"Slow down, Momo," Eliza called after her, "Wait for everyone!"

  Straying from the group, she followed the little mute girl after purchasing flowers from a vendor to a food stand. Seeing the little girl looking at the chicken thighs enthusiastically, Eliza smiled and handed out three copper coins to the vendor. Momo ran back towards Aria and enthusiastically showed the chicken thigh to her. Aria smiled and picked her up.

  "Perhaps it's time to visit them?" Aria suggested.

  "Yeah, we should," Eliza agreed. "Come girls, let's go send our regards."

  Aria, Rafaila, Faris, Momo, and she came from the same background. Sold, used, and then thrown away like an object once it meets its purpose. After the war twenty years ago, many people gave into banditry to survive this cruel world. The war had ravaged the lands of its prosperity as well destroying the farming lands. Therefore, in order to live, people gave into their desires to survive by relying on their instincts. Some men turned into monsters while others killed themselves out of guilt. However, at the end of the day, everyone is a monster at heart. Eliza understood that and grew to accept herself as a monster.

  "That's right, I'm a monster," she muttered as they moved towards the main attraction.

  "What was that?" Aria asked with Momo in her arms.

  "Nothing," she swiftly replied.

  A year ago, she had requested Robin to find her friends whom she'd separated from prior to the merchant incident. Fortunately, they did find the girls, and Robin had them taken care of by his men. Of course, even if these men are his underground gang, they were still decent people at heart. Always doing the right thing when asked to, except this time, perhaps it wasn't the right thing.

  Eliza's friends, Raimi, Levia, and Triss, suffered the same fate as the girls and she did, but they never had someone to rely on like Robin. When they came to town in rags with Robin's men, the girls were already broken. Unable to smile nor cry at the sight before her, she froze. Did she look like her friends when Alseif saved them from the merchant? However, recalling Robin's face from back them made her realize that they could never recover.

  It's too late for them, she remembered Robin's statement word for word. Even if it was too late for them, Robin still hoped that there was a chance for them to recover. He made some deals and found a place for Eliza's friends to stay. Unfortunately, Robin could not afford to pay for the rent, so the girls had to fend for themselves. To pay for the rent, the girls did the only thing that they could do, and that is to sell their body.

  Eliza chose not to help them because she didn't want to ruin or change her current life. She had become selfish because she had something that she always wanted. She wanted to be of value to someone. Robin had become someone special to her, and she wanted it to stay that way. Everything had been going well until the story broke out that her friends had died due to some disease.

  I'm so sorry, she recalled saying in front of their graves. That's right, she had a part in their death since she didn't do anything to help them. Due to her own selfish needs, she ended up indirectly killing her friends. Deep down, a part of her understood that even if she is a human in the flesh, a part of her was a monster.

  She felt a shift in her weight as child bumped into her, jerking back into reality. She smiled sadly, clenching the flowers in her hands. Breathing deeply, she could still feel The Central Square had people from all over Grandaius to pay their respects to the dead. Both men and women cried as they left the flowers around the giant circular pillar at the center of the square. Engraved words around the pillars are ancient, and even the oldest townsfolk said that the stone pillar is older than it looks. Robin mentioned that whoever created the pillar had lived from thousands of years ago.

  Eliza recalled, the stories that passed down from generation to generation were that the Goddess of Death, Morith, died here. Ever since her death, the pillar represented a means for the dead to return to see and receive from those they love. The people that traveled here had no means to protect themselves or rest from the pilgrimage, so the leaders of the town and citizens built Tamworth as a means to rest their weary bodies.

  Eliza sighed as she scoured the area near the pillar to set her flowers down. She felt a chill running along her spine as she remembering pushing through the crowd the last couple of years. Fortunately, the girls were there with her, she had no need to rush through the crowd, and the very thought of losing them terrified her.

  "S'cuse me miss, do you happen to know where we offer our regards?" Someone asked her.

  Turning to the source, she saw a young man with a hood covering his golden hair. His charming blue eyes and handsome smile almost made her heart skip a beat if not for his suspicious question. After all, can't he look around to see where people are dropping off their flowers? She decided to play along just to see what kind of scheme this young man planned to do.

  "Over there, at the pillar," she pointed. "I'm surprised you don't know about this."

  His face flushed red as he chuckled halfheartedly, "It's already embarrassing enough for me to ask you this obvious question, but I can't help it. After all, this is my first time in Tamworth during Mourinthia."

  Eliza smiled, "Could I ask who you are offering those flowers to? Could it be a lover?"

  "Actually, it's my mother," the young man replied. "Last time I saw her was about seventeen years ago. I had just turned seven.

  "I'm sorry," she bit her lips.

  "No need to worry," he smiled. "It could be worse, right? Anyways, enough about me, so why are you here?"

  "To pay respects to my friends," she said as she clenched her flowers tighter.

  The golden youth raised his brows, "So I'm guessing your parents are still alive? Oh wait, sorry that was insensitive of-"

   "I never knew them, or is it that I can't ever recall them?" She replied, looking straight into the youths blue eyes. "After all, they sold me off as a child, so perhaps I view them as strangers."

  "Eliza! There's space for us over there!" Aria called as she hurried onwards.

  She bowed to the young man, "If you'll excuse me now."

***

  Edgar watched her walk away, and suddenly a burning sensation ran across his right shoulder. He grimaced, and reached for the sword around his hip. The voices in the crowd drowned out, almost as time had slowed down. Remembering that these kinds of things happen occasionally back in Raultivon, he shifted his weight forward, disorienting the assailant. The silver within sheathe shined, but Edgar scowled as the balance of his footing loosened. He bit lip, as his assailant jerk him backwards and pulled him into a dark alley. The air inside his lungs burst out as his body slammed hard against the wall.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing, Edgar?" his assailant asked.

  The beating of his heart slowed, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Realizing that the person behind him wasn't a threat. Edgar relaxed his muscles as he leaned on the wall, his legs felt weak, and he rubbed his burning shoulder. Perhaps even a little rub would at the very least ease his pain.

  "Paying my respects," Edgar managed to cough out. "No need to be so rough as well, Crow." His assailant swiftly scanned around the area, then popped his head out of the alley searching.

  "It's Crowley," he glared. "I thought we agreed that you wouldn't show your face in public until we know for sure that Zazion has left."

  Edgar shook his head to dismiss the subject, "So what'd you find out?"

  "Not much to go on since all I have is that Zazion brought large four cages. I don't know about the sizes."

  Edgar smacked his tongue, "So we don't know the total number of Ogrums they have in Tamworth."

  "I hope that the others will have more information. So until then, we need you to lay low."

  He sighed, "Fine, I'll do as you say."

***

  A middle-aged man stood over the table with a dim candle illuminating the room. He scanned the map of Tamworth, marking territories that his men covered. Scratching his beard, he couldn't help, but feel that he was missing something important. His spies around town had caught wind of a suspicious person walking into town, but why this person? The way he moved seemed strange, the man recalled his subordinate's words. Before he came to town, he had an intelligence report that the prince of Raultivon had begun searching for someone in Tamworth. However, this mysterious person and the person that the prince is searching for couldn't be the be the same person could it?

  Immediately, the door to the room burst open with two of his men dragging a man inside. They threw him hard onto the wooden floorboard, slamming his head onto the leg of the table. He groaned in pain. A bloody mess that's what he is. His forehead was cut open, and he right arm bent in the wrong direction. His knees were a crushed to a bloody puss of what oatmeal would look like. The injured man wore a black leather vest covering his torso and his equipment we're not of any ordinary citizen would carry. Everything about the man's attire seemed like he wasn't just any man who would accidentally wander around cargos. He had a purpose.

  "Captain Kries, we caught someone snooping around our merchandise, so we did what we had to." One of the men said.

  "This clothing?" Kries narrowed his eyes, "Check the patch on his chest."

  "Yes sir!" Both of them replied as they checked the chest of the man. Silver light flashed as the candlelight touch a piece of metal on this chest. Noticing the piece, one of Kries' men ripped it off the vest and passed it to Kries. Taking a closer examination at the metal piece, he knew exactly what it was.

  "The emblem of the black dragon," Kries pulled man by the hair. "Where is the prince?"

  The Raultivon man spat at Kries' face, "I'm not telling you anything!"

  "No worries," Kries stood up and wiped his face. Pulling out his blade from its sheath, he swiped faster than the eye can see and lopped off the Raultivon man's head off. "I have a way to make him appear."

***

  "It seems the others have arrived," Crowley mentioned as he forcefully pulled Edgar's hood to cover his head. Edgar lightly growled. Although Crowley was one of his closest guards as well as his teacher, he takes things far too seriously. The two of them walked over to the crew inside the crowd. After all, a crowd happens to be one of the best hiding spots, and since most people are wearing black, it's an additional camouflage to them as they were already wearing black. However, Edgar noticed that they were short one person as they neared each other in the main square.

  Edgar inquired, "We're missing one person, where is he?"

  "My liege, Zazion forces caught Allen snooping around with their merchandises."

  "I see," Crowley cringed. "We're abandoning the mission and moving tonight."

  "You can't be serious!" Edgar clenched his fist, "We're so close!"

  "No," Crowley retorted. "We leave now!"

  "But my bro-"

  "Do you want to die, Edgar?" Crowley hissed, "The forces of Zazion already know we're here, and they have multiple Ogrums with them. If they unleash those things in the middle of a town, what do you think will happen? You'll be caught in the crossfire and the chances of you dying is far too high. I'm not taking that risk!"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "I will not-"

   "Look out!" One of Edgar's men pushed him away as a large pillar of wood hit the guard in place of Edgar. The guard crashed into the wall leaving a bloody mess covering both it and ground. Edgar felt his stomach churn, but swallowed it back. Shifting his view towards the origin of the pillar, and a chill ran through his spine. Their fears came true as the street filled with crazed men and woman fleeing the scene. Zazion had unleashed the Ogrums into the city disregarding the loss of innocent lives in the process.

  Crowley pulled Edgar's arm and dragged him away from the streets into the same alleyway that they came from. The rest of the men followed suite to hide away from the crazed crowed. Screams and cries echoed all over the town as the slaughter began its run. Blood and flesh splatter all over the ground and walls. Limbs flew from one end of the square to another.

  As they were going deeper into the alleyway, a chilling sense ran through Edgar's spine. He tackled Crowley down to the ground as a projectile flew right over their heads. The disorientation set in, his vision blurred and his ears ringed. He shook off what little he had left and looked forward, noticing that one of his men had been knocked out cold by the projectile. Edgar growled as he got back, and tugged hard at the collar, dragging him to safety. Slowly, it began to dawn on him what the projectile was, and felt his stomach lurch at the sight. It was a dismembered arm torn at the base crudely.

  "What the fuck is Zazion thinking!?" Crowley roared as he slammed his fist into the wall.

  Edgar spat out the residues of his dinner, "Are they really going to fucking do this? I guess I have no other choice."

  "You are not going out there!" Crowley roared, and slammed Edgar onto the wall.

  "That's the second time," Edgar growled. "As of now, you are disobeying your prince!"

   "I don't give a shit about what you-"

  "Perhaps his highness is correct."

  "He what?" Crowley slowly turned around. "Renmas, you would sacrifice your own prince for your own sake?"

  "No," Renmas shook his head. "Your highness has a point. We need a distraction."

  "That's right," Edgar agreed. "We came with six including me, but three of us are incapacitated. This leaves the two of you to do the attacking since I will be the distraction."

  "You think a two man could take down a whole battalion alongside Ogrums? You must be out of your fucking mind!"

  "No, but didn't we bring extra men on the outskirts of the town just in case?" Renmas asked.

  "Yeah, four only!" Crowley cursed, "You think that would be enough?"

  "Maybe, maybe not, but we have a chance," Edgar commented. "Mostly likely Zazion will take hostages to force me out. But we do have the element of surprise, and I can buy us some time."

  "You fucking idiot!" Crowley roared.

  Edgar glared defiantly at Crowley and turned to Remnas, "Go gather the men and bring the crossbows and bolts that we brought with us. Then I-"

  "Edg-"

  "Crowley, shut the fuck up, and let me speak." Edgar interrupted, "Remnas, I need you and the men to hit the rooftops in fifteen minutes. I can buy us at least thirty minutes, and during that time, I need you all to aim for the Ogrums' eyes. Don't wait for my signal. Just fire when all of you are ready."

  "Why don't you think that Zazion won't just put an arrow through your head when you appear?" Crowley demanded.

  Edgar ignored Crowley, and shifted his sights back to Remnas, "What are you waiting for? Go!"

  Remnas blinked in surprise, he swiftly turned and rushed through the alley disappearing around the corner. Breathing in deeply, Edgar and turned his attention back to Crowley. This is not going to end well, but it's the best chance for everyone to survive.

  "They won't put an arrow through my head because that's too simple. They won't kill me simply because I'm the prince. They want me to feel their wrath. They want to torture me. They will do all kinds of things to me until I ask them to kill me. Then and only then will they kill me." Edgar clenched his teeth, "So you become the most crucial piece of my plan."

  That's right, Zazion doesn't just wish to kill the prince of Raultivon. They want Raultivon to suffer; they want Raultivon to know that their last heir is in their hands. Killing the prince will not give proper satisfaction to the soldiers of Zazion. The one who suffered the worst damages from the war was Zazion, so they will everything to drag the top down to their level.

  "What's this plan of yours then?" Crowley inquired.

  "I need you to prepare to die," Edgar scowled. "If by chance they rush me after our men takes out the Ogrums' eyes, I need you to become my shield. I just need a couple of minutes to use it."

  Crowley sighed, "If I die, I'm coming back to haunt you."

  "Be my guest," Edgar smiled.

***

  "I'm scared," Rafaila sobbed as Zazion soldiers herded them together into near the pillar. They left an open path towards the pillars as Ogrums stood outside the crowd, slamming their clubs down on anyone that tried to sneak through, or worse, eaten alive.

  Eliza pulled Rafaila into her embrace, hoping to calm her down. Why did this have to happen? It was supposed to be just a normal festival. How did all of them caught in this? Fuck the war, fuck the Kingdoms, and fuck everything about them! It's just a fucking a game to them! Why didn't they just play their game amongst themselves instead of adding us into their damn war!

  "Eliza, it hurts," Rafaila squealed.

  "I'm sorry," Eliza realized how much strength she put into her arms. The pent up frustration she held onto gradually piled upon itself. A burning will to kill them all raged within her. She wanted to tear all of them limp from limp.

  "Did you see Aria, Momo, and Faris?" Eliza asked.

  "No, I didn't find them," Rafaila sobbed. "Momo must be so scared right now."

   "Silence! Captain Kries wishes to speak!" a soldier yelled out to the crowd, silencing their cries and mumbles.

  Eliza noticed a middle-aged man walking through the open path in the middle of the square, and stopping shortly near the pillar. Eliza squinted, making sure to take note of any special detail of the man. Unfortunately, the distances between the two were too great for her to gather any information. However, among the men was one who stood out predominately among them, and his walk was filled with dignity and grace. Eliza knew he was the captain.

  "Citizens, I have but one request!" Kries spoke, "The Prince of Raultivon, Edgar, is here and I am wondering if anyone of you are aware of this young man? If you know of this man, please stand and tell me, or if you are hiding him, I will not simply kill you. I will slowly kill your family and leave you for last. You have thirty seconds to decide! Starting now!"

  What the hell? There's nothing to gain from such a thing! Regardless of the answer, people will still die. While in thought, Eliza saw someone stand up from the crowd.

  "P-p-please, I-I don't know anything about the P-prince, may I leave?" She asked with a shaky voice, tinged with fear.

  Kries smiled, "Yes, my dear. You may leave."

  She blinked in confusing.

  "Oh I'm not lying, go ahead and leave. There's a path right there," Kries gestured towards the open path set between the crowd.

  She began her way towards the open path in the crowd, slowly walking away. Then gradually she began to move faster, until she broke into a sprint. To Eliza's surprise, she may get out after all! Hope began to build up inside her. Perhaps Zazion wasn't as bad as she had originally thought. However, something moved from the corner of Eliza's eyes.

  Of course, Kries lied. Eliza had to think fast, she had to do something. Could she make it? No, now is not the time to think, she needed to act fast. Having no other choice, Eliza quickly stood up and ran towards the young woman, but the girl was too far away. Could her voice reach?

  "Stop! Come back!" Eliza yelled over to the girl.

  "Eh?" She stopped and looked back over to Eliza, but it was too late.

  Eliza immediately stopped herself as a large shadow casted itself over the young woman. The young woman's face slowly broke into tears, and her lips quivered ever so slightly. Eliza's eyes widened as read her lips. It was something she herself had always said, so how could she not have read the young woman's lips. She said it countless times when her body was broken and battered on the dirty floor of a cell, or out in the cold streets. After all, it was just a phrase, but how could she forget those words? How could she forget the words, I don't want to die.

  The Ogrum grabbed the young woman in both its hands and twisted sharply. Her cries of pain echoed through the plaza as Eliza watched in shock. The Ogrum then pulled the lifeless body in half, throwing entrails all over the crowd. Blood splattered all over Eliza, but she dared not look away. The Ogrum munched on the lower half the woman as the sound of crushing bones reverberated throughout the crowd. It threw the other half towards Eliza and slid towards her..

  Eliza stared at the lifeless body. One of her eyes popped out of its sockets hanging loosely, while the other looked directly into Eliza's eyes. Embedded into the eyes of the young woman was fear. Her broken jaw and teeth punctured into her cheeks, piercing them, but Eliza couldn't look away. No, she can't look away. That could be her next time. Better to stare at death in the face than to let it slowly creep up on her. Taking in a deep breath, she looked to the crowd. It was quiet. Silence, the greatest indication of fear surrounded the people.

  "That's quite brave of you," She heard Captain Kries from behind her.

  She turned around and glared, "If you're looking for the Prince, he's not around here."

  That's right, if she doesn't stand up to Kries, then no one will stand up to him. What the town needs right now isn't another Kingdom to come help them, the town needs to stand up for itself. If no one else will stand up to a Kingdom, then she'll will stand up to the Kingdom alone if she has to. The kingdoms can go to hell for all she cares.

  "Well then, I guess we change plan then."

  A hand swiftly moved towards her face and smacked her. The force of the slap threw her back. Eyes dizzy from the hit, he stumbled and missed her footings. Falling onto her rear, she noticed the surrounding movements edging closer to her. Taking the surrounding information in, she forced herself upwards, but then a heavy weight fell on her back. She struggled as arms tightened around forearms peeling some skin.

  "Struggling is useless," Captain Kries said. "Move her to the front, we'll set an example."

  "What are you doing?" Eliza asked.

  "I will show you the depths of despair." He whispered into her ears, "Men, take her to the Pillar where everyone can see her! You two, make sure she doesn't escape."

  She groaned in pain as they lifted her upwards, feeling a burning sensation around her elbows twisting. Stumbling with her footing as they moved her, heart gradually began to quicken. Perhaps today is the day she will die. But what about the girls? What about Robin? Who would take care of them?

  "People, look upon this woman!" Captain Kries shouted, "If none of you will speak up, then this shall set an example to those who would stand against us! Tell us if you know of the prince! I shall see to it that this town will live!"

  No one here knows of a prince you fool, Eliza wanted to say. Besides, that logic is flawed anyways. If no one knew the prince, then everyone here will die regardless, you moron.

  Out of the corner of her Eliza, there was a slight movement in the crowds. It gradually moved faster as it came closer, and she focused her sight on the small bundle of movement. A reddish brown streak flowed as it moved. A small child, no older than ten, maybe twelve, moved towards them, shifting the crowd left and right. Three others followed the child and weaved towards the Pillar.

  No! Please! Stay back! Eliza mouthed. Her heart pounded faster than each step of the child took. Each beat louder than the other, and each time her eyes watered. She knew what the child had intended to do, but nothing could come out from her mouth. Despair crawled into her soul as her voice fought to break out. Tears beamed down her face. The child will approach her regardless of what she says.

  "Momo!" Aria yelled.

  "Hold that child!" Captain Kries ordered.

  "Please! That child has nothing to do wi-" Captain Kries slapped her hard leaving a red swollen mark on her face.

  "You shall stay silent unless I tell you to talk!"

  Eliza spit out residues of blood in her mouth, and noticed the captain's men had already dragged all four of the girls towards the pillar. Eliza's heart dropped. She can do nothing to deter them from killing all five of them.

  "Please, let the girls go! I beg you! I'll tell you anything!" Eliza sobbed. "The girls have nothing to do with this! I'll tell you everything I know!"

  A sharp pain ran across her cheek again as the captain struck. He scowled and moved his attention towards Momo. He grimaced as he pulled the child by the hair, screaming in pain.

  "It seems this child is very important to you." He threatened as he reached for his sword around his waist. "This will be the best example to set for you all! If you do not tell me anything in the next three seconds, I will separate this child's head from her body."

  "Please stop!" Eliza roared!

  "One..." he began.

  "I don't know anything about a prince."

  "Two..."

  "He may have arrived two to three days ago! I don't know!"

  "Three..."

  "Please! I beg of you! Don't kill her!"

  "Stop!" Aria screamed.

  Eliza helpless watched as Captain Kries pulled out the silver from his sheathe. He kicked the Momo down, and brought his sword down onto the child's neck. Eliza screamed even as she felt a burning sensation inside her throat. Eliza heard no one but her own screams as she struggled in pain to Captain Kries's men holding her down. Sharp pains struck throughout her body.

  Suddenly, silver light flashed before her eyes. A sharp sound echoed through the town square, and the sword shifted it's target, hitting the cement. Looking down, Eliza saw something rolled towards her. It was an arrow shaft no larger than a couple centimeters. Eliza smiled in relief as she looked towards the crowd, seeing the golden haired youth again. What's he doing here?

  "You may tell him that you met the prince about an hour ago!" his voice ranged. "Let them go, Captain Kries! You have business with me, Prince Edgar of the Raultivon Kingdom! Not with these civilians!"

  So he was a prince, Eliza thought. Should've known he was of noble birth with the way he spoke.

  "So you're the Prince Edgar, I wouldn't believe you to be so naive to show yourself in front of all your enemies! But I digress!"

  "Now let them go!"

  Captain Kries smiled, "you have good aim, and you could've have killed me. Yet, you didn't. That was a mistake."

  A sudden chill struck Eliza.

  Prince Edgar clicked his tongue, "You little-"

  "Indeed," Captain Kries laughed. "Now that you are here, these hostages mean nothing to me. They were never intended to rat you out as I'm pretty sure none of them even knew you were here. It was simply a stage play to get you to appear my young naive prince."

  "Stop!" Prince Edgar roared.

  "Momo!" Eliza and the girls screamed.

  Within Eliza's eyes, Captain Kries drew his sword high about his head. She screamed yet again as her vision went pitch black. Perhaps she had closed her eyes to avoid seeing Momo's death? Or perhaps she felt too guilty over dragging Momo into their affairs? She couldn't tell anymore. Despair reached out to her very existence as she lost yet another one she cared for, and soon it'll be her turn soon.

  A painful roar sounded as light came back to her eyes. Eliza noticed, she never had her eyes closed to begin with. Something or someone caused the black out. In front of her stood a figured clad in darkness with tendrils like flames. It moved like it had a mind of it's own lashing out at everything around it.

  The burning sensation she felt around her wrists wasn't there anymore. The overbearing presence holding weights upon her felt destitute. Somehow, she could move her arms freely? A surge of energy within her burst out into the open. Never mind the men who held her, Eliza quickly scanned for Momo as a faint sense of hope quickened her pace. Perhaps Captain Kries missed Momo again? Perhaps the prince had acted before the captain swung his sword?

  Eliza scanned her surroundings and discovered Momo... yet she was untouched? Eliza quickly moved with her almost weightless body and rushed towards Momo. She knew, she had to protect Momo. It was her responsible as the eldest, and as the one who was saved by them. It was her turn to protect them all just as they were the ones to protect her back then. Eliza threw her body over Momo, holding her tight within her arms.

  "I'm sorry," Eliza cried. "I'm here now."

  "Good," the shadow spoke.

  Eliza gasped, she had totally forgotten about the shadow figure before her. Looking back at her assailants, she finally noticed that their heads were missing. She no longer felt any restraints precisely because they were already dead! She focused her attention back to the captain as his screams finally reached her ears. He was clutching the stump of an arm. Someone had cut his arm clean off, and blood gushed out from what was left around his elbow. A silver light shined near the shadow's hands with a droplets of crimson fluid slowly flowed down it. The shadow had saved Momo!

  "Keep her safe," it said.