Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  For---a---fee,---of---course.

  Seeing---Antos,---the---[soldiers]---mount---their---horses---while---awaiting---for---Antos---to---mounts---his---own,---a---strong---white---breed---he---had---obtained---from---another---[slaver].---Mounting---her---own---horse,---Kasandra---soothes---the---animal---with---her---hand,---the---horse---acknowledging---her---soft---and---careful---touch.

  Animals,---Kasandra---find---them---far---better---than---other---people.---Many---times---when---she---had---not---been---needed---to---please---the---master---during---the---night,---she---found---herself---going---to---the---stables---and---petting---the---animals.---They---were---always---so---happy---and---caring,---even---more---so---when---she---offered---dried---fruit---to---them.

  With---a---loud---“Hiya,”---the---horses---start---to---move,---heading---towards---the---direction---of---the---trader's---corner,---a---place---that---no---longer---bustles---with---trade---as---it---used---to.

  _____________

  Moments---pass,---the---sun---slowly---starts---to---set,---barely---peeking---over---the---buildings---as---the---group---of---riders---enters---the---trader's---location.

  Kasandra---looks---around---and---finds---a---stall---with---many---items---on---them.---Two---bear---demihumans---stand---strong---in---resplendent---armor---as---a---bunny---and---cat---demihuman---stand---behind---the---stall---in---maid---outfits,---clearly---in---charge---of---selling---the---goods.

  [Slaves]---selling---goods---is---a---very---confusing---sight---for---Kasandra---to---see.---Being---able---to---count---is---something---rarely---seen,---let---alone---to---read---and---write.---Something---Kasandra---has---never---learned---to---do.

  The---master---dismounts---and---everyone---follows---suit,---heading---towards---an---older---man---leaning---on---a---cart.

  But---Kasandra---ignores---the---man,---her---eyes---focusing---instead---on---the---old---fox---demihuman---standing---next---to---him.---Out---of---all---the---demihumans,---the---foxkin---as---they---are---called,---are---the---rarest---breed,---all---due---to---the---rarity---of---giving---birth.---Even---rarer---are---the---males,---which---almost---never---show---up.

  But---what---makes---them---more---unique---and---sought---after---as---[slaves]---are---their---potential---to---use---magic---far---better---than---any---human---ever---can.---Having---a---mana---pool---and---regen---rate---double---that---of---your---average---human---[Mage],---they---find---themselves---usually---being---very---well---taken---care---of---similar---to---quality---goods.

  The---other---fox’s---gaze---meets---her---own,---causing---a---slight---bit---of---fear---to---creep---down---Kassandra’s---tail---as---the---sheer---confidence---of---the---older---woman---makes---Kasandra---want---to---back---down---and---submit.

  “What---is---his---level?”---her---master---asks---the---fat---one---who---wobbles---next---to---him.

  “[Analyse],”---the---fat---one---calls---out,---activating---his---skill,---A---skill---kasandra---knows---is---the---only---reason---the---man---was---hired.

  “It’s---not---working.”

  A---confused---expression---crosses---Kasandra’s---face---after---hearing---those---words.---Never---in---her---life---did---she---know---that---a---[Analyse]---spell---could---fail.---Even---her---former---master,---who---was---a---[mage],---did---not---even---hint---it---could---fail.

  “What---do---you---mean---it’s---not---working?---How---does---it---not---work?”---her---master---calls---out,---also---confused.

  “S-sir,---I---don't---know.---My---skill---just---isn't---working.---I---don't---know---why,”---the---fat---one---answers---out,---stuttering---with---his---words.

  Her---master---becomes---angry,---turning---towards---the---individual---they---attempted---to---gather---information---from,---his---face---becoming---red,---”How---are---you---blocking---[Analyse]?---That---shouldn't---be---fucking---possible.”

  A---feeling---washes---over---Kasandra,---a---feeling---she---had---felt---before---when---her---master---had---been---very---angry,---usually---towards---someone---else.

  “Answer---me!”---her---master---yells---with---such---force,---causing---her---to---shake---in---fear.

  But---to---Kasandra’s---surprise,---the---bearded---[trader]---merely---stops---leaning---on---the---cart,---seemingly---relaxed.---With---a---slight---nod---of---his---head,---the---other---fox---demihuman---moves---behind---him,---a---relaxed---expression---on---her---face---as---well.

  “Making---demands---after---you---attempt---to---manipulate---me---is---a---rather---pathetic---display---of---power.”---the---trader---speaks---up,---shaking---his---head,---”and---to---answer---your---question,---there---are---many---enchanted---items---that---can---quite---easily---make---an---[Analyse]---spell---fail.”

  Her---master’s---face---goes---red---at---the---insult,---his---anger---now---on---full---display,---”Pathetic---Display!---You---dare---insult---me.”---her---master---yells,---a---smile---identical---to---when---he---tortures---[slaves]---moves---to---his---lips,---”It---seems---you---need---to---be---taught---a---lesson---of---respect.---[soldiers].”

  At---his---call,---the---men---around---Kasandra---unsheathe---their---weapons,---moving---towards---the---trader---who---doesn't---even---react,---a---bored---expression---still---on---his---face.---An---expression---which---causes---her---to---feel---very---unsettled.

  “Beros,”---the---[trader]---calls,---eliciting---a---huge---seven-foot---tall---armored---bearkin---to---run---between---the---Masters---[soldiers]---and---himself.

  The---bearkin,---another---rare---species---of---demihuman,---stands---tall---with---heavy---white---steel---armor.---He---quickly---unsheathes---his---sword,---a---massive---thing---as---long---as---her---leg.---Then---he---retrieves---his---shield---from---his---back,---its---size---and---weight---dwarfing---her---probably---by---several---times.---As---he---attaches---the---shield---to---his---left---arm,---Kasandra---notices---that---the---shield---has---colored---lines---moving---from---its---center,---outward.---At---the---center---is---a---small---ruby---crystal.

  The---[soldiers]---stop---their---engagement,---wary---of---the---bearkin---standing---menacingly,---dwarfing---them---all---in---every---way.

  “Stand---Aside!,”---her---master---yells,---pressure---leaving---his---voice,---striking---the---bearkin,---who---only---stumbles---slightly,---shakes---his---head---and---continues---standing,---prepared.

  “MOVE!,”---another---wave---of---force,---this---one---making---her---teeth---clench.

  But---to---her---surprise,---the---bearkin---doesn't---even---flinch,---his---eyes---revealing---a---deep---anger---that---makes---the---hairs---on---her---tail---stand---up---on---end.

  “Kasandra!,”---her---master---yells,---causing---her---to---yip---and---jump.

  Her---master---points,---”Set---him---on---fire!”

  Nodding,---I---move---in---front---and---put---my---hands---out,---away---from---my---chest.---With---a---deep---breath,---I---call---out---my---mana---as---I---activate---my---skill,---”[Fire---Blast].”

  A---ball---of---flame---forms---between---my---two---hands,---condensing---my---mana---before---thrusting---away---from---me,---flying---towards---the---armored---bear.---My---spell,---[Fire---Blast]---is---a---stronger---variant---of---[Fire---Ball]---which---completely---covers---up---someone---in---flames---when---struck,---making---the---spell---even---viable---against---armored---targets.

  But---to---my---surprise,---the---shield---seems---to---ripple,---taking---my---spell,---lowering---its---power---before---it---smacks---the---shield,---barely---even---spreading---the---flames.---The---shield---holds---no---scorch---marks---nor---any---signs---of---damage.

  Even---her---master,---who---was---angry---before,---starts---to---show---signs---of---fear.

  But---it---doesn't---last---long---as---her---Master's---temper---rises---up---once---more.

  “Its---only---one---person.---Everyone,---surround---and---attack---him,”---he---yells,---his---aura---ex
ploding---as---the---[Soldiers]---gain---newfound---bravery.

  They---immediately---rush---the---bearkin,---quickly---surrounding---him.

  Kasandra,---looking---towards---the---[Trader],---finds---the---same---bored---look---on---his---face,---seeming---to---find---this---whole---display---uninteresting.

  And---that---is---all---Kasandra---needs---to---know---that---this---whole---idea---of---her---masters---was---horrible.

  One---of---the---soldiers---rushes---behind---the---bear,---attempting---to---strike---him---with---his---ax.

  But---the---Bearkin---spins---around,---and---instead---of---blocking,---dodges---to---the---side,---forcing---the---heavy---ax---to---strike---air,---slamming---into---the---dirt---road---with---impressive---force.

  And---just---as---fast---as---he---dodged,---the---bear’s---arm---moves---and---positions---the---side---of---his---shield,---ramming---it---into---the---guy's---neck,---breaking---his---windpipe---and---forcing---the---[soldier]---down.

  The---[soldier]---immediately---grabs---his---throat,---trying---to---intake---air,---but---failing---as---his---body---quickly---finds---itself---no---longer---able---to---breathe.---Only---a---moment---passes---before---his---struggles---stop,---the---[soldier]---lies---dead---on---the---spot.

  “Idiots!---Attack---him---from---all---side!”---her---master---yells,---eliciting---the---[soldiers]---to---engage.

  And---engage---they---did,---some---activating---skills---like---[Heavy---Strike]---or---[Power---Strike].---Others---just---attacking,---aiming---for---joints.

  But---all---of---it---fails---as---the---bear---activates---several---of---his---own---skills,---his---deep---voice---rumbling---powerfully,---”[Gladiators---Zone],[Quick---Movement],---[Enhanced---Armor].”

  Like---a---maelstrom---of---power,---the---bear---moves---faster---than---ever,---his---armor---gaining---a---slight---glow---as---he---moves---his---body,---taking---most---of---the---attack’s---head-on---to---his---armor,---only---shifting---his---body---to---redirect---any---strikes---away---from---the---joints---while---his---shield---is---used---to---block---the---[Heavy---Strike]---and---the---sword---is---used---to---block---the---[Power---Strike].

  Weapons---glance---off---the---steel,---not---even---leaving---a---scratch---as---the---bear---reacts---quickly,---his---shield---slamming---downward---after---the---block,---impacting---a---[soldier]---which---was---aiming---for---his---legs---while---the---sword---flicks---out,---beheading---a---soldier---and---cutting---through---the---leather---armor---of---another.

  Without---even---stopping,---the---bear---engages---quickly,---kicking---legs,---breaking---ankles,---elbowing---another,---headbutting---a---third,---which---seems---to---indent---the---[soldiers]---unarmored---head.

  The---bearkin---moves---towards---a---[soldier]---that---is---getting---up.---He---lifts---his---sword---and---attempts---a---downward---strike.

  The---Soldier---raises---his---sword,---attempting---to---block---with---both---hands.

  Unfortunately,---the---sheer---strength---of---the---bearkin---and---the---far---better---steel---of---his---enchanted---sword---breaks---the---[soldiers]---weapon,---allowing---the---blade---to---continue---on,---unimpeded,---ripping---into---the---[soldiers]---chest,---dismembering---the---poor---man's---lungs.

  All---of---this---happens---within---a---moment---as---Kasandra---watches---the---eight---[soldiers]---all---get---killed---off---within---what---feels---less---than---a---minute.

  “Level---86---[Guard],”---the---fat---[lieutenant]---calls---out,---having---activated---his---[Analyse]---skill---without---Kasandra---noticing.

  The---[guard]---in---question,---moves---around,---stabbing---all---of---the---[soldiers]---bodies,---making---sure---they---are---all---dead---before---cleaning---his---sword---of---blood---on---another's---clothing.

  Fear.---She---has---seen---it---before---on---[slaves],---felt---it---numerous---times---herself.---But---this---is---the---first---time---she---had---seen---it---truly---on---her---Masters'---face.---All---his---confidence---and---anger---is---completely---gone---as---he---stares---at---the---gory---remains---of---the---[Soldiers]---he---had---ordered---to---die---for---him.

  Kasandra---wasn't---ordered---to---fight,---to---engage,---and---she---was---utterly---glad---she---wasn't---because---she---is---quite---sure---she---would---be---dead---or---dying---right---now.

  “So---Antos,---what---will---it---be?”

  Turning---her---head,---the---[trader]---looks---to---her---master,---a---smug---smile---on---his---lips---as---the---fox---takes---his---side.

  Without---any---warning,---Antos---panic's,---turning---and---running---towards---the---horses.

  And---right---as---Kasandra---turns---around---to---follow,---a---spear---of---ice---flashes---past---her---head,---ripping---into---the---chest---of---her---master,---passing---through---and---laying---his---organs---across---the---dirt---ground.

  Turning---around---quickly,---Kasandra---finds---the---other---fox,---her---hand---extended---out,---bits---of---frost---falling---off---it.

  Their---eyes---meet---and---Kasandra’s---ear’s---flow---down,---tail---going---between---her---legs---instinctively---as---she---completely---submits---to---the---older---women's---penetrating---stare.

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  To---Rathic,---he---found---the---whole---fight---rather…---boring.---The---fight---was---the---equivalent---of---a---trained---experienced---[soldier]---who---had---seen---and---experienced---war,---fighting---children---without---a---class.

  It---was…---rather---distasteful---to---watch.---He---wonders---how---nobility---is---able---to---stomach---such---violence---in---their---bloody---arena’s,---forcing---[slaves]---without---any---combat---training---to---fight---to---the---death.

  Disgraceful---is---what---it---is.

  Rathic---eyes---move---from---the---corpses,---towards---Beros.

  Though---it---does---have---potential---in---creating---some---of---the---most---powerful---fighters---around.

  Sighing---loudly,---Rathic---moves---towards---the---two---people---left---alive.---The---scared---fox---girl---and---the---shaking---[Lieutenant],---who---has---fallen---on---the---ground,---seemingly---getting---ready---to---grovel.

  And---grovel---he---does.

  “[Trader]---Roth,---I---am---but---a---humble---[Lieutenant],---charged---with---protecting---this---town---from---those---that---wish---to---cause---trouble.---But---even---I---must---adhere---to---the---ruler---of---this---town.---I---was---merely---doing---my---jo----”

  The---[Lieutenant]---stops---as---Rathic---gives---him---a---look---that---could---kill,---of---a---man---who---had---seen---true---groveling.---Rathic---speaks---up.

  “It’s---possible---you---are---telling---the---truth,---but---I---am---not---certain…---and---I---do---not---take---risks.”

  Rathic---pauses,---but---only---for---a---moment.

  “Henrietta.”

  The---head---[Maid]---and---level---56---[Water---Mage]---extends---her---hand.

  The---[Lieutenants]---eyes---widen,---”No---please---I--.”

  “[Ice---Spear],”---Henrietta---says---as---a---spear---of---ice---forms---in---her---hand,---quickly---accelerating---and---penetrating---the---man's---skull.

  Her---hand---moves---back---down---as---the---fat---man's---body---strikes---the---ground,---dead.---Henrietta---had---been---averse---to---killing---before,---but---she---had---hardened---her---heart,---to---protect---her---mistress---from---both---current---and---future---problems.

  Regardless,---killing---two---people---by---her---own---hand---is---not---something---she---can---easily---forget,---thus,---it---will---require---a---long---snuggle---session---with---her---mistress.

  Moving---away---from---the---dead---body,---Rathic---finds---himself---making---eye---contact---with---the---slave---named---Kasandra,---who,---as---can---be---expected,---is---shivering---in---fear.---The---fact---that---the---girl---is---still---alive---after---her---master---had---died---means---that---her---collar,---a---bor
ing---brown---thing,---is---more---than---likely---not---enchanted.

  “Henrietta,---would---you---be---able---to---train---her?”---Rathic---asks,---eyeing---the---fox---with---a---curious---look.

  Henrietta---turns---to---her---master,”---Why?---Do---you---wish---to---have---her---join---us?”---she---asks---curiously.

  Rathic---smiles,---enjoying---the---way---Henrietta---speaks---to---him,---showing---respect---but---also---unafraid---to---ask---questions.