Chapter 51: The Ranger who fell

He took a deep breath and saw the sky. The last thing he saw before blacking out was a cliff and then falling and hitting and sleeping for God how many hours while in pain. The pool of blood and the rather bad looking arm of his made him understand that he has fallen badly. He’s known accidents and got into many fights but never had he thought that there would be a day where he will find himself this messed up.

“Are you okay?”

He turned to where the voice is and saw a man with a huge backpack. No, it was more like the man was carrying a backpack that had a chair attached to it. There was someone behind him and he could see that it was a woman with brown hair. Half of her face seems to have been burnt.

“I am fine.”

“Really, you fall really so far. I was making some food but then you suddenly fell along with your coat and weapons that I almost bashed you head in, thinking you were some bandit.”

“Bashed my head in...”

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva just thinking if the man in front of him actually did that. Then he probably won’t be alive right now. Thankfully it seems that he obviously didn’t.

“Thank you for sparing me...but...my arm.”

“Ah, that? I just did that in case you are some bandit. I checked your purses and saw that you are a traveler with a map. Are you a scout or a Ranger?”

“A Ranger... I was scouting as a raven wrangler.”

“So you are both, then can you call your raven?”

“I might be able to do it.”

He then took a deep breath and called for the Raven of his using a spellcast method. This method was to bound the raven of his that will allow the raven to find him as long as he’s alive. He and the man waited for a while before a black raven that was more of a hawk than a raven come flying and landed on his leather bracer.

“So what do you want with the Raven?”

“Can you send a letter to the Asmara Royal Guards?”

“The Asmara’s...wait I know I am a raven wrangler but it doesn’t mean I can allow my raven to just deliver a letter to the Asmara Royal Guards!”

“Here take this.”

“Wait is that.”

He saw the symbol of the Asmara royal family. The strongest spear and shield, the sigil of the Asmara that those who are common born would cheer at them as their cavalry arrives, piercing every enemy in their way. Their magnificent appearance wasn’t for a show.

“Where did you get this?”

“To the lady behind me...that is”

“Wait...you mean that she is a member of the Asmara?”

“She is, and you better not try anything.”

His smile was pouring with absolute killing intent. He’s realized that there are people in the world that were scary. But looking at the smiling face of the man in front of him that was filled with malice made him shiver. The man was rather odd looking. He had Auburn hair, and his limbs were like rusted steel as if they were burned. His face was rather pale and his eyes were very blank.

“No, I won’t dare, in the name of the Lord of Light I shall not think of any temptation.”

“Good, I am sorry that I have to threaten you. You see, ever since the end of spring, I have been killing bastards from left to right. I had no map or knowledge about where I was so I regularly have to kill a lot of enemies. Beast, dire animals, bandits and sometimes fools who think they can try and have fun with the lady.”

The man spoke with a grim tone. He knew that when travels are long men and women alike seek comfort. Some bring instruments while some bring their partners to reduce the stress in traveling the road of the overworld. But the man was carrying a noble lady. And when a lady alone and helpless in the middle of a road with one man guarding would make those who are idiotic to try and take the lady. Raping noble lady and letting the lady bear their child and then sold them back to their family as bastards have been a thing ever since before the war against the northern nonhumans.

So naturally, he could understand why the man in front of him would be wary. He’s known many people but the man had a different look on him.

“It must have been hard...Are you a retainer of the Lady?”

“No, I am just someone who is trying to help her. Right now, the lady’s magic veins are crippled, she could not walk, and even though I suspect that the lady can still speak, it seems that the lady lost herself into Apathy.”

“I, I see.”

He could not believe his ears. This man wasn’t even a loyal retainer of the lady. Yet somehow this man has been carrying the lady without any slight of temptation? He’s noticed the burned face of the lady but even so, he could still see that her body was still fine and toned. She had curves in the right places and anyone could probably still enjoy her despite her face. But yet, the man carrying her felt nothing towards the Lady. This made him feel odd.

“But are you sure that I can take this sigil and let it marked my paper?”

“Of course, at the moment the lady needs help and I have no idea what to do other than gamble on this. I check your map, but it will take two months worth of travel if I carry the lady there. I can do it, but it will take longer. I need to consider the enemies and the roads too.”

He really wanted to say something. But the man in front of him was serious. He said those outrageous things but he knew that there was this desire on his tone that made him believed that the man in front of him could and will do it. He has become a ranger through studying the Ravens and the map. He’s also studied maps and mastered the known land to reach his position. He might not be a good person but he was not heartless. He believed in the Lord of Light and even dared to take vows using the God of Light’s name.

So how can he abandon someone like this?

“I understand.”

Thus he started writing on a paper. He looked at the sky first and took out his map. Using the position of the sun, he made his calculation and then finally located where he is. He was on a nameless mountain but he still could recognize the flora around. He then wrote the details in the letter in tiny words. The Raven of his had the size of a hawk so unlike the others, he could allow his Raven to carry more detailed letters.

He was done writing. He then put the letter in the tube and let the Raven carry it. He then pocketed his tool and before he knew it he saw the man extending his right hand. He’d felt a rather strange warm as his odd arm started turning back to normal. He somehow guessed that the man had something to do with it.

“Thank you for returning my arm back to normal.”

“It is nothing. In fact, if you tried anything then there would have been a stake that would burst out of your arm. I planted a sigil in your arm that would convert into a stake the moment you try anything.”

“I, I see.”

He could only say that while trying not looked afraid.

“Don’t worry about it. I have already removed the sigil so relax. By the way, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Ah, my name is Jess of Bevardis. And you are?”

“Arden, Arden of Mesh. And the lady behind me is Lady Valera Asmara. Can we trust you?”

“I won’t do anything so yeah you can trust me.”

He said honestly. After all, he knew that the man in front of him could kill him. And he wasn’t some despicable bastard. He’s just a normal ranger that is trying to make it big by traveling around the overworld.