A Drop of Moonlight

Chapter 10: Disaster

Denise never thought she would be in the same situation twice. Though the only difference this time is that the one she encountered today is no slaver. Instead, they are bandits who intended to rob her of everything. At this point, she just doesn't know which experience is better.

It would be fine if these people are in fact ordinary bandits. But judging their movement in the corner of her eyes, they are way too skilled to be desperate people. Furthermore, their build and weapons are of a certain quality that is almost inaccessible to commoners and peasants alike.

She should have listened to Rufus when he said their fellow traveler is a trouble. While she sensed them to be fishy, she didn't think she will be in an assassination scene with her as a casualty. She will definitely going to give them a piece of her mind if they are not yet dead or if she gets out of this alive to do any.

With annoyance and pure irritation, Denise managed to hold out and get wild. With a stolen blade, she abandoned her daggers and went in her merry way. Almost like dancing, her petite body danced along and killed her way out. Not a pretty sight for a normal person, but a sight behold for those with questionable tastes.

Finishing off her attackers, Denise wiped off the blood that had splattered itself on her cheeks. A frown is marred on her face as she grimaces as the mess her clothes were. It is only her brother who is a clean freak in the family, but she kind of understood his obsession with cleanliness at this moment. Being dirty does feel weird and gross. If there is a chance she does not want this to be this messy any time soon.

"Now where is Rufus." Denise thought out loud. With the impact and the wreckage of their carriage, she would not be surprised if that guy would be quite a distance from her. It did not help that the terrain was simply made to cause accidents regularly.

Thinking for a little bit, Denise decided to use some magic to solve her immediate problems. Murmuring a chant beneath her breath, her eyes glow as magic allowed her to scan the area without missing a single detail. With the amount of information that enters her brain, Denise feels a headache forming and she hopes to find Rufus fast enough to end her self-imposed harm.

As expected, the guy was quite a distance away, he somehow ended up in the streams. From her magic eyes, Denise could see how low his emotions are at the moment. With him being wet head to toe and being separated from his companion, he definitely is not pleased with how things are. Denise could actually make out a dark cloud above the guy as he matched and punished the culprits nearby.

Denise was able to witness an elf when they succumbed to their darker side. As much as they are almost divine in normal times, upon anger was an unfeeling fallen angel. Leaving no grace nor sympathy to those who wronged them.

Seeing that the other was fine. She was quick to find the shortest route to meet Rufus. He seems towards her direction, which is a good thing as she only needs to meet him halfway and they will be reunited. Though she sees that there are some troublesome beasts in that path, she thinks she can handle it and spend less time possible.

Closing her eyes, her golden eyes turned back to normal. With keen sense, she was quick to establish a path that leaves little to no imprint of her being here. In one swift move, Denise was able to close some gaps in just a few steps.

Just as she was near to Rufus' location, she suddenly stopped at what she was seeing.

There was a young girl with rather high class clothing.

Denise remembered one of the rather luxurious carriage among the caravan. She thought they were just one of those rich merchants who liked to show off their wealth, but it was apparent with this girl’s appearance that they are more likely nobles of some origin. After all, there is no merchant who can have an entourage solely for her protection like it was their creed. Mercenaries that merchants pays for do not have that loyalty.

Denise has no plans to be involved in all that drama. She reevaluated her thinking and perhaps the real reason for the attack was this noble lady and the guy that Rufus has noted was one of the attackers. Thinking about it this way made things have more sense than the guy being the target.

Careful not to let them notice of her existence, Denise left the area as soon as possible. Though she would have to take a detour as the fastest route was on that lady’s location. And the next best route would be near the wreckage of a carriage nearby. There were no beasts or assassins in that area, only that she planned to get there after she got Rufus. After all, she has to retrieve their food supplies as she purchases them and the travel expenses that Fedikano has given them.

Things cannot keep up with changes, so she might as well retrieve what she can and leave the place as soon as possible. Perhaps this would let them take less time in the forest if she gets at least a portion of the supplies than retrieving them all with the help of Rufus.

The carriage was in a mess as she had expected. The loads it carried were thrown all over from the impact of the disaster they had faced. Its form was greatly distorted and she spotted one of its wheels on a tree branch. Then there were also some dead bodies nearby of those who were unfortunate enough to directly fall to their deaths.

Offering a silent prayer for their souls, Denise ignored everything else and focused on retrieving their things. While she can technically take everything she sees as hers with their owners all too dead to protest, she was taught not to covet something not hers. Something about taking only what is yours and you will live a fulfilling life without the disaster of greed and unsatisfaction consuming you.

Her mother lived that way and she and her brother thought that it was quite a reasonable way to live. They saw a lot of unhappiness from those who were not satisfied with things. Under that influence Denise was pragmatic with material things and only desired the necessary things in her life.