Voyage Of The Villainess

Malaya with her usual white mask and hood walked towards the barren lands of Hellarez.

They decided to dock the ship on a cliff where there were people who would not see the ship. Since back in the Marina household there was this talk that all ships that dock on the main harbor of Hellarez, some items were always got stolen once the crew went back to aboard.

The people that were left on the ship were Dorris and Rhyme, Maru,  who still didn't come out from his room, and the monkey who was peacefully napping on his favorite spot on the ship.

So the people, who would venture into these desolate lands were Malaya, Elred, Iris...And to everyone's surprise, there was a black cat who was at the top head of Iris. Kayden was comfortably sitting there.

It was noticeable how disheveled Iris' head was. When they got out of the ship, this cat jumped all of the sudden from out of nowhere and nested on Iris' head.

Iris tried to remove the said cat at all cost but it was too hard for her to do so.

The cat was too adamant to stay on her head.

"Kayden gotten smaller compared before," Malaya said as her line of sight was fixated on the napping black cat.

"Hmph." Kayden turned around. 

"Just what should I do, for this cat to get off me." Iris slumped both her shoulders with frustration.

Malaya eyes her with great envy. "I also want to touch those fur again." She cried internally.

"Ladies." Elred interrupted them. "Where exactly are we heading now?"

"I wanted to meet with Luiz Crallum."

"Luiz Crallum? I heard about him." Iris said finally giving up removing the cat on her head.

"Back when I was a slave on the dungeon, from the fellow slaves..."

"You're a previous slave?" Elred asked in surprise.

"Ah, you still didn't know." Iris removed the beige scarf on her neck revealing the metal collar. "But some things happened and now I'm free. More like I'm a runaway convict." 

"I see," Elred said not pressing more on the matter. "You could continue on what are you going to say."

"So where am I?" Iris paused for a brief moment, recalling what she was going to say. "Ah right to Louis. I heard that he was the man who was said to almost cross the Red Current but he didn't continue. He went back to his homeland the Hellarez but no one knew his exact whereabouts."

She turned towards Malaya. "Do you possibly know where he is?"

"We have gotten some intel about him." Malaya gestured to Rein.

"It was said that Louis was lastly seen at Heloz, the city and the corner northwest of Hellarez." Rein said.

"We are currently at the southwest," Malaya said. "Since we can't really go dock the ship at the anywhere than the place we found."

"If we move straight this way, we will reach the main city of Hellarez, the Orcaz." Rein said.

"You seemed quite knowledgeable on this place, have you been here before?" Elred asked.

"No. I just memorized the map of the whole Hellarez when we are still preparing for the voyage."

"That's impressive," Iris stated with amazement. "So you're like a walking living map?"

Rein chuckled at Iris' remarks. "Yes, you could say something like that, Lady Iris," he flashed a bright smile towards Iris. 

Seeing his bright smile directly towards her, Iris felt her heart strangely bump louder. "Hahaha, yeah." Iris immediately averted her gaze before she would be more absorbed in those dark blue eyes. 'What's with that sudden smile! That's cheating!' 

Malaya saw how Iris' ears started to get red. "Ooohh..." a knowing grin formed beneath the white mask she was wearing.

Then Malaya glanced back to Rein. Rein was completely oblivious to what he just caused. 'Hah. These two...'

"Shall we go now?" Rein gestured to everyone to follow after him.

They started to walk towards the desolate and barren lands. There was nothing to be seen but burnt woods. There were also crows flying everywhere eating the carcass of dead animals.

"This place looks horrible," Iris said.

"Yes." Malaya nodded. "The Hellarez is the last place of the final battle between the remaining defense of the GeZo kingdoms."

"Even a decade had passed, the tragedy of the war is still could be seen here," Iris said.

"Certainly," Malaya replied as she observed the gloomy place they were walking around. 

"But I do wonder if people still live in such a place."

"Yes, there is. That's why there are the cities. But those people were the last survivors of the GeZo countries outcasted by the society." Elred this time joined in, his voice sounded solemn. 

"Yes, he is right," Malaya said. "The emperor, just let these people live here rather than making them prisoners of war."

"That greedy emperor did that?" Iris asked in surprise.

"Greedy huh..." Malaya chuckled. "If others heard you, you might be convicted of les majeste."

"I am already convicted with that," Iris rolled her eyes. "That's why I'm here with you right since those eight monsters would probably gauge everything out of me when I returned at Hacien."

"Ah right." Malaya laughed lightly.

They continued their walk but after almost walking continuously for hours, they still did not see any city. Everyone was starting to get tired now from the long walk and the sun was starting to set down now.

"Rein, no offense man, but are we getting  near to Orcaz?" Iris asked as she seated on a huge rock to rest for a while.

Rein also contemplated. "Actually we are already here." 

"Hmm?" Both Malaya and Iris tilted their heads in confusion. Wherever they looked out there was nothing but endless barren lands everywhere.

"The rock you was sitting is the insignia of the entrance of Orca." Rein said as he pointed towards Iris.

"This rock?" Iris stood up observing the rock. The thing that she thought, that was only a normal rock, when she looked closer there were some strange symbols written on it.

"Where is the city?" Malaya asked.

"That's what I'm confused about as well, Milady. The city was not here. And I don't feel any illusion magic that was cast."

"That's strange," Iris remarked. "Do you tell us that the city disappeared or something to the location it was supposed to be located?"

"I believe that is the case, Lady Iris." Rein stated.

Malaya held her chin, thinking. 'Rein would never make a mistake for these things. The city disappeared?'

"Rahhh!"

All of a sudden they heard a booming roar.

"Ah! Help me!" 

Followed by a cry for help.

Ahead of them, there were people running towards them.

"Those are?" Malaya's eyes widened in surprise when she saw the people approaching. 'What on earth are they doing here?'