Lysandra had no clue about these folks. They might be terrorists, raiders, bandits, some hired goons, or some fancy private militia. Who cares? What mattered was that they were downright heartless murderers. And their game was tracking down wanderers like her.
It's because the mysterious Lord, who seemed to be the big shot in charge. All because of the things he pulled off.
If they caught her, it was game over. They might not end her life right there, but they would play dirty, using her as a bargaining chip, a pawn to squeeze whatever they wanted from her father or her community. They would make her life hell, torture her, and when they were done, they would finish her off whether slowly or instantly.
Just when she figured she'd endured more than enough of the gruesome scene, Lysandra overheard the ruthless Lord say, "Toss the body to the wild dogs or let a bunch of hungry zombies feast on it! Folks like him don't deserve a decent burial. Or else, you can hang him up with the rest at the town square as a little reminder to anyone thinking of rebelling against us. Remember to do this! I don't want to get my hands dirty with his blood."
The thought popped into her mind, is this how they treat their victims? Did they really hang the others at the town square? Damn those heartless bastards!
Her heart skipped a beat, shooting straight into her throat. Shiver ran through her, sending chills all the way down to her bones.
Gritting her teeth, she clenched her fist in seething anger. Fury consumed her like a raging wildfire, ignited by the unfolding injustice and brutality.
The Lord coldly issued another orders, "Alright, listen up. Time to put this city in order. We're clearing this city, and we're doing it my way. Sweep every corner, every damn building. Clear out the streets, any hiding spots. No room for rebellion. Anyone you find resisting, take them down, no mercy. Use whatever force necessary. We need this place under control, and we need it right away."
It seemed he commanded another ominous directives, outlining his ruthless instructions for asserting dominance over the city.
The first henchman asked, "What about the civilians, milord? Some might be innocent."
"Innocence or not, they're in our territory now," the Lord shot back dismissively. "Anyone who resists, make an example out of them and show these rebels we mean business. We can't afford any loose ends."
"And what about the buildings, milord? Should we leave them standing?" asked another henchman.
"Burn them if you have to!" He retorted coldly. "We're rebuilding this city from scratch, and I want nothing left that reminds them of their so-called freedom."
The Lord's orders echoed with ruthless efficiency, revealing a plan to quash any resistance and reshape the city according to his vision, no matter the cost.
Lysandra's gut twisted into knots as the reality of the brutality unfolded before her eyes. A wave of nausea rolled over her, and her fists clenched in frustration. Anguish mixed with rage, creating a storm of emotions within her. A lump lodged in her throat, making it hard to breathe as she witnessed the devastation wreaked by the Lord's orders.
She cursed under her breath, caught between a burning desire to fight back and the overwhelming realization of the powerlessness she felt in the face of such brutality. It was a bitter taste of reality that left her simmering with both rage and an unsettling sense of dread.
The need for vengeance burned in her chest, fueled by the injustice and heartlessness she couldn't bear. A deep breath did little to ease the turmoil within, and her clenched fists reflected the battle between despair and the fiery determination to make those responsible pay for their ruthless actions.
Lysandra watched as the henchmen sauntered off to follow their leader's commands. Fueled by curiosity, she cautiously crept a bit closer, intrigued by what was unfolding. The Lord, under the dim streetlight, finally lifted his hood, revealing his face to the dimly lit surroundings.
Her eyes widened in shock as she laid them on him. It was like coming face to face with the most devilishly handsome figure on Earth, and for a moment, she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. The unexpected revelation left her stunned, caught in a whirlwind of surprise and disbelief.
It seemed the Lord was always like a lone wolf, never revealing his face to anyone. He had this air of mystery around him, like he was carrying a whole bunch of secrets in that hood of his. It was as if he thrived on the mystery, leaving everyone curious but never satisfying that itch to know more about him. The dude was a walking puzzle, and no one had ever managed to crack it.
As Lysandra witnessed the Lord finally revealing himself, questions buzzed in her mind like an annoying mosquito.
Who was this mysterious dude?
What was he hiding beneath that mysterious hood?
How did he end up in such a powerful position?
It was like he was playing some kind of cosmic game of hide-and-seek, leaving her and probably everyone else wondering about the mystery he carried.
Lysandra observed from a distance as he vanished into the shadows, heading up the mountain. Luck must have been on her side; she had descended from the mountain just in time to avoid a chance encounter with him. It was a close call, and she couldn't help but feel relieved to have dodged a potentially harmful and terrible situation.
Feeling the safety of her surroundings, she strolled back to her house, taking cautious steps in the darkness. Coming to a stop in front of it, she made a predetermined signal sound. It was a soft but distinct series of three short knocks, followed by a brief pause, and then another set of two knocks. With the signal sound, a sort of secret code agreed upon within the family, she announced her return without uttering a word.
After what felt like a forever-long pause, a subtle stir could be sensed from within the courtyard. It was a movement, a sign that someone on the other side of the door had picked up on the familiar signal.
As the door creaked open, a strong hand shot out from the darkness inside, grabbing her swiftly.