“Scatter!” Anton mandated to his knights. “Focus on the immediate problem first. Help anyone who’s still alive," he ordered as thunder almost ripped everyone’s eardrum open.

“What are you waiting for, Move!” Alvor supported his orders. “Re-group with our men here. Protect everyone you see that needs help with your life! Saving life as much as we can is our top priority!”

Despite the morale-raising speech of the two, Nicolas can’t bring himself to act. He was already hesitant on entering the down earlier; what he’s hearing was already dreadful, and now that he’s inside, it turned out to be an absolute horror.

The rain as it hits the ground and the cold breeze, whether it’s from a storm or not, calms his nerves, but not this time. He can hear the screeching souls as they are forcibly taken out of their bodies through the wind while at the same time feeling their distress through the droplets as it go down him.

“Nicolas, we need to go”, Alisa called him as the others began to move out and carry out the orders, but he was stiff as a statue. “Nicolas! What’s wrong with you?”, Alisa repeated, standing in front of him.

Nicolas looked at her plainly and palely. He was trembling, not from the breeze but from the agony in his surroundings. His heart felt like it would burst from all the emotions he’s feeling and not even Alias’s soothing voice could make it go away. The clock tower snapped him back to reality when it sounded horribly, adding horror to the ongoing carnage.

“Uncle”, he uttered, changing his attention to the clock tower.

“Uncle who?”, Alisa asked.

“I’m sorry Alisa but I need to look for someone”, he’s already about to run.

“Wait”, Alisa exclaimed, catching the end of his cloak. “Let me help you!”

“No, it might be better if we split up. With that, we can help more people”, he turned around and faced Alisa, giving her a tight hug, “I’m putting my faith in you; please be safe”, he whispered to her before stepping away and started running.

“Be safe too!”, Alisa shouted but the thunder covered her voice; she too had to carry on.

The town was already dark except for the occasional flashes of lighting that illuminate everything as bright as day light for mere seconds. The wind was mad and howling, taking any lightweight object and poorly tied tarps with it while the thunder kept trying to render everyone deaf.

The market was trashed and blood could be seen flowing from somewhere. Nicolas was uncertain if it’s from the bodies that are lying around or the meat from the butchers, but no matter, the blood mixed with mud drew a gruesome image that could flip anyone’s.

Nicolas rushed to the top of the clock tower’s spiral staircase. It’s like thousands of horses are climbing due to the echo, restless and agitated. If what he’s thinking wats correct, the man he called “Uncle”, would be up there early in the morning, fixing the clock just like every Saturday for as long as he can remember.

To his surprise, no one was there—not a body nor a distressed soul. Just the parts of the clock going haywire due to lack of maintenance; its sound did not stop and it kept going growing louder until it’s a mere straight eeek. Nicolas peeked through the window to check the state of the town.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The flash of lighting revealed everything to him. The burning buildings and debris while the rain is desperately trying to extinguish it was not new to him anymore, but it still gave him chills and flashbacks of a bitter memory. He can’t help but think about what happened the Gregoria and that all of this was ultimately his fault.

“August 1st, happy birthday; it looks like agony was your gift for every lifetime”, he uttered before jumping down.

The wind rushed against his face before bracing his landing with his shield, decimating the paved market road. Without wasting a second, he headed for the tiny shack of “Uncle” and his granddaughter at the other end of town.

The smell of burning wood, smoke and collapsed buildings made him compare it to the past, but this time it was grimmer. Dead bodies everywhere—children, woman, elderly—none were spared; some are bleeding, some are not. The latter, he knows we’re lives taken by Matthew himself, no damage to the body but a direct attack to the soul.

“Please, at least let those two survive”, he prayed as he reached the hut.

He convinced himself that he did not want to feel concerned for those two but it looks like he failed. As far as he can tell, it looks like the chaos has not impacted this part of town that much or so he thought.

“Who are you! What are you doing here!”, he heard a weak old man’s voice as he drew closer.

Nicolas peeked through the window.

Two men with black swords were already there. Uncle and the little girl were in the left corner of the shack, separating themselves from the men on other side using a table. Behind the intruders was the broken window where they had likely entered.

“Run!”, exclaimed Uncle, pushing his granddaughter away as blades plunged into his back and exited his chest.

“Grandpa!”, the little girl cried.

Nicolas’s eyes went wide. Out of impulse, he kicked the door open and slashed the men, painting the house with blood and getting an instant victory.

“Nick?”, the old man coughed blood.

“No, don’t talk; you need to save your strength”, Nicolas cushioned his head on his lap.

“Are you kidding, you knew I was dying, stabbed or not”, Uncle smiled.

“But your granddaughter, she still needs you.”

“About that,”, he again coughed, his breathing growing deeper and slower with each word, “Can you do me a favor?”

“If that’s the last thing I’d do.”

“Good, take my little girl with you. I don’t know what’s going on but I have a friend that works at the town’s library”, he said, placing his bloody hands-on Nicolas’s shoulder.

“Madam Veronica…”

“I see, you know her, that’s good. Sorry for the burden, Nick”, his face now turning pale as his blood gradually accumulated a puddle under him.

“No, I should apologize for being so late”, Nicolas cried, guilt eating him up as the little girl in tears joined him.

She held his hand, giving comfort to the man, “Oh my sweet child, always remember that grandpa loves you alright?”, He desperately tried to reach for her face, smiled, and as the rain started to pour even harder, he passed.

Nicolas could only clench his fist and bit his lip, barely holding back his tears. After taking a deep breath, he finally laid down properly to the floor, took the blanket on the bed, and covered him up.

“Rest in peace, uncle; may you have a better life on the next one”, He stood back up and comforted the little girl who’s still sobbing, her poor little heart broken as he held the covered body of his grandfather.

“Do you still remember me?”, Nicolas patted her on the back. He waited for the girl to calm down, “What’s your name?”

“Mae”

“Mae, that’s a nice name.”

“Grandpa told me it’s my mother’s name too, but she died when I was born.”

Nicolas already had a hunch that it was the case as he carried her on his back, “Well then, Mae, let’s get you to safety. I’m guessing you already know Madam Veronica?”

“Grandpa’s friend? Grandma Veronica?”

“Yes, let’s go meet your Grandma”, he finally stood up and went for the door.

Mae could not help but look back, “What about grandpa?”

“Don’t worry, he’s on a better place now. The best we can do for him is smile”, Nicolas kindly explained before three bright lights came shooting up from the direction of the library, bursting all at the same time before they reached the clouds.

“Let’s hope that it still stands.”