Chapter 2: End Of The Line

Today was a day like any other at the busy trading hub. Mikey finished his long morning of transporting luggage for the riches and the powerful. Humbly accepting the tips he headed for the tavern to drink the blazing noon away. Walking past the many colourful travellers the young man wondered what it would be like to roam the country. Maybe one day he could hop onto a caravan and rode away. No chance, he had a family and five young siblings to look after. So it was back to carrying luggage and drinking for Mikey.

Today, the tavern was strangely quiet. The young man wondered why, filled with travellers and nomads of all kind, this place was a place of constant chaos. Opening the door he saw everyone sitting around a single table. In the middle a nomad sat, covered in brown cloak, only his mouth was visible. Next to his chair a cane rested.

“Come on in, Mikey. Listen to this man’s story.” The tavern owner called to the young man, handing him his usual drink.

The nomad gazed at Mikey, he said slowly with a voice so deep as if it came from the abyss. “I like your eyes, boy.” The man then turned back to his drink. “Now, where was I.”

“Right after the frozen night.” A person called out.

“Right, right, don’t worry boy you did not miss much.” The nomad said, directed at Mikey. “The tale of the End Of The Line is still at the beginning.”

Usually, Mikey would not be interested in the travellers’ story. But there was something different about this nomad in rags. Was it his intensely deep voice? Or maybe the way the man carried himself, his slow but deliberate movements? Whatever the reason, the nomad commanded curiosity and respect.

And so, Mikey dragged a chair over and listened to the story of a town now abandoned and forgotten by the passage of time. The struggled of the damned 23rd, about the enigmatic State Executioner, the mutants that stalked the mountain, of the Kid and the Doctor.

Clearing his throat with a soulful grunt, the nomad continued his tale. “Our story picked up again with death and destruction.”

___

The two scouts of the 23rd Chapter watched the devastation in front of them. The young one, Carina, tried to not to puke at the gruesome sight. Body strewn around, torn apart from the inside out by an unnatural force. Their faces contorted by unimaginable terror and pain. Holding back, she pulled out a notebook and noted the location of this attack. This was the third time a caravan was hit on this road.

“Get to the End Of The Line, inform command of this attack.” The elder ordered.

Carina accepted the assignment, hopping onto her horse, the young scout rode away. After the second attack, the venerable East Aigola trading company put pressure upon the Knight Order to handle the situation. Thus, the whole 23rd Chapter was sent to this part of the kingdom to catch those responsible.

Immediately going to work, Captain Meredith set up checkpoints and erecting wooden forts around the plain, with the small town of End Of The Line as the command base.

Riding through the empty plain, there was nothing in sight but Carina was on edge the whole time. She felt like at this moment, there were hungry eyes gazing at her. That the young scout would to be torn apart. How did they do it, weaving through all the checkpoints undetected? Was it truly raiders or something else much more sinister?

In her moment of paranoid, Carina spotted a group in the distance. Her heart dropped and she nearly screamed out in terror.

But there was no need to feel any fear as they raised the flag of the Knight Order. This group was not just any patrol, however, they were the elites of the 23rd Chapter. And among them, their leader on the way to the command base, Captain Meredith.

As Carina approached the group, she found crossbows immediately trained onto her.

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“I’m a forward scout, here to report to Captain Meredith!”

She called out but the crossbows were still pointed toward her. What was going on? Did they not believe her? Was she going to be killed by her own people? Carina trembled in fear, she could not read the expressions as their faces were covered in metal helmets.

Among them, a person moved forward and removed his helmet. Underneath was a stunning face, weathered by years of combat but still sharp as a razor blade. Contrary to the name, Captain Meredith was a man and one that commanded awe and respect.

“I recognise her, she is one of us.” He ordered the others to lower their crossbows.

The sight of a human face, especially of the Captain calmed the young scout. She only saw him during her application to the force. Carina could not believe that the Captain remember her from just a single glance.

“We need to keep on moving, you can brief me on the way.”

Putting his helmet back on, the Captain allowed the young scout to ride with them. Carina told them of the attack. Of the horrible sight that she had seen.

“I see, another raid…” The Captain sighed. “You did well, when we reach the town, treat yourself to a meal, tell the cafeteria it’s my order.”

Did well? All she did was riding a horse. But still, Carina would not turn down his offer. The young scout, however, had a question or two for the Captain.

“Sir, if I may ask… These attacks, there are no raiders that could do it.”

“You are right, no normal human can. Our scouts had confirmed that these raiders belong to the Mutants, a group we thought was wiped out in a frozen night more than a decade ago.” Captain Meredith said. “But they have returned and no doubt ‘blessed’ by the unknowns.”

“If so, why don’t we contact the Blind Order for help?”

Carina asked and she immediately regretted that question. The elites all turned to her, even with their faces covered the young scout could sense the hostility aimed at her. Captain Meredith raised his hand and they all turned away. He explained the precarious situation they were in right now.

“The higher up did not want to ask the Blind for help. The attacks had severely damaged our reputation with the East Aigola trading company. But worry not, we are not on our own. Headquarter had sent someone in house to assist us in dealing with this crisis.”

That was supposed to reassure Carina but the young scout did not feel much better. No doubt due to the apparent disgust in his voice, especially when mentioning this ‘assist’. She had heard of the rivalry between the two Orders, but now innocent lives were at stake, Knights and civilian alike. At least Carina could take solace in knowing that the Captain was also displeased about this whole situation.

The rest of the ride through the plain was one of suffocating silence. Even among the elites, Carina could not feel safe. Swords and shields could do naught in the face of the unknown after all.

Finally, they reached their destination, End Of The Line.

Passing through a sign rendered unreadable by the weather, they entered the dying town. The air hung low a feeling of dreed and inevitability. Every single citizens were of venerable ages, moving around slowly doing their day to day duty.

“This is…” Carina exclaimed.

She had heard about this place. After the first frozen night, every single inhabitants were made infertile and all children under the age of ten vanished. Fearing contamination, the Blind Order barred them from migrating. And so, the town continued on, ageing and dying slowly, bit by bit every single day.

But in this town of the dead, there was spark appearing in front of them. A small form with a wide brim hat. It jumped onto a barrel and hopped onto one of the elite shoulder, holding a small shiv to his throat. Before the knight could react, the figure bounced onto a nearby roof.

“Hey there!”

Underneath the oversized hat was an energetic young girl, no more than fourteen of age, smiling brightly. Suddenly, all around, the town seemingly came to life. A person called to the her. “Oi, stop messing around.” Another commented. “There she goes again.” All of them with a hint of loving in their voices. Smile appeared on the townsfolks.

“What was that for?” The knight who was jumped on asked angrily.

The girl did a backflip to land back on the ground but tripped and tumbled into a laundry tub. She popped back up, still all smile and hopped out.

“That is my application!” She introduced herself. “I am Claudia Reid, you can call me the Kid! I heard you guys have a raiders problem so here I am, volunteering for the job!”

A man immediately delivered a chop onto her head. “Stop bothering the knights, go back home now!”

“But… but…” The Kid muttered, clutching her head.

Captain Meredith motioned to tell his group to stay still. He rode up to the young scout. “Those movements of yours were wonderful. I am willing to induct you into the Order for training.” Hearing that, the Kid’s clear blue eyes shone. The Captain was not done, however. “But only after you turn sixteen. Return to your home, we are not in need of volunteer.”

“Yes sir.” The girl said begrudgingly, she turned away pouting.

She sure came in like a storm, visibly breathing life into these depressing people. Carina was amazed as such a change. Around them, the townsfolks were back to their daily routines but all had a smile on their faces. The dreaded air of End Of The Line was dispelled with one appearance.

But as the Kid was leaving a scout came in riding. He had news of carriages, carrying death and suffering. The girl perked up. A townsfolk came to instruct her of something urgent, something she was already going to do.

“Go now. Get the Doctor!”