Chapter 05: A Mysterious Lunatic

The elf felt her blood pulse and she had no idea if she should be happy or terrified.

Then, out of the blue, she said, "I am quite knowledgeable about medicine, and if you have any trouble anywhere on your body, I can help to heal you." She meant it, literally in every sense of it. It would be disheartening to know her saviour suffers from something that an elf like her could heal.

Luveas sat back and laughed, amused. So, she thought I had a problem with my nose, he thought.

"I'll keep that in mind and I'll surely seek you out when I'm feeling unwell anywhere on my body," he responded.

Amethyst looked out the window, a cue that she wasn't interested in continuing to talk about her scent.

"I'm famished and if I ask for some food, are you going to cut my neck?" she asked, changing the topic.

"Why would I do such a thing to someone that I consider mine?" Luveas' voice reached her ears. In his voice, surprise took over.

Amethyst found herself getting uncomfortable. The man was a sweet talker and that could be dangerous if she misinterpreted his meaning.

"Then, can you get me some food and also water?" she asked him.

"Of course," Luveas said.

"Get them as many as you can."

"Absolutely."

Then, Luveas left the carriage to get what she asked for.

Meanwhile, as for Amethyst, she waited for the man to disappear from her view, and when he did, she pushed the door open and looked around.

There were no other people near the carriage, not even the horse master!

The elf stepped out carefully. The pain that burned her skin was electrifying and annoying. When her bare dusty feet touched the dry soil, she looked around once again, finding a direction to run to.

She saw a less populated alleyway. Then, she saw a glimmer of hope.

I'll run that way!

Then, the elf started to leap for her life ignoring the pain that shackled her.

...

Luveas returned to the carriage with food and water but the elf was gone.

The man chuckled. He wasn't surprised at all for he already surmised it would be bound to happen when someone like her was left unattended. Then, he placed the basket inside and turned around.

"Run for now, Amethyst. Just run whenever you want," he said alone. "When you're tired of running, I'll come to get you since you've left a sweet scented trail for me."

Meanwhile, Amethyst who sprinted down the dirt road and passed by many stalls and shops stumbled to the ground. Dirt and dust soiled her appearance. She looked even dreader than before.

"Hey, a slave is escaping!"

The elf heard exclaiming voices from the side. She glanced and saw three burly men, sitting on a long bench, and they were now standing up and approaching her.

"Hey, pretty slave, why are you kissing the floor?" one of them asked teasingly.

"Are you looking for someone to pleasure you?" asked another one. The other one elbowed him and they burst into laughter.

Amethyst got on her trembling feet and stepped back. "Get away from me..." she hissed a warning.

Her spirit still lives and she won't back down easily. Be it thugs ganging up against her, she would strike to survive the living hell. But, in her situation, it was a bit tricky.

The men giggled as if her warning was a mere joke. "Aw, don't be too wary of us. We're good people and we can help to satisfy your needs too."

"Yes, we'll help you to get out from here too if you follow us to our carriage over there." One of them pointed at a dark alley, where the whereabouts of a carriage were highly doubted.

Amethyst said nothing but she withdrew slowly. Her wild instinct told her that she must get away from them because that was her only option to stay safe.

Suddenly, she turned on her heels and dashed, fleeing them.

"Hey, pretty elf, don't run away from us! We just want to play with you!"

The men chased after her as if they were playing tag. Along the way, they laughed like maniacs which wasn't so pleasant to the ears.

Amethyst ran with all her might, exaggerating her wounds again. Her wounded leg was at its limit when she felt the burn for forcing it to run. Suddenly, she ran into someone. She looked up and saw a black mask. Her face brightened.

"Luveas!" she exclaimed in joy and her pointy ears twitching non-stop. Her heart eased and she was very glad to run into him although she was the one who fled from him first.

Luveas tilted his head. Through the holes, he saw her soiled face. Her beautiful golden eyes looked straight into his eyes as if she was looking at her lover.

"Hey, you with the mask!"

Luveas and Amethyst glanced together. The three burly men had stopped before them and they were gasping heavily like a fish out of the water. Well, they looked unsightly for people with strong builds and down into the river was their manly image flowing.

"Pfft!"

Amethyst heard Luveas muffled his laughter and felt the vibration of his body. The elf knitted her brows for she was taken aback by his brazen behaviour.

"Why are you laughing?" she whispered. She found it rude to laugh at others as he did.

The man turned his masked face into her direction. "Well, they're hilarious and I can't stop laughing," he answered and started to laugh loudly.

The three burly men heard him laughing and they were displeased at his rudeness. One of them stepped forward, looking so pissed. "Hey you, masked man, hand that slave over to us!"

Luveas muffled his laughter and lifted his masked face. "Why should I do that?"

"She's ours!" interjected one of them. Confidence embedded in his voice.

Luveas laughed again and Amethyst got even confused. What had gotten into the man that bought her from the greedy human? Had she gotten herself into the hands of a lunatic?

"Then, she's all yours..." The elf heard the masked man said. Her face turned pale that instant.

"Are you selling me out?" she asked in dismay.

Luveas looked at her. "I am," he answered.

His answer broke her heart to pieces.

Suddenly, Amethyst grabbed his collar when anger exploded in her chest. She shook him violently and shouted madly. "You liar! You said I'm yours and now you are backing out of your promise!"

Luveas continued laughing as if she was tickling him. "When had I ever said you're mine?" he asked and muffled his laughter.

"You said so in the carriage!"

Luveas chuckled when the elf snapped. It was refreshing and fun to see someone losing their cool so fast.

The masked man's laughter eased as he observed her unhappy mien. "So you were with me and weren't with those men, right?" he asked and gestured towards the three burly men who claimed that she was theirs. "Does that mean you're mine?"

"I'm yours!" Amethyst lost her patience and had no idea what she was saying. "Those men were after me because they thought I was alone!"

Luveas glanced at the men who looked at him with confusion. "Did you hear that gentlemen? This elf said she is mine and not yours." Joy danced in his voice.

"But-"

"I'm pretty sure all three of you got something to do right now, right?" Luveas interrupted as he suddenly shift the topic.

The three men looked at each other. Then, they retreated without causing anymore ruckus. For sure, all three of them wore confused faces when they left.

It happened too fast and Amethyst was in awe. "What did you just do?" she asked. She was suddenly curious although she shouldn't be in the presence of a human like him.

Luveas glanced and said, "Rather than answering that, I am keen to hear your explanation. Why did you flee the carriage?"

Amethyst let go of his collar and turned on her other cheek. "Survival instinct."

"Then, am I a danger to you?" he asked.

The elf looked at him. "I am around danger after I left Ancea so, you're no different either."

Then, she heard him chuckling. "That's great. I'm sure you'll survive my place too," he said.

Amethyst glanced and frowned. It was eerie to hear that coming from someone like him and she found herself stepping back getting wary.

But, the man suddenly hit her and the elf fell unconscious. After that he carried her body back to the carriage, whistling happily as if nothing happened.

...