Desolate World

"Pff… Hahaha...," Finally, someone couldn't help but laugh.

He was followed by all people either inside the bars or outside of the bars.

Noah only smiled.

"Yeah, you definitely need a bath, no! Maybe two baths," Someone from outside of the cell commented.

"Or three…," Someone followed.

"Yeah, I don't know how long I'm here. But, I surely miss taking a bath," Someone inside the iron bars responded.

"I'm glad that all of you are fine. I thought we had lost you, when the vampires took you," Noah said in a low voice.

"We are glad to see you again, Noah. But, our conditions are not good. As you can see, we are transforming into vampires. Although the vampire said that we can be cured with a 'cure' spell, it is difficult to find a healer. After all, where can we find a healer in this vast forest?" A man asked in despair.

An awkward silence enveloped them. Noah himself didn't have a solution. Deep down, he was also pessimistic about finding a healer to heal them. After all, they had never seen anyone except the vampires that they had hostility with.

However, he wanted to try. Whatever the cost, he wanted to find a solution. He couldn't abandon them.

"I know. We came here after hearing the information that Zach had brought. He also said that as long as you don't accept to be a vampire, your transformation won't complete. Don't give up your identity as human beings, you can be saved. 

I know it will not be easy. Many people will fear you and have a prejudice against you. But, as long as you don't give up on your identity as part of us, I will protect you. I will not let anyone harm you. But, I also need your commitment to be patient towards any malicious remark that may be directed to you. 

Can you do that? Can you trust me?" Noah said while looking at their eyes one by one.

Some detained men couldn't help but cry. Some of them gritted their teeth to self-convince themselves. 

A man then looked at Noah's eyes with a clear look. He said, "I promise you, even if we can't live like normal people like before and need blood to live. I will never harm any human, especially our fellow refugees."

"Yeah, me too," A man also followed suit.

One by one of them declared their determination.

"Guys, I will also help you. You are not alone," Someone outside the bars also gave his support. Everyone besides him nodded.

"Good, I trust you. Now, back off!" Noah said while walking towards the door.

There was a chain that was locked with a padlock around two bars that locked the door. He then swung his axe towards it. 

*Clang*

The chain was broken.

Noah then opened the door and ordered, "Come out! We must find a river after this. Your odors are unbearable."

"Hahaha," Everyone was laughing.

"I pity the fish. Today is their doomsday," A man threw a joke.

"Oh, we will have them for dinner," Another man said.

"Don't make me vomit! Yuck! They will be polluted. You can have them by yourself," A man beside him said.

"Hahaha…," Everyone laughed again.

Noah also laughed hard. However, he said in his heart, 'I hope everything will be okay. Please don't betray my trust in you, guys. If not, don't blame me.'

***

After freeing all of the men from the cell, they went to a cell that detained women. The number of women in the cell was larger than the number of men. Almost twice as many. 

Like before, Noah convinced them to come back to the refugees and he promised to protect them as long as they behaved and did not lose themselves to their instinct.

After making sure that everything went well. Noah found a man that was detained for more than a month.

"You are one of few who are the longest here, do you know about 'people' who inhabit this cave other than you and the vampires?" Noah asked.

"I only know that the vampires call them blood reserves. You should have already guessed their role for vampires.

I have never seen them with my own eyes, as the vampire servants who always 'took care' of us," The man said.

Noah was surprised. He thought the 'people' were treated as slaves by vampires. He had never thought that they were treated as food by vampires too. 

"Okay, thanks. I will meet them," Noah said. He then found a middle-aged man.

"Elo, can you take me to meet the 'people'?" Noah asked.

"Sure… But, I warn you. They seem to be hostile to us. I tried to talk to them, but they just glared at me without saying anything," Elo said.

After that, Elo took Noah deeper into the cave. Noah prevented the others from following him.

It was another cell. However, it was much larger than the last two. Noah then saw them. 

They had small physiques. They were just as tall as children who were 7 or 8 years old. Their skin tone was pale green. They had a pair of pointy ears and large eyes. All of them wore long clothes with rough and inferior material. Most of them looked malnutritioned and unhealthy. 

Seeing Noah and Elo come, they looked at them with vigilance and hostility. They also backed off from the iron bars. 

Noah then checked them. They were goblins. Their levels were between 1 to 5. In conclusion, they were very weak. 

Noah looked at them with sympathy. He guessed that they were slaves and food of Vampires. However, the weird thing was no one of them had status transforming into vampires. It only meant one thing. The vampires drew their blood not by directly biting them. But with other means. As for how they did that, he didn't want to imagine that.

"My name is Noah. I'm the leader of the human refugees. We have chased out the vampires and freed our members.

I don't mean bad towards you. I just want to ask. Can I help you?" Noah asked.

***