Kingdom of Zuland, The South Border, Present day.
Roy wiped the sweat from his brow as the early day's sunlight burned his nape. He planted his spade in a pile of soil as he eyed the village graveyard. The thought of the townsfolk crawling out of the dirt with those ravenous crimson eyes sent a shrill down his spine.
"Rest up, Roy. You've been out here tending to the fallen long enough," said Waden. The man's features were better highlighted in the day, prior events had done little to diminish his robust stature. "That sister of yours needs looking after. You can't do that if you overwork yourself."
Roy shot him a wink. "I'm an energetic fellow, just as Lygia."
Waden simply nodded. "See to Anaria and get some rest."
"Understood," answered Roy, defeated. He left the small-fenced perimeter that made up the cemetery. With one final glance, he recalled another grim detail from the attack. A day after the attack, the undead that were killed a second time began to fade. Within hours of the first signs of decay, the bodies dissolved into nothing more than piles of ash. It was almost saddening to think of it; the idea that their bodies could no longer be returned to rest.
"Roy," called a voice.
"Y-yes?" he responded before realizing he was mere feet away from Xeto and Rebecca that appeared to taking refuge from the sudden heat within the shade cast by nearby buildings.
"Are you well?" asked Xeto, closing the gap between them.
He smiled. "Of course, lad. This whole ordeal has been a lot to take in is all. You?"
"I've spent years hunting demons, and I've seen more here than I have in my time as a knight. I thought I knew nearly everything…then this happens." He crossed his arms. "We'll find what or who is causing the dead to return. Even voicing it aloud sounds—"
"Ridicoolus?" finished Rebecca, though her speech was muffled as she stuffed handfuls of nuts and berries into her mouth. She was free of her blue cloak and long-sleeved tunic, no doubt because of the sudden heat. "These are really good." Upon swallowing, she took a bun off a nearby table and took a bite. Her smile quickly twisted into a frown. "This bread's stale."
Roy shrugged. "Sorry, lass, Hansel isn't known for it's prime meals. Even less now that Zuland has been taking our resources at least three times within a fortnight."
"What?" shot out Xeto.
"That's exactly what I've been meaning to speak of, lad." Roy paced in half-circles beside the duo. "For about a month—maybe more, Zuland soldiers have been forcing us to work in the coal mines up north. They say that if we want their protection, we'll now have to earn it." Roy saw a spark emerge in Xeto's eyes; one he had only seen a selected number of times growing up beside him.
"What a pathetic excuse," shouted Xeto, his face growing red in color. "Some protection." He spread out his arms. "Look around us, people dead and injured and Zuland is nowhere to be found."
Roy paused on the thought as he realized that no Zuland solider survived the attack. He sighed as a scenario played in his mind; one where the commander of the regiment here retaliated after accusing them of killing the men. "Gods damn it." He cleared his mind as he focused on his friend. "The mining trips are normally two or three days, the ones that were taken should be back today.
"That's good, is it not?" asked Rebecca.
"It would if they weren't accompanied by Raikal and his men."
"Raikal?" echoed Xeto.
"Commander Raikal is a hog's ass. He's done nothing but force the people to cruel labor and whips those who disobey." Roy rubbed his nape. "I detest violence, avoid it if I can, I was hoping you'd be able to aid us."
Tongue-in-cheek, Xeto shook his head. "There's no way to avoid violence in situations like this, Roy. Trust me."
Perhaps it was Anaria's kindness peaking, but Roy couldn't accept his friend's answer. There was always a way to fix problems without death, harder at times, but always. "Come now, Xeto. You can't be serious—there has to be a way to bargain."
"These types of men only bargain with blood. So, I say we give it to them, the faster they're dealt with the better we can continue with the demon attacks," continued Xeto through gritted teeth.
Roy blinked rapidly. Had he heard him correctly? When had Xeto become so…cold? Of course, his time as a knight must have hardened him a bit, but the friend he knew wouldn't be so quick to kill…would he?
The large kasaber and the blonde-haired prick walked towards them, a frown planted on both their faces.
"Commander Alcazar, I hope you've decided to return with us," said Kyone.
Xeto shook his head as he didn't bother to meet their eyes. "You can go, Commander. I have business to attend to."
"Do you now?" mocked Alzac before stepping in front of the kasaber. "Kyone, you can't simply let this stand."
Rebecca too now wore a frown as she grimaced. "So eager to follow orders now, Alzac?"
The sound of approaching horses and wooden wheels creaking broke the argument apart as the mining carriage rolled into the center.
Roy gulped as he saw the driver of the carriage; Raikal.
"Well well, what a surprise. It looks like we have some Loridians in my borders." The squared-jaw commander glared at every single passerby. "I don't like uninvited visitors in my lands, you'll answer to me or pay the consequences.