I clenched the reins with all my might. This gorgeous, terrifying beast is my only lifeline, and I pray I am not suffocating it. I didn't get a good look at the black horse before I got on it, but now that I am, it appears twice my size, and its legs are strong and sturdy—I might easily be crushed to death if I mess up. I never thought that there would come a time when I had to use a horse to travel to my destination. To make it worse, who would've thought that I would be thrown into an unknown place and possess an unknown body?

A huge sigh escaped my lips. To dispel the constant barrage of pessimistic ideas, I shook my head vigorously.

"Eli, this is not the time to be thinking negative thoughts. Everything will be fine. You will figure it out," I muttered to myself somehow, trying to convince myself as much as I could. I have no one to help me but myself. Just like always, I'm all alone.

The horse appears menacing, but I was quite surprised that it was rather tamed. From the moment I mounted him to make my getaway, the black mount has been submissive. It looks like he's even got a clue as to where I should be heading. For the most part, I followed the beast's lead, and as the rotters' snarling grew farther away, I could feel my muscles relaxing. I have no idea how long I have been riding, but I intend to keep going until I reach the place about which the girl spoke earlier. When I get there, I'll try to find a doctor to check my ankle, which is already the size of a golf ball, look somewhere to stay so I can get some rest, figure out my next plan, and maybe even gather information about this place.

In an attempt to calm myself, I started my usual breathing exercise. I inhale a gulp of cold air and exhale slowly. The temperature inside the forest is dropping at a frightening rate. The long dress that I was wearing was hacked up to my knees so I could move freely, but it didn't help because of the cold weather. If I don't hurry, I will probably freeze to death.

I couldn't help but clench my teeth in annoyance. I should have stripped that unconscious nobleman earlier and taken everything, even his clothes. I still don't feel satisfied with my little revenge earlier considering what he and his cahoots have been thinking of doing to her and the others. Men like him should be castrated or fed to those flesh-eating monsters.

I just hope that the other girls are safe right now, or even if they were captured, they will be given an ounce of mercy. They don't deserve to be treated like that. I don't know how dynamics work in this place, but I refused to bend to anyone who abuses their power like that. Those men are an eyesore. Especially those who won't help a young woman in need.

If Alanna hears what I'm thinking right now, she will probably say something along the lines that I should stop hating on men. Not all men are like that, I scoffed in anger, and a flash of an image of a silver-haired man appeared in my mind. That nonchalant silver-haired man was quite a busy bystander.

"What's all those powers for if he doesn't plan on using them to save people? You're wrong, Alanna. Even in a place like this, men are eyesores."

The horse aggressively whinnies as if disagreeing with my comment. I couldn't help but chuckle in surprise. I gently patted his side, trying to comfort him. As if it understood what I was talking about.

"You're different though; you should not lump yourself with their kind."

The beast scoffed in agreement and proceeded with his task at hand. Several hours passed by, and it was almost sunrise when I emerged from the forest and found a dilapidated town located just a few kilometers away from the forest entrance. I looked up at the broken signage in front.

It was called the Blackspire Town.

I felt my survival instinct kicking up a notch. The place has quite a murky and bleak atmosphere. I disembarked from my mount and cautiously stepped foot inside the town. Entering the town while riding my horse doesn't look like a good idea to me. However, I could feel my ankle throbbing in pain, and it became even more painful when I used it to walk. I tried to shift my weight on the other side of my foot, but it didn't make it any less painful. I really need to see a doctor.

As I slowly navigated inside the town, I tried to be inconspicuous as much as I could, almost hiding behind the shadow of the huge beast, but my state of undress and the menacing horse at my side seemed to be attracting unwanted attention. Although some people were busy going about their daily errands, I could still feel a few glances directed my way. My skin prickled in anxiety.

I chose to ignore it. Pretending to not give a damn, but I'm already trembling inside.

The place looks dilapidated from the murky wooden rooftops, dark and faded walls, broken roads, and even stricken-looking citizens. It doesn't seem to be a normal small town at all. There seem to be various types of people residing in this place. From burly men, who carry heavy weapons in their hands and stroll around like they own the place, to malnourished young workers dressed lightly for the extreme cold weather while lifting heavy sacks of food and boxes to the wagon. Some ragged young girls litter the streets, asking for a small change. They wore worn-out coats with holes and stains that could barely protect them from the cold.

And there is that... the type of person who likes to abuse their power. No matter what world I live in, scumbags like him will never disappear from her sight. A middle-aged man who looks like a wealthy merchant by the way he is dressed takes out a whip from his belt and starts to cruelly whip a young boy in the middle of the street. I squeezed my eyes shut. My heart was pounding erratically, but this time not because of fear but anger.

"Eli, control yourself. You're in no position to act like a hero," I murmured, feeling breathless.

I look down at my swollen ankle. Yeah, I can't run away with this limp. I wish it would stop, but as minutes passed, the abuse continued. I was trying my best not to interfere, giving myself an internal pep talk of the cons of my interfering at this point.

I almost convinced myself.

I almost successfully ran away from the spectacle, but the harsh sound of the whip hitting the skin and a small whimper that escaped his trembling lips just did it for me.

I bit my lip in frustration and started marching toward the scumbags, who are still quite busy beating the poor kid. Who cares about my freaking limp? As I was about to head to trouble, a huge figure blocked my path. A towering, muscled man threateningly stood his ground, determined not to budge from his position. For some reason, his body looks familiar. As I looked up, I was greeted by a familiar face—the face of my savior from last time.

A grin broke out of my face, and as I was about to bombard him with tons of questions, I heard a loud whinnying. I watched in awe as the scumbag's horse kicked his owner's back and sent him flying to the other side of the road. The street is suddenly overwhelmed by sounds of gasps and yells from the onlookers. The servants tried to rein the horse, but they couldn't hold out against its strength. The mount runs in the direction of his owner and starts to stomp on his hands mercilessly. Everything turns into chaos as everyone gathers and tries to save the old man from being disabled.

They completely forgot about the poor boy who got beaten half to death.