Chapter 343: Threats
When Ivan and Samantha were set to leave, Herbert showed up with Ivan’s black steed.
Ivan helped Samantha mount his steed before taking his place behind her, and Herbert had insisted he come along with them, as he could not leave the two people whom he was protective of to themselves. Moreso, his Majesty had decided to conceal his vampire essence by appearing human to the elves.
He knew his presence was not necessary, but to secure their safety, he was obliged to stay by their side and be their third eye.
"Alright, you can come." Ivan eventually agreed after Herbert’s persistence, and the relieved guard quickly fetched his horse.
Together, the three of them left the tent.
After a thirty minute ride away from their hideout, they were instantly led to the central part of the deserted town. The air was thick with an eerie silence, only to be broken by the distant creaking of a loose shutter. Samantha didn’t know if she had prepared herself for what she was about to see, but as they entered, the desolation unfolded before her eyes.
A landscape of ruined houses, shattered windows, and an earthy path cracked and broken, as if nature itself had revolted. The broken earthly path snaked through the town as they kept moving, and Samantha gripped the horse’s reins in an attempt to soothe her anxiety. The once charming houses now stood as dilapidated shells, their structural integrity compromised by an unforeseen force, but luckily, all the houses appeared to be empty.
Samantha’s pupils dilated as the destruction stretched forth, her gaze shifting from one devastating building to another. The only ones who didn’t seem affected by the ruined sight were Ivan and Herbert, because to them, it wasn’t a new thing. Herbert, however, stayed vigilant as he scanned the surroundings with a stoic expression, ensuring their safety amidst the wreckage.
The broken town was a manifestation of her broken power, and she didn’t need anyone to tell her that. Samantha gazed at the aftermath with a sense of guilt, acknowledging the consequences of her abilities spiraling out of control. She wrestled with the realization that her powers, when unrestrained, could reshape a landscape and leave devastation in their wake.