World Witout Wizards: Guard

"Tell me, are Black guards HAND officials?"

"Of course they are. Yes. Warlocks, guards, judges, tax collectors—all of them are HAND officials. And that is all you can achieve if you don't come from a noble family, one that has served the Empire for generations. Although you can obtain the title of a knight. But this is very rare.

"So, what if Lysandra is guilty of trying to kill me?"

"Are you kidding, buddy, why would this fool want to kill you?" Tren'ya grinned.

"Let's ask her."

I whispered to the girl, "Do you want to live?"

"Yes," she replied faintly.

"Then answer honestly, even if you don't want to do it, even if you think that it might hurt you." Lyska looked at me incredulously, then nodded.

"Did you go swimming with me recently?"

"Yes," she said, surprised.

"What does your swimming got to do with it?" the warlock interrupted. "If you want to brag about your love affairs, you can just tell us! You don't need to ask her about it."

"I'd like to figure everything out. It's important for me."

"Lysandra, did you want to kill me that day in the lake? Did you try to do that?" She could hardly see because her eyes looked like narrow slits because of the bruises… "Answer me honestly."

"Yes, I did," she said reluctantly, signing her second death warrant.

Attention

New data revealed

Automatic updating of the sentence

Processing

I didn't know if it was real or if it was a delusion, but I heard a quiet laugh.

Luck Check

Base 1

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 4

Success

The court sentence of Defector Lysandra is updated

Two equal crimes detected; the latest update is considered a priority

New charges: attempted murder of a Black guard Michael Greystle

Debt price: 250 silver coins

Related quest: Court

"Buddy, what have you done?" The warlock stared at me in surprise, "Why? You've just changed the charge. Have you unlocked an achievement or increased stat points of your reputation?"

"No, but I'll get some advantages."

I had to deal with the last and the most difficult part of the task.

"I pronounce Defector Lysandra guilty of a crime committed against me."

Sentence passed

Quest is complete

You've managed to partially defend Defector Lysandra

New circ.u.mstances have been revealed

You completed your task successfully

Reputation points of the Black guard increased: +1

Subtotal:3

"Aha-ha-ha" Vagol laughed, "Come on, girl, you're dead. I say, we'd better cut off her head; so we don't waste rope. Although we can put her on a spike to scare the others... I propose we do it slowly... Guards!"

The girl quivered with each warlock's word as if she was being whipped. Vagol rubbed his hands, anticipating the bloody sight... But I wasn't going to stop.

"Wait! As the official who was assaulted by this filth, I demand compensation."

"Have you decided to belittle her?" Polozoob laughed. "I respect you, man. Do you think she has money? Even if you sell her twenty times, you won't get that sum…"

"I propose she pay her debt with her soul," as soon as I said it, Tren'ya and Vagol's smiles faded. I thought I saw a glimmer of hope in Lysandra's eyes. The warlock and Polozoob guessed my true intentions.

"She won't get off that easy. She'll give me more p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e in another way. I'm still young and I can finish her off any time."

"Ha," Vagol smiled after a few seconds, "You're not stupid."

"I just follow your example, sir," I replied with a slight bow. "Of course, this girl is not nearly as good as your Moorgla, but she'll work off these two hundred and fifty silver coins many times."

"Attaboy! I never thought I'd say this, but you did good, buddy. Would she agree? How much will her treatment cost? Wouldn't it be better to just take her soul? Although you're not a magician, you'll get part of it."

"Defector Lysandra, are you ready to transfer your body and soul to me, as a payment of the debt and live a little longer?"

"Yes, I am," Lyska replied almost without thinking.

Attention!

You've become a slave owner

You've become the owner of Defector Lysandra

Her soul is inseparable from yours

Rights are established

Change the slave name? Yes. No. Later

I preferred the last option. I didn't want to leave her such a nickname and wasn't able to come up with anything worthy.

"Congratulations, my boy," the warlock smiled broadly, "Welcome to our ranks. Although it's strange to see a concubine, taking into account that you're a Black guard, and not a warlock. I hope she'll curse this moment of weakness a thousand times. Even if you only want to use her as a woman now, you'll soon get tired of her. I think in ten years, fifty at the most."

"Thank you for your wise words, your Highness."

"I'm sick of your politeness. All right. I wonder what you'll do with this body. She won't live long. I doubt you have enough money to cure her. What do you think?

"I don't know."

I looked at Lyska. Her wounds were very serious; unfortunately, I hadn't brought any of my mother's elixirs.

"Well... There is a healer in our village, she isn't very competent but she is said to be versed in herbs. I think this woman can cure this girl for a few silver coins. You can try to heal her yourself if you have time to wander through the woods, collect the necessary herbs and prepare a potion. The healer will let you into her laboratory for fifty copper coins. You can just buy a cart and take that half-corpse home with you."