This was the hottest autumn night Fro had ever endured. On this bitterly cold night, an unquenchable fire roared through the camp. Scorching heat stung his cheeks. Scalding ashes swirled in his nostrils. Women's screams rose and fell from smoke-filled cages. Aelina helped him remove his armor. He tossed his cherished chainmail to the ground and joined her to rescue the poor slave girls.

He lost track of time. It felt like a nightmare—death, flames, moans, and screams. Finally, a soothing voice like clear spring water spoke: "Alright, rest now." Fro felt pardoned, freed from hell's torment. He collapsed onto a pile of wheat, hugging the soft grains as he sank into deep sleep.

In his dream, Fro saw his childhood sweetheart, the blue skies and green fields of his hometown, and finally, glistening snow—beautiful and pure. He reached out to touch a snowflake, but it was only an illusion. The real snowflakes danced far beyond the clouds. A nameless sense of loss gripped his heart, followed by a chilling cold.

"Fro, Fro, wake up."

Fro snapped his eyes open. The morning sun made him squint. He saw Aelina standing with arms crossed. Ashes covered the surroundings, but her white dress remained spotless and pure.

"First, some good news," Aelina said. "You're filthy as a puppy rolling in mud right now, but soon you'll look incredibly cool."

"Cool? I'm freezing cold right now," he said, standing up from the wheat pile. He noticed a thick quilt draped over him. A biting cold wind swept past, lifting the girl's silver hair and clearing his mind. His body fully awakened. He became aware of his wounds. The cut on his face, near his eye, began to burn fiercely. He reached up to touch it, winced in pain, and pulled his hand away.

"Yes, that one," Aelina said. "After I clean your wound, you'll see it adds a touch of rugged charm."

"I was plenty manly to begin with!" he retorted.

"Don't argue. You do look a bit girly," she said, wagging her finger. "Come with me. You carry a barrel of water; I'll fetch the Molecular Reconstructor to clean you up." With that, she turned and walked away.

Fro followed her. At least half the camp was burned. Tents were reduced to charred frames. A group of young women huddled in coats around a roaring campfire. A pot bubbled over the flames. Two filthy young women sat apart, huddled around another fire. Fro recognized them—they had been chosen as playthings for the men due to their beauty.

Aelina led him to a water barrel. The water inside was murky.

"I thought you were bringing me to wash my face."

"We only have ten barrels left. No way we're using it for washing faces," Aelina said. "Carry it. I need to fetch my Molecular Reconstructor."

Fro recalled last night's flames and the silhouettes dancing in the smoke.

"Is this water enough?"

"Just carry it."

The Elf obediently lifted the large barrel and followed Aelina. The women watched them with awe, hope, and curiosity. They stepped over two corpses, a log, and the hard ground, stopping before a 'statue'.

"Meet last night's mage," Aelina introduced. "The mud on him has turned to ceramic. The heat baked the earth around him, glassifying some spots."

Fro looked at the statue holding Aelina's Magic Wand high. It was pitch-black, radiating residual heat. The Elf poured all the water over it. "Sizzle, sizzle." White steam rose, washing away the ashes to reveal a smooth surface.

"Not bad. It looks like the ancient Statue of Liberty. Let's call him the Statue of Free Man," Aelina said. She reached up and took the wand, then whispered to Fro, "Grab your armor and go stand by those women."

"Huh? What for?"

"You'll see soon enough."

He obediently picked up his armor and walked to the women. All of them turned their heads, watching cautiously yet curiously.

Without a word, Aelina activated the Molecular Reconstructor. A soft blue light enveloped the Elf. Gray and silver-white mist swirled around him. In less than a second, the clinging ashes, dust on his clothes, and the armor in his hands vanished. In their place stood a clean, upright Elven Knight, his armor gleaming.

The women's eyes widened in disbelief. Soft gasps escaped them. Some, fearing Aelina's attention, clamped hands over their mouths like animals staying silent before a predator. Others shrank back behind their companions in fear.

They were weak, timid, and afraid. Durant's terror was deeply ingrained in them; the shackles were in their minds. But Aelina had to rally them against Durant. Durant had fallen for the ruse to lure him away. Now the tiger was returning to its mountain. Relying on just her and Fro to fight Durant and at least twenty warriors was nearly impossible. But if these slave girls fought for her, she was confident of victory.

"Last night, you didn't believe we two slaughtered the entire camp's enemies," Aelina said. "I never lie. I came from the heavens. Fro has recognized his sins and now follows me to punish the wicked."

"Now, Durant—that despicable slaver—has temporarily escaped. He'll hear from last night's survivors about his men's crushing defeat. I will kill him. I will kill this mastermind. You must follow me."

The women exchanged uncertain glances. They didn't know what 'follow' meant. A young, freckled girl timidly asked, "Are you taking us to escape?"

"No. I'm taking you to kill Durant."

As soon as she spoke, fear spread among the women.

"No... no..."

The freckled girl trembled. Aelina's golden, star-like eyes turned to her. Her companion quickly pulled her into an embrace, covering her mouth.

These women were terrified—of me, of Durant. But this was all part of the plan.

She smiled, speaking in a friendly tone. "Of course, you can run away. I'll give you ten days' worth of food and water. But I must remind you: Durant brought the camp's most seasoned hunting dogs to capture me. Now he's less than two kilometers from this burned camp. You have no map, and none of you know how to survive in the wild. Out in the wilderness, what makes you think you can escape Durant's pursuit?"

The women remained afraid. Some had red eyes. They looked at Aelina and shook their heads tearfully.

"What if we could escape?"

A timid voice.

"If Durant only wants to cage me and ignores you escapees. If his dogs' noses freeze. If his men twist their ankles," Aelina said with a smile. "In the end, he'll still cram you into cages like animals to sell."

She walked toward two girls isolated from the crowd. These unfortunate girls had been the mercenaries' playthings that night. They were raped, then tied to wooden frames. Every man in the camp had used them. Dried bodily fluids covered them, reeking of foul odor. Their long hair was matted. That's why the other women shunned them.

Seeing Aelina approach, they tightened the thick burlap wrapped around them, trying to smell less foul. Aelina showed no disgust. She knelt and embraced them. Her fair, smooth skin and spotless white dress contrasted sharply with their filth.

They looked up at her, dazed.

Gently, Aelina said, "Poor children. We're all pitiful women. Why shun each other? Durant did this evil. You're not dirty at all. It's those despicable men who are filthy."

"I can save you. I am your guide."

Her words were full of allure. A soft blue light enveloped them, like a divine blessing. The disgusting, sticky feeling vanished. Their bodies felt dry and fresh, as clean as newborns. They stared in disbelief at their transformed selves. Aelina stood up and said, "You are pure again now."

The two girls took a deep breath—only the crisp autumn air filled their lungs. They touched their clean faces, ran fingers through their silky hair, which flowed smoothly between their fingers. It all felt like a dream.

"Thank you, you're truly a god—"

The girl, overwhelmed, started to kneel. Aelina knelt down, grasped her hand, and interrupted, "You need not thank me. We don't need tears and weakness. I need accusations. We must judge. We must judge that criminal."

Aelina stood up. Using the Molecular Reconstructor, she built a 'grievance meeting hall' from the ruins. Under a soft blue glow, a podium appeared, surrounded by banners. They read: "Never forget the bitterness of slavery; remember the blood and tears." "Speak your sorrows, seek justice for wrongs; blood debts must be paid in blood." "All slaves are one family." "Settle accounts with all slavers."

The Elf stared in awe at this display. But out of trust, he silently put on his helmet and stood guard beside the 'courtroom'.

She turned, holding the girl's hand earnestly. "Dear friend, go up and accuse Durant of his crimes. We will surely judge him."

"You... will you avenge us?" she asked, tears streaming down.

"No. We will avenge together," Aelina corrected. Her star-like eyes shone with determination. "Durant must die."

The girl nodded firmly, stepped onto the podium, and began to accuse Durant.

"I was from Fizmon Yin. My family fled war to stay with relatives. Durant saw me and offered three sacks of wheat to buy me. My father refused, blocking him with an axe. Durant slashed him, forcing me to be sold. My father passed out. On his deathbed, he wanted meat, but we only had potatoes and wheat. I begged Durant for a piece of meat for him. He said, 'I'd rather feed it to dogs who can guard; what use is it to you?' Then he stuffed me into a cage." She broke down crying. "I never got to see my father's last moments."

Crying was contagious. Several women who had been forcibly bought and sold choked up. They took turns sharing their sorrows.

"I was beaten and cursed daily. Some sisters couldn't take it and tried to escape. The dogs dragged them back, and they were whipped."

"My sister Tina slept in an iron cage every night. She had to carry water and do other chores daily. Her back bent from exhaustion. She fell ill from overwork. He said, 'Make use of the useless.' After using her to pay off some mercenaries' debts, he left her by the roadside for wild dogs."

The atmosphere filled with grief. Many wept, even Fro shed tears. Only Aelina wore a faint smile. She comforted each sobbing woman one by one, leading them in a public memorial to mourn the sisters who had died tragically.

Instantly, the air thickened with sorrow and rage. Before the moment of silence ended, someone burst into tears. Soon, the whole place echoed with weeping. After everyone finished crying, Aelina led them in discussion: "Who caused our suffering?"

Fingers pointed squarely at the evil slaver Durant. Some women, shedding their earlier timidity, stood up angrily. "Give us weapons!" one shouted to Aelina. "I'll kill that grinning bastard!"

"I have judged. Durant is guilty and deserves hell. The sentence will be carried out by our own hands. If you follow me," Aelina pointed to the ashes on the ground, "he will burn alive."

Finally, she asked, "Who doesn't want revenge? Who wants to run? Sign up now, and I'll give you ten days' food and water, plus a dagger."

No one wanted to flee. Aelina stood on the high platform and proclaimed, "I will baptize you. From this day forth, you are pure and full of courage."

One by one, women walked past her. Aelina smiled as she used the Molecular Reconstructor to purify them, stripping away grime. After the pale blue light faded, they gasped in delight to find themselves clad in silvery-white chainmail. Aelina then handed each a spear with another warm smile. After every purification, she gently touched their newly clean cheeks, and finally sighed sadly in her heart.

"Why aren’t there any beauties?" she muttered. "My harem desperately needs maids—the kind who can share my bed."

Harem count +0. But after a brief moment of gloom, she rallied. This was only the start. Once she defeated Durant and gained some leverage, she’d use Fro to enter Elven society… Elves were said to be stunningly beautiful. They’d surely fill the magnificent palace in her grand plans.