Chapter 2:
Runeverse: Dawnstrike Assassins
Through the winding woods, the Nightville boy doesn't know where he will be led. It was terrible to hear the harsh words of the Atria soldiers about the torment he was about to undergo, hopefully, all of this will be over soon so that he can reunite with his friends who have been summoned by Palandria Heaven. He wanted to forget everything in Runeverse, didn't want to feel, didn't want to hear, didn't want to see, but when he dared to open his eyes, he came to the wooden dome of the Atria military base in the depths of the forest.
The beggar boy was taken away to a three thousand meter pond. Lieutenant Jack asked him, "Boy, can you swim?"
"No. This is the first time in my life.”
"Very good! Hey guys! This kid wants to learn to swim! Release the shark!” the lieutenant ordered his subordinates.
A soldier turned a lever. Jack threw the boy into the pool roughly as if it was pointless to ask the name of the boy who had drowned. The boy moved his whole body to swim. It doesn't take long to float in the water. They released some sharks from the cage at the bottom of the pool. The boy's heart skipped a beat when he saw a shark with razor-sharp teeth shooting like arrows at him. Very fast. (“This is the time, I am finally free!”)
Suddenly the boy was reminded of Nightville and his friends waiting for his return. He was afraid that no one would be able to help the poor again after he left Runeverse. He shook off the thought of dying, then swam furiously towards the shore in pursuit of the sharks. A shark managed to bite his left leg as the boy made it to land, and the soldiers were amazed by his tenacity. His legs continued to bleed which made the boy sick and kicked the shark back into the pool.
"I thought you didn't want to live in Runeverse anymore, what happened to you all of a sudden?"
The boy replied, "I'm sorry, it's not that I'm afraid to die, but I'm afraid of what my friends will do if I'm not around..."
"Even so, we still won't let you return to your village, now you have become our commodity!"
"Do as you please. One of my legs was injured. If I'm doomed to die, there's no point in me continuing to fight."
"Good. Then let's go to the field."
The Atria soldiers were adamant to test the boy's fortitude further. They wanted to see the remorse on his face and make him cry for what he had done. As for the beggar boy, life was nothing more than a test, he was used to feeling this way. The determination in the reflection of his eyes accepted all the challenges that made him withdraw from speech.
In a large field, they put the crippled boy into the field fence or animal cage. The boy realized why they had closed the fence. Go back to the beginning of the plan about learning, adapting, overcoming, or surrendering to destiny. Jack asked him again, "Boy, have you ever played chase?"
"No. We don't have time to play. Most of my friends were killed by the war."
"Good then, you guys! This poor boy has never played chase! Release the lion!"
A lever is raised. In the field, the bars of the lion's cage opened, letting the king of the jungle drool as he gazed at his little prey. The beggar boy wished the Atria soldiers would give him a sword instead of bare hands. But to be honest, that's not going to happen. They wanted him to die as horribly as possible and took his word for it. The huge lion’s roar made the boy’s blood run cold as he ran limply.
"Kid! If you can last up to five minutes, then I will give you a reward!"
The boy managed to dodge the lion's claws luckily. He often did this several times with his feet dripping with blood. There were many scratches on his body, but he survived death. His right leg was bitten. He gasped and groaned in pain. His hand reached for anything around him, then poked the lion's eye with a stick. When the lion backed away with a blurry vision, the boy threw stones around and ran away. Running until short of breath, stopping is a disease. Although the traces of blood on his legs were still flowing, his fighting power increased, his blood boiling just like when he fought the monsters on the mountain. He would do anything to survive, from throwing stones and screaming loudly to scaring lions.
It didn't feel like five minutes had passed, the soldiers applauded. They were amused by his tenacity like the instinct of an animal that does not want to be slaughtered to death. The gates opened, and Lieutenant Jack entered the field, drove the lion back into the cage, and came up to the boy with a sinister grin on his face. "Amazing! You're more agile than that lion... Because of your hard work, I'll give you a gift, brat.”
"What gift?" asked the boy feeling dizzy.
“A poor Nightville brat like you must have never been given a gift, unlike the noble boy Atria who is currently sleeping soundly hugging a teddy bear. When they sing the twinkling stars, you have seen a lot of blood and casualties. Would you like a toy gift from us?”
The boy hummed. For him, there is nothing worse than the Atria soldiers doing good to him, yet if he refuses he is afraid that they will be angry and do evil things to him again. "Actually, I've always been grateful for life as it is. But if the lord soldier insists, then I will gladly accept it."
The lieutenant smiled, "You heard! This kid wants a teddy bear! Release the bear!"
The soldiers dragged a medium-sized wild bear with chains, stuffing it into the field along with the boy. The fence is closed again. They cheered and drank as they watched the Nightville boy perform. His left leg was injured from being bitten by a shark, plus his right leg was injured by a lion, it was impossible if he had to run and dodge again. He had to beat the bear with both hands in a wrestling match.
"Why are you just sitting around, kid?"
"Have a nice play! Don't forget to hug the bear tight!"
The wild bear knocked the boy to the ground, then clawed at him. Blood gushed from his little hand, holding back the pain. All the soldiers laughed enjoying the moments of the boy's death. However, their joyful laughter turned into gasps when they saw the boy confidently daring to wrestle the bear one-on-one. The boy dropped the bear once, and it was a bolt from the blue. Twice, thrice, his thrusts and agile movements knocked the bear off balance. The bear also knocked the boy down several times. The boy is still in deep water. The fight between the two is almost even. The Atria soldiers were stunned. They yelped as the boy pushed the bear to the ground, causing the beast to give up and run away.
The Atria soldiers once again clapped. He's special. He is unique. Not all children have the willpower in the monster arena. As long as they tested it over and over, it only left them in awe of the boy's performance. But what can they do, he passes the third test. They opened the gate.
"Congratulations, boy. Even if your hands and feet are injured, your will to survive is high. Tell me what's your name?" asked Lieutenant Jack.
The boy didn't answer. His gaze was dead. His whole body was bleeding, his hands were covered with scratches. This new wound is sharp and painful, the muscles are very sore, and it is difficult to move the joints. As long as he continued to fight and fight not only his body was tormented, but his soul also languished. He just stood there, as still as the dead, unable to move anymore, confused about how to persuade them to release him.
"Hey! Tell me what's your name! Or I will kill you right here!” snapped the lieutenant.
Without a choice, the boy replied, “Fenrius...”
"Good! Fenrius, how can a child as small as you not cry or freak out in the face of danger like a shark, a lion, and a bear?”
"You are wrong. I am known as the most crybaby among the others."
"How could that be? You are so brave and wise! Never cry! When I first saw you, you willingly let me take your money, and you were willing to sacrifice for that poor village. That's why I hate your noble deeds!”
Fenrius knew for them this was not something natural, but actually, struggling to live like this had become his daily food, he was no longer surprised. So he told Lieutenant Jack the truth about his attitude, "You're right, Sir. But before, I always cried over being alone, having nothing. I always cry in fear when someone taunts, threatens or beats me. I always cry when monsters rampage in the village. I always cry when my life is on the verge of death or see corpses and blood. However, now…”
Fenrius shed tears. He knelt before the lieutenant, “I will cry in front of you and beg. Please free me!” asked the boy while lowering his head to the ground.
Everyone was silent. The emotional silence for him was the same as awkward silence for them. The boy knew that whatever choice he made, his action was to dig his own grave. Cruel soldiers like them, can't open their hearts with tears and words alone. There was laughter between them, the laughter spread to the others until they all laughed at Fenrius' plea. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single Atria soldier who had the slightest pity for him. Lieutenant Jack followed by his subordinates berates Fenrius. And all of that is predictable.
"You want us to release you? That can't be happening, your life has died after you sacrificed yourself for that village!”
"Yes, tomorrow we will torture you again more than today! Keep your powder dry!"
“Hey, how about we give him some weight on his hands or feet!”
“That's a great idea! I can't wait to see him die!"
The soul is crushed, the body can only be silent, Fenrius' mind is far away. How can he be freed from the siege of Atria soldiers? Did he have to defeat them all using force? On the other hand, he wants to live peacefully in heaven. He cursed himself for stealing the kingdom's supplies. Maybe this is the reward for his actions. He wept alone like a kitten surrounded by dogs. It hurts to hear them laugh mockingly. From then on, Fenrius promised himself never to speak again.
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