Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends

Chapter 12: Present – Anrosh

ACT II Anrosh

Strange Questions

Anrosh looked at the stranger over the fire. Her daughter, Kri, was huddled next to her, sleeping. The stranger had taken them up to the mountains, and had them make camp near the base of a cliffs face. Anrosh tried to keep her nerves in check, but every time the stranger moved it made her shiver just a bit more. His movements were smooth, far too smooth. She had never seen anyone move like that, without sound, as if they were gliding through the air with no resistance. If she didnt know better, she would put him at Peak Lord Stage, but not only was there no sense of Qi coming off of him, his body also had no distinguishing features that would mark him as someone who had achieved the True Body stage, like the young master with his double horns and split tail. Thinking on the young master made her angry, however, so she pushed him out of her mind. She didnt have the time to worry about him, not when this stranger was staring at her from over the fire.

His eyes were empty, and that scared her to the bone, even more than the thought of spending the rest of her life warming the bed of a bastard like Fier. At times she thought that she saw some emotion inside of those eyes, but always it was quickly gone, replaced by that emptiness. The scariest thing was that she couldnt tell how strong he was. He didnt feel like a Cultivator, but he didnt feel like a Classer, either. She had seen him use a powerful skill, but other than that, nothing. Everything he did, he did with the pure power of his statsbut how could he have such high stats without being a Classer or a Cultivator? It was impossible. The only explanation was that he was hiding his power somehow. Anrosh didnt presume to know everything, though, and it was possible that there were ways of veiling power.

But the longer they sat there, the more her fear grew. She feared of opening her mouth and saying the wrong thing. She hadnt really thought things through when she had agreed to the strangers help, but she had been desperate. Yet, what kind of payment was answering questions? It didnt make sense, which was why she was on the lookout for a trap.

Then, finally, the stranger spoke.

What are you? he asked.

She frowned, but answered. Im called Anrosh. Im from

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No, he interrupted her. I asked what.

She blinked, not understanding the question. Anrosh tried to turn the words in her head, to come up with an answer, but she just didnt understand what he meant and she was too afraid to ask for clarification. Finally, she decided that she needed to speak, so she said the first thing that came to her mind. My ancestors were from the Fourth Iteration Earth. Im human.

The stranger tilted his head, then nodded.

Anrosh frowned. That couldnt have been what he wanted? He should know that already.

Uh she started slowly. Can I ask who you are?

Our bargain was for answers, not questions, the stranger said.

Of course. Apologies. She bowed her head quickly, not wanting to offend him.

Why are there no stars in the sky? he asked.

She blinked. Another strange question, she thought. Because this territory isnt claimed.

He tilted his head again, and didnt say anything. After a long breath, he spoke again. Why were you running from those people?

Her first instinct was to refuse to answer, but she knew that she had given her word, and if the only thing this stranger wanted was answers, then that was a small price to pay for freedom. My husband and I joined the Black Viper Sect six years ago. Since he showed promise, the sect invested resources into him, developing him as one of their warriors. A few days ago, he and his team failed to return from a scouting mission, and another patrol found their remains in the forest. With his death, all the resources that the sect invested in him are now wasted. Along with that, he had taken some loans from the sect, putting his family as collateral without my knowing. Now, with his death, I am supposed to pay back his debt. Ordinarily that would mean working for the sect, but the young master of this expedition had always kept his eye on me. It didnt matter, since I was married, until then. With my husbands death and his debts falling to me, he no longer had any reason to hold back. He wants me as his personal slave. I refuse to be reduced to that.

The stranger blinked once, slowly.

Anrosh found herself annoyed at his mannerisms. It was almost as if he didnt know how to act like a proper person, and was imitating someone else.

Why did you run toward the mountains? he asked.

Anrosh grimaced. There was nowhere else. We are deep in the frontier, and there are no settlements anywhere near us. If I tried to run toward any of the other sects or towns, I wouldve just been captured and delivered back to the Black Viper Sect as a present. The mountains were my only option. Alsothere are stories that say that the Third Iteration has gone beyond these mountains in their exile.

Exile? he asked.

Again with the strange question. She didnt know if he was playing with her or testing her, but she still answered. The war? The First and the Second Iterations against the Third Iteration Rankers?

The stranger nodded, then spoke again. This young master, how powerful is he?

He is currently Mid Lord Realm and level sixty-one. He has a few evolved skills, but no one knows the exact number, Anrosh answered, glad that at least one question was something that she could understand.

Those were good answers. Ill think of more questions for tomorrow.

Anrosh looked at him as he stood up and walked into the night. She wondered just who she had made a deal with. A small groan escaped her daughters mouth as she slept, and Anrosh looked at Kri. In the end, it didnt mattershe had escaped the sect, her daughter was safe, and that was all that she could ask for.