Episode 16: Temporary Alliance (Part 1)
Charon swung his sword to flick off the blood, then scanned his surroundings with an impassive expression. He murmured softly:
"Come out now."
As if addressing someone right beside him. But no answer came.
Only occasional bat wing flutters broke the silence.
"If you don't emerge by the count of three, I'll kill you. One, two..."
Charon muttered again.
"Wait!"
Surprisingly, a young male voice responded. The pile of corpses nearby rustled as a man appearing to be in his early twenties emerged.
He pushed aside blood-soaked bodies and stood up with an easy smile.
A faded thin cloak draped his shoulders, black ponytail reaching his ears, slightly sharp eyes - his features were rather handsome.
"Hah! Your instincts are sharp! How'd you detect me?"
The man scratched his head with an awkward laugh.
Unusual cloak.
Charon stared intently at the garment before looking away.
When Charon remained silent, the man clicked his tongue while observing Kungga's still-bleeding corpse.
"Whew. Bandit scum, I see. Chopped his head clean off."
He glanced sideways at Charon and added:
"Impressive for someone so young."
"Was this your doing?"
As the man approached unhesitatingly, Charon leveled his sword for a direct question. The man recoiled, frantically waving his hands.
"What? Me? No~ Absolutely not!"
"Then who?"
"Well..."
When the man glanced at Charon while scratching his chin as if testing him, Charon immediately pressed the sword against his throat.
A ghostly movement. Utterly without hesitation.
The blade threatened to pierce through at any foolish action.
The man startled and raised both hands.
"Ah! Alright! I'll talk! I just heard rumors about bandits having a Demon's Orb and sneaked in days ago! Others committed this massacre!"
Charon's eyes narrowed instantly.
"You saw them?"
"Y-yes! Saw them clearly! They wanted the Demon's Orb too. But it wasn't here - false rumors. They slaughtered all the bandits in anger."
"Description?"
"Not sure about that..."
As the man tilted his head uncertainly, Charon pressed the blade deeper.
The sword tip touched skin, forming crimson droplets on his neck.
The man panicked and thrust out his hands.
"Eek! Wait! Let me finish! About twenty of them! Wore black cloaks late at night - couldn't see clearly!"
Twenty people. Deep night. Black cloaks.
The description felt eerily familiar.
For an instant, Charon's pupils blazed like active volcanoes before cooling to indifference. His voice turned icy:
"Where did they go?"
"Need to check tracks for that..."
Cold sweat streamed down the man's forced smile. Seeing Charon's unchanged stare, he swallowed dryly and continued:
"Truth. No reason to lie."
Charon studied him briefly before sheathing his sword. The man showed no apparent malice or deceit.
Yet questions remained.
"Then why linger here?"
"Can't return empty-handed after coming this far. They took everything valuable, but I grabbed some usable items."
The relieved man revealed two large bags hidden under corpses. They contained weapons, cheap jewels, and sundry items - he'd taken anything shiny.
"Thief?"
"Stealing from villains makes me a righteous thief!"
"Same difference."
Charon's head tilted slightly. The man palm-slapped the air emphatically.
"Completely different! I never touch honest people's belongings!"
"Bold for a lone thief."
When Charon prodded, the man smiled awkwardly and deflected:
"My skills surpass my looks... You after the Demon's Orb too?"
Despite the intentional topic shift, Charon answered bluntly:
"Don't care about orbs. Just need those men."
The man stared intently. Charon showed no signs of lying.
The murderous aura when mentioning "those men" confirmed his vendetta.
"Good! Then we might have common ground!"
"Common ground?"
Charon's brow furrowed slightly at the sudden claim. The man continued cheerfully:
"I'll guide you to them. I'm skilled at tracking. They took all the slaves - though a day ahead, their pace should be slow. We'll catch them in 2-3 days!"
True enough, the cave walls showed recent slave quarters but no slave corpses.
Reasonable logic.
But no kindness comes without motive. A lesson learned from mercenary life.
"Your angle?"
"Mutual benefit. They already have one Demon's Orb - I saw it while hiding. I just need that."
As the man boasted, Charon considered.
Though his keen senses could track, the desert's shifting sands erased trails overnight. An expert tracker might prove useful.
Anticipating this, the man pressed:
"I take the orb, you take the black-cloaks. Different goals, same targets. Temporary partnership?"
"Can you track?"
When Charon asked bluntly, the man rolled up his sleeves indignantly:
"What do you take me for? Seeing's believing!"
"Lead."
Charon tilted his head slightly. No loss - he could abandon the man anytime.
"Let's go!"
Approval granted, the man clapped and gestured dramatically toward the cave mouth - without moving.
When Charon looked back puzzled, the man awkwardly smiled while loading bags onto Kungga's horse:
"Mind if I ride this? Mine died in the chaos. Hah!"
"......"
Taver Desert's north blended sand and gravel, ideal for horseback.
Hence bandits favored mounts unless traveling south.
"This way."
The man introduced as Rofreshon (asking to be called Shong) pointed northwest after finding horse dung and campfire traces.
His expression needlessly serious.
As eccentric as his name.
When Charon urged his horse forward, Shong hastily stopped him:
"Wait! Let's halt pursuit today. Desert nights swarm with beasts - might even encounter Sveks!"
"Staying here changes nothing."
Charon's gruff reply made Shong clap in agreement:
"True here, but I know a low stone mountain nearby. Easier to guard against wind and threats."
After brief consideration, Charon nodded. Shong took the lead.
Soon a small stone mountain appeared.
Shong truly knew desert navigation.
Inside the rocky enclosure, someone's old campfire remnants remained.
At sunset, Shong skillfully built a fire with dried grass and twigs.
Dinner was jerky from their supplies.
By the fire, Shong used his bag as a pillow and stared at Charon, who sat vacantly gazing at the stars.
Half a day together revealed much:
Taciturn nature. Constant poker face.
Non-interference unless annoyed.
Though younger, Charon carried gravitas - perhaps from surviving countless life-threatening situations.
Shong cautiously asked after checking his mood:
"Mind a question?"
Charon's gaze remained distant.
Though ignored, Shong continued, now accustomed to Charon's ways:
"Planning to fight when we find them?"
"None of your concern."
Charon's icy stare felt increasingly chilling in the night. Shong shrugged:
"Fair. But one of them seemed... beyond human capability."
His words held truth - the bandit hideout's corpses proved it.
Charon remained silent.
Shong lay down while adding:
"Well, you'll manage. Anyway, I won't help fight. Just stealing the orb."
"Never expected help."
"Figured. Just confirming. Goodnight."
Charon's curt reply made Shong roll over.
Truthfully, Shong wondered about Charon's skills.
Too young yet unfazed by beheading bandits or corpse examination - starkly incongruous.
What experiences forged him?
But fatigue from days of light sleep soon overwhelmed him.
Kiiak-
"Huh?"
A sharp sound jolted Shong awake. The dead fire left only twin moons illuminating the desert.
At the rocky enclosure's entrance stood Charon with drawn sword.
Opposite approached two glowing yellow eyes.
The form grew clearer.
Shong's eyes widened.
Sveks?!
The yellow-eyed beast was a desert horror Shong knew only through tales - an enormous venomous serpent.
Bite from fangs, crushing coils, or deadly poison.
"Wha-?"
As Shong scrambled up, Charon stepped steadily toward the Sveks.
