Tigreal's POV:
*Zemislav looked on his surroundings*
"This place, the Shadow Swamp was once part of Moonlit Forest. This land is so fertile that any crops would grow delightfully in these land."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*Zemislav looked on a dirty swamp*
"The swamp, it's water is crystal clear and many fresh water animals used to inhabit these waters."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
"Not just the water Inhabitants but also the Jeweltoise, the Lithowanderers, the crab, the Lizardmen and etc."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*Zemislav looks at the skies*
"The skies here, especially at night time, it's filled with countless of stars that made the skies as starry as any other."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*Zemislav focused his attention to the bright moon*
"The moonlight which the moon emitted, it's so beautiful which you, yourself wouldn't tired watching it."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
. . .
"My godfather, Miguel ( Made-up name ) used to tell me all those things, which soon been passed through their tribes and relayed by my father."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
"Godfather?"
- I wondered in my thoughts.
"A story of the land which was prosperous and blessed with nature of old, which was told from my godfather to generation."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*Zemislav smiles in a hearth-warming way*
"I wished..."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*while Zemislav looked towards the skies, he started to experience a hearth-warming sensation*
"I have witness it in my eyes, the former beauty of this land which was now devasted and suffering due to the Abyss."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*Tigreal listen despite being struck by disbelief*
*Zemislav still looking at the skies*
"Tigreal, this is the second place where the Abyss corroded. The Barren Lands is the first one."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*the moment when Zemislav finishes his sentence, he then faces Tigreal*
*a moment of silence*
"Oh yeah, I remembered! The Barren Lands were the first one that has been-"
- Tigreal said.
*Tigreal soon stopped as he saw his mentor grits in anger*
"Why it has to be this place? Why? WHY??"
- Mentor Zemislav mumbles in an annoyed tone.
. . .
The moment my mentor is busy describing on this land's former glory, I saw his expression.
*Zemislav's so mad*
*Zemislav even clenches his fist*
An expression with a mixture of sadness and anger.
. . .
*Tigreal remains quiet*
I, myself, couldn't utter a single word.
. . .
I couldn't even talk at all.
. . .
*Zemislav cut all the emotional thingy*
"So enough with those emotional thingy!"
- Mentor Zemislav brightens the mood.
*Zemislav laugh*
"Oh? A quick reminder to all, especially to the ones who have not yet entered in this place."
- Mentor Zemislav said in a cheerful manner.
"Don't try to go near the swamp, or... Hmm..."
- Mentor Zemislav warns in a childish way.
"If you want a painful death, go ahead and inhale those poisonous fumes over there."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*Zemislav's eye brows are moving up, and down*
"Do you want us to be dead, regiment Leader?"
- all regiment members reacted in a disappointed, and funny way.
*Zemislav then laugh*
"If so, then stick with me and don't try anything funny."
- Mentor Zemislav cheerfully said
*Zemislav's expression still childish*
"This place is filled with angered monsters because of the environment. If we're unfortunate, we might encounter an enraged Jeweltoise on our way which is a pain in the *ss to deal with."
- Mentor Zemislav cheerfully said.
"Understood?"
- Mentor Zemislav ask.
"Yes sir!"
- everyone replied.
"Alright everyone, let's continue walking."
- Mentor Zemislav smiles and walked.
"Again."
- Mentor Zemislav said in a disappointed, yet funny look.
. . .
*Zemislav and the second regiment continues to walk*
*armor clanging*
. . .
So, we venture again in this horrific land.
- - - 30 minutes till Midnight - - -
After half an hour of marching in this ominous place, we found a majestic structures ahead.
*all of them were looking at a unique structures*
I don't know what it actually looks like.
The architectural designs and it's carvings are....
A little bit strange than I have known.
*Zemislav faces his companions*
"Alright everyone, we've found the Sacrificial Altar of the Dark Elves."
- Mente Zemislav said.
Wait... that's a Sacrificial Altar?
"This place is... well I already told you all about it so.... Heheheheheh! *cough* Pardon me."
- Mentor Zemislav jokes.
"Anyway, let me get this straight...."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
"This place is where all young, and chosen Dark Elves were offered and sacrificed to the Abyssal Demons."
- Mentor Zemislav said in a calm tone.
*while Zemislav utters those words, everyone are startled*
"It has been practiced for many generations and countless of young and innocent dark elves were sacrificed during this process in here."
- Zemislav said.
*Zemislav's expression darkens*
"Just for the sole purpose of promised power from the Abyss which will be granted as long as they offer a sacrifice."
- Mentor Zemislav said as he grits his teeth.
*Zemislav's darken expression changes to normal*
"Anyway, if we're lucky enough to witness their gruesome practice at midnight, it'll be a great opportunity for us to slay some demons who'll appear in a ritual."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*after Zemislav finishes his sentence, Tigreal ask*
"Mentor Zemislav, I have something to ask and wanted to clarify something regarding this matter."
- I ask.
*Zemislav's all ears*
"Up ahead, away from the altar, why there's a cliff or something? Is that where they'll throw the chosen Dark elves to be sacrificed?"
- I ask.
*a moment of silence*
Mentor Zemislav gotten quiet somehow but it seems he's having a hard time answering it.
. . .
"Yes."
- Mentor Zemislav answered with no hesitation.
*Margarette jumps in to the topic*
"No way! They're thrown to the cliff? That's their way of sacrificing?"
- Mentor Margarette shockedly reacted.
"*silence*"
- Mentor Zemislav never said anything.
"Sir, how can you be so sure about it?"
- Sir Axel ( Made-up name ) ask with doubt.
"I... hate to explain all the details. It.... really disgust me."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
*all of them were surprised on Zemislav's response*
"If we're fortunate to witness it in our eyes just.... See it for your self."
- Mentor Zemislav said with disgust and sadness in his face.
. . .
*everyone saw Zemislav's expression is filled with extreme sadness and anger but none of them even tried to question regarding about him*
*they all remained quiet*
. . .
I don't know why but I started to doubt that, how did Mentor Zemislav able to witness the said gruesome ritual portrayed by the Dark Elves?
Did he lived here for so long that's why he can tell all the activities happened in this place?
*Tigreal looks at his mentor*
Mentor... how long have you been keeping these rebellious actions towards the Empire?
. . .
The Empire and the Elves have ended their relationship for so long, according to you and to Lumina City's teachings.
*Tigreal starting to doubt him*
When...?
And how you managed to hide this actions of yours, my mentor?
*while Tigreal's been wondering about Zemislav, his mentor just look at the skies*
"It seems it's almost midnight. We need to keep our eyes open and be prepared for my signal."
- Mentor Zemislav said.
"For now, we need to stay hidden in the bush and observe their actions. Is that clear, everyone?"
- Mentor Zemislav warns.
"Yes sir."
- all answered.
. . .
So, we waited for couple of minutes in this disgusting withered bush.
*ugh*
Gross.
- - 5 minutes before Midnight - -
Narrator's POV:
After all the patience and observation, they've finally been able to witness a bunch of dark elves heading towards the altar.
*footsteps are heard*
*Heldrick detected the Elf's presence and reported to Zemislav*
"Sir Zemislav, we've spotted a bunch of Dark Elves heading towards the Altar."
- Heldrick (Made-up name)
"It seems your informations which you used to tell earlier are all true. A bunch of dark Elves brought a young-looking Dark Elf maiden."
- Heldrick reported*
*Heldrick looked carefully at the maiden*
"I think, based on the height among the crowd, it seems she's around 18 years old."
- Sir Heldrick said.
*Heldrick seriously reported the informations regarding the Dark elves but suddenly, Zemislav burst to laugher in low tone*
*everyone including Heldrick start to wonder*
"It may be young-looking but believe me, that maiden is a lot more older than you think, Sir Heldrick."
- Zemislav laughs as he explains.
*Heldrick gone surprised*
"WHAT THE F****!"
- Sir Heldrick said in disbelief.
*Zemislav continues to laugh seeing Heldrick's surprised expression*
*while Zemislav's still laughing, Barry approached him*
"Sir Zemislav, aren't we going to make a move? It seems they are open for ambush and they're not aware of our presence."
- Barry ask for confirmation.
"No... Not yet, sir Barry. Please wait for my signal."
- Zemislav answered immediately.
*Barry stays low as he heard Zemislav's order*
Zemislav scanned his surroundings and the skies.
"We need to wait for now since they'll be performing an Abyssal Rites towards the sacrifice."
- Zemislav said while concentrating.
*Zemislav tried to synchronize with his surroundings*
*Zemislav meditates*
"Base on the environmental status in this place, it's still stable."
- Zemislav said
*Zemislav scratch his head slightly*
"Well, not really stable but once our designated target makes it's appearance, that is the rightful moment to mark unstable."
- Zemislav said.
*Zemislav laugh*
*a moment of silence*,
*Zemislav starts to sniff his surrounding*
"The stench of Abyss makes it's surrounding acts differently than what it used to be. It's stench is so foul that I wanna vomit..."
- Zemislav's expression gone darker.
*all his comrades were shocked*
. . .
*Zemislav looked on his companions*
"Well, since most of you can't smell it, hahahaha! I'm weird! Your clue will be environmental and animal behaviors."
- Zemislav said in a comical way.
*Zemislav look again on his surroundings*
"They'll react due to Corruption. Trust me. Hehehe!"
- Zemislav's said in a childish way.
*they gone quiet but still shocked*
"If you see some withered trees that are slowly swaying, and animals who are weakening and slowly dying, that means the abyssal corruption and it's ominous aura have emitted."
- Zemislav said in a serious way.
"Well, even slight ones makes everything here acts abnormally. Heheheheh! You can clearly tell, trust me folks."
- Zemislav explains and wink at end.
*Zemislav position himself, like some sort of an observer*
"So for now, even if the events are surely inhumane, please bear with it for a while, please."
- Zemislav said.
*all of them gone quiet and Zemislav continue watching from afar*
Zemislav shown them an unknown and intriguing ways of observation.
*all his companions are shocked*
Due to unique yet mysterious behavior shown by Zemislav, many have wondered.
"Sweetheart, we've been fighting alongside the battlefield ever since we are still rookie but judging your actions, it makes me wonder that..."
- Margarette said on her thoughts.
*Margarette looked her husband's back*
"How long have you gotten that far? Even a seasoned veteran, who spent five decades of experience doesn't have any ability to detect the slightest presence of the Abyss, unless you are blessed with a natural talent and ceaselessly honed it at a very young age."
- Margarette wondered on her thoughts.
. . .
Zemislav's wife, Margarette, is no exception.
. . .
*Margarette's still wondering of his husband's unique ability*
*meanwhile, Barry, who's just beside of Zemislav starts to wonder also*
"I've spent my life at the Lantis Mountains, where great corruption of the Abyss have dominated and suffered the lands but..."
- Barry wondered.
*Barry take a moment to look on Zemislav, toe to head*
"I never get able to completely detect the Abyss' presence at all. Even I lived in a place overwhelmed by the Abyss than him, I never get a chance to detect one."
- Barry wondered in his thoughts.
*Barry faces to the Altar but still stares wonderingly at Zemislav*
"Sir Zemislav, is that the reason why you are the only knight entitled as the Demon Hunter?"
- Barry wondered again in his thoughts.
. . .
Even Barry, who lives in the outskirts of the Lantis Mountain, could not believe of what's Zemislav's hidden ability.
. . .
*on the other hand, Tigreal who's just behind of his Mentor, he looks surprised and in awe of him*
"Wow... Mentor Zemislav is so awesome. I cannot believe that a simple keen of observation made him able to detect the presence of Abyss."
- Tigreal said in awe in his thoughts.
*Tigreal looked his mentor with awe*
"So, this is what an Artist and a Veteran of War looks like."
- Tigreal said in awe in his thoughts.
*Tigreal clenches his fist due to awe*
"I have to witness his feats no matter what. I have to remember every informations he said, it might greatly help me in the future."
- Tigreal said on his thoughts.
*while all of Zemislav's companions are wondering, on Zemislav's point of view, it seems kinda awkward to him*
*Zemislav gotten comfortable*
Zemislav's POV:
*sheesshh*
*uncomfortable sensation*
This made me look like I'm sort of a hideous demon myself.
*cringy laugh*
They must be wondering just now.
*shiver comically*
Who's human that's able to detect and smell any slightly presence or stench of the Abyss?
*Zemislav scratches his head*
*sigh*
Why do I have this strange kind of ability anyway?
. . .
*Zemislav gotten serious*
My father used to tell me that my mother had this kind of ability.
And my mother also, confessed to me about the same topic about their Ancestors.
. . .
My mother said that...
Every pregnant woman of a pure lineage of theirs, who are in a verge of giving birth, an unknown, black-cloaked creature appears right beside them.
No one knows the actual identity of the said creature.
. . .
Not even a single one?
*pft!*
WHAT ON EARTH ARE THEY SAYING???
Even an ant or a Bacteria wasn't able to know???
Like... WHAT THE F***??!!
*a moment of silence*
. . .
Many have said that it's probably the the aftermath of fear since all laboring woman are required to be put within a dark cave.
. . .
Oooh!
That's f*ck*ng scary.
. . .
When they are in a laboring process, an unworldly runes that glows in the dark appeared.
What a creep!
. . .
Why would they put the laboring woman to a dark cave?
Heh!
Who knows? It's their tradition anyway.
Heheheheheh!
. . .
*hmmmm*
My...
*sigh of disappoinment*
Mother did the same way as she gave birth of me though.
*Zemislav's face is disappointed, comically*
She told me about it, back when I was around the same age as my dear son Alucard.
*awkward smile*
*sigh*
Traditions must be practiced, huh?
. . .
Well, that's what makes every one unique by the way.
. . .