by Michael Sisa
Like some playful God’s prank, the gates shut directly after Dan’s horse passed through. It clanked a loud metallic sound, and dusts flew into the air upon impact. Dan halted his horse and took a peek at the colossal iron. The sounds behind it were extremely muffled, but he could still smell the faint trace of blood in the air. He knew that just getting through the eastern gate was not enough to ensure their safety. Without hesitation, he ushered the horse to move forward, not bothering to conserve the mount’s energy. Time was a resource they were scarcely given as of the moment.
“Strong as they are, Krukas won’t be able to penetrate such thick armor easily.”
Such words flashed through Dan’s mind. It was the words uttered by Hans as he mocked his own weakness. The man kept blaming himself even the moment before his death.
But now, Dan realized that Hans’ words were entirely wrong. Krukas could easily break through the Great Wall if it willed it. Then what was Han’s grievances for? It was all for naught. The soldier that guided them through the city died without knowing the truth. Dan shook his head once as he tried to clear his mind. Now was not the time for such things.
The horse continued to move at an impossible speed; it felt the murderous force that mounted its back. Its instinct was screaming at it that the young man riding it was a monster, and he would do well to obey the child’s will. Therefore, although severely famished and exhausted, the mount kept galloping forward.
By this moment, Minerva eventually lost strength in her entire body. She lost her consciousness. So much had happened in a span of a day, and just the mere thought that their peaceful lives were taken from them in a flash filled her with nightmare. It was memories she would rather forget. Dan carefully drove the mount while taking into consideration his unconscious mother. He slightly tilted his body forward in order to accommodate Minerva’s weight.
Hours passed, and they eventually passed through a wooden board that had the words ‘Serpent Fork’ written on it. It was the place Hans mentioned before his death. A fork in the road greeted Dan a few minutes afterwards. Hans did not mention much about Serpent Fork, but judging by the tone he used when he uttered it, it was a road that would lead them deeper into the Empire. The question was which one of the three paths should he take.
The moon above continued to illuminate the road a dim hue, and the breeze seemed sub-zero. Dan fumbled inside the Bag strapped on the horse. Luckily it seemed that the owner of the mount was preparing to escape the city. Its leather bag was filled with a flask half-filled with water, a small piece of bread, and a cloak.
Dan took out the cloak and wrapped it on his sleeping mother. Minerva was sleeping soundly, her face slightly twitched into agony. It seemed that even in her sleep, she was unable to find peace. Dan bitterly smiled at such imagery. He felt helpless as he was unable to prevent the catastrophe from happening.
He took a fifth of the small bread and munched on it. It took only four bites for him to completely devour his portion of the food. It was definitely not enough, but he could not afford to completely consume their only resource. After drinking a sip from the skin flask, he gazed at the three roads before him. After pondering, he chose the one to the right. His decision was not based on anything but instinct. Furthermore, he knew that there was no sense in pondering too much on something he knew absolutely nothing about. It was a waste of the precious resource called time.
With his entire body groggy, he continued driving the mount. With its every gallop he could feel the horse’s agony, but he ignored it. He would sacrifice the mount’s life in exchange of theirs. He knew that the further they get away from Molivia, the higher were the chances of their survival.
With torn muscles and broken bones, he slapped the reigns once more, and he fell into dream land.
***
Dan woke up after an unannounced pain bolted through him. He felt a murky taste in his mouth, and he regurgitated and eventually swallowed the nasty thing. His eyesight was cloudy, and he felt queasy the moment he felt the slime-like texture that clung to him. With a rush of adrenaline, he stood up and wiped his eyes. He realized that he fell onto a mud—no, it was an absurdly large dung.
He silently groaned and spat the remaining pieces of dung that remained in his mouth. A thought suddenly strike him, and he looked left and right. He heaved a sigh when he saw Minerva on top of the mount. She was sleeping soundly, and the cloak sheltered her skin.
“It’s dead,” Dan said as his gaze fell on the horse. It died standing. Somehow, it seemed that the mount felt Dan’s great will to protect Minerva from anything. Even at its death, the stolen mount did not let Minerva succumb to the dirty ground. It died proud and tall.
Dan closed his eyes for a second. Upon opening, he said to the mount, “Thank you.”
Dan brushed off the dung that clung onto him. It was irritatingly sticky, and it clung onto him like a leech. Numerous fruit flies hovered on top of his head as he deliberated on whether he should wake Minerva up. After some thought, he lightly tapped his mother’s shoulder and softly said, “Mother, wake up.” It took him five taps before she blinked her eyes.
Minerva squinted the moment she woke. After blinking thrice, she stood up but then realized that she was on top of a mount. With Dan’s help, she leapt towards the ground. Surprisingly, the horse remained standing despite the two’s movements. Its eyes were closed, and dried drools lined its mouth.
“This horse…,” Minerva mumbled. She realized that it was no longer alive. With solemn gaze, she touched the mount’s head. She then sniffed and cringed her nose. “Dan, you stink.”
Dan wryly smiled and hugged his mother. Minerva was shocked by his actions—particularly since Dan definitely knew that he was currently covered in dung. Slightly twitching her body, she loudly said, “Hey!”
Dan laughed as he released his grip. He combed his hair backwards and mockingly said, “Mom, you stink too. We’re even.”
Minerva pouted her lips as she stared at her muck-filled body. With her hips hands on her hips, she declared, “Seriously, this kid!”
The two of them stared at each other, after a few seconds, both chuckled. The thought that they still were able to tease each other filled them with bliss. After a few more moments, Minerva’s laughter turned into wails. She cried with all her might. “Hic… Hic… We’re… alive. We’re alive… We’ve survived… Dan… Dan… Hic… Hic….”
Dan’s expression turned sour but gentle. Without uttering a word, he wrapped his arms around his pregnant mother. Minerva felt his warmth, and it filled her with unexplainable strength. They again survived the knock from the God of Death. So many things had happened, but they survived, and they both knew that as long as one was alive, there was hope.
Dan whispered, “There was this saying that I’ve read way long ago.” Minerva silently listened. Her wailing had stopped. “Look at the Heavens. Beautiful, isn’t it? Shrouded by clouds, or clear as morning dew—all depends upon the eyes that look at it. If you’ve reached the bottom of the well, have hope for you cannot go down any further. The only way left is up. Have hope. Have hope.”
After Dan recited such poetry-like words, Minerva’s tears completely died down. Her previously crestfallen eyes were filled with fire. It was burning with hope. It was burning with the desire to live for the future.
The words uttered by Dan were actually words of Leopold, Godfather of the Leopold Family. Those words were the one that filled him with strength when he lost his parents at the age of nine. Without anywhere to go, he accepted the offer to join the Leopold Family.
Initially, Leopold took the nine year old child as a form of entertainment. He had never expected the child to be a sponge; a talent that was rarely seen. A talent that would shame even the Gods themselves.
Minerva was about to utter some words when they heard a rustling sound from their rear. Dan immediately assumed a defensive stance, ready to kill at a moment’s notice. At their left was woodland, and in front of them was a small lake.
Shadows from schools of fish were seen bathing under the morning sun.
Eventually, the source of the rustling sounds emerged, and came a child that was around Dan’s age. He looked at the dung-filled duo with big eyes. He gawked and pointed at them. Afterwards, he squeaked, “Father!”
Hurried footsteps were quickly heard after that. The grasses parted into two, and a man in his early forties emerged. He was holding a bow on his right, and an arrow was loaded—lightly pulled back. He stared at Dan and Minerva for a while then blew off a sigh of relief.
“Oh. I thought its bandits,” the man said. He relaxed his grip on the bow and patted the head of the child. It was male, and was the same height as Dan. “Carin, I’ve repeatedly told you not to run off like that. I almost got a heart attack. Lately, bandits are lurking around our village. I’ve heard they made the woodlands their home.”
“Nn…,” the child mumbled. He continued to stare at Dan and Minerva. The two were silent during the entire ordeal.
The child’s father stared at the two and scrutinized them from head to toe. Eventually, he smiled and said, “Lost? You guys probably need a bath.” The man meant it. Even from afar, he smelled the pungent stench from the two. “And probably a meal? Say, want to stop by my house for a moment? My family’s ancestors will definitely haunt me to death if I don’t help you guys out.”
The man strapped the bow on his back and said, “I’m Mervik, and this child here is Carin. Welcome. Welcome to the village of Ruktia.”
Chapter 06: Confrontation with Bandits
Ruktia Village was one of the hundreds of villages that belonged in the Fifth District of the Empire. Surrounded by a taiga, and with a small lake near its vicinity, it depicted a soothing view of a classical country side. Medium-sized birds were frequently seen flying above the woodlands, and their chirping sounds marked the arrival of dawn. The residences were meters from each other; the partitions were wide enough for the residents to create their own gardens. The soil was peaty, and it generously provided ample amount of nutrients to the crops. The village itself was self-supporting.
Dan and Minerva took Mervik’s offer and went to his house. The house resembled a cabin, and it was wide enough to fit five rooms in. Despite its simplicity, the wood it was created from was sturdy. An aromatic steam wafted through the air as Dan dried his head using a towel. He had just gotten out of the bath.
“Food’s ready,” Mervik said. He wore a brown tunic that hanged till his knees. A leather belt made a partition right at his waist, making his toned body vivid. His skin was tanned, and it gave off the appearance of someone that had been continuously exposed to an enraged sun. His arms were slender, but the muscles were evident. He held a wooden cup in one hand. “Your mother’s not finished with the bath yet?”
“Yes,” Dan said with a nod. The bath was located at the back of the cabin, and it was separated by a partition, making it possible for two separate genders to take a bath simultaneously. Surprisingly, despite the chilly breeze that filled the air, lukewarm water flowed out of the water pumps.
Dan glanced at the food prepared on top of the table. A bird that was around ten times the size of a fist was roasted, and beside it were balls of rice that have orange toppings. An appetizing aroma permeated the air. .
“Haha! Women... They definitely like taking long baths. Come, let’s eat,” Mervik said. Despite the scar that ran across his left cheek, his face was docile. And the smile that perpetuated on his face was almost innocent, like that of a child.
“This roasted thing here,” he said as he pointed at the one at the center of the table, “is something that lives exclusively within the woodlands. It’s a delicacy found only in our proud village—Roasted Falta”
Dan courteously sat down on a chair before the spherical wooden table. He was directly in front of Mervik who was beside Carin. After slicing off a portion of the roasted falta, Dan placed it on his mouth and slowly chewed. It surprisingly tasted akin to turkey. The meat was crisp on the outside, and it was absurdly soft on the inside. It gave the feeling that it would melt on one’s mouth.
“This is good,” Dan said after another bite. He looked towards Mervik. “Thank you for your kindness. For helping my mother... I could not be grateful enough.”
Mervik snorted after the statement. “What a polite kid! Hahaha! Hey, don’t be too serious, okay? It’s in our family’s custom to help those that are in need. It’s something that’s been instilled to us since the first generation.” His eyes twinkled. “I hate to say this, but you seemed too mature for your age.” At the corner of Mervik’s eyes, he saw Carin munching down his food without restraint. “You’re so different from my child, Carin.”
Dan smiled. “I’m sure your Carin has his own uniqueness too. Everyone has their own charms, mister.”
Sounds of footsteps were heard, and moments after, Minerva walked into the dining area. Her hair was wet, and her previously worn out clothes were replaced by a simple flowered dress; it was the dress of Mervik’s deceased wife. Her red hair hanged past her shoulders. Merkit’s mouth was slightly opened as he stared at her.
“Oh, come. Lunch’s served,” Mervik said after he broke out of his trance. Minerva said her thanks and joined the group. Just like Dan, she was surprised on how delicious the food was.
“Would it be alright to know where the two of you came from? I normally wouldn’t invite someone inside the house, but I felt neither hostile intentions nor malice from you two. Maybe it’s because I saw you both covered in dung? Haha!” Mervik joshed. His son that was beside him continued devouring the food on his plate.
Dan glanced at his mother. He knew that the question of Mervik would bring up a sensitive topic. Contrary to his expectations, Minerva’s eyes were filled with resolve. She smiled and replied, “We’re from the village of Ortas—outside the Great Wall.”
Mervik was taken aback when he heard of the words ‘outside the Great Wall.’ He lightly tilted his head and tapped his fingers once. “Outside? Now, that’s rare. It’s common for some to
enter the empire after paying the appropriate fees, but to come to our secluded village? People would normally go to one of the major cities.”
‘I guess the news that Krukas began invading the Empire hadn’t reached this village yet. Well, that’s to be expected. This place’s a bit secluded,’ Dan thought. He silently listened to the conversation like a child would.
Minerva paused for a while before replying. She swallowed the lump in her throat and said, “Krukas. They attacked our village. Everyone was killed… we’re the only ones that survived.” Silence filled the room as she continued with her story. Only the sound of Carin innocently munching his share was heard. “We had no choice but to seek solace in the Empire. Luckily, we’re granted entry. The Empire…,” She looked at Mervik straight in the eyes. “It was attacked by Krukas a few days ago. The Military City of Molivia was devastated.”
Mervik knew of the famous city, Molivia. It was a city that boasted its military might. Specifically, the general that governed it was one of the geniuses in warfare and tactics. For the great city to fall in the hands of Krukas, it meant only one thing: a massive invasion had transpired. He shivered at the thought on what would happen if Krukas moved in further into the Empire. Their village may be secluded, but it would definitely not be spared if such large scale invasion was to take place.
“Molivia…,” His voice trailed off. “What happened to it?”
Minerva’s brows twitched as she recalled the events. “Last time we’ve seen it, a dragon decimated the entire northern area of the city. It was a massacre. Even the thousands of soldiers guarding the city were unable to do anything against the creatures.”
Another deafening silence filled the air. Mervik clasped his hands and mumbled, “A dragon… absurd.” He looked towards Minerva. “I’m sorry for asking such question earlier. That was incessant of me. So I take it that you two got here in your attempt to escape the pandemonium?”
“Yes,” Minerva simply said. The barrage of nightmarish events made her mind almost as hard as steel. She resolved herself to be strong. Dan and the soon to be born child needed her.
“I see,” He said as he pondered. After a while, he smiled and said, “You could stay here for as long as you need. Is there any particular place you wish to go to in the Empire? I’m not that knowledgeable myself, but I know a few locations.”
Minerva glanced at Dan as if asking his opinion. Over time, she came to realize that her son was different than other kids his age. He was absurdly mature, and his decision-making skill was impeccable. Although she was ashamed to admit, she felt that her son was someone indispensable in her decisions.
“Mister, the major cities of the Empire would be good enough,” Dan said.
“Major cities? Hmmm… if we say major cities, then it’s definitely one of those four: Atherna, Naldey, Ilian, and Peralta. Each of those cities represents the four cardinal directions. The nearest one would be Ilian—around two weeks of travel from here. And that’s by cart.”