A Glimpse of Decay: Part I – The Crimson Path

“You'll save her?!” The old man's eyes were filled with hope.

“Yes, I will. I'll save your granddaughter. But for that, please tell me everything that has happened – everything.”

“Hey, old man!” a guard interrupted.

“You haven't got anything to say to us, right? Don't waste our time like this. We have other matters to take care of.” he said.

“Ahh—yes, please. You can go. I'm sorry for causing you trouble.” The old man was polite.

“Why are you apologising? You haven't even done anything wrong. 

If someone has to apologise… it should be them.” Touma spoke up.

“It's their duty to help the citizens. Not facing away from their problems.” He added.

“If you can't even help a single person then just quit your job and become a farmer or something.”

“Hey you! Just because I am not saying anything to you doesn't mean you can say anything you want!

You look like a kid, so act like one!” The guard glared at Touma.

“It's the fault of people like you that I've become like this. 

You all pretend to be such high and mighty soldiers – but when the time comes, you refuse to help anyone.”

“You talk big kid. And what's with that glare huh?! You're actually pissing me off now!”

“So what? What will you do? Will you kill me? Try it then.” Touma snapped, glaring back at that soldier.

The villagers were watching everything. 

“Did you see that?” One said. 

“The soldier is really fighting a kid.” Another added.

“Maybe the kid is right.” 

“I don't think a kid should talk like that with adults.” A grumpy old man argued.

“But he's right. The soldiers are there to protect us. Not running away from our problems.” The old woman countered the old man.

“Yes, the kid is taking the old man's side. He's doing the right thing.” A young man agreed.

The village was chattering.

“Hey! What's going on there?” A voice came from a distance. 

“What's all this ruckus?” Another soldier arrived in the area. He was a knight.

“He's refusing to help the old man.” Touma replied instantly. “And when I told him it's his duty, he started to argue.”

“I apologise in his place. But as it is right now, even we've got our hands full.” The knight was firm.

“Anyway, guard–was he here?” The knight asked a soldier.

“No sir. We weren't able to locate him. 

But some locals said that a man arrived in the village a few days back. They said he was a wanderer.

And…. That he… he went towards Mistvale Clearing.”

“What?! Mistvale Clearing… W-why?” 

Everyone looked shocked.

“He didn't tell the reason to anybody sir. So we don't have any idea why he went there.” 

“Sigh…. Let's go then. Let's go to Mistvale Clearing.”

“B-but… si–”

“No buts! We are departing right now. This is an order! We must find him quickly.”

“What are you so agitated about?”

“Listen kid. I'm sorry but we can't talk right now. I gotta go fast. It's an urgent matter. 

And you said you're going to help the old man. But how? You don't even have a weapon on you.” 

“W...well I–I'll figure it out somehow.” There was hesitation in Touma's reply.

”Anyways, take this sword with you. It might not be much, but it's still better than nothing.

You don't want to travel unarmed in this area after all.”

“Umm… Thank you very much.” 

“Don't mention it. This is the only thing I can do for now to help you.

I'm going now. May we meet again.”

The knight left in a hurry. It was only Touma and the villagers now.

“Mom, look, a bird.” A child broke the silence.

“Where?” Another asked.

“There.”

“Yes, it is there. Look, Mom—It's so big.”

“Ahh that. It's not a normal bird. It's rare to see them. I think I'm forgetting what they're called.” An old woman answered the kid's question, “Maybe Lyra knows what it's called.”  

“Who's Lyra?” Touma asked the old woman.

“She's my granddaughter.” The old man intervened.

“She knows about wildlife. More than anyone else here.”

“Okay. So tell me everything that happened. That guard interfered before. 

But there's no interference now. So you can take your time.”

“Yes.” The old man nodded.

“Everything was alright a few days ago, until they came.”

“Who?”

“They call themselves…. Th- the Crimson.. Creed.” His voice was shaky, he was scared. He spoke the name as if it was taboo. 

“Who are they?” Touma asked with hesitation.

“Y– you don't… you don't know about them?! That's impossible!!”

“Please hear me out. I don't know much about anything here. And I don't have enough time to explain everything right now. 

Do you want to save your granddaughter or satisfy your curiosity right now?”

“No. I want to save her. 

I was just a bit surprised when you didn't recognise them. That's all.”

“So, they wanted a sacrifice… a child, preferably a girl.” The old man began.

“And as they were looking around in the village, their gaze fell on Lyra.

I tried to protect her – and failed. But I was lucky that it was the time of sunset. Because they run away at sunset.

Nothing happened that day. Everything has been peaceful since then. But yesterday when Lyra… when she went out to get items for dinner… She never returned. 

It was them. It has to be them! They'll do bad things to her, I'm sure! 

Please save her! I beg you!”

Touma took a step back. “Why are you getting on my feet? I understand your situation – and that's why… I'll help you.”

Touma was firm. There was confidence in his voice. 

Only one thought came to him, “This time… I'll actually save someone. This is my real trial!” 

“So where did they take her? Where can I find them?”

“I don't know. In fact, nobody does. Even the kingdom hasn't been able to locate them.”

“So how do I find her then? There has to be a way!”

“Yes there is.” A villager spoke up. He was muscular. A blacksmith? Or not? 

“I've heard some locals say this. All of them head in the direction of the Sun. They follow it – especially during sunset.” 

“That means… I need to depart now. It's almost sunset now. I need to hurry!

Are there any ways to travel quickly?” Touma was speaking fast. 

“Yes, I have a horse. But can you ride it?”

“I think I can. Bring it here, Grandma. Take some Villagers with you. 

But be fast, please.”

Some time passed, and the horse arrived. A white beautiful horse.

“She’s Sora. Please take care of her. My late husband cared about her like a daughter.” 

“I will. I'll take care of her, Grandma.” 

“Be careful with her. She's not too nice with others.” 

“O…kay.” Touma replied as he stretched out his hand to touch Sora’s head. In a way of indicating no harm.

Sora lowered her head.

“What? Sora accepts you! She has never let anyone lay a single finger on her before. You're special to her.”

Touma felt nice. At least a horse was nice to him. 

But this isn't the time for feeling nice.

“I'm going now – I'll bring her back.”

“I wish you luck boy.” The blacksmith was a decent man.

“May the gods guide your journey.” But he was expressionless.

In the setting sun and little time left. Touma jumped on Sora and departed in the direction of the Sun.

The villagers were quiet. They didn't show any expressions. They kept looking at Touma until he was a dot in the distance.

“We need to hurry, Sora. So you think you can run faster than this? We have to reach them by the time the Sun sets completely.”

The horse snorted! 

“So you agree too, huh? That's the spirit.” 

Touma nearly fell on the ground when Sora broke into full speed. “Wow, you're amazing!” 

The horse snorted again. As if to accept the compliment.

The journey was midway complete, or so it seemed. The sun was about to set. Until Sora stopped in front of an open field.

“What happened, Sora? Why did you stop? Come on! Let's go!”

The horse refused to budge – until the sunlight started to fade, revealing it.

The field was gone. And a forest appeared in the distance. It was not completely visible. But there was a clearing ahead in it too.

“So this is the place.” A thought came to mind.

“Sora, let's go a bit ahead till the clearing.” 

Another refusal.

“Okay, if that's the case, then stay put here. I'm going in now – I'll return after some time. 

So you must stay here, got it?” 

Touma got off the horse and started to walk into the forest. 

Sora watched from a distance, without a single movement. 

Touma went deep. He crossed the point where the outside wasn't visible from the forest.

“It's the same stench here too. Does that mean those creatures are here too?” 

A breath – no, a wheeze – rasped through the still air. It was calm, but clearly not human.

Touma was alarmed by this wheezing sound. 

The sound echoed through the forest.

It felt as if someone was calling out to him – someone with a slit throat.

The sound sent chills down his spine. Touma turned around a bit to look at its source.

In the periphery of his vision, Touma saw someone – no, something.

Something peeking at him.

From behind a tree.