Bowstring

Vol 2 Ch 24 - In the Villain's Nest

Ashtor was a clear panorama even without her glasses because the twilight was still bright. After all, the sun sets at that point of the globe. The town was the home of the Vrubels, but the environment was not as dark as she anticipated. In fact, it wasn't, and the black smears of the surroundings are the shadows of the leaves and the thickets.

How peculiar.

Once, she read that they stained the prestige of their own abode with nightmarish researches, and one would be their most cursed activity of reanimating corpses. They were also known to slave mortals who recoursed to Vermiel as their asylum. The slavery was rather loose as the migrants still lived regular lives untouched by the other sorcerers despite originating from different Sasarian lands. Only that they had to pay the peace with their souls. In that case, it was not a wonder that the Vrubels were feared for earning the knowledge of soul trade which was once exclusive to the gods, only that their ways and intentions are darker, that they are dubbed as the Worshippers of Volos.

She expected that the sick atmosphere of Vaira had spread over Ashtor, but now she concluded that Frigg is more in an afflicted state, ensuing pathos to a guest, than the Vrubels' lands. Frigg was blanketed with white and lifelessness, while the grasses in Ashtor are thickly ornamented with plants of various kinds. The traces of the tragedy were apparent in her surroundings. The ruins of several architectures were significant. And they proclaim that the conflict had also traversed within the land. Nature has, however, reclaimed it with her claws in the form of vines and flowers. She could even hear the last lullaby of birds and cicadas. And it annoyed her that the land of the cursed tribe was quite brimming with life while her birthplace is a wasteland. She felt further mocked when the aviators chorused in the environment like a musical ensemble as if encouraging her to take pleasure.

She could also not remove the agitation she felt. Ashtor seemed sleeping, and no animal movement was there except for both of them, but it was Vrubels' property, and who knows that there might be a dark aura left just like the live column back in Frigg. The anxiety somehow dissipated when it occurred to her that the man was more dangerous than any animated object fueled with murderous intent.

Well, she should be frightened at the thought, especially when he demanded her to follow his strides without uttering their destination. She could only embellish her mind by observing their path. And she couldn't control the irritation as Ashtor's life was so rich it enchanted her system while Frigg almost had nothing, not even wind. While she savored the sour taste of vexation in her tongue, she somehow reconsidered that it was to be expected if there is only one human dwelling the place and safe from the defilement of a larger population.

They were approaching a large building, which she presumed was their harbor. But Laska continued walking and had just passed the structure without a glance.

She was unconscious that they had already strolled for a long time and she was reminded of fatigue when she felt the strains on her feet and legs. They had been walking since the carriage dropped them at the foot of the Vairan Range. Not only that but she had also been endangered that she almost died. She wondered if she can still have some tea.

"Why didn't you just rented horses so we can arrive fast?" she finally complained.

"Animals cannot pass the current Vaira."

So that's why it was certainly risky venturing the cursed hill. Sought after for diamonds that do not really exist.

They later arrived at a cliff. She almost feared that Laska will throw her there. But his back was only blocking the view. And when he turned to her, he appeared to present the suspension bridge connecting Ashtor to another tower in the sea.