Lucas followed the track, on the east. Following it, he could see clearly a towering guard point with a two guard on the top, looking at him, they frowned their eyes, as they saw someone running towards them, realizing it was only a kid. They rushed down as they saw the boy sweating down with an uneasy look on his face.
"What's happening?"
The Guard asked.
"A- my village- was attacked b-by a lot of m-man with armor and sword, they burnt the village and kill many villagers." Trembling, the two guards nodded to each other, while the other guard run towards the third floor of the guard point. Meanwhile the left behind guard who was with Lucas.
"What village?"
"T-th-the Miur!"
"F*ck… was another war will come?" The guard whispered under his breath as he recalled a past that he doesn't want to remember.
"Henry, did send the report letter!"
"Yes! I have. Those Aspen b*astard are going to pay big this time."
Through the bird, they send the message to the kingdom's castle contain the hostility of the Aspen kingdom, by sending a soldiers and destroy the one village that residing in the border of Artelia, which their movements are violating the contract of peace treaty.
But because of many process that must go through. Everything will be late for Lucas, few days later, Lucas was sent with other mercenaries and soldier of the kingdom, armed and prepared, as they reached the village, Muir. The village he used to see beautiful and lively, are reduced into dust, lifeless bodies still remain, while other men are digging on the ground, giving the people of Muir a funeral.
Lucas, ran off as he saw the horrifying scene once more. His direction where he ran at was an extremely most important place, where he was born and raised. The church, it was still standing, those soldiers didn't destroy the church fear of a divine punishment might come after them, but it didn't stop them, from violating the worshippers of the goddess.
When he arrived, tore black clothes, a rosaria, and blood in the crotch of the sisters who are newly to serve the goddess, was brutally sexual assault, led them to their end.
He knelt down, breaking down from the scene. He looked upon the church as he thought of praying to the goddess they are serving. Rising from the ground he approached the huge door of the church.
The familiar sound of the old antique door of the church as it pushed open. Lucas deliberately walked towards the straight path while at the end is the statue of the Goddess Militia. Kneeling down before the goddess statue, Lucas white hair was shone by the light of sun. The scenery was similar to the sight that worshippers witnesses when Lucas was given a blessing from the goddess itself.
"Goddess Militia. May their soul rest in your hands." He whispered, praying with all his heart, "Even, the soil devour their surface body, please accept them." He continued, while his both hand embracing each other.
From a distance, within the church. There was a dead body, he has a huge wound in his chest, clearly died from too much blood lost, his sword was besides his cold hands. Lucas glance at the sword.
***
"Yo, boy…?" The guard who was appointed to join the soldier and mercenaries, he saw Lucas with a sword on his hand, sheathed with a expressionless wear on his face.
"I see…" the man sighed, seeing that the boy, needed to accept the reality, even though it was painful, that almost no one could bear it. He glance at Lucas, waving his hand downwards and upwards, calling for him.
Lucas quickly approached him.
"Why, Did you call for me?"
The man, wrapped around his arm to the small frame of Lucas. He give him a warmth and pat on his back.
"Truly, sometimes it's difficult to lose something important to us, such as now for you. Even you wear a tough face, you're still a child in my eyes."
Lucas stayed silent as he feel the warmth the man giving to him. The sword on his hand loosen its grip as he place both of his hand to the man's shoulder.
"That's why… cry, I'll be with you." The man whispered onto Lucas ear.
Hearing it, Lucas felt more than a warmth, it was also a feeling of security, feeling safe within this man's arms. He then, let go the sword on his hand and then burst into tears, releasing every tears he had on his eyes until the corner of them become red.
After some time, Lucas had released all his tear to the man. He then, placed his hand to Lucas's head.
"If you desire revenge, you should join the Soldier, even becoming a footsoldier will do, you can get your revenge on them. But… Also, you can live inside the kingdom, I know someone from orphanage. I can send you there—"
But before the man could finish his sentence, Lucas looked at the man with a burning rage on his eyes, he wants revenge, he wanted to kill those people who destroy his home, and the people he loved and care to, Not leaving anything other than the destroyed village.
Lucas, was no hesitation to decide which path he wanted to take on and walk to, but there's still a doubt on the man, since it was a pure rage filled with desire to take revenge. He had know one person who had a similar desire, but they ended up getting killed on the battlefield, leaving their desire to the ground and be forgotten.
But knowing this, he knew that people like this is the one he cannot force to stop, rather than stopping them, he decided to push them, even death awaiting them, but even so there's still a hope that built up on him that this one, this child who was still 12 years old, he will be able to learn and nurture, than going directly and confront the enemies. He had hope to this child to become strong enough to face those enemy.
"I'll become a soldier and kill them." Lucas muttered under his breath, he looked down picking up the sword he had brought with him from the soldier who died in church.
"I wish you luck." The man respond to Lucas.
***
Year 239
It's been three years since the village Lucas was destroyed by the opposing kingdom, Aspen.
Lucas was sent to the kingdom to be trained as a soldier, he was learn from sword to every weapon that inside the training hall. Learning them caused his palm becoming rough, time to time, he swung, thrust, shoot, everything he could do to the weapons, he did even using it to a fight when someone tried to pick on him, until they are called for preparation as reinforcement to the battle field that had been raging on for 2 years.
Since the first attack of the Aspen, the kingdom kept quiet for a while, preparing many soldier they had and later they can use the attack on the Muir village as excuse to attack, but a year had passed, the preparation was complete. Everything was ready in a year, because of the time they spent train each man in the kingdom to support on the upcoming war while feeding them a sweet word and promised reward.
As the kingdom was tried to attack, the Aspen was already prepared for the attack of the kingdom, causing the all out war, sending a lot of soldier to dominate the battlefield. But the situation on the battle field was like a pull and push that it cause this prolonged war that kingdoms need to train even teenager to fight in the battlefield, and one of them was Lucas who had currently finished all his exercises and routine on his weapons and ready for his first upcoming war.
"Seems everyone is here." The captain in-charge Leon has come to gather up the trained soldier.
"You all know the reason why you guys had gather here, this time you all will have to bear the 'oath' rune to your bodies." Leon spoke firmly spreading his authority through his voice.
The Oath was a scared tradition, upheld across kingdoms and empires around the world. It wasn't just a collection of simple symbols inscribed on skin, but a binding promise, a vow that could not be broken. These marks were not mere decorations—they were pledges, promises of commitment, and in return, they will bestowed strength. The more stronger the feeling of the person, the greater power they gained from the runes etched into their skins.
After a few minutes of waiting, Lucas had summoned to the room where the rune write performed her craft, preparing to inscribe the scared symbols that would grant soldiers the strength they needed to face the danger of the war.
*Creak…*
Lucas gently pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of ink and magic. A woman stood in front of a wooden table, her hand moving cleverly as she prepared her tools—knives, ink, and a small collection of vibrant green crystals. The runes she would soon carve into Lucas's skin will hold the potential for him.
He tripped off his shirt, revealing his bare back, and took a seat in front of her. He had requested that the runes be placed on his back rather than his chest, for it was considered a grave dishonor to write the symbols oof power over one's heart—something that, to his knowledge, could offend the goddess Militia herself. He recalled the promise he made to the sisters who had raised him.
When the time comes for Lucas and he had to have a runes, they must be placed on his back away from the heart.
As Lucas sat, the woman glanced at him. Her appearance was calm and focused—her silver hair tied back in a neat braid, her pale blue eyes sharp with concentration. Despite the pressure of her job, there was a certain gentleness to her demeanor, an unspoken understanding of the oath that would soon pass between them.
"Are you ready?" she inquired, with her voice breaking through Lucas's thoughts.
Lucas nodded. "Yes."
"Then listen closely," she continued, with her tone solemn. "Before I begin, you must take the oath in while I was writing the runes. Your promise must be sincere, and only then will the runes hold their power."
Lucas's kept his silences and returned her a nod once again.
The woman placed a small, sharp knife In front of him, along with a bowl and several green magic crystals that shimmered with a beautiful light. She took the knife into her hand and shallowly made a cut on her palm. A few drops of blood fell into the bowl below, followed by the crushing of the crystals between her fingers, releasing a faint, glowing mist in the air.
"Now," she said, "take your oath while I was writing the runes on your back. Do not falter. If you do, the power will not be granted."
Lucas inhaled deeply, then closed his eyes, focusing on the words that he had been lingering in his mind for so long. He had to speak them aloud, to cement his vow. And though part of him knew that his words weren't entirely true, he trusted that the power of the oath would still work.
'I will kill those bastards who destroy my home,' he thought as the woman's hand moved on his back, the first stroke of the rune leaving a faint sting. 'I will avenge the lives lost… and protect my world.'
The second part of his oath—protecting my world—was his true promise. The first, about vengeance. Was born of pain and anger, emotions that sometimes felt like lies for him, but still, they are burned brightly within him. As the woman's hand continued their work. Lucas felt the weight of the oath settle into his chest, even if only half of it was true. The runes would bind him to the words, to the promise. Whether it was complete lies or not.
The woman worked in silence, her movement were precise and fluid as she traced the ancient symbols across his skin. As she finished the last rune, something unexpected happened. The markings began to glow with a bright, golden hue, bathing the room in a warm, almost blinding light.
For a moment, the woman was stunned and frozen on her feet, her eyes wide with surprise. She had written runes on a countless soldier, but never had she seen them glow so brightly, so purely. The radiance was almost otherworldly, a testament to something deep and true.
But, the light gradually faded, and the woman lowered her gaze to Lucas's back, now a two rune symbol had written and glowing on his back, though tinged with awe, she remained calm.
"You are truly committed," the only thing she can say about to Lucas. "The strength of your oath is unmatched. I have never seen a rune respond like this before… but it doesn't mean you are gonna be the strongest. Remember runes are like amplifier, it will only help you in a time you need it or if you can control it, you can use the power of rune anytime."
Lucas's eyes flickered open, his mind still clouded by the power of oath slowly surging through his whole body. The runes burned with an intense energy, but he didn't speak. Deep down, he knew there was a lie in his words, but the power of his desire—the dept of his anger and grief—was enough to make his lie become more even real. He was bound to the oath, and it would shape the course of his path.
Even as the woman spoke, Lucas could feel the connection between the promise and the power surging through him. Though the runes had been born from his pain and rage along with his desire, they would carry him forward. The oath was set and now there was no turning back.
Chapter 2: End