Chapter 6

The skies seemed pleased as it exploded with bright and cheerful colors until he was returned back to his room.

The bleak surrounding he came back to haven't changed a single inch.

The wooden, creaking interiors that were splashed with the dimness from outside, the heavy strained air, the silent cries within the people's slumbers, the guards' black boots from out there, and the night sky that loomed with threat.

Muren took a few hours of sleep and was awakened by the rounding guard assigned in their area.

Muren joined the other men that were gathered and had their morning exercise before being forced to do labor works. This time, he was assigned to cut tree woods at the forest along with the other men of their small village.

They began chopping with their small axes, while some guards stood lined up from the forest border with their shotguns.

After a few hours of grueling labor work, they handed over the axes and were given half an hour break, letting a female villager in with a basket of foods.

The men sat at the surface of chopped trees and gathered exhausted and sweating.

As the female village approaches them from afar, the other men get excited with her arrival.

"Comrade, is that not Ai from the first block?" One of them asked, grinning ear to ear. The others also joined the interesting gossip. "She is indeed the most beautiful woman here in the west, no doubt."

Muren got curious about it, so he began glancing at the woman and regretfully, he could not take his eyes away from her.

It was only his first time to see her as he had always been at the government until now.

When she was finally with them, she kindly distributed the rye bread to the laborers with a demure demeanor and benevolent smile.

Muren had never seen a woman as pretty as her.

She had a slightly pale skin, small face, thin pinkish lips, and bright eyes. Her body was also quite slim and her deep black sparkling slick hair flowed softly.

As they were eating and talking and laughing with each other, the woman's eyes met Muren's.

"I have never once seen you here before," She said towards him, tilting her head a little. Even her voice sounded mellifluous, he thought.

"I... I work for the government," He stammered, completely entranced with her. "I was on a home visit for my mother who is currently living alone in our house when the west borders were blocked."

"Oh, that must be a shame," She frowned, looking sincerely concerned. "Worry not, for everything shall return to peace, comrade." She flashed out a kind smile with her pretty face, making the men's hearts thump with joy, including Muren's.

She was truly a fascinating woman.

Later on, she was finally called out by the guards and took her out of the forest.

The laborers continued their work until the allotted time had finally passed and they were finally good to rest. Until he had reached home, he could not take Ai off his memory away from his mind.

It was as if the woman had been stuck up his head.

This brought complete discomfort and bliss to the silent warrior amidst the colony and brutality.

Nevertheless, he could not ignore the joys between sufferings, so he finally went off his way to the market near the first block that one the men had mentioned.

When he arrived at the stalls with several people buying some foods and items, he began looking for the beautiful woman.

He searched and searched until his feet had given up.

As he was about to return to his house, the signal horn began to blow in a loud, roaring sound that shook the people to the core.

The horn's sound had given a grave meaning to its people like a storm that was looming to destroy us over.