is too extensive.” Thought the girl as she pouted, looking at her crossbow with finger-holes in it.

Jay continued watching as he walked closer “Huh, that was weird. Must be drills or something. Oh well, I need a bath.” he said casually, not realizing he looked like some sort of man-eating mud monster and was nearly killed.

Jay picked up his pace to jogging speed as headed toward the inn with the dreamy ruby bath.

As he casually ran past the captain and the girl with the broken crossbow, he received a death stare from the girl.

“Huh, what’s her problem?” Jay thought with a confused look on his face, as he ignored them both and kept running as if nothing ever happened; his bag making jangling noises with each step as the soap rat teeth rattled.

“It will be best not to tell him…” said the captain “sorry about your crossbow, but it’s better to lose that than to end a man”. The captain looked back to the forest with remorse.

“Yes, sir.” said Anya, a little unconvinced, as she nursed her broken crossbow.

Suddenly, she felt the urge to vomit as a strong smell wafted over to her, though thankfully, it left as quickly as it came.

Her face was riddled with disgust from the smell as she looked up at her captain – however his expression changed for once as the smell hit him too; his eyes bulged and he pursed his lips as he began to run to another part of the village, it was the first time she saw the captain break his composure and retreat.

Anya furrowed her brows and frowned “I hope he doesn’t think that was me” she said as she squinted in the direction Jay left in.

—

Jay approached the inn – this time, he wasn’t as close to freezing to death as he was last time – though he was a thousand times more filthy. Since he wasn’t shivering, he had the energy to look up and check the inn’s name.

-Snakeraven’s Hollow-

It was commonly called ‘the snakeraven’ by the locals.

Above the words on the hanging wooden sign was an image of a black feathered snake with wings and a beak. It appeared to be winking.