Voyage Of The Villainess

"I will do that until the end. And that is when I will make my comments and decisions." Malaya said. "You can start now. Don't leave anything out."

Dandras was more frightened when Malaya's smile became more terrifying than before. It was like she was facing an interrogator right now. And one wrong word would cause his life. He gulped. 'It's alright. Just like before, if she wanted you dead, she could easily do that. Now both my life and Lamar's are in her hands now. She is our only hope now.' Dandras finally calmed down himself and began to speak.

"The thing is, I and Lamar were just living peacefully as scholars in a remote village called Plar, but everything changed when three people appeared. People wearing red masks. They have unparalleled strengths and magics that no one could defy. At first, they helped our village flourish, however, we were truly naive thinking that they are good people. When we are greatly indebted with all their help, that was where they started showing their true colors. Since both Lamar and I were scholars, they told us to conduct research that deals with the lifa. And gave us all the materials and some were even unquestionable but we didn't dare to ask. Since those who defy them got killed." 

Dandras clasped both his hands as his expression became dark. "After a year, our research has finally borne fruit. We are able to create a new type of powder. A miracle powder that should help people maintain their state for an hour after they die so that their family can still mourn for their bodies. However, things didn't turn out the way we expected them to be. One of those masked members mixed something on it and he used the other researchers to be test subjects. Just like what happened to the capital soldiers and beastmen, they lose their minds and self-destruct." 

"We used the chance while they were busy with their plan at the capital to escape. My village, my friends, and family, I abandoned them to those monsters. But I can't, Lamar and I can't stomach their inhuman ways anymore." 

'Those people with masks again.' Malaya pondered in thought as she remembered the words left to her by that otherworld high priest in the Moon City. 'And speaking of a masked person, she also met a crazy woman with a red mask at Sun Island that almost got her killed.'

'Is there a connection to this with those people? If that is the case, then does it mean they can cross the Red Current. But there is also a possibility that it is not the case. Shadow and the high priest told me that the goddesses and gods are going frenzy because we crossed the Red Current. So it means, it is only I that have crossed that place. Sun Island is inside a space, so there might be another way that someone can enter there. We eventually used teleportation magic in that mirror.'

"Miss Malaya?" 

Malaya's thoughts were interrupted when Dandras called her attention. 

"I'm sorry. I got lost in my thoughts." Malaya held her chin and looked directly at Dandras' eyes. "My decision..."

Dandras waited with hopeful eyes at Malaya. 'Please help us.' He was crying inside his mind already. 'I know we can't drag an outsider to our problem but I can't end it like this.'

"I will return now to the capital." Malaya stood up intending to leave now. Her answer made Dandras crush all the hopes he had. However, Malaya was not yet done with her words.

"And you two will come right now," Malaya said. This made Dandras look at Malaya with deep gratitude. Then she walked towards Lamar's room. 

"Stop being in a daze. We will leave right now." Malaya said as she brought three talismans with her again. 

"Ah yes!" Dandras immediately ran behind her. When they entered the room, Lamar was still unconscious. 'And it is best, so Hyun Jae must be able to check his condition more properly. Though that potion is good, it is better to be safe than sorry.'

"Let's go now," Malaya entwined her right shoulder to Dandras arms then held Lamar's left hand. 

However, before they could even leave...

*Boom!*

Malaya and Dandras' eyes widened when a burst of fire exploded in the whole house. Both of them were turned towards the walls. And Malaya blurted out some blood when her back hit the stone wall of the house. 

Everything was now burning. And even Malaya had obtained first-degree burns in her face and arms. If not with the enhanced cloak she was wearing, she would suffer from more severe burns.

"Mi-Miss Malaya. It's them!"

Malaya grabbed her bag and immediately looked at Dandras. To her terror, most of his body had severe burns. And Lamar as well was burning while groaning in pain. 

"Dandras!" With difficulty, she removed her cloak and used it to put out the fire from Lamar, then when she was done, she immediately poured a healing potion on his mouth. 

Though he was not yet completely healed she immediately ran towards Dandras and poured a healing potion into his mouth. The burns he got were severed. She gritted her teeth, as she pulled Dandras near Lamar and immediately scourged her bag for new teleportation talismans. Whoever caused this, she would not have an advantage given their situation. And even if they fight, the burns these two got, the healing potions would not be enough. She immediately intertwined her arms in both of them.

Only Hyun Jae could help them now! And she needed to hurry!

In the door that was now burning in crisp, Malaya was alerted when she heard footsteps.

"I thought it was a perfect purge of fire. But it seems you still survive." A man's voice resounded. As he entered, Malaya got a closer look. He was wearing a red mask and a black and white butler suit.

"There are three people? I thought only the two targets were here." The unknown man seemed surprised when he saw Malaya and the others. Then his gaze particularly went to Malaya. He seemed more surprised once again.

"Ivor? What are you doing here?" The unknown man seemed confused however when he looked closer, it seemed he just mistook Malaya with someone. "Doesn't matter, all of you need to disappear now..." He aimed his right hand in front of them.

Malaya didn't waste any more time when she was finally able to get the talismans from her bag. Just before the red flames could reach them, Malaya tore the talismans and disappeared.

"Ah, they have teleportation magic." The unknown man was once again surprised when the three disappeared just before his flames reached them.  "Ah, I'll just need them to find them again. And this time make sure that they will not escape." He said as more red flames appeared out of his body and the whole house exploded.

---⚓⚓⚓---

Meanwhile back at the house in the middle of the forest...

"Do you think they find, Lady Malaya now? It's been hours now." Dorris asked while she was walking back and forth. Her face was visibly filled with worry.

"It will be fine. They will find Lady Malaya." Hyun Jae reassured her, though she was also worried, her eyes were hopeful. "Iris and Kayden are the ones looking for her. You know that you can trust those two. They will absolutely find Malaya. Let's trust those two."

"You're right," Dorris said as she released a deep breath. 

"Hmm... How about this, why don't we prepare some food for them, so when they return they can have a delicious meal prepared for them."

Hearing the word cooking from Hyun Jae, Dorris froze. It was because no one was able to eat the breakfast she prepared earlier, no one noticed. The burnt foods prepared on the table and even back in the ship, they never let her near the kitchen since it became disastrous. Hyun Jae was a terrible cook and everyone knew about that.

"Ah, about that Hyun Jae, I'll just cook instead," Dorris said with a polite smile. 

"But I want to help..."

"Hyun Jae, it's alright," Dorris said. "If Lady Malaya appeared, someone should be free of any chores to assist her. If we are both cooking, then we might not notice when she will appear."

"Ah, that's right." Hyun Jae, her eyes looked disappointed that she would not be able to help Dorris. But Dorris made a point.  Someone must be ready to help Malaya, whenever she appears back again.

Dorris pulled Hyun Jae to a chair and made her sit there. "Please wait here, Hyun Jae while I prepare to cook now."

Hyun Jae nodded her head and Dorris immediately ran towards the kitchen. 

In the kitchen, Dorris started all the preparations she needed to cook. An hour passed since then, and she was finished with two dishes. She started chopping some of the vegetables now.

"Ahhh!" 

Dorris dropped her knife on the slicing board when she heard Hyun Jae's shrill scream.