After talking things out with Astrid, I was able to convince her to team up with me in the meantime in order to save her friends. After we shook hands, we immediately went back inside the kingdom to meet up with Komraad and the girls.
We ran as fast as we could, and thankfully, Komraad, Fae, and Rein were still in the alleyway near the warehouse waiting for me.
"Hey, everyone! I'm back!" I shouted from afar and approached them.
"Ms. Ina!" Rein and Fae said in unison. They both ran towards me to hug me.
Komraad noticed Astrid was tagging along with me freely instead of being captured and tied up.
"Hey, hey, hey, why is that thief with you?!? I thought you were going to capture her?!?" Komraad asked in confusion.
"About that, there's going to be a change of plan. For now, we're having a truce," I responded.
"Ehh??? What do you mean, cat?" Komraad was even more confused.
"I'll explain later. For now, please trust me on this one," I begged them.
"You don't have to tell us, Ms. Ina, we trust you," Fae and Rein answered, smiling gently at me.
"Thank you, girls. Anyway, did you guys capture the other thieves that were with her earlier?" I asked.
"Yes, we did," Komraad boasted, clearly wanting a pat on the head.
Astrid looked angry but managed to contain her fury.
"Tell me where they are so I can untie them," I asked.
"They're not here anymore. The knights had already taken them," Komraad responded.
"What?!? Why would you do that?" I asked angrily.
"Huh? Wasn't that the plan all along?" Komraad responded.
Ugh, I can't argue with that. I mean, he's not wrong, but still... This is bad.
"About that, Ms. Ina, we actually didn't want to give them away, but the knights who came here insisted on taking over, so we had no other choice but to hand them over," Fae clarified, looking worried.
"Do you guys know where they went?!?" Astrid demanded, rushing forward, her worry about her companions clear on her face.
"Y-yes, the knights took them in a carriage, and they are heading to the palace as we speak," Fae answered.
Without any hesitation, Astrid rushed towards the palace. We followed her, and I started explaining everything to Komraad and the girls about what had happened and why we needed to save the children.
"I didn't know something like that existed outside this kingdom. I feel stupid about what we've done," Rein said with a guilty conscience.
Fae had the same reaction. They felt sad and guilty.
"We can't do anything about our past mistakes, but we can still make it right in the present," I said to motivate them and to lift their burden a little.
Astrid interrupted us.
"I don't need anyone's pity. I just need to rescue my friends and get this over with. Once this is finished, forget everything you've seen and heard," she demanded, her voice firm.
"Hey, look, it's the carriage! They still haven't entered the palace," Komraad informed us, pointing ahead.
We caught up to Komraad and saw the carriage. We were about to rush in, fight the knights, and retrieve Astrid's friends when we unfortunately saw someone who might ruin it all.
"Ms. Ina, bad news, the Head Knight is with them," Rein whispered to me, remembering our previous dangerous encounter.
We stopped at a corner and told them that the Head Knight was powerful and should not be underestimated. We had to come up with a plan. While strategizing, we overheard the knights discussing the captured kids.
"Head Knight, these kids are the ones causing trouble for the nobles. What should we do about them?" One of the knights asked.
"Hmm... Lock them up for now, we'll ask them questions tomorrow morning," the Head Knight responded.
"Understood, Sir," the knights responded in unison.
After hearing their conversation, Astrid grew angry and impatient.
"I can't sit and wait here any longer! Please tell me your plan," Astrid begged us, promising full cooperation.
"We won't engage in combat unless necessary. We'll just buy enough time until we free your friends," I explained.
After finding a suitable opportunity, we set our plan in motion.
Fae approached the knights and pretended to be lost.
"Uhm... Excuse me, Mr. Knight, can you please help me? I'm lost and can't find my way back home," she said, looking worried and sad… all part of the act.
"What's a kid doing here in the middle of the night?" The Head Knight asked, highly suspicious of Fae.
Fae started crying and throwing a tantrum.
"O-okay, we'll help you go home, just stop crying," one of the knights offered, distracted.
While they were being distracted by Fae, Komraad and Rein quickly and quietly put the knights guarding the carriage to sleep using subtle physical force and a sleeping spell, while Astrid and I rushed to untie her friends inside.
There were a total of five children we had to untie. They looked like ragged phantoms, clothed in scraps and filth, all younger than Fae. The sight of such young kids forced into a life of crime made my blood boil.
Astrid and I were almost done untying the last friend when Komraad accidentally dropped the knight he put to sleep, and the armor created a very loud clang. The other knights heard and saw us freeing the children, and they rushed in to stop us.
"A-Astrid, faster!" I shouted, feeling the pressure.
"I'm trying!" She answered, panicking slightly.
"H-hey, you people! What do you think you are doing!?!" The knights brought out their weapons, ready to apprehend us all.
After untying the last kid, all of us got off the carriage.
"Astrid, you came back for us!" The kids said, tears and snot running down their faces.
"Of course! Now stop yapping and run!" Astrid instructed.
We wanted to get out as soon as possible, but we were already surrounded by the knights and had nowhere to run.
"We don't have a choice but to fight," Komraad stated, preparing himself for battle.
"Obviously," I answered.
The Head Knight finally joined the fray, taking the lead in confronting us.
"What do we have here? It's the same kid who was sneaking inside the palace, and she brought out some friends. What is it this time?"
"Kids, Komraad and I will distract the knights while you all run away," I instructed.
After telling the kids to run, we started fighting and created an opening.
"Now!" I shouted to signal them.
"Not on my watch!" The Head Knight brought out his sword.
As soon as he unsheathed his sword, he summoned a thick wall of ice, blocking the only path of exit the kids could take.
Oh no, this is bad. I don't think we can fight all these knights, including the Head Knight, while protecting everyone, I thought worriedly.
"Everyone, get ready to fight back!" Astrid commanded her friends, and they responded by taking out their small, crude weapons.
"W-wait, everyone, please calm down," I said in worry.
"I'm giving you a chance to surrender. If not, then I can't guarantee that no one would get hurt, even if some of you are kids," the Head Knight warned us, indicating a small room for negotiation.
I wanted to find a way to resolve this peacefully, but Astrid and her friends had already started fighting back against the knights. We had no choice but to join.
Komraad and I faced off against the Head Knight. With our combined strength, we were able to stand toe to toe with him, but his magical ice sword made it very difficult.
Huff Huff
"K-Komraad, go buy me some time. I'll cast a powerful dark beam just enough to hurt him and stop him from pursuing us. After that, take the kids by force and get them out of here!" I spoke with a serious face.
Komraad knew when I was serious, so he didn't argue this time. My bad luck powers didn't seem to be working because we were fighting in an enclosed space, and the kids might get caught in the bad luck's radius.
"A talking cat and a man from the Beastkin Tribe, what a rare sight to see. It's been a challenge, but I'll have to end this now," the Head Knight declared with a serious tone, revealing he hadn't been giving his best yet.
Without further ado, we resumed our fight. The Head Knight and Komraad were clashing while I was preparing a powerful beam of dark energy, when we were suddenly interrupted by something unexpected.
"Help! Something's wrong with my friends!" Astrid shouted to get our attention.
Our fight came to a halt because we felt an intense and ominous presence coming from Astrid's friends. It was similar to the demon we fought back in Fae's Village.
"A-Astrid, help us, something's wrong with our bodies!" The kids begged in pain.
They were crying in agony, and their small daggers were glowing ominously.
"What is happening to you guys? This has never happened before!" Astrid asked worriedly, utterly clueless.
The kids' presence changed permanently. Their eyes started glowing, and their mouths started foaming. They started transforming into something that resembled a demon. The weapons they were holding might be the cause.
The kids started attacking everyone randomly, unable to distinguish enemies from allies.
The Head Knight found the current situation a bigger threat that must be contained. "I suggest a truce," he offered immediately.
I agreed without a second thought.
"Yeah, I think that's the best option, but what the hell is happening to them anyway? Can we even stop them from rampaging?" Komraad asked.
"Yeah, we've had the same problem before. The demon controlled everyone in Fae's village, and it only stopped when we killed it," I explained.
"Kids, stay close to us," I instructed everyone to be on defense while we strategized.
"Do you know what's happening to them, Astrid?" I asked.
"I don't know either, but I think it has something to do with their weapons," she answered.
The Head Knight joined our conversation.
"You are right. By the looks of it, the daggers they're holding are weapons imbued with a curse. It's a forbidden weapon that slowly eats away at the user's life force by making them go berserk. I don't know why they have them, but if we don't do something soon, they'll end up killing themselves."
"Cursed weapons? I should've known! That merchant was suspicious from the start!" Astrid revealed angrily.
"We received those daggers from a suspicious merchant. He said that the weapons would help us. If only I knew this would happen, I would have never accepted that merchant's help!" Astrid explained with regret.
"Why aren't you affected? Isn't your sword a cursed weapon too?" I asked.
"I received my sword from my deceased sister, not from the merchant I mentioned, so this is different," Astrid explained.
"I understand. For now, let's do everything we can to find a way to save the kids without hurting them," I suggested.
"So, how do we stop them?" Komraad asked.
"Maybe if we destroy their weapons, then they might stop rampaging," I assumed.
"You might be right, but I'm afraid destroying their weapon physically is impossible. Touch them, and you'll get your life force drained as well," the Head Knight explained.
While we were strategizing, the berserking kids attacked.
"Here comes their attack!" Komraad informed.
"Rein, protect Fae!" I instructed. Rein cast a small water barrier to shield themselves.
The berserking kids attacked us, and we responded by defending and dodging. There were five kids in total and we needed to break five weapons to free them.
We focused our attacks on their weapons.
The Head Knight created ice spears out of thin air and directed his attack at one cursed weapon, destroying it.
Astrid extended her sword with extreme precision and shattered another one.
Rein created a droplet of water with the speed and power of a bullet and destroyed the third one.
Lastly, I produced a small but precise beam of dark energy and shattered one of the remaining two cursed weapons.
Komraad, on the other hand, was struggling. He couldn't touch the weapons with his bare hands. The only kid left with a cursed weapon was the one Komraad was currently fighting. I moved to help him, but something drastic happened.
The kid suddenly stopped moving and started screaming in agony. The child was releasing so much energy that it began affecting the surroundings. We backed away.
"This is bad. His life force is being drained significantly faster. If we don't do something, then that kid will die," the Head Knight explained gravely.
"I won't let that happen!" Astrid shouted, trying to get closer, but the closer she got, the weaker she felt.
I was worried she might collapse, and we were running out of time. I decided to approach the kid myself.
"Back off, Astrid, let me handle this," I said with confidence.
"B-but...!"
"Your body can't take any more pressure. Just trust me on this one. My instinct is telling me that everything's going to be alright. Don't worry, it's faster if I go by myself, because I can fly. Just wait right here with the others, and all of this will be over soon," I assured her, though I knew how scary and dangerous it was.
"Ms. Ina! Please be careful!" Fae and Rein shouted from behind.
I approached the remaining kid as fast as I could. I struggled against the immense pressure the kid was emitting, which made it impossible to cast my beam.
I can't cast my beam, the pressure is too much, it's like gravity is crushing me! The only option I have is to touch the cursed weapon and remove it from his hand forcefully myself. I don't care if some of my life force is drained, I just can't watch another kid suffer anymore!
As soon as I touched the cursed dagger, I was shocked. Instead of my life force being drained, I was the one draining the dark energy the weapon was emitting. The energy was being drawn inside of me. It took a while, but I finally absorbed all the dark energy from the remaining cursed weapon, leaving it empty and useless.
Everything was over. All the cursed weapons were destroyed, and all the kids, along with the unconscious knights, were safe on the ground. Everyone who was still conscious was as shocked as I was.
"W-what just happened, cat? How did you do that?" Komraad asked, amazed.
"I-I don't know either," I answered, equally clueless.
"A-amazing," the Head Knight muttered in awe.
Rein and Fae were just happy I was safe while Astrid tended to her unconscious friends.
"Ms. Ina, do you feel anything weird?" Fae and Rein asked worriedly.
"No, on the contrary, I feel like my energy just came back," I answered.
"Thank goodness." They both sighed in relief.
"Finally! I'm glad everything worked out in the end, teehee," I said happily.
We were about to leave when we saw the Head Knight approaching us.
Oh, I completely forgot. We still have to deal with the Head Knight, what a hassle, I thought, preparing for a fight.
"You people prevented a major disaster, and for that, I thank you all," he said in genuine gratitude. "No one got hurt, so I'll just pretend that none of this ever happened. Now go, before I change my mind," he added. He then walked away to tend to his fallen knights.
We left as soon as the Head Knight gave us the order. We carried the unconscious kids all the way back to the village outside the kingdom's enormous walls.
Astrid bowed her head down and thanked us with all of her heart.
"Thank you for helping me save my friends. I will forever be in your debt," she said genuinely.
"It's nothing, I'm just glad that the misunderstanding is finally over," I answered happily.
"Ms. Ina's right. It was also our fault, to begin with. We came up with the wrong conclusion," Fae added. Rein and Komraad agreed.
"I see. Then, like promised, we're going to stop stealing anymore," Astrid reminded us.
"I'm glad to hear that," I responded.
The sun was already rising.
"Oh, it's already morning, and everyone already looks tired. Let's go back to the orphanage and rest," I suggested.
Yawn
"Yes, Ms. Ina," Fae and Rein answered.
"So this is goodbye. Like promised, we won't be bothering you anymore," I said to remind her that I also didn't forget my part of the deal.
We were about to go back to the orphanage when I suggested we make one more stop.
We went to Amor's mansion. We explained everything to him about the impoverished village living right outside their walls. He was shocked to hear that such people existed, saying it was the first time he had heard of it. Thankfully, with his newfound kindness, he promised he would do everything he could to help Astrid's people.
Now that's out of the way, I wouldn't have to worry about them in the meantime, but I promise I'll do something about the discrimination that is happening in this kingdom. For now, we gotta rest and re-evaluate our plans for the near future.
We went back to the orphanage and rested for two days. Amalia and Miguel welcomed us back without asking any questions.
Two days later, we regained our strength. I was about to ask Rein to accompany me back into the kingdom to look for a clairvoyant once again when someone suddenly knocked on the door.
It's so early in the morning, and everyone's still sleeping. Who would be knocking around this hour?
I opened the door and was shocked by who I saw. It was the Head Knight.
"Oh, if it isn't the talking cat," the Head Knight said with a poker face. He wasn't wearing any armor and was only wearing a simple civilian outfit.
"Ehhhhhhhh??????? W-what are you doing here? I thought we were off your radar already," I asked, utterly stuttering.
"What do you mean? I live here," he revealed.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh???????????
Just like that, a twist no one ever expected happened.