Act 9: Siberius, The Elven Village

After the twins went into the forest to rescue Cristina, the battle resulted in a stalemate with the people in black robes. And when they manage to capture one, and as it turns out that it is the elves that they've been fighting, and that's how they met Casanova, the elf they have captured.

Due to other circumstances, Cassie told the twins that the forest was a dangerous place because it was infested with ghouls and rumors tells that every adventurer or a passerby had fell victims to the ghouls. It is also said that the nest of the ghouls where at the center of the forest.

After hearing this, Mason got excited from it, craving for killing some but Madison immediately stopped him because she knew that they will be overwhelmed if they go without a plan. So, she asked Cassie to take them to their village to think things through.

While walking, Madison asked something, "Hey Cassie, this village of yours, what is it like?"

Cassie answered, "Well, it's nothing grand, but I can assure that you'll be comfortable when you stay there even for a night."

Madison replied, "Okay, if you say so. I trust you Cassie, you know that. Just don't broke that trust."

Cassie nodded and said, "Okay, thank you, Madison." And asked, "Um... Madison, about your brother... What was he like?"

Madison answered, "Oh, him? Well, he may not look like it, but he's a reliable person. That's why there were some people who liked him."

"I see, he must have seeing someone already..." Cassie said as she lowered her face.

"Huh? What was that?" Madison asked.

"Huh? Nothing, nothing!" Cassie answered.

Madison replied, "Listen, if you want to be friends with him, I think this is the best time to get along with him. Don't worry, he's not that much of a bad boy, if he did anything stupid just let me know."

Cassie smiled and said, "Okay! Thank you, Madison."

She turned back and went to Mason. The two talked and shared their experiences from that past days. Until they reached the gates of the Elven Village.

Cassie was so happy and immediately approached it, Madison was astounded on what she saw. She saw Cassie talking to the guards and went to it.

Just as they went to Cassie, Madison asked, "What did they say?"

Cassie answered, "Well, I said we were going to our chief because you said you were going for your friend, right?"

"Oh, I see. Then let's get going. Any ideas, where can we stay?" Madison asked.

Cassie answered, "Well, I have one. Probably the best inn here in the village."

Madison replied and asked, "That's good. Could you show us where?"

"Of course. Follow me." Cassie answered.

So, Cassie took the twins to the inn that was to be said the best inn in their village. It was a long way because before they even get there because they're gonna need transportation and since the village of Siberius is the largest known village, it's gonna be complicated if the twins try to memorize the places.

They bought a map along the way for them to guide themselves around the village. After a few hours of riding a horse carriage, they finally reached the inn. At first, they thought that it was just a regular inn, but they didn't expect that the inn was a mansion-like house.

Surprisingly, the rent was cheap, and its customers were also witch hunters. It's the ideal inn for the twins and Cassie said, "Looks like you're a lot happier Madison."

Madison nodded and replied, "Well I didn't expect that this inn would be this big."

"Well, rest easy. You should go to the tavern over there, while I go there and talk to the owner." Cassie said.

So, the twins went to the tavern to buy something to eat. When they went to the tavern, a lot of people outside happened to know them. It was surprising for Mason, but it's not surprising to Madison because she knew that one of them were the people they've fought at the forest and one of them must've spread the word about them.

She told Mason, "Be careful of your surroundings, a lot of people may be already about us. Some of them must have told about us when we fought the elves back in the forest."

Mason replied, "So you mean that one or few of them were the ones we've fought?"

Madison answered, "Yes, you're right. So, we have to be mindful of it."

So, the twins agreed to enter the tavern while being mindful to their surroundings, but the people in the tavern there were not only humans inside but a different species as well. There were dwarves, orcs, blood elves, woodland elves, dark elves, high elves, vampires and more.

The twins were surprised when they saw everybody in the tavern were a different species. Madison wondered if the Village of Siberius, is a sanctuary to variety of species like elves, so she asked a waitress with the cat ears if the village is once home to the witches.

The waitress was surprised when she was asked about this and answered, Um, I don't know about that, I just lived here months ago, but there are rumors that there was a witch's cult here."

Madison was surprised and calmly asked, "Really? Do you know where it is? Can you show us where it is?"

Mason suddenly interrupted and told Madison, "Hey Madison, calm down. That's not a nice way to ask a person." And immediately apologized, "I am truly for the way my sister talks to you."

The waitress replied, "Huh? Oh no, no it's okay! I don't mind."

"I see, thank you for your consideration. You see, my sister and I were on a witch hunt and it happened that this village has rumors that there were witches that lives here." Mason said.

The waitress replied, "Well, there are rumors but I'm not sure if that's true."

While Mason was having a smooth conversation, an orc suddenly interrupted Mason and said, "Hey, boy! You better stop bringing these rumors up or I will stomp you flat!"

Mason looked at the orc with a cold stare and replied, "What do you want? I have no business with small fries, get lost."

"What did you say!?" The orc annoyingly asked as he told the others to give his giant hammer. "I challenge you, kid! Let us see how you fare against me. What do you say?"

Before answering, Mason looked at his surroundings and it seems that they were expecting a duel, so he has no choice but to accept it, and replied, "I accept your challenge..."

The crowds became excited and began to gather in the town square where Mason and the orc will start the duel. The crowds were gradually getting larger after the news spread about Mason accepted the challenge.

Madison on the other hand had a bad feeling about Mason, she had a feeling that her brother will kill the orc cold blooded.

At the town square where Mason and the orc will fight, Mason boasted and told the orc, "I'll give you a handicap, if you manage to land at least a hit to me within a minute, I will accept defeat, but if you didn't manage to hit me within the given time, then it will be my turn to attack. Don't worry, I will only dodge in a minute, so you have a better chance of winning in that time."

The orc became completely annoyed and replied, "Don't you dare underestimate me brat!" As he attacked Mason.

Mason on the other hand didn't unsheathed his sword because of what he said and had to do what he needed to do. The orc charged in towards Mason with a swing ready from his hammer, but Mason easily dodged it.

Everyone including the maid who were watching the duel were astounded and surprised by Mason's agility and skill, it seems that they knew that the twins were not supposed to be underestimated and they also knew that picking one of them into a fight was a grave mistake because the rumors had already spread about the two people with the same face but a different gender were the ones who killed a witch in a forest coldblooded.

A minute has passed, the orc seems to have exhausted from his continuous attacks to Mason but not a single blow or scratch had landed on Mason, he finally realized that he was no match for him.

Mason told the orc, "It seems that your time is up. It's my turn to attack, prepare yourself. I don't accept the request of surrender." As he smiled with a murderous intent

The orc being exhausted was too tired to defend himself, he tried to lift the hammer, but before he even lifted it, Mason attacked and swiftly cut the orc's hammer in half without even seeing how he cut it.

To be continued...