Chapter 1 Rudbeckia Part 3

Ryo couldn't tell what defined one dawn from another. It seemed for just a few seconds that he had been watching small birds enter the forest, and now he was ready to perform one more task.

“Ready?”

Elena asked as she always did before taking any action.

“Yeah!!!!!!”

With everything ready to leave, there was only one last and important job to do.

Step by step, they began to head to their respective place with a slow walk, accompanied by funereal silence. Their faces reflected a strange seriousness.

The morning mist wandered throughout the place.

The village had also gotten up early. The noise appeared around every corner, a sign of the preparations for a modest banquet.

Upon entering the village, Ryo's and the others' faces changed to their usual ones. They moved with such mastery that they went unnoticed by others.

Ryo and Benedek took position, watching the house and its surroundings from a distance.

Elena, Lys, and Astray headed to the home with weapons on them.

Everything happened so normally that one would not imagine that a storm would develop here.

Time was flowing, but Ryo didn't feel it.

How long had it been?

I didn't know.

Some soldiers seemed to be lending a hand to the villagers.

Time passed.

People moved from one side to the other. A large table was set up in front of the village. Decorations dressed the homes.

Time passed.

The soldiers appeared more and more. A beast was flying overhead. A gentleman was talking to Rohn.

Time passed.

In the distance, near the forest, small birds began to flutter in the direction of the village.

“They seem to be getting closer.”

Ryo approached Benedek.

“They are taking longer than usual.”

“We knew it wouldn't be easy.”

“I'm going to check.”

Benedek stared at Ryo.

“…”

“Good. But look from a distance.”

Ryo nodded.

Slowly he approached Cohen's home. Some creaking along with some murmuring could be heard inside. He moved closer.

“Ah… ah… They are undoubtedly skilled.”

“I'm going to finish him off, boss.”

“Why the hurry, little kitten?”

Cohen had a sword in hand while Elena held her thin dagger, Astray with his short swords behind him, and although Lys had a bow on his back, he seemed to fight with bare fists.

From the little that Ryo observed from the window, it seemed that the fight was coming to an end. Cohen looked tired, wounds everywhere. Lys's hands stained with blood as well as Astray's swords, hinted at where they came from.

Meanwhile, Elena watched.

Cohen swung his sword; became a spear.

“It's not time yet.”

He went on the attack. Lys nimbly dodged it. But the air left by the blow of the spear seemed to come to life and let out a blow.

“Tch!”

Lys was pushed back. Astray attacked, Cohen barely dodged the first blow and parried the second with his spear.

Elena watched.

“They're excellent. It is an honor that the great Regseia Monarchy cares about an old man like me.”

“Not just any old man, it seems,” mentioned Elena, who moved so quickly that the next thing you saw was her hand crossing Cohen's stomach.

He took out his hand, dripping blood. In it he held a small, opaque, yellowish stone with complex luminous runes. A bright red flame emerged from his fist for a moment, as he shattered the small gem. Cohen's body began to fall apart as if it were a clay doll. Everyone seemed surprised, except Elena.

“It's time to go out, don't you think?”

“Kof, kof, kof! They're excellent…” Cohen seemed to come out of nowhere as a trickle of blood flowed down his chin. I sharpen my eyes with determination. Ahhhh… Kof, kof! That was the last one. Kof, kof!

“It's time.”

Hearing Elena's words, Astray and Lys changed their attacking stance.

The temperature seemed to decrease, time to lengthen.

Suddenly, a desperate scream was heard… Then another… Then another… Another… Another… Another…

Ryo quickly turned around, seeking the source of the ominous sound.

The villagers began to run inside the village frantically.

“Yes, it seems like it's time to start.” Ryo thought he heard, as he watched Velk and Benedek run in his direction.

The desperate screams echoed, echoed…

What happens? Ryo wondered, disoriented.

The griffin seemed to fly lower and lower. The sound of its wings made its way, little by little, more and more, through the ominous noise.

“Ah… ah… Aren't they finished? Ah…” Velk and Benedek had arrived with Ryo holding weapons.

“No. What's wrong?” Ryo asked with a questioning look.

“Ah… ah… There is no time.” Velk walked quickly.

“The soldiers started attacking the villagers,” Benedek told him as they pursued Velk.

“Attack? I would say…”

Before Velk finished, an explosion echoed through the place. Cohen's destroyed house was covered in dust. Three figures quickly jumped out from there.

“Cough, cough, cough! I told you to wait!”

“Cough, cough! Didn't you see how he cut his arm and crushed his eyes?! I was planning something!”

“Silence! It appears that something is approaching.”

A large shadow, slowly growing larger, loomed within the cloud of dust.

Desperate screams surrounded the place, sometimes close, sometimes far away.

The beast flew lower and lower.

Elena looked askance at everyone.

“In position! Looks like the damn thing summoned something! Velk! What is the situation!?”

“The soldiers began to attack the village.”

“That?! —Lys seemed stunned.”

“…”

“…Strange,” Elena murmured.

“And Cohen?” Benedek asked.

“We will know soon.”

Ryo took out the daggers hidden inside his shirt, threw away the blindfold, and prepared to fight.

The large figure surrounded by dust began to reveal itself.

It looked like an amorphous being, about four meters tall. It seemed like huge pieces of mountain were coming together to come to life. And in the center of them, a huge orange sphere shone along with large lines that came out of it, covering the rocks that it seemed to join. An eyesore, that's what it was.

“Argh! Ah… ah… ah… Don't worry, someone will live. After all, a witness to this fatality is vital. Ah… ah… ah…” Behind that golem, Cohen was speaking. While pouring a strange liquid on his already armless shoulder. The bleeding stopped, the wound seemed to heal.

“So the dead man speaks.”

“Ha ha ha! We are all dead.”

The golem came out completely, Cohen behind.

“It seems like you've gone crazy.”

“Maybe…”

Elena's dagger began to turn crimson.

“AAaaAaAaaAAaAaARrRRRRgGGGGHHhH!”

The Golem screamed and pounced.

“Benedek, Velk, with me! Astray, cover your back! Lys, Ryo, with Cohen!”

Elena charged at the golem.

With one of his deformed and enormous limbs, he launched a blow. They avoided it, Benedek just.

The villagers hurried past, accompanied by the clanking of the soldiers' armor.

The mist moved, bigger, denser, as Velk sang, and a necklace on his neck glowed.

AAaaaAAAaaAAAaAAAaAAa!

A scream could be heard.

AaaAaAAaAaAAAaaaAAa!

Other.

The winged beast had descended.

“Just aim at the sphere!”

Benedek's great ax struck the sphere, receiving little damage. Another blow launched that monstrosity. Benedek fell a few meters backwards.

“Two people blessed by spirits?”

“Are you surprised, old man?”

“Hahaha. A little… but also relieved that they weren't real wizards or sorcerers.”

Ryo and Lys frowned.

“So you will be my executioners.”

“You don't like it?”

“That a pretty girl takes me to the doors of eternal rest will never be a disappointment.”

Cohen seemed to be looking at Lys, although instead of eyes, he only had two black cavities with traces of blood. Ryo looked at that old man, ready to take his dying life.

Nobody said more.

Lys aimed his bow at the old man's head. The arrow in his hands, ready to fulfill its purpose. Ryo clenched his hands that were wielding sharp daggers.

The landscape of the always peaceful town, with its green meadows, red maples, yellowish flowers, and peaceful atmosphere, became disturbing. The frantic sounds of hell tapped in every house, every trace of blood on the floor, every mutilated body, every flap of that beast's wings… The fog persisted.

“NOOoooOoOoOo! SHE'S JUST A GIRL, PLEASE LEAVE HER! I BEG YOU! PLEASE! Please! Please! Please, please… leave… please… please… hil…”

Tears covered the ground.

“MOTHER! NOOOOO! MOTHER!”

Not so far away, the crying of some people seemed to be heard.

Lys released the arrow.

Surprised, she watched as the arrow pierced him.

No more… no fight, no resistance, no words, no tricks. That's how he died. So simple, so implausible, so anticlimactic, that it didn't seem true. Another trick? Maybe, but it didn't seem like it. That's what Lys thought while checking the old man's corpse. He had simply accepted his future, or had he already done his job? Neither Lys nor Ryo understood it.

“If you had already accepted it, you should have let us do it sooner.” Lys spoke in front of Cohen's limp body. “Come on, Ryo, it's time to go. This place is crazy.”

Behind them the battle within the thick fog seemed to have no end. The Golem lashed non-stop all over the place, frantic, without control. Around him, Velk—slightly bleeding—moved with watery spheres. Every time he launched an attack, one of them vanished. Benedek bled and screamed like a berserker each time his ax savagely fell on the cracked sphere. Barely wounded, Elena, with faint vermilion flames emerging from her body, moved agilely and decisively like a fascinating ferocious beast. They hit the sphere while Astray covered them as best he could from the blows that they did not see or from the occasional soldier who appeared. The Golem and the ground with traces of blood, scattered body parts, endless screams.

“The objective has been eliminated, it's time to retreat!” Lys approached with her feline reflexes.

“It's not going to be that easy.”

It was incredible how they communicated in battle.

“What are you talking about…?”

“Looks like they're having a lot of fun here!”

Above them, Sr. Jacques-levy rode his beast, who shook his wings, dispersing the mist momentarily, revealing a bloody picture.

“Why don't you help a little here?” Elena answered.

“Ha ha ha. I think we stumbled upon hidden characters. But it doesn't matter.”

Jaques gave the signal to descend, but the griffin did not move, it seemed to be observing something… The knight frowned. Could it be because of the Golem? He thought. Just a couple of seconds later, the beast descended.

“A knight must be magnanimous, so I will help you a little.”

“Cover your ears!”

Someone screamed.

The griffin let out a scream that shook everything in its path, except for the gigantic creature. The golem, which had not stopped shaking everything in its path, opportunely took advantage and waved what looked like an arm with enormous force that hit most of the people. Elena and company were bleeding on the floor. A few meters away, Ryo and Lys without injuries but on their knees. Lys seemed the most affected.

The knight got off and approached them.

“You will be the first.”

Elena stood up as the flames on her body increased violently.

“Everyone, help Liz and Ryo, I'll finish this thing.”

Everyone on the ground stood up following his orders.

Jacques unsheathed his greatsword with a bluish edge, a grayish-white hilt, and a circular pommel with a star inside—made up of tiny, glittering light blue magic stones. He swung it at Lys, but the blade only cut air as Ryo was faster.

“It seems that the child is not an ornament… those eyes…”

Huge flames began to appear around the mortal interpretation, Elena, and the strange being.

The others arrived, attacking the knight. He dodged them, the griffin prepared to attack.

“No, we would rather not draw too much attention.” The griffin looked offended. “Let her entertain the golem. Why strive?”

“You seem very confident.” Astray confronted him.

“Let's see if the reputation of the Nigheaven elite is real.”

“I am also interested in your identity.”

Lys and Ryo began to recover.

“Damn it… you'll pay for this, little bird,” Lys cursed.

The temperature was rising.

The screams do not disappear.

With a small signal, they attacked in unison. As coordinated as only shoulder-to-shoulder experience can give. Bendek attacked, the knight evaded. Velk cast a spell, the knight interrupted him. Astray brandished, the knight brandished. An arrow was approaching, the knight dodged it. Ryo stabbed, the knight kicked him.

“It seems I can't be careless,” Jacques said in a serious tone, while light wounds appeared through the small openings that his armor provided.

“Be careful with your sword, it is a mystical weapon.” Benedek had a grim countenance.

“So a mystical blade. Will it be a Seinar?”

The temperature was rising.

“I don't think so, Velk,” Lys replied.

“You have a very dangerous weapon, knight. Is she one with a will?” asked a smiling Astray.

“Yours are not common either. Maybe lunar silver?”

“Why don't we find out?”

Everyone was sweating more. The knight attacked, increasing his power and speed, now showing his true skill. Magic and steel clashed, skill was tested with life at stake. The blood jumped, the magic clashed. Ryo could barely keep up and not get in the way. The knight's sword seemed to cut air. But even though they dodged, the wounds emerged. Their weapons were beginning to crack. The armor softened the magic Velk cast. Fatigue appeared, his blows became weaker and weaker.

Suddenly, the temperature rose so suddenly that they stopped the battle…

A bang resounded, flames flickering.

In the center of that explosion, a bloody Elena emerged from the scarlet flame, with a calm face but a violent look, a wildly serene appearance.

I walk in his direction.

The screams did not stop.

The griffin was on guard.

“Why do they take so long with an unrenowned bird?”

Smiling, they welcomed Elena.

“So not even a golem of that level is a match.”

“Do you mind if I join?”

“A little unfair, don't you think?”

“I don't believe it.”

The griffin stood behind the knight.

The knight attacked. This time his sword seemed even sharper. Elena parried the blow with her dagger that was now cherry red. Reading the knight's thoughts, the griffin attacked the others. The beast took off, and its great wings fluttered, forming gusts that divided everything in its path. Velk protected them with a vaporous field. Lys, with bow in hand, released an arrow that cut distance faster and faster. The griffin rose higher; the arrow grazed his neck. The beast flew in a dive… A few meters before hitting the ground, it stopped dead, flapping its wings. It created a wave of such magnitude that it cracked the ground. Ryo and the others bowed before such force. The griffin opened its claws and attacked. Benedek let out a barbaric scream, barely stood up, and brandished his enormous ax, protecting them from the griffin. Blood gushed from it, the beast rose again.

Fire and steel collided, flames danced while a celestial flash accompanied them. Blood splattered on Jacques' armor. His or Elena's?

The soldiers pursued; the villagers ran.

The stench of blood and steel became more and more noticeable. Exudation and exhaustion invaded Ryo and company.

How long had it been? I didn't know.

They were barely standing, some better than others. Benedek the most worn out, with his arm half falling off. Velk no longer using magic. Lys with blood here and there. Astray with only a sword already, and Ryo… almost unharmed. He knew why, and he could only curse himself for this, even though it wasn't the time for that. The griffin rose again.

“It's my turn,” Benedek said firmly.

“What are you talking about?”

“You know what I mean, Lys. There is only one way out of here, and I will create that opportunity.”

Everyone reacted with different expressions, but they agreed on something. Anger and grief, no one spoke.

“Good. They know what to do.”

“I'll do it, you are more indispensable.”

“Ha ha ha. You know it's not like that, I just have strength. And you can find that anywhere. Not a magic user like you.”

“That's not true…” Velk whispered timidly.

The silence thundered, their faces increasingly downcast, fury contained. Was time passing? Ryo didn't know. The moment was coming, everyone knew it. Benedek looked askance at Elena, their gazes met, she understood.

Everything stopped… calm… calm…

A tornado came, Bendek jumped.

The beast's claws passed through him, he grabbed it.

—ESSENCE FLOWER AT DAWN.

Two fireballs spun until they gathered, creating a dense floral flare that fleetingly erased the celestial edge.

Four figures along with a small one shot towards the forest.

—DAMN IT!

A scream left…

With what little strength he had left, the last glimmer of resistance, Benedek lashed out at the monstrous beast. The claws tore at his arm, his legs, his chest. The shine in his eyes was gradually fading…

—Ah… ah… So they sacrificed a rook… ah… ah… to save the lady.

Jaques cut deadly fire, red bathed his armor. Half his face was disfigured. His helmet was broken on the ground, smoking with pieces of skin. The griffin approached the knight, leaving the lifeless body behind.

Running were Ryo and company. The voices of torment surrounded them, the soldiers encouraged them and then silenced them.

The griffin rose into the sky.

They left the village. They ran without rest.

How long had it been? I didn't know

The beast was approaching, the forest could be heard. The gasps increased, the traces of blood multiplied. The closer the tap was, the forest appeared. Closer, closer, closer. Jacques prepared a greatsword that flashed in time with the sun. He moved the reins, the tap stopped, empty.

“ACIES DEBRISÉ.”

The cut of the sword split the air. He picked up more and more speed. The forest a few steps away… The pit accelerated more… more… more…

Three horizontal marks that seemed to tear the earth appeared. The knight stared at the entrance of the quiet forest. Shortly afterward, he turned around and returned to the village.

The serene forest. With its tall trees that created multiple games of light and shadows, where some small animals played. A small river passed by, a calm melody.

Ryo and the others were moving quickly.

“High!” Elena carried Velk by the shoulder. “He returned to the village.”

“Ugh!” Velk writhed in pain. Pale and sweaty, his pulse was getting faster.

“Hold on.” Elena helped him sit next to a tree. He tore his upper garment, revealing a deep wound that covered his right side. The blood was flowing fast.

Elena looked seriously, Lys looked with horror, Astray closed her eyes. Ryo seemed disoriented. How long had it been?

“Can't we close the wound?” Lys mentioned with little confidence.

“Ghk…ghk…! It's useless, the damage is internal… Ghk… Without an elven elixir, sacred magic, or medical magister… ghk… there is nothing to do.” Velk was coughing up blood, colder and sweatier.

Without being able to do anything, the others could only look at him, bewildered, angry, sad, full of blood, dirt, sweat, with broken weapons, barely any strength.

“Don't worry about me, keep going, ghk… ghk…! Without me, we don't know if they come…”

“No, we will accompany you.”

“Yes, I don't think they're after us. His task was different,” Astray mentioned seriously.

“Ghk…ghk…! We have to go back for the information he stole.”

“I have it,” Astray replied. You know that when we execute an operation, we never leave anything important behind.

“Ah… ah… ah… It's true… Why… ah… ah… ah… did they attack…?”

“I don't know, but the soldiers fought strangely.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Though they carried the flag, they did not look like soldiers from Nigheaven, Lys.” Astray continued with a serious attitude.

Everyone fell into deep reflection. Ryo barely noticed the time.

“We'll talk to Joseph about it. For now, go get some water.” Elena gave them a small waterskin.

Lys and Astray left.

“Ugh, ugh. Ghk…ghk…! Sorry, boss.”

“Just rest.” Elena sat across from Velk. Dried blood covered his skin, his bluish gaze barely showed a hint of desolation.

Ryo sat a little further away.

Time passed, in the distance the crying was barely visible.

Time passed, how much had passed?

They waited… Velk barely responded… time passed… Velk slept… he left in silence.

“Take care of your body, I'll go look for some fruit or animal.” Elena left.

Ryo approached the inert body, closed its eyes. He sat under a tree. He waited in the company of the faint murmur of the forest.

He felt a small presence, he looked up, and among the branches with green and reddish leaves of a nearby tree, a small creature could be seen. It looked like a tiny flying squirrel with an intense white color, a huge furry tail, and a strange symbol on its head. Their eyes met. Ryo barely got up, the creature escaped. I had never seen a creature like that. He looked around searching for her, but there was no sign of the little.

“Is something wrong?” Elena had returned, she had a lifeless bird in her hand.

“Nothing. Astray and Lys are late.”

“Let's wait a little longer. Come help me.”

They laid the body down without Velk, they stripped it naked. They placed the bird between their fingers on his chest. With Elena's still intact dagger—already with silver-colored steel—they superficially cut the palm of one of her hands. They stretched out their arm, and blood dripped onto the corpse.

“Let's rest for a moment.”

Elena and Ryo lay down. Crickets and cicadas could be heard, birds sang, small animals seemed to play in the undergrowth.

Elena's eyes snapped open. He barely reacted, dodging a small sword slash. He jumped back, pulled out his dagger, and blocked the next blow, his body arousing crimson flame. Went on the offensive. The flaming dagger passed close to the attacker's throat, the sword passed close to Elena's chest. The two walked away.

“Ahhh, I see that Joseph taught you well.”

Astray said with a look they had never seen before, and although smiling, his face seemed expressionless. Stains of fresh blood surrounded him.

Ryo didn't understand.

“Who sent you?” The crimson flames moved dizzyingly, Elena's gaze became more and more severe.

“Ignorance is not something we can afford.”

Elena frowned.

“We still can't kill the bastard Joseph and company. So you must bear your sin for now.”

Elena seemed to understand after Astray's words.

“So the Marquis Aédriz never forgot it.”

“You know that in Regseia the blood is thicker than the crown.”

Elena let out a sigh… Her eyes cleared. He smiled bravely.

“RYO! Listen. I apologize for dragging you into this kind of life, for not being strong enough to let you go. I hope you can forgive this deficient and selfish woman.” Elena widened her smile a little more, with a hint of melancholy and regret. “Forget, forget everything and live, live the dreams that we have taken from you, don't look back.”

Ryo was barely reacting, he still didn't know what was happening. He wanted to say something, but the words were stuck under the weight of Elena's voice.

“I'm sorry, but Ryo must die too.”

Elena, still smiling, with a determined look, lunged at Astray. The flames danced, so beautiful, so ephemeral. Ryo watched the fight, stunned, disoriented… How long had it been?

“NOW!”

With Elena's scream, he seemed to wake up, he turned around, started running, running, running.

Although she was not his real mother, he loved her, he respected her, he admired her, he loved her… That's what he wanted to convey, but not anymore… He ran, he ran.

The fight could be heard in the distance. He ran more, more, more. How long had it been?

What face did he have? What appearance was drawn? He didn't want to know, he ran, he ran. The fight could barely be heard, he ran, he ran. He stumbled, fell, filled with dirt, got up, ran, ran. He barely had any strength, he ran, he ran. How long had it been? I didn't know.

His vision was blurred, he was barely able to stand… he reached the river, he was running, he was running, a body? It seemed like Lys's, he barely recognized it, lying there, covered in blood, with a huge wound in his chest, a lost look, he was running, he was running… he was running… he was falling. He was breathing fast, he didn't get up, he heard the sound of the river, everything was getting dark… dark… dark…

He got up again. The darkness surrounded him, although it did not affect him. Where was…? Yes, I remembered now. He was escaping, even if he didn't want it, didn't he want it? Fury invaded him. Rage? Frustration? Or maybe… hate… yes… hate… he hated himself. Why didn't he stay? Why didn't he fight...? Did it matter now?

Strange, it barely noticed it. Where was it? Hundreds of yellow lights flickered in the intense darkness. Next to the river, around it, everywhere. Next to them, beautiful butterflies with strange designs on their wings had a vivid bluish glow. They fluttered, fluttered. On his shoulder was the strange squirrel that he had seen before. When…?

Stranger was the small structure of singular architecture that stood on the other side of the river. Remote, lost, ancient… and yet so new, so neat… Maybe a mausoleum or temple? Equally seductive was the strange wood it was made of, so white, so pure, so fascinating. The milky cylindrical columns with vertical grooves seemed to enclose an unfathomable and ancient darkness. Not even Ryo's eyes could see inside, but… he recognized something at the entrance… a jug, a chest.

The night was darker, colder. A strange sound brought him out of his trance. The little squirrel above him looked up. The sound continued, it became louder. It seemed like a voice, but it wasn't a voice, it seemed to say something, but at the same time it didn't. It seemed like a distant language, but it wasn't. She felt mocking, disgusted, bored. It was an archaic, terrifying, ominous sound. Fear flooded him, a primal terror that seemed marked in his existence, like that of every animal by the predator, the fleeting by eternity, or the insignificant by immensity. He began to sweat profusely, it was a cold, fragile, trembling sweat. The sound continued, it became louder. So strong that he barely noticed… the forest had fallen silent. You couldn't hear the whisper of the river, the animals, beasts, or any scream. I didn't even notice the breeze of the wind, just that sound, that disturbing sound, which was louder and louder.

He didn't move, fear overwhelmed him. But… he took a step, then another, another, another. Something motivated him, what it was, he didn't know. He walked, he walked, he walked. The sound was more intense… Now he understood where it was coming from. Yes… from there… from the village.

He walked, he walked, he walked. The sound diminished, he walked, he trembled, he walked. The more it decreased, it walked, it walked. He was approaching the exit… The sound was barely distinguishable. He walked, he walked. He left the forest, the sound disappeared, the horror was drawn.

Under the enchanting starry night, sleeping moons watched over a gloomy portrait…

Ryo watched the hundreds of black birds over the village. Some flying over, others pecking at bodies on the ground, others on the roofs of the few standing houses. Yes, those blackish birds, without eyes, those that only appear when death is around.

Ryo walked languidly, some of those shadowy birds flew away, others stayed. Slowly, slowly, slowly… Dried blood flooded the floor, pieces of bodies here and there, an arm, a foot, a torso, a head, some he seemed to recognize, others not, the sword, his executioner. The stench of death was penetrating, he walked, he walked. Some bodies of soldiers could be seen, they seemed rotten, with black sores, the layers of their skin seemed to have disappeared, with faces of horror, despair, pain… He walked, he walked. He entered the village, vomiting, the smell on it was even more intense. Bodies everywhere, villagers, soldiers. The villagers died by steel, the soldiers, something else… The birds pecking here and there, he walked, he walked. The houses destroyed, very few standing. He entered one that seemed strangely in good condition. The bodies here were different, yes… they were all women, and that smell, that smell that mixed, was different, yes… I recognized it, it was the smell that brothels had in big cities. Naked bodies, slashed by steel, were piled up all over the place. The walls were full of colorful drawings, he took a few steps, he recognized a small body. Yes… when he was on that hill… He ran away. He vomited again, the yellowish liquid dripping from his mouth. At that moment he noticed another small body at the door of that house that he seemed to recognize… yes, that child… he vomited again.

He walked, walked, ran towards the huge body he saw. Benedek, his broken body barely recognizable, clenched his fists. He walked, he walked. He stopped because he didn't believe what he saw, a corpse in turquoise armor and, next to it, a huge winged beast. They were decomposing… He approached, he observed how the enormous black spots corroded their already skinless bodies, with exposed muscles that seemed to fall apart… the horror, the horror. I walk, I walk.

The once yellow flowers that those villagers cultivated with so much care and passion. Now they were withered… He slipped into the night as his eyes seemed to glow an even more intense green.

How long had it been? I didn't know.

He headed into the woods, the squirrel still on top of him. The forest dyed in darkness. Something strange, since I could see clearly even in the middle of the night. A few meters before entering, he shuddered. Something was watching him, although he didn't see anything… He watched…

How long has it been?

He watched… Everything turned black. He watched… The emptiness devastated. He didn't move, he barely breathed. Didn't know what it was, but his intuition murmured: it wasn't something a mortal should know or encounter. He didn't understand why, but his instinct understood what it was… A fear… an archaic fear welled up.

The presence faded… Permission was granted.

He walked again, entering the darkness.

First I look for Lys's body, it didn't take long, I knew it was near the river. He found him, took him to the village. He went in again, now he went for Velk. She found him… only him. He took him to the village. He went inside again, this time looking for Elena. Looked for a trail but only found charred trees, craters in the ground, and a little blood that led nowhere. Desperately I walk, I walk, without any result. Maybe he lived? Maybe he had escaped? A small, glowing blue butterfly crossed his path. For no reason other than hope, he followed her… I walk, I walk. Shortly after he saw a body in the distance, he ran in desperation. There he found her… Lying on an old maple tree, fireflies surrounded her, with a deep wound in her chest, dagger in hand, eyes closed, and a satisfied smile. Ryo clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his skin, his lips so tight his teeth dug into them. The blood drained from him. He carefully carried the body and took it to the village.

How long had it been? I didn't know…

Once in the village, he dragged every body or piece of the villagers out of it. Full of blood, sweat, mud. Increasingly impregnated with the smell of death, he did it again and again… one by one, again and again and again… Why did he do it? He didn't know it, but he felt it was his duty.

How long had it been?

After taking everyone outside, it was the turn of his people, his friends, his teachers, his family… First Elena, then Lys, then Velk, then Benedek. They followed the rituals they had been taught. Where were they from? I didn't know it, but it was what they always did when someone died.

He undressed them, then put them to bed. He looked for a bucket, headed to the river again and again. When he finally cleaned each one, he looked for prey, it was easy, many birds were still around. Each one with a bird wrapped in his hands on his chest. He held Elena's dagger and cut his palm, the reddish liquid gushed out and sprayed a little on the bodies.

The eternal starry night with sleeping moons remained vigilant, while two funeral pyres burned in a sea of ​​fire, the smoke rising. How long had it taken that little one to complete the colossal task? The filth that covered him from head to toe, the sores on his hands, his dry lips, and his broken shoes responded. His jade eyes seemed to sparkle as he watched the fire take everything away. Although now there was something different about them… their pupils were no longer vertical, they were now circular. A glowing green around a dark circle… he watched over the fire more… mor-

“AH…! AH…! AH…!”

A fifteen-year-old young man woke up startled on an old wooden bed, he had reddish-brown hair… Green eyes, vertical pupils.

“Ah… ah… Again, that damn dream.”

“Did I wake you up? I'm sorry.”

A small white squirrel with a strange symbol on its forehead jumped onto his legs.

“Yes… that dream again… No matter how much or little it changes, it always ends the same. Come on, it's time.”

The young man stood up, his body full of scars—a star-shaped one marked his left temple. He wore light clothes, his hands had countless calluses. He tied his belt, sheathed his daggers, one on each side of his waist. Then a third, thin, beautiful, with a shiny edge. I look at it… I sheath it behind him. The little squirrel climbed onto his shoulder and left the room, while the sun barely opened its eyes.