Chapter 20: Riverland Mountains Interior

Twilight Initiator, Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day 31

Riverland Mountains, north of the Imperial Territory

They formed a line, like a chain, one after another, the bastards lowered their heads while desperation consumed their minds. Many clenched their fists and teeth, aware they had been deceived, knowing they had a high chance of dying, but what could they do... Another tried to run, but within seconds his legs were cleanly cut off. He died agonizing in his own blood, and seeing that fleeing meant death, the rest preferred to live a little longer. Some even clung to false hope... hope is the last thing to die.

Moreover, the noble lord promised that anyone who survived would receive a gold coin... a false hope in every sense.

The bastards stood in line, the first of them was a 17-year-old boy, the only one who occasionally glanced at me. Surprised? Perhaps. After all, I now wore what could be called a metal mail armor, and on top of that, I was well-dressed, completely different from when we first met.

The soldiers assembled in two rows, with the bastards in the middle. I suppose this was done to prevent anyone from escaping. Everyone fell silent again, all preparations were complete, only one thing remained...

-Forward!

The noble lord shouted, extending his right hand forward. The soldiers donned their metal helmets and marched in unison, dragging the mad bastards along with them. It was like a chaotic yet uniform symphony.

I dismounted and took a deep breath, looking up at the sky. My thoughts were in order, everything was perfect—my breathing, my heartbeat—I was calm. The soldiers descended the slope and vanished into the cold darkness. The sound of their march faded from my ears, as if it had never existed...

-Bring me the plant, please...

There was no authority in his voice, only a father desperate for his daughter. The ruthless man was gone entirely, a drastic change. If I hadn't seen with my own eyes how he beheaded a lord without hesitation, I'd think it was all a sham. No, he himself is a sham.

At my waist was a dagger, a different one from before, of much better quality.

My steps lead me down the slope; it's dark, and I can't hear what's happening inside. To see and hear, I need to be in the same darkness as the interior. Looking at the noble lord.

-At least I'll try not to die.

I won't die for a plant, I won't die in this place. I have confidence in myself, and I know my limits. If things get bad, I'll leave this place and find other ways to reach the next city. But of course, if I get the chance to obtain the plant, I'll be more than happy. After all, it would be much simpler that way.

********

Soldier, Aflexo, Commoner

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day 31

Riverland Mountains Interior, north of the Imperial Territory

I rub my eyes, I can't see, I open them wide, I can't feel, I try to touch my body, I feel nothing. Do I really exist? I can't hear my heartbeat. It's cold, very cold. My sword... Where is my sword? It should be at my waist, it should... be in my hands. I can't feel my hands, I can't feel the hilt of my sword. Where am I? Walking forward, was that the plan? Right? Yes?

Am I alone? I should be with the bastards, I can't see them... I can't touch them. There's nothing, just an endless darkness. I'm scared... my mind is clouded. How much time has passed? I don't know. Moments ago, we were outside, where the sun... ah... the sun, the warm light of the sun, I miss it...

Mother? Wife? Children? What am I doing in this place? I don't understand. The cold penetrates my flesh... to my bones, it's so cold... my mind is clouded, I can't think properly, I feel nothing... just a cold that fills my body.

Step... step... step...

Am I close? I want to get out of this place, someone get me out of here, it's so cold... so cold... cold... cold...

******

Twilight Initiator, Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow

Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 3, Day 31

Riverland Mountains Interior, north of the Imperial Territory

A gaze, from the depths, a single gaze makes my body freeze in place. My body tries to react, it's almost impossible, my soul trembles, the scent of death fills this place completely. I feel as if my blood is about to explode along with my heart... from the depths, from the darkest place, it hides. The shadows whisper to me, this place is extremely dangerous...

I can't see the soldiers, there are none no matter how hard I try to see. Just minutes ago, they descended, they should be here...

A large field, black rocks that seemed to produce no sound, sharp peaks at the highest points of the ceiling. It had more the shape of a cave in general, but there was something very strange about this cave, claw marks... everywhere, huge craters on the ground, as if someone had battled here. And further ahead, there was another slope that went even lower...

Did they descend in such a short time? It's impossible, something happened, I'm not sure. Looking closely at the place, I can't sense anything besides the rocks scattered everywhere, nothing alive... behind a rock, walking silently, there it was, the body of a soldier. He was one of those who accompanied us on the journey. His sword was just a few steps ahead of his body, his eyes open, filled with fear and sadness. There were no wounds on his body, no scratches or signs of battle.

How did he die? Touching his face lightly, it's cold, extremely cold, as if frozen... his complexion was pale, he died with his eyes closed...

-The first of them...