Читать книгу Story of Raidarian Peace - - Страница 5

The lady who worked at the tavern approached the table where two men were sitting.

“Rein, would you and your friend like something else to drink?” she asked.

“Absolutely, my dear. As soon as I finish this,” replied Rein, glancing at his glass.

“Alright, I’ll come back in a couple of minutes,” she said.

“Sure thing,” Rein responded with a smile.

Most of Rein’s armor was covered by a dark cloak. It was evident that underneath it were the remnants of the armor of a Reydarian warrior, or rather, what was left of it. A Reydarian sword was visible at his back. However, nothing revealed his status as an outcast from the empire more than the brand on his left cheek.

Surrounded by a motley crew, difficult to categorize as human based on their behavior, Rein took a large glass and emptied its contents as if it were a mere glass of water.

“Well… What do you think of my thrilling story, Ain?” Rein asked the local drunkard sitting across the table.

“Won-derful, Uh-huh,” Ain responded, hiccupping and almost passing out right before Rein’s eyes.

Ain was an ordinary drunkard who looked like an old man, but determining his exact age was challenging. Despite his absurd appearance and the overwhelming stench emanating from him, despite excessive indulgence in the local brew, he behaved extremely politely. He rarely interrupted and almost never allowed himself to be unruly. He always tried to speak politely with people and only behaved recklessly when he was so drunk that he couldn’t control his own body. Rein found it difficult to imagine how a person with such manners could end up living such a life, so he drew parallels with himself and pictured Ain closer to old age.

Outside, thunder rumbled, and the night was coming to an end. The local tavern where Rein and Ain were situated was located on a high, expansive slope between two large villages, just beyond the borders of Reydaria but still in close proximity.

“Wishing you sweet dreams, Ain,” Rein said to the snoring drunkard.

“Saul? So that’s your real name,” came a voice from the side. “The man sitting with you may not be in his right mind, but it doesn’t mean everyone here is the same.”

“You! Whatever you heard – this whole story is nonsense,” Rein replied anxiously.

“Well, I don’t think so. I saw you in action when you scattered that Reydarian convoy like puppies. I thought, ‘What drives you? Just a thirst for loot?’ Now I understand. You fought not just to sell the spoils from that battle – you wanted to reclaim your own. The sword and armor. Reydarian ones. You could buy them, but now, with the local traders, it could cost a small fortune.”

“I don’t know where or when you saw, but I’m sure that was someone else. And even if I were the person you describe, you understand that this person, as you put it, dismantling Reydarian convoys like puppies, would hardly want everyone to know about him. And I’m afraid to even imagine what he would do to someone who goes against him and starts spreading the word about who he is. I hope that’s clear?” Rein said menacingly.

“Ah-ha. Don’t worry, I have no reason to spill anything about anyone. And all this tough look of yours. Nothing more than an illusion. Yes, I’ve heard the whole story, and you should drink less and talk less if you want to remain unnoticed in these parts. Honestly, I could have kept quiet altogether if I pursued such selfish goals. So, your threats are at least silly and entirely inappropriate.”

Rein, quite intoxicated, looked down.

“Indeed,” Rein thought.

“Forgive me if I said anything threatening, and for having to hear all this… Sometimes, someone needs to vent. My life… My whole life – it’s not a life at all. Fate has prepared an extremely unpleasant path for me, and it continues to laugh at me.”

Rein sat down at the table next to this stranger.

“Where’s your friend then? Won’t there be threats coming his way?” the stranger said, smiling.

“What? No. Ain… he’s harmless. I’ve already told him these stories more than once. Every morning he doesn’t even remember who I am. It’s some kind of madness!”

“Hmm,” the stranger smiled.

“At least take off your hood,” said Rein. “It’s unclear, are you even human?”

“And if I’m not human, then what?”

“I usually have a bad experience dealing with non-humans… And if you’re some kind of elf or even a force, which I strongly doubt, then I think I have nothing to worry about. In such places, they don’t tolerate elves and the like, so if anything, no one will believe you, which seems like a pretty good outcome to me.”

The stranger removed the hood and said, “Well, my name is Iziro.”

“You have a shaved head. And the name… You’re from the great mountains! Mountain monk. Are you one of them?”

“Yes, you could say that. But I was born in the capital of Raidaria and was once a warrior, far from the mountains.”

“So you’re one of us? A Raidarian. That explains your build. For a moment, I thought all those warriors from the mountains were like that. It’s even scary.”

“Haha, we’re not warriors, just defenders of our territories,” replied Iziro. “And you, I understand, think it’s all about how big you are? Right?”

“Excuse me, but size does matter. However strange or banal it may sound.”

“Although there are indeed tall and sturdy monks in the place I come from, most monks in the villages of Oi are much smaller than you – and they wouldn’t let you land a hit on them, let alone kill them. A big but slow warrior like you would be simply helpless against them.”

“And why, if they’re so strong and fast, does the Raidarians’ empire exist and not the empire of those bald mountain villagers?”

Iziro’s emotions changed slightly.

“At some point, if you’re not lucky to encounter an even stronger warrior on your path, you’ll understand.”

“You mean defeats in battles?”

“No! I mean endless victories,” Iziro replied sadly.

“And how?”

Rein didn’t have time to finish speaking when two Raidarian warriors entered the tavern. Iziro and Rein almost instantly pulled up their hoods. Everyone in the tavern, except for the arriving warriors, hid. All conversations abruptly ceased. Almost complete silence fell.

One of the warriors stepped forward, removed his helmet, and, looking around, began to loudly express his intentions in a commanding tone:

“Attention, please! We have information that people involved in the theft of the empire’s property may be in this area. Thieves,” he emphasized the word, “may or may have been in this tavern or nearby. We demand that anyone who knows anything about their whereabouts report it.”

After a short pause, the warrior continued:

“As besides everything else, gold has been stolen. For your assistance, you will be rewarded with this same gold. One to one for the amount stolen. We are not interested in your gold or your establishment; we only need the heads of the thieves. If you attempt to aid these thieves in any way, following foolish bravery, if it can be called that, you will be rewarded with death. And yes… fleeing from here is pointless! The tavern is surrounded – every entrance and exit is under our control.”

Two warriors began to inspect the tavern and its patrons. After some time, one of those sitting near the trio stood up and said:

“Here they are! It’s them you’re talking about. I heard… I heard everything. And he… he’s not an ordinary person, and the sword on his back is not ordinary. He’s a warrior just like you, only he’s been exiled.”

The gaze of everyone present turned towards the trio: Rein, Iziro, and Ainom.

“You! Stand up and turn around!” exclaimed the warrior.

Rein stood up and walked away from the table. Then, facing away from the warriors, he lowered his head and drew the sword from behind his back, placing its blade on the floor. He put his hand on the table and looked at Iziro and Ainom. Iziro continued to sit, and Ainom kept snoring.

“Even poor Ainom, you decided to involve. Well. We’ll talk about you later,” said Rein to the wandering traveler.

“My name is Acres, and I swear,” the traveler continued. “He said he can’t stand the empire for exiling him, and he will avenge it, no matter the cost. You can do whatever you want with us, but please spare at least my companion – Mirie. I beg you, be merciful, great warriors of the Raidarian Empire.”

“You and your companion have nothing to worry about,” replied the warrior. “As I said, you’re not of interest to us. You will receive your reward once we deal with these bold and shameful thieves.”

Rein snarled. He was extremely angry with this greedy and deceitful individual. Rarely did he want to kill someone so badly.

“Well, it seems that we can’t avoid a battle, right?” Rein said, looking at Iziro.

“Battles can always be avoided!” replied Iziro.

“Dying without accomplishing anything?” Rein asked.

“Silence, exile!” said the younger warrior.

“Traitor, who has so shamefully disgraced his name that even the right to a dignified death has been denied. Indeed, probably frustrating. But no matter… I will grant you that right. Even though you don’t deserve it,” declared the senior warrior.

Rein took off his hood but didn’t turn to face the warrior. The warrior approached Rein, drawing his sword from behind his back. When the warrior reached a close distance to Rein, everything fell silent. Not even the slightest whisper could be heard. Even the weather outside the tavern’s windows calmed. The warrior swung his sword to decapitate the traitor of his people and empire. However, at the moment the warrior’s sword approached Rein’s neck, Rein began to bend down, gripping the hilt of his sword with his hands for a counterstrike. The warrior’s sword passed so close to Rein’s head that it trimmed a part of his hair. Meanwhile, Rein’s sword was already moving upward towards the warrior’s head at a considerable speed, and the warrior had nothing to do but recoil in horror, moving backward away from Rein’s sword. As a result, the sword’s edge cut through the warrior’s armor along his entire torso, starting from the groin and ending on the warrior’s face, splitting his face into two almost equal parts.

“The problem is, I’m not just an ordinary traitor, but at least a trained one,” said Rein.

After that, Rein looked at the second warrior, who stood closer to the entrance of the tavern.

Although the warrior wore a helmet, it was evident that he was surprised and quite disoriented. Integrated into the armor of this warrior was a miniature arrow-firing device attached to a part of the armor on his forearm. This device resembled a rapid-fire crossbow without the usual stretched bowstring. The device only activated the bolt, housed in a casing, while the arrow’s tension occurred directly within the casing.

The warrior aimed the crossbow at Rein and fired several shots in succession, but Rein simply shielded himself with his hand, and all the arrows stuck in his armor.

“Don’t you know that arrows can’t penetrate Reinwood armor?” Rein asked the warrior in amazement. “You have one yourself. But a sword, if swung hard enough, can!”

After these words, Rein immediately, with a swing, forcefully threw his sword in the direction of the warrior, and then ran towards him. The warrior easily blocked the sword with his hand, and the sword didn’t even leave a dent on his armor. However, Rein, at a high speed, collided with the warrior, knocking him down and pummeling him on the helmet with great force.

While Rein was attempting to break through the helmet of the warrior he was fighting, another warrior emerged from the kitchen area. Without much hesitation, after seeing what was happening, this warrior moved to assist his comrade. But Acres, who had surrendered Rein, seemed to be waiting for this. As soon as the battle unfolded, he instantly positioned himself at the entrance to the kitchen, awaiting whatever might happen. Finally, the moment arrived. As the warrior barely started to move towards Rein, Acres followed behind him. And as soon as the warrior drew his sword to strike Rein, Acres stealthily stabbed a dagger into the gap between the warrior’s helmet and chest plate, precisely entering the warrior’s neck. The enraged warrior turned around and began swinging his sword towards Acres, but being agile enough, Acres evaded and retreated until the warrior, bleeding, simply fell from the loss of strength.

Rein, as if unaware of what was happening behind him, was consumed by rage and anger. When the warrior he was beating stopped offering serious resistance, Rein removed his helmet and continued relentlessly pounding him in this fit of fury. He clearly didn’t want to simply disable the warrior – his goal was the warrior’s death. Rein kept striking and striking, almost pulverizing. The face of the warrior less and less resembled a face, gradually turning into a beaten mess. After some time, Rein finally grew tired and slowed down. Then he saw before him the aftermath of what he had done. It was just an ordinary Raidarian youth who became a warrior. He was only following orders and nothing more. Realizing this, Rein understood what he had become. He felt repulsed by himself once again, contemplating what had happened, envisioning what actions could have prevented this.

Judging by himself, he knew that for a true Raidarian warrior, death was preferable to a life after defeat. He also understood that he couldn’t let any of them go, as they would then tell about him, complicating his life significantly. In the end, he convinced himself that it was unavoidable, and he did what he had to do.

Rein stood up from the fallen young warrior, lowered his head, and stood silently for some time. Then he quietly said, “You fought like true warriors. For a warrior, it’s an honor to die in battle.”

Iziro approached Rein, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said, “My friend, you have serious problems. Luck has once again eluded you! And over time, the problems that will follow you because of this will inevitably become more significant.”

Iziro removed his hand from Rein’s shoulder and walked towards the exit.

“You’re disappointed, aren’t you?” Rein said to him.

Iziro stopped in front of the tavern’s entrance but, after a second, opened the tavern door. He was blinded by the rays of the rising sun. He shielded his eyes from the incoming sunlight with his hand, walked out, then closed the door, gently slamming it shut.

Unexpectedly, a voice rang out, “Is it already dawn?”

It was the old man, Ainom. He nonchalantly walked past the fallen Raidarian warriors, the astonished patrons of the tavern, and its staff, as well as past Rein. Then, he stepped outside, leaving the tavern door open.

“Good morning, Ainom,” Rein whispered to himself.

After that, anger suddenly gripped Rein again. He surveyed the tavern and asked the present with a stern expression, “Where is this Acres? Where did he and his Miri vanish to?”

However, there was nothing but a prolonged silence in response. Rein slightly calmed down and continued, “If anyone happened to see where they went, please inform me!”

Then, breathing heavily, Rein headed towards the exit. The closer he approached, the stronger the rays blinded him. When he stepped outside, he immediately realized that he needed some time alone. He walked towards the slope, which offered a decent view of the sunrise and the lands not yet captured by the Raidarian legions. When he reached the spot, he abruptly collapsed, sitting on the grass and began to breathe rapidly, gazing at the ground. Fear enveloped him. Then, he lifted his gaze slightly higher to look at the scenery from the slope. Small hills, forests, fields, and the village where life was beginning to stir with the dawn were blanketed by the morning rays, reflecting off the ubiquitous morning dew.

Rein, contemplating this wondrous scene, pondered and realized the meaning behind Iziro’s words. After spending some time there, he returned to the tavern’s horse stable. Rein untied his horse, a rather unusual one. Aside from a playful spot on its side, it had strange curly fur and a quite thick mane. Mounting it, Rein headed towards the nearest village located atop the slope.

Approaching the village, he noticed a sign on a wooden post in the form of a wooden plaque with the carved text: “Village of Afles,” followed by the continuation, “Land of His Majesty King of the Last Kingdoms, Great Alex Ford.” The text concluded with the Ford family coat of arms – a winged giant harpy, shielded by a blue shield.

People began to cross Rein’s path, hastily leaving the village. Moving closer to the village center, he saw some commotion. He hurried to avoid drawing too much attention and walked with his horse, holding its reins.

People who were clearly disturbed by some event caught his eye more and more frequently.

“Easy, boy,” suddenly whinnied his horse.

“Hey, calm down, friend. I’m uneasy too. We’ll find out what’s going on here. Maybe it’s not as bad as it seems,” Rein said to his horse, stroking its cheek.

Meanwhile, from the village center came a voice:

“I remind you that any information about the Raidarian forces, such as their location or strength, provided to us – knights of His Majesty’s army – will be rewarded with thirty gold coins. It’s a substantial reward. We are also recruiting for His Majesty’s regular army with a monthly salary of fifty gold coins.”

These were King Ford’s people – his knights, his well-armed and trained elite guard. Riding on horses, five individuals with broad and dense metal shields on their backs came into view. They didn’t wear heavy and thick armor since, in most cases, it was simply impractical for them. Only shoulders, forearms, sides at waist level, groin, shins, and faces were protected by metal. This was necessary to perfectly combine acceptable protection with the agility and nimbleness that knights trained almost from birth. The main part of their attire was made of toughened leather from the thick-skinned bears roaming these forests. Their heads were covered with hoods made of this leather, while their faces were concealed behind a metal mask designed to intimidate the opponent. Handles of blades peeked out from sheaths attached to their belts. Special lightweight, ergonomic swords, resembling daggers. One of the five knights had a long bow instead of a shield on his back.

The village’s chief officer spoke to the people, distinguished only by a special mask on his face and specific patches on the lower part of the shoulders, indicating the warrior’s rank.

“It seems we don’t belong here, my friend,” Rein whispered.

Rein began to turn around with his horse amidst the crowd. One of the officers noticed this and swiftly rode towards Rein. He pushed through the people, unsheathed his sword, and aimed it at Rein’s neck from behind.

“You!” he said. “Show your face!”

Without turning, but only slightly tilting his head, Rein replied, “And why should I turn?”

“Don’t get insolent!” the knight retorted. “Do you know who you’re talking to?”

The knight’s entourage began to surround Rein. Standing in place, Rein glanced around. To his left, an archer and an officer; to his right, the chief officer and another knight, all gripping the hilts of their sheathed swords except for the archer who was readying his bow and arrow. Rein envisioned the likely outcome of the situation, and it appeared unfavorable.

“Well, alright,” Rein said as the archer drew his bowstring. “I don’t want any trouble. I just came here in search of work.”

“What do you have behind your back?” asked the officer holding the sword to Rein’s throat.

Approaching from the front, the chief officer said, “Answer when a knight asks you something, or you’ll lose your head.”

Rein smoothly raised his hand and lifted the hood behind his head.

“You’ve caught me! It’s a sword. A Raidarian one. From Reinia.”

“So, you’re an exile?!” suddenly exclaimed the chief officer. “Well… An enemy of the empire is our friend. Bern, lower your sword!”

“But, sir,” objected Officer Bern, “he’s a Raidarian. He could be sent as a spy.”

“Enough of your objections! If the Raidarians brand their criminals like this, it’s worse than death for the criminal. Such a mark on his neck is eternal shame for a Raidarian. Lower your bow, Rich. He has clearly done something very bad to our enemies,” explained the chief officer. “You were looking for work, Raidarian – you’ll get it!”

“And what kind of work is this?” asked Rein.

“We need people for reconnaissance, but the locals seem to fear the raidarians more than anyone else. We need to scout the area near our borders. Ride as fast as you can in the direction of Aeris. If you reach our land borders and don’t notice anything unusual – meaning no raidarians on our lands – then return. But if you find something, return and report. Upon completion, you’ll receive twenty gold. Clear?”

“Clear,” replied Rain, “but why twenty? You promised them thirty.”

“Prove your loyalty, and next time it will be thirty gold,” said the chief officer.

“What if I refuse or change my mind about going to the border along the way?”

“Good question! If you refuse, my guys will have the pleasure of doing whatever they want with you.”

Rain felt uneasy at those words.

“Since I’m assigning you to the reconnaissance of a crucial path for us,” continued the chief officer, “you’ll go with Bern. You’ve already met him. If you turn back early, he’ll finish you. Trust me, he’s our champion in killing the likes of you.”

“What a tempting offer,” Rain said with a smirk. “In that case, it seems I have no choice. I agree.”

“Excellent! You’ll set out soon,” declared the chief officer.

“And one more thing… Can I ask?” Rain said.

“I’m listening,” the chief officer replied.

“Why all this? It wasn’t like this before. What’s happening here, anyway?”

“Don’t you really know?” the officer laughed. “We’ve received information that the empire is preparing a full-scale invasion for complete occupation. These beasts want to march through our land, putting village after village through the meat grinder. They want to take our lands and milk us like cattle.”

“Do you want to be put through a meat grinder?” the chief officer asked the people of the village loudly. “Do you want to be milked like cattle? If you don’t, then join the regular army or hurry away from the village towards Rinfoll. May the spirits of our ancestors and God help us.”

“Let’s go!” Officer Bern said somewhat discontentedly. “We’ll move along the Aisos River towards Aeris, parallel to the main trade route. I’ll give the signal. When everyone goes, you go too. I’ll be behind you.”

While most of the village residents and passing travelers hurriedly moved towards the village of Rosi, Rain, the knight watching him, and some others moved to the edge of the village towards the forest in the direction of the Aisos River.

“Leave the horse here,” said Bern.

“With him, I’ll definitely have a better chance of delivering the report to your commander,” Rain replied, objecting.

“No one will be upset if you don’t deliver it,” Bern replied with a smile. “But if you go there on horseback, you’ll attract more attention and might get ahead of the main wave, or even disappear from my sight and escape. So tie the horse there or leave it right here – makes no difference to me.”

Rain tied the horse to the nearest post. Then he followed Bern again. When they arrived, Rain saw a wide formation of villagers on both sides of him.

“If what your commander said is true, then we shouldn’t be here,” Rain said. “They won’t be able to return if the legions are already on the way. Maybe we won’t either.”

Rain was deeply saddened by what he saw and realized.

“Is the great raidarian afraid?” Bern asked. “Either way, you have no choice, you’ve already understood.”

Rain silently looked at Bern, then turned his gaze to the forest.

“Someone has to do it,” Bern said.

“Lucky if even one returns,” Rain said.

“That’s why there are so many of us.”

Bern looked up.

“Burning arrow! Let’s go.”

“Well, let’s go,” Rain replied to Officer Bern.

“You go – I’m behind you, haven’t forgotten?”

“Yes, yes…”

Rain walked ahead into the depths of the forest with people who had recently become scouts. When the first wave of people set off, a very small part of them stayed behind. Rain understood that they would follow a bit later but a little further away. The entire reconnaissance plan became clear to Rain as daylight. These people, along with Rain’s personal guard, would be responsible for conveying information about the reconnaissance. Those who went ahead were only meant to distract attention.

The further the scouts ventured into the forest, the more they spread out, moving away from each other. When Rain had gone far enough, he looked back and saw a small, almost imperceptible silhouette in the distance – it was Bern. The people behind kept their distance from those in front as much as possible to avoid losing sight of each other. The scouts continued walking, occasionally bumping into each other and then separating again. The terrain gradually became more mountainous. In such conditions, those in front could hardly remain visible to those behind all the time, but closing the distance was too dangerous. Therefore, those walking behind literally followed in the footsteps of those in front. Rain walked almost without breaks. He realized that this job was hardly worth those twenty gold, especially considering it felt like a one-way road. However, this expedition helped him distract himself from thoughts about what his current life had become. So, as much as he wanted to turn around and give this knight named Bern a beating, he kept on walking.

At some point, when Rain was almost exhausted, one of the scouts came across him again. It was a boy about fifteen years old, with unevenly cut hair, dressed in village rags. This time, the boy dared to ask Rain a question.

– You’re a Raiderian, aren’t you?

– What? – Rein responded.

– Well, you’ve got that hefty sword on your back, and you look stronger than people I knew before.

– Raiderian! – Rein replied. – That’s what they usually call us.

– Well, yes, yes…

– I used to be one, and now… maybe. Now I’m not sure I can still call myself that.

– Why?

– See the mark on my cheek? The tribunals branded me before they expelled me.

– What are the tribunals?

– They are warriors… who punish other warriors for their transgressions. Like royal knights or executioners? Something in between, – Rein explained.

– It’s funny, we’re out here looking for Raiderians who want to attack us and kill, and here I am walking with almost one of them. You could easily be mistaken for one of them.

– I don’t want to attack you. You don’t need to be afraid.

– Yes, I understood right away that you’re on our side, especially when I saw you in the village. But it’s so strange…

– I’m not on your side, – Rein objected.

– Then why are you with us?

– But I’m not on their side either. I’m for no one! I just need money.

– For no one? For money? In the empire, did you do something for money, and that’s why they expelled you? – the boy asked, getting angry.

– No, I wasn’t expelled for that, – Rein replied. – As for money… Sometimes people do things to survive in this world.

– My mother and father were killed for money, – the boy said. – I don’t understand why people are so obsessed with it. If you want, you can live peacefully without it.

– I would never kill someone for money, if that comforts you. Only to avoid being killed or to protect those who can’t defend themselves.

– And now? Aren’t you going into battle with us, killing for money?

– You’re incredibly naive! If we’re going somewhere now, it’s only towards death.

– I’m going into battle, not towards death! And if you’re going to death, I’m completely confused because I don’t understand how you’re planning to get your money then.

These words reminded Rein of the true reason for this expedition, so the boy’s words seemed to infuriate him.

– I definitely have a better chance of facing them in battle than you do, – Rein declared. – Honestly, I don’t understand why they sent a child here.

– I’m not a child! I’m going to fight Raiderians! Children don’t do that! Besides, you’re not much older than me!

– They’ll just kill you… – Rein objected. – If you want to survive this day, turn around and run to your family or friends, if you still have any. What awaits us there won’t be a battle; it’ll be a slaughter!

– Everyone says Raiderians are terrifying and bloodthirsty, scaring children as if they can’t be defeated at all, but knights defeat them. I know people have won battles against them long ago. And here you are. You don’t seem that invincible. I don’t want to be afraid. I believe I can defeat a Raiderian in a fair fight. Maybe there are none of them there at all. We’re just going to check if they are there. Maybe we’ll even reach Aeris.

– Listen, – said Rein. – I’m serious! There’s nothing for you to do here. You won’t beat an imperial warrior. Even the weakest of them are significantly more trained than you. They start training them practically from childhood to kill. Not to mention that they are stronger than you and not clad in rags. You’re too dreamy! Run while you still can, otherwise you and your grandmother might not survive the war that’s about to begin. Once you reach the village, just find everyone who wants to live and convince them to head towards the great mountains. War definitely won’t reach there. And then you’ll have a chance to live a long and happy life.

– I believe in myself! And our knights won’t abandon those in need. My grandmother has already headed towards the nearest bastions near Rinfoll. Thank you for your concern, but I’m not weak or a coward to just turn around like that.

– Fine. Stop. I need to rest. I’m tired of walking.

– I told you Raiderians aren’t all-powerful! – the boy said with a smirk. – Unlike you, I’m not even tired, even though I’ve been walking all day. The sun hasn’t even set yet.

– We might not be all-powerful, – Rein replied, – but you stand no chance against a Raiderian.

– Listen… I get it. You’re just scared! You want to run away, but as long as I’m here, you hesitate.

– I’m not hesitating. I just don’t want you to be killed just like that. After all, I’m sure you have something to live for!

– You’re not the first Raiderian warrior I’ve seen, – the boy said. – Their scouts have visited our villages before, roamed through our forests. Once I saw a knight kill one of your Raiderians. As I said, I definitely have a chance. And I want to take advantage of it. It’ll toughen me up; I’ll become stronger – and someday, I’ll avenge my parents.

– Alright. I’ve rested, – Rein said abruptly.

– Finally, – the boy replied and went ahead.

– Stop! – Rein said. – You won’t go any further.

– What? Why? – the boy asked in surprise.

– I won’t let you! If you can’t defeat me, then you certainly won’t handle an entire Raiderian legion on your own.

– What? I won’t fight alone. I’m not the only one who went into the woods for reconnaissance! Besides, there are others with me, and knights are following us.

– Don’t you understand? As soon as we encounter the Raiderians, everyone will scatter immediately – those who can, and the knights – they’ll run first!

– No. They’re knights. They can’t just abandon everyone.

– How naive you are if you really think so, – Rein replied.

– Fine, I’ll just go; you won’t be able to stop me anyway, – the boy said.

Seeing that the boy just continued walking, Rein followed him slowly and stopped him, grabbing him by the shoulder.

– Let go! – the boy exclaimed angrily.

– Fine… If you want to fight a Raiderian, fight me!

Rein clenched his fist and struck the boy in the face with half force, breaking his nose and causing him to fall.

– Well, how about now? Had enough?

The boy was genuinely angered. He stood up, clenched his fists, and in response to his own roar, he struck Rein in the face with all his strength. However, Rein just turned his face, not even flinching. The boy then hit him once more in the body and twice in the face. After that, Rein, unperturbed, wiped his nose and said:

– So, have you finally understood?

The boy got even angrier, turned around, grabbed a stone lying by a tree, and with an apologetic look towards Rein, he ran at him, holding the stone tightly. The boy intended to hit Rein in the face again, hoping that the stone would make it more painful. But as soon as the boy approached a close distance for the strike and swung, Rein grabbed him by the hand holding the stone and by the shoulder with his other hand. Stepping slightly to the side and making a swift move, Rein effortlessly threw the boy to the ground. As the boy lay there, his face was now covered in tears.

– You wanted to fight so badly! – Rein said. – Come on, I’m waiting! Why are you lying down?

The boy, even more enraged, picked up a broken stick lying under him and ran towards Rein, aiming the sharp end at him. However, Rein simply took the boy by the wrist holding the stick and squeezed so hard that the boy couldn’t hold it anymore. The stick fell, and the boy began to cry. With his free hand, he started hitting Rein in the face. He struck Rein about ten times before Rein finally hit him back. Since Rein struck the boy below the belt, he fell to the ground, stopped crying, and almost stopped making any sounds at all, curling up into a ball.

– I’m sorry, I had to do this to show you how it really is, not in your fantasies. If you don’t go back on your own, I’ll have to forcefully take you away from here.

Meanwhile, a sound was heard from behind.

– Well, you’ve made quite a spectacle here.

– Bern… Can’t say I’m thrilled to see you either, – Rein said.

– Mutual feeling! When I saw some commotion here, I tied my horse not far away and approached to observe you a bit. It was entertaining, but as I told you: “Move forward, or I’ll finish you.” And I wasn’t the only one who said that. You remember, right?

– Yes, I remember… but I’m not going where you directed me anymore.

– You’ve come almost to Raiderian lands… And now… you’ve decided to turn back because of this boy?

– I just want to get him out of here. I want to save whoever I can! And if you decide to get in my way, I’ll push you aside.

This statement offended Bern and elicited laughter from him, but he understood Rein’s desire to save the boy, even though it surprised him.

– You were clearly told what to do and what would happen. You gave your word! Now I just have to fulfill it, and I’ll take care of this boy, for what it’s worth. But if you think you have any chance against me, you’re clearly delusional! I hope you’ll face your death with dignity! – Bern said, playfully drawing his sword from its sheath.

Bern unsheathed his sword, holding it in his hand with a reverse grip. Changing the expression on his face, he assumed a combat stance. Reyn was curious about what to expect from this knight in battle. However, with little time to spare, Reyn made a leap and struck with his sword first.

Due to the smaller size of Bern’s sword, which was only a few inches longer than his forearm and narrower than his wrist, he couldn’t effectively block Reyn’s powerful strike. Bern employed a special combat technique, guiding the opponent’s sword along the edge of his own blade as if the enemy’s sword were sliding off. At the same time, he moved slightly to the side, deflecting or, more accurately, evading the direct blows of opponents stronger than him. This was how he deflected Reyn’s swift overhead strike.

As Bern was not encumbered by heavy armor and wielded a sword that weighed almost as much as he did, the knights of the Last Kingdoms were known for honing their combat skills to perfection over many years, increasing the speed of their execution. Almost instantly after deflecting Reyn’s strike, Bern changed the position of the sword in his hand, gripping it conventionally, and swiftly ran the blade along the gap in Reyn’s armor on the side.

Only the fact that Reyn instinctively tightened the gap in his armor due to the pain saved him from death. After this wound, Reyn had to place his left hand on the bleeding injury and wield his sword with only one hand, also using a reverse grip. Bern almost immediately unleashed a barrage of new strikes upon Reyn.

Bern changed grips between his strikes so quickly that it seemed as if he were merely showing off. All of this happened almost instantly. So fast that Reyn could only block the blows with the flat of his sword instead of counterattacking. Although at the moment Reyn thought that both his sword and armor were only slowing him down, the extensive blade of Reyn’s sword saved his life blow after blow from Bern. Each new strike from Bern pushed Reyn down to his knees.

At some point, Bern hesitated for a moment, and Reyn caught him off guard. With one hand, Reyn turned his sword and swung it from left to right, piercing the horizon with the tip. As Reyn’s concentration momentarily weakened, he saw small metal knives flying towards him. He managed to deflect some with his sword, but some got stuck in his armor. Finally, Reyn was able to stand up from his kneeling position and release the still-bleeding wound.

The guy whom Reyn had dealt with quite thoroughly caught Reyn’s eye. Still recovering from Reyn’s blows, he breathed heavily and silently watched the battle, leaning against a tree. Reyn turned his gaze back to Bern and said:

“You’re fast…”

“And you’re still alive,” replied Bern, “but only because I allow it. I was curious to see what you were made of, considering how confident you were. I am a knight of an order that has existed for over a millennium. Your people weren’t even on the world map, and the order had already been around for many years. But at some point, you appeared – arrogants who decided to rule the world on your own. Because of you, we had to embark on a quest for truths that would allow us to stand against you. Because of you, our order had to evolve. Because of beings like you, I am who I am. The one who fulfills his purpose over and over, killing raidarians like you. Do you know what number you are? One hundred! I thought that God would reward me with someone special for my efforts, but I’ve seen enough, once again confirming that miracles don’t exist. And now, answer me! After what you’ve seen, do you still hope to defeat me?”

“I couldn’t care less about you and your order,” said Reyn. “I’m just waiting for you to do something instead of running your mouth.”

“Interesting…” replied Bern, once again assuming a combat stance.

This time, Reyn, holding his sword with both hands, simply stood, lowering the blade to the ground, forcing Bern to initiate the attack. This time, Reyn decided to fight by countering, deflecting Bern’s slashing strikes. Bern understood that trying to break through his solid defense would be too foolish, so after another strike, he quickly somersaulted away. Coming out of the roll, he tried to pierce Reyn from the side again, but this time, Reyn managed to block the attack with a wooden plate strapped to his left forearm. At the same time, as he stood up, Bern drew a knife from his waist with his left hand and, with a sharp turn, tried to thrust the knife directly into Reyn’s neck.

Reyn had to release his sword to quickly block this attack with the armor on his right arm. In the process, the sword fell, embedding itself in the ground. Reyn’s hand barely reached the knife before it could pierce his neck, gripping it so tightly that Bern couldn’t pull his knife back. Then Reyn noticed his hand, which was bleeding from holding the knife blade. More precisely, he noticed the glove. At that moment, he deeply regretted not stealing a raidarian armor with gloves that protected the back of the hand. Bern was greatly surprised that Reyn somehow managed to escape what would normally be a deadly blow. While Bern was in a state of strong surprise, Reyn was already lifting his leg for a kick, managing to deliver a powerful blow to Bern’s torso and throwing him backward. The impact was so strong that Bern couldn’t stay on his feet and fell, but he quickly got up without losing composure.

Reyn imagined the expression on Bern’s face hidden behind the mask, which probably resembled a surprised lamb. Reyn only wanted to break the distance with a kick to gain a little more time against such a skilled killer. But Reyn didn’t have much time, considering that he had been wounded several times and was bleeding. At that moment, Bern roared, as if not expecting to have to fight for so long.

Bern tensed his muscles, gripping his sword with all his might. He took a short breath and exhaled. Then, with a slight toss of his sword into the air, he pulled out another object from under a strap on his chest, resembling a small throwing knife. Like lightning, Bern hurled this knife-like object towards Reyn and hit the gap between the protective wooden plates on his leg, penetrating just above the knee. Reyn didn’t know what to do. If he pulled it out, another bleeding wound would open, and if he left it, this thing would slow him down so much that his chances of victory would plummet.

Bern, on the other hand, wasted no time – he wanted to finish this battle as quickly as possible. Bern caught the thrown sword in the air, but then…

Out of nowhere, sounds of flying arrows were heard from behind Bern. He immediately understood what it was. He tried to turn around to swiftly deflect the arrows with his sword, which he managed to do, but one arrow still pierced his dense leather attire, lodging into his back. Before his eyes, a horrifying scene unfolded with numerous raidarian warriors appearing on the horizon, seemingly ascending a small slope. They appeared one after another, releasing arrows from large bows and crossbows.

Unexpectedly, one of the guys who had been watching the battle by the tree was struck by an arrow from a raidarian crossbow. He cried out momentarily, attempting to pull out the arrow, but any attempts ended in agony as he experienced unbearable pain at the slightest touch. In pain, fear, confusion, and complete despair, he remained silent, doing nothing, resigned to his fate.

Meanwhile, despite everything, no arrows flew towards Reyn, as raidarian warriors, seeing his sword and appearance, but unable to discern his emblem due to the distance, mistook him for one of their own.

At the same time, Bern was forced to take cover behind tree trunks, moving from tree to tree, fending off arrows to reach his horse, tied not far away.

Reyn, seeing an opportunity, decided to rescue the injured guy struck by an arrow. He approached the guy, looked at him, and the guy slowly raised his gaze to meet Reyn’s. Their eyes locked. Reyn took the guy’s hand, placed it on his shoulder, then turned around and, limping, headed towards Bern’s horse, dragging his sword along the ground, as their only chance of escape lay with the horse. The guy offered no resistance, although any movement must have caused him pain. He seemed to be in a state of shock. While Bern stood behind a tree trunk, being bombarded by a multitude of approaching empire warriors, Reyn managed to outpace Bern, as almost no one hindered him. However, at some point, the raidarian warriors realized something was amiss, as their own, whom they saw in Reyn, wanted to flee rather than join them.

Feeling the first arrow piercing his back through the armor, Reyn immediately dropped the guy from his shoulder, grabbed him with his left hand, and hid him behind, walking sideways and deflecting the arrows with the broad side of his sword. As much as Bern wanted to reach his horse quickly, the dense stream of arrows towards him proved to be a significant hindrance. Eventually, Reyn managed to reach Bern’s horse first. He placed the guy on the horse and intended to saddle it himself. However, as soon as he untied the reins from the tree, Bern’s throwing knife impaled his glove, causing Reyn to turn around.

At that moment, Bern was already charging at Reyn furiously with his sword. Reyn barely managed to block Bern’s strike with the armor on his arm. While Reyn blocked the strike with one hand, he began to swing his sword with the other, causing not only raidarian arrows but also his own sword to fly towards Bern. As a result, Bern had to step back from the sword strike, throwing another knife at Reyn. Reyn, anticipating the attack, used this moment to his advantage. He only needed to break the distance one last time to buy himself a few more moments to somehow get on the horse. Seizing this opportunity, he took the reins and mounted the horse, which was already getting restless due to the arrows hitting its armor.

“Let’s go,” exclaimed Reyn, tapping the reins, and the horse galloped away from the arrows flying towards them. Some arrows bounced off the horse’s metallic armor, while others pierced it directly. The horse ran as fast as it could, leaving Bern behind. The warriors and Bern were gradually becoming distant, but that was no longer important. What mattered was to bring the guy, weakened by blood loss, to the nearest village, as his time was running out. Moreover, Reyn was gradually losing blood, which was not a good sign. Because of the constant galloping, the guy occasionally made strange sounds, as if in pain. Perhaps these discomforts during the ride were what kept him conscious, preventing him from losing consciousness.

Riding with all their might towards the village, they arrived much faster than if they had walked on foot.

“Here is the village!” exclaimed Rein, seeing its silhouette in the distance. “Hey, buddy, can you hear me?” But the guy didn’t respond. “Hey, you! Are you still with us, hey?”

When Rein turned back and shook the guy by the shoulder, the guy showed no signs of life. “Damn it, buddy…” Rein muttered, pulling the reins with all his might. “Let’s go! Forward! Forward!”

It was getting dark, and sunset was approaching. The crimson light enveloped the fields as Rein urged his horse even faster. Finally, he entered the village.

“Hey, is anyone here?” Rein shouted loudly. But no one answered. It seemed like the village had been deserted for a long time. There were no knights even though they had promised to wait for reconnaissance reports.

Rein rode his horse along the main road of the village, constantly asking if anyone was there. As he reached almost the center of the village, he heard a sound resembling a human noise. Rein headed towards the sound.

“Where are you, damn it, I heard you,” he exclaimed. Again, no one responded, but after a while, a noise, like something falling, came from a nearby house. Rein hurried towards the building.

“I need a healer urgently. The guy on my horse… he’s dying,” Rein stated. No one replied. As Rein began to turn back towards the exit, a man behind him opened the trapdoor of the cellar, sticking his head out.

“Are you a Raedarian?” he asked.

“Yes, but I’m not part of that army moving this way. I just want to help that lad,” Rein replied.

“Well, if that’s the case, and this isn’t some trick, come in. But be sure, if you’re lying, we won’t forget it,” said the old man.

“I’ll bring the guy; he needs urgent medical help. He won’t last long! He has already lost consciousness from blood loss,” Rein explained.

“So, what are you waiting for? Bring him in quickly!”

Rein ran to his horse, picked up the guy, and carried him to the cellar.

“Be careful! Hold him by the hand and lower him!” The people in the cellar, several families judging by what Rein saw below when bringing the guy down, took him and carried him away. Rein didn’t go down to the cellar; instead, he stood there, seemingly lost in thought, and started waiting.

“Hey, are you coming or staying there?” the old man said.

This man turned out to be an old grandpa with a beard and completely gray, tousled hair, wearing a white sleeveless knitted shirt and brown-beige pants made of some herbal fiber.

When Rein went downstairs, he saw a multitude of people looking at him with some suspicion, if not disdain, maybe even fear, as if they had let a lion into their abode.

“Who are all these people?” Rein asked.

“Some of those who, for one reason or another, refused to leave their estates,” the old man replied. “Their entire lives are here, and they can’t imagine life without these places.”

“Are there still people in the village like these?”

“Probably… I know many here, and I’ve seen that many didn’t want to leave the village, especially the elderly like me.”

Passing through a surprisingly spacious cellar adorned with torches, accompanied by the people, they reached one of its rooms. Opening the door, the old man and Rein entered, while the others remained waiting outside. In this room, the guy lay on the table, and an old granny-healer examined him.

“Felix…” the old man said. “I’ve known him since birth. He hasn’t been very lucky in life. His father owed the leader of the local bandits, and they didn’t wait long to show up, came straight to his house at night. They killed his mother, then his father right in front of little Felix, and then hit the child on the head with some iron object and disappeared. The boy miraculously didn’t become a cripple.”

“He mentioned something like that,” Rein said. “Where is his grandma now? He talked about her too.”

“Yes, after those events, only his grief-stricken grandmother remained. Her name is Lysanna, but I haven’t seen Lys for a long time,” the old man replied. “Maybe she left with everyone, but she’s quite old for such journeys.”

Rein noticed the granny bustling around the guy. “What’s wrong with him? Can I help with anything?” he asked the granny.

“I’m afraid there’s not much that can help this boy now,” she replied. “No matter what I do, I can only bring him back to consciousness, but it won’t help much. To save him, I have to remove this arrow, but it hit one of the main arteries. If I pull it out, he’ll almost immediately bleed to death. It’s a miracle he’s still alive.”

Rein, angered, approached the granny and, grabbing her shoulders, pressed her against the wall.

“Hey, easy there!” the old man said to Rein.

“Granny,” Rein said, “don’t play games with me! Tell me what can be done to save him, or I’ll send you to another world along with him.”

“It hurts, let go,” the granny said plaintively. “I don’t know; he needs a better healer, and there are none left here. His wound is too serious; they don’t heal after such injuries. He needs magic. A miracle to save him. I can only help you. I can stitch the bleeding wounds, or else you might die too.”

After hearing this, Rein released the granny and sat on the couch where the guy lay.

“I can only ease his suffering,” the granny said. “I’m very sorry.”

Rein stood up and hit the wall several times with his fists, causing it to crack slightly.

“Don’t hit so hard! You’ll break everything! This wasn’t built yesterday,” the old man said.

It was so loud that one of those outside decided to check if everything was okay.

“Everything is fine, Oris, let’s go out; it seems we’re not needed here,” the old man said to the man who entered the room.

“But he!..” objected Oris.

“Come on, Oris, let’s go,” said the old man.

They left with the old man, closing the door behind them and leaving Rein with the granny and Felix.

The granny stitched Rein’s side wound and applied a healing mixture to his hand, then cauterized the knife wound on his leg.

“I used the same mixture on his wound as on your hand; it will relieve the pain,” the granny said. “And this should wake him up. I understand he’s dear to you, and you probably want to say goodbye.”

“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea…” Rein said.

But the granny was already holding a bottle emitting smoke to Felix’s nose. As soon as she did that, the guy immediately opened his eyes.

At first, Rein didn’t know what to say to the bewildered guy, but eventually, he decided to ask:

“Felix, right?”

“Where am I?” Felix asked.

“You’re in the village, Felix, and you’re dying.”

“How? How can I be dying?”

“You defeated them,” Rein answered, smiling. “All of them… But you got hit by an arrow, and now you’re dying.”

Felix pondered for a moment, and then, even though it was hard to call him cheerful, his face began to dull.

“No! You’re lying to me. I remember everything. I even lost to my own fear…”

Felix shed a tear and closed his eyes again, but this time it was forever.

“I’m truly sorry,” the granny said.

Rein left the room, closing the door. Walking through the corridor, he observed worried and distraught people sitting under torches, huddled against the walls. Each subsequent step of Rein was filled with pain and despair, trailing behind him.

“Stop!” the old man said to Rein. “How far are they from us?”

“With their pace, they’ll be here at dawn. But you shouldn’t be afraid if you’re not warriors. At least not for your lives. Raedarian warriors don’t often kill ordinary citizens of towns and villages. Now it’s more beneficial for them to make these people new citizens of the empire.”

“You won’t stay?” the old man asked. “We might need a warrior like you in case something happens.”

“No, thank you! I don’t think I can pass through that storm with you,” Rein replied.

Rein climbed the stairs, opened the hatch, and emerged from this spacious cellar, then left the house. There, he, taking out his sword, immediately started smashing everything in sight.

After some time, Rein cooled down and decided it was time to go. He then found his horse, saddled it, and headed towards the nearest village called Rosie.

Although the road between the two villages was not as long as to the border with the Raedarian Empire, the evening was nearing its end, and the sun was almost setting behind the horizon. Riding in pitch darkness seemed like not the best idea to him. Watching the sunset on the horizon, Rein could barely resist the urge to close his eyes while still on horseback. He couldn’t remember how long he had been without sleep. Stopping at the same inn was not an option for various reasons. The only reasonable option for Rein was to lie down in the depths of the forest and wake up before the Raedarian legion found him. That’s what he did, at one point turning off the main road and riding for some time. When it finally got dark, and it started to get a bit colder, as much as Rein wanted to light a fire, even that was dangerous in these troubled times. So, he just made his horse lie down and leaned against its fluffy fur.

Rein woke up from a sunbeam piercing directly into his eyes. He was literally deafened by the singing of birds and the sounds made by insects. He didn’t even notice when or how he fell asleep. Still, he was lucky – he woke up early in the dawn. Although his body told him it was too early to get up, his mind was sounding the alarm, urging him to move as soon as possible. Rein complied.

He cut through the forest, and as he reached the slope, he remembered the beginning of the previous day, which started almost the same way.

Approaching the village, he noticed that not everyone had left the area. It seemed that a significant number of people had only left this morning. Descending from the slope, he soon exited the forest. Rein was presented with vast fields, confirming his suspicions. Carriages, riders, and people on foot were visible on every road, most of whom were ordinary farmers.

What Rein saw shocked him, and he rushed into the village to warn everyone about what they might face if they delayed. Rein sped across the field along the golden wheat stalks to save as much time as possible. Although Rein wasn’t sure how far the legions were from this village, he was certain that there was no time to waste. He rode as if he were the only one who could save these people.

But everything changed in an instant. Rein heard a strange sound behind him. “Could they be here already? Impossible,” Rein thought. He decided to look back, and at that moment, a shadow covered him, passing by quickly. Rein looked up and saw something. He had heard of something similar before, but what he saw vaguely resembled the winged monsters described in the tales that frightened him as a child. And this something was flying towards the village.

Although Rein and his horse slowed down, after what he had witnessed, Rein urged his horse to move forward faster than before. Rein had a little time left to reach the village. Most of the time, Rein gazed at this flying monster. At some point, he noticed that it released a parachute from behind, causing the front part of this marvel to tilt downward. He knew that such a device was often used by aerisians to slow down the fall. After that, it started descending towards the village. Then Rein noticed that something, resembling a person, detached from this thing, and then that something also released a parachute. Rein suspected that this thing was connected to the Raedarians and their onslaught.

It fell from the sky at a tremendous speed. Rein, however, continued through the village directly towards this falling thing, observing astonished people. Finally, it landed, and at the point of impact, something so bright emerged that it momentarily eclipsed the sun. Almost instantly, an incredibly loud, booming sound followed. The horse, startled by this, began to turn around. In a couple of moments, Rein, together with his horse, was hit by a wave of air. The wave knocked Rein off his horse, and the horse toppled over.

Rein’s subsequent actions were confused, and his consciousness blurred. Ahead, he saw fire, and looking around, he noticed bewildered, frightened, and helpless people. Some showed no signs of life. Standing up, Rein wanted to focus his mind, but something seemed to hinder him. The constant, unpleasant noise that had appeared in his ears. After some time, forgetting everything, Rein gathered his strength and moved forward. Gradually, his consciousness returned to normal. Rein tried to remember what kind of weapon it could be, but nothing came to his mind.

As Rein approached the crash site of this strange imperial weapon, more buildings were destroyed, and more people lay unconscious. Around him, people were running. Some in one direction, others in another. People were crying and sobbing, trying to revive their once living friends and relatives.

At the point where Rein witnessed the moment of the fall, most people managed to escape with bruises and intense fear. However, closer to the impact site, there were only smoldering embers left of the people. At the spot where the temple and its occupants were, only ashes remained in a small crater. Meanwhile, every building that was lucky enough to survive was ablaze.

Suddenly, Rein heard splashing in a small pond near the now non-existent temple. Paying attention to it, he spotted a familiar figure. At first, he thought it might be a figment of his imagination, but he decided to approach and was finally convinced of what he saw. It was none other than Iziro.

“Iziro!” Rein exclaimed. “Is it really you?”

Iziro, however, silently stared at the horrifying scene around him, trying to catch his breath.

“Hey, how are you?” Rein asked.

Iziro finally turned his gaze to Rein and, with a horrified realization, whispered as if to himself, “Sol? Or Rein… What’s your name? What happened?”

He then headed towards the charred temple. Along the way, he leaned on Rein’s chest, almost pushing him away, and then slowly moved forward. Understanding dawned on him not easily, but he held himself together, displaying no significant emotions. Only faint traces of anger were brewing deep in his eyes, but it was incredibly difficult to notice.

“While you were swimming there, something fell from the sky and destroyed part of the village,” Rein explained. “And this building… Whatever was here before seems to have evaporated. I’ve never seen anything like it, but I’m sure it’s some new weapon of the empire. It definitely used the concepts of old ideas about temporarily flying structures.”

“Today at noon, I was supposed to depart for Aeris on a transport carriage for my mission. The carriage was there, along with others waiting to depart. There were elderly people, women, children. They all perished in this fiery hell. You! You could have saved them all if you were in the current ruler of Raidaria. Your father proclaimed peace and tranquility for the empire… for the whole world… and you were supposed to continue that path. But you are here,” Iziro said, shaking his head. “I know… You must reclaim the throne. You must continue your father’s path! I couldn’t stop this, but I must help you stop it in the future. You must save these people!”

“I’ve tried to save someone many times. Just yesterday, a young man I tried to save from certain death died before my eyes. It just keeps reinforcing the thought that saving something heading for destruction is meaningless. The world itself is inclined towards destruction! I remember the words I once read in a book… ‘Better to rein in the steed that brings destruction than to fall beneath its hooves.’”

“The guy you mentioned… You said his death was inevitable. It’s different here! You… Right now, you can really save someone! Not just someone, but thousands upon thousands of people. And that’s a conservative estimate.”

“Wait! Let’s sort this out! Are you suggesting that I join forces with a practically unknown mountain monk for what? To convince the kings of the great city-states of the empire to believe that the current emperor is bad and that war is bad? Kings of an empire where military matters are most revered… Kings raised as warriors… They, of course, are great warriors themselves; otherwise, they wouldn’t be worthy of their positions. And then?… What?.. Are you proposing that I defeat, perhaps, the greatest of the great warriors in the whole world and take his throne, instantly changing the nearly millennium-old order of the empire? To just discard most of the traditions and teachings that have prevailed in it. Is that what you want? Am I understanding you correctly?”

“You’ve exaggerated all of that as much as the years of the Raidarian Empire, but yes. You understand me better than I could have dreamed. I know it sounds insane, but the most insane things in the world can be realized with just one will.”

“Oh… In that case, I forgot to mention, in relation to you, the word ‘insane.’ Or maybe ‘crazy’? Or perhaps ‘mad’? I can’t decide…”

“In comparison to the madness of this world, what I’m offering you is not insane at all,” replied Iziro. “The world will manage to accept it, believe me.”

“I don’t know what you do in these mountains of yours, but you’ve clearly gone mad!”

“If I’ve gone mad, I did so long before becoming a monk. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: ‘War is a curse that destroys the soul, and victory in it is a fleeting joy, ultimately bringing only pain.’ The world brought us together then and now, and it will bring us together again not just for any reason.”

“Alright. I think I’ve heard enough from you…” said Rein. “Listening to the nonsense of crazy people… That’s what I needed.”

“You can resist, but I believe the world has already made its choice. It’s within your power to give me peace, and in mine to give it to you.”

“Fine. Good luck to you! I’ll go find my horse.” Rein set off in search of his friend. A horse he still hadn’t named. Suffering people caught his eye, and with each step, he looked at them with increasing cynicism. In his search for the horse, Rein wandered through the half-destroyed streets of the village. Time passed, the village emptied, but the horse didn’t appear.

“Where are you, damn horse?” After quite a long time of searching, Rein couldn’t hold back and shouted, “Calm down, Rein! You need to leave! You don’t want to fight alone against all the Raidarian legions. And if you stay, you’ll definitely fight. You’ll find the horse somewhere else. Maybe it’s running around in that forest, and you’re looking for it here. It’s just an ordinary horse. Good thing I didn’t give it a name. I could have gotten attached.”

Talking to himself, Rein realized he had come back to the same place where he had last talked to Iziro.

“And what am I losing? I have nothing anyway. I even lost the horse. The insane story of Sol Illyrian, nicknamed Rein. Or better yet, ‘How to amuse the kings of Raidaria’? At least it’s a beautiful goal before death. Lived… Talking to myself without a horse.”

Rein shook his head and walked away from the village in the opposite direction of the advancing Raidarian legions. Upon leaving the village, he noticed the last desperate residents sitting on the ground, unwilling to leave despite the looming threat. Walking along the path towards the forest, he spotted a strange but familiar silhouette near a tree in the field. He then veered off the path and headed towards that tree. As he got closer, a smile became more evident on his face. Approaching the tree, Rein said:

“You found him…”

“He was running around here as if nothing happened, and I saw him and decided to calm him down. Haven’t seen horses like him in a while, and feeling so free. They’re usually quite disciplined. He would charge into fire and water without fear if given a worthy owner.”

Sitting under the tree, Iziro calmly stroked the horse’s fur, the one Rein had been searching for so long.

“You spoke of peace, destiny, and meeting. I don’t believe in such nonsense, and your life in blind faith is alien to me, and your plan is not just insane but absurdly foolish. I’m not sure I’ve done anything stupider. But despite all this… I agree… I’ll go with you! And I’ll try to save everyone… I’ll try to do what’s within my power, no matter how foolish it may be.”

“I was once a Raidarian,” Iziro said with a smile. “I understand you more than you understand me. You choose your path, but the world provides you with a way, and you choose whether to follow it or turn away.”

With that, Iziro lightly patted the horse’s coat, and it instantly stood up. Iziro walked towards the path leading into the forest, leaving the horse behind.

“Are you coming?” asked Iziro, stopping in his tracks, facing Rein. “We need to get away from here before the legions arrive and find a way to bypass them to reach Aeris.”

Upon hearing this, Rein took the horse’s reins and followed Iziro.