Ginkgo trees shone under the moonlight like glinting canine teeth. Gusts of wind blew from the depths of the land, carrying the sorrowful cold of the northern realm.

In the woods stood a girl. She was tall and lithe, and her hair was black. Her cotton-padded jacket was thick and grey, and it was paired with a brown dress and an apron. In one hand, she held a torch, and in the other, a fat burlap sack covered in black powder.

She did not have the strength to haul it, and thus the girl dragged it across the ground.

"Where are you, Henri? I know you're there! Come out!" The girl came to a halt under a tree, staring around like a curious marmot. Her beautiful face was red from the cold, and a hint of fear filled her violet eyes. Then she thumped her chest to cheer herself up.

"Sorry, Igsena. I just got here." From the darkness, a burly man emerged, flames illuminating his green hair and comical jaw.

He stopped about five yards away from the girl, but his eyes never left her. There was an almost scary passion burning within them, and Igsena backed up to the tree out of fear.

"Didn't think you'd show up." Henri narrowed his eyes and put on the warmest smile he could muster. There was a shred of radish stuck between his yellowing teeth. "It's the dead of a cold, cold night. And the woods are dark and dangerous. You're braver than the other girls."

"There's no danger here. Home is ten minutes away, and the hunters have killed all the predators here. And you're with me. There's not gonna be any danger, unless you have something else in mind."

The man's face fell.

Igsena forced a smile and dragged the burlap sack ahead. "Stop your yammering and pay me. It's freezing out here. Staying out for too long is gonna make me sick in the morning."

"True." The man nodded and approached her. He then whipped out a few yellow coins from his pocket. "Ten bizants for a sack of coal, right?"

"Wait, that's not our deal!" A frown furrowed the woman's brows, and she said shrilly, "It's supposed to be twenty bizants for a sack! That's only half the money! You lied to me!"

"I'd rather get my coal from your father at that price. No need for this deal." The man shook his head and chuckled. "Please, Igsena, I had to work my ass off for two weeks to make twenty bizants. I can't spend it all on a sack of coal. What am I going to eat then?"

"You lying bastard! You son of a bitch!" Igsena teared up and pointed at the man's chest. She cursed, "I snuck out in this goddamned weather, and this is what I get?"

"It's just goddamned weather. I'm willing to pay the money, but there's another condition." There was a hint of uncontrollable lust in Henri's voice. He rubbed his hands and started to leer at Igsena.

"Spit out your fucking condition or I'm gonna leave!" Igsena shouted.

"I'd like to fuck you." The man grinned and put on a sad look. "I'm already thirty years old, and I'm still not married. Do you know how tormenting it is, seeing you go around all day but never getting to fuck you? I can't take it anymore! Just Just let me have you, alright?"

Henri took another step toward her. Even the scent of onions, potatoes, and pickled radish smelled sweet to him.

Igsena took a hurried step back and held the sack up as a shield, albeit with difficulty.

"Just do it this once, and I'll buy a sack from you every month. I know youve been saving up bizants lately. I'm the most helpful guy in the village. I'll help you out, so long as you fulfill my wish."

"You cur! You lying bastard! Away! Get away from me! I'm not a cheap woman! Igsena clicked her tongue and threw charcoal at the man. "If you wanna fuck someone, fuck a pig or something! Or a hole. There's a hole in the tree behind you! Stick your dick in it!"

She turned around only to freeze in fear. Another man appeared from the bush behind her. His face was red, and his body bulky. It was obvious this man was another miner.

"C-Cud? Why are you here?" She swiveled around and shot Henri a nasty glare. "What are you doing? Don't come any closer, o-or my father will hear about this! He's going to break your legs!"

"Oh, don't you get it, my sweet lady?" Cus narrowed his eyes. Tendrils of steam flowed from his nostrils, and greed filled his eyes. He could gobble this country lady if he so wanted to. "If Rhade finds out that you've been making deals behind his back, he's going to break your legs first. And you're going to get jailed."

"And" Cud hissed, "He's going to sell you off to Ol' Cripple next village because you're dating a mutant."

All the color drained from Igsena's face. Her lips trembled, and not another word escaped her tongue.

"You thought you could keep it a secret?" Henri piled up on the pressure. "News goes around fast. We know you're seeing that mutant. You two met at the riverside and kissed till your lips were swollen. He might have infected you with all his parasites. We're stopping you for your own good. Nobody knows about your secret. Nobody but us. If you want us to stay quiet, you're gonna have to work with us."

"You've given yourself to that bastard from the mountains. You threw yourself at that mutant, so why can't you do the same for us? We're your neighbors."

The men inched ever so closer to the woman. She backed up against the tree and opened her burlap sack. She whipped out a bunch of charcoal and hurled them at the men. "Don't make me do this. Stop right there. I'm warning you. I have to pick ten vats of greens every day. Take one step closer and I'll crush your balls."

She gnashed her teeth and made a threat, but the fear in her eyes was unmistakable. She was single, and yet she had a sordid relationship with a witcher. If this went out, her reputation would be ruined, and her father would kill her.

"We're not trying to force you or anything. Work with us, and nothing will happen. Refuse, and we might let your secret slip. Think about it, Igsena. Im actually as good as any bard in poetry. And I can use my tongue well." Henri leered. "How about some poetry?"

Winds of the night howled across the air, and two thuds tore through the night. A silhouette zipped past Igsena, and purple light appeared out of nowhere. And then her eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth.

As if they were possessed, the men who threatened to assault her gave each other a bear hug. So tight was their hug that anyone would think they were holding their lover in their embrace. And then they started to kiss. Violent and sloppy. That was how they kissed. And then they started tussling on the ground.

***

A muscular figure appeared beside the men. His hands were on his hips, and a pair of sunglasses hung from the bridge of his nose. His armor was greyish-brown, and two sword hilts protruded from his back.

Moonlight shone on him, revealing a handsome face. He quickly made a Sign in the air and calmed Igsena down.

For some reason, Igsena calmed down. She had a feeling this man could be trusted. "Wh-Who are you?"

"Don't worry, Igsena. I'm a mutant. The kind these bastards were talking about. Call me Roy. I was just passing by, and I heard these idiots spewing shit, so I punished them a little. But don't worry. They won't die." Roy smiled warmly and showed her his medallion. "They're going to be doing it so much, sex won't even register in their heads anymore. And then they'll pass out for an hour. Now, let's talk about that mutant they mentioned. I want to know who the guy is."

Igsena looked away from the squirming men. A moment of hesitation later, she started speaking.

***

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