…
El could see their eyes reddening, glaring as if they wished to bore a hole into something. It wasn't surprising though; since both of them, along with other kids at that time, seemed to have a close-knit relationship with the people of the restaurant, particularly that woman whom El had caught reprimanding them during their first encounter, to sit while eating. He could feel the weight of their treasured relationship even from afar.
Yet, it had all been cruelly ripped apart.
From a distance, El recognized her. The woman who was bound to the pillar was that woman, Rima, a staff of the restaurant with the name Ran had mentioned before. She had died three days ago, but it appears, her body was deliberately preserved. El knew very well what happened to corpses after three days; her body should have shown signs of decay by now, with flies buzzing around. But there was nothing – no signs of rot, no swarming insects.
One other detail that gnawed at him was, among the twelve figures kneeling in the center, he spotted the old man he had encountered with 'the man' at the restaurant – whose name was Old Tigo. El wanted to ask the others about it, but he chose to keep his thoughts to himself after sensing the solemnity in the air.
He might not have been the most perceptive when it came to reading the atmosphere, as he realized his lack of common sense might as well have already offended others unintentionally. Yet, for this particular moment, El knew and understood undoubtedly that it was best to keep his mouth shut in this somber, grieving ambiance. Unlike before, when he had tried to lighten the mood by complimenting Ran, just as she had done explaining what's happened to that woman, Rima. And it created an awkward tension for the rest of their journey.
Now though, he felt sadness creeping in, a reflection of the emotions swirling around him – originated from all of them. Deep inside, he recognized that he was affected by all of their grief.
Yet, death had been a common occurrence in the village where he had lived before, with every three days, or maybe weeks, or if the villagers were unlucky, they went to have a funeral every day. Some had even resorted to cannibalism just to survive another day, which had made El wary of everyone around him in that village.
So, El assumed he was supposed to feel nothing.
But...
'But why?' El questioned himself.
Why did tears threaten to fall from his eyes? Perhaps it was the sheer number of people around him, overwhelming him with their collective sorrow – as if a heavy weight pressed against his chest.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly, determined not to let a single tear fall. It had been a mistake to cry in the restaurant that day. Not this time. He promised to his uncle already.
Meanwhile, all twenty-five members on that upper floor of the building, including El, watched in silence, with Sir Giles behind Ran – crossing his arms over his chest. The veins on his forehead and arms bulged, throbbing continuously.
On the other hand, one among them held an odd-looking device that El couldn't identify, as its purpose was a mystery to him.
And later, only then El knew that it was a camera, recording the somber scene that currently unfolding below – in the yard of the mayor's office.
"Sir Giles, what do you all want to do after this?" asked Ran with a shaky voice, without taking her sight away from the platform.
"You all kid should get back to the base once this is over. I'm sorry, but there is no leniency this time," Sir Giles replied to Ran's question sternly. On the other hand, Ran herself just kept silent, with no response, which made Sir Giles behind her back could only sigh ruefully.
As the mayor rose from his seat and approached the platform, the murmurs of the Mirthwater resident's front rows – gradually faded until no one dared to utter a single word anymore.
The mayor's name was Lucca Accard – Accard being the name of his family, granted by the emperor himself (1). It was said that he had once been a Commander in the Vanguards, earning high merit in the war against the Tribals. After unfortunately, being severely injured in that conflict, he had retired from his position and was subsequently appointed as the mayor of Mirthwater City by the emperor.
Even so, the residents of this city not only respected him but also feared him. He was widely known for his close connections with the royal family. Moreover, there was also another persistent rumor that he had also once served as a Keeper in the main Church of Origin, where the church was reputed among all residents of the empire for being fiercely protective of its members, even after they left their positions.
Mayor Lucca approached the execution ground step by step, eventually climbing up onto the platform. As he turned to face the twelve kneeling figures – those people, except for the owner of the restaurant – began to cry, pleading for his mercy.
"Please, Mayor Lucca. We didn't do anything…"
"Please… I have a family at home. I can't leave them like this."
"My mother, Mayor. My mother is in the hospital right now. She is sick… Please let me go…"
"We're innocent. We had nothing to do with what happened to that noble. Please… hic, hic, hic… please…"
"I have a fiancé, sir. Please… I will be married three months from now…"
"…"
"…"
"Silence!!!" one of the five guards present on the platform abruptly snapped at them, cutting off their incessant pleas for mercy. His loud voice made them flinch, trembling in fear. One of the waiters from the restaurant glared at the mayor, only to be struck on the head by the guard's long gun. Blood streamed from his wound, soaking the ground beneath him.
On the other hand, the other four guards stood in silence, their legs straight and arms holding their guns at the ready. They wore no expression on their faces, for the only thing that mattered to them as guards was obedience – nothing more, nothing less.
"You'll see this, Tigo. The innocent – had been implicated by your foolishness," the mayor suddenly said to the kneeling old man positioned in the middle of the group.
Old Tigo, his disheveled white hair framing a face and body marred by a multitude of wounds – from burns and blunt trauma – to lacerations inflicted by sharp weapons, now bore a sorrowful expression. He had endured severe torture before the execution, not like the others who were merely confined behind steel bars; yet their ultimate end would be equally tragic. From this moment on, their families would also be thrown to the underside.
With only three fingers remaining on his hands, Old Tigo then struggled to move his parched throat. Eventually, his dry lips parted, allowing a string of heavy words to escape. "Yes, it was indeed my fault. How terribly foolish I am, as I had underestimated your cruelty. You choose to side with their iniquity. How deep have you fallen, comrade?"
...
(1) In the Ryxhaton Empire, a last name was considered sacred and was forbidden for commoners to use unless formally granted by the emperor or the duke of the empire. Thus, last names were reserved only for the nobility or those of status, such as wealthy merchants or knights who had earned the right to a second name. So, it didn't matter if the commoners had to share the same or similar names among themselves.