Estocia is a small city filled with diverse, yet contrasting constituents inside. It might not be a surprise since it is a place where these components are co-existing with one another, but the things that make it a "city" are quite eccentric on their own way.
From the living animals, architectures, natural sceneries, and even the overall physicality of the place, each and every one of them are distinguishable into one another.
However, even if this esteemed place is literally a box of identifiable contents, none will ever come close to the eccentricity of its people.
It is no secret that even if they are bounded by their culture, the Swordsfolk of Estocia are still divided by their responsibilities, preferences, talents, line of work, and social status- each are functioning differently than the other.
Due to these dissimilarities, emerging prejudices inside of the faction are unavoidable. One might even conclude that the disparity of the people can result a lasting, yet unspeakable barrier of discord amongst them.
Well, indeed. For the majority of the times, the people of Estocia are always doomed in division due to their differences. There is literally a slim chance of breaking this inevitable divergence for all.
But…
"The city is in flames! Everyone, help the injured and evacuate the less-abled folks! Those who can fight, come with me!"
Even if these people have a 'slim chance' of bonding together, it does not mean that it will be impossible to happen!
We arrived at the twin-gates of the city, only to see the terrifying scenery of the people in total chaos and perturbation. Some are running helplessly with their families and belongings, some are shouting their voices out of sheer panic, while the majority are in a complete state of agita. I looked at the normally-dark blue sky as I also observed a raging and emerging volume of flames waving aloft in it. The sounds of the crackling flames alongside with the horrified voices of the Swordsfolk painted a scene of pandemonium inside of the city.
W-What happened to this place?
Leaving this small city for just a short string of hours can result into this?!
"Hurry up, everyone! Amidst the face of this unannounced danger, we will not be daunted!"
The courageous voice that I have heard before upon entering the gates roared once more, as he sent his forces to help the Swordsfolk.
That outfit… they seem to belong to the Infantry branch…
"Tori!!! Let us go!" after hearing the valiant voice of the man, Roy shouted in front of us.
Considering the direction of the raging fires in the sky, I can pinpoint that the flames are in the…
Oh no…
Sharps! This is not good! This is definitely not good!
Realizing the fact about the place of the combusting fires, a sudden fear pierced my heart.
Before going to the direction of the place, I hurriedly ran back, past of the twin-gates to meet Cardamon where he patiently waited for us so that he can finally go back in the village.
"Ragged ma- no! Cardamon! Please, listen carefully! Go back to the village and ask the Boss to give us an aid for this fire! You do not have to ask for much! Just a huge volume of water is fine!" I said as I was gasping for air.
Cardamon had a conflicting expression when he heard my entire plight but afterwards, he just seriously nodded in front of me and took off with a gallop from his wagon.
I-If my memory serves me well, there was a Beckoning rite this evening situated on that place! Which means…
I only managed to gulp upon thinking those cascading thoughts on my head…
Especially…
"I have something waiting you there…"
Oh sharps!
I fearfully dreaded the thought of the possible situations that will go unwell on my mind. Before I even knew it, the wagon already disappeared on the tracks due to its swiftness. I was about to run to the road that leads further to the flames when a voice called me out on the side:
"Ah! The three Myrmidons are here! Good evening! Tis I, your humble sentry, at your service! Right now, it is in the…ah! No! I know that you are already aware of what is happening right now, so reporting the stature of this city will be just a waste of time!"
A man coated in a shining, white armor approached me as he said those words. Afterwards, he gave us a sharp salutation.
Seeing his usual quirk regardless of the time and place, it immediately suggested on my mind that this particular fellow of the Infantry branch is the friendly sentry of the twin-gates!
"Oh…it is you." I said halfheartedly.
I just thought about this now but…you seem to be uncharacteristically calm about all of this…
Especially since your entire purpose is to guard this place…
"Come now, Lady Astoria! Do give me a proper greeting next time when I salute you! You are becoming a cold person towards me, you know?" he said as he scratched his metal helm.
Ugh. I do not have time for this.
Wait-!
"Sir sentry!" I suddenly said when a thought jolted in my head.
"Ah! Now we are talking! What do you want, Lady Astoria?" he happily replied.
Seriously, why are you so calm about this?
"A caravan of water-bearing wagons will come here and aid us in bringing this raging fire down! Since you are manning the clearances for incoming people here in the twin-gates, please allow them to enter when they come here!" I instructed him while pointing at the direction of the flames.
"That is all? Very well, then! You leave it to me!"
The three of us ran as fast as we could in order to go to the plaza amidst the ever-raging flames in the atmosphere. As we pass the troubled people, we can hear their voices of agony and despair.
"Oh, the three Myrmidons are here! Please, save us!"
"Where have you been? We waited so much for you three!"
"Help us! Please, oh Heroes!"
Not very much long, we eventually reached the entrance of the plaza square. We cannot proceed even further since a lot people from the Infantry branch were aligned on their formation against something. Now that we are situated up close, I can already feel the intensity of our temperature due to the emerging flames that touches the skies.
"Formations!!!"
Suddenly, we heard a loud and deep shout on our front. In just a glimpse of an eye, the sound of a loud and collective clomp from the foot of the people rang loudly alongside with their fluid movements. The people around, before we even notice it, committed themselves in a battle formation.
"What is going on here? Are they going to fight off the flames with their swords?! Pah! These people are extremely weird!" commented by Malthur when we cannot even move further near the flames.
Like he stated, it is rather strange that the people from Infantry branch are doing their battle formations in front of the raging flames. I mean, you just have to kill the fire with water, right?
T-This is bad! We have to get closer to the area in order to survey the situation. Otherwise, I will not be able to secure if he is…
"Sirs! Please, let us through!" I shouted in front of them impatiently.
"You! What are you doing here?! This is a dangerous area to wander around, girl so-"
The same powerful voice that commanded the Infantry guards shouted directly at me. Upon hearing it at the same time, all of the heads of the guards turned to our direction.
"-AH! Halt. Do not tell me that you three are those self-proclaimed Myrmidons of the League? HA! What took you so long for gracing us with your presences?"
The person bearing the commanding voice slowly went to our direction. The guards moved on their own with fluidity and perfect coordination while letting him through.
Not long after, the person, who seems to be important-looking, looked us with an obvious expression of disdain directly towards us. He faced us stiffly, giving an air of forthrightness and confidence on his overall appearance. His sheer seriousness on his aura is further complemented as he wore the official military coat of the city that is unmistakably tinged in shining silver. Towering in a great height, he looked us down with his fairly-bright face as he occasionally flickers his silvery hair.
I-Is he…looking down on us?
"Oi! Let us through! We came here to subdue this fire and we cannot do that if you crowd this place with your weak-looking men!" raged by Malthur when he noticed his condescending stare as well.
The important-looking man laughed merrily upon hearing that and afterwards-
SLAP!
The man slapped Malthur flashily, devoid of any reservedness on his action.
"Listen carefully here, you self-proclaimed brat! The people of this city waited long enough for your return and this is the result! Look around and see for yourself! This is the negligence of your actions!"
Apparently, his mature and grandeur appearance earlier completely melted off when he angrily shouted in front of Malthur.
"Hey! That hurt! You stupid, good-for-nothing grunt!" Malthur shouted back.
I was about to get on their way before they cause an unnecessary tension between the two of them, when Roy gasped abruptly on my side.
"…! Sir Argenleu van Fidorra! Please, listen to what I have to say! There is an incoming attack right at this instant and I can sense it! I beg of you, please call you men for retreat and turn away right at this instant!" he said frightfully.
Eh? How can you tell, Roy?
I wanted to ask if his words were true but I cannot managed to ask him since he was uncharacteristically frightened at this instant…
The head of the Infantry branch laughed once more upon hearing Roy's plead and in return, he continued his insult towards the two.
"Do you honestly believe in yourself that I will listen to your words? Ha! You sure are full yourself just because you are the son of the Chief here, eh? Get out of our way! I have no intention on cooperating with low minors like you-"
In just a blink of an eye, while he was still talking…
CRASHHHHHHH!
A massive sound of crashes and clangs permeated on everyone's sense of hearing. The explosive noise was so intense that it made everyone freeze right on their standings. When the sound died down, I heard the agonized shouts and gasps of every guards around us.
"Ah! Wha-What…! What in the world?!"
Malthur's voice of surprise echoed on my ears as I involuntarily closed my eyes from the impact.
I waited a bit to let the situation lie down, then I opened my eyes only to see the pile of bodies that collapsed from a malefic and strangely powerful force that exploded earlier. The majority of the guards in the front were gravely injured while the rest of us in the back, together with the important-looking man, were still reeling back from the blast. In an instant, most of the guards were gravely unconscious while the rest of them were howling from pain and discomfort.
Afterwards, from the direction where the origin of the explosion came from, we saw a figure slowly walking towards us. Even if the place illuminated itself from the crimson flames, we still had a difficulty to unmask the identity of the figure.
At that point, no one dared to move. Even the survivors from the assault did not lift a muscle. From some strange reason, the three of us were powerless to move as well. A heavy feeling of inexplicable atmosphere began to swirl around us that resulted from our immovable position.
"Ah…darn. I did not manage to clear them all. What a pain."
The figure, who was walking ever so slowly, suddenly spoke in a dark tone.
Due to our body becoming unresponsive from this heavy atmosphere, we were helpless to do anything as we watched the said figure present itself right before us. The only thing that we can only hear at that point were the loud and crackling sounds of the wavering flames. Soon after, we gasped from surprise as we saw the full form of the person who was responsible from laying waste on a huge volume of city guards:
A petite body that was uncannily and frightfully pale from its color…
A pair of bloodshot eyes, staring at us with baleful intent…
A black mark on its forehead that is unrecognizable and;
A small and familiar dagger with serrations from its side…
"N-Nada…?"
I gulped down while staring at the person who I hold dear, behind the raging flames of the night.
***
T-This…cannot be. Am I daydreaming right now?
The figure smiled at me as an initial response to my question and chuckled a bit. Afterwards, it said the following words in a joking manner:
"Ahahaha…why, it is Lady-Smith! You came here in an early fashion, but also late at the same time! You see, I am still yet to clear the remaining Swordsfolk around here so…would you please come back after a little while? My surprise is not yet complete, you see…"
This person, who was speaking casually at me, looked like a completely different person now. I cannot manage to pinpoint exactly what transpired him to become like this but now…
…He looked like a being that does not belong into the world of the living anymore.
"Y-You just injured a lot of people!!! Why did you do this, Nada? Why?! How could you?!" I raised my voice in front of him.
The pale child tilted its head from my reaction, possibly confused at the moment. Afterwards, he smiled once again.
"Oh…Lady-Smith, forgive me if I kept a single secret to you. Even though I treated you as a family, I had this one thing that I did not share to you. Oh well, it does not matter though. This secret of mine will soon be over! So please, would you give me some more time, Lady-Smith?"
Secret? It will be over soon? D-Do not tell me…
"W-What suddenly happened to you to become like this? Please Nada, if you are joking around, you would do best to cut this! Stop hurting these people, I am begging you!"
I tried my best to convey my truest plead into him. This child was traumatized on his entire life, after all.
Nada chuckled heartily yet again, then came closer to me…
Thump!
Before I even realized it, I felt a heavy force on my head for a brief moment. His left hand touched my unsuspecting head that it almost felt like…
D-Did he just smacked me?
"You are silly, Lady-Smith! Haha! I cannot afford to let this opportunity got to waste now! So please, let me repeat myself…"
Nada swirled his Sword breaker around with precision then, in just a flash, an invisible force knocked all of us in the vicinity away from him.
"-Come back here a little while."
We were sent in a relatively far distance away from Nada and due to the suddenness and potency of that unnoticeable force, we howled from the pain of our fall.
"T-That little brat! Men! Do your job and dispose that child!" said furiously by the Commander of the Infantry branch.
"S-Such force from him!" said by Roy while marveling at the child's power.
"Hey! Let us take down that pale runt! Come on, get up!"
Both Roy and I were still weak from the impact, but Malthur was already standing with his wooden sword at his right hand. It looked like he was able to negate the power of the force with the aid of his weapon. He was about to run away from us in order to go to Nada's direction, but I hurriedly blocked his way with my limping body.
"Do not be too careless right now! Did you not see how powerful that force was?! If you are going to rush away just like that, you will be just tossed away like that one time with the Boss!" I angrily said to this Mal-git.
As I was nagging him, I saw the still-standing body of Nada, completely calm and relaxed even if he was completely surrounded by the guards. The commander managed to finally stand up after reeling back from his pain, then shouted mightily:
"ATTACK!"
The men valiantly charged at Nada after the commander made a gesture from his right hand. Every guardsmen roared their mighty cry as they are now prepared to put Nada down and refrain him from hurting others. I saw them unsheathe their swords that are explicitly looking as Espadas.
"C-Commander please, do not kill Nada! He is but a child!"" I pleaded to him.
"Hm. So you are acquainted to this little brat that injured my men, eh? This is perfect. After subduing this child, you will inform us about his intentions for ravaging this entire city. Just wait for it, girl!" he replied, visible disgust is on his face.
"N-Nada did all of these? E-Even this fire?!" I asked fearfully, probably not wanting to hear the true answer.
"Are you jesting, girl?! Of course, he is the culprit! That is why, he will answer to the overall circuit of the branch and he will pay for it dearly!"
"N-no! Please! I know this boy! He is a kindhearted and obedient person! He was going through a lot of hardship from his past! He is just a victim of a troublesome fate and with that, he should not deserve this!" I pleaded even further, tears are about to trickle from my eyes.
"Pah! Do not manipulate me with that false sentiment of yours! I am informed that you keep this boy from your business so there is a high chance that-"
"Sir Argenleu! I am begging you, retreat your men at once!"
Suddenly, as he returned back from his panicking state, Roy shouted helplessly as he cannot take away his eyes in front to where Nada is currently standing.
"What are you on, about you- huh?"
Commander Argenleu was furious on his words but suddenly retracted his sharp mouth when he saw that the majority of his men are slowly being defeated by a single child. It was clear to us that Nada was surrounded by the guards, but he does not take any damages from them. Every slashes, thrusts, and other attacks of the men are completely useless since, as unreal as it appears, he is just passing through the countless swords that are attempting to pierce through him. I cannot see entirely as to why he was managing to survive these assaults but as I took a closer look, I observed that his body is becoming transparent, almost appearing to be invisible.
Nada playfully moved around while allowing these countless men to trash around, attempting to cut him down. He waltzes around with a smile from his face and occasionally, with the use of the dagger, he traps the longswords of the guards and defeats them instantly!
In just a span of a single minute, all of those who dared to assault him were helplessly limping on the ground. The sounds of pain and discomfort, alongside with their collective gasps circulated around the area of the plaza.
W-What in the…Nada? Is this really you?
Why..? Just…why?
Am I the reason…? Was I the one to blame for this?
So much for me being the 'big sister', huh?
I had no idea that violence was inside of you.
If…if I was more attentive and always there for you, then perhaps…you would not turn into this.
"YOU MURDERER!!!"
Commander Argenleu released his respective sword and with a fury from his gesture, he did his all might to shout directly at the still-smiling Nada. He charged on his own, ready to strike him without a second thought.
I…I have to do something about this.
If I will be wasting my time here, not wanting to act upon this very situation right in front of me, this boy will disappear forever.
"Forgive me for this, you two."
I suddenly moved without a second thought and like the Commander, I also freed my sword on its scabbard. As I expected right now, it is glowing majestically on its respective light.
"Hold on, you dumb smitha!"
My body prepared itself for a quick sprint, but Malthur swiftly grabbed my left hand.
"Are you telling me from that gesture of yours that you are privileged to act recklessly while I am not?! Do not give me that kind of inequality here, you idiot!" he angrily chastised me.
Agh. He is right. I cannot afford to let my emotions best me in this dire situation!
He may be rough on me just now, but without his wrathful intervention, who knows what could have happened to me!
"TASTE YOUR DEFEAT!!!"
The raging commander was about to commit a lethal slash to the child when something pushed him away on his tracks.
"Aughf!!!"
"Hmmm???"
From the celerity of its movement, a large and stalwart person intervened the assault.
It was my Pops.
He appeared out of nowhere, carrying his Terrabuster on his hands. Alongside with his entrance, various people from the League tended for the people who collapsed. They made sure that every guards from the Infantry branch will be evacuated in a safe place which is, outside of this place. Amazingly, Nada did not interfered from the movement of the League and just moved around near the flames, as if to commit his movements in dancing.
"Hey! Why did you do that, huh?!" shouted by the Commander who was still lying weakly on the ground.
"Oh, pardon me for that rashness of mine, Silverman. I could not help but to lend a hand since you were about to get killed there. If I was not able to knock you out in the way, the Infantry branch would have lost an esteemed leader." Pops spoke while still staring at the dancing Nada.
S-Silverman? Why do you call him in the name-oh…I get it. It is because of his hair, huh.
-Ah! No! That is not important right now!
"P-Pops! You are here! Where have you been?" I hurriedly said to him as I held his arm.
"Oh, you are here too. Perfect."
Instead of answering my query to him, added with my excitement that I get to see him unscathed, my Pops said something that is rather uncalled for.
"What do you mean 'I am here too'?! Of course I would be here! I am a Myrmidon, right?! Also, are you not even glad that I am safe right now?" I said angrily to him while shaking his arms back and forth.
"You are a Myrmidon but you were late in addressing help to your people. I even told you that the value of punctuality is an important aspect of being a Myrmidon. Ugh…I am mildly disappointed now." he suddenly said with a deep sigh.
T-This man! Is he seriously chastising me right now?!
"Hmph. Look who is talking! You arrived here in a late fashion, you know!" I angrily rebutted at him.
The two of us argued unrestrainedly in front of our comrades and Leaguesmen who were about to clean up in rescuing the fallen guards.
"If you are a 'great and legendary' Myrmidon of your time, you should have appeared here before us but oh, no! We came here first! So much for the esteemed hero of Estocia, huh?!"
"Come on, kid. I was busy in helping the citizens…"
Amidst our hot debate, I can feel the knife-like stares of the two boys in my back.
"Hey! You two seem to be adoring each other that you can even argue in the face of an enemy! Are you making us laugh?!"
Commander Silverman interfered on our hotly debate so…
"YOU SHUT UP…" x2
My Pops and I stared at the now-standing head of the Infantry branch and unreservedly talked him down on his deserving place.
This is a familial matter between a reasonable daughter and her skeptic father! Any outside voices will be just a nuisance!
"Ha…Aha…HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Amidst our bantering, Nada laughed childishly.
"AHAHAHAHA! You two never change, huh? Both Lady-Smith and Master are still like this…it brings me joy in my eyes!" he said while still snickering.
"That is right, kid. We will never change." Pops looked at Nada once again and said seriously.
Nada smiled cheerfully once he heard my Pops' words.
"However for you, you cannot just help it. Am I wrong, Nada?-"
My Pops raised his Terrabuster and pointed it at him then shouted:
"-Or should I say… Effese?"
What…? Nada became…he is the Effese? Impossible!
"…Haha that is a good joke, Pops. It tempts me to laugh." I said while my throat is quivering.
"I am not joking." he rebutted.
"B-but why??? H-How?!"
I feel like I could cry at any moment. My, what a failure of a bigger sister am I for him?
"Well, you heard my daughter. Why did you let the Effese devour you, kid?" Pops was still earnest as ever when he asked Nada.
Nada finally faced us. He fell in a serious contemplation and wore an expression of apathy. Afterwards, he exposed he smile once again.
"I just craved for a change…"
He said those words with a mixed tone of blitheness and contempt. Then…it hit me.
An Effese is an entity that will possess any being that contains a concentrated feeling of malice and hunger for a change.
I just cannot believe it.
Why does it have to be this boy?
A boy who is gentle, kind, and good-natured?
"Hey, do not blame me. If you are in my stature, you will do the same!"
Nada is about to sound in contrast to his old self. Normally, his tone has a kindness and respect whenever he speaks, but right now, he spoke to us as if we were some insects that are supposed to be annihilated. Sheer confidence and boisterousness can be vividly felt from his words, gestures, and even behaviors as he presents himself.
He…he really is a changed person.
He is not Nada anymore…he is the Effese.
Now…what to do? How will I save this child from the malicious bonds of nothingness? Is it too late to restore his own self?
"It finally appeared into me that…following these mean and selfish Swordsfolk will only bring me eternal hardships. From the day I was born up to growing up, only misery and sadness enveloped me. I thought that I just have to bear this hardship but thanks to this power…"
Nada flicked his Sword breaker and advanced forward…!
"…I was able to figure out that the only way to break this dark cycle is to lay waste this oppressive society of swords!"
CLA-CHING!
The dagger went straightly to Pops' direction but he effortlessly blocked it with his Terrabuster. As a response on his unhanded assault, he charged off to the smiling Nada with his Terrabuster on his hands.
"Hey! Come back here! That child is mine!" roared by the Commander.
He also charged on his own with his own blade, leaving us confused of what to do next.
"Come on, you two! We have to help my Pops!" I said in front of the boys, feeling the ever-increasing fear in my heart.
"No, Tori! It is dangerous! Leave this to your Pops! He already fought the Effese, correct? If my memory serves me well, he already defeated it so the combat here will not pose much of a threat!" he said, trying to ease my feelings.
"B-But…that is Nada!"
Besides, I feel like this version of the Effese is somehow…different.
"We go in, or help the others! Make a decision already! I do not want to stand here idiotically, you two!" on his own, Malthur grumbled about something.
I…what will I do?
As I was lost in thought of what to act next as a Myrmidon, I took a short glance at the fighting performance of my Pops. Together with Commander Silverman, they attempted to put Nada down with their synergistic stances with their respective swords!
This is incredible! To think that the two opposing branches can actually work as one!
Their exchanges with Nada raged on when Pops met my gaze. He gave me an assuring nod while he moved his sword around in order to support his partner.
I…will act.
"Let us help in subjugating this fire!" I turned to the two and earnestly proclaimed into them.
The two of them approved to my decision and hurriedly went around the community to find some items that will be useful to fight the flames. We asked around the people in the residential area, but they were too busy in evacuating to a safer place.
"No good. They are panicking after all…" sighed by Roy.
"Now, what?! Let us just go back to that place so that we can fight that runt!" Malthur grunted.
"No. We should kill that fire first before we can offer some sort of assistance to my Pops. Let us quickly visit the twin-gates! The sentryman might have something to help us." I tiredly said.
"You say it like that, but you just want to meet that guard again, don't you, smitha?"
"Shut it!"
We ran around towards the direction of the gates of Estocia, ignoring the fact that the residential area became devoid of any Swordsfolk. It seems that the League and Infantry branch was successful of transferring the less-abled people in a safer place…
We shortly reached the twin-gates at the entrance of the city when I heard the conflicted voice of the sentryman.
"A-Are you sure that you came here with a clearance from both the League and the Branch? If not, I cannot afford you to…"
I quickly shouted to intervene…
"No! Stop! That is the caravan that I was talking about! Give them the permission already!!!"
"Lady Astoria…? Are you sure about this! I am a sentryman, a gatekeeper of this city! My job is to keep the outsiders away…" he replied to me with sadness from his face.
"Are you a moron?! If you will not allow them to enter, this city will be engulfed into flames! What is the point of protecting these iron gates if the insides of the city are burned into crisp?!" I angrily shouted, a vain is about to appear in my temple.
Agh. I even gave him a reminder about this too.
Inside of a single and familiar wagon, I saw the troubled face of Cardamon, only to be exchanged with an expression of relief when he saw us.
"Ah! You three! Thank goodness, you are here! This hard-headed guard will not allow me to enter even if I have the literal solution for the flames here in this very caravan!"
I angrily turned to the sentryman.
"Look, we do not have time for this! Just let them enter for my sake okay?! I will hold responsible for any troubles afterwards."
"I do not know how to respond top all of this… I am the only one who guards the entrance and brother…I m-mean the Commander… even told me to never allow any outsiders to come so…" the sentryman said sadly.
I grabbed his shoulder helm and shook it back and forth.
"Do not be an idiot! Be reasonable about this! Just let them help us, I am begging you!"
"You beg this way, Tori?" Roy commented on my side.
Shut up!
"Ah…ah! I believe… that it will be reasonable if I receive a compensation after this."
"Yes! I will do anything afterwards!" I said boldly.
The sentryman stopped after hearing my words, then said in a monotone voice:
"Welcome to the city of Estocia, outsiders! Tis I, your humble sentry, at your service…hey!"
We did not have any more time to listen to his words so we just hopped into the wagon where Cardamon is riding. He signaled the other wagons on our back, then accelerated very quickly to the direction of the flames.
In total, Cardamon managed to bring five wagons with him.
I know that I only asked for some sort of assistance, but even I would be the first one to say that this is rather too much.
"T-Thank you for returning back just for our sake." I said to Cardamon, while feeling the vibrations of the wagon.
"Do not thank me yet!"
Not long after, we already arrived at the entrance of the plaza and Cardamon stopped the wagon. We got off of the vehicle that are still pulled by the familiar-looking oxen in the front. We wondered what taking Cardamon so long then suddenly, he shouted:
"Everyone! Prepare to give aid!"
Afterwards, we saw a numerous figures of people coming out of the five wagons.
Are these…the villagers of Mantleta?!
The people, who are great in numbers, proceeded to move out and opened the contents of the wagons to carry out a humongous water basin from each vehicle. All of them moved in a perfect sync, every gesture and movement results to an ease in carrying their objects.
"Well, well, this place became unbearably gloomy in my absence!"
While marveling the vision of this unity amongst the villagers, a rowdy and familiar voice spoke on our back.
"B-Boss! You arrived here as well?!" I shouted out of astonishment.
"But…what about that problem back in the village?" Roy asked curiously.
"Well, let us just say that I managed to get them on their good side. They cannot resist me after all since I am their Boss! Wahahaha!!!" the Boss laughed.
The Boss laughed merrily when Cardamon muttered on his side:
"You mean you begged them all to go with you by prostrating to all of them?"
"Hoi! Enough chatting and help these men in subjugating the fire! The rest, help the fallen Swordsfolk and secure them in the wagons for the time being!" growled by the now-serious Boss.
"Eeep! Yes, Boss! Hey everyone, you heard the Boss! You have a specific role to perform here so do your best by aiding these Swordsfolk and avoiding trouble!"
Cardamon ordered the villagers as he let them commit their responsibilities amidst the dire scenario. I saw the familiar faces of the villagers that I have grown to accustom with, and it made me feel emotional just by seeing them here.
Is that… Sir Alois?
"Hey, kid."
"Hm? Yes, Boss?"
"I give you my warmest and sincerest gratitude."
B-Boss…
"If you did not give me a push to confess to my villagers, I would not get into this scenario right now."
The Boss faced me with a warm smile painted in his entire face, then hugged me tightly short after.
"So…I take it that things went well in the village after we went back here?" I asked.
"Ahahaha. You are correct there. Come on, we have to help your folks!"
We managed to go back to the direction of the combat field, only to see the pile of defeated bodies, lying on the ground. The image of a bruised and battered body of the Commander also peeked our sight, as he gasps for air and tries his might to stand up yet again.
I cannot tell exactly where Nada is right now because of the steam and fog of the flames, but it took me some time to see my Pops- exhausted and kneeling on the ground with his Terrabuster on his right hand, acting as a support in his posture.
"Pops- no!" I shouted.
"Kid…? No! Do not go any closer! The Effese is lurking around this vicinity!" said by my Pops, who was clearly drained from the fight.
"My, oh my! You seem to be enjoying this, huh?"
Suddenly, as I was trying to advance forward to my Pops' direction only to be stopped by him, the Boss walked confidently with a voice of greeting from his tone. My Pops turned to the direction of the approaching Boss. He gasped shortly upon seeing his face, probably shocked in seeing an old-time and precious friend.
"Oh…you are here. Long time no see." he casually commented.
Huh…that is my Pops, alright.
It looked like the Boss approached my Pops so that he can assist him to stand up, but instead, he loudly smacked his head after hearing his insouciant remarks on their reunion.
"What was that about, huh?! We finally had a chance to meet and the first thing that you are going to say to your dear friend is this?! What is wrong with you?!" the Boss fumed.
This might be the first time that I saw him act like this.
"I mean, how would you react if you saw your friend again after being left behind by them?" my Pops seriously inquired right at his face.
The Boss was appalled when he heard those words coming from my Pops...
"Just kidding."
...Only to grow into happiness and buoyancy not long after.
"Ugh. You never change, do you, Samson?" he said as he assisted him in standing up.
Seeing them like this…it seems like there is no mistaking it: they were Myrmidons in the past.
My Pops and the Boss smiled at each other when a voice echoed amidst the reducing volume of the flames:
"…B-Boss? W-Why? You a-arrived here as well?"
The voice of the figure seemed to be in pain.
"Nada! My boy, enough of this! Whatever that you are felling right now, I know that it will be alright. Please, let us go back to your home!" the Boss shouted with distinct emotion.
The voice in the flames did not respond, but only cried sounds of discomfort and agony.
"My boy! Are you alright? What seems to be the matter?" the Boss called out yet again.
"RAAAAAAAGHHHHHHH!!!"
Everyone around the plaza became completely shocked to that roar that it almost sounded like a dark and unholy animal.
The figure, who was hiding from the dying flames, slowly showed itself unto us. It quivers as it walks while still voicing out its moans of pain and agony. It eventually showed its body- unbelievably lanky and pale, as it is slightly illuminated by the flames on its back. The said body in its entirety is quivering, as patches of emerging veins are clearly visible on its body. Its hair, now tinged with hoary-white, moved unnaturally together with the shivering movements of the figure. Its face is now devoid of any expression as both of its eyes became completely blank, as if to signify that there is nothing more to that whole figure. It was hollow and soulless. The unfathomable mark on its forehead ignited with an unnatural and malefic light that was fuming in a tinge of violet.
It faced us, trembling sickly and twistedly as if it just became an animated corpse.
"THIS! THIS WHAT I AM DESPISING ABOUT THE FOLK OF THE SWORDS!"
It spoke in a deranged manner, foaming with saliva as it opens its mouth.
"…AH! B-Betrayal is everywhere! First…my mother and father…and now…y-you?! T-The man that I treated as a…as a Hero?!!"
No…Nada…!
The figure was suddenly engulfed in a virulent aura of violet and it raged viciously around its body. Afterwards, it readied itself to strike with the aid of its dagger and charged swiftly…
"I-If that is the c-case…for the sake of the c-change for this society…! I SHALL TAKE YOUR LIFE!!!"
The possessed Nada went to the direction of my Pops and the Boss to perform its assault-
Oh no! Pops! Boss!
I quickly moved my body to their direction and ran as fast as I could. I silently begged my legs to act accordingly on my commandments because I need to save these two important people in my life. As I charged completely, I heard some collective shouts coming from the villagers:
"Oh no! Why did she come here! She should not be here!"
I ignored the voices and quite miraculously, I reached them first and hugged them tightly.
"Pops! Boss! Take cover, now!"
I closed my eyes in order to protect them since the baleful intent of the possessed child was already throbbing me on my back when-
SHLASH!
I felt a heavy force, hugging my back and at the same time, I heard a crisp sound that belonged to a metal. I opened my eyes to see what was touching me…
Then, in a slow manner, I slowly turned around, only to behold the horror in front of me...
"M-Maria…?"
Those were the only words that I managed to utter as I covered my quivering mouth with my hands.
I saw a huge volume of blood, splattered on the ground-like pavements of the plaza, alongside a mutilated hand.