Francisco Vargas
Vordea was very unimpressed to come across more bandits, and they looked like they'd been set up here for awhile too, what with the wagon and horses. She was going to need to have a chat with the Eternal Emperor over this. She noticed they were trying to get her attention with threats, but decided to see how Elias would handle this for now.
"Easy now lads, you best be on your way." Elias said to them, as tried to convince them to just fuck off.
"Sure we will, soon as you pay the toll." One of the men said with a laugh.
"Yeah, I don't think so." Elias said, pulling his sword.
"Don't be a hero, idiot." A 2nd bandit said, grabbing Vordea. "Just give us some coins and we can all be on our way."
"Oh, what does the big strong bandit think he's going to do to me?" Vordea said with a mocking laugh.
"Shut up!" The bandit said, punching her where her kidney would be. It would be the last mistake he ever made, as Vordea grabbed his hand and pulled his entire arm off.
"Come hither, so I may smite thee proper!" Vordea yelled, a maniacal grin on her face. With superhuman strength and speed, she pulled on his head so hard his spine was pulled out of his body with it, creating a gruesome flail. She turned and threw it so hard at another bandit it went right through him, leaving a watermelon sized hole in his torso, as he fell to the ground in a strangled scream.
Elias nodded upon seeing the grim sight, and turned his attention to the 2 remaining bandits, blowing them up in a conflagration of fire and ice.
"Tonight, they died for the first time. In Hell, they will die millions of times every day." Vordea said, still grinning. "Elias, let's proceed."
"Wait." Elias said, gesturing at the covered wagon by the side of the road. "There's someone inside."
Vordea quietly nodded, and the two of them slowly circled around the wagon. Pausing at the back, they heard laboured breathing. With a swift motion, Elias pulled open the curtain at the back of the wagon, revealing a young boy hiding at the back.
"S-stay back!" The boy stammered.
"Well, isn't this a surprise." Elias said, raising an eyebrow. "Who are you, boy?"
"Elias, he appears to be tied up." Vordea said, pointing at his hands. "So I must echo my companion's question. Who are you, boy?"
"I am Francisco Javier Manuel Juan Jose Carlos Vargas." The boy replied.
"Too many names." Elias said, shaking his head. "Let me guess, you're Lestian?" The boy nodded in response, causing Elias to shake his head again.
"Too many names." Vordea said, chuckling. "Pick the one you like the most, because you're coming with us. Of course, unless you're rather be left tied up in this wagon, surrounded by corpses?"
"N-No! I'll come. It's just..." Francisco said, stammering.
"What?" Vordea asked, crossing her arms.
"Don't take me back to Lestia!" He shouted.
"Oh? Why shouldn't I?" Vordea asked, smiling. She recognized the son of Duke Vargas immediately, of course, and was waiting for him to spill the beans himself, but Elias ruined it.
"Hang on, Vargas? You're the Duke's son aren't you? The missing one?" Elias asked, eyeing him.
"Yes! Don't take me back!" Francisco blurted out immediately. "I ran away."
"Why would we?" Elias responded as he cut the ropes. "Mira here is filthy rich, and I have a writ of execution with my name on it in Lestia."
"Even I could get that cancelled, Mister Elias." Francisco answered, dusting himself off. "Now then, where are we heading?"
"We got a lively one, Elias." Vordea said, laughing. "To the Imperial Capital, boy. I'm searching for something."
"Oh? For what?" Francisco asked, as they exited the wagon.
"That's a secret." Vordea replied, smiling. Elias groaned.
Francisco was slightly shocked by the gore surrounding them. Just the two of them did this? He looked at Vordea for a long time as they walked. She walked as if she had never known fear in her life, as if she was invincible. It was almost like... no. It couldn't be.
"You're not very good at being subtle." Francisco eventually said, causing both Elias and Vordea to look over.
"Hmm?" Elias asked.
"Not you. Her." Francisco said, shaking his head.
"What do you mean, boy?" Vordea asked.
"There's something... wrong. With how you act. Like you're invincible." He continued, still looking at her. "You aren't looking around even in the slightest bit. You readily turned your back to me after you freed me. I could have had a knife in my boot."
"Most people wouldn't attack someone after being freed by them." Elias pointed out as they continued to walk in the twilight.
"Most, but not all." Francisco added. "So either you don't fear death, or nothing any man can do can harm you."
"Tell me then boy, which one do you think is the truth?" Vordea asked, outwardly sounding as flippant as ever, but inwardly wondering if maybe Francisco was a better pick for High Priest.
"No, I get what you mean." Elias said, cutting in. "Mira is the most suspicious person I've ever met by a large margin. Obviously, her name isn't really Mira but she won't give me her real name. Just keeps saying it's a secret."
"What makes you so sure my name isn't Mira?" Vordea asked. She was getting interested now. They were both good.
"I've met many liars in my life, Mira." Elias said, lighting a cigarette. "You reek of lies and deceit. Like your entire life is just lies piled upon lies. I wonder if there was ever any truth in your life? Have you ever told anyone the truth?"
"Elias, like so many other things about me, that is a secret." Vordea said, smiling softly. "Like I told you, figure out the truth."
"How about a hint?" Elias suggested.
"Oh fine." Vordea said with an exaggerated mock sigh. "I know what happened to the Orcish Empire."
"How is that a hint?" Francisco asked, looking between the two of them.
"She's implying she was there." Elias said, nodding his head. "Either she was there, or she has a firsthand account of what happened the day Zimmil Ma was swallowed by the Earth."
"How did you know that?" Vordea demanded immediately. That was definitely not widely known.
Elias grinned widely before he said the next words. "Well, that's a secret."
Vordea could only laugh in response.