The Legend of the ruthless Empress Freya

Chapter 78 The Difference Between A Good Heart And A Bad One

-- POV Luna --

A young elf had passed out in my arms. I couldn't see the top of her face because she was wearing a half mask, but before she passed out, I could see her eyes, which were a soothing light blue.

*She looked exhausted and shocked*

When her eyes met mine, I had a strange feeling that I had never experienced. I didn't know what it was about yet but I was confused. Was it my instinct to be wary of her ? Or was it something completely different ?

*Sigh...there are more important things right now !*

Shaking my head to concentrate again, I turned to the elf who seemed to be the oldest. I had to explain to him what will happened next and above all I had to know what really happened.

"Follow us, we're going to move a little further away for safety. Once we get to a safe place, you can tell me what happened to you."

Of those eight people, two were quite different from the others. There was this girl in my arms who was not dressed like the others and especially this wounded man, tall, imposing who carried a sword and a shield. I felt a great power coming from him and I didn't like taking him to the Empire. I didn't want to be rude to the potential citizens and subordinates of her Highness, but I couldn't ignore that strange aura of raw strength coming from his wounded body. I was sure this man was a warrior and it would have been impossible not to notice.

"Keep an eye on the big guy right there and send the two flying scouts over the rest of the area."

While I was still carrying the girl in my arms, I had turned back to Ash who was at my side to let him know that I wasn't totally confident with this man. We also had to make sure that no one was following us and that no one else was in danger. For the moment we were going to go deeper into the forest to prepare a small camp. Once near the fire, with a full and rested stomach, I would listen to the story of the events that had led them to flee. At that point, I would find out who these two people were that I had no desire to see arrive in the Empire.

"Okay, let's go !"

___

We had walked for about an hour before we stopped. The way back would take us a lot longer because we were accompanied and the elves were also exhausted. The little boy with the broken leg had stopped crying and was sleeping. He was sleeping peacefully in Ash's arms, while the young woman with the blue eyes was still in my arms unconscious.

*I think this will do*

"Let's stop here !"

My soldiers hidden in the thickets who had heard me, were all coming out to build a fire and give them something to eat. The muscular man was slightly pale but didn't complain or even seem to be in pain. He had sat down a little ways away to put his heavy sword on the ground and free his arm. Because of the wounds, his arm had turned almost blue but the bleeding had stopped. He was really powerful to be able to endure such a thing without ever letting a single word escape from his mouth. It was unimaginable because he still had three arrows in his arm and yet this mysterious man had done it.

*This one is definitely different...I have a feeling we're going to have some complications*

As I laid the young woman gently on the ground, I turned back to the hoodless elf.

"So tell me what happened from the beginning !"

We had walked enough and it was time to get some answers. So the elf began his tale while his companions sat by the fire to rest and eat some food. The little boy was still sleeping and seemed soothed by the warmth of the flames despite his sore leg.

"First of all my name is Erkas, I have been traveling with my family for a few weeks now. We...we are from the south. My family and I have been traveling for years without being able to settle anywhere because the humans who despise us and hunt us down are more and more numerous where we come from. Several months ago, I heard that the Dark Forest of the North was home to several races that lived well hidden inside. My wife was born here so we were thinking of moving there permanently if possible but..."

Erkas paused as his hands began to shake, probably because the memory of that event was hard to bear. He took a deep breath before continuing, his voice filled with fear and sadness.

"But when we finally reached the forest, my boy fell into a grassy hole on the side of the road and broke his leg. As we were helping him out and deciding what to do, a group of humans adventurers came upon us. They...they threatened us and...I thought we were done. I...I begged, I even got on my knees offering them my life but they wouldn't listen."

I could feel the anger slowly building inside me as he continued his story. I didn't want to interrupt him, the elf had managed to calm down but he still seemed very shocked. I was just listening carefully, especially since they had crossed paths with humans. How had they managed to get away ? The question was burning in my mind so I waited and listened as he told me.

"As the leader of the adventurers was about to kill us, the girl you carried in your arms stepped in to protect us at the risk of her life. She was ready to die for us and as we fled into the forest, the strong man sitting on that rock saved her life. He protected young Luna before he got hurt and joined us.."

"Wait..you mean that..."

Far too much information had been said at once. The girl's name was Luna and more importantly these two people were therefore on the scene with the adventurers. Would they be human ? Dressed as they were and accompanied by adventurers, they could only be human. My mind was confused and my first instinct was to suddenly stand up and turn to the man still standing off to the side, questioning the elf.

"Are these humans ??"

As I said these words, I instinctively drew my weapon as my soldiers did the same. Erkas was panicked and stood up in turn, alerting his family who seemed equally panicked. Without a word, they all stood up to join the father, who raised his arms before speaking.

"Please wait ! Don't...don't hurt them ! They saved our lives and were willing to give theirs to help us ! I could never live with myself again if I let you hurt them more than they already are !"

"Yes please !"

"Co..commander Luna, they stood up to their own kind for us..have mercy !"

All the elves were banding together as one to beg me not to kill their saviors. We hated the humans more than anything else for taking away someone dear to us, and in front of me, half-humans like us were protecting them.

*Incomprehensible !*

I couldn't understand. Why were they doing this ? I didn't like the situation at all, I felt like I was being a torturer when the ones in front of me were...humans. I was doing absolutely everything at the moment to keep calm and not to get angry while I answered.

"Those humans were among the adventurers who attacked you. Humans are deceitful, maybe it's a trap ! How can you trust them ? Please step aside, you are in shock"

"NO !"

Erkas didn't move and was still between the young woman with the same name as me while his family was in front of the man with the sword. I didn't like that...at all.

*Tsk, events are taking a turn that I don't like at all*

As I was about to speak again, the hoodless elf spoke up.

"You told us yourself that no one was following us ! This man is injured and we will treat him. I refuse to let you make him worse or even worse. Look at his condition ! Look at what he went through to save our lives, what more proof do you need ?! The young lady here has fainted from exhaustion after nearly dying so that we could escape. Luna is not a fighter, she couldn't even stand all those emotions. Their actions speak for itself ! Are you talking about an Empire that is ready to welcome us ? We're not interested in joining it if you can't even tell the difference between a good heart and a bad one. If you can't even do that, then your Empire is no better than those of humans..."

As he finished, I could feel my body stiffen and my anger turn to confusion. His words were harsh, sharp, and felt like a cold shower. Our Empire, like the humans ? No way. At that moment I didn't know what to say to him, I wanted to tell him that he was wrong and that he didn't know what he was talking about, but deep down I knew he was right.

*These humans have indeed never attacked us and this family doesn't seem to want to give up defending them...sigh*

The situation had become complicated, I didn't expect to have to appeal to her Highness the Empress but I didn't have the power to make that decision on my own. Raising my hand to signal my soldiers to lower their weapons, I turned to Ash to give him my orders.

"You who are quick, go and warn her Highness and explain the whole situation to her. Be sure to tell her exactly what happened and the words that were said. If she wishes to contact me telepathically, I will be at her disposal. Now leave, on our side we will head for the walls of Elysium."

"Right away commander !"

I had barely finished my sentence when my second in command had already left in the direction of the Empire. I was shaking a little because I didn't know how the Empress would react. Should I have killed them ? I didn't know what the right answer was in this situation, but the idea of bringing humans into the city had never been considered. I was confused and as I watched the two humans in turn, I sat on the ground to think.

*What would I have done if I had been able to decide ? On the one hand they are humans, but at the same time people described as good...is that even possible ?*

It was clear that we, all the different races suffered from discrimination and racism around the world, so I didn't want to be compared to humans by doing the same thing. However, the suffering we had all experienced in our lives had made us stronger, braver, and most importantly...more wary.

*How do we know if we can trust them ?*

So many questions in my mind and no answers on the horizon. What would the Empress do ? She was the cruelest among us and her rage against humans was similar to her colossal and mysterious power. I couldn't see her accepting their presence, but I couldn't see her killing them just because they were human either. Her Highness would not reject an audience to sort out the real from the fake.

*There is no point in doubting ! Her Highness will find a solution and I am sure she will know if one of them is lying !*

As I was reassured, I stood up to indicate to the others that we were leaving for the Empire.

"Get moving, we're leaving !"

I then leaned over to Erkas to tell him that he didn't have to worry and that no one would try anything against them until I had the Empress hear their story.

"It's okay, they're safe, you don't need to worry about them anymore."

I couldn't guarantee that they would stay alive in the future, but I could at least promise not to do anything until I was ordered to. As I bent down to take the young woman in my arms, the elf stopped me with a frightened look.

"You..."

"I'm not going to hurt her. You're all exhausted, I'm not going to ask you to carry her, I'll handle it ! Relax, I told you no one would touch a single hair on these humans."

As he nodded, I took the girl in my arms once more. She was slight, rather frail, and had no smell of blood on her clothes or skin. Despite her mask and hood, I could see a few golden curls falling over her covered and sleeping face.

*Is your name really Luna ?*

I couldn't help but observe her as we walked. She intrigued me more than I wanted to admit and her azure eyes were constantly on my mind. The more I walked, the more an unexpected certainty became apparent. When she had looked at me, her gaze conveyed something other than surprise. This young woman had looked at me as if she knew me even though we had never met before today.

*What the hell is going on ?*

____

FULL STATUS

Name : Freya

Age : 0 years old / Mentally : 25 years old

Sex : Female

Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult

Race : Major Demon

Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.

Dragon tamer

Ruthless slayer

Level : 33/70

Exp required for next level: 100 / 34 000

HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000

Strength : 425

Defense : 421

Agility : 435

Stamina : 428

Speed : 427

Intelligence : 425

Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 0

Married to: Gaya

Daughter : Shiro

Empire (menu)

Subordinates : 387

Humans killed : 148

Elements: Ice / Chaos

Skills (all):

Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 5)

Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 6)

- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)

- Pain Resistance (lvl 3)

Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)

Others - Humanoid form

- Ice creation (Lvl 5)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)

- Devouring chaos (Lvl 5)

- Analysis

- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique

- Telepathy

- Mana detection (lvl 1)

Passives - Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]