Stupefaction and bafflement, manifested on the madman's face, as little Levis half dead figure became visible in his eyes, while he was reaching ever so close to him.

"More like fated to die, and ready to meet Death. Sigh--- just a kid in his last moments. Oy kid, accept to be my test subje---, student so I can save your life. Kid, can you hear me?! Hey---, hey--, hey-, what the fuck? This is bad! The kid is really in his last moments. His mind is about to dissipate and escape."

"Fudge fated one! Answer me, damn it!!!"

"Kid, accept my offer, and you will live!"

"---."

"Fuck---, fuck--, fuck-, if I am going to dissipate because of this, I will definitely annihilate you first, you idiot."

But as the two different voices of the madman were becoming more and more anxious, about the unresponsive state of the dying Levis, ultimately, he arrived at the bend of the road and the river, as by a miracle, he turned left, taking ten more steps before collapsing right in front of the madman, who was still inside his cube like a cabin, made out shabby of wooden planks.

Despite of the boy being right at his feet, the face of the madman was not one of happiness but of bitter anguish.

"What the fuck? The candle will go off any time now, and this little bastard can not answer us. How will we help him, if we cannot get confirmation of his will?"

"You are now thinking of consent. He is dying at our feet, when did you become so soft, just take him already?!"

"Shut your mouth you idiot, if I do not have a minimal mutual understanding, the procedure will have a small probability of becoming so more difficult in the case, there is the smallest of opposition or resistance to my doings."

"So---, some goodness indeed exists."

"Hmph! Some things need to be enforced, while this needs a minimum of understanding, after all, this is not the time to proceed as I want, but to go with the highest probability possible. Moreover, this is not about good or evil, as I can do a forceful approach as well. But if he does not answer, we will truly make him our disciples by force."

"I---, will live---."

But just as though the madman was extending his hand to grasp little Levis's half-dead figure, a soft voice that could barely be heard, came out from his little mouth. However, that was enough to freeze the madman, as his eyes and mouth widened into a wicked smile.

"Did he just---?"

"No, but this is even better, if his will to live is strong, there should not be any struggle against my doing---. Aa-ha-aha-aha-ha-ha! You are indeed the one to become my guine---, Inheritor!!! Aha-aha-aha! Though what were guinea pigs again?"

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"Stop laughing---, do it now, before this fated disciple of mine really dies---. And let us take him already. He will die before you start anything if you continue to prolong this."

Excitement, wariness, seriousness and happiness changed on the madman's face, as his hand like the claws of an eagle, grasped the half-dead Levis by his neck, and drag him to his side while shutting the door of the wooden cabin close.

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The hills were still the hills, the river still afraid to go south, and the prairie an endless mystery. For only the dusty road was changed, as since there had not been any rain for six days, the slow and dragged footsteps of a child with some smallish blood stains, stood on the road west of the river, while it could be seen reaching from further north, from the deep into to the external part of the mountainous region, of the Boarded mountains.

But while the silence of the river was prevailing, footsteps could be heard all of sudden, as two men in light clothing were running on the road down south, while regularly scrutinising the apparent tracks left by the little Levis. Only to be left baffled when they arrive at the river bend, to find the trail suddenly disappearing.

"What is going on?"

"Do not look at me. I have no idea either, as it does not seem to be going in the river. It just stops---, on the road for no reason."

"And I who was expecting a dead body."

"Well, I was sceptical when I heard that someone had escaped from Captain Zuger. But still, what will we report now? That we lost a half-dead child? Are we even going to report it?"

"No need, probably some ranked or normal flying beast took him for food---. Anyway, we still have to reach the gathering point of the villages. The fucking guards have been too fast. It is better if we locate them, and return them immediately. Let us hope, no more problems will appear."

With the fast exchange of the two men done, they promptly continued with their fast steps, taking the road east, and moving towards where the villagers and the guards were most likely converging.

Although, the only unusual thing, was that the wooden plank cube or cabin, which was supposed to be standing right where the trail of blood was ending, was nowhere to be seen, as the two men were unaware of anything, for there were no indications that one could observe, about its existence as a whole.

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But further east, beyond the two-men scouts sent by bandit captain Zuger, where the hills were becoming smaller and smaller, while the river was becoming ever more prominent, as the affluents were causing it to grow. A strange scene could be seen, as two different worlds could be observed, one to the north as a sea of trees, while the other one to the south as a sea of grass, as though two armies which were standing and facing each other.

Though, north of the river, and close to the small hills and the sea of trees, a large gathering of human heads herding bulls and horses, that were dragging carts, carrying poultry and pigs and other provision could be observed, as they were entering what it seemed to be, a large circular wooden fence made in haste, and various spiked wooden logs into the ground, giving the impression to have the intention of stopping an advancing army.

The wooden fence was very extensive, but at the same time, inside of it, it all seemed very crowded, as people moved to and fro, while in tents of poor quality many men, women, children, and some that were approaching their old age were calling them their home, yet, old people seemed rather rare to see.

However, it was in the midst of the tents, and the bustling human activities at the dawn of the day, that an old man with white-grey hair was moving in between the inhabitants of the place. Yet, despite the place being almost completely agglomerated, his demeanour out of his movements and his straighter back, which was more prominent than a young man, stood to tell a different story about his strength, despite his old appearance.

But the old man, dressed in very fitting and very comfortable black attire, was looking left and right, as though taking mental reminders of the circumstances and problems of the place, while he was approaching the middle of the camp, where a larger and sturdier tent could be seen. However, guards in blue cloth and shining metal plates over their chest, legs and arms could be seen, as they were patrolling the place.

Yet, the old man approached the large tent in the middle of everything, as the guards saluted him without any interference, letting him inside, as only to be a normal occurrence.

Although, once the old man was inside of the tent, a large and spacious hall greeted him, as a rectangular table stood, ten sets surrounding it, eight on the two long sides and two on the extremes. But while nine of the seats were empty, one was occupied, as at the back of the tent a seat stood occupied by a young man clad in a much more stunning armour, as even the fingers of his hand were covered by an intricate gauntlet, with a large sword on the right of his chair.

However, at the moment, the young man had his eyes closed, as he was breathing heavily in a precise manner, as though following a certain rhythm.

"Little Row---, no, not this one. Young mast---, not this either---. Ahamm---, Captain Rowen!"