Lord: Starting with Contract Half-Elf Twins

"Whoosh—whoosh—"

The prisoners had no time for careful reconnaissance and could only follow the female thief's directions, making their way through the ancient ruins with all their might.

Behind them, the dilapidated buildings where the stone prison was located gradually shrank into a gray dot on the horizon. Although the surrounding area was still a ruin interspersed with rubble and weeds, everyone felt much more at ease.

The black-robed wizard did not pursue them, or rather, it was unknown whether he had time to discover that his prisoner had already escaped.

After all, the magic activated on that iron gate was enough to keep anything in place, even sound.

Even now, Allen still feels a chill when he thinks back on it.

"You're breathing very heavily, let me do it..."

Seeing that it was safer, Solina tried to take Viola off Allen's back.

"No, I can still hold on. When I really can't hold on any longer, I will hand over the reins to you."

Allen wasn't just putting on a brave face.

Although Viola was three years older than him, due to her half-elf bloodline, her life cycle was much slower, and she was still in the form of a young girl at this time.

Of course, this was good news for slave traders, as the nobles were eager to buy "goods" that could maintain their youth for a long time.

Although Allen is only 13 years old, his physical strength is far greater than that of Solina, who has undergone modification, after his red dragon bloodline is activated.

"Thank you... thank you for saving us."

"You're welcome, it's part of the deal."

"Okay...I understand."

Although she didn't know the price of trading power with the boy, Solina's gratitude at this moment was heartfelt.

With the hope of escaping the den of evil within reach, the boy is also earnestly protecting Viola.

In this way, even if she can no longer protect her younger sister in the future, she can rest assured with the boy's promise.

Viola, curled up on Allen's back, gently bit her lip, but ultimately remained silent.

She knows she is a burden in a real sense and feels very guilty about it.

If she had made the contract with the boy first, then it would be her turn to protect Solina now.

It's always been like this since she was little; Solina has always been stronger and more decisive than her, and she always thinks about protecting her.

(Please remember the website 20 ...

But there is no debt owed between the Geminis.

The cost of the transaction?

Viola won't let her bear this alone.

If you are the only one left in this world, it is better to fall into hell together with someone else. The evil spirits will not refuse an extra soul.

"I'm not seeing things, am I? That spell... it's [Time Stop]?"

Green wiped the sweat from his brow and gasped for breath, but the scene he had just witnessed kept replaying in his mind.

That was a powerful spell that even his mentor, a high-ranking wizard, couldn't cast.

It is said that only legendary wizards, or beings close to being legendary, can use such powerful magic.

"A real time stop won't give us time to escape."

Tasha didn't slow her pace for a moment, walking at the very front of the group—she was the only one who had voluntarily entered this ancient ruin, knew how to get out, and where it was safe.

"That's a magical trap similar to 'time stop,' designed to freeze prisoners who have escaped from the dungeon in place. It's practically the most efficient 'bear trap,' never harming the prey in the slightest, yet keeping them forever just one step away from freedom."

"This trap couldn't have been set by the black-robed wizard. He probably just had the key but never activated it. So he didn't know that over the long years, the originally powerful magical trap had become slow and distorted, which is why we managed to escape."

"The original owner of this ruin set up a spacetime magic trap at the cell door just to trap the prisoners in the dungeon. How extravagant!"

Tasha gritted her teeth and led the group around a dilapidated stone house.

Having witnessed firsthand the powerful magic hidden within the ancient ruins, she dared not touch anything that might trigger magic, even on the paths she had already traversed.

The black-robed wizard dwells within the ancient ruins, partly out of greed for its magical power, and partly to protect himself from the ancient magic that might be triggered at any time within the ruins.

"Yeah... Phew... So extravagant... Phew..."

Green was out of breath and gradually fell behind the team.

Aside from Viola on Allen's back, the wizard apprentice Green, who hadn't trained for years, was the least physically fit in the team.

"I said... phew... can we take a break? I can't run anymore..."

"You can stop and rest whenever you want, but I won't wait for you."

The female thief didn't even turn her head, and gave a cold laugh.

"Perhaps if you stay here, you can buy us some time when the black-robed wizard catches up."

"At that time... I'm sure... the first person I'll tell him is the one you escaped in!"

"That would be perfect, because I'll definitely change the direction I'm going to escape in. Your misdirection was very valuable. It's settled then!"

"You...you...uh!"

Green was already exhausted and breathless, and Tasha's words almost made him faint.

But he dared not stop running, forcing his numb legs to run forward, afraid that the team would really leave him behind. He could only silently curse "sewage bitch" in his heart to vent his anger.

The group fled for most of the day, and the ruins of the buildings gradually became sparse, indicating that they had reached the edge of the ancient ruins.

The group perked up and, despite their fatigue, quickened their pace. Soon, the remains of the building disappeared completely from sight.

Beyond the ruins lies an endless wilderness.

The hills and forests stretched endlessly, and even the most powerful black-robed wizards would find it difficult to locate them in the wilderness once they arrived.

Moreover, Allen had seen the black-robed wizard's stats and knew that his poor condition wouldn't allow him to stay outside for long, which made him feel even more at ease.

"Let's take a break," Allen suggested, panting heavily.

Tasha glanced back and was somewhat surprised to see that even after carrying someone for so long, Allen still seemed to have plenty of energy left.

"There's a grove of trees over there, let's rest there."

The group entered the woods, their hurried pace gradually slowing, their heavy breathing unable to subside for a while.

"I'll go check around the neighborhood."

Tasha had the best stamina of the group, and although she was tired, she was still able to move.

Tasha pressed her hand against the dagger at her waist, crouched low, and disappeared into the woods.

"Ouch...ouch..."

After the team stopped, Green was the first to collapse, slumping against a rock.

His face was deathly pale, his chest heaving violently, his robes nearly soaked through, he could barely utter a complete sentence, and his legs were trembling so badly he could barely stand.

Allen was also exhausted, but he first slumped his back and gently placed Viola on a relatively clean rock before sitting down and panting heavily to regulate his breathing.

Solina's red dragon bloodline was much weaker than Allen's. Even without carrying anyone on her back, she was so tired that she was holding her knees and panting heavily, and even straightening her back was a bit difficult.

"Great, we've finally escaped!" Viola was weak, but her face was full of excitement at escaping the den of demons.

Solina straightened up, walked to Allen's side, and reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Allen didn't refuse. He knew that Solina was feeling uneasy and needed to do something to express her gratitude to him.

The half-elf twins were his first followers and formed the basis for the Lord's Handbook to function; their importance is beyond question.

Unfortunately, now is not the time to talk, and I cannot explain my relationship with them in detail.

After resting for a while, everyone's breathing gradually calmed down. At this point, they felt extremely sore all over, and were both thirsty and hungry.

"That woman, she didn't abandon us and run away, did she?"

Green lay on his back on the rock and suddenly spoke.

"We were just escaping together; neither of us had any obligation or responsibility towards the other."

Allen replied calmly.

"They helped us pry open the iron gate and led us out of the ancient ruins. They can just pack up and leave without a care in the world."

"She's clearly a whore from the sewers..."

"If you can help us in our escape, that would be great."

After being rebuked by Allen, Green grunted twice, but didn't seem angry.

"Okay, I know I wasn't of much use, but I will still keep my promise to pay you."

Judging from your tattered clothes, you must have been slaves sold here before.

Come with me to Emerald City beneath the Eagle Plateau. I'll find a way to help you obtain citizenship in the Kingdom of Dorne.

No, that's not necessary.

Allen shook his head. He had made up his mind. To fully unleash the power of the Lord's Handbook, he had to acquire his own territory.

So perhaps he needs to establish his own power in the wilderness, just like the black-robed wizard, Obitus the Decayer.

Green, thinking the young slave boy didn't understand the value of citizenship, sat up and said seriously:

"I'm not trying to fool you. Citizenship in the Kingdom of Dorne isn't granted casually. My mentor is very famous in the Emerald City, and I'll pay a heavy price for it..."

He paused, then added solemnly:

"I'm doing this for your own good. That half-elf saved me with fire magic. After I gain citizenship, I'll find a way to get her into my mentor's academy! My mentor's academy is one that many nobles don't even have the chance to attend!"

Upon hearing this, Allen's heart stirred.

Based on his past life experience, he could roughly judge that although this wizard apprentice didn't say anything nice, his attitude was serious.

He turned to look at Solina, thinking that if his followers developed in the human kingdoms, their growth rate might be even faster.

"No, I won't go."

Solina grasped Viola's hand, both sisters' eyes revealing disgust for humans.

If given a choice, the sisters would rather live in the wilderness than return to a place filled with malice, contempt, and covetousness.

Green shrugged. "Alright then, I've saved myself some money. My name is Green Kingston. If you want payment in the future, you can come find me in Emerald City."

"Allen".

"My name is Solina, and this is my sister Viola."

Green nodded, noted down the three names, then suddenly remembered something and hesitantly asked Solina:

"I have a question. When the black-robed wizard grabbed me, he eagerly drained all the magic from my body. How... did you use magic?"