As night deepened, most villagers fell asleep. Alone in a secluded corner, Charmion sat, the chill of autumn creeping into his bones with the mountain breeze.
Footsteps echoed, and Roderick and Wesley, having discovered Charmion, approached and took a seat beside him.
Perhaps influenced by the earlier cremation ceremony, Roderick had also set aside his playful demeanor. He glanced at Charmion and remarked, "You've been wearing a sullen expression tonight. Well, I suppose you've always been a bit gloomy. What I mean to say is, if you feel responsible for the villagers who perished, there's no need for it; no one will blame you."
Charmion remained silent for a moment, gazing toward the flickering flames. "I haven't thought of it that way. If we are to fight for survival, it is simply the price we must pay."
Wesley sighed inwardly but retorted coldly, "See? He doesn't burden himself with such trivial things called responsibility."
Roderick shot him a glare, responding, "Then why didn't you voice your opinions before? You could have at least feigned concern."
"Hey, I just wanted to see if this fellow even had a heartbeat, but I've confirmed it; he's a cold-blooded creature."
"Bah, just you being obstinate."
As the familiar banter resumed between the two, Charmion remained quiet, lifting his gaze to the night sky, where countless stars twinkled against the dark expanse.
"Why don't you abandon me?" Charmion suddenly asked after what felt like a long silence. The bickering duo paused, turning to face him.
The dark staff emitted a gentle glow, illuminating Charmion's eyes, which shimmered with clarity. He continued, "Back in Chisu City, I found myself at a loss, having drawn the ire of the Marquez royal family, and I became the so-called demon slayer. Why do you still choose to stand by me?"
Roderick and Wesley exchanged looks, sensing something unusual about Charmion's tone this evening. Roderick tilted his head, pondering before responding, "Honestly, you were rather pitiable during that time. But, as we're friends, we can't just let you perish. A dashing and charming fellow like me, who's adored by all, especially the fairer sex, would never abandon you!"
Charmion and Wesley both felt a wave of exasperation at Roderick's self-congratulatory manner, and Wesley, sensing that Roderick was about to continue, quickly interjected, "Alright, alright. The truth is simple. First, the only reason I haven't abandoned you is because you still owe me money. Uh, Roderick, why are you looking at me like that? Second, I've long held disdain for the Marquez royal family, so I am inclined to oppose them. Just think about it—I was living my life as a thief, happily enjoying my freedom, when they decided to hunt me down and demand the money I had stolen—what a ridiculous situation.
Now why are you both looking at me like that? Thirdly, both Roderick and I know that you are not a demon, and we can guess that it's some corrupt powerful individuals in Chisu City who are playing tricks. I may not be a paragon of virtue, and I don't know what grudge you hold against them, but anyone who frames innocents must be a despicable person. Ultimately, I find you somewhat likable, at least not unpleasant; so I thought I'd save your life."
Upon hearing this, Charmion lowered his head and lapsed into silence. Roderick glanced at him with concern and quietly complained to Wesley, "Why do you have to say such things?"
Wesley shot back, "Were your earlier comments any more sensible?"
Roderick was about to offer a retort when Charmion spoke again, "What do you plan to do moving forward?"
Roderick and Wesley briefly paused in confusion before Wesley asked, "What do you mean by moving forward?"
Charmion raised his head, stating, "The current situation is that the hundreds of people in this village have openly rebelled, and we three have merely provided assistance from the sidelines. This is a point of no return. In truth, these villagers have only death or rebellion before them, but we do not share the same fate. We three are wanderers without a home—especially you two; the Marquez authorities likely remain unaware of your presence. So, it is not too late to withdraw."
The air grew heavy as a seemingly distant question emerged, laid bare before Roderick and Wesley.
"What are your thoughts?" Roderick asked, having pondered for a while without arriving at a conclusion.
Charmion's voice grew somber. "I have been grappling with this question, but I cannot reach a definitive answer can only share my thoughts on the situation. We have two paths before us: one is to flee, but that would only lead to the disappointment of the villagers. After the battle in Moonlight Valley, they have placed significant trust in us."
Wesley offered a bitter laugh. "They trust you; you didn't see how they looked at you when they came to ask questions this afternoon. Their eyes were all on you, not even glancing at me or Roderick."
Charmion remained silent for a moment before continuing, "The second path is to fight alongside the villagers. But you both must understand what that entails. This is no longer simply about standing against injustices; we would be opposing the entire Marquez Kingdom. If by some chance we avoid being crushed, our fight for survival will become a battle to overthrow the kingdom. You both saw the twenty-three villagers who died today. If we choose this path, many more will surely join us. And that will inevitably lead to war. The death toll could reach two thousand or even twenty thousand; we could even be looking at the prospect of fifty thousand more."
Charmion's voice turned hollow as he spoke, "Can we bear such consequences?"
A heavy silence enveloped the room; no one spoke.
After a long moment, Roderick broke the stillness, his tone uncharacteristically grave. "Charmion, I may not know as much about military strategy and warfare as you, but what I do know is this: the people who died today, along with those who might join us, are not fighting because of us three. They are fighting for themselves. Just as Jeff said, the reason for fighting is to ensure that those they love can live happy lives. I am aware of the death that war brings, as well as the power it can yield. I believe if you were in power, your rule would be far better than that of the current leaders."
Charmion remained silent as he turned to Wesley.
Wesley stared back at Charmion, and after a long pause, he nodded resolutely.
"So what you mean is…" Charmion's voice became unexpectedly hoarse.
"Overthrow the Marquez Kingdom!" Roderick replied softly.
"Overthrow the Marquez Kingdom!" Wesley echoed.
Charmion shut his eyes, taking a deep breath before gazing up at the vast, starry night sky.
"Overthrow the Marquez Kingdom!" he declared.
In the darkness, surrounded by starlight, the three figures stood closely together. At that moment, no one—neither they nor the world around them—could have predicted how the decision made on this night would alter their fates and the history of the entire continent.
***
As General Toran of Kerton City and his officers strategized on how to eliminate the rebels of Arshat Village, the situation unfolded in an unforeseen direction.
Following the Battle of Moonlight Valley, the surrounding villages initially reacted without much urgency. However, within just three days, violent tax protests erupted in various villages. When the long-oppressed populace finally glimpsed a ray of hope, the excitement and elation they felt were unfathomable to those in elevated positions like Toran.
In truth, Toran and the military leaders still viewed this as merely a village riot. When they dispatched an entire brigade of five thousand men to confront the rebels in Arshat Village, only to discover it was deserted, the enraged officers ordered the village to be set ablaze, reducing it to ashes. Meanwhile, the original villagers from Arshat began to appear in the surrounding villages.
These villagers recounted the events to everyone, proudly proclaiming the victory in Moonlight Valley. The impact of this proclamation was immense. Within a few days, Charmion found that the number of people willing to follow him—if those armed with hoes and sticks but filled with fervor could be called an army—had increased fivefold. Of course, during this time, some, like the earlier Arshat villagers, were still fearful of the rumored demon. However, Charmion, through Jeff and others, reassured them that this dark-robed man not only refrained from slaughtering innocents but had actually rescued them.
Furthermore, the "deeds" attributed to the demon had never been witnessed firsthand. Those were merely vicious fabrications propagated by the Marquez authorities. At this point, the villagers remembered how tax collector Zack would often concoct unfounded accusations against individuals to justify his actions and imprisonment. It became evident that anyone labeled a villain by the Marquez officials could very well be a good person instead. With this realization, their last lingering doubts dissipated. On the contrary, the aura of mystery surrounding Charmion, the re-emergence of the long-extinct dark sorcerer, along with the brilliant victory in Moonlight Valley (embellished by the flamboyant Roderick), transformed the dark-robed man into a perfectly embodied symbol of power and wisdom in their minds.
Despite this, few dared to approach him.
This remote mountainside had become a temporary encampment for the rebels. One day, Charmion summoned Jeff to the barracks to discuss the current situation.
Inside the hastily constructed tent, they observed new arrivals training under Jeff's cavalrymen, practicing battlefield strikes. Though they had little time for effective training, it was better than nothing.
After watching for a while, Charmion turned to Jeff with a smile and said, "From your ability to command your men and train the recruits, it's evident that you possess rare talent as a commander. How have you served so many years in the border army yet remain only a squad leader?"
Jeff sighed, "Though they call us the border army, the officers from top to bottom are predominantly from the mainland. Individuals like me, hailing from the border villages, are merely sent to the frontlines as cannon fodder."
Charmion offered a cold smile and patted him on the shoulder as a sign of sympathy.
Jeff continued, "My lord, the current situation indeed aligns closely with your previous predictions. What should we do next?"
Charming replied with a slight smile, "We shall lay siege to a city."
Jeff looked taken aback. "Lay siege?"
"Indeed. Currently, excluding the elderly, infirm, and wounded, we have approximately two thousand capable fighters—that is our foundational strength. Additionally, the numbers have been steadily increasing. While everyone has brought food from their respective villages, the harsh conditions will not sustain us for long. Moreover, we are severely lacking in weapons and equipment; we cannot truly engage in battle wielding nothing but hoes! In light of this, we must capture a city to secure our basic supplies. Lastly, we cannot overlook the morale of the villagers. They came seeking to escape the oppression of Marquez; if we continue to wait without action, they might very well lose hope.
Thus, we must seize the moment while the public sentiment is on our side and their spirits are high, allowing them to feel confident about our revolution and solidifying our foundation."
Jeff nodded in agreement. "This is true. But which city do you have in mind as our target?"
Charmion smiled. "While I've brushed up on the local geography recently, it pales in comparison to your decades of experience living here. Why not lend your insight? My suggestions are: first, the city should not be too large, with a garrison that cannot be too strong.
Otherwise, as with Kerton, we would be marching to our doom. Second, aim for a city that is further away from Kerton. Third, it should ideally be close to the Nasda Empire's border."
Jeff furrowed his brows, contemplating for a moment. Suddenly, his expression brightened, and he exclaimed, "I've got it! I know of a suitable city."
"Oh? Which one is it?"
"Jade Mountain City."