"Dayesh, these quests really look impossible."
"It can be done. I can handle it."
"You really believe in yourself, don't you?"
"Is this all the information?"
"Yes, that's everything."
"I'm leaving."
Dayesh followed the directions on the map that Rana had given him. Before changing form, he took the owl out of his item box and instructed it to scout from the sky.
As he moved along the muddy road left by the recent rain, he noticed the tracks of carriage wheels. He followed the long trail while running.
"I see something moving in the distance. I am not sure what they are," the owl whispered into his mind.
"Stay there. I am on my way."
A few minutes later, Dayesh arrived at the location the owl had pointed out. He hid first to observe.
He heard crying. Two voices. Nearby was a carriage, but there was no horse.
"Our belongings are gone. What will we do now? We still have such a long journey ahead," an elderly woman sobbed.
The man with her, whom Dayesh assumed to be her husband, was also crying. Dayesh returned to his human form and approached them.
"What happened?" he asked casually.
The two told him they had been ambushed and robbed of everything. They were traveling to a distant village to earn a living. Now that they had lost everything, they were worried about how they would survive.
Dayesh thought deeply. He wanted to help them. But could they fit inside his item box? Impossible. Their size alone made it unthinkable. If he suddenly went to Caelumn, people would question him. If he chose compassion, his mission would be delayed.
He decided to make a quick trip to Caelumn. He still had a horse there under a caretaker. He silently prayed that it had not been taken from his stable.
He gave the couple food and water and told them he would leave briefly to get something.
He found a hidden place and created a portal. His power only allowed ten minutes. He could not afford to stay longer.
When he stepped into Caelumn, he appeared in a garden. He immediately ran to the stable where his horse was kept.
He sighed in relief when he saw that it was still there.
"Thank goodness you are still here." He quickly took it and led it toward the portal.
"Wait, Dayesh! What are you doing with that horse?" Erhoth, the new commander who replaced him, called out.
"I do not have time to explain. I will tell you next time. I need to hurry!"
He rushed through the portal with the horse.
Back on the other side, he quickly harnessed the horse to the couple's carriage.
Though confused, the couple was overwhelmed with gratitude. They now had a way to continue their journey.
Dayesh also gave them some money. They tried to refuse, saying the horse was already more than enough, but he insisted. Soon after, they departed.
"Let us continue. Sorry for the delay."
"It is nothing," the owl replied. It admired Dayesh. He could have ignored them, yet he chose to help.
Night fell, and they still had no clear idea where their targets were. They rested briefly in a remote part of the forest.
From a distance, Dayesh heard voices.
"Do you hear what I hear?"
"Yes. Do you want me to find where it is coming from?"
"You may."
The owl flew off and traced the source. It was only a few meters away.
"These are likely the ones we are looking for."
"Let us get closer."
Dayesh ran toward the location and hid behind a tree.
He saw two carriages and one horse. Four men sat in a circle around a fire, talking.
"We will make a fortune when we sell them to the owner of a pleasure house."
"We will be rich!"
"Do not get too comfortable. We are not sure they will keep their word."
"Stay alert. They might betray us."
Dayesh quietly circled toward the carriages.
"Stay up there and keep watch," he instructed the owl.
The owl obeyed.
He checked the carriages. One was empty. The other was not.
"Can you hear me?" he said through telepathy.
"W-who are you?" one of them asked.
"How are you speaking inside our minds?" another said.
"I am coming up. Do not make any noise. Open the curtain slowly."
It was dark, so they did not immediately see him. When two of them pulled the curtain aside, he leaped inside.
"Do not make any sound. I will save you. I have a companion. Let us wait for him."
He then called the owl to his location.
"You are not ordinary beasts. How did you find us?" one asked.
"I will explain tomorrow. For now, let me rest. The plan is to free you from those who took you."
They felt relieved.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
"I will take a short rest. Before sunrise, you will be out of here."
After a few hours, Dayesh woke up and stepped out of the carriage. He searched for the four men.
His steps were silent. One was awake. He hid, then changed form.
Moments later, he approached and killed the man before he could shout. The other three were sleeping separately. He eliminated them one by one.
None of them made a sound.
He dragged their bodies together, poured fuel, and set them on fire.
The elves smelled the burning flesh, like roasting meat, and covered their noses.
Dayesh went to the carriage and checked on them.
They were stunned when they saw him.
"He is handsome. But his gaze is cold," one whispered.
He entered and cut the ropes binding their hands and feet.
"You are safe now."
One of them, the eldest named Arbain, felt her heart race when his hand brushed her skin. When their eyes met, her heartbeat quickened.
Dayesh turned to the owl.
"Are you there? I cannot see you."
"I am in the tree above. You gave me chills, Dayesh. I suddenly felt afraid of offending you. You might roast me next," the owl joked.
"I would not do that to you. Come down and stay with them."
There were three horses. He attached them to one carriage and connected another behind it for supplies. Inside, he found various items, likely goods for trade.
He drove the carriage away, leaving behind the ashes of the four men.
After a few hours, he stopped and called Arbain to ask for directions.
She admitted she did not recognize the place.
"I will take you to the guild first and send word to your parents that you are safe."
Tears filled her eyes at the thought of seeing her family again.
Suddenly, she hugged him and kissed him on the lips.
Dayesh immediately pulled back. Startled, he turned away briefly before facing her again.
"I have a wife and a child. Do not do that again."
Arbain, unable to express herself well, could only respond through emotion. She lowered her head and returned to her siblings.
"I will write to their parents immediately so they can come here," Rana said after Dayesh explained the situation. She turned to the elves and told them to rest while she arranged food.
"You continue to amaze me, Dayesh. How did you rescue them so quickly? It has not even been a week."
"I do not like explaining, Rana. The task is done. That is enough."
"Alright, I will not force you. You must be tired. Go rest. We will talk about your reward tomorrow."
Dayesh returned home to rest.
When he arrived, he saw Jauna preparing herbal medicine. She did not notice him as her back was turned. He quietly approached and embraced her from behind.
Jauna caught a scent from him. Blood.
She did not ask. She preferred that Dayesh tell his story on his own rather than forcing it out of him.
It was the second time she had smelled it on him.