Arshat Village was home to nearly a thousand people spread across three hundred households. By the time the three entered the village, it was already noon, and no passerby could be seen on the road.
They wandered about but surprisingly found no inns or taverns.
"Is this for real? Is everyone done with business?" Wesley grumbled.
"It seems we'll have to seek out a farmhouse to buy some food," Roderick said.
"You go; you're skilled at this sort of thing."
"You~~. Fine, who can blame me for my charisma?" Roderick consoled himself, then casually approached a house that appeared relatively intact. He stood at the door, trying to strike his most charming pose (here we go again), smiling as he pushed the door open.
The door swung open easily.
Sometimes, the doors of fate open with surprising ease. However, what spills forth may not always be a gentle stream; it could be a torrent that disrupts the tranquil flow of history.
On the seventeenth of October in the year 1076 of the continental calendar, Roderick, a third-rate wandering bard, opened the door to a farmhouse in the village of Arshat, on the borders of the Marquez Kingdom.
This day would later be known as the "Birth of Darkness."
The door opened.
Roderick smiled and called out, "Is anyone there?"
Silence greeted him inside the room, and no one answered. He leaned in to glance around, noticing the space was tidy and simple; while the furnishings weren't luxurious, the table, chairs, and dishes were neatly arranged. He muttered, "What's going on? No one here." He was about to step back when he noticed the curtain of the inner bedroom rustle, as if someone was inside.
Roderick raised his voice again, "Is anyone there?"
The curtain trembled even more.
Curiosity piqued, he approached the bedroom. As he reached the doorway, he saw the curtain still shaking and pulled it aside with a swift motion. There stood a woman cradling a child, trembling uncontrollably. Roderick examined her closely, noting she was not very old, perhaps around twenty-five or twenty-six, with delicate features and fair skin. Although her clothes were patched, she appeared clean and neat—a typical housewife. She continued to shake, clearly terrified.
Perplexed, Roderick assumed his most endearing (or perhaps overly flirtatious) demeanor, smiling, "What are you afraid of, miss…?"
Before he could finish, the woman shook even more violently, collapsing to the ground. With a shrill scream that sent chills through Roderick, she cried, "Help! Help me!"
Outside, Wesley and Charmion exchanged glances and quickly entered the room. They found a beautiful woman huddled on the floor with a child while Roderick stood by, bewildered.
Wesley seethed, "Roderick, what have you done to her?"
Roderick raised his hands in innocence, exclaiming, "By the great water god Wokfman, I swear I've done nothing!"
Just then, a commotion erupted outside as dozens of people rushed in, packing the room, with even more voices heard outside. They observed farmers with wooden sticks and hoes in hand. An older man stepped forward to help the woman, asking, "Aili, are you okay?"
Aili, still shaken, pointed at Roderick and his companions, trembling, "He… they…" Her words faltered, barely coherent.
The crowd erupted in outrage, glaring at Roderick and his friends, some angrily shouting, "Pervert!"
Upon hearing this, Wesley and Charmion glared at Roderick, who blushed with embarrassment, stammering, "I swear, I did nothing!"
With the villagers advancing, preparing to retaliate against these shameless intruders, Wesley stepped back and berated, "With so many farm families, why'd you pick this one with a helpless widow and child? Seriously."
Roderick protested, "How was I to know it would turn out like this?"
At that moment, another sound stirred outside. An arrogant, domineering voice boomed, "What are you doing here? Step aside!"
The trio had no idea who it was, but the crowd recoiled, some murmuring, "The vampire is back." The elder glanced at the three and suddenly asked, "Are you not sent by Zack?"
Roderick shook his head, "Who is Zack?"
The elder flushed with embarrassment, "Looks like I mistook you for someone else. My apologies." With that, he gestured to the crowd and stepped outside.
Aili, with the child, moved to follow, pausing by Roderick to whisper, "I'm so sorry." Seeing the remnants of tears on her cheeks and her delicate face resembling a pear blossom after a rain shower, Roderick felt a wave of sympathy wash over him. "It's alright, it's alright," he said repeatedly.
Aili cast a glance at Charmion and Wesley before leaving. The large room was left vacant, with only the three of them remaining. The sounds of conversation drifted in from outside, and as they exchanged glances, they also walked out of the house.
In the open space, hundreds of villagers stood, while thirty fully armed soldiers from the Marquez military formed a line in front of them. Leading the group was a well-dressed, portly man addressing the crowd: "You worthless peasants, always trying to evade taxes! I, Zack, have been favored by General Toran and appointed as 'Tax Collector.' Yet you dare oppose me, causing me endless trouble and complaints! Let me tell you, if you don't pay your taxes today, you'll see the might of the Marquez border army behind me. Those who refuse to pay will face the consequences!"
As he spoke, Zack's eyes fell on Aili, who was timidly standing at the edge of the crowd, clutching her child. A sly smile spread across his face as he approached her. "Aili, you still haven't paid your military tax from last month. I have generously extended the deadline, but it's time to pay up. If not, your little one here might just have to enlist."
Aili's face went white as she held her child close. Roderick and Wesley exchanged looks of shock, staring at the three-or-four-year-old child, speechless. The elder who had been speaking earlier, likely the village chief, stepped forward. "Zack, Aili's child is only three years old. Please let him go."
Zack rolled his eyes, replying with feigned sarcasm, "Old man Tewey, just because you're the village chief doesn't mean you can speak recklessly. The military tax regulations were decreed by General Toran himself—no matter the age, all boys must pay, or they'll be conscripted."
Tewey struggled to contain his anger, speaking meekly, "Zack, you know Aili's husband, Jeff, is also a soldier under General Toran, fighting for the Marquez Kingdom. Out of respect for this, can you grant just a few more days?"
Zack sneered, "Jeff, that self-important fellow? Don't think I don't know you've been writing to him. A month without a reply likely means he's already met his end on the battlefield."
Aili suddenly exclaimed, "You're lying! Jeff will be just fine!"
Zack laughed mockingly, "Your husband is merely a lowly squad leader, always rushing to the front lines as cannon fodder. If he isn't dead, who is?" With a swift motion of his hand, he disregarded Aili's tears, declaring, "Enough talk. Pay the tax now, or I'll take your child. But you know what? You look so pitiful. How about this: come to my house. With Jeff out of the picture, you can become my little lady, and I can help relieve you of your troubles. Ha ha ha…"
The soldiers behind Zack also broke into laughter, obviously accustomed to such scenarios. Roderick, Wesley, and Charmion exchanged incredulous glances, wondering how there could be so much filth in one human.
Among the villagers, a deathly silence fell. Accompanying Zack's mockery was Aili's heart-wrenching sobs, which stirred fear in the child. Seeing his mother cry drove him to tears as well.
Zack reached for Aili, who recoiled in fright, stepping back. Tewey moved forward, grabbing Zack's hand, pleading, "Zack, please…"
Before he could finish, Zack threw Tewey to the ground and growled, "Mind your own business." He then lunged for Aili.
In that moment, a young man rushed forward, helping Tewey up while shouting at Zack, "Do you have any humanity left?"
Zack's expression darkened as he recognized Tewey's son, Jim, ready to lash out when he saw the villagers moving forward, faces filled with anger. Realizing he was outnumbered, Zack retreated behind the soldiers, demanding, "What do you intend to do?"
Jim, filled with righteous fury, pointed at Aili. "Aili's husband fights for you, yet you come to oppress her and her child! A three-year-old boy, and you still demand military tax? Even with the combined earnings of our villagers, we can't pay the taxes you impose. Are you trying to destroy us?"
Zack's face twisted, "You little brat, are you trying to rebel?"
"Rebel? If we're rebelling, it's because you're forcing us!" Jim declared, and as soon as he spoke, supportive voices erupted from the crowd.
Zack staggered back a couple of steps, retreating behind the soldiers as he registered the villagers' rising anger, then sneered, "It seems you all have grown quite bold. But remember, those who oppose General Toran have no fortunate end. Do you recall the village of 'Cotton Farmers'? They had the audacity to defy him, and he sent a squadron of soldiers to wipe them out completely."
A chilling silence enveloped the villagers. Roderick and Wesley exchanged paled faces; Roderick inhaled deeply and muttered, "Massacre."
Wesley looked at the glinting swords the soldiers bore and whispered, "They kill civilians indiscriminately. Is there no sense of justice, no law?"
Only Charmion gazed impassively at the scene unfolding before him, remaining silent.
Seeing the villagers cowed into submission, Zack chuckled darkly, mocking, "Pathetic wretches." He gestured to two soldiers, signaling them to seize Aili.
With nowhere to run, Aili clutched her child tightly, sobbing uncontrollably, her cries striking at the hearts of those present. Roderick and Wesley, unable to bear the injustice any longer, prepared to charge in and rescue her when Charmion's voice cut through the chaos, cold and composed: "Do you truly believe you can take on those thirty soldiers?"
Both paused, taken aback, and Wesley snapped back, "Are you really going to stand by while this happens?"
Charmion replied indifferently, "Why should I help? They are of no relation to me."
Roderick, now furious, retorted, "Are you even human?"
Charmion remained unfazed as he stated, "I am very much human. Ha, you aspire to be heroes without considering the consequences—fools."
The two boiled with anger, ready to retaliate, when Charmion added, "Even if I were inclined to act, though those thirty soldiers would pose a problem, I doubt the circumstances would favor us. Did you not hear? If that general Toran sends four or five hundred men, what then?" He scoffed. "No matter how powerful a sorcerer may be, it's impossible to take on an entire squad of soldiers alone. What will happen to the villagers then—all slain for your reckless bravado?"
Roderick and Wesley stood, rendered speechless, their clenched fists relaxing involuntarily. Though Charmion's words were harsh, they rang with an undeniable truth.
This revelation was painfully difficult to accept.
Charmion turned away, murmuring softly, "Only those capable of saving themselves can truly find rescue."
Just then, the two soldiers successfully grabbed Aili, dragging her toward Zack. She struggled desperately, wailing, provoking tears among those who witnessed. The villagers could only watch this tragedy unfold, some elderly men and women unable to bear the sight, turning away.
As they reached halfway, during Aili's struggle, one soldier lost his grip, but she barely managed a few steps before being captured yet again. The remaining soldiers erupted into laughter, and in a moment of contempt, one soldier reached for the child, snarling, "Let's see how well you can run. Let's give the little brat a taste of the ground."
Aili gasped, tightening her embrace, while the soldier yanked the child, who cried out in pain. Aili sobbed, "Don't hurt him! I won't run away again! I promise!"
The soldiers laughed uproariously.
Suddenly, a figure sprang forth like an enraged lion, kicking the soldier aside, seizing Aili and her child. "You brutes!" he bellowed.
Everyone turned to see Jim, his eyes glistening with rage as he admonished, "We can no longer endure this. If they treat Aili this way today, it could be us tomorrow. If we don't resist, we will surely die at their hands. Let's fight!"
"Right, we can't let them off the hook!"
"Let's show them what we're made of…"
The long-restrained cries of the villagers erupted, and they surged forward, launching themselves into battle against the soldiers. Zack shouted angrily, "Kill them! Wipe out these scoundrels!"
The fight raged with fervor. The villagers, vastly outnumbering their opponents, surged forward. However, most were older folks and women, with only a handful of young men, and the soldiers were all seasoned fighters. They quickly formed a line of defense, swinging swords with precision. Despite their numbers, the villagers faced severe losses. Before long, many had sustained injuries, and agonized cries filled the air.
Roderick and Wesley joined the villagers from the beginning, as their iron weapons and agility marked them as key fighters. However, after some time, they sensed the tide was turning; seeing more villagers injured, Wesley shouted, "Deadwood, for heaven's sake, do something! You claim to be human! Hurry up, if you intervene, I'll forgive all of your debts—uh, no, half of your debts!"
Roderick dodged a soldier's sword thrust, retorting, "Are you seriously worried about that right now? This isn't the time to haggle!"
Before he could finish, the ground trembled beneath them. They watched in astonishment as Charmion formed a sigil with his hands and began muttering an incantation. The dark staff levitated before him, its white gem growing brighter until it was almost blinding.
Zack, pale with fear, recognized the threat. "Get that gray-robed fool!" he shouted.
The soldiers rushed at Charmion, while the villagers stood paralyzed, unsure of how to react. Only Jim responded quickly, leaping into action to help, but he was pulled back by Wesley.
Charmion shot an unyielding glance at the advancing soldiers and, with a tremor in his hands, entwined his fingers. His robes waved in an unseen wind.
The dark staff appeared to influence the surrounding power, tilting downward, its white gem aimed directly at the approaching soldiers, emitting a dazzling brilliance.
Then, Charmion roared, "Break!" In an instant, blinding white light emanated in a burst, resembling the explosion of a hundred suns. The villagers were momentarily blinded, unable to see anything, while cries of anguish arose as a large, frigid wave of power surged forth, chilling those nearby to their core.
After what felt like an eternity, vision slowly returned. As people regained their sight, they were met with a shocking scene: thirty soldiers lay splayed across the ground, blood pooling beneath them, severed limbs scattered everywhere. A chilling wind flowed through the area, enhancing the stench of blood and death; it was clear that none lived.
Roderick and Wesley were similarly ashen-faced. They had known Charmion was powerful, but they hadn't anticipated he could single-handedly eliminate thirty trained soldiers. This feat surpassed the limits of what any mortal sorcerer could achieve. They exchanged astonished glances with Charmion, who, unlike before when casting magic, appeared gray and lifeless, void of color, swaying as if he might collapse at any moment. Support was all he had from clutching the dark staff.
They rushed over to aid Charmion, and when they touched him, they felt an icy chill that was eerily reminiscent of death.
At that moment, Charmion could no longer hold himself upright. His legs buckled, and he sank to the ground, shutting his eyes. Roderick and Wesley were frantic, drenched in sweat, unsure of what to do. After a while, Charmion finally opened his eyes and glanced at them. With weakened resolve, he said, "I'm fine; just need a moment. Don't let that fat man escape."
The realization struck them, and Wesley shouted, "Where is that fat man?!"
The villagers, snapping back to reality, began searching around, but Zack was nowhere to be found. It appeared he had managed to escape. Moments later, the villagers cautiously approached the scene. None dared close the distance to the one who had displayed such terrifying power. They stood across from the thirty corpses, whispering amongst themselves, casting reverent glances at Charmion.
At last, it was Tewey, the village chief, who stepped forward. He maneuvered around the bodies and cautiously approached the trio. "Thank you, brave heroes, for coming to our aid. Our entire village is eternally grateful. Especially you, great sorcerer; your power surpasses anything we could have imagined. May we know your name?"
Charmion chuckled softly, muttering, "Great, great, so the synonym for madness and evil is now considered greatness."
Tewey paused, about to inquire what he meant when the sound of hooves caught their attention. Turning towards the village entrance, a troop of cavalry charged into view—over twenty riders, a small cavalry unit of the regular Marquez border army.
Despair spread like wildfire among the villagers. The cavalry were known for their formidable combat power, often twice as effective as infantry. Given the injuries already suffered, and with the evident exhaustion from the powerful sorcerer, there seemed to be no escaping this impending doom.
The cavalry rode up to the villagers, their gazes piercing and accusatory. Just then, Aili burst through the crowd, rushing towards the lead officer, clutching her child, desperately calling, "Is it you, Jeff? Have you returned?"
A stunned silence fell over everyone, watching as the cavalry dismounted. The lead officer, removing his helmet, strode forward and embraced Aili, calling out, "Aili, it's me! I'm back!" He showered her and her child with kisses, his emotions overwhelming him to the point of being choked up.