EDWARD
I moved on and on until I eventually got to the council hall. Finally,I had few steps more to take to attain the truth of this all. I emerged into the main court premises only to be questioned by a soldier.
"Young man, state your business before approaching the council. Where do you think you are going?"
I felt so intense as his pointy spear was a few millimetres towards my Adam's apple. If this was the mind set of this one soldier, how would the rest react with presence but when you are a demon, certain privileges seems to be a gift.
"Look into my eyes, warrior", I instantly replied. The confused soul whom was already consumed by my words quickly stared his huge eyeball directly into mine. I didnt know what I was doing. I I did was to look at the heavily built man and BOOM, I felt like I hit the Jackpot!.
"Stay out of my way. Do the same to your colleagues", I whispered to the soldier's ear. Those words might have been twisted his mind. It sure did because as soon as my magic word was uttered, he raised his spear to his fellow soldier, giving them a signal to allow me pass through.
Instantly, he lowered his metal arsenal and left my presence. I looked all surprised. I couldn'texplaim what had happened. If felt like the whole guards responded to my command. Still all confused all all, this didn't stop me from walking up to the Council room staircase with all round swag.
I had almost gotten half way towards the huge stairs when I heard trembling sounds of horses behind me. The city gate open wildly as the Man of the city, Counter Paulini emerges into the city walls on his horseback. He gets down, looking devastated after the short chit-chat between him and his long-lost ally of his stood right outside Zarmin.
The Zarmin Head travels back to his memory lane. He felt quite depressed and awful. I did my best to disguise myself as a poor street sweeper to avoid being spotted. Maybe hope was still on his side. He looks at the left hand side, cross checking the armies defending the wall.
Each warrior looked quite serious. Zealous eyes of the archers he saw looking vigilantly like an eaglet watching after its eggs. Spears, bows and arrows were all at the ready.
Counter Paulini finally had a smidge on his cheek. He raises his head as the royal guards rushes up to him, escorting him into the council's room. The doors opens with mixed reactions on the council's members faces. They still had a barrel of information to be filled. The council members looks at their Head approaching, still trying to recover from their confused state.
With a cup of grape wine in his hand, Counter Paulini gathers amongst his most trusted allies. His decision could either save or ruin the fate of his people.
"What really going on, Counter Paulini?", said a council chief standing curiosity near the Head expecting a profound response. Counter Paulini who already imputed the mute state for thinking wasn't sure about his answer to the disturbing question.
"We are to be attacked by a legion of troopers"
The council members froze in shock to their high citizen's scary reply. That exact answer registered in their cerebros that hell was coming even though they still couldn't believe what suppose not to be.
"I thought Scavengers were just a myth. Just scary stories told to stubborn and dis-orientated lads", Onuga replied to his master's confusing new intel.
"Tell that to the man in charge of the numerous souls out there" , Counter Paulini replied with no sign of discipline in him. Now, the council was in a state of pandemonium. No idea was triggering in the atmosphere, just only past ancient ideas or knowledge from the anicent times of some sorts which rallied round the mouth of the Council members.
"All I know about the troopers is that they care headed by a mythical being or individual", said a council member.
"Yes, but the mystery still this day is that its name remains unknown, like it has been totally erased in history books", said another whom was going through the Anicent books. Desperate times calls for desperate measures and so, the only weapon they has against their new found enemy was opened: The Zarmin Book of the Anicent Times but even at that, their effort proved futile.
The book of the Anicient Times was opened but there was not a befitting resolution to their predicament but the council members still had faith. They kept on reading.
"It says here that The troopers will rise again by the order of the nightfall to resume its duties; to seize and attain the Everlasting. They will never stop until they get what they want, far as the nightfall blooms", Onuga ended his speech with ajar dispair.
Counter Paulini as well as the council members stare as their fellow member closes The Anicent Book on the table. They look at each other in pairs, speculating about the heavy load of trouble at their doorstep. To rank it up to the list, killing them wouldn't be an option.
"Who can kill a myth? An extinct legion of assassins ready to kill a whole city by just one single wave of a finger?", said a Council member whom was now gripped with fear. Counter Paulini knew what his fellow wise men suggest wouldn't help the city in any way. He just had to follow his instincts, by delivering the town bargaining chip to the rogue Scavengers.
"We have to give them what they want the most", The Zarmin Head said.
"What would that be?", the council member replied as their ears were drawn to Counter Paulini's proposal.
"According to the scriptures, they seize and attain. I guess that what they are here for", Counter Paulini drops his golden goblet on the stool neat to him as he spoke up while staring at his council members looks with eager eyes as the Zarmin Head delivers an important message.Counter Paulini follows up with his conversation;
"They need a Man in our city. A man with the name "Edward Carnon". doing so will save our city", The Zarmin head ended the message as his council members deliberated on the idea on the bargain. Suddenly, wide simile occupied every certain member's cheekbone.
"So all we need to do is to deliver them just a man? So what are waiting for then? I supposed they would request for a bigger prize but all that for a dick-carrier!!", replied Onuga happily but still, there was Counter Paulini stares in shock ad his very own council members reply to his bargaining message with the most shocking way possible.
The council members replied to Counter Paulini bargain, accepting the deal to save their skins and that of the city. Counter Paulini finalized his speech: "If that's your verdict, then gather the soldiers and fetch out the delinquent off the streets immediately. I need to settle the transactions now".
Counter Paulini leaves the fate of Zarmin in the hands of his trusted officials as the time goes by in seconds. He took his sword he laid on the pillar and left into the day right back to his horse, out of the city wall with his personal guards back to where the root of it all laid idle - the solution. As for me, I was scared.
Filled with fear, I was literally shaking. My hands kept on shaking after eavesdropping on the council members conclusion towards their problem. Questions began to filled my head again. Was this the thing fear for coming to get me? Was this Sandroville in disguise for me? I was now scared to the core.
For me, all hope was lost on survival. My unknown enemies were standing next to me and the only thing separating us was the wall.
What if I was the one the city members really want to execute for their survival? Thank the heavens i got to lie about my original name before coming into this prison yard but my safety has been blown.
I just couldn't survive here no more. I ran down to the stairs right back to the street where I proceed into the crowd to prepare for another escape...
FOUR HOURS TO COUNTDOWN
The North wind has blown again for one too many times, carrying tiny pebbles and dirt off the ground.
Its been two hours wasted and the ferocious Scavengers of the Night seems not to move a muscle while they watch the Zarmin Whole army trembling in fear and confusion. Zarmin's leader was again with the region's commander, Samson, his long lost friend.
There, he stood watching his fearless, emotionless Trooper legion commander, cleaning and shaping up his blade on his horse back. Memories came pouring down to Counter Paulini's mind.
The Dushi river, their friendship, intimacy and love life scenes. Was he ever going to make out all these from the man sitting above him on the horse, imagining himself dripping in innocent's blood? the person or inhuman who changed his friend into a killing machine was sure to be the devil himself.
Though, Counter Paulini knew whom it was due to the symbol presented to him but as always ,it was just another myth to the Zarmin leader,a clear rumor. The only way he could be belive was to see it for himself. Nevereless, Counter Paulini held on to hope. He went right up to speak with his dangerously re-formed friend.
"Your sword is indeed shiny Sam. You did a pretty fine job waiting your time making that", said the Zarmin Head.
The entity whom he was speaking had no interest to what he was talking about. The determined soldier got down from his horse and with a quick move of his hand, he rested his blade on Counter Paulini's shoulder.
Counter Paulini's personal guards makes a swift resistant attack to oppose the tyrant but it seems like the likes of that of their opposition was quite ready to send their heads to the skies.
Counter Paulini made a signal and his soldiers relents from their actions. Samson didn't care at all. He kept pour words out of his mouth;
"You had better find me my package if not, the souls of your precious people shall be slained by this same shiny sword", Samson replied with a dark smile on his face. This made Counter Paulini switch modes to aggression
"Oh, why bother? Why the sudden change? Your new morale is really giving me the spooks. This ain't you. What has your damn master compressed in that massive dumb skull of yours?", Counter Paulini replied to the response of samson's outrageous comment.
The atmosphere was cool once more. Samson drops his sword down as he felt detached of his friend's word. They both made eye contact. Counter Paulini felt hope in his heart over his best friend,or maybe thought so...
"My master's decision has nothing to do with my well being. All I have is this sword to serve", replied the self disciplined Sanmson.
"That's my point, Samson. You are serving for a fruitless gain. Trust me, your life on this earth are numbered if you follow this part. Come back to your real family who will surely care about your well being", said Counter Paulini as he approaches to Samson.
They locked eyes once more. The Zarmin Head was surely scared as he made a close eye contact with a red eye but the future has a way to change a person for the worst or better. In this case, all hope was lost for Counter Paulini.
In an instant, Samson rushes Counter Paulini to the ground, drawing out his sword towards his frienP's chest. He stares at Counter Paulini shaking tremendously.
"Paulini, What we had in the past is long gone. Face the reality now. I don't care about family, friends or pleasures anymore. This is the new me now!... And if I die to this cause, I die a great warrior!", said Samson aloud in front of his rival face who fell to the ground in fear.
Counter Paulini was totally devastated. His plans toward saving his friend from his demise was all to thrown to Hades. He struggles up as his personal guards rushes up to help him. In him, he felt broken. Heart and feelings all distacted. Surely, Samson was completely lost to the dark.
"I can accept that. As you wish", replied Counter Paulini with a sad look. The hopeless Zarmin head gets back on his horse. He tries to ride back to the city when he was summoned back by Samson.
"I hope you have found the package", shouted Samson from behind to his rival unknown to him that this instantly angered the young Zarmin leader.
"I don't care about that anymore!. If you really want your precious human soul, you must have to get through my heavily equipped 10,000 guards to do that", shouted Counter Paulini in rage. Samson laughs to the angry response of Counter Paulini's challange.
He felt overwhelmed, like he was competing against himself. With all the rage flowing through his bloodstream, he replied back to Counter Paulini: "You still prove stubborn under that your scared little robe, you sure you really want to do this?"
Counter Paulini whom was already boiling In rage and anguish,remembering about what Samson put him through after their relationship setback sent a direct message back at him.
"You know what, Take the city if you can!", Counter Paulini replied in anger. He spat on the ground in which the dry wind carries it away in seconds. This had no effect nor sympathy on the tyrant. All he did was to laugh out wildly in the open, laying curses on the Zarmin Head.
"I will in good faith, my old grumpy farm boy", Samson laughs out. Counter Paulini felt quite ashamed. He got totally annoyed at his statement. He hiked on his horse and rode on the dust while the noisy last statement of Samson kept wailing into his ears.
"Tick, tock, sire Counter Paulini. Your city is about to go up in flames, pal", shouted Samson out in the open field so loud that it sounded quite clear in all the soldier's ears. Counter Paulini's old heartthrob was forgone. His love was totally torn to thread towards his lover's reaction but after the ashes are burnt, coal exists.
Counter Paulini's heart heart has been re-molded back to stone. Now, he must protect his city at all cost... no matter the sacrifice of the Mystery man's life still breathing inside his city's walls…
THREE HOURS TO COUNTDOWN
The clouds turns dark at the presence of dark itself.The Scavengers Military leader, Samson barges into the room with a respectable bow now to reports back the proceedings.
"My Lord ,the city Head seems stubborn. He would not allow us to attain the culprit", Samson spoke up in the silent dark room which was echoing. The dark airless room seems to be lifeless but in-between its surroundings, a deep shady voice spoke right back to the Military leader: "So, The farm boy wouldn't open his gates. He does have some firm courage, doesn't he?"
"He ...sure has no regard for the partrol, My Lord", replied Samson in a shaky tone. He kneels right at the doorstep once again as the voice in the room gets closer.
"Hmm… In all my life spent on this earth, If there is one thing I do know is that bravery can never be taught and mostly, love hardens the broken heart. isn't not true between you and Counter Paulini?", the stranger in the room throw a question to his subject. Samson looks in shock as his Master uttered those shocking words. For this moment, he knew all his past life event had been exposed.
"My Lord, how possible did you know about Paulini and I?", Samson stool still, shocked to the fact about this buried discovery. There was a loud evil laugh inside the dark room.
"I am the sword in the hearts of many, like a barrel thrown down a dark well and then drawn out filled with loads of sercet", said the stranger in the room. In the other end, Samson couldn't say a word anymore. He drops down to his feet: "Master, I never knew that you knew!. I am sorry for my past circumstances".
"I don't care about your fucked up past life. Get up, squirrel!", said the stranger in the room with a rude accent. Samson immediately get up back to his feet to receive the next order. The unknown man in the room spoke once more: "When does the deadline end?"
"In the next Three hours, my Lord"
"Good, then let the Three hours still be ticking. Samson, i want you to give Counter Paulini the next three hours to construct his sanctuary. When it's up, give me the warning bell", replied the unknown man as his voice slowly fades into the room. His slow footsteps can be heard slowing departing away from the scene meanwhile Samson stood up from his knees.
"I will do just that, My lord", Samson replied hastily.
"Leave me, i have pressing issues to attend to", said the unknown man once again as Samson quickly turns away from the doorstep. Samson proceeds out of his master's room with a dangerous smick on his cheek. He looks right towards the city filled with a dark joy in him.
He knew what's coming was Hades. He swiftly pushes his sword back to his belt and walks right into the dark-towards applying his new catastrophic plan...