In a dimly lit room, a small boy sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes fixed on the clock hanging on the wall.
The minute hand ticked steadily, and as it reached half past twelve, a sad expression crept across his face. He turned to his mother, who was tidying up in the corner, and asked, "Mother, when will father arrive?"
"He will come soon. You should go to sleep. Your father is a bit busy," his mother replied gently, her tone soothing but laced with the weariness of long days.
"No, I don't want to!" The boy's voice quivered as tears brimmed in his eyes. "Why is he so busy? He doesn't love me at all!" He cried out in grievance.
"It's not..Your father needs to take care of people."
"No, you are lying, he doesn't love me anymore.'
"Who said that?" His mother's words were interrupted as a fatherly figure stepped into the room, a warm smile breaking across his face like the dawn.
The boy's crying paused as he looked up, his heart swelling with a mix of relief and anger. He lunged at his father, throwing his small arms around the man's waist. "Father, you are so mean!"
"What can I do, kiddo?" the father chuckled, lifting his son and holding him close. "Being the Mayor is like this. You are the lord of the town, and everyone is like my children. If I don't work hard to take care of them, many would be lost."
"Why does a Mayor need to take care of so many things?" the boy pouted, still holding onto the fabric of his father's coat.
"Hahahha!" The man laughed heartily, ruffling his son's hair affectionately. "Once you become Lord, you will understand. There's a lot of responsibility, but it's worth it to see everyone safe and happy."
The boy looked up at his father, eyes wide with admiration, the sadness fading as he considered his father's words. "Will you teach me how to be a good Lord?"
"Of course, my boy. But first, you need your rest. Tomorrow is another day, and we'll face it together," the father replied, setting the boy back down gently.
With a reluctant sigh, the boy climbed back into bed, but a smile crept onto his face as he snuggled under the covers. "Okay, but you have to tell me stories about your work when you come back."
"Deal," the father said, his heart swelling with love as he left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
...…..
"Hey you…"
"Yes!"The man quivered a bit, waking up abruptly, and looked at his pals marching in gear.
"Why are you losing focus out here? Stay cautious."
The man nodded and looked around sharply while wondering why he remembered something from the past out of nowhere..
The sun hung low in the sky as the troops marched slowly and steadily along the riverbank, the rhythmic sound of boots splashing in shallow water harmonizing with the gentle rustling of leaves.
The day had been long, and the soldiers felt the weight of fatigue in their bones. After a strenuous journey, they decided to take a much-needed rest, gathering under the shade of a sprawling tree.
As a few soldiers stepped forward to quench their thirst from the cool river, they lifted their canteens to their lips, but as soon as the water touched their tongues, their bodies twitched violently. One by one, they collapsed into the dirt, their eyes wide with shock.
The chilling sight sent ripples of panic through the ranks, instantly alerting everyone. "Poison! It's poisoned!" a voice shouted from the rear, but before chaos could ensue, a figure emerged from the throng.
A white-haired man, clad in standard army attire, scanned the surroundings with keen, piercing eyes. His instincts honed from years of battle detected the impending danger.
"Stay alert!" he barked, his voice cutting through the tension. Just as he spoke, a grotesque pigmy hog monster, its eyes glinting with malice, lunged at them from the underbrush, teeth bared and claws slashing.
Without hesitation, the man drew his sword, the blade gleaming ominously in the fading light, and with a swift motion, he thrust it into the creature's side, piercing its hide and letting a furious squeal as it fell, thrashing on the ground before going still.
The sound of clashing metal erupted as the rest of the troop scrambled into action, a nonchalant fight breaking out.
Soldiers rushed to defend themselves against the onslaught of the pigmy hogs, which poured from the thicket like a wave of fury. The air thickened with the smell of sweat and blood, punctuated by the shouts of soldiers and the growls of beasts.
In the chaos, the white-haired man's eyes darted around, scanning for threats. Suddenly, he noticed the commander of the troops, struggling against a particularly large hog that had broken through their lines. The commander was pushed back, his footing slipping on the muddy ground as he fought to maintain his ground.
From the corner, his eyes caught a faint gleam of reflection and saw a dark-robed man aiming at the commander.
"Commander!" the white-haired man yelled, fear gripping his heart.
Without thinking, he rushed ahead, with adrenaline surging through him.
The ground emitted a crisp sound as stamp dent spread around, as he pushed the commander out of the way just as a glinting arrow whistled through the air.
In a split second, the arrow struck him in the left arm, piercing through flesh and muscle.
Pain shot through him like fire, but adrenaline blotted out the worst of it. He glanced down to see the sharp tip protruding from the other side, coated in a viscous, greenish poison that spread through his veins like ice.
"Stay back!" he shouted, pulling the arrow out with a grunt of pain, the jagged metal scraping against his skin. The moment it was free, he felt the poison's influence deepen, the decay accelerating within him.
Yet he couldn't afford to falter. He gritted his teeth, a cold determination settling in his bones as he turned to face the nearest pigmy hog, the fight not yet finished.
Rallying his strength, he fought through the waves of nausea threatening to overtake him. With his sword gripped tightly in his right hand, he charged into the fray, slicing through the creatures until a wave of darkness settled over him knocking him unconscious.