Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  Like---Henrietta---right---now.---Few---servants---would---be---willing---to---voice---their---thoughts---before---a---[General],---but---she---has---no---qualms.---Blunt---and---loyal.

  “Thank---you.---I---just---wanted---your---advice---on---the---plan.”

  Henrietta---gets---up---and---bows---to---him,---“Of---course---master---Rathic.---I---am---always---happy---to---assist---you---with---whatever---you---need.”

  Rathic---grunts,---“Go---sleep,---we---will---leave---when---everyone---awakens.”

  Henrietta---bows---again---before---moving---to---his---door,---opening---it---and---walking---out.

  Rathic---watches---as---the---door---is---closed---behind---her.---He---turns---to---the---map,---suppressing---his---anger---towards---it.---As---a---[General],---if---such---a---pathetic---map---was---placed---in---front---of---him,---he---would---castrate---the---[Cartographer].---A---[General]---needs---a---large,---detailed---map,---not---a---child's---drawing!

  ************************************

  “Don't---let---them---near---the---gates.---Aim---for---the---mage!”---Alfonso---yells---as---he---stands---upon---the---wooden---wall---of---his---small---town,---his---eyes---looking---towards---a---large---group---of---[Bandits].---Too---many---to---get---an---exact---number,---especially---considering---it---is---in---the---middle---of---the---night.

  It---all---started---very---late---at---night,---when---the---town---was---fast---asleep.---Alfonso---had---done---everything---in---his---power---to---fix---the---town---that---he---had---grown---up---in.---A---prosperous---town---that---he---remembers---as---a---kid.---It---was---a---time---when---trade---was---abundant---and---fear---of---[Bandits]---while---within---the---walls---was---nonexistent.---For---at---that---time,---the---leaders---of---these---scattered---towns---and---kingdoms---preferred---not---to---war,---but---instead---to---trade.

  War---did---exist---though,---but---nothing---major,---and---it---was---usual---between---small---neighboring---[Lords]---or---[Ladies].---They---would---fight,---one---would---win,---and---the---others---would---be---enslaved---and---forced---to---work.---It---happened---often,---but---the---wars---were---short---with---very---few---people---running---away---and---becoming---[Bandits].---It---was---only---about---twenty---years---ago---that---the---tides---of---relative---peace---had---ended.---Crops---started---to---grow---slower.---The---wild---animals---were---of---a---even---lower---level---than---they---already---usually---are,---in---many---cases---even---smaller---and---less---numerous.---This---all---eventually---led---to---starvation,---hunger…---and---war.

  With---the---scarcity---of---food---to---feed---such---an---enormous---population---of---people,---Towns,---Villages,---even---kingdoms---were---forced---to---resort---to---war.---They---would---ransack---another---town,---taking---what---they---need,---enslaving---the---people---and---then---selling---them---north---for---coin.---Many---of---these---[Lords]---eventually---became---[Bandit---lords],---people---who---lead---entire---towns---or---villages---full---of---[Bandits]---whose---survival---is---based---on---stealing---from---others.

  It---was---here---that---Alfonso’s---town---was---eventually---attacked---and---ransacked---for---goods.---But---instead---of---being---destroyed,---they---were---left---to---live,---to---create---more---coin---and---be---ransacked---again.

  And---Alfonso---was---tired---of---it.---The---constant---fear.---The---constant---bloodshed.---So---when---[Trader]---Roth---had---single---handedly---removed---the---leadership,---Alfonso---had---immediately---called---in---favors---and---taken---the---opportunity---to---place---himself---into---the---leading---position.---Granted,---many---of---the---[Slavers]---were---upset---about---it,---but---Alfonso---had---loyalty.---So---it---took---little---to---convince---the---population---to---listen---to---him.

  From---there,---he---started---reforming---everything.---Giving---jobs---to---the---poor---in---exchange---for---food.---Creating---Jobs.---Redistributing---goods.---Cleaning---up---the---town,---repairing---buildings,---creating---a---command---structure.

  But---most---importantly,---obtaining---and---training---[Guards].---Protection---against---further---attacks---was---something---important---on---Alfonso’s---list.---Luckily,---a---long---time---friend---and---high---level---[Hunter]---was---more---than---happy---to---assist.

  “Can---you---see---him?---Can---you---reach---him?”---Alfonso---asks,---looking---into---the---dead---of---night,---only---seeing---the---[Bandits]’---torches.

  “You---should---already---know---that---my---[Night---Vision]---skill---lets---me---see---clear---as---day.---I---can---see---that---bastard---all---the---way---back,---farther---than---I---can---shoot,”---Venandi---the---[Hunter]---exclaims---as---he---releases---his---arrow,---striking---a---[Bandit]---which---had---attempted---to---sneak---towards---the---burning---gate.

  “[Fire---Ball]!”

  Alfonso---watches---as---a---ball---of---fire---quickly---forms---in---the---distance---before---accelerating---away,---striking---the---already---burning---gate.

  *Boom*

  An---explosion---of---fire---is---heard,---the---fourth---one---so---far---this---night.---The---door---creaks,---but---surprisingly---still---stands,---all---thanks---to---how---thick---the---wooden---doors---are.---But---it---will---not---last---forever,---and---the---[Mage]---which---is---leading---the---group---of---[Bandits]---knows---it.

  “Maybe---we---should---have---given---in---to---his---demands,”---says---Venandi,---releasing---another---arrow---and---finishing---off---the---[Bandit]---he---had---shot---earlier---in---the---foot.

  It---was---possibly---a---half---hour---before---that---the---[Bandits]---had---attempted---to---sneak---into---the---town,---only---to---find---that---the---entrance---was---closed.---So---the---[Guards]---on---duty---had---called---an---alarm---and---Alfonso---was---forced---to---meet---them.---They---had---demanded---entrance---and---tribute,---but---he---had---denied---them.---He---had---felt---confident---that---he---could---defeat---the---[Bandits].---After---all,---he---had---a---wall---and---over---ten---people---with---bows,---each---standing---atop---the---wooden---platforms,---ready---to---fire---at---anyone---who---got---close.

  But---how---was---he---to---know---that---the---[Bandits]---had---a---[Mage]---with---the---[Extended---Casting]---skill?

  “[Fire---Ball]”

  Again,---another---ball---of---flame---strikes---the---door,---exploding.---And---just---as---Alfonso---believes---the---door---will---hold,---he---hears---the---cracks.---The---metal---hingest---finally---give---way,---both---doors---fall,---hitting---the---ground---hard.

  “No.”

  That's---all---he---gets---to---say---before---he---hears---the---roar.---The---[Bandits]---yell,---followed---by---the---torches---they---are---carrying---start---to---move---quickly---towards---the---town.---Towards---the---now---open---entrance.

  “Ready---your---bows.---Shoot---on---my---order,”---Venandi---yells,---before---looking---at---Alfonso---with---a---hard---look,---”I---will---try---to---lower---their---numbers---as---much---as---I---can.---You---need---to---keep---them---from---storming---into---town.”

  “Then---I---will---join---the---[Guards]---at---the---gate,”---Alfonso---says---before---jumping---down.---As---he---lands,---the---sound---of---arrows---being---fired---is---heard,---but---he---can't---focus---on---that.---Instead,---he---cracks---his---metal---gauntlets---and---runs---to---join---the---[Guards].

  __________________

  The---battle---truly---begins---as---the---[Bandits]---swarm---towards---the---town---entrance,---a---massive---horde---of---armed---disheveled---people.---They---swarm---towards---the---entrance,---many---dying---by---arrow,---but---most---are---able---to---run---through.---They---charge---through---the---opening,---only---to---be---stopped---dead---in---their---tracks.

  The---momentum---had---drastically---decreased,---all---thanks---to---a---plethora---of---long---wooden---spears---which---had---been---plunged---into---the---initial---charging---[Bandits].---It---was---an---im
pressive---trap.---A---useful---one,---but---a---one---time---use---one.---After---all,---it---only---worked---because---the---[Bandits]---in---front---couldn't---stop---or---slow---down,---pushed---by---those---in---the---back.

  And---now,---with---the---dead---bodies---at---the---entrance,---the---[Bandits]---are---forced---to---climb---their---dead.---And---so---they---did,---but---slowly.

  As---the---[Bandits]---trickled---in---through---the---opening,---the---[Guards]---engaged---them.---At---first---it---looked---like---the---plan---was---working.---The---[Bandits]---were---coming---in---slowly---enough---that---the---[Guards]---were---able---to---deal---with---them.---But---they---kept---coming,---seemingly---endless.---Eventually---a---[Guard]---would---fail---to---block---or---dodge,---taking---a---wound---that---either---killed---them---or---forced---them---out---of---the---fight.

  As---time---quickly---passed,---the---body---count---increased---and---Alfonso---found---himself---fighting---three---[Bandits]---at---once.---Sweating---profusely,---Alfonso---barely---dodges---an---axe---while---ducking---under---a---sword---and---blocking---a---dagger---with---his---gauntlet.---His---other---hand,---the---one---not---blocking,---flicks---out,---the---[Bar---fighter]’s---fist---impacts---the---mans---face,---eliciting---the---sound---of---broken---bones.

  Unfortunately,---the---[Bandit]---with---the---sword---activates---a---skill---which---redirects---his---sword,---slashing---it---on---Alfonso's---side,---drawing---blood.

  Alfonso---jumps---back,---cursing---himself.---If---he---had---not---extended---his---arm---to---punch,---he---could---have---instead---blocked---that---sword.---And---now,---he---has---a---deep---wound---on---his---side.

  The---[Bandit]---with---the---sword---smiles,---moving---closer,---confident.

  Taking---the---opportunity,---Alfonso---looks---at---the---battlefield,---finding---that---most---of---his---[Guards]---are---dead,---[Bandits]---are---still---pouring---in---and---that---their---is---fighting---up---on---the---battlements---where---Venandi---is.

  “I---guess---I---wont---be---able---to---see---my---daughter’s---face---again.”---Alfonso---says,---raising---his---arms,---ignoring---the---burning---pain---in---his---side.

  The---[Bandits]---slow---their---engage,---wary---and---confused.

  Alfonso---smiles,---a---smile---of---a---dying---man.

  He---takes---a---step---forward.

  *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM*

  And---trips---as---the---ground---shakes.---He---falls---hard---and---is---struck---by---heat.---Quickly---looking---up,---he---finds---a---massive---vortex---of---fire,---seemingly---spinning---right---outside---the---town.---The---fighting---around---him---had---stopped,---all---have---turned---and---are---gazing---at---the---tornado---of---flame.---And---then,---as---fast---as---it---had---come,---the---flames---disappears.

  Only---to---reappear---as---an---explosion---at---the---location---of---where---the---gate---used---to---be.---Corpses---littering---the---area---are---ripped,---clearing---the---entrance.

  A---man---walks---through---it---confidently---while---wearing---a---robe---and---holding---a---staff.---Several---balls---of---light---surround---him,---illuminating---the---area.

  He---stops---and---looks---around---with---hard---powerful---eyes.

  “I---am---[Inquisitor]---Joseph---of---the---church---of---Odin---and---I---come---to---this---town's---defense.---Surrender,---or---you---will---be---destroyed.”

  Chapter---Thirty---Four:---A---Rose---has---Thorns.

  “What---is---happening?”---Henrietta---asks---from---Rathic’s---side.---She---is---pointing---to---the---distance,---towards---a---large---city---in---the---distance.---A---city---with---tall---stone---walls,---powerful---defenses,---even---a---couple---ballistas---mounted---on---top---of---it.---But---Henrietta---does---not---care---about---that.---She---knows---what---a---city---is---and---what---defenses---may---be---mounted---on---them.---No,---what---she---is---pointing---at---is---the---large---plethora---of---dead---bodies---in---front---of---the---city---gates.---Hundreds---of---bodies.

  “It---seems---there---was---a---battle---recently---and---the---defenders---have---won,”---Rathic---explains,---gazing---at---the---several---scorch---marks---present---on---the---doors---of---the---city.

  It---is---rather---clear---to---Rathic---a---battle---had---taken---place,---a---very---one-sided---and---desperate---battle---that---the---defenders---had---won---with---ease.---Granted,---farther---from---the---city,---Rathic---can---see---the---burnt---remains---of---trebuchets---as---well---as---a---broken---battering---ram---near---the---gates.---It---was---a---bleak---picture,---a---picture---which---gets---even---bleaker---with---each---second---that---his---caravan---gets---closer---to---the---city.---The---[Guards]---are---outside---the---city,---picking---up---dead---bodies---and---placing---them---on---carts.

  But---even---so,---Rathic---gets---a---sense---that---the---[Guards]---aren’t---upset---or---miserable.---More---relieved---than---anything---else.---Granted,---Rathic---understands---that---hauling---dead---bodies---and---burning---them---in---a---pit---is---not---fun---work,---but---it---is---far---better---than---being---dead.---And---it---seems---the---[Guards]---share---the---same---belief.

  As---Rathic---passes---by---with---his---procession,---many---of---the---[Guards]---look---up---at---him,---warily,---on---guard.---But---only---long---enough---to---make---sure---that---he---is---not---a---threat.---After---all,---all---[Traders]---are---welcome---to---cities,---even---to---ones---which---seemed---to---have---recently---fought---a---war.

  “Are---you---sure---this---is---the---right---city?”---Henrietta---asks,---gazing---at---the---bloody---battlefield---seemingly---indifferent.

  “I---was---under---the---impression---that---Sanavil---was---far---away---from---conflict,”---she---adds.

  Rathic---grunts,---tightening---his---hold---on---the---carriage---reins.

  “I---would---agree---that---this---might---be---the---wrong---city,---especially---considering---the---map,---but---the---fields---of---healthy---crops---speak---otherwise.”

  Rathic---points---towards---the---abundant---farmland---circling---around---the---city---to---the---south---of---it.

  “There---is---far---more---food---here---than---any---of---the---other---cities---we---have---visited.---The---farms---are---filled---to---bursting---with---huge---amounts---of---crops.---It’s---clear---a---skill---is---active,---making---the---land---around---the---city---far---more---bountiful.”

  “And---the---battle?”

  Rathic---shrugs.

  “We---will---find---out---soon---enough.”

  ____________________________

  “Who---goes---there?”---a---man---with---armor---asks,---blocking---the---city---entrance.---The---man,---unlike---many---of---the---others,---wears---armor---of---a---much---higher---quality.

  [Silent---Analyze]

  Darrus---Praetorus

  [Guardsman]---Level---37

  Rathic---lifts---an---eyebrow---at---the---class.---He---was---expecting---a---[Guard]---class,---not---a---[Guardsman]---class.---Granted,---the---classes---are---similar,---but---a---[Guardsman]---or---[Guardswoman]---is---superior---in---the---sense---that---they---tend---to---get---much---better---skills.---Unfortunately,---these---classes---can---only---be---obtained---as---a---first---class.---Which---means---that---this---Darrus---person---is---quite---experienced---in---his---job.

  “A---pleasure.---I---am---[Trader]---Roth---and---have---come---to---sell---my---goods,”---Rathic---says,---waving---behind---him---at---the---many---carts---and---carriages---following---behind.

  Darrus---squints---and---takes---a---look---behind,---possibly---activating---a---skill.

  “What---are---you---trading?”---he---asks,---finding---nothing---exactly---obvious.

  Rathic---smiles,---”Various---enchanted---goods.”

  The---[Guardsmans]---eyes---widen---as---he---takes---a---better---look---at---the---[Trader].---Strong---eyes,---clean---well---taken---care---of---clothing.---Quality--
-transportation.

  But---most---of---all,---the---fox---demihuman---[Slave]---sitting---next---to---him.---Rare---and---expensive,---something---Darrus---could---only---relate---to---powerful---or---wealthy---individuals.

  He---nods---and---moves---to---the---side.

  “Welcome---to---the---city---of---Sanavil,”---he---says,---waving---for---them---to---enter.