Chapter 13: Silence of Vein

In the days following the victory, Vein's scouts returned to the kingdom aboard Edward's ship, amidst timid applause and vacant stares.

Isz looked at the handkerchief Helena had given him and thought: "-I'm home and alive, friends..."

There were no flags flying nor victory bells ringing, only the noise of carts and the dragging of footsteps on the wet stones.

Isz maintained a serious expression.

Even under the cloak of peace, he could smell the stench of death permeating the streets, the same smell he had felt on the battlefields.

Beside him, Harpya observed the castle walls covered in new tapestries with strange symbols, circular marks with vertical lines, as if something had been scratched by claws.

Harpya: -They say it's a new coat of arms, but it doesn't resemble any of the previous ones.

Isz replied in a low tone: -This isn't the symbol of any human king, it looks like ancient runes described in the Saint Gorb bestiary.

In the squares, the churches were always full. Priests and alchemists recited sermons about "purification of the blood" and "rebirth of the true kingdom," but some scouts began to notice disappearances of orphans, wounded soldiers, and even former commanders.

Isz: -What's happening? It seems like the city has become a cult or something.

Hyogo: -I think the city is in mourning because the king died.

Hyogo has a premonition and sees demons, vampires, and the people of the city dying at some point; he falls to his knees.

Butcher: -Hyogo, are you alright, boy?

Hyogo: -Yes, I just got seasick from the trip, that's all.

Hyogo was scared and heard a voice saying that the demons of the advent were near.

A merchant approaches and thanks the scouts for their deeds, and the butcher asks about what was happening in the city.

Merchant: -Sir, the kingdom has been like this since the king died. It seems we are at peace, but the church hasn't been here for a while. They also forbade us from celebrating with you. The royal guards are focused on the capitals, and the police aren't present in this place either.

Butcher: -I didn't do this to earn thanks, but I find it strange that the kingdom forbids citizens from celebrating something good. Thank you for the information, sir. Have a good day.

The scouts split up and went to find places to spend the day. Isz took off his battle uniform and put on his guard uniform (a guard uniform was like civilian clothes, but it came with identifying adornments and holsters with weapons, precisely to signify that he was in civilian clothes but awaiting new orders) and went to the city center to accompany the scouts who were taking the materials to the priests' summit.

Gray: -Thank you for your services, scouts, you can rest now. Congratulations on the victory, Knight Isz, I see you've grown a lot since the last time we met.

Isz: -Thank you very much, priest, I'm glad our services were useful, I will be awaiting new orders.

Mary, who was escorting Gray, sees Isz and says to Helena: -Guess who arrived from the battlefields? He's become a handsome man, hahaha.

Helena couldn't contain her happiness and approached Isz, who was leaning against a wall.

Helena: -I can't believe it, I'm so glad you're okay, Isz.

Isz: -Hello Helena, it's been a long time, you've changed a lot.

With a smile on his face, Isz is impressed by the beauty of his childhood friend.

Helena: -I prayed every day for you and the others to be okay, I was very worried because I didn't receive any news about the battlefields.

Isz: -I understand you, we had few phoenix feathers to write instant messages, so we saved them for the most specific moments.

Helena notices that Isz was carrying the handkerchief she had given him and is pleased. Isz realizes that she was no longer the innocent Helena, but a warrior who had evolved a lot.

Mary: -Good morning, war hero Isz.

Mary greeted him with a smile on her face.

Isz: -Good morning Mary, at least someone recognized me as a war hero hahaha, I see you've become shields for the priests, that's quite an achievement.

Helena: -Yes, I think the city is in mourning, but soon everything will return to normal, the priests and the queen are doing everything for the people.

Isz: That's right...(thoughtful).

Isz: -And Alphonse and the others, how are they?

Helena: -They're fine, Alphonse excelled in the last missions and is the most important alchemist in the church, and Irineia too. I haven't seen them in a while, but the last time we talked he single-handedly saved an entire village with a protective circle.

Isz: -Wow, it seems I wasn't the only one fighting battles these past few years.

Helena: -That's right, we all fought our wars, it seems we'll have peace now.

Helena, with a serene face, bids farewell to Isz and tells him to meet later, then leaves to escort Grey.

Gray arrives at the castle and summons only the butcher.

Butcher: -You summoned me, sir?

Gray: -Yes, you distinguished yourself greatly on the battlefields. I have one last mission for you, Henrik.

Butcher: -Mission? My squad just returned from a campaign, sir. The men are tired, but what would this mission be?

Gray: -Don't worry, it's just a routine mission to check the area where that temple is located, where the heretics worshipped demons. No escort is needed. I only chose you because the people are curious to see a war hero, since celebrations are currently prohibited, and the most senior scout knight would be suitable, don't you think?

Butcher: -Alright, if that's what you wish.

Butcher is suspicious of the situation, takes a deep breath, and sets off on the mission. In the corridors, he encounters Harpya, who was going to deliver the campaign report to the queen, and says he's leaving on a mission.

When Harpya arrives to deliver the report, he peeks in and overhears Gray talking about annihilating the butcher, even just to lower the morale of the scout soldiers.

Butcher notices royal guards watching him and becomes suspicious of the situation. He tells Isz to go to the castle before leaving, giving the excuse that he would send his subordinate to guard the campaign items.

Isz: -You summoned me?

Butcher: (whispering) -Isz, regardless of what happens to me, don't follow me, that's an order. Take your things and leave the city, taking as many scouts with you as possible. Don't ask questions, just go. I think they want to silence me.

Isz is confused and sweating profusely, but understands his master and lets him leave. A few minutes later, Harpya appears and asks if Isz saw the butcher. Isz replies yes, and Harpya shows frustration.

Harpya: -Isz, go back to where you were, put on your battle uniform, and get ready.

Isz: -What's happening?

Harpya: -That's what's going to happen, just do what I'm telling you and don't leave other scouts alone, you hear? I'm going to meet up with Hindal and we're going after the butcher.

Isz becomes worried and remembers the conversation he had years ago with the butcher about not trusting the church and follows the orders given.

On the way he meets Hyogo who, with his hand on his chest, tells them to go after the butcher and that something bad is going to happen to him, and the two set off on horseback.

On the butcher's mission, he passes through a village, but notices that the place seemed abandoned. Some people were watching from the window and he notices what appear to be creatures with red eyes stalking him.

Butcher: "-I must be hallucinating, I better focus on this mission so I can go home."

Upon arriving at the temple, he notices the place smells of incense and a very thick fog. In the distance, he sees a golden glow and a large silhouette; he finally discovers what it is: the voice of the imposing figure is waiting for him inside.

Without thinking twice, the butcher attacks and conjures a protective spell, but it's no use, and the voice of the imposing figure lands an attack, tearing off the fingers of one of the butcher's hands.

Butcher: (feeling great pain) -Grr, you bastard, how did you get here?

Voice of the imposing Power: -My subordinate Gray made you come to me; I told you we would meet again.

The butcher is terrified, but he already suspected something and clenches his teeth in anger.

Butcher: -Fuck you, I'm going to kill you and warn the whole kingdom about this bastard and you.

Voice of Imposing Power: -You speak as if you'll get out alive, you despicable human.

The voice of imposing power strikes with its sword, creating an opening in space-time, causing surprise and fear in the butcher.

The butcher strikes the enemy's helmet, who dodges and cuts off one of the butcher's arms, almost amputating it.

The butcher smiles and uses a matter repulsion technique with his axe, projecting a voice of power far away.

Voice of imposing power: HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH, IT'S THE FIRST TIME A HUMAN HAS MADE ME FEEL HAPPY, KEEP IT UP, AHAHAHAHA!

The butcher is exhausted from blood loss and feels dizzy from expending energy on that blow; suddenly, the voice of despair appears.

Voice of Despair: -Come on, my love, finish this trash quickly, the lady is summoning us.

Voice of Imposing Power: Hey human, my wife saved you from further suffering, you entertained me quite a bit, but it's time to end this.

Butcher smiles and pulls a gun from his pocket and shoots the Voice of Despair in the face, scarring her eye.

Voice of Imposing Power: You wretched human, you will pay for hurting my wife.

The Voice of Imposing Power rips open the butcher's abdomen and leaves. The Voice of Despair says she has smelled butcher's blood before, but doesn't remember where.

Two hours later, Harpya arrives with Hindal and they locate the butcher's body. Isz and Hyogo arrive soon after.

Harpya, crying: -Who did this? How did this happen?

Isz falls to his knees and remembers the moments he shared with his friend. The shock is palpable, due to a knight as strong as the butcher being killed in such a brutal way, the weapon cracked on the ground and blood everywhere.

Hyogo: -We arrived too late, I knew he would die.

Hyogo is clearly shaken by the scene.

Isz picks up the stone that was inside the butcher's relic and vows revenge.

Harpya: -Isz, don't do anything stupid, I know what you're thinking and I suspect the same, but let's not give the enemy any leeway.

Hindal: -Let's go, everyone, maybe whoever did this is nearby.

Harpya: -It wasn't a monster, it was the church.

That afternoon was rainy and more painful than usual for the knights who watched over their companion's lifeless body.