Chapter 4 - The Shadow Of Her Heart (1/2)

Scowling in displeasure, she started to move to the other side, but a long arm stretched out, obstructing her way.

”Going somewhere, Versailles?” The village head's scrawny son, Lim, was staring down at her, sleazy smile on his mean face.

”This can't be happening.” She muttered.

”Oh, did you say something?”

The crowd that was bustling a while ago, was now silent. Everyone fanned out, encircling the two as they watched the drama unfold from a clear distance away.

”Get out of the way, Lim.”

His garlic breath was swift and direct to her sensitive senses. Once. Twice. Her empty stomach heaved over the rancid stench and tensed in anticipation for the vomit that never came.

”Little twig, you should be happy that I am willing to take you in after your own parents disowned you. If it were not for the marriage agreement set forth by my grandfather, would I even want someone like you? The only good thing working out for you is...” Leering down at her, Lim's unadulterated eyes shamelessly roamed over her figure.

Once upon a time, when she had still been a serpentine, she had flamed any beast that dared to look upon her with such a gaze. Immortal beasts and creatures with looks and abilities a hundred times above Lim's pathetic bullying scurried away in fear and trepidation upon sighting her. Now, she ground her teeth, cursing her weak and powerless self. Now, Versailles Skyler was just an ordinary human, a very weak one at that.

”Stray cur.” He said, preparing to run his greasy hand over her flame hair.

”That is enough, Lim. We should go.” A lazy voice sounded out, and Versailles looked past Lim to see Burin, Lim's best friend walking towards them.

”Playing savior, Bro? You gonna stop me from having my fun?” Lim turned, sizing up his friend's muscular frame against his own skinny figure.

”We gotta leave now in order to deliver the shipment on time. Otherwise, I will be forced to clue in your father about your unusual hobbies over at the Win.”

Lim's eyes snapped up to Burin's ”You wouldn't...”

”Wouldn't I?”

A muscle twitched in Lim's jaw, and he spat at Versailles who was struggling to keep her bile down.

”Humph! You better watch your back, wench. This is not the end. Let's go!” Throwing his hands up in defeat, Lim snarled and disappeared into the throng of people that had crowded around them.

Burin's gaze shifted to her, his eyes looking her up and down.

”You okay?”

”There was no need for you to interfere. I could have handled it.” Versailles breathed in deeply, feeling her queasy stomach settle down.

”Yea, it seemed like you were handling it just fine.” He scoffed.

For all his gentlemanly façade, Versailles knew Burin was a pack with Lim. The two were two snakes with different strips, and whatever Lim did publicly, Burin did it in private.

As such, she did not want to get too entangled with the seemingly gentle, yet secretly dangerous man.

”Well thanks, but next time? Do not bother. I can deal with my own problems.” Finished, Versailles turned and strode off.

She had much more important things to deal with than two obnoxious, repulsive men.

She had to find something to fill her and her grandpa's stomach.

Versailles cautiously entered the woods, her bow, and arrow in hand. During this time of day, wild beasts were either sleeping to digest their morning meal or scavenging for food. If she encountered a napping beast, then it would be a fruitful hunt for her.

She'd get a much-needed break from the wilds and could focus on looking after Grandpa Al.

Unfortunately, encountering wild beasts itself was a matter of luck, let alone a sleeping one. Due to the Sybil realm's rough environment, very few beasts thrived in its barren land, and those that did were not easy to deal with.

Therefore, even though there was the possibility of losing one's life, every resident in the village considered encountering a wild beast as a matter of great fortune. And in hope of fortune favoring them, they always left behind traps.

Moving stealthily among the dense trees, she ventured deeper into the desolate mountains, her quiet footsteps resounding in the silent background.

The atmosphere here was still, carrying an eerie danger within its silence. Growls and roars intermittently rang out, putting her edge.

”Is it awfully quiet today or is it just me?”

Versailles had never felt so strung up as she did today. There was an ominous, almost malicious sort of feel to the air, as the afternoon breeze lightly rustled the autumn leaves.

She stopped for a brief second, debating whether to return or not. After all, no matter how much they needed meat, it was not worth sacrificing her life. If anything were to happen to her, there would be no one to care for her grandpa.

Sighing in disappointment, she turned, intending to leave. Before she could take a step, however, a giant shadow lunged at her. Adrenaline rushed in and she instinctively dodged to the side, rolling over before getting to her feet.

”Roarrr.....”

Her heart dropped. The beast before her was a yellow wild fox well known for its ferocity. Thin and emaciated, its cold eyes fixed on her with a vicious and ruthless aura. From its stance, it was obvious the beast had been starving for quite a while and planned on making her its dinner.

As a former serpentine, she knew showing fear only fueled beasts' natural predatory instincts, and if she wanted to escape alive today, then she would have to fight.

Throwing her bow and sling aside, she grabbed arrows in each of her hands and faced the fox.

”Come. Let me see for myself today what the so-called ferocious fox is like!”

Since escape wasn't an option, she had to fight to the death!

Without hesitation, she dashed towards the charging beast. The two clashed with claws and arrows, Versailles swinging and plugging the pointy ends of her weapons like spears as the fox swept and slashed with its claws.

Widening its jaw, its razor-sharp teeth flashed with light as it champed on her arm.

”Ungh!”

White agony, deep and intense, shot through her senses, clouding her vision. She clenched her teeth, forcing the scream down her throat. In the next instant, she plugged her arrows right into the fox's vital points, one in the neck, the other in the waist.

”Groarrrrr....!”

Roaring in pain, it blindly stumbled back, falling on its side. Versailles clutched her bleeding arm, vigilantly watching the bleeding fox. After what felt like forever, its pitiful whimpers abruptly stopped, its yellow pupils turning glossy as it lay still. It was dead.

Finally relieved, Versailles' tense muscles relaxed and she weakly fell to her knees.