This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

The guard’s voice was sharp, his spear pointed directly at the elderly woman. Kain’s heart pounded as he watched through her eyes, his mind racing. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The guards had let her in without question—why were these ones stopping her now?

The elderly woman, still under Bea’s control, froze in place, her frail hands clutching the vial of antidote tightly. The guard stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized her. “What’s in your hand?” he repeated, his tone more demanding this time.

Kain’s mind raced. If the guard took the vial, their entire mission would be compromised. They couldn’t afford to lose the antidote—not when their comrades’ lives depended on it. He glanced at Serena, her expression tense but focused. They needed a plan, and they needed it fast.

Inside the tent, the elderly woman hesitated for a moment before responding. Her voice was shaky but firm, her words carefully chosen. “Medicine,” she said, holding up the vial for the guard to see. “For my grandson. He was stung by a scorpion while hunting.”

The guard’s expression actually hardened slightly, at the mention of the grandson, in contrast to the previous guards. “Your grandson? Malzahir?” he asked, tone harsh and almost…in anticipation?

The woman nodded, her eyes downcast. “Yes. He’s in pain, and I couldn’t bear to see him suffer. Please, let me take this to him.”

The guard seemed determined to refuse when the hooded man glanced at the guard. “When giants fight, the little people suffer. Be careful of making your stance too obvious and bringing disaster upon yourself. After all, Malzahir is still the favored candidate of Lord Sirakhim.”

After a long moment of internal conflict, likely wanting to take this opportunity to get rid of the strong Malzahir and help his preferred candidate for the next chief, he eventually stepped aside to let her pass. “Go quickly, Elder. And tell your grandson to be more careful in the future.” He grumbled through gritted teeth with feigned concern.

The woman nodded again, her relief palpable. She hobbled out of the tent, the vial clutched tightly in her hand.

Kain exhaled sharply, his shoulders relaxing as he watched the elderly woman make her way back toward them. “That was too close,” he muttered, his voice low.

Serena nodded, her eyes still fixed on the woman. “We need to get out of here before anyone else gets suspicious. Or one of he grandson’s rivals choose to take a shot at her on the road to prevent her from ‘rescuing her grandson’.”

Kain agreed, his mind already racing through their next steps. They had the antidote, but they weren’t out of danger yet. The tribe was vast, and the guards were vigilant. One wrong move, and they could be discovered.

As the elderly woman approached, Kain reached out to take the vial from her. His fingers brushed against hers, and for a moment, he felt a pang of guilt. Kain had no idea about the complex political situation in this tribe, and he had no idea if their actions today would put her or her grandson in unnecessary danger later on.

But he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. His loyalty was first and foremost to his allies and couldn’t afford to spend time worrying about an unrelated foreigner.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “We’ll make sure this gets to where it’s needed.”

The woman didn’t respond, her eyes vacant as Bea maintained control. Kain glanced at Serena, his expression grim. “Let’s go. We need to get back to the others.”

Not long after they left, the elderly woman’s eyes blinked several times before regaining clarity. Gazing around her surroundings in puzzlement, she began her slow walk home, unaware that some less than friendly forces were also moving in her direction.

They moved quickly but carefully, their steps light and deliberate as they navigated the maze of tents. The encampment was still bustling with activity, but the tension in the air was palpable. Kain could feel the weight of the guards’ eyes on them, their presence a constant reminder of the danger they were in.

They neared the meeting location they decided on beforehand with Zareth and the others, while sending a message on the encrypted communication device provided by the Order to let them know that they got what was needed.

They didn’t have to wait long before the others also arrived. The third group, which was composed of people completely unfamiliar to Kain, returned unsuccessful in getting the antidote, while Zareth arrived back with his partner, also successfully managing to get the medicine needed. He had been about to purchase the medicine after going around unsuccessfully for a while when he’d received the message from Kain, surprised that the pair of rookies had accomplished the task even faster than him. However, since he wasn’t sure of how much Kain and Serena had managed to purchase, he still chose to complete the purchase of the antidote too.

Regrouped, they began to move toward the exit of the encampment in their same pairs, deciding that it drew less attention than one large group.

A team of guards stood near the entrance, their spears crossed as they scrutinized everyone who passed as well as their belongings. Everyone in their group exchanged a glance, their unspoken agreement clear. They couldn’t risk being stopped—not now.

Kain reached into his satchel, pulling out a small pouch of gold coins. He handed it to Serena, his voice low. “Be ready to distract them if we need to.”

Serena nodded, her expression tense but determined. They approached the guards, their movements calm and unhurried. The guards watched them closely, their eyes narrowing as they stepped forward.

“Halt,” one of the guards said, his voice sharp. “Where are you going?” Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

Kain forced a smile, his tone friendly but firm. “We’re just travelers passing through. We paid the entrance fee earlier.”

The guard’s expression didn’t change. “Let me see your belongings.”

Kain’s heart raced, but he kept his composure. He opened his satchel, showing the guard its contents—a few coins, some dried rations, and a small water flask. The guard glanced inside, his expression unreadable, before nodding.

“Move along,” he said, stepping aside. Kain and Serena didn’t need to be told twice. They moved quickly.

‘Thank god space rings are rare in the south’ Kain thought after he returned the bags he’d taken out just for show, while rejoicing in the fact that the guards didn’t even consider the fact that he may have a space ring.

Their team of six soon left the encampment behind.