Scroll Of Wrath [BETA] COMPLETE

|Chapter 4| The Scroll of Dominion

Her stumble was caught by Zarek, who was passing by with a stack of papers. Seeing her struggle to balance with the large basket, he couldn't help but laugh at her predicament. "Humans are this bad at balancing? I wonder if you are useful for anything at all," he said with a scoff before walking away.

Hadassah finally caught her balance and did not even have the energy to pay him any mind. To her, he was a sulking brat, mad that his master had decided to take her on despite her not being a Kesmes. She caught her breath and took off the basket from her back before climbing the stairs to Neveah's green room. Every step felt heavier with the load, and she was beginning to wonder if she was truly this weak.

When she finally reached Neveah's green room, she opened the door quietly. As she walked towards the centre, she overheard Neveah's conversation with an unknown person. Peering around a corner, she saw it was the black-haired hunter-rabbit beast man, Ash.

"We can't just leave them alone, Neveah," Ash insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. "They pose a threat to our tribe. We need to take action."

Neveah shook her head, her expression firm. "We don't have to provoke them, Ash. Confrontation will only lead to more bloodshed. We should try to understand why they're here. Gone are the days where the Black Wind tribe has been considered a threat to beast men!"

Ash grabbed her arm, pulling her closer as their argument intensified. "You're too soft, Neveah. Sometimes you have to fight to protect what's important."

"And you, are a brute!" Neveah said with gritted teeth, looking up into his dark, intense eyes.

'This is really not the right time.' She did not want to get caught in a quarrel like this, she decided to go back out and come back after Ash had left. However, as she shifted her position, the large basket brushed against the plants, rustling the leaves and giving her presence away.

Neveah and Ash turned towards the sound, their expressions shifting from surprise to mild annoyance. "Hadassah, you're back," Neveah said, her tone neutral as she gently pulled her arm away from Ash's grip. "Did you find what we needed?"

Hadassah nodded, stepping forward with the basket, it was too late to leave now. "Yes, I found several herbs and even some rare plants. I'm sorry I'm late."

Neveah's expression softened slightly as she walked over to inspect the contents of the basket. "It's alright. You did well. Thank you."

Ash, on the other hand, seemed less impressed. "You should be more careful. Sneaking around like that can get you into trouble."

Hadassah met his gaze, determined not to be intimidated. "I wasn't sneaking. I just didn't want to interrupt."

Neveah gave Ash a pointed look. "There was nothing to interrupt, Ash was just leaving."

Ash sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. But we need to keep an eye on the ferals. I still think we're underestimating the danger."

Neveah nodded, acknowledging his concern. "I understand. We'll discuss it further later." Her words were final, and though Ash's face was unsightly, he walked away without another word. Neveah paid him no heed and smiled at Hadassah. "Let's sort these out and hang them to dry."

And so her afternoon was spent helping Neveah create new potions.

"I hope we finish our quota by next week," Neveah said as she mixed the concoction in her large cauldron. "Because of the Ferals, it's been a bit hard to forage at night these days. I am a bit worried."

Hadassah listened intently. "What's happening next week?"

"Well, the Great Kesmes is going on another journey. He normally takes my potions to sell at the beast cities; they are auctioned off."

The word 'beast city' brought back many negative memories for Hadassah. Beast cities were a collective term given to cities where multiple tribes had gathered, usually run by an elected chief. Most beast cities were under the Sky Deities' jurisdiction. The selling and buying of humans or minor beastmen, as well as the auctioning off of women and special items, often occurred in large beast cities. Anyone with money could live comfortably in beast cities unless you were human. Due to being large cities, the number of bounty hunters was not small. She was constantly chased all the way to this place. It was unpleasant, truly.

Her expression must have betrayed her thoughts, as Neveah looked at her with concern. "Hadassah, are you alright? You seem troubled."

Hadassah forced a smile, trying to shake off the memories. "I'm fine. Just... thinking about the beast cities. They're not exactly safe for someone like me."

Neveah's face softened with understanding. It was against the law to harm a Kesmes of any tribe without reason, so as long as one held their identity, they would be treated with great respect by all tribes since they are very much money-making factories.

They continued their work in silence for a while, the rhythmic motions of mixing and preparing potions soothing Hadassah's nerves. The scents of the various herbs and ingredients filled the room, creating a calming atmosphere.

As the sun began to set, Neveah finally spoke again. "There, that's the last of it. We've done well today."

Hadassah smiled, thanking her. "Thank you for today; I will see you tomorrow, elder sister!"

Neveah smiled back. "You're a quick learner, Hadassah. I'll get these potions stored away. Go enjoy your evening."

Hadassah left the green room, making her way back to her quarters. She already knew the first thing she was going to do tonight. She changed out of her fine robes and into her simple cotton top and skirt. She took a leather bag, strapping it to her back tightly, and prepared herself to go back to the ravine she had found earlier. This time she took some fire sticks and a flask of oil with her. She was determined to spend the night reading those scrolls.

With a final glance around her room, Hadassah slipped out into the evening shadows, her heart pounding with anticipation. The Scroll of Dominion awaited, and she was ready to uncover its secrets.