Valerian, The Legendary

313 Nostalgia & Bandits.

Valerian spent the night thinking about what Boo-too told him. He did not mind going up against a person sent by the Tyrant. Sooner or later, he will have to face these enemies anyhow. He was only worried about the little one snuggling to him.

He looked at Valerie and recalled the nights when he was young, and sometimes Diligentia would let him stay with her and how she would hold him in her arms so he would not feel worried. But then, he lost track of time while daydreaming, and the sun appeared on the horizon. Valerian tickled the little girl and said, “Vali, it is time to wake up.”

Vali was a name he used to call her with love. But he could not help himself because this girl was just like that. Valerie was just that adorable. He admitted it in his heart that Solaria was right. The warmth and joy in his heart were something he had never thought possible. He wanted to reciprocate their emotions even when he was affectionate to the people around him.

He wanted to care for Valerie because he saw himself in her. The tickling worked, and Valerie woke up with groggy eyes and pouting lips. She was not very apt at controlling her mana yet. Valerian scratched her nose and then took out the daily toiletries for the girl and said, “We have a busy day ahead.”

Valerie was reluctant but stood up, muttering, “Meanie.”

The young man smiled at her. He did not mind her being vexed. She was a child, after all. The two people finished preparing and left the place on their horse. While riding, Valerie said, “How about we name this horse?”

Valerian was surprised and asked, “Okay, what do you want to name him?”

Valerie thought about it and then said, “I do not know. Do you have any suggestions?”

The young man smiled and said, “I have no idea.”

.....

Valerie spoke in a long, stretched tone, “Boringgg.”

Valerian chuckled, and the little girl said, “How about Adonis?”

Valerian was left baffled as he looked at this horse. The townsfolk were not very good at breeding animals. Valerie turned her head to look at him with her big silver eyes. Valerian gave up the intention of making a joke and nodded. He said, “Do you like your new name, Adonis?”

The young man rubbed the side of the horse’s mane, and the horse neighed. Valerian used his wood mana to feed the horse with new energy, and the journey picked up. Finally, they were heading towards a guarded human settlement. The place mentioned by the Knights of Mercy was under the protection of the dragon temple. However, the guards from the dragon temple suffered losses over the years when confronted by the bandits.

While some of them lost their lives to protect the place, others left the temple because after the bandits discovered the identities of a few priests, they also killed the deceased’s, family members.

Valerian read all about it in the letter given to him, and he was angry. He could never understand what could make a human do things like this. They never cared for the victims. How could people be so unfeeling? This was not all. They did not allow any of the followers of the mercy to help the wounded. The primary targets were the caravans of the distinct nomadic clans, and the secondary target was the settlement itself.

Some distinct clans were strong, and they could fend for themselves. Valerian agreed with such families. After all, life should not be presented to others on a platter. Every being deserves to be respected. They all exist because the gods allow them.

They only made one stop to eat lunch and continued the journey. Adonis looked much healthier than before under the administration of mana through his muscles. When they settled, it was already evening. Adonis was also running his limit of travel as an average horse. Valerie was also tired from the constant journey.

After reaching the settlement, Valerian and Valerie were greeted by a priest in a red robe. This person was a follower of the dragon temple. The man introduced himself as Imoteph, the head priest of the dragon temple.

After the introduction, Valerian was about to ask for a place to spend a night when Imoteph said, “You came at the right time. Can you track down those bandits?”

Valerian was surprised and then asked, “Did something happen?”

Imoteph nodded and said, “Those imbeciles kidnapped a young girl from the settlement and a few of the distinct girls from the caravan. I wanted to go and search for them, but we could not track them.”

Valerian could guess from the voice that this person was a young man. However, he could also sense that his concern was not false, and he said, “Very well. I will get to it right away.”

The head priest bowed and said, “Do you need anything? We have some weapons here.”

Valerian shook his head and said, “I have everything I need. Thank you.”

Valerie nodded and said, “Big brother, I will go along with you.”

The silver-haired monk nodded and said, “Yes.”

The head priest wanted to say something when Valerian held the little girl’s hand and said, “I will trouble you for taking care of my horse.”

Imoteph was left stunned. He could not understand why this guy was so confident. However, he was all that he could rely on. So, the head priest led Adonis to the stables while Valerian and Valerie arrived near the wreckage from the looting scene.

Valerian had no problems picking up the hoove-marks left by the bandits. Finally, however, he frowned, and Valerie asked, “Big brother, why do you frown? Is something wrong?”

Valerian subconsciously muttered, “Why did the head priest not pick up any traces of the bandits with these hoove marks?”

Valerie replied, “They are looking for the bandits, not the horse. So how can they pick up the traces.”

Valerian could not help but laugh at this. He rubbed Valerie’s little nose with the back of his finger. The girl smiled jubilantly. Valerian held the girl, and the two followed the hoove marks on the ground to the edge of the woods.

The place around the settlement was just some damp grassy field. This patch was cleared so that travelers could spot this place with ease. Valerian said, “Valerie, stay back. Okay? And hide if you hear anyone approaching. Okay?”

The little girl nodded and said, “Okay, big brother.”

Valerian nodded, and they moved forward slowly through the woods. Valerian spotted a wild cat looking for prey in the dark and let out a hissing voice. This was a small animal with some magical capability. Although the cat was surprised, it replied to the young man with what he wanted.

Valerie was not surprised, and then he left the place. The cat told him that there was a clearing where these people were camping out inside the forest. This place was surrounded by small hills from three sides and was hard to find. Valerian asked, ‘Do you know the way?’

The cat nodded but asked, ‘What’sin it for me?’

Valerian smiled and said, ‘I will get you food.’

The cat thought for a bit and then nodded to him. Under the cat’s lead, the two people moved through the woods. The terrain opened up after a few minutes. It was a mud trail leading to the forest’s depths, laced with fresh track marks. Valerian heightened his guard.

The wild cat asked, ‘What do you want to do with these humans?’

Valerian replied, ‘Catch them.’

The wild cat nodded as she picked up the pace. Valerian sensed that someone was approaching them from the hoof sounds. He hid in the trees on the side and embraced Valerie. He whispered to her in beast language, ‘Do not make any big moves or noises.’

The little girl nodded. A few seconds later, two horsemen passed their locations holding torches. Valerian waited for them to head back to their location before he came back out and began his charge. This time the speed was faster.

After ten minutes, they reached what looked like a checkpoint. Valerian furrowed his brows and said, “Valerie, you hide in the bushes there.”

Valerie looked at him worriedly, but the young man smiled and patted her head. The little girl did not want to be his burden, so she hid in the bushes. Valerian nodded as he moved forward. He was sure not to make any sounds as this place was filled with bandits. If he attracted attention, it would make things difficult for him.

The young man looked at the small cottage and a few men standing there guarding the place and cast a vine-binding spell, but the slight change was he cast a paralyzing vine spell. The result of the spell made the few men freeze and the young man smiled. He was going to bag his prize like this.