"What in the Saltros are your Gladius doing?" Brogan alongside the rest of the representatives burst into Dewi's office seething with rage.
"My Gladius? The Gladius were jointly hired by the council, I don't own any Gladius". Dewi stood up to meet Brogan unwilling to pushed back any further by the arrogant representative.
"Jointly hired? Ha, the only reason we hired those two was because you and the others kept pushing on." Brogan began sending spit flying into Dewi's face.
"And now some of the town's guard just reported to me that they brought down the entrance to the mines, the entrance to the mines! Ortiz!"
Brogan's hand slammed into the desk before him creating a crisp sound. His face seemed as though it would turn into a tomato at any given moment with his facial expressions reminding Dewi of the actors he had once seen at the theatre in the regions capital.
"Do you have any idea just how much it's going to cost to reopen the mines?! And even if we open the mines, do you realize how much time would have passed! Time we could have used to mine the gods be dammed-"
Brogan's rant was cut short as he and the others present heard some noise. The commotion seemed to grow with each passing second, the curiosity of the people present caused them to walk out of the office and out of the town hall.
The first thing the group took notice of, was the massive crowd who all had their attention focused on something.
The council did not have to wait long as the crowd parted for the spectacle that held their attention to appear before all.
The council members who laid eyes on the sight went numb with some having their jaws parted. Dewi began to tremble before muttering the words that inadvertently popped up in his mind.
"Iron devils", Dewi was quick to shut his mouth hoping the Gladius didn't hear him. In the midst of town were C-6-367 alongside C-7-401, with C-6-367 drenched in blood dragging the Centikathropod's corpse one handedly.
The sight was engraved in the minds of all who witnessed it. The two Gladius arrived before the Town council who all instinctively took a step back, C-6-367 ignored their actions and spoke up.
"Your request has been completed. This is the monster that was in the mines, the other half of it's body is still before the mines."
"Other half? you mean... mean to say this monstrosity isn't the entire creature, gods" Brogan stuttered as he heard the Gladius report, at this point he had forgotten all about what the two had done to the mine, with his mind completely occupied by the thoughts of the size of the creature.
The people around began to mutter amongst themselves when the heard the Gladius words, disbelief was their first emotion but it was soon replaced by joy. The miners were overjoyed that the would finally be able to return to work.
Some wanted to praise their saviours but came to an instinctual halt once they laid eyes on the Gladius. With the leading Gladius drenched in the creatures blood from head to toe, he didn't look like any of the heroes from the tales.
To them the Gladius looked more like the creatures that were said to wander the corrupted lands, forever trying to invade their lands.
Having reported their success, the two Gladius turned around and began their journey to leave the town of Kithrombe.
They had taken a few steps out of the crowd when the heard hurried footsteps and heavy breaths. "Thank you!" Doug had stepped out of the crowd shouting towards the two Gladius.
C-6-367 came to a halt and turned to look at Doug. Taking in the mans expressions C-6-367 saw joy. Joy... not sadness, not rage, not despair, not fear, not some complicated emotions but joy.
Pure joy, someone looked at him and felt joy. C-6-367 tried to remember the last time someone looked at him like that and realized, since he became a Gladius this was the first time.
Simply staring at Doug for a few seconds C-6-367 turned around and continued his journey out of the town.
"A thank you, I can count the number of times I've heard it on one hand. How about you?" Kayla questioned C-6-367 as they walked out of the town.
"This was my first" Kayla silently observed C-6-367 saying nothing more as the two continued their journey.
....
In a dark basement a boy sat on the cold hard floor. His hands and feet bound together.
The sole source of light in the basement, a torch, had it's flames reflected in his eyes. *creak* an old wooden door let out sounds as it was slowly opened.
Two men walked in with one holding a torch, and the other holding a wooden bowl. The man with the bowl walked away from his partner appearing before the boy and placing the bowl before him.
"Eat, trust me, you'll need it" the man spoke in a hoarse voice only to be met with silence as the boy continued to stare at him with a blank look.
"*Tsk* annoying brat". The man spoke before leaving the dark basement. Leaving the boy alone with the darkness.
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Saltros- He is the ancient god of horrors and the unending night, It was believed that unlike his brother who was in charge of dreams. He held domain over all nightmares in a realm so foul none dared call its true name in fear of evoking the horrors that laid within into the realm of the living.
Hence the realm was simply referred to by his name as well, Saltros.