After a long walk through the village, Iris and Bal finally reached the entrance gate of the Main House.
The proof of that is the amount of Elf Guards stationed throughout and around the premises of the Main House. These guards wore a very heavy armour while holding, what seem to be an iron spear. All of them had similar attire and weapon.
While they were a distance away from nearing the gate, the guards were in disorder, all were doing their own thing and not in formation.
However, as soon as they saw Bal, they hurriedly change their attitude and properly went into formation like a well-trained army.
Ignoring their behaviour before, Bal reached in front of the gate. The guards who are guarding the Main Gate saluted Bal and opened the gate afterwards.
Going through the gate, as soon as Bal walked in first, the guards began breaking their serious attitude and started starring at Iris.
Feeling the numerous perverted gazes on her, she hastily walk in, trying to avoid those gazes.
Bal released a small menacing aura towards those guards like a warning. He cannot be bothered to yell at them. Those guards shook abit and hurriedly went back to being serious.
Iris was glad that there were no more villagers that wanted to harasss Bal. She knows he would kill them if another incident happened and for that she was relieved.
Also, the thought of seeing her family again also makes her abit happy and anxious at the same time. She hopes nothing bad had happened to them.
...
Upon entering the door of the Main House, they were greeted by many Elf Maids within.
Surprised by the appearance of Iris, all of them showed a sign of relief, probably after knowing that their Lady, Iris, is alive and well.
Hearing words such as, "thank goodness Iris-sama is safe..." & "I hope Iris-sama is not hurt..." as well as other warm words.
Iris showed a sweet smile towards the Elf Maids and continue following Bal.
Within her shadows, Shin also has his opinion...
{Seems like she is treated very nicely by her servants. Knowing that makes me happy. The fact she also treats them nicely.} <Shin>
{More praises for her, i see...fufu.} <Shana>
Passing by the Elf Maids and walking through a long hallway, they again stood in front of another door.
Before entering, Bal grinned while giving off a threatening speech...
"Since you want to see your family that badly, go ahead. Behind this door is where your family is being imprisoned. But i cant confirm you that they are alive though, my father might have killed them already...HAHAHA." <Bal>
Hearing Bal's intimidating speech, Iris began to feel anxious and scared. She hesitantly open the door, and hoping that her family is alive.
As the door opened, what she saw across the room was a big cage.
And inside the big cage she noticed 2 elf were imprisoned in.
Not needing to think much on who their identity are, she ran towards the cage and shouting to the people in the cage...
"Father! Onii-sama! Thank goodness you all are alive!" <Iris>
Without the care in the world, Iris ran towards her family with tears of happiness flowing down her cheek. Relieved that her family is alive.
Hearing a sudden familiar voice, both Tokol and Dan turned towards the direction of that familar voice they heard.
Seeing Iris running towards them happily while crying, they smiled and were glad to be able to see her again.
However their smile faded as the next thing they remembered was that Iris will be in danger if they do not escape from this cage and do something.
They remembered that Dol said that Iris came back alone and with that she is probably defenseless.
Remembering again they cant escape from the cage, they began shouting words of caution to Iris...
"Iris! Why didnt you run away?! You should have just leave us!" <Tokol>
"Father is right! But now you need to becareful! This cage is impossible to destroy! We are stuck in here, you need to find a way to defend yourself!" <Dan>
Ignoring her Father's and Brother's warnings, she says her own words of comfort as she comes closer to the cage...
"Father! Onii-sama! Everything is gonna be alright! The village will be saved! I've found someone that can help us take down uncle and Bal-san." <Iris>
Hearing her say that, they began thinking who she might be referring to but was unable to come to a conclusion.
They do not understand how someone can help them if they are nowhere to be seen. Furthermore with the fact that she came back alone, their idea of someone saving them from this predicament is impossible.
As Iris neared the cage and was about to touch the cage bar, Shin whispered to her...
{Be careful! Do not touch the cage, it could hurt you.} <Shin>
Iris was about to touch the cage bar but stopped herself after hearing Shin's warning. With that she did not get injured.
She was about to talk more with her family but a voice interrupted her. Hearing that, she turned backwards.
From outta nowhere appeared Dol as he walked and stood beside his son, and greeted her...
"Well,well. If it isnt my cute little niece. How nice of you to come back to the village. If i did not misheard you just now, did you say you found someone that can take us down? Then where is he? I only see you here...HAHA! Didnt you see how strong we became? Noone in the Natura Forest can stop us. Well whatever, you can at least watch me kill your father and brother in front of you. And after that I will have you marry my son." <Dol>
"Bal! Restrain her while I kill Tokol and Dan." <Dol>
Finishing his sentence, Bal begin walking towards Iris. He plans to hold on to Iris so that he can forcibly make her look as his father kills Tokol and Dan.
Seeing Bal nearing her, Iris took out her dagger, holding with both hands and aimed it at Bal in self-defense.
Ignoring her attempt to defend herself, Bal unsheathed the sword from his waist and was about to slash the dagger out of her hands.
During the time that it is happening, Tokol and Dan were shouting words of anger and warning to Bal...
"Stay away from her!" <Tokol>
"Dont you dare hurt her, Bal!" <Dan>
Ignoring them, he continued his march.
Iris stood while firmly holding her dagger preparing to block it. And in her head she was thinking about Shin...
{Shin-sama, help me please!} <Iris>
As the sword was about to clash, a dark figure emerged from Iris's shadow and block the sword slash from Bal.
What appeard was Shin with his right-arm clad in a dark aura, blocking the sword's slash, like a shield.
"Dont you dare try and harm her." <Shin>
Shin stared at Bal.
"Shin-sama!" <Iris>
While Shin was angrily warning Bal, Iris was exclaiming in happiness that Shin had finally come out, just as planned.
On the other hand, the other four people in the room showed a face of confusion.
In their head were probably questions such as "who is he?!" or "where did he come from?!"
The first person to ask such question was Bal. As the person to clash with him, he voiced out his curiousness...
"W-who are you?! Where did you come from?! A-and how were you able to stop my sword with your arm?!" <Bal>
Bal jumped a few metres backward and landed beside Dol, after sensing that the unknown person seemed to be dangerous.
Answering to Bal's question, Shin dissipated the dark aura covering his arm and spoked...
"Im a wanderer. As for my name, you already heard Iris say it, its Shin Kagami. Iris asked for my help to take the two of you down. So i hope you can entertain me."<Shin>
Ending his sentence with a provocation, he grinned as well.
Seeing his condescending attitude, both Dol and Bal got agitated. Dol unsheathed his sword and they both concentrated their power on their swords and after that, both their swords were enveloped in a dark aura.
Seeing that similar power again, he begin to fight but remembered he had no weapon to fight with. So he turned to look at Iris and requested for her dagger...
"Iris, lend me your dagger. I have yet to own any weapon yet. So i need your dagger." <Shin>
"Ok, here you go." <Iris>
Iris unhesitantly handed her dagger to Shin as per his request.
"Thanks." <Shin>
After getting the dagger, he realised it was too weak to clash against Dol and Bal.
So he thought he could use his ability to enhance the sword just like what Dol and Bal did.
Therefore he concentrated his power on the sword and used his ability [Abyssal Darkness] to envelop the dagger. He also imagined the dagger extending to be as long as a sword with the power of his ability.
With little effort the dagger was covered in his dark aura and its length increased, exactly how he visualised.
Successfully doing that for the first time, he was happy. Shana too admired him.
{As expected of you. Efficiently using your powers on your first go. Im no longer amazed.} <Shana>
Hearing Shana praise him made him even more happy.
Not only her, Iris too was amazed by Shin's amazing display of his powers.
With the enhanced dagger in hand, he tells Iris to move aside as he slash the the cage.
In that one slash, the cage broke apart.
Tokol and Dan showed a face of astonishment, after seeing how he broke the cage easily.
Finally free, Tokol and Dan ran to Iris.
They reunited again and ask if she is ok as well as enquiring about Shin...
"Iris, are you alright?" <Tokol>
"You ok?" <Dan>
"Yes Father and Onii-sama. Im fine. Thanks to Shin-sama that is" <Iris>
Relieved that she is alright, they then spoke to Shin...
"Shin was it? I thank you for saving my daughter as well as coming to our aid." <Tokol>
"Shin, let me help you take them down." <Dan>
"I will take care of them myself. You guys just thank me later after im done. So stand back and watch. This will be over in no time." <Shin>
Hearing their help was not needed they told him that they are strong and he should have them support him.
However Shin replied...
"I said i will be fine. Beating them will be easy. You 2 will just get in my way, so just stand back and watch with Iris." <Shin>
Being told off again, they stepped back.
Hearing Shin say that beating them would be easy, they issued their own warning...
"Hah! You gonna beat us in no time and alone?! Dream on kid! There is no way you can beat us!" <Dol>
"Thats right! Get off your high horse. With these new powers we received, no way you can beat us. You might have displayed a power similar to us but it is definitely weak. Im gonna slice you up!" <Bal>
"Try it if you can." <Shin>
Ending each of their own provocations, they ready up to cross swords. With each using their own power to take down one another.