章 191: Shia Haulia

As Pete looked at the man who dropped out of the sky in front of him he felt a strong sense of familiarity, it was only when the person mentioned where they met that Pete recalled.

"I'm the one you tried to beat for bumping into you, and whose women you tried to take advantage of during the situation." Pete was about to tell Alex off for bumping into him that time, but was cut off when a staff appeared in Alex's hands and swung up to the fork in his legs, effectively destroying his life as a man.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" He cried out in pain as he collapsed, while Alex looked down on him with no remorse on his face as he said,

"That was for trying to take advantage of the situation before with Grayfia and Yue." Pete didn't say anything, as he was in too much pain to be able to, instead several other soldiers from the Empire charged forward and tried to attack Alex while the commander of the group, Grid Half, watched. Alex didn't even look at the attacking soldiers, instead his hand and staff blurred for a brief second before all of their heads exploded into a fine red mist. Seeing this spectacle the rest of the soldiers and the rabbitmen behind him paled, while Pete had turned as white as a ghost when he saw the prowess of the one he offended. More soldiers were about to rush in and attempt to avenge their fallen comrades, when Grid put his hand up and signaled them to stop. He turned towards Alex and said,

"It appears to me this is a grudge between you and this subordinate, how about I look the other way while you do as you wish, and maybe you can consider a future with the Empire?" Grid had acknowledged Alex's skill, and decided it would be a waste to let him go here. There was also the fact that while he did believe they could bring him down, it require sacrificing most of his men to do so, then they'd have to transport and protect all the new slaves with what few remains against monsters and possibly bandits. He also felt that Alex's strength would be a good replacement for the hero the neighboring kingdom summoned, as Grid knew his Emperor was less than pleased with the inexperienced boy known as Kouki. In fact, it seemed his liege was more entranced by the swordswoman close to the boy, Shizuku. He then continued his pitch to Alex,

"It also seems as if you have a thing for women, how about I give you some of the rabbitmen females as well, this batch is over our quota and-"

"I refuse." Alex said bluntly, interrupting the offer of the commander, who then looked at Alex like he was a fool. Even though Alex was strong they had nearly a hundred guys left on their side, all with experience in fighting in battles, how could someone just out of his teenage years compare regardless of how strong he was? But as he was trying to avoid losing more men than necessary, Grid then tried to sweeten his offer to Alex.

"I see, well how about we'll even gift you that gray-blue haired rabbitman female over there? She's a unique specimen, one of a kind, and if you're willing to join the Empire I'll give her to you. As an added bonus it's said that when there's a unique demihumans they even have the chance of having strange skills, wouldn't you say that's quite the offer?" Alex then looked back at the girl in question, as she huddled close to what seemed to be her father. He then had an evil smile on his face, and said,

"So what you're saying-" at his words Grid started hoping he came around, but what happened next shocked him and everyone else present. From around his waist a brown fur covered monkeys tail appeared, and started swaying behind him. As this happened Alex held up his right hand, which then had a small ball of fire dancing in his palm. Everyone's eyes were drawn to the flame in his hand, until Alex finished what he was saying,

"-is that she's a freak just like me?" With his words as the trigger the battle erupted, as Grid now understood there was no way they could come to an understanding. Now he could only hope he can place a slave collar on Alex, and get him to do the fighting on the way back once he couldn't bare his fangs at them anymore. Meanwhile the rabbitmen were looking at Alex in different manner, seeing him as their savior and protector, the exception was the same girl they were discussing before. Shia Haulia was staring at Alex intently as his earlier words echoed through her mind,

'She's a freak just like me.'

He was just like her?

***

Shia was a cursed and lonely existence. This was something she understood her whole life as she had to grow up in hiding, or risk execution for the way she was born. In the Capitol of the Sea of Trees, Fea Bergen, any child born with the ability to use magic was considered a cursed child, and would be destroyed immediately, if not then the family who gave birth to such a child would be exiled from Fea Bergen. When Shia was born she was immediately identified as a cursed child due to her hair, but instead of having her executed her entire clan hid her away, as she was born in Haulia clan of rabbitmen that were known for their familial bonds.

For sixteen years of her life Shia lived in hiding, knowing that her existence was a danger to her family. Plus even though no one in her family treated her as an outcast, Shia was also made alone due to her hair, being the only one different in her entire family. Then due to her mistake she was found out and the issue her family had put off for her whole life was brought to light. When the elders of Fea Bergen demanded her death, her entire clan without fail refused, instead being forced to go into exile and leave the Sea of Trees.

They tried to make their way north, hoping to avoid monsters and slavers, but for some reason they were found by soldiers of the Empire who immediately surrounded them. All it took was one look at Shia, and the soldiers only saw money signs from how she was a "rare" type that would sell for a lot higher. As they were cornered a man suddenly came flying out of the sky and landed in from of them. Shia looked at him from behind and felt a sense of security, and would have used her ability 'Divination' if she hadn't foolishly used it once already that day to see what he would do.

Then he declared that he was the same as her, a freak. For the first time in her life, Shia looked at someone she thought was as unique as her, someone different. As he summoned fire in his hand without chanting or a magic circle, Shia didn't think that she had ever seen anything so beautiful even though it was regular fire. Tears came to her eyes as he fought the soldiers, causing her father, Cam, to hold her even tighter and ask,

"What's wrong Shia? Why are you crying if it looks like we might be saved?" Shia then said between her tears,

"B-b-because I'm n-not alone anymore!" Cam was confused for a second, before realizing what his daughter meant. He then held her tighter as she cried tears of happiness in his arms, before looking at the back of the man who saved them. Even though they mentioned several times that he already had women, Cam didn't care and was already determined to see his daughter with him, for her own safety and future.