Previously, she was like a mouse cornered against a wall, making futile struggles inside a cage of fear. Before her tragic fate could defeat her, she was already overwheld by fear.
It seed the girl had truly found a new direction in life, rather than rely changing places to continue escaping...
Not only Taufu was gazing outside the window, but also Sarah, who had remained silent from beginning to end.
She suddenly recalled so things from a long, long ti ago.
Speaking of which, she hadn't tasted the skewers personally grilled by Lord Demon King for a long ti...
The tail of a rat was surprisingly fragrant when grilled.
...
Several days passed since then.
When the caravan's carriage finally rolled onto the land of Ryan Kingdom, everyone, including Thomas, breathed a sigh of relief, completely letting go of the last bit of tension in their hearts.
They had originally been worried that pursuers might catch up, but now it seed that Lord Cabbin had realized his boot had kicked against true steel.
Perhaps he and his thugs were living their days in fear, or perhaps he was plotting to run away... but whatever the case, it no longer mattered to them. At least for a while, they wouldn't appear in the Eagle Rock Territory.
However, this ease didn't last long.
Especially when the caravan entered the Twilight Province of the kingdom's northeast, even the horses held by the rcenaries gradually sensed the tension perating the air.
Far from the legendary "Land of Knights" known for its fine wine and glory, what lay before them was a scene of shocking desolation.
The vast fields had long been barren, the cracked soil showing no hint of greenery. Most villages along the way were nearly empty, their closed doors and windows silently telling tragedies without words.
Along the roadsides, ragged, emaciated refugees were everywhere to be seen, their eyes dull, shuffling like ghosts, with no reaction to the passing caravan.
Yet, not entirely without reaction.
In the eyes of many who still had so vitality, there was a chilling look of desperation.
It seed a severe famine had broken out here.
In the evening, the caravan set up camp outside a village that still had so signs of life.
Thomas thought of entering the village to exchange salt and cloth for so information, but as he and a few n approached the village entrance, the villagers imdiately shut their doors like frightened rabbits, their eyes full of fear and distrust.
"That's strange," Ben, following Thomas, scratched his head and muttered in confusion, "We don't look like robbers, do we?"
The rcenary leader next to him said nothing, only looked at the employer beside him, and lowered his voice.
"We should leave this area as soon as possible... things are probably worse here than we imagined."
A famine alone wouldn't terrify the locals this much, as caravans might have supplies they need.
And their reaction now seed more like there were other troubles afflicting them.
"I agree with you," Thomas nodded solemnly, "I'll try. We'll leave at first light."
This was not yet the worst-hit village, and it was near the border with the Rhode Kingdom.
He couldn't bear to imagine what else awaited them up ahead...
The caravan camped beside the village, both sides monitoring each other, leaving each other alone.
After nightfall, Carian began to pray.
As the group silently gnawed on their dry rations around the campfire, a frail boy erged from the village's darkness, sobbing as he stumbled to the edge of the camp.
"Stop!" An older rcenary was the first to notice, warily clutching his nearby firearm.
The boy halted in fear, looking at the fierce face, but ultimately overca his fear, not turning to run, and asked in a choked voice.
"Excuse ... is there a Priest among you?"
The rcenary hesitated, exchanging glances with his nearby comrades, unsure how to respond.
The boy, seeing no answer, couldn't help but sob: "My grandfather... he died the day before yesterday. He was a devout man in life, my father plans to bury him, but I want a mber of clergy to offer a final blessing, to send him away peacefully, at least not letting his soul get lost on the way..."
On the Aus Continent, it seed becoming undead was the most common fate for the souls of ordinary people if they had no one to guide them.
The rcenaries didn't really care about this; many had only recently rediscovered their faith.
Hearing the commotion near the camp, Thomas walked through the crowd to the boy, looking at the heartbroken child and asking.
"You don't have a Priest here?"
The boy choked out his reply.
"We used to... but that Priest fled to Twilight City with the Lord."
"No wonder we haven't seen a single tax collector along the way." The rcenary leader glanced towards the village entrance, couldn't help cursing, "These guys run faster than rabbits."
Just as Thomas was pondering how to tactfully refuse, Carian suddenly walked through the crowd, coming over from the side of the wagon.
She crouched gently in front of the boy, tenderly touched his head.
"I am a Nun," she said softly, "If you don't mind, I can pray for your grandfather."
Upon hearing this, the boy's eyes instantly lit up with hope.
Overjoyed, he was about to kowtow to Carian in gratitude, but was gently held up by Carian.
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