NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 13: Western Tower [1]
Aurelia made her way through a narrow passage, following Archangel. The alley led her to the slums.
Demihumans who were unfortunate enough to live here did not care about what looked like a white-winged demihuman and what seemed to be a humanlike woman.
It wasn't unprecedented that demihumans may have children who lacked notable features of demihuman, those were usually used as spies and assassins after all.
So much misery, demihumans that lived in this area were as skinny as the branches of autumn trees.
Orphaned children, poor parents. Aurelia could barely think of just how bad their life was.
She knew fully well how bad her kingdom was, and yet these slums seemed to be even worse.
Despite these being demi-humans, an enemy of humanity for untold millennia it did not matter, It was human to feel empathy even for one's enemy.
"Such a shame, these people are as helpless as humans are..." Aurelia spoke softly, her pace coming to a crawl as she approached a sick-looking minotaur child.
It was scared and alone, its frame that of a stick, it must not have eaten for weeks at this point.
"Dear... where are your parents?" Aurelia gently lifted the bullhead, letting the child face her.
"... They died from the plague... 2 years ago..." the Child whimpered, its painful breaths audible.
The child was afflicted by various illnesses and the lack of food did not help.
Aurelia reached back and retrieved a pouch of water and some hard bread from her rations. It was not much and she did not have much at her person as she was on a mission, alas not helping a child was something a paladin would never do.
She handed the pouch of water and bread to the minotaur child, it lifted its head clearly hesitant to accept the offer.
"Come and drink. I do not have much time." Aurelia pushed the food and water to the minotaur as she looked around, angels awaiting her command like robots.
She wanted to prove herself useful to Cedric but in her mind, helping an innocent child was equally important.
'I'm sure Cedric would do the same.' Aurelia slightly blushed.
It took a minotaur child a moment before it finally accepted the gift.
"Thank you... lady." It spoke softly before it ravenously devoured the hard bread and water.
She smiled softly before turning to the Angel squad.
"We should go," Aurelia commanded the angels, letting the archangel lead the way once again and leaving the child that was chomping down on the bread.
"So is your will honorable VIP," Archangel spoke as it led the group through the slum towards the western tower.
Aurelia had to ignore the suffering around her, these were her enemies after all. Even if they were innocent civilians.
Just as she was about to start walking a blade harmlessly bounced off her armor, and a hand attached to the blade was a hand belonging to the same child Aurelia helped.
In a split second 3 Guardian Angels raised their maces, ready to crush the attacker.
"STOP! DON'T KILL HIM!" Aurelia ordered the angles, stopping them mere millimeters from crushing the child, and letting the minotaur run away in panic.
"Honorable VIP, Demon has tried to end your life. It is our directive to protect and extinguish a threat." Angel answered mechanically, their eyes following the child as it disappeared inside wooden buildings.
"It is a damn child! Have you no empathy for the people here!" Aurelia shouted, clearly drawing the attention of the slum's residents.
While the attack was harmless against full plate armor it indeed was an attempt on her life, and yet she couldn't find room in her heart to hate a mere child for doing what they had to to survive.
"Our directive is to protect, Threat level is of no importance," Archangel spoke coldly.
Aurelia didn't know what to think, it was indeed correct that they were here to protect her, but to raise their weapons against a child was too much for her.
Even if the child attempted to stab her.
With a deep sigh, she commanded, "Let us continue," These so-called angels were cruel but effective.
She let the Archangel take a lead as they took a turn, as they walked Aurelia had a bad feeling in her chest. Almost like she was being watched.
'I do not like this, yet these angels don't seem to have noticed anything wrong.' She dismissed her thoughts as paranoia.
It was never safe going through any slum after all. Danger always lurked everywhere, from gangs to unsavory individuals.
Each corner could hide a dagger, and each dark crevice could spring a trap.
The group made its way to a clearing, suspiciously empty street, no beggers, no urchins. Nothing.
The atmosphere was heavy, Aurelia had a horrible feeling about this.
A bad feeling that came true a moment they were on a wide street.
"Well well well, what do we have here..." A man, with tattered black wings, missing horns, and a grizzled expression spoke.
Minotaur child next to him and a group of various demi-humans smirking menacingly.
"Some rich princess and her guards got lost I see... You know what happens to you rich assholes if you step into our territory do you not?" He spoke in a mocking tone as his gaze washed over the angels and Aurelia herself.
"Well aren't you a pretty one, I will keep you for myself after my men kill your guards." He licked his lips as his lecherous gaze fell on Aurelia.
While Angels were not even reacting as these men did not start their attack same could not be true for Aurelia, her whole body was shivering despite her newfound strength.
She might have been a paladin but she never had to face down such a large group of demi-humans, she had confidence in her skills to beat most people 1 on 1 with a buff she received from a great hero, and she had to hope angels would be helpful but there was still a seed of doubt when facing such large group.
"We aren't seeking trouble! We only wish to pass towards the tower." Aurelia pleaded, wanting to avoid fighting if possible.
"You found trouble the moment you stepped into this part of the town, you scum." Man spat.
Aurelia gripped her sword, ready to fight for her life.
"Boys kill those guards, do try to not rough up the girl too much..." the Man spoke with a lustful tone.