The Legend of the ruthless Empress Freya

-- POV Alayna --

*It's time...*

Everyone was ready and all the adventurers were already starting to settle into the carts we had at our disposal. The leader had gone to confirm some information she had obtained about the missing adventurers. In the end I didn't really know what had happened but Sarah apparently liked to collect clues at the bar that was available for adventurers in the guild. She had told us that this way it was possible to get leads before we even left.

*Well then...

As I was about to get on the back of the cart alongside the twins, Sarah who had returned, called out to me again from the front of the first vehicle.

"Yoo-hoo Luna ! Come on, there's a seat next to me !"

I didn't really want to go to the front but I also didn't want to bother anyone and especially not her. So I headed to her side so that we could finally leave. There were only three seats at the place she indicated to me but surprisingly nobody but me had come to sit beside her. The members of her group were behind and were already busy playing cards.

"This is your first time out of this town isn't it ?"

So Sarah's words echoed in my mind, I didn't dare say anything for fear of saying too much. The woman beside me giggled, as she continued to speak.

"Relax, I guessed that because you seem way too surprised by everything as if you've been in Zalhythe your whole life. I'm a pretty good observer you know, that's actually why I volunteered for the mission. Fifty silver coins to go and investigate is a bargain don't you think ?"

"Uh...yes..."

As Sarah spoke to me, I could see the houses scrolling by as we made our way through the city. It was very large so we hadn't made it to the exit yet but with every meter my heart was racing. The sound of hooves was rising in my ears and after only a few seconds, I could only hear it. My eyes were fixed on the huge, doorless entrance to the city that had been my prison. The wall surrounding Zalhythe was gigantic, thick and made of stone, and when I looked up to observe it, I had the strange sensation of seeing it fall on me. Medallion in hand and head in the clouds, I didn't even hear Sarah speak to me as my breathing stopped.

*Just now, the...the door...I...*

We had all just passed through the door in our carts. I was doing the best I could to remain as stoic as possible but it was not an easy thing to do. While it was natural for others to leave the capital, I couldn't help but want to jump up and down, scream and cry with joy.

While I remained calm and still, I could feel a tear beading under my mask reaching the corner of my mouth.

*It's...salty*

I was leaving Zalhythe, I was leaving the city that bore my family name tinged with a blackness as dark as the hearts of its inhabitants.

____

The first day, I had spent it looking around me at each new landscape. I was discovering for the first time the forests, the villages, the rivers and the animals that ventured on the road. I felt like I was living a daydream, everything was so beautiful, so vast, I was not even able to see what was at the end of the horizon. Everything was foreign to me, the smells, the mountains, even the fauna and flora.

I realized that the world was huge and that finding the person I was looking for would not be so easy and even very difficult. How could I find this girl in such a huge world ?

Until now I had only thought of a way to get out of the capital, but now that it was done I suddenly felt lost in this huge world. I didn't have a map, I didn't know anything about life outside, how to survive, how to defend myself, or even how to navigate. For the moment, the only people who could help me were the adventurers I was traveling with.

We hadn't taken a break since we left so as not to waste any time, so I had been stuck with Sarah all day.

"I have a feeling it won't rain tonight, so that's good for us."

"Mmh."

I didn't even know what to say to this woman who was constantly talking to me about everything and nothing. The sun was slowly setting as I was about to answer again, the leader asked me a question that froze me in place.

"Are you really the employer's messenger ? You don't seem fit for this journey and I have the impression that you don't know much about the mission. Am I wrong ?"

I didn't know all the details of the mission, I only knew that adventurers and mercenaries had disappeared in the Dark Forest but the protectors hadn't told me more. So the adventurers had to investigate and I was only with them to learn more about life outside and how to survive before I could leave them discreetly. Sarah was right all along...I had nothing to do here.

"Well...I.."

The words wouldn't come to me so I could feel the dizziness slowly returning. As I tried my best not to arouse her suspicions even more, I could feel the dark haired woman's heavy gaze on me. I could feel her slowly approaching me to gently whisper a few sentences in my ear.

"I'm not trying to find out who you are, you can relax. Only, if you really want to pretend to be a mission messenger, you should at least make some effort. Instead of having your blade in your bag put it around your waist, your shoes are not suitable for long trips, your skirt although very cute neither and nobody wears white on a scouting mission haha~"

As she finished her sentence leaving me motionless, Sarah winked at me.

*Why would she help me ?*

I thought she would report me to the others and leave me on the side of the road and yet she had remained discreet and even gave me advice. I still didn't understand her action and words as the leader changed the subject.

"Luna...since you seem to be unaware of quite a few things, did you know that the ones we are looking for are actually all dead ?"

"Sorry !"

My mind was busy deciphering her previous actions that it was already assaulted by a shocking new piece of information.

*Dead ? How is that even possible ? Isn't this just a fact-finding mission ?*

Despite my mask, the one next to me had no trouble understanding my agitation and anguish as she continued her explanations.

"I found some information at the guild. The adventurers and mercenaries were supposed to capture half-humans and fire foxes for the Guild and the Church and they never returned. They must be dead, there is no other explanation."

Sarah no longer looked at me and looked away while gritting her teeth.

"I lied to you. I'm not doing this mission just for the money or because I'm a good observer. The truth is that my little brother was part of the adventuring group. His name is....was Kirk. I decided to take this mission to find out what happened to him first and to avenge him. I'm sure those half-human scum in the forest had something to do with it ! I don't know how, but they managed to wipe them all out !"

I was already hugely stressed by the next part and learning that the mission wasn't what I thought it was, was enough to make me break down. Sarah's words felt like a stab in the heart. All the pressure I had built up, all my fears came out in a flood of tears that I tried to hide. I was terrified and had no idea what to do. My mind had shut down and a flood of emotions poured into me that could not be stopped.

*I must leave before it's too late ! No ! I must warn the half-humans...No, I am too weak. So what to do ?*

I had left without knowing anything about this world, without any knowledge, without anything or anyone but there was one thing I didn't want to do and that was to participate in this. I didn't want to help these adventurers commit more atrocities, I didn't want to have their blood on my hands. I was caught between anger, guilt, fear, regret and sadness.

Of course I didn't want to die either, but the first thing that worried me was that I had participated in the setting up of this mission. I was the one who had posted the ad anonymously, I was the one who hadn't tried to understand what this mission really was and I was the one sitting next to those people I despised so much.

*Forgive me...forgive me...*

I had unknowingly become someone I swore I would never become and all because of my own stupidity. How could I even face this girl I wanted to find ? What would her mother say to me if she had been there ?

*Forgive me...forgive me...*

As I clutched my head in my hands, still repeating that phrase in my mind, Sarah who took it as fear and not guilt put her hand on my shoulder.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you so much. I guess you really didn't know what happened. Don't worry, I'll protect you and kill all that garbage, you can trust me ! "

Her words didn't reassure me at all, quite the opposite. She was smiling at me with a strange gleam in her eyes but I couldn't even answer or move an inch. The shock was too great and my emotions too intense. The last thing I saw was Sarah screaming my fake name before I passed out, unable to handle it any longer.

____

As I slowly opened my eyes barely able to remember what had happened, my first instinct was to check if I still had my medallion, if my mask was still there and if my hood was still hiding my hair. I didn't see the person sitting next to me who had suddenly started talking. It was Sarah.

"Don't worry, I didn't take off your mask. You suddenly passed out so we decided to camp out there, it was getting late anyway. What happened to you young lady ?"

"I...aarg"

All of my memories were flooding back into my mind as my heart began to race again. I remembered everything, the truth about the mission, Sarah's brother, the half-humans in the forest, and most of all my unintentional and silly involvement in it all.

"Luna, calm down ! Everything is going to be f..."

"Leave me alone...please.."

I had no strength left, no energy left and I wanted to be alone. In my most difficult moments I had always been alone so Sarah's presence made me uncomfortable.

The leader left the tent where I had been placed alone before telling me that I could call her if there was anything.

When my eyes saw her leave the room, I grabbed the medallion from around my neck as small salty droplets fell on it.

*I...I'll fix it. I have to find a way...*

I didn't know how to do anything, I had almost nothing on me and I was probably a perfect target but my heart couldn't let this happen. I had doubted, I was lost, confused, weak...but if there was one thing that kept me mentally strong it was the will of these parents. The love and gentleness in the eyes of this mother that I had never seen in any human had pushed me to endure and to be strong always with a smile.

*I may not be the strongest or the smartest but if I can do something I will ! I will not let anyone kill more innocent people and break up families without doing something, especially if I helped in any way !*

I had made my decision. I was going to try to get stronger in the time I had and find a way to get into the forest alone to warn them. I didn't know how well I would be received, I didn't know if it would work but I didn't want to sit back and do nothing. I had an important goal, but I also had a voice in my mind and heart that was screaming at me to fix my mistakes.

*Maybe I could convince them to be the scout, that way I could get a head start on the group.*

As I closed my eyes, I could still see the eyes of this half-human woman and her smile. Yes, I was probably naive, stupid, useless, lonely and unconscious, but I also knew that for the first time in my life I had a tremendous determination. I couldn't save those parents who had died so horribly, but I could still try to help those who could still be saved. I may have been naive to believe in the goodness of the forest half-humans and races, but I had no other choice. I didn't have anyone's blood on my hands, I was just trying to help and do what I thought was right.

*I would find a way to help them.*

It was my decision and for the first time I could maybe save some people in my own way. I still didn't know what my future would be, but one thing was sure...I was smiling.

____

FULL STATUS

Name : Freya

Age : 0 years old / Mentally : 25 years old

Sex : Female

Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult

Race : Major Demon

Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.

Dragon tamer

Ruthless slayer

Level : 32/70

Exp needed for next level: 22 100 / 33 000

HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000

Strength : 390

Defense : 386

Agility : 400

Stamina : 403

Speed : 392

Intelligence : 390

Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 0

Married to: Gaya

Daughter : Shiro

Kingdom (menu)

Subordinates : 387

Humans killed : 148

Elements: Ice / Chaos

Skills (all):

Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 5)

Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 5)

- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)

Pain Resistance (lvl 3)

Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)

Others - Humanoid form

- Ice creation (Lvl 4)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)

- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)

- Analysis

- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique

- Telepathy

Passives - Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]