Episode 16

Just before Caerina's body crashed onto the jagged surface of the rocks below, the girl was saved from certain demise by becoming ensnared in the roots of the trees. Dazed from the ordeal, Caerina found herself hanging from a mass of sturdy roots.

"I thought I was going to meet another grisly end."

Relief washed over Caerina as she surveyed the situation. She glanced downward and realized the ground wasn't too far beneath her.

"It's time to get down."

Caerina reached for a root that seemed suitable to aid her descent to the ground. It didn't take long for her to navigate down the cliff successfully.

"The rocks are truly sharp. Had I not been caught, my body might have been shattered against these stones."

A shudder ran through her as she quickly banished the horrifying imagery from her mind.

Looking around at the base of the cliff, she saw nothing but a stream, a forest, and a path.

"Alright, I'll follow this path then."

With resolve, Caerina started along the uncertain destination of the beaten track. At the forest's edge, she stumbled upon a settlement.

"Kyaaa! Help! There's an undead!"

Startled by the scream of a woman emanating from the settlement, Caerina reacted.

"Undead?"

She hurried to see the scale of the undead assault on the settlement.

Venturing deeper, she witnessed a group of undead attacking the villagers. The locals were petrified, incapable of wielding any aura to defend themselves.

"Stop right there, you foul creatures!"

Caerina launched an aura attack against the undead and came to the aid of a woman almost overcome by them.

"Are you alright?" Caerina inquired, offering a hand to help her up.

"I'm fine now. Thank you, miss."

Caerina nodded and resumed her assault, eventually neutralizing and dispatching the chaos-spreading undead.

"We're saved! We won't die to those undead after all."

The villagers sighed in relief as Caerina vanquished the horde.

"Thank you, miss. Your actions saved us from a deadly threat."

Gratitude poured in from the crowd. The young woman responded with a humble smile.

"By your attire, are you of nobility?" a middle-aged man inquired.

"Yes, I fell from a cliff. Following the path, I ended up here, in this settlement amidst the wilderness," Caerina recounted.

"In that case, would you care to stay with us? We'd like to extend our hospitality before you venture on," he offered.

Without hesitation, Caerina replied, "Alright then."

A variety of simple dishes were presented to her by the villagers. Upon tasting the food, she was struck by an unexpected salty flavor.

"You're using salt to cook? How is that possible? I mean, salt is usually a commodity for the nobility," Caerina remarked, puzzled.

"Oh, the thing is, we have our salt mine."

Caerina's eyes widened at the mention of a salt mine.

"A salt mine? Are you serious? I thought all salt mines were controlled by Count Delmo."

The villagers exchanged knowing looks, silently communicating among themselves.

"That's why we'd like to ask a favor of you," they began as one woman stepped forward and grasped Caerina's hands.

"Please manage our salt mine for us. We, secluded with no royal protection, simply wish for everyone to enjoy flavorful food. We offer you ownership of our entire mine," she pleaded.

Caerina swallowed, incredulous at the proposal. Giving away a salt mine seemed like a loss.

"But why? Why trust me with your mine? I'm a stranger here."

"We can see you're kind-hearted, not like other profit-driven merchants. That's why we implore you to grant us this selfish wish."

Taking a moment, Caerina sensed their genuine strangeness–a positive anomaly.

"Show me this salt mine of yours," Caerina agreed.

Their faces lit up with joy as they immediately led her to a hidden underground location.

"Wow, there's a subterranean path!"

Amazed, Caerina descended step by chilling step into the depths. Reaching the bottom, she was astonished by the expanse of the mine, seemingly greater than any under her father's dominion.

"I assumed a modest mine, but isn't this massive? Properly managed, you could reap massive profits."

"We daren't, for if Count Delmo learns of it, he'd surely ravage our home and seize it forcibly."

Their fears were not unfounded, for Delmo's ruthless reputation was well-known.

"We hope you'll accept this as gratitude for saving us."

Left with little choice, Caerina accepted their request.

"Yes, I'll take over this mine. I plan to sell the salt affordably so that all can savor their food daily. I promise to protect your generous gift."

Elsewhere, Kledson and his knights scoured the cliffs for Caerina. Taking a shortcut to avert potential mishaps, one knight reported hopeful news.

"Sir, it seems the lady has survived. No blood trails here," the knight reported.

"Likely so. Caerina must've endured."

Kledson looked up, noting a natural cluster of roots.

"Caerina might've been caught here before using these roots to descend," he speculated.

"Sir, I've found footprints! These must be the lady's."