It hasn't been a hour since we left Mercury palace yet Tarma is starts babbling. "This was a complete failure. I should have never asked you. I-I need to go underground, the royal guard might be after me. I-I need to h-hide."
THUD! BANG!
The carriage abrupted all of sudden, Alexia and Tarma almost fell on their noses. "JERALD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The whining brat yelled on top of his lungs.
"Master? We collied with a silver carriage."
"Huh?" Tarma hurriedly stepped outside to see a damaged carriage, it has the insignia of a Silverblade on the doors. "How?"
I order the former head to come out of the carriage. The knight who was driving the carriage finally notices something off, he jumps out and aims his spear at Tarma. "Who are you? Why did lord come here alone? ANSWER ME!"
I threw Dora at his face who literally flew through his skull. Jerald gets disgusted as pieces of brain fell on his expensive suit.
I lightly tap Tarma's shoulder. "You got 4 minutes at best before the mind control wears off. Don't take too long." Tarma's throat went dry as he threw his blade. He had a ceremonial long blade strapped to his thigh rather than two short ones.
'Intentional, I guess.'
Like a crazed animal, he stabbed Marlyn's chest and leaped on him. Grunting and screaming most of the time, his strikes were shallow, not lethal. But it wasn't like Marlyn could feel any of this. After thoroughly opening his ribcage apart, Tarma threw the sword to the side.
"Fire?" He punched the old noble.
"I show you real fire!" BAM!
"Look into my eyes." BAM!
"Tell me!" BAM!
"How did it feel?" BAM!
"Taking my spot! I was supposed to be in the main family! Not you!" BAM!
"I did the work! YOU STOLE IT!" BAM!
Last punch fully dislocated Marlyn's jaw, his face was already unrecognizable but now it barely looked human. "Master." Jerald quietly opened his mouth. "I think he is already death."
I rubbed by forehead in disappointment and turned back to the carriage. 'The former head of the Silverblade house and the member of SilverTusks, the oldest of the target on my list. Done.'
As I walked back to the carriage, I heard animalistic scream behind me. To nobody's surprise, Alexia peeking through the small window, watching Tarma's sadistic act. I opened the door and sat opposite of her. Her eyes were still focused outside.
'Are you not interested in SilverTusks? About Tarma?' Dora whispers while sitting in Silverblade's carriage as if she owns it.
'No, I don't care.'
'Oh, you should. What would have happened if I wasn't so nice, Altaris?'
'Shut up.'
'You recklessly barged in the dining room, threw the plan down the gutter. If there was one.'
'Shut up.'
'You forced me to cover for you while you casted that bloody long mind spell.'
'Shut up.'
'All that danger, for what? Because you lost your cool when Tarma sold Alexia away?'
"I said shut up! You are a damn battery stop talking and act like one!" My sudden yelling startled Alexia but before she could say anything, Tarma opened the carriage door. She noticed his grim expression, he was covered in blood from head to toe.
'Battery overloading in 1 2 3.'
BOOM! An ear shaking lightning bolt struck just few meters away from our carriage. "M-Master! The silver carriage is on fire!" Jerald urgent scream did not affect any of us.
"The former head was attacked by unknown assassins and while fleeing it was struck by lightning. Let the investigation happen, they won't find any proof leading back to us. As for our cart… I believe you can handle that." Tarma calmly nodded at my words.
Few seconds later, the carriage began moving forward and in that split second Alexia caught the glimpse of Marlyn's corpse. She tried so hard not to scream or puke by witnessing the horror. "T-Tell me, Altaris. Was this planned?"
Sadly, no one in the carriage answered her question and the rest of the journey to Wiston town was as silent as it could get.
After 4 hours, we finally reached Tarma's residence in the town. At least now he looked bit better with all the blood and gore wiped off his face, still his clothes reeked. "Here, the amount we discussed."
Instead of ten gold coins wrapped in a thread, Tarma hands me a pouch full of coins. "Threw some extra for letting me ignite the flame."
I peeked into the pouch to see if the gold is there. "Don't count on it. Such opportunities are rare."
"I know. I take words back, it was a good idea of tagging Alexia along."
My face turns into a painful smile as I understand what Tarma is implying.
"Besides that, how is your exploration going? The dungeon harvest festival is just around corner, I hope you prepared for that." Tarma creates his own answer judging by my silence and responds with a smile. "You can ask Jerald to escort you home."
With this the door of SilverTusk mansion was closed on my face once more. I could feel Alexia's gaze on skin, she has probably many questions. "Alright kids, stay here while I bring a different cart." Jerald says in a rather frustrated voice.
"Jerald. Bring the cart to the city gates, we meet there in an hour or so."
"What? Listen here, you brat! I don't work for you."
Even though, he is threatening us. I can sense a bit of fear in back of his mind. Usually, I love to remind such people of their place, but not tonight.
As soon as I stepped forward, Jerald froze. "L-Look, you can't hurt me. You are nothing but my m-master's d-dog." I raise my hand to touch his chest. "Please!"
To his surprise, I laugh loudly while lightly patting his chest. "Haha. Don't push your luck. Wait at the gates."
Surprised, Jerald could only agree. I walk ahead followed by Alexia.
Once far enough, Jerald sneered. "Hmph! I wait only an hour."
Even though Tarma lived in rich corner of Wiston town, the streets were empty at night, not empty they felt death. I strode through dark pathways without much problem but same could not be said for Alexia. I stopped when I noticed that she walked bit back.
I offered my hand to her and this time instead of taking it she just stared at me and spoke. "Was all of this planned?"
I couldn't help but sigh and continue walking. "Answer me, Altaris!"
'Yes, yes. Answer her.' Dora spoke in a mischievous tone. She has been trailing us for quite some time.
"No."
Alexia ran to me and pulled me back. "Liar! And stop walking. We are having a talk right now."
I click my tongue. "Then talk while moving. It's not like my ears stops working mysteriously."
"Then tell me!"
"What? What do you want to know?"
Alexia walks by my side, I notice that she is lifting her large skirt up to avoid staining it. "Do you kill people to earn money?"
"No, I am an explorer."
Her glare tells me she is not convinced. "Are you really?"
"Yes."
"Then why do you kill people?"
"I don't!"
Alexia raises her eyebrow in doubt.
"Okay, I do. Sometimes."
"That's what I am asking. Why? Money?"
I stop in my tracks and look at her with apathetic eyes.
"It was money. It was always money. Have you learned nothing from the adults?" Alexia screamed at the end. Her next words were less audible, more whimpers and tears. "Why? Why can't you do something normal? Something in emperor's light. First, Big sister Helen. Then Melsier and now you."
I tightly grip my hands. "You won't understand."
"Then make me! Tell me Altaris! What is it that everyone loves money?"
"It's not about money. I have reasons." I calmly tell her.
She grabs my collar only to break down further. "You are also like adults. Only thinking about money, not us. You only took me to dinner because Jane likes young girls, right?"
"No, no! I didn't take you for that."
"Liar! Adults will do anything for money. The sisters in the church sold us for ransom too. Big sister also got caught up and Melsier left us for money too! He is-"
THUD! I slapped Alexia's face. She lost her balance and fell, her precious dress now dirty. Yet, she didn't stop crying.
Few minutes later, Dora landed on my shoulder. 'Are you just going to stare?'
I couldn't help but sigh loudly. "I hate kids."