Rega's Hellside Detour 4: Ambushed

The city was just within reach, the business and residential towers were now beginning to obstruct the horizon.
As we both continued our trek back towards safety, the narrow trail widened merged with other trails just as tributaries form together to form a main river.
The way the roads arrange was analogous to that of a tree, completely the opposite of the typical box and grid pattern and rather creative too.

The outskirts were destitute; the farmsteads that seemed to have only been able to only provide subsistence level yields lay abandoned.

The houses were small bungalows at best, possibly with beds and the wood furnace/ sharing the same room.
How could the people who provide food for society live in such poverty?
Rega’s hasn’t seen anything like this; usually farmers were compensated for the winter months, but from what he could tell from the rickety log fences and shacks was that they were working in conditions of borderline serfdom.

Wait, farmers grow food and…. Ehhh… Rega had to stop thinking about food.
At first, the duo marinated an abject silence, but as time went on and the tension in air begging to subside, casual conversation took over.
“..So where exactly is Auroria?” asked Shirley in a rather shy manner, almost embarrassed even.
Rega stopped dead in his tracks and turned his head towards the drop, looking both surprised and confused.
“You.. don’t know? but how?, surely….ohhppp… hehe… I mean…. Ahem… anyways..” Rega walked right into that unintended pun.

Luckily the forest drop was quick to answer Rega’s question.
“well… they taught me everything I needed to know when it came to hellside geography, topside geography is considered an elective”.

Rega turned fully around to face her, expressing a confident look of understanding.
“You know what’s funny? I have the exact opposite problem” Rega said as they both resumed walking. Rega trying not to think about food, as his stomach was crying out for sustenance.

He’s a pretty level headed guy, but no one’s patience is unlimited. If they don’t at least hit suburbs soon he’s HUNTING his food.
“Ahem anyways, hmm how I explain this?” the ice fox had his hand to his muzzle, thinking as to how he could explain it to her.

Nonetheless, he was more than happy to talk about his heritage “Auroria is THE northern most nation on the topside continent called Owel… and I mean its WAY far north” he said the last part in almost matter of fact way.

His enthusiasm began to rise as her face lit up with curiosity.
“so far north in fact, I think us Foxes are capable of living up there, It gets below freezing 7 months in a year.”
He smirked at a realization “but the bright side is, at least were not crowded with tourists hehe”
Speaking of which, he didn’t notice how hot it would get later. From how it felt alone, the temperature must be running somewhere between the high 70’s to early 80’s.
What did he honestly expect; it’s called HELL side after all.

Luckily he had temperature control runes on his jacket that are managing to keep him chilled, but he doesn’t know how long before he runs out of energy to keep the AC on, from the looks of it,
including the lack of food in his stomach, not for very long.
“Shirley, you got me sidetracked for a second there… alright I told you were I’m from, now what about..”
“well i..”

“AND JUST WERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING!?”

Both Rega and Shirley were frozen in place by the sudden booming voice.
With the forest drop still stunned in fear as to what was behind them, Rega was quick to turn himself around.

What he saw was reddish/green jackal with grizzled fur. He also had a pair of horns that signified that obviously he was a demon.

He had a sword holstered at his side, a one edged saber from the looks of it, pretty basic, and primitive by the Aurorian’s standards.

…and unfortunately… he had no clothes.. which offended Rega even more!!
Rega, being as bold and brazen as he is, spoke his mind.

“Who the hell are you?!” the fox said in frustration, he was literally running on empty at this point and he had no time this. The scowl on his face emphasized this.

“DON’T TALK TO ME THAT WAY YOU LITTLE SHIT, YOU KNOW WHAT I CAME HERE FOR!!”
The demon jackal was getting into a sort of what was supposed to be an intimidating pose. From the looks of it, he had quite large and toned muscles.
Rega remained unfazed as usual.

“It’s sad a person would train so long and hard just so said person could simply bully and intimidate people.” He cleverly retorted.
Shirley almost instinctively hid behind Rega, trying to put as much between her and that out of nowhere thug.

“WHAT!? THE AUDACITY!! YOUR TREADING A FINE LINE..agggh…if you know what’s good for you!?” the jackal thug yelled as he gripped his swords hilt, sending the message that things were soon going to get really violent.

“I suggest you give me the allotted “fee” for passage… I say.. Your whole wallet hahaha!!”
Rega, of course, could give less of a damn about his threats.
“Could you quit your yelling, I’m right here. Also, sorry, tough luck pal, it’s already taken! Hehe ironic” Rega said rolling his eyes with his arms crossed.

“Oh really? Damn that’s too bad.” the jackal said with sarcastic surprise and concern.
“No problem… just hand over that girl” he said as he pointed to Shirley who procced to hide back behind Rega.

“What about her!?” The ice fox’s anger and frustration was just barely beginning to bubble to the surface. He took a quick glance at Shirley.

“Oh yes.. She’s a real fine specimen… sell real nice in the slave market… and sense you topsiders are a little slow I’ll let you in on a little something.”
He was almost flirtatious with his unacceptable proposal.

“It’s 100% LEGAL down here hahahaha. So you’re at no risk of getting in trouble if you decide to say yes hahaha”

Not only was Rega clenching his fists over how uncaring and amoral this man really is, but was shocked at the first example of how gut retiringly backwards this whole hellside shindig really is.

This jackal was not only offending his values on properly clothing one’s self, but now he has insulted his very morals by even thinking that a sane topsider like him would ever say yes.

Slavery? Still legal? How dare they! Owning another person as property being considered a reputable business is yet another reason Rega wants to get out of hellside as soon as he finds his belongings from that OTHER thief earlier.

This, coupled with the Jackals sick laughter pushed Rega over the edge.
“You so much as lay a finger on this poor defenseless adolescent and I’ll wring your neck… after I broke every limb on your sick, twisted body!!”

The fox was gnashing his teeth and almost growling even, he was going to show this punk a life lesson on how you should never insult an Aurorian mage.
“Listen here punk!!! Just look at yourself, you’re in no position to say no….”
The jackal’s mood shifted as an idiotic idea popped into his sick head.


“…or pehaps even better yet I can kidnap and sell you both, twice the profit an…”

“ICE PLUS!!!”
The jackal was cut off from the apparently random fragment. He quickly changed his expression from that of confusion to that of total shock as he saw a bright sphere of bluish white hovering just in front of Rega’s extended arm and hand, the sphere being surrounded by strange holographic writings.
“STALAG”
At that last utterance, the hand holding the sphere impacted the ground, the energy now being conducted through the ground as excess energy rippled outward.
Shirley made a bit of distance between both, pausing for a moment to comprehend the sudden change in events.
The Demonic Thug remained totally oblivious, looking left and right in panic.. trying to deny the fact that he made a terrible mistake.

Just then a pillar of ice shot up from under him and launched him hundreds of feet in the air in just a few seconds. The jackal flailing around in panic
Rega followed up with a second similar incantation and launched himself in the air as well, the only difference being he was in far more control as he shifted his weight accordingly.
Rega launched himself just fast and high enough to be just above his opponent, he could just have let the slave trader fall to his death like he deserved, but were would be the fun in that?
Rega grabbed a firm hold of the jackal.
“looks like You’re going to break my fall, all those bulky and useless muscles of yours will do the trick hehe” the blue fox said grinning at his little one liner.
The jackal was in complete panic as he struggled in Rega’s grip.

‘How could he be stronger than him, he looked like he’d never been to the gym in his life, how is his grip so painful. Why didn’t I plan for this… I never planned for anything!!’ all the jackal could do at this point was run through his final thoughts.
Rega
Shirley had her hand to her mouth, with her eyes opened as wide as they could be, the topsider was a mage.

Not an amateur parlor performer, not an illusionist, a full blown, well oiled, and well trained MAGE!!
She could almost claim from his technique alone that that title did not do him enough justice.
The ground impact was fierce, kicking up dust and debris from the kinetic force alone, The ground shaking like a category 2 earthquake for a few short seconds.

Cities and towns miles around probably felt it too. OH she hopes this won’t draw too much attention, especially from those certain “authorities”. I heard they could be rather strict on unlicensed magic use.

The dust cloud obscured the impact zone, making the outcome vague at best, the gust of wind almost blowing Shirley off her own feet.

The drop, after began recovering from almost being blown over, began to worry about her newly discovered mage, did he even think his plan through?

“Whoa!! I’ve been waiting to try that technique for a long time.. burn in… well… here actually!! Haha!!”

It’s as if it was just a simple errand or sport to him, Rega never really had an anger problem, he always blew it off in short out bursts and he was fine afterwards.
The dust cloud slowly began to dissipate, and what was revealed had her totally dumbfounded.

He was completely untouched aside from the dust and loose gravel that settled on his jacket and fir, his confidence  shining brighter than ever.
“ if I were you…. I would not look in that crater I just made… it’s not a pretty sight” the magi said with a look of genuine disgust taking over his sarcastic expression a few short moments.

“umm…uh… i…” Shirley mumbled, trying to find the right words after having this man blow clear past her expectations.
Rega slowly walked up to her and put a hand on one of her shoulders. He had to explain himself now or never.

“I think you might already know by now…. But I’m a mage”
Shirley was silent.. merely looking up to Rega in appreciation and surprise.

“we should get moving” Rega said, almost sighing. He was almost completely out of energy at this point and making all that noise didn’t help matters as he could already hear in the distance what sounded like…

“Now if you don’t mind, I’m starving, let’s get something to eat in town”

Rega had no time for compliments as he tugged Shirley by the arm, forcing her to run with him
He had to ignore it… he heard reports on his cellular compact that the disease spreads through sound. Not just that, they would be overwhelmed in minutes had we simply rested for a moment longer.
“oh okay. I know this really upbeat café downtown.. They have amazing sandwiches” Shirley suggested.
“hehe… they better make them double stacked for me… I’m literally running on empty right now”