9 Code

Far from the town, past numerous trees, situated uneven landmasses which formed a small cave. Within the dark cave, eleven mishappen children surrounded a fallen one. In the corner was an elf bounded by vines.

After learning from Altwidus, the children knew which herbs could be used for first aid and would help clot the blood leaking out of Jade. Alexis applied the medicinal paste onto Jade's chest and dressed the wound, desperately hoping the girl would survive.

Tears flowed down Melody's small cheeks as she sobbed, "I-I'm sorry. It's b-because of me that J-Jade got injured."

Clara came up to Melody and hugged her from behind. She was also crying. "No, silly girl. It was my fault for not noticing when that person approached."

Although Alexis wished to shed tears for Jade as well, a crystal golem could not cry. No, even before she died, she never cried after that fateful day.

"Mmh..mmh!" Farlyn's mouth was covered with a cloth. Apparently, Nora couldn't take her yelling anymore and decided to gag her.

"I think she wants to say something," Jae walked to Farlyn and unbound her mouth.

"I-I can heal her!" Farlyn exclaimed.

Alexis handed the medicine to Wendy and stepped towards the fallen elf. Seizing the girl's hair with one hand, Alexis tugged Farlyn's head close to her own so she could stare right into the elf's eyes.

Those crystal eyes narrowed as Alexis threatened with a rapier in her other hand, "How?"

"D-don't you know? A demon has two hearts, so if we can close the wound, she will live. But, I don't know about a young demon."

"How can we heal her?"

"I personally can't heal her--wait! Don't push that sword any closer! I know people from my village can heal her!"

Alexis lowered her rapier.

"I'm only a beginner mage. But, the leaders of my tribe are known to use the spirits' powers to do miraculous magic."

Melody sniffled as she took out the map she and Clara bought earlier.

Jae inspected the map and questioned, "So, where is your village?"

"Untie me first. Regardless, I can't run away without my staff."

While doing as she requested, Alexis icily observed the elf's every moment. "I know hundreds of ways to torture you. If you do anything odd, your life will forfeit."

Farlyn ignored her. Pointing at two spots on the map, she said, "Here's Ellan and here's my village. It will take at least two days on foot."

Glaring wearily, Farlyn asked, "Anyway, who are you, children?"

"Farlyn, we're all human. We were captured by slave traders and sold away," Jae replied while remembering what Altwidus had said, "For three years, we were experimented on by the demon lord's minions or something. Really, we're sorry for doing all this, but we have no choice."

"Impossible! Humans slavery along with enslaving any race is illegal!"

"It's up to you whether you believe us or not," Jae shrugged as he began rummaging the bags stuffed with groceries. Farlyn remained silent in contemplation.

"Could someone gather firewood? I'll cook a quick meal. Iris, help me out."

Melody stood, "How can you think of eating when Jade is--"

"None of us have eaten properly in a long time and we'll need strength for the journey. Plus, she won't die for now."

"...alright. Let me help out as well."

Bridget, Melody, and Scarlett left the cave to gather wood and rocks. Wendy, Iris, and Jae prepared the ingredients while waiting for the trio to return. Nora, Clara, and Layla tended to Jade's wounds as Alexis continued to monitor Farlyn.

"Hey, did the ones who captured you all have any particular features? Like strange clothes or marks?" Farlyn inquired.

Alexis glanced at the elf, "Animal masks. They had animal masks made of bone."

Farlyn's eyes widened, "Minions of the Southern Continent's demon king!"

"Do you know about them?"

"I heard rumors that the southern demon king was an ancient lich who ruled over the undead monsters and demons. Normally, the undead of the south should not be able to escape from the region while being kept in check by the goddess of fate's minions, the dragons. However, with the appearance of the demon king, the undead launched an attack against the Central Continent three and a half years ago."

Overhearing the conversation, Jae noticed that the period coincidentally aligned around the time the children were captured.

Laying down the ingredients in his hand, Jae turned to Farlyn, "Hey, do you know why the townspeople were so afraid of fairies?"

"Well, of course, they would be afraid! Normally fairies dwell deep in the forests without coming out. However, every single one has the magic power rivaling those of high tier spirits. They use powerful illusions that can cover towns in order to trick people for fun. Their magic could easily break a human's mind permanently and leave them in a vegetative state. We elves are somewhat immune to the fairy's magic with the forest's protection, but even we can be affected. They are cruel monsters!"

Thunk.

At the cave's entrance, Melody dropped the wood she was carrying. Without further reacting to Farlyn's words, she unhurriedly picked the logs up and began preparing the fireplace.

"Wow, so rude! To call people monsters!" Nora hopped towards Farlyn and did a tiny tentacle slaps on the elf's cheek. The tentacle bounced off Farlyn's cheek and clearly could not injure the elf.

The children quickly finished cooking and filling their bellies. They decided to spend the night in the cave.

At midnight, Jae's wrist began itching. Sitting up while scratching his injury, the bandages unraveled. He recalled slitting his wrist in the morning.

But, there was no wound there.

--------

Thirteen figures trodded through the woods, one taller than the rest, and one who carried another on her back. A grim atmosphere surrounded the group. No one was in the mood for small talk.

In the shadows, two pairs of glimmering orbs observed their prey. A forked tongue slipped out of one of its lips.

"Watch out!"

Alexis yanked on Natalie's collar as a dark shadow clawed at where she once was.

From the trees emerged an emerald green creature. Twin snake heads connected by a large torso with two claws. A greenish yellow tail extended from its lower body.

"It's a Joa!" Farlyn yelled out.

Contrary to its large body, the monster slithered faster than any snake. Sooner than any of the children could react, the Joa swung its long tail at the group and hit the unsuspecting Bridget. She was flung into the trees.

In response, Scarlett utilized her own claws to strike the creature. The Joa flexibly dodged and retaliated by slashing at the lizard girl. Before it could reach Scarlett, Alexis advanced towards the Joa. Swiveling her body, Alexis severed the Joa's arm.

Green liquid sprayed from the Joa as it let out an inhuman screech. It slammed its tail at Alexis as her body was knocked away.

"32967483920!" A series of numbers left Farlyn's mouth. While the Joa was off-guard, it was decapitated by a blade of wind.

Its corpse limply tumbled onto the ground.

"W-What was that!" Scarlett's eyes bulged at Farlyn's use of magic.

Farlyn sighed, "It was a type of magic one can do without a staff. By chanting the magic code and channeling mana into my words, I can invoke the laws created by the goddess Celeste. Unfortunately, if even one number is off, there is no telling what will happen."

"I knew programmers were magicians!" Scarlett claimed.

"It sounds like a cheat code for this world," Nora commented, seemingly interested.

"No one really uses it. It takes a lot out of the user, so I won't be able to move for a while," she said as lethargically laid on the ground.

Jae was reminded of all the instances of magic he witnessed so far. For example, the magic paper the scarred human trafficker used and Altwidus's forest magic. The magic of this world was more mysterious than he could imagine. Or rather, random.

"A-Alexis!" Melody shouted.

Cracks deepened on Alexis's pristine crystal body as the girl tried to stand. Like glass, she began shattering into many pieces. As her arm broke into fragments, she reached out to Jade. And, within seconds, became a pile of collapsed crystal.

"Uh, do you think we can fix her with some glue?" Scarlett gaped at her fallen friend.

"Scarlett!"