46

The Setting Dusk

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Streaks of Blood painted the ground. Shelves had collapsed. Food and drinks was spilled everywhere.

What had once been a place where people of all ages gathered, to support their lives, now painted a picture of death. This building, one of the signatures of human civilization, was completely abandoned.

Insects crawled everywhere as the dust was starting to settle. But for the first time in weeks, rustling sounds could be heard as well.

It had been two hours since Alduin and his group arrived at the convenience store. This place was fulfilling its purpose for the last time, as these survivors gathered here.

Their first priority was replenishing their energy. From water to sustenance, followed by a quiet rest. Time had been ticking ever so slowly.

The leather equipment they all wore was readjusted after being cleaned.

Their rations were being collected as they filled new bags with food.

And each of them knew what they had to do, to prepare for what lay ahead.

Collections of sharp knives were once again swiped by Ise. She hadn’t gained enough experience throwing them yet, but these weapons beat throwing stones. After a week of daily practice, and the experience she gained fighting the lizardmen, Ise was slowly getting better.

Leon adjusted the sword hanging by his waist. But most of his attention went to his left arm. The small shield Veleda was carrying had been handed to him. And having tied it to his arm, the thick metal plating provided more than enough protection. Both his hands were free, and while he couldn’t tank hits anymore, they had gained another attacker in return.

And Alduin, who had finished his preparations, was helping Veleda tighten her equipment. A three to four-meter-long spear stood by his side as his hands inspected Veleda’s armor.

“Are you ready?” he carefully asked.

Veleda looked at him with a nervous expression but replied, “Yes.”

A sigh rang out. Their escape had been a close one. The blood still stained his shirt. He was worried as well, there was much that could go wrong in their following plan.

His hand cupped her face as he said with a smile, “Keep your helmet on and stay behind me at all times.” He paused. “And-“

His words were cut short. “I know.”

Her nervousness dispersed as she noticed his caution. They all knew the next steps would require their utmost attention.

A smile replied to her. ‘She doesn’t lose her optimism fast, does she?’ He thought to himself. There was a reason why he always felt at peace with her. But this also became a weight for what was to come.

“Veleda,” Alduin, who didn’t dare to imagine what could happen, said softly, “As long as I’m alive I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

But the promise he made to himself and her was almost instantly rejected as she turned to him with a frown.

“What?” For the first time, her eyes widened with anger. “Ofcourse you’ll protect me! Don’t say that, don’t talk about dying.”

The tension had been heavy since they arrived here. But for the first time, something trumped the worry he felt as he saw her expression.

She was dead serious, even as a passing remark, she didn’t want him to talk about dying. She continued, “Promise me we’ll both make it out alive.”

Silence descended over the group. The four of them had gathered after completing their preparations. But the impulsive nature of their leader was completely reined in by a young woman.

Surprise showed on his face. “I-“ Alduin was taken aback but replied, “I promise.”

“Good,” Veleda said, “Let’s get going!” Feeling satisfied, she suddenly ordered the group.

Following Hati towards the back entrance of this store, she was about to leave. Weapons, food, and new bags. Their preparations were ready.

“Yes, leader,” Leon said with a smirk as he followed Veleda.

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“As long as you know,” Veleda replied with a smile and puffed her chest with pride.

‘Ha.’ A sigh erupted from him but a small smile showed. ‘It’s time,’ Alduin thought, their sense of defeat turned into a desire to survive.

The sun was setting and the temperature was dropping. All of them saw mist clouds form from their breaths.

‘Only two hours had passed but this was enough for the environment to change.’ Alduin thought as he closed his jacket tighter. His eyes stared into the distance. The burned roofs became a beacon of light with their dying flames.

The North district was behind them, and each step took them further from the safe zone humanity had established. They were surrounded by the colony.

And for the first time, they could see the unknown tower in the skyline. The closer they reached to the center of the city, the more the landmark of the western district entered their sight.

But even so, their next plan was to head straight toward the Lizardmen’s Swamp in the southern district. The eye of the storm. The heart of this city where gunfire was still ringing out, even two hours after it had started.

Their steps were slow but they continued moving. Their path led them deeper as they didn’t dare to stay in a single place. Every store, home, and building they used as a shelter was a stepping stone they didn’t stay long in.

And leading their path was Hati. The white wolf’s pup.

But now, this small wolf stopped as a growl rang out.

“Be quiet,” Ise signaled the rest of their group. “I’ll scout ahead, but follow closely.” They couldn’t risk getting separated, but still, Ise was the fastest out of all of them.

‘Lizardmen,’ Alduin thought as he prepared for a fight. They had evaded all of them as they hid in homes until they could pass. But they were bound to face one of them before they reached their destination.

Alduin pulled Veleda behind him as his grip tightened around the spear. Leon in turn moved forward with his sword and the small shield tied to his arm.

Ise’s footsteps rang out from behind a corner.

‘If we want to make a move, we need to be quick,’ Alduin thought as his grip tightened. But the footsteps that could be heard turned into rapid steps.

‘We’ve been found!’

Their tension peaked. Ise was running towards them. There was no time to waste. If that lizardman could notify the others they were done for.

Alduin gripped his spear, wanting to ambush this hunter before it could shout. But the person who turned the corner stopped in surprise.

All three stood in silence. Shock painted on their faces. An awkward silence descended. But Ise seemed to be excited.

“What?!” Alduin asked as his heartbeat increased. “Ise! What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, you need to come and see this,” Ise said softly as she signaled them to follow her.

Their hiding had caught up to them. Fear of facing the same ambush influenced them before they even knew it.

But as they continued they saw it clearly.

A giant lizardman, covered with a thick layer of mud. Mud that was found in the debris of collapsed buildings.

Yet this creature moved slowly. No, it wasn’t even moving. Only its tail tapped the ground ever so slowly.

‘What’s going on?’ Alduin looked at Ise for information.

“I found it like that,” Ise whispered.

‘What?’ Alduin observed the creature, but its behavior was far from what they were used to.

“What do we do?” Ise asked.

“We don’t have a choice,” Alduin replied. Two large magic signatures were hunting for them. But the problem was that they vanished only an hour after they entered the convenience store.

Veleda and Leon nodded, their choice was made clear.

Ise and Alduin, both moved as fast as they could.

The tapping tail stopped as the creature noticed their approach.

‘Don’t shout!’ Alduin cried in his heart. The spear in his arm moved like lightning and the tip reflected the light of the setting sun.

Heavy breaths were taken. The heat instantly turned into mist.

Shock painted their faces.

Not even the hissing noise or the tapping of a tail rang out as a giant creature, that was slumped forward, fell to the ground.

“What?!” Ise arrived with her dagger. She didn’t even need to offer support to kill this creature. “What did you do?”

“I-“ Alduin stuttered, “I don’t know.”

Even Leon and Hati ran over in shock.

“What’s going on?” Leon asked, “It didn’t even shout?”

The bulky corpse of the lizardman lay in front of them. But nobody expected this to go as perfectly as it did.

“Did you become stronger?” Leon couldn’t help but ask.

‘Did I become stronger?’ Alduin also questioned himself. The overuse of magic, they had already talked about this. ‘It shouldn’t have this effect? Should it?’

But the last person walked closer with inspecting eyes. Her voice muttered as she finally asked, “Are reptilians actual reptiles?”

Leon tapped the creature with his foot as he turned to Veleda with a questioning gaze, “I don’t understand, what do you mean?”

“Reptiles are cold-blooded right?”

Her clarification was met with shock. This was something they had learned in grade school, but not a single one thought about this possibility.

“The air is getting colder,” Veleda said as she blew a small cloud from her mouth. “Reptiles can’t stand the cold. They become hypothermic, less active.”

“That’s-“ Alduin stopped talking. They had all overlooked this fact. But this opened up even more questions.

Leon followed up as he recalled something, “The goblins were mammals as well.” A pause followed as he thought back to their home. “At least, Ben thought so, we had an entire discussion when we were butchering them. And there’s also Hati.”

“What?” Alduin felt his mind shake. He had heard this news in passing but now he experienced another revelation. “Right, what are their classifications? If Hati isn’t a mammal, then what-“

His eyes opened wide as he asked Veleda, “Get your notebook, quick!”

Excitement landed over the group. The small journal was the only thing Veleda had taken with her after the lizardman ambush, and this small book contained all the findings on the goblins they had carried out.

‘If they’re cold-blooded and hypothermic.’ Alduin felt his blood boil. 'If they are slower than usual, then this could be-’

Everything seemed to make sense, from the way they were all coated with a thick layer of mud. To the way they behaved.

‘While we might not be able to handle them.' The magic current became a source of heat in his body. 'We’re more than capable to kill the lesser ones!’