Chapter 21 - 021: Locked up
The villagers led Anaria through Ravenfall without giving her much chance to speak. She had expected to finally meet the village leader and explain what had happened, but the farther they walked, the less certain she became that things would go that smoothly.
She glanced over her shoulder once more.
Rylan and Kai were nowhere in sight of course they weren’t. She had sent them away to find a suitable place for the three of them to build their home. They had no idea she had been taken by the villagers.
Anaria sighed and continued walking.
When they finally reached the village leader’s residence, she immediately noticed how different it was from the smaller homes around Ravenfall. It was larger, with thick wooden walls, several connected rooms, and guards stationed near the entrance.
The villagers stopped with Anaria in front of the guards stationed outside the large wooden residence.
"We brought this female from the market," one of them said. "She caused trouble after selling strange clothing, then used medicine on an injured beastman without permission."
Anaria slowly turned her head toward him. "Seriously?". She gave him a flat, bombastic look before facing the guards again.
One of the guards frowned. "The leader can’t see her."
"Why?" the villager asked.
"He’s seriously ill. He can’t receive anyone right now."
Anaria frowned. "Then what happens to me?"
The guard glanced at the villagers before answering, "Keep her in the village prison until the leader is well enough to decide what to do with her."
Anaria’s eyes widened. "The prison?"
"It’s temporary," the guard said.
Anaria looked at the villagers again. She had come to Ravenfall hoping to make some money and find a place for them to stay. Somehow, she had managed to get herself arrested on her first day.
"Fantastic," she muttered.
The primitive prison was little more than a wooden enclosure reinforced with thick branches and bindings. A guard opened the door, motioned for her to enter, then secured it behind her.
Anaria turned slowly and stared at the wooden bars "You’ve got to be kidding me."
She paced around the small space before dropping onto the rough floor. Her frustration quickly returned "System, this is your fault."
A faint fox-like figure appeared before her, its cute appearance completely at odds with the cold notification that followed.
[New Survival Task Activated.]
Anaria’s expression changed "What now?"
[Task: Reach the Village Leader.]
She stared at the notification. "That’s your task?"
[Host must reach the Village Leader.]
Anaria rubbed her forehead before pointing toward the wooden bars. "First, help me and escape"
[Task assistance available.]
Her eyes narrowed. "Really?"
[Yes, Host.]
Anaria let out a breath of relief, then immediately became suspicious. "So what’s the catch?"
[Host’s survival depends on reaching the Village Leader.]
She frowned. "How does getting to him help me?"
[The Village Leader determines Host’s fate.]
Anaria’s expression fell.
"So if I stay here, I’m basically waiting for someone to decide whether I live or die?"
[If host doesn’t reach the village leader, Host may remain imprisoned and the villagers will determine that Host poses a threat, Host may be killed.]
"Great." she glared at the fox-like System. "You really know how to make things comforting."
The System remained silent.
Anaria sighed and leaned against the wooden wall. "Fine. Just get me out."
[Structural weakness detected.]
Her attention shifted to the lower section of the wooden frame. One of the bindings had loosened, leaving part of the structure slightly unstable. Anaria crouched and examined it before tugging at the weakened section.
It shifted and her eyes widened slightly. "That’s it?"
[Yes, Host.]
She pulled harder, and the wood finally gave enough space for her to squeeze through,Anaria quickly dusted herself off and looked back at the prison.
"Well, that was easier than expected."
[Proceed to the Village Leader’s residence.]
Anaria sighed "Fine. Let’s go meet the man who apparently decides whether I get to stay alive in this village."
Anaria followed the System’s directions through the quieter paths of Ravenfall, keeping low whenever guards passed nearby. After slipping through a side entrance, she found herself inside the leader’s residence.
The building was much larger than the homes outside, it’s wooden walls, animal hides, storage spaces, and rough furniture filled the rooms.
Anaria moved carefully through the unfamiliar corridors while the System guided her farther inside.
Then she felt it.
A powerful beast aura pressed against her senses from somewhere ahead which made her steps slowed.
Whatever was inside that room was far stronger than any ordinary beastman she had encountered.
Anaria stopped outside the door and swallowed. "If this System doesn’t kill me, then whatever is inside there might."
Anaria remained outside the wooden door, staring at it as the heavy beast aura continued to seep through the cracks.
She had no idea what kind of beastman was inside, but whatever it was, its presence alone made her body tense. She had already encountered powerful beastmen before, yet this felt different. The pressure coming from the room was strong enough to make her instinctively cautious.
She glanced at the System "You’re sure this is the right room?"
[Yes host.]
"Of course it is." Anaria took a slow breath and placed her hand against the door.
She wasn’t ready. Unfortunately, being ready had stopped being an option the moment she was thrown into prison.
She carefully pushed the door open just enough to look inside but before she could see anything clearly, the pressure of that powerful aura became even stronger.
Anaria immediately pulled the door shut again "Hell noo"
[Host must proceed with the task.]
"I know." She looked at the door once more "I just need a second."
The System gave no response.
Anaria sighed. "Fine."
She turned her attention back toward the corridor and made sure no guards were nearby. Once she was certain the way was clear, she stepped back against the wall and waited.
She had no idea that somewhere else in Ravenfall, Rylan and Kai were beginning to realize that something was wrong.
They had spent the afternoon searching for a suitable place to build their home. After finding a relatively open area near the edge of the settlement, they had decided to wait for Anaria there.
At first, neither male was concerned.
Anaria had said she would find a way to make money, and they assumed she would return once she was finished but the sun had gradually disappeared, and the light around Ravenfall had begun to fade.
Kai sat near the spot they had chosen, glancing toward the path "She should be back soon."
Rylan remained standing, his dark eyes fixed on the direction Anaria had gone "Yes, she should have returned already."
Kai looked at him. "Maybe she wandered somewhere."
Rylan’s expression hardened "She wouldn’t leave without telling us."
Kai was quiet for a moment before shrugging. "She might have gotten distracted."
Rylan turned toward him "You’re taking this too lightly."
Kai frowned. "I’m not saying we shouldn’t look for her."
"Then don’t act as if there’s nothing to worry about."
Rylan’s voice remained calm, but there was a firmness beneath it "She’s our mate."
Kai looked away briefly "I know already."
Rylan didn’t argue further. He simply picked up the few things they had left with them and started toward the settlement.
Kai watched him for a moment before following "Where are you going?"
"To find her."
Kai sighed and caught up "Fine, wait up"