The Red Lands 2

by ForestRage

  I did stop after I felt that as an elder and the one focused on training, I should not take advantage of others. It honestly did not have anything to do with Lucy administering me a brutal thrashing one evening.

  One night something raided the fields. According to Mr. Thomas, it was probably done by some birds that can't fly. Worse yet the portion damaged the most was the one Clod and I agreed on. Due to this, my business venture went up in smoke.

  'Damn those birds! You better hope I don't ever catch you.'

  Our last hunt for the summer was against a stalking Jaga. Such a beast would make even an experienced adventurer party wary. For us, it was a challenge to prove our worth. We were calm facing the creature head-on. I did it without fear and with faith in my skills, weapon, and companions.

  And I succeeded.

  The fatal strike belonged to me.

  As a result, that evening I faced the little hoodlum and her thugs with pride.

  "It's MY kill, you need to come good with your offers."

  I had found a caring home, some real friends and above all became stronger.

  Furthermore, I had even been able to buy myself the wooden bead I was always longing for as a child from the Trading Post.

  "Best Summer ever!"

  Chapter 17

  A childish scuffle

  The Slums signified a place where the unwanted and the destitute gathered. Although it was a place that lawlessness was prevalent, it ended mostly with the little beatings for resources.

  The slum residents were not so easy to bully. The groups had to tread carefully lest they picked on the wrong person at the wrong time. A person tethering at the end of their rope with nothing to lose is not one to antagonize.

  As such the little gangs served as protection under the cover of a group of thugs. The boys and young men bide their time until the bandits began their recruitment drive each spring.

  Now that the usual employer was under serious state scrutiny and the slum residents had fallen onto an unexpected wealth, some of those that had to focus on daily survival could turn their heads elsewhere.

  "Doug, I tell you, the boy walks into the village at the end of the week and leaves after the weekend."

  "Singh, you telling me the brat has moved to somewhere out in the grasslands? If you had to walk out there you would have pissed yourself already."

  "I swear I saw it myself, sometimes he walks out there with some of the other smaller brats. Chong accompanied me, we actually saw one of the young girls with him."

  In a corner of the slums, three young men were huddled in a shack carrying on a conversation. If the unexpected situation never developed, they would own the opportunity to live a 'rich' life as bandits. But the timeline distorted and left them facing a harsh, different reality.

  "Good thing we did not associate ourselves with Old Bai earlier. Our only option is to strike out on our own until we can meet up and recruit with some other bandits."

  The one name Doug thought out loud.

  "That's why I say we strike out at some of those slum residents who got some coppers during the winter. Those brats must have made some money running errands. I say we milk the boy for all he worth."

  Chong added his two cents worth of thinking.

  Doug was the decision maker of this group. With his shrewd mind, they survived the winter hustling work from adventurers. Even though they were sometimes abused, on return to the slums they could boast about being 'associates' with these great people.

  Doug remained quiet for a moment before talking.

  "Okay, it's settled. We wait until we spot the boy coming across the grasslands. For sure he has money to spend, so we shake him down. It better to walk out some way so the guards at the gate don't see us blatantly beating him up. Most of all that way we don't have to pay hush money."

  The others all agreed with the plan. As usual, Doug had factored in everything. From thinking about when the boy had the most money, to choose a place away from the guards and from factoring in the event of having to bribe the guards.

  The others could only nod in appreciation.

  'Such a shame the Mong bandits were held back this year. Doug would have made them proud.'

  'With a friend like Doug, we could have risen up among the bandit groups.'

  ◆◆◆

  The weekend arrived quickly. It was coincidentally the beginning of autumn.

  "Hey, why do I have to walk across the grasslands by myself today? I'm not the only one training in this house you know."

  "Lucy is out in the fields with Clod for protection. I am outlining business studies with our accountants. Everyone has left for the village with elder, Mrs. Thomas wants to visit some of our farm neighbors along the way. So that leaves only you."

  Ming scowled on hearing Chu's patient reply.

  "I know that I'm not stupid you know. Just why do I have to go alone? Shouldn't Miki have to run along with me?"

  Chu could only look at the teen as if it was the first time seeing an idiot.

  "Miki has a sprained ankle from jumping down from the stables. You very well know it since you spent time goofing around when they worked shingling the roof. Next time Clod asks for help and I see you dawdling..."

  "Okay, okay but you do know I have never walked out on my own before right?"

  Chu had the urge to slap him.

  'This brat was simply being too difficult.'

  He was beginning to get pissed from this unnecessary whining.

  "You very well know that Dyna is around. All you need to do is ask her for a little company along the way."

  Ming fidgeted before answering.

  "Yea, but Chu if I do that she is going to take money from me. Last time she took all my allowance just to order some stupid herbs."

  "You know damn well why she took your money! You better get going before it's too late. If Elder reaches the village and you don't show up on time, he is going to double your training."

  Ming hurried out of the barn before Chu really exploded. He armed himself and covered the leather armor under a patched cloak they used when visiting the village or farms nearby. After a moment of hesitation, he walked behind the barn to the tree near the fenced off stables.

  A little girl rested on a makeshift swing humming a tune and swinging away merrily. Her lose red hair flowed behind her oval face while urging the swing higher.

  In this remote place, a small defenseless girl like this was an easy target.

  Ming was smart enough to know that this was one girl who even a lunatic would steer clear with a very wide berth.

  He coughed to draw her attention.

  "Ahem, Dyna I am heading out for my run across the grasslands. Since I am going alone today, Chu insisted you send one of your wolves out with me for safety."

  The little girl slowly brought the swing to a stop and gave the bigger boy a glance.

  She then smiled as she answered cheerfully.

  "Sure, no problem brother Ming. I would do anything to help you out."

  She jumped down from the swing and issued a sharp whistle. By the time they walked towards the small side gate on the northern side of the palisade, a wolf with thick white fur, obediently stood outside.

  "Lykos, keep Ming company across the grasslands to the village. Stay close to him and warn him if there is a danger. Once the village is close and it's safe, scout around and then return. Don't go looking for trouble with any patrols. Come home quickly because you have to help guard the barn."

  The wolf gave Dyna a nod and then glanced at Ming. It then issued some growls at the girl.

  The little girl raised her hands to her chin and put out a thoughtful expression.

  She then turned to the boy at the side.

  "It's no problem helping you out Ming, so could you do me a favor? I need ten Alvana roots and ten Frose blossoms. Since you're going to the village, could you by them for me? It's not that expensive."

  "Sure, sure. What are big brothers for anyway? I will get
it for you."

  Ming grimaced while he replied.

  The wolf gave him a look like a young master sneering at some lowlife and then walked out in front. Ming could only turn his head at the girl and then begin jogging out to the village.

  'How much did that dumb animal understand anyway?'

  'And how the heck does she tell them apart?'

  With a large wolf as a companion Ming jogged across the grasslands without reservation.

  Ever since Chu started to return on weekends to take care of the house and conduct any little business in the village, Mr. Thomas used it as a form of training. Slowly it increased their endurance levels and built up their previous weak bodies.

  The most beneficial one was Lucy. This training along with some techniques practiced by the Military helped unleash her movement abilities. Not only did she have unnatural reflexes but she possessed extreme endurance.

  While the others collapsed drenching in perspiration after the slow jog across the grasslands, she patted off a light sweat. Chu once commented that wolves possessed high endurance, able to chase prey for miles. It seemed only natural for Lucy to inherit the same ability from a higher leveled species.

  By the time Ming neared the village his light cotton shirt under the leather could squeeze out a pail of sweat. Unlike the first time, his body showed no signs of excess fatigue but had loosened as if refreshed and full of vigor. Military skills and training obviously displayed an impact on him.

  His four-legged companion abandoned him on nearing the village as it darted away home.

  'I really don't know what the hell that girl feeds those beasts.'

  He slowed to a walk while fanning with a calloused hand.

  This was not the first time the girl had tried to extort him. Last time he took advantage of her, trading the Jaga meat for nearly fifteen pheasants. This he used to make a sizable profit by selling it to the tavern and the merchants at the Lodge.

  When Chu found out about it he made him split half of the money with the girl. Dyna and her wolves had to work like 'dogs' for over a week to get those pheasants. Chu slapped him that evening further reminding him that nobody was going to eat the inedible Jaga meat anyway. Next time he tried a stunt like that would mean trouble.

  Right now his allowance was only a few coppers. Given he had to buy those ingredients for Dyna left him dry. If he refused he could only imagine the abuse Chu would rain down on him.

  He neared the village when he glanced some young men making their way across the grasslands. Thinking they might be out searching for herbs and roots, he paid them no heed.

  Ming walked gritting his teeth in anger of being suckered by the girl when he heard someone call out.

  "Hey, kid stop right there. If you know what's right, hand over your money like a good little boy and then scram."

  Ming looked up to find three young guys circling him.

  He was so sure he maybe heard wrong.

  "Huh?"

  "I said had over your money dummy. You looking for a beating?"

  It only took a second for the words to click and register in Ming's brain.

  What made it worse was it somehow became mingled along with his thoughts.

  'Abuse if I don't buy herbs-damn little girl taking advantage of me, her elder-broke like hell after spending-robbery?-no money- more abuse-laughing stock-NO MONEY to spend-robbery?-Poor for a month...wait!'

  "Robbery? You bastards are trying to rob ME?!"

  Doug snickered at the boy's shout.

  "What the heck did you think we were doing. First of all, give us all your mon..."

  His words were barely out when the teen exploded in a sudden movement.

  Snarling like a wild beast that was cornered, the words rob, Dyna, ungrateful bastards could be made out.

  Unfortunately, at that time nobody was taking the time to listen. A serious beating was being dished out.

  Ming slammed a punch into Doug's open mouth shattering some teeth and his sentence that was in progress.

  Before the others could even register what happened he let out a roar and stabbed the guy on the left with his sheathed sword.

  Singh’s first reaction was the word 'uff' as the sheath slammed into his stomach causing him to double over. Before the stomach contents could pour out of his mouth, a knee smashed onto his face breaking his nose in the process.

  He toppled backward with the force while his knees bent as an arched mixture of vomit and blood followed his face gracefully through the air.

  Chong at this time had enough sense to raise the crude wooden club to attack. The only problem was that there was nothing in front of him. Ming had already broken out of their encirclement.

  The young man stood holding a chopped tree branch up in the air when the attack came from the side.

  "Ming stab!"

  Chong dropped his hands swiftly as he turned to parry the incoming stab.

  What greeted him was a blow to the face from a vertical slash.

  "Hou d fuch thaa a stubb."

  Was all he mustered from his broken nose and mouth before he collapsed.

  Ming turned towards Doug who was still on the ground holding his mouth. Under the gaze of this prey turned assailant, Doug whimpered and shuffled backward on his butt. Ming could have sworn his ass cheeks were moving like stubby legs.

  As the sole conscious survivor of the three, Doug was the only one left to face this little demon.

  Chong lay knocked out and sprawled like an ugly snow angel. Singh fared no better, currently frothing up breakfast gruel from his twisted face on the ground.

  Doug felt an overwhelming fear as blood-lust seeped out from the terror slowly approaching.

  ‘By heavens! Is this brat is going to kill us?!'

  The blood lust disappeared like it never existed. Only the serious face of the teen secured his attention.

  "Give me all your money."

  Chapter 18

  Revenge and a beating

  When Ming returned to the barn after the weekly trip, he sported a small string necklace. Four smaller beads paired off against a larger wooden one in the center. Since the look was not too eye-catching and enough to incite greed, Chu ignored him.

  Dyna flitted about the kitchen with Sue and Mrs. Thomas. The two held the role of pill maker for the little girl. The large tome she wielded, contained countless medicinal formulas to aid in a Hound's development. Pill making did not come cheap.

  To satisfy this ever-increasing black hole, the little redhead and her pets labored out in the wild. Most of her kills were converted into cash for purchasing and ordering medicinal ingredients.

  Sue handled the simple concoctions with the assistance of Mrs. Thomas. Dyna herself created the more advanced pills with Sakura and Amanda helping her understand the difficult instructions.

  As for the recipients of all this hard work, they maintained a pitiful and humble attitude around the kitchen personnel.

  The wolves ingested pills daily like a sick old man. In the evening they soaked in some solution that was concocted before Dyna dried them off. No matter how bloody they returned to the farm in the evening, their owner washed and scrubbed them cleaner than Ming at night.

  Mrs. Thomas had high praises for those pets as she always commented more than once.

  "I have never seen such well-behaved animals. Even though they are growing bigger every day, they still act as cute little pups."

  "Who you talking about? Them?"

  "You haven't seen their true colors yet!"

  "They are the biggest group of bandits around here."

  Came the contradictory replies.

  Ming did tell Chu about the incident near the village. Even though it could be passed off as an isolated slum holdup, he still informed the others to be careful near the village. Being the chosen target could only mean that they were attracting unwanted attention.

  Mr. Thomas agreed but he had another suggestion.

  "Given what happened to Ming is unfortu
nate. However, we should use this to temper ourselves instead of running away."

  "How so?"

  "Think about it. No matter where you go, sooner or later I can guarantee you lot are going to get in a fight. Why not use your time here?