Chapter 1 - (Part 2)

Sunlight broke through the storm clouds, casting a radiate glow over the surroundings. With a few rays of light shining along the dirt road, illuminated the area up to our destination.

While galloping on our horses, I recalled it has been more than two days since my father died.

If only I dragged him back with me...

Trying to push out these negative thoughts, I eventually succeeded when Linda finally spotted the first signs of a village, over the horizon.

I was told by her earlier, that we are still about a days away from town, but, we needed to stop up ahead so we can rest and get a change of horses.

Up to now, we haven’t encountered a single monster, let alone any wildlife, while the forest has remained silent during our journey.

It might be due to the pack of grotesque monstrosities behind us, or the fact, that this huge storm has yet to dissipate, only giving brief pauses like this where the sun is allowed to peak through.

But as I pondered this, we slowly grew closer until we entered a forest clearing, indicating we are fast approaching the Village of Iris.

What I have been told by Linda is, the place we’re approaching, is currently being used as a temporary relay station for the territory, just in case of an emergency. It is about double the size of back home, holding close to eight hundred people, where two hundred people are conscripted soldiers hired from the neighboring area.

As we approached, I notice that the woodlands stopped abruptly at this point, and that past here was all plains with a few hills in-between.

Lost in thought, a shadow casted over us, until I looked up to see tall mortar walls, and two wooden towers on both sides of the front gate, coming into view.

Chuckling at me being puzzled, Linda said, “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I’m wondering what is up with having walls and even towers for a village like this.”

“I see. Well I can’t really speak for them, but from what I heard from Lance: places like these are a first line of defense for cities. They also function as a means to keep the raiders, and bandits under control, and to prevent any riots from happening.”

So that would explain having the whole place walled off.

“So do you have any idea what we should do here, besides changing horses and stocking our supplies?”

“Well, Dustin. I’ll handle that, but you should go talk to the captain stationed here or someone else important to warn them.”

“That sounds good. But, I’m more curious of when we are leaving? Because I’m planning on going at the crack of dawn tomorrow.”

“Hmm. After I get all of the supplies prepared, I guess we could. Do you not think staying here would be better than going back on the road?”

Staying here might be safer. Honestly I would rather get going ASAP, but we need at least a day to prepare for the journey. I’m more worried about being held here and questioned than anything else.

While contemplating this, I gazed at my mother to the side before saying, “I told you this already, but those monsters we encountered only made up a portion of what's to come. Just look at that sky. Do you think purple lightning is natural, or are you hoping for a miracle here mom?”

With a grim expression, she slowed down, before addressing me.

“You’re right. I honestly still feel a heavy atmosphere. And every second we idle, it just makes this foreboding feeling heavier. Just don’t push yourself son. You’re still quite young.”

Giving a weak smile I replied, “Thanks for listening to my selfishness. I just don’t want anything to happen to us if I’m right.”

Nodding, to me. We decided to quicken our pace until we reached the gate.

***

“Halt travelers.”

Looking up at the wooden towers, was a knight gowned in leather armor, with a bow on his back.

He was quietly watching our actions before he decided to continue speaking.

“May I know why you have come here for?”

Silently Linda and I look at each other, before we decided that she would be the one speaking on our behalf.

“My name is Linda, and right here is my son, Dustin. We have come here escaping the ruin that destroyed our home that claimed my husband’s life. We seek to procure supplies before continuing on to the town a days away.”

Quietly, the guard whispered to his companion before beckoning to those on the other side.

Slowly the gate rose when the guard said, “First I would like your son to disarm, and then we’ll need a report on this ‘ruin’ you speak of.”

Silently we nodded as I spoke up, “Sir, I would be filling you in with the details, and once it is finished, I would like it to be sent to your captain before nightfall.”

Starring holes into me, the guard gave a brief nod.

“Naturally. Now come in and follow me lad.”

Getting off my horse I passed the lead to Linda before I was escorted in by a guard.

As I walked past the gate, multiple houses were neatly arranged in rows, unlike back home where they were all scatter about.

The most noticeable difference is that the roads were made out of gravel and that they had a barracks, which my village lacked.

While I was admiring the scenery, the guard John addressed me, “So Dustin, would you like to fill me in on what happened to cause two horses to nearly collapse from exhaustion? What were you guys escaping from if I might ask?”

For a moment we stopped, before I organized my thoughts before recounting the events since being attacked by the fiend.

As I finish recalling my story to him, both John and the other guard’s expressions went ghastly pale, before they murmured quietly to themselves.

“Kid you realize that if you’re lying, then this could earn you a few lashing right?”

Looking straight into his brown eyes, I replied, “I know. My father died on my birthday. I wouldn’t joke around about this. That is why I ask for the report to be sent before tonight. Just look at the damn sky. Do you think I was able to conjure such a vain sight?”

Both of them stop and held their breaths as the rumbling of purple thunder streaked about in the sky.

“True, I’ll hurry and get a report written.”

After five minutes, we finally came across the barracks.

It was a long building, built in rectangular shape with multiple guards going in and out frequently.

While avoiding the crowd, I was gestured in by John.

“Follow me.” He said.

Sticking close to him, we walked into the building passing many curious gazes of the local guards and militia.

Once we walked past the lobby, we entered into the back before going into a room and closing a door.

Silently John signaled for the escorts to leave before addressing me.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Well let’s get this over quick then. Now tell me what happened three days ago.”

***

Later at night, I walked out from the building before making my way down the gravel road. Looking around me, few people were out in the downpour, but a few kids were playing in the drainage ditches.

As I walk past a couple of young kids, one came up to me and asked what I was doing in the guards place.

Looking at her, she was only a little younger than me. With reddish hair and freckles, I decided to give her a warning considering that she was good looking.

“Let me tell you a story.”

As I finish my tale I told to John, the girl ran off saying she needed to tell her dad about this.

Abruptly I was left all alone again as I decided to continue my way to the building my mom was staying at.

Swiftly I made my way to Linda and came across the structure she was staying at.

Knocking on the door, I was then greeted in by an old elderly woman. As I was entering she asked if I needed a change of clothes or something warm eat.

Agreeing to her requests, I saw Linda sitting in the dining room.

As I proceeded my way towards her, I noticed her smiling lightly in my direction before beckoning me to sit at the table with her.

After taking my shoes off, I walked over, and asked, “Did you get everything prepared for tomorrow?”

“Hmm, Hmmm.” she replied nodding, “Did ‘you’ listen to me and gave a brief report to that guard already?”

“Yeah, yeah. I did. They did held me up long though...”

Still smiling at me, she put on a questioning gaze before she retorted.

“Really? Why’s that?”

“Well, they had me report it directly to the captain after I talked to John about it. They seemed to believe me afterwards, considering I kept to my story. To summarize the whole event, they are currently organizing portals ‘just in case’.”

Later on we discussed multiple things, like how nice the village is, what she bought and how the natives were friendly to her. Eventually we quieted down until my stomach finally rumbled.

“Ah. I almost forgot, sit down and have some supper. You must be as hungry as a cow by now.”

Taking her up on her offer, I sat down as the elderly woman quickly came out with a pot of food, before preparing dinner for me.

“Thanks for the food!” I said, once everything was set.

After eating and discussing our plans on what we will be doing once we reach the town, we both decided to turn in early for the night.

***

Few hours later, I was once again shaken awaken.

Looking around half asleep, I noticed Linda hurriedly packing everything up and the elderly woman was next to my bedside with a worried expression.

“Nh...What the hell is going on now?”

“The town guards came by making an emergency announcement that a horde of monsters were spotted less than a mile away!”

“Dammit!”

After cursing, I looked around for my belongings before preparing to set out again.

“Mom, where are the horses you got at?”

Silently thinking to herself before she replied, “They should be at the northern gate, opposite of the one we entered. Why?”

“I’m afraid we have to leave right now before this place gets sieged.”

Looking conflicted she contorted her face a bit before asking, “Can’t we just stay here? Surely over two hundred guards can fight them off.”

“Mother... There are those who can fly, and I mentioned this before, but before I left, I saw hundreds more than what you saw. Even some of those, I wouldn’t dare to take on alone.”

Silently glancing down to the floor, she said, “You’re right. Father did say you were stronger than your average guard.”

Smiling bashfully from this unexpected compliment I look around before checking back on her.

“You done packing yet, Linda?”

“Yeah, let's hurr….”

Interpreting her, a loud explosion reverberated throughout the area, causing the house to shake slightly.

“Yeah mom. That sounded like the creatures have finally arrived. Let’s make haste before this place is surrounded.”

As quickly as I was woken up, we left our lodging after notifying our host.

When we exited the building, the southern wall came into view as it was set ablaze, and there in the sky were multiple beasts breathing fire.

Some of them I recognized as harpies and others were similar to the one that almost stung me with its scorpion tail.

However, the most noticeable thing in the sky was a gigantic beast.

It was twice the size of the fiend I encountered, and had large teal colored wings.

Everywhere it faced, created a gigantic azure flame, causing the sky to freeze. The terrifying pressure it gave, only intensified as it looked down over the settlement; until I was frozen still, when those reptilian eyes gazed upon me.

Luckily the dragon like creature, made it as a brief occurrence, as a bolt of fire shot out from the direction of the garrison, interrupting its death like stare.

Landing directly on its face, the lizard demon winced in pain, while white vapor came off of its blistering scales, causing an eerily blue fluid to leak from its fractures.

Seeing this beast, being more cautious now, I noticed it finally deciding to retreat as soon as it destroyed the southern gate, allowing the creatures on the ground, to invade.

Shortly after this next explosion, a low rumble accord, followed by screams of agony. Taking this as my que, I hurriedly dragged Linda behind me hoping to make it in time.

Arriving at the northern stables, after five minutes of running, we noticed the door was chained closed.

Banging and kicking on it got us nowhere, so instead, I pulled out by sword before cutting out the doors hinges and ripping it straight off.

After being successful, we rushed straight inside, proceeding to grab the hardiest of horses, while we started saddling them.

Finally, we had everything in place and made our way to the gate. However, once we arrived it was stuck closed, trapping us within the damnable wall.

How am I going to get this open? If I remember, John gestured for the guard behind him before opening the southern gate....

“Listen, I’m going to scale the tower and open it from up there, so get ready for anything on the other side.”

Shaking with fear, Linda gave me a reassured glance.

After waving her goodbye, I rode over to the towers ladder before my ascent.

Climbing higher and higher I noticed the unfolding disaster below me.

Half of the town, was being over ran by hundreds of monsters, while small children and infants were being spirited away from harpies and the like.

On the ground, houses were catching fire due to a type of monster, and people were crying and howling as they held their lifeless loved ones in their arms.

Don’t look Dustin. It’ll break your heart if you continued.

After trying to prep myself up I finally continued climbing, until I succeeded in getting into the loft of the tower.

Hurriedly I searched around, until I came across a lever.

Making my way to it, I pulled it in a complete one eighty degrees, causing a low grinding sound to occur. Seeing that the gate was being raised, I quickly glanced down, to see Linda passing through the gate with a large group of others.

Waving her down, I made my way to the ladder, before sliding to the bottom.

Upon exiting the village, I rode up to Linda, as she had a worried expression.

“Did you encounter any trouble up there, Dustin?”

Smiling meekly I replied, “No...Not really, just that the town is in worse shape than I thought.”

Staring at me, she spoke up, “What do you mean?

“I’d rather not talk about it mom. Just a few hundred more than what I saw. That’s all...”

Suddenly, Linda grew a little quite.

“I see, let’s make a straight dash to our destination then.”

Unfortunately her words came too late.

From the left and right, dozens of monsters were approaching and overhead was a group of flying beasts making a beeline to us.

“Hurry and go already! I’ll be right behind you Linda!” I shouted as we rushed out of danger.

As we swiftly ran through a raging storm that was picking back up, multiple flying monsters were steadily catching up.

With only a moment to spare, I decided to remove my boots before placing them into my sack of belongings.

Now barefooted I stood up and slipped my feet underneath the saddle as I took out my sword preparing a haphazard stance.

With the edge of my blade, glistening a purple hue from the thunder, I started provoking my adversaries.

Silently, I waited, as my entire body was being battered by ferocious winds and pelted with chilled rain. With the moon as the sole light, I began taking deep breaths, attempting to focus my concentration.

Time started to move more slowly as I pushed my perception to the limit, at the same time my first foe of six came within striking distance.

Seeing a disgusting humanoid form quickly approaching, I noticed its feathered body and the diseased figure it portrayed, pretending to be a human.

“So it's a harpy. This is a first for me.”, I mumbled to myself.

Holding my sword with both hands, I brought it up to my breast as I got ready to strike with it.

With a spark of lightning, I saw the white of its eyes, and decided now was the perfect time.

Quickly I jabbed my blade forward, ripping flesh from bone as my blade easily went through the creature’s small grotesque head.

As it lay limply on my blade, I grab its miniature leg before ripping its body off, before throwing it right back at my adversaries.

Seeing one of their own, killed by me, caused them to go into a fury, suddenly making them lose all sense of reason.

Immediately three more came in for the attack. This time, I held my sword facing out from my hip.

Tensing my shoulders, I began taking deep breaths, before I forcibly fired off a sweeping attack aiming for them all.

Two of them were ripped in half, as the third was barely grazed.

Unfortunately, the third one smashed its claws into my shoulder pad, cutting slightly into the leather.

Seeing this, I panicked and grabbed its face with my left hand then forcibly slid its body across my blade.

With screams of agony, filtering into my ears, I let go of its face, as it spasmed in midair before tumbling onto the dirt road, never to move again.

However, I left an opening at this time, allowing the remaining harpies to do a pincer attack on me.

Bracing myself, I unstuck my feet, then jumped up from my horse as I swung my blade below me.

Luckily, it connected and instantly split another in half, before tearing the wing off of the other.

Suddenly the muddy road approached swiftly, as the harpy and I tumbled across it.

Leaning over, I spat out soil, before searching for my enemy.

Little over five feet away, the beast was clawing the ground, crying in pain as blood spouted out of its missing wing.

Standing back up, from all fours, I slowly hobbled my way over before plunging my blade into its stomach and twisting it.

“That’s what you get for being an ugly bastard.” I whispered to it.

Gradually its last vestiges of life escape as foam filled its mouth, until it took its last dying breath.

Slowly I shifted my feet over to a tree and started throwing up everything I ate earlier.

Got the wind knocked out of me and I feel like shit. ...my shoulder is throbbing like a bitch

Leaning over for a while longer, I wiped my face, slowly psyching myself back up.

“I got to keep going. Mom should be up a head, and she should be waiting for me when she sees my horse run by.” I whispered to myself.

Getting back up, I forced my aching body to jog down the dirt path through a raging storm.

***

There I found my mother’s horse, but all that remained was a blood stain that dyed its fur crimson.

Slowly I approached the stead, and pushed my head against his.

In this accursed place, I screamed to the heavens, begging that this was not true.