Chương 32: The Lieutenant
Persephone
It was a warzone. The glass window was shattered to bits. Arrows dotted the room like shattered leaves on a windy day. Vines spread from them like roots, strangling everything in sight. The room was turned into an abstract painting of gray stone and green plants. Xavier sat in the middle of the destruction.
"How the Hel did you sleep through this?!" Solskin was astonished.
I shrugged sheepishly, rubbing the corner of my eyes. They were misty from my dream. The guards had already arrived, blocking off the street. We weren't able to leave, held in the inn for questioning.
We milled about in the room, staring at the carnage and thinking about what had happened. Not long after, there was a light knock on the door. In the hallway was a fairly tall figure. Horns protruded from the side of his head and his skin was a deep ocean blue. His appearance looked eerily similar to a demon, making us take a step back in shared surprise. He was a tiefling, dressed the uniform of the royal army. But, with a slim build, he didn't seem like a soldier.
Stepping into the room, he bowed deeply. "I am Lieutenant Savah. I am here-" He cut off quickly once his eyes meet Xavier's.
He quickly stopped bowing, standing stiff in shock. Xavier glared at him, silent as ever, his back straightening and his hands drifting closer to his swords.
"I am sorry. Your friend here just looks like someone I know. Back to business, this attack is… similar to some other hits in the capital carried out by a man by the name of Hunter. A member of the Three Kings gang. Murderer. Assassin. Psychopath." The Lieutenant's face twisted into a mask of rage. "A coward who can't kill someone face to face and uses enchanted arrows," he took a deep breath. "Who exactly did you piss off to get him after you?"
"Just some-" Solskin was cut off by Xavier.
"We guarded a caravan on the way here. The Three Kings gang attacked it and it didn't end well for them. You can leave now."
"I see," Savah, taken aback by the clear hostility. He leaned against the door frame, rubbing his wrist. Closing his eyes, he muttered something under his breath with clenched teeth.
Bond by duty, he continued on with his task. He waved his hand in a circle, a faint blue line trailing behind. A crest formed air, pulsating with power. He closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were completely white. He stared at us before shaking his head and blinking. His eyes were normal.
"Excuse that, I just glanced into the future. Hmmm. That wasn't very clear. Are you fine with some ex-?"
"No." Xavier injected immediately, cutting him off. For a moment, I felt that Xavier sounded off. His posture hadn't changed, but there was that slight edge to his voice that wasn't present before.
His words shocked Savah. "Are you sure? I mean, the Three Kings gang is rather powerful. I assure you, the guards are highly trained. They can help keep you safe."
"No." Xavier was as stern as ever. He glared at Savah before storming out. Savah's eyes followed him out.
He returned to us. "Is he… always like that?"
"Yes," I replied quietly.
Savah left, leaving behind two guards at the door. I went downstairs and into the bar. The barkeeper was a kind old man. He rambled on and on about what was happening in town.
Solskin soon entered.
Solskin
"What is happening in town these days? A murder at my front door. Now, my guests are being attacked. I am too old for this."
"These are some trying times." I walked up behind Persephone, starting up a conversation the barkeeper. She quickly joined the conversation, making some idle chit chat.
"During the demon outbreak, the town was just as crazy as now. What was it, 10 years ago?"
"Really now?" Persephone seemed genuinely interested in the conversation.
"Yes, yes. The town was filled with doomsayers and cultists. Lieutenant Savah, at that time he was 'bout 19 or so, helped eject those people from the Capital."
"You mean the same guy who was just here," I blurted out.
"That is the one. He is a regular here. Actually, he is my dear friend's grandson."
"You seem to have quite the connections," I whistled in appreciation.
"It's nothing like that. Old war buddies. It is not surprising that I know many in the army."
After hearing that, I reverted back to my old self. I felt like I was listening to Erik in the suffocating tavern. The fireplace roared and I sat entranced, listening to the these war stories.
The old barkeeper kept rambling. "Ah, yes. That reminds me, there was that young man that transferred in from Skanadia. Erik was the name I think. So full of energy. Practically bouncing of the walls," the man gazed into the empty air, a faint smile on his lips, his voice wistful, "He had the makings of a damn good soldier. I wish I knew what became of him."
I mumbled out a few words. "Erik became a guard at Solaire. Taught me how to fight. He died in the demon outbreak."
The old man stared at me "I am sorry." His voice was filled with guilt and became tremulous as he realized he stumbled upon dark memories. He let a silence fall over the group as he mindlessly wiped a beer glass.
Chương 33: The Struggle Within
Solskin
The inn became eerily silent, as if everyone could feet the oppressive mood exuding the counter. The clinking of beer mugs and plates became subdued, and nearly inaudible as I listened into Solskin's conversation with the barkeep.
"Erik was a good man. I'm sorry; I can't tell you any stories about him, he got transferred before I could fight with him at my side. I remember that he always said, 'Life is too short. Live it without fear or regret,'" the barkeeper said softly, conscious of the mood and fatherly gentleness blanketing his tone.
"Já… Já. He said that a lot." I remained quiet, my mind elsewhere.
Persephone was also staring at me with a sisterly concern. She reached out to pat my shoulder, but stopped just short. A brief look of frustration flashed across her face as she let her arm fall limp at her side. She leaned in, whispering in my ear, "He must be proud of you."
She got up, turning in for the night. I never realized how late it was, remaining there with the barkeeper until the sun rose the next day.
Mordred
I was sitting in my jail cell again. Through the mirror in the corner, I could see my new demonic body.
"This is not artistic at all," I pouted sarcastically, trying to keep up a good mood. "Red scales really don't go with fleshy pink."
"It's all shades of red, why does it matter?" The voice said. I snickered. The voice came from the other side of the cell. I didn't know who he was, but he was the only person who would hold a conversation with me. "Here, I managed to grab what you wanted."
From under the door slid a few pencils and a notebook.
"Thank you,"
"No problem, this place really is hell. Any comfort is needed."
"You don't seem like a guard. Who are you?"
The voice hardened. It was almost like he was in pain, spitting out his words with regret and self-loathing. "A sinner. A murder. What else do you need to know? I kill people."
"And?" I questioned plainly.
"What?"
"Well, I can't picture you as a cold-blooded murderer. You are too nice." I snorted. "If you hate killing so much, then why do you do it?"
"Because I have to! I can't just- stop," he spat before taking in a long shuddering breath, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. I have my reasons."
"That is alright," I sighed. "Just be happy knowing that you are the only friend I have here."
The voice softened. "Thanks. That means a lot."
A long silence followed. I began sketching in the notebook, trying to recreate my battle with the bandits from memory on the paper.
The voice came drifting over again. "I was ordered to kill your friends."
My hand slipped, decapitating my unfinished head. I looked up at the wall where the voice stood behind. "What?" Silence. An uncomfortably long silence.
"Why did you tell me that?"
"Because I want you to know who to hate." There was deep sense of melancholy in the voice.
Persephone
The bird was dead, feathers stewn all about the road. Ophelia had found it and dragged me over to it.
"Bring it back to life," her voice was childishly demanding, like an kid who had already determined that you would do something.
"I can't," I responded sadly. "And death should be final. That's what Father always says."
"That is no good. What do the death clerics do if they don't bring things to life?"
"Bring death to those whose time has come."
"I don't want you to kill people! You can't be a cleric!" Ophelia said petulantly. She stomped her feet on the ground. I had already decided to follow my father and become a cleric of death. At first, Ophelia was proud of me. But now?
"You can't be a murderer!"
I was confused. "But, but, but… Death clerics aren't killers."
Ophelia marched off without hearing my voice. She stopped and turned around. On her face was a mischievous smile. "You can be a death cleric who stops time!"
I nodded wordlessly, chasing after her. Laughing, we ran throughout the town, pretending to stop other people's deaths. We felt like heroes saving the town. The time flew by despite our efforts and the sun set, forcing us to chat away the night in my room.
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO
Infurno
Infurno
We did a complete overhaul with all the chapters. If you want to, you can reread it. All the major plot points are the same. Also, I just realized that I messed up and forgot a chapter. the forgotten chapter is the ritual and the previous ritual was moved to the branding
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