THIS BEAST-TAMER IS A LITTLE STRANGE

Kain and Serena watched as the elderly woman, now under Bea’s control, unsteadily hobbled through the bustling tribe. Her frail body barely supported by the staff she held in her wrinkled hands.

Kain and Serena followed at a discreet distance, their faces partially obscured by their scarves, their eyes darting around to ensure they weren’t being watched too closely.

With every step, her shoulders trembled slightly, and her slow, unsteady pace only amplified Kain’s growing discomfort. He could feel Serena’s piercing gaze burning into the side of his head, a judgmental silence heavy between them.

Serena shot Kain a sharp glare, her disapproval evident even through the fabric covering her face. “You’re using an old woman for this?” she hissed under her breath, her voice low but laced with judgment. “She can barely walk. This feels… wrong.”

Kain winced, his guilt flaring up again. He kept his voice equally low as he responded, “I know it’s not ideal, but we don’t have a choice. The medicine we need isn’t something just anyone can buy. Even if we were tribespeople, it’d be difficult to get our hands on it. But her… she’s different.”

Serena’s glare didn’t soften, so Kain hurried to explain. “She’s lived here her whole life. She’s got connections, respect. Her grandson is one of the tribe’s rising stars—strong, talented, and well-liked. People here look up to him, and by extension, they respect her. She’s not the type to throw her weight around, so when she asks for something, people are more than willing to help. It’s our best shot.”

Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

Serena’s gaze didn’t soften at all, though Kain could see some internal conflict in it. Although she hated to admit it, Kain was willing to bet that she also knew this old lady was one of their best shots. Those who could get the medicine more easily than her wouldn’t be so easily controlled by Bea.

The elderly woman continued her slow journey through the encampment, her movements unsteady. Kain and Serena followed at a safe distance, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of trouble. The tribe was alive with activity—children playing, women weaving, men tending to livestock—but no one paid much attention to the old woman or the two strangers trailing behind her.

Eventually, they reached a part of the encampment that felt different from the rest. The tents here were larger and more ornate, their fabrics dyed in intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and medicinal oils, and the atmosphere was quieter, more subdued. Kain’s heart raced as he realized they were close.

The elderly woman stopped in an obscure location not far, but out of view of an unassuming tent, its entrance guarded by two imposing tribesmen. The tent itself was plain compared to the others, but the symbol painted above its entrance caught Kain’s attention—a coiled serpent surrounded by a ring of flames.

Kain frowned slightly. There was no universal healer’s symbol, no obvious markings to indicate it housed medicine.

‘If that’s the symbol for this tribe’s healers then I never would have gotten it…’ Kain thought with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance at how unfriendly the symbols chosen by this tribe were to the understanding of visitors. But perhaps that was the point…after all, they likely don’t want such an important location to be easily found by non-locals.

Taking no chances, Kain reached into his satchel and pulled out the entirety of the gold Zareth had given him. He pressed it into the old woman’s palm, curling her fingers around the coins with careful precision. “Use this,” he said softly. “I’m not heartless enough to make you pay.”

The elderly woman didn’t react beyond tightening her grip on the coins, her movements still controlled by Bea. Then, without hesitation, she shuffled toward the guarded entrance.

Kain and Serena positioned themselves at a discreet distance, keeping to the shadows cast by a nearby tent. From here, they had a clear view but were far enough away not to draw unwanted attention.

Kain’s breath hitched as he watched the guards tense up at the woman’s approach. For a moment, he feared they might turn her away, but then one of the guards recognized her. Their rigid postures eased, their expressions losing their initial wariness. They dipped their heads respectfully and, without a single word, stepped aside, pulling back the heavy fabric entrance to allow her through. One of them even bowed slightly as she passed.

Kain exhaled in relief, his tense shoulders relaxing before he smirked at Serena. “See? Easy.”

Serena, still watching, remained silent. Her arms were crossed, her expression still slightly conflicted by their actions.

Kain turned his focus back to the tent. With Bea’s connection still active, he concentrated and shared the old woman’s perspective with Serena.

The inside of the tent was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of herbs and incense. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars and pouches of various sizes. Some contained dried plants, others powders or liquids, their labels written in a script Kain couldn’t read. In the center of the tent stood a large wooden table, its surface cluttered with mortars, pestles, and other tools of the trade.

The elderly woman approached the table, her movements slow. A man stood behind it, his face obscured by a hooded robe. He looked up as she approached, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“What brings you here, Elder?” he asked, his voice low and gravelly.

The woman held out the pouch of gold coins, her hands trembling slightly. “I need medicine,” she said, her voice frail but firm. “For the Titan Scorpion’s venom.”

The man’s eyes flashed with something strange at her request. Had her grandson gotten stung by the Titan Scorpion? There had been news about their nest being nearby which was why the tribe decided to move, but there hadn’t been any news of him being injured.

However, the man decided to not ask too many questions, since her grandson was a potential candidate to lead the tribe one day, he may have been the victim of a secret assassination attempt which would explain the lack of news.

The man’s eyes flicked to the pouch, then back to her face. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it. “That scorpion’s venom is potent, and so the medicine for it is quite rare and costly” he said, his tone cautious. “Are you sure that is what you need?”

The woman nodded, her expression resolute. “Yes. It’s urgent.”

The man studied her for a moment longer before finally nodding. He turned and began rummaging through the shelves, his movements quick and precise. After a few moments, he returned with a small vial filled with a thick, green liquid.

“This should do,” he said, handing it to her. “Use it sparingly. One drop is enough to counteract the venom from a low-grade scorpion, three for mid-grade venom, and five for those pitiful souls stung by a high-grade scorpion.”

The woman took the vial, her hands trembling as she clutched it tightly. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man nodded, his expression unreadable. “Take care, Elder.”

Kain and Serena watched through the woman’s eyes as she turned and began to hobble back toward the entrance. Kain’s heart raced with anticipation, his grip tightening on Serena’s hand, not even aware of when he’d grabbed it. They were so close. Just a few more steps, and they’d have the antidote.

But as the woman reached the entrance, a different set of guards on the inside of the tent responsible for internal security stepped forward, one moved his spear blocking her path. “Wait,” he said, his voice sharp. “What’s in your hand?”

Kain’s breath caught in his throat. This wasn’t part of the plan.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!