The Nameless Heir-Chapter 55: New Friend

"Hey, sunshine, I get it—you missed me. Can you let go of me?" Kael muttered.

"No," Liz said. The word came out muffled—her face buried against his shoulder, while her arms wrapped tight around him.

Kael sighed and rubbed her back once, slow.

"Yeah... I missed you too."

He hesitated. "But we really need to find Caius."

That got her attention. She hesitated, then finally let go.

Kael turned to the woman beside Liz. She was pressed against a tree, hands behind her, breath short and sharp. The moment he stepped forward, she flinched—like someone had hit her.

Then the scream tore out of her. High-pitched. Raw. Like something broken had snapped loose.

"Don’t come any closer!"

"Huh? Lady, I just saved you," he muttered, stopping in his tracks.

"You... monster," she whispered.

Kael raised a hand, trying to show he meant no harm.

But she only shook harder, like his presence alone made her skin crawl.

Then—BAM—Liz smacked him on the back of the head.

"Ouch! What was that for?" he yelped.

"Stop scaring her, you idiot."

Liz smacked him again—harder this time.

"I didn’t even do anything!" Kael muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

"You came flying in, screaming ’I’ll kill you all!’ like a lunatic," she snapped, jabbing a finger into his chest.

"That was meant for them, not her!" he said, pointing to the bodies.

"Back off, you monster," the elf girl whispered again.

Kael lowered his hand.

"...Hey, I got feelings too."

Liz stepped forward, kneeling beside the girl.

"Don’t worry, Aria. He was the one I told you about. This is Kael."

Aria’s expression didn’t change at first, but she slowly took Liz’s hand and stood. Her eyes stayed locked on Kael—still full of fear.

Then Liz turned and grabbed Kael’s cheeks, pulling and stretching them.

"See? Harmless."

"You know, sunshine... dis ish kinda embawwassing..." Kael muttered through squished cheeks.

Liz smiled, proud like she was showing off a well-trained pet.

"Look at him! How can anyone be afraid of this face?"

Aria blinked.

Then she laughed—soft at first, like she was holding it in. But it grew louder, slipping out between breaths.

"You two make a perfect couple," she said, giggling behind her hand.

She held out her hand.

"I’m Aria."

Kael took it, his grip gentle.

"Kael Voss. Nice to meet you."

They glanced around at the wreckage he left behind. The silence was heavy. The smell of smoke still lingered in the air.

"How did you manage to kill them all?" Liz asked.

Kael unsheathed his katana and held it up.

"With this," he said proudly.

"That’s a nice sword. Where’d you get it?"

"It was a gift."

"From?"

He shrugged, like he wasn’t worried.

"I don’t know, but let’s get outta this forest first."

As they walked, Liz grabbed his hand.

Kael didn’t pull away.

He started explaining everything—how he was thrown in prison, the strange magic users, the Demon King, and the sword he received. He even mentioned fighting one of the heroes and nearly dying.

When he said that part, Liz tightened her grip.

"Don’t worry, sunshine. He got lucky. I was toying with him until he used some weird power," Kael said, smirking.

She stomped on his foot.

"Stop doing stupid stuff!"

"I know, I know! But he made me so mad. Did you know those so-called heroes are monsters? They came to this world just to destroy everything."

"You’re saying they’re not from this world?"

"Yeah. They came from somewhere else."

"That explains the weird powers."

"Yep."

Kael turned to Aria.

"You’ve been quiet. Do you live nearby?"

"Sorry... I didn’t want to interrupt you two," she said softly.

"Oh! Kael—I forgot to tell you. I would’ve been dead if it weren’t for her," Liz added.

Kael turned fully toward Aria.

"Really?"

"Yeah. We were on the run. They almost got us... but Aria saved me."

Without hesitation, Kael grabbed Aria’s hand and started thanking her over and over.

She smiled.

"It’s okay. It was the right thing to do. Those people... they’re not good. They burned my village. Killed everyone." Her voice dropped. "I couldn’t save anyone else."

The air went still.

No one spoke.

Liz’s fingers slipped between his.

Kael just stared at Aria, chest heavy. Words didn’t come easy.

Finally, he exhaled.

"We need to find Caius and get the hell out of here."

"I agree. I’ve got a really bad feeling about this place."

"I saw someone like you two. Blond hair. Armor. He got captured and taken to the Kingdom of Mazakar," Aria said.

"That’s definitely him," Kael muttered.

"He was yelling something like, ’You dare touch the son of Zeus!’"

"Yep. 100% Caius. Do you know how to get there?"

"Yes... but we need money for the fee."

Liz and Aria checked their pockets.

Empty.

Kael pulled out a pouch filled with gold.

"I got some."

They both stared.

"Where’d you get those from?" Liz asked.

"Took it from the Demon King’s castle."

"That’s perfect!" Aria said with a grin.

Aria led the way.

She moved fast but steady—like she’d been through this forest a dozen times. Somehow, she got them out quicker than Kael expected.

Back on the trail, the world opened again.

Golden fields stretched wide on both sides. In the distance, two white wolves and three brown ones were circling a man and a woman.

Kael tensed, ready to leap forward.

But Aria was faster.

She drew and fired five arrows in a blink. All five wolves dropped instantly—silent, perfect shots.

Kael and Liz rushed to the couple. The man was hurt, but still breathing.

Liz knelt down and healed him.

"You’re fast, lady," Kael muttered, catching his breath.

"Please... help us get to the market," the woman begged, eyes pleading.

They agreed.

Kael helped them onto a small wooden cart with two wheels and rough handles.

He pulled it. Liz and Aria walked beside him.

Now that they were on open road, Kael stole a glance at Aria.

She was beautiful. Elegant. Tall, silver eyes. Long, silky hair.

BAM!

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Where do you think you’re looking?" Liz asked flatly.

"Her eyes!"

"Her eyes are up here, genius."

Aria turned, confused.

"I’m sorry," Kael said quickly. "I was just wondering... how are they that big? And how do you move so fast with them?"

BAM!

"Stop hitting me!"

The man and woman on the cart burst into laughter.

"Stop staring at her breasts!" Liz snapped. "Yes, they’re big and nice. Now stop looking!"

"I’m trying! I have questions and stuff!"

"Guys... please stop talking about my chest. It’s embarrassing," Aria muttered. Her ears flushed pink.

"Don’t worry, Aria. I’m more of a thigh guy anyway," Kael said, glancing at Liz’s legs now.

Liz raised her hand again.

Kael ducked. "I’m sorry! Don’t hit me!"

The couple laughed even harder.

Kael grinned.

"Glad someone’s enjoying this."

As they neared the city, Aria handed them robes to hide their armor and weapons.

The road grew crowded. People pushed carts of fruit, tools, and wheat.

No one smiled.

They reached the gates of Mazakar.

Two guards stood watch, wearing armor that didn’t match the poor town behind them.

The line moved slow.

When it was their turn, the guards inspected everyone. First the couple. Then Aria. Then Liz.

Kael caught the guard staring too long at Liz’s face. Kael grabbed the guard’s wrist without hesitation.

"Please don’t touch her," he said softly.

But his eyes told a different story.

Cold. Sharp. The kind that made people back off.

Aria stepped in quickly, pressing two gold coins into the guard’s hand before anything could escalate.

The guards said nothing and let them pass.

Inside the city, Kael helped the couple set up their small fruit stand.

Then he handed them gold from his pouch.

They froze, overwhelmed.

"Use it to get out of here," he said quietly.

The city smelled like rust and smoke.

Houses stood too close, stacked and squashed like they were hiding from something. Most looked like they’d collapse if someone leaned on them wrong.

Wooden stalls lined both sides of the street—overflowing with stale bread, rusted tools, herbs bundled in twine that was barely holding. The air was thick with dust, the sour scent of spoiled fruit clinging to every breath.

Kael kept walking.

Boots crunching on cracked stone. Eyes shifting from face to face.

Every shadow looked too long.

Every alley too quiet.

The people moved like ghosts—fast, eyes down, afraid.

Aria led them through the narrow alleys until they reached a small house.

It was cracked, patched with different wood.

Inside, it smelled like oil, dust, and worn-out cloth.

But it was quiet.

That was enough.

Aria had her own room. Kael and Liz shared the other.

That night, Kael leaned against the stone wall.

The lamp in the corner flickered. The flame barely lit the space.

But Liz was there.

And for now... that was all he needed.

He looked out the window.

The city of Mazakar looked just as broken from above.

The rooftops were jagged.

The alleys too dark.

It was a place built to trap people, not protect them.

Liz sat beside him on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Aria stood by the door, quiet.

"You think Caius is okay?" Liz asked softly.

Kael didn’t answer right away.

He just watched the people below. They looked like ants from this high up. Tired. Hollow.

But he forced a smile.

"Yeah," he said. "He’s loud. He’ll be fine."

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