"3 days passed since we departed for home. I still haven't seen any familiar sight."
Akuro evaluated as they rode by the dusty plains.
It took them a week to arrive at the dungeon.
It shouldn't take more than that to get back.
Unless...
They encounter an unexpected problem.
That is exactly what happened.
Halfway through their journey, they had to make a pit stop.
The leader ordered the carriages to be stopped.
The leader of the carriages was the one that brought the carriages as a reinforcement. The people he brought along were stringently cab drivers with no fighting skills.
A Valen took the initiative to ask.
[Hey, Why did you stop the carriages?]
Everyone was confused as to what was going on.
Akuro was already devoid of any expression, he calmly stood up and began.
[You said there would be no other stops on the way back? Why did you stop now? What is going on?]
His voice gradually gained a harsh emotion.
[We are in the middle of nowhere, monsters can attack us at any moment. We do not have the liberty to make a stop. And not to mention it's the middle of the night.]
[More than half of us just got massacred in there, do you want to relive that all over again, but this time with your life on the line?]
The carriage horseman looked annoyed after hearing what Akuro just said.
[Jeez kid, you act like this was your first ever raid. Calm down, the captain ordered us.]
[We probably just need to nourish the horses or something.]
[And besides, I can't go against the captain's order, so even if monsters were to attack, I would have no choice but to fight and risk my life!]
That said, he turned around and walked away while scratching the back of his head.
Why would a carriage driver be so loyal as to risk his life to protect people that are on the brink of death?
Akuro, taking mental notes so that he can improve his career as a Valen.
Another man walks up to Akuro from behind.
[The Captain has summoned you. Your presence is required]
Abruptly hearing a voice from behind Akuro was physically startled.
That man had to hold in his laughter.
"The captain summoned me? Why would he summon me?"
A thousand thoughts cross Akuro's mind.
"Oh no, am I gonna get expelled. Is this the end of me? Wait no, I survived this long, I can't back down now."
After looking at Akuro's distressed look, he asked
[You good, kid?]
[Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go]
Why did Akuro think that he was gonna get expelled?
He likely screwed up in the dungeon. Or presumably something else. We do not have a clear interpretation.
They both proceeded to head to another carriage where the Captain was sitting.
There were six other men there.
By the look of it, they all looked in great shape.
But Akuro on the other hand was swooning.
[Akuro, sit down!]
He sits down as the captain ordered.
[I brought you all together here because we don't have many people to guard the carriages. We have to tend to the horses and do some unexpected maintenance. So you all are on guard duty.]
Hearing this, Akuro exhales as if he just had a breath of fresh air.
"Oh, Thank God. Hooooooooooo. I really thought I was dead."
Akuro's morale was lifted back up quite a bit.
They all began to strategize the formations and techniques to look out for the enemy.
After 30 minutes, they got in their respective positions one at a time.
They were all armed, with whatever weapons and armor they had left.
Akuro and the others were really hoping that no monster would attack. Everyone looked really worried, terrified even.
But Akuro, he hoped for the best.
After carefully surveying the area Akuro concluded that currently, they are far away from the dominions of perilously powerful monsters.
Akuro calmed down.
After seeing the expressions of his comrades he decided to calm them down as well.
"Well, what better way to reassure the wounded of their safe-being by letting them hear it from the Captain himself?"
Akuro then proceeded to ask the captain,
[Hey, Captain, how far away are we from monster's territory?]
[Huh, good question but... I don't know!]
As soon as those words came out of Captain's mouth, Akuro's jaw dropped, he couldn't help but gawk at him in disbelief.
"Are...Are you kidding me? This guy... he's our captain? Not only can he not tell such a simple thing but he can't read the room either."
Voices from the people hit both of their ears.
They all were utterly dispirited; waiting for someone to come save them.
Some even started complaining vociferously while some groaned.
Others just thought of their family back home.
Witnessing this, the captain backed up a bit and yelled.
[UGH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. WE ARE OUTSIDE THE PERILOUS AREA.]
[Isn't that right, Akuro?]
Akuro snapped back to a more neutral stance and spoke while stuttering
[Huh?... Wut?... Ah yes, Ummm... I did a su-survey, so I think only w-weaker m-m-monsters are our sole concern.]
[Can you say that with unquestionable certainty?]
[N-No, It's just a hunch.]
Said Akuro while becoming ashamed and lowering his head. His voice diminished with each word.
[*slight chuckle* It's fine Akuro, we are almost done with the maintenance, we'll be back on the road in no time.]
Akuro's mood livens up along with the others. They might be able to make it back after all.
But then...
Abruptly...
They heard a deafening cry from the rear defense squad.
[THEY ARE HERE!!!!! THE CENTAURS!!!!! WE NEED MORE GUARDIANS AT THE REAR!!!]
....
....
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Even though everyone got acquainted with the fact that they are being attacked, every person remained civil.
This put the minds of the Guardians at peace.
Now they can defend with more ease.
"They will bring the centaurs to their knees."
They all strengthened their will and marched to battle.
Abruptly, the area was in a state of uproar.
Every healthy person was on the battlefront; to defend the wounded.
[There may be just a bunch of us, but our spirits... they should make up for our numbers.]
Akuro murmured as he looked at the fierce soldiers with pure admiration.
He stood fast in the rearmost position as he wasn't a good fighter; lacking physical skills and strength.
The Captain held his ground by standing in the most eminent position.
Akuro then recalls what the Captain said in the meeting.
"If a conflict initiates, Akuro, you have to get in a position from where you can help the maintenance squad and keep an eye on the battlefield. And remember, only fight... if... and ONLY... IF the worse happens."
[Alright, I should go help out with the maintenance.]
Akuro rushes over to help them in their tasks. Also while keeping a close eye on the battlefield.
After a while...
He went to check up on the battle.
Upon reaching, he couldn't believe his eyes.
What he saw there... the display of men being slaughtered mercilessly.
Those sights were burned into Akuro's memories.
This was even more horrible than the dungeon.
The men begged for their life, some stood back up even after being struck down multiple times.
The once confident and courageous Valens turned into a heap of corpses.
[The Captain. Where's the Captain?]
Akuro muttered to himself.
He dreadfully moved his head—in means to locate the Captain.
*clang* *clang*
Akuro turns toward the source of the sound.
After the mist settles down, he sees a man covered in blood. Fighting a group of centaurs.
As his face got somewhat more recognizable, Akuro instantly realized.
It was the Captain.
"Well, at least that's a relief. The Cap's alive. I expected no less from the Captain."
He made his way towards the Captain.
"I should go help him out."
He stopped midway to notice that a few of the centaurs had actually made it past him.
Once again, Akuro remembered the Captain's orders.
No matter what happens, our priority is to protect the wounded, even if it costs us our life.
Conflicted, Akuro decides to intercept the centaurs.
He was no match for them.
One of them quickly advanced towards Akuro.
Before Akuro could process what was going on, the centaur withdrew his sword and struck Akuro, which resulted in him being launched away from the battlefield.
Akuro looked down and saw a massive red wound that erupted blood like a volcano. It bent from his right abdomen to his left shoulder... like the arch of a bow...
[Is this it?...]
Chapter 2 Fin~