Chapter 51 Tieflings (Part Five)
In the "Ruined Home," Medrolash gathered all the Tiefling refugees.
Regardless of age or gender, or status high or low, as long as they were conscious, all Tiefling refugees were summoned to the camp square by him. It was their usual gathering place, also used for major announcements.
Medrolash first looked around, scanning the faces of his kin, thin, scarred, and tormented.
"I... didn't do anything wrong."
Medrolash murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.
Finally, he made up his mind and slowly raised his sword.
"My kin, I've had enough of this wandering life, of being hunted endlessly."
"Our Tiefling blood has already flowed too much."
"What we need is not to flee—"
"But revenge, an eye for an eye, blood for blood."
This Tiefling paladin, usually calm, spoke with passionate intensity, and a different gleam shone in his jet-black eyes.
Many Tieflings who knew him well found this hard to believe.
"From now on, we will join the Ember Nest."
"The great red dragon, the destroyer of the Eagle Guards, Lord Cassius the Flying Flame, will be our master, providing us shelter and leading us in revenge against those who persecuted us—the vampires and humans."
"We will reclaim Northwind Fortress, reclaim our homeland."
"Lord Cassius will lead us in creating a new, truly fair order."
As he spoke, there was an uproar, a continuous murmur of arguments and discussions.
Many Tieflings had lost loved ones in that tragedy; revenge had long been their only faith for survival, and now the fire in their hearts was ignited by Medrolash's words.
They raised their weapons high and cheered.
"Revenge!"
"Revenge! Revenge!"
"Take Northwind Fortress!"
"Cut off Duke Lackman's head!"
Yet there were also dissenting voices among them. Although many had been affected by the tragedy, they still believed in kindness and humanity, hoping to secure a place to live through peaceful means.
Such as Lerisha.
The young female Tiefling, filled with astonishment and anger, couldn't help but step forward to persuade:
"No, Medrolash, we must not become followers of the evil dragon."
"If we do this, how are we any different from that bloodsucking duke!"
Many Tieflings agreed, expressing verbal support or nodding in approval.
Yet Medrolash only looked at her.
"Lerisha, you didn't listen to what I said before."
That look made her feel strange, as though it held a sort of pity, or perhaps reluctance.
But at this moment, she didn't care. She was more concerned about arguing her point.
Lerisha shook her head repeatedly, arguing earnestly:
"No, Medrolash, you're wrong."
"Those humans were influenced by the duke's deception. We could tell them the truth, rally them to join us in peacefully resisting the duke's bloody rule; this is the right path."
"I've already contacted a group of righteous people from different places. But if we become the dragon's followers, all of that will be ruined, I..."
Her voice suddenly halted.
The sound of a sword piercing flesh rang out.
"Swish—"
Blood splattered across Lerisha's face.
Her beautiful lake-blue eyes, filled with disbelief, stared at the man before her who had driven his sword into her chest.
"Why…"
She seemed never to have expected such a thing to happen.
Medrolash's familiar jet-black eyes now looked so cold, so foreign, that it sent a chill down her spine.
Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see Medrolash's lips move slightly, and knowing lip-reading, she understood what he wanted to say.
—It was "I'm sorry" in Infernal.
Her frail body slowly fell.
Warm blood gushed out, dyeing the pure white snow red.
Medrolash drew his sword out decisively.
He knew the cunning red dragon was watching all of this in the shadows; this was his "pledge of allegiance," signifying that there was no turning back, only submission.
It was also a clear declaration to all those in the camp that the so-called "peace faction" would have no place here.
Lerisha wasn't wrong; she was just too naïve.
So naïve that she thought trust alone could erase all conflicts in the world, just like he once did. Now, this former knight of redemption had bloodstained hands.
"I'm sorry, Lerisha."
"This is just for our kin… to survive."
Blood on his face slowly trickled down as Medrolash thought to himself.
The surrounding Tieflings seemed stunned by this bloody scene; the air was thick with silence, and everyone was hushed.
No one dared speak anymore, even those Tieflings who had cried out for "revenge" fell silent.
"Lerisha colluded with foreign enemies, leaked information…"
"Punished according to military law."
Ignoring the blood on his face, Medrolash raised his bloodstained sword with a cold expression.
"Revenge!"
He repeated.
"Revenge! Revenge!"
"Take back Northwind Fortress! A blood sacrifice for our kin!"
This time, more Tieflings echoed his call, cheering in rhythm, though some of their expressions seemed less than natural.
Suddenly, a dragon's roar resounded from the sky.
"Roar—"
The red dragon descended slowly from the sky, standing on the tallest boulder, gazing down at the Tieflings below.
Medrolash turned and blended into the crowd at the right moment, saying no more.
Cassius spread his wings slowly, casting a vast shadow over everyone, filling the Tieflings with a powerful sense of oppression.
"I, Cassius, master of the Ember Nest, welcome your joining."
"I will grant you ample protection and support, bestow you with honor and strength, and help you establish a town here."
"And in return, you must become my eternal followers, fight for me, defeat the greedy eagle of the north wind, and capture the entire Northwind Fortress."
Medrolash stepped forward respectfully and said:
"This town will be born under your shelter; please grant it a name."
The golden pupils of the red dragon showed a hint of mockery:
"Since you're called devil's offspring, how about calling it 'Baator City'?"
Medrolash's expression remained unchanged, showing no anger at the insult, only calmly saying:
"Thank you for your grace."
Cassius narrowed his eyes, watching the calm and unperturbed Medrolash below, secretly thinking that this was indeed the person who had troubled the Lackman Family for over a decade.
A frightening person with an almost emotionless rationality.