"Oh, don't tell me you're done already. Do go and show me some more. It is not every day I see such a wild fight between men. They always try to make pretty movements but that is all, all form no substance." The woman who I recognized as Rebeccah pouts as she floats in the air with her usual carefree attitude.

Both I and my opponent were rooted in our place and speechless. Suddenly, another figure appeared from the stairs and kneeled in front of Rebeccah. It was the scout that the Elf was fighting before!

"Mistress." She uttered with cold indifference. "All of the guards below are dead. Two were stabbed to death, another from a broken neck, and the last one was found poorly hidden inside a cabinet."

I expected Rebeccah to be angry upon hearing the news, but instead, her smile never waned. "Not even an hour after infiltrating our hideout and you've killed four already? My, my. What a naughty boy." She glanced at me with her piercing gaze and a playful smirk. She then turned back to the kneeling woman in front of her. "Was that all?" She asked.

"Yes, mistress. There was no sign of his companions inside the tower. Should I go and find them?" She answered. Her cold indifferent voice never wavered.

"No need. I don't want to risk for the elf to know were unto them." She then slowly floats towards me. "I don't know how you tracked us, to be honest, it hurts my pride knowing you were able to follow us even with all the measures I took in covering our trail." She huffs in a manner that I would normally find cute if I am not terrified out of my pants. "But that is not important. What's important is that we found you first. You are most vital to my plan."

What plan? Shit. Need to find a way out of here. "How did you find me so fast? I was sure I hid my energy well."

"It's not as hard as you think darling." She said. "All we have to do is follow this." She pointed to her nose. Seeing my confused look she chuckled before speaking once more. "No offense, but you stink. Bad. Darling Weylin was able to sniff you as soon as you entered the Illusion Wall. The only reason we didn't intercept you as soon as we saw you is that we're making sure that you are not a trap set by that elf. Which is fortunate as I was able to watch an entertaining fight as a bonus." She smiled. "That said, I want you to come with us. If you follow us peacefully, I promise you. Not a hair on your head will be harmed." She declared as she extends her hand to me.

"What about the hair in my body then?" I quipped. I can't help it. I am so nervous and joking is my go-to stress reliever. I remember her liking my puns when we met, so I hold my breath hoping she won't get offended.

Thankfully, my joke earned a chuckle from the carefree woman. "Hehehe." She covers her mouth with her hand as she laughs. After a few seconds of laughter, she then answered. "You never fail to amuse me. A man with a sense of humor is hard to find these days. Everyone is just so serious. I think I am liking you even more. If only you don't stink, I might even hug you here and now." I don't know if she is teasing me but my heart beats faster as she smiles at me while her piercing blue eyes and blond hair swaying in the night breeze.

No! Get hold of yourself Cloud! Don't fall for her. She is the enemy. I shake my head, trying to get hold of myself. Not the time to have a crush with someone. Seriously. Why are there so many beautiful women here? Even the ninja girl over there is beautiful in her own right. A cold kind of beauty in contrast to her mistress' cheerful demeanor. Breathing into steady my heart, I asked. "What do you intend to do with me?"

"So untrusting." She held her hand back as if she was hurt by my question. "Is the word of a fair maiden that you will not be harmed not enough for you?" She then wipes a tear from her eyes.

Crap. Is she one of those girls who are emotional? Better try and calm her down before she crushes me with her magic. I step forward to calm her down but I stopped when I hear her trying to hold her laughter.

"Got you there, didn't I? How was my acting?" She chuckles. This bitch! I almost got a heart attack thinking I offender her. Seeing my frown, she then said, "Sorry, I just can't help myself from teasing you a little bit."

Before I could answer, a single word from the woman who is still kneeling in her original position changed the light mood. "Mistress." She said with the same aloof tone she always does.

"Oh right." Rebeccah coughed as she descended and let her feet touch the ground for the very first time since I saw her. "We're short in time. As I said earlier, you will not be harmed if you come with us peacefully, this I promise you. We will both benefit from the plans that I am thinking of. For starters." She then points at my injured left hand. "I can heal your fractured hand. Second, I know every nook and cranny in this hideout and with the help of my Weylin over here, can offer you safe passage whilst in the camp and maybe offer you a well-needed bath and a clean set of clothes once were back to my chambers." She offered.

I sighed deeply before answering. "Not like I have another choice, do I? Either way, you will get me to come with you, with or without my consent. Might as well get my damn hand healed while I'm at it." I said while taking her hand.

"Smart. Don't worry. As I promised, you will not be harmed." She paused as soon as her hand touched my metal gloves. A look of curiosity flashed in her face before locking her gaze at my eyes. She then smiled and in an instant, I felt her mana enter in my body, healing my fractured fist in a blink of an eye. "There. Good as new. But I must say, you do know how to pique a lady's interest." She smiled mischievously as she glances at my left hand before signaling her accomplice to come to her.

I am confused about what she just said so I asked her. "What are you talking about?"

"Maybe I'll tell you later. But first, we need to get back to my chamber. It is not safe to talk here in the open and we don't have much time." She said.

"Mistress, what are we going to do about him?" The black-haired woman pointed at the man I was fighting earlier.

"Oh yeah. He was so quiet that I almost forgot about him." Rebeccah turned to face the man. She puts her finger on her chin as she thinks. "I guess I should just kill you." Upon hearing her words, the man freezes up in fear. "Or… Maybe you could work for me." She smirked at the man before she continues. "I know you. You're Mora, the Pit Fighter the late Durga scouted months ago. The way you Deflected your opponent's attack was superb. Flawless technique and timing, evident from his broken fist." She gestured at me before returning her attention to him. "So here's where you landed. A talented fighter becomes nothing more than a puffed-up guard. If you don't mind me asking, why didn't that muscle head Durga take you under his wings? I thought he will be delighted having someone talented he can spar with."

Mora bowed his head before answering. "I also thought about it. But as soon as my Mana capacity was appraised by the Organization and found out that I only have Mana capacity slightly above an average human, Master Durga deemed me unworthy of being in his presence and left me here as a guard so that the money he used to buy my services won't go to waste."

Rebeccah sighed as she looks at the distance "Your master might be stupid by letting both of your talents go to waste, but I do envy him sometimes. Maybe it is skill, or maybe just plain dumb luck, but he did get his hands on top-notch talents before I could. Unfortunately, he put so much stock on Magical prowess that he forgot that a warrior, if skilled enough, can equal or even defeat a Mage." She then chuckled before setting her gaze back at us. "Then again, his loss is my gain." She then faced Mora. "So how about it. Want to work for me? Think fast. I don't have all night."

"I will work for you, Mistress. Anywhere is better than wasting my time and talent as a tower guard. I have only one request." He asked.

"Tell me. If it is within my power, and more importantly if I want to, I will grant it." She answered in a magnanimous manner.

"Mistress, I know of your strength and Magical prowess. With just a thought, you could summon the elements to crush the ones who are foolish enough to stand in your way with ease. I only wish to fight against enemies. So if there is a chance for battle, please don't kill all of them outright, allow me to fight." He requested.

Rebeccah laughed at his request "So you worry that I will wipe out enemies before you get the chance to fight and want me to spare some enemies for you? Don't worry about that. If we face enemies, I will let you fight them all off if you want."

Without even raising his head, he answered. "I am thankful for your consideration Mistress. I gladly offer my services to you."

"Splendid." She exclaimed. "We already wasted enough time. Let us go our way." She started to walk towards the stairs. "By the way, we are not going to fly. A group of four people flying together will attract a lot of attention. So we are going back to my chamber in the old fashion way. Walking." She taps the shoulder of the woman who is still kneeling all this time. "Weylin, sweetie. Please lead the way."

"As you wish, Mistress." She answered in a monotonous voice. She then stood up and faced us "I will take the lead as per Mistress Rebeccah's instruction. Please follow closely behind me. I also ask you to refrain from sensing other people's energy for the whole trip. Normal Mages might not be aware that they are being sensed, but some other scouts and mages are sensitive and will be able to know that they are being Sensed and will no doubt sound the alarm." She said before walked down the stairs, not in a hurry, but quickly and silently. Which is quite a feat considering she has knives dangling on her belt, a sword in her waist, and a pouch which I think is filled with potions or something.

We exited the tower and traversed the camp. We often go through alleys and even on the roof. During all of this, we haven't even seen a shadow of another person, as if the woman knows where everyone is and where they are going as she guides our group through the camp unseen. Upon reaching a large circular building, much like an igloo but one that is made off stones, we stopped.

"We're here. Let me just go and dispel the traps and other defensive measures from my chamber. Don't want my guest to be reduced to a pile of ash by accident." She said before chanting something under her breath and waving her hands in front of the door. How curious, this is the first time I saw her chant something, and I thought she was a silent caster. I thought as the door glows faintly before slowly opening. "Here we are. Welcome to my humble abode." As she was about to enter the building, Weylin quickly darted towards the door and open it for her master. "Oh, thank you, Weylin." She thanked the woman before entering her house.

After all of us have entered the room, Weylin quickly locked the door and it glowed once more. "So, are you going to tell me what you need of me?" I asked as I walk towards a chair.

But even before my butt could touch the chair, Rebeccah stopped me. "Don't touch anything. First things first. Go take a bath. You stink." She then glanced at the scout. "Weylin, guide our smelly guest to the bathroom. Prepare a set of clean clothes as well. This might be the last time we are going to be in this room, but I still don't want it to smell like a week old sweat-soaked shirt. Your adventurer companions might be used to smelling foul smell from training, but I don't, so go wash up."

What? Do I smell like that? I do admit that I can't recall the last time I took a bath, but is it that bad? I thought, and with hurt feeling, I silently followed the woman whose face is like an emotionless statue towards the bath. First, I took my clothes off, which more resembles a rag than actual clothing. I then filled a pail of water and poured it all over my head, and oh my God, even I am disgusted with all the filth that came off me as the water turns brown and I feared that it will clog the drain. Thankfully it didn't and I poured another pail of water, and another as the last large clump of dirt was brushed off my body. After that, I was confident enough to enter the tub for a soak.

Time was lost on me as I was humming a tune while washing my body in the tub with a bar of soap I found. The relaxing bath was interrupted when I heard a knock in the door. "Your clothes are right here outside the door. Finish up your bath quickly and put these on. The Mistress is waiting."

I got off the tub and poured another pail of water to wash away the soap before drying myself with a towel. I opened the door and found a plain white shirt and brown pants. No underwear? Oh well. I was able to endure months of living in my filth. Clean and fresh clothes even without underwear is a big leap from that. I thought as I wear clothes. Holy shit. I have never felt this clean for so long. I almost forgot how good this feels like. It almost feels orgasmic how clean I feel right now. There is also a pair of leather boots ready at the side which I wore right away and I started to go towards where Rebeccah is. I don't want to make her wait much longer.

Upon entering the living room, I saw that it was clear of all furniture and that there was a circle drawn in the middle of the room. "Hello. Sorry for the wait." I greeted Rebeccah who is drawing something in her body. I also noticed that the same pattern was drawn on the skin of the others. "Thanks for the bath and clean clothes. Deeply appreciate it. By the way, can I ask what is going on?" I asked as I walk towards a basket of what I can tell is Manganite Crystals. These crystals must be a high grade for not only there no visible flaws on it, but they also emit strong energy tens of times stronger than the low-grade crystal Ortho uses.

"You can. But me answering the question is another thing." She answered. I frowned at the teasing woman, which only elicited a chuckle from her. "Men, you're so delightful to tease. As you have most likely found out when you captured our previous leader, Christopher. There is a seal planted within us which is triggered if we do something that will harm the Organization. The seal gathers all of the energy of the transgressor and explodes once it reaches critical mass." Seeing the confused look on my face, she smirked before continuing. "You must be thinking, why have we not explored yet? Well, my curious sweetling, it is because I made a few measures that will ensure that I will not end up as a crater in the ground." She then presented the patterns in her body. "These runes will not break the seal, only weaken in enough that it will not make us explode into a thousand pieces. Removing the seal completely is not easy, but it is doable. First I need to see the original seal so I can create something to counteract it. I already saw my seal for I watched carefully as Elder Maximillian inscribed it in my skin. For the others, I sent Weylin to steal the book of seals from the Elder's room while he was busy meeting up with someone earlier. Good thing too, for seeing that you are here, it means the chance that I was waiting for is drawing near." She continued her explanation as she finishes the runes on her skin.

Confused with all the information I was getting, I asked a question that was troubling me the most. "SO you're trying to break the seal on your body. What is my purpose in all of this?"

"So impatient. I think I am liking you less now." She pouts before looking surprised and kneeled on the floor to draw something in the magic circle. "Oooppps. Almost botched the magic circle. Silly me. This must be here, and I have to change this into this… Okay. Perfect. I think. Let me double-check." She mutters as she paces around looking for something. After a few more corrections in the circle, she seems to be finally satisfied and focused her gaze on me. "The seal in us not only deter people from defying the Organization, it also acts as a locator. That is why breaking the seal is of utmost importance if we want to be free. Unfortunately, breaking the seal also alerts the Elder who inscribed the seal and will most likely send him to action to find us in an instant. That is why we need a distraction. A distraction big enough to occupy him as we escape. That is where you come in." She said with a smile as she walks towards me.

"Me? A distraction?" What is she talking about?

She puts her hands over the seal on my left hand. "Yes. You will distract them from us. Oh. A blood seal. A technique that is only taught to high ranking elves." She said with a surprised expression which was quickly replaced by a mischievous smile. "I was right. Today is the day. We must be quick." She mutter as she quickly got her brush and began drawing figures on the seal. "Don't move. This will be tricky. Blood Seal is unbreakable as long as the Sealer is alive. Unbreakable but it doesn't mean that it cannot weaken even for a while. Finally, all that time of research can be put to use. Who's the shut-in disgrace now mother?!"

She excitedly drew patterns before erasing some and drawing new figures. The frantic and even crazy looking Rebeccah continued to draw patterns over the seal. I tried to resist, but she must've cast a paralyze spell for I cannot move my body. She continued to draw for 5 more minutes before she stopped. "Once I completed the counter seal, it will weaken the Blood Seal enough that you will be able to access the sealed energy in your arm. Which is most likely Void energy." She declared with an excited smile on her face.

"What? If you release my energy, won't that alert the Elders? I don't know how to contain that energy and it is also not the most subtle form of energy out there. We will be found out in an instant!" I franticly exclaimed.

"True. They will, and that is the exact distraction we need." She answered.

Her smile full of excitement is no longer cute, instead, it is sending chills down my spine. Damn it. As I have said before, why are the beautiful ones so crazy?