Trotting heavily on the overgrown mud road Orlein threw another glance behind him, there laid the sickly desolate landscape that looked as if something sucked the life out of it, and the blurry gray sky only served to enhance that atmosphere. it has been 2 days since Orlein the city of narth and and the touch of humans seemed to have almost disappeared by now, if it wasnt for the marked mud road he would have definitely gotten lost.

This however was weird in its own way, as there was supposedly a rather big village on the end of the mud road... thats where he needed to go next as the old road is not too far away from it, but the mud road to the village was dilapidated seemingly not used properly for years as thick grass was growing all over it. It would prove challenging even for a cast iron carriage to cross it at this point.

but that was unimportant for Orlein at this moment as he only needed to get to the village and soon enough he did as he finally spot a village in the distance that laid at the entrance of a canyon beneath the voiceless mountains that pierced the sky. This village dates far back into the past and draws its ancestry from Kingdom of Vireweth which caused most people to keep their distance from them, as they are often associated with the cursed kingdom, and that of course worried people that their curse would pass onto them.

Orlein however wasn't a type to believe into this kind of thing, most likely the kingdom fell because it was seperated from the rest of the world by the ever reaching mountain range.. which caused it to collapse by itself as there was no import nor export.

Putting the matter of how the kingdom fell aside, he soon stood beneath the stony gates of the village that was carved into the rock, even he that grew up in a rather large town could not help but marvel at the chiseled stone pillars that bore the passage of time for hundreds of years. moving through these gates he was met with a abstract sight, there were only 4 houses in the village and 2 of them were falling apart alongside with a single stone mansion that had half of its roof missing, the ruins weren't worth counting as there were over a dozen broken down structures and houses.

There were several crestfallen figures roaming around the village, doing some minor tasks most likely. The village seemed almost lifeless if not for the few people here, the earth itself was cracked and riddled with scarce patches of grass..nothing could ever grow here.

The whole village gave one a feeling as if it wasn't a place where people should be...or at very least humans could not survive here, not like this. Turning his gaze towards the mansion there stood a nearly collapsed tower close to it with a single solitary figure sitting in shade beneath it. Seeing as it was the only person not doing anything here he approached him with a bit of apprehension.

As he approached the figure leaning one the ruins he saw him clearly for the first time, he wore a metal armor that seemed ready to fall apart at any given moment with a winged spear leaning on his shoulder, his whole body seemed to exude a crestfallen atmosphere.

As orlein approached him he finally lifted his head, his face held a weathered look to it, the look of someone who endured many hardships in his life, but his eyes seemed lifeless as if they lost all the light in them that all humans have. The man stared at Orlein for a good few moments before letting out a raspy chuckle with a glint of madness.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Orlein who jumped a little at the sudden laugh eyed him as he spoke with an even voice.

"Whats so funny?"

"hahaa... i was just thinking to my self.... its been soo long since the travelers last came to this humble village of ours...."

"well thats rather unusual, wasn't this village a part of the last old road?"

Staying silent for a rather long time he seemed to collect his memories for a while.

"that is true... but what of it? the old road? who wants to go down that damned path again! ever since..that"

Getting startled slightly at the sudden anger and fear in his voice i raise my eyebrow as i ask.

"that? what happened, from what i know a few years ago this village had over a hundred people staying in it, i even heard stories of the kings guard going down the old road to find something, something of that level would make sure any village they pass through would prosper for years?"

Twitching slightly at mention of the kings guard he looks at me as he speaks in a raspy voice.

"true...it was supposed to, but well thats not something i want to speak about right now...Ah.. how rude of me the first traveller in a long time and i did not even welcome you properly, please come inside my abode we can speak more about it inside "

Without even considering my answer he stands up heavily as his bones crack and screech uncomfortably before walking into the tower that almost fell apart.Staring suspiciously at the ceiling above me i step inside

‘The room was rubble, the scene of a time induced wrecking.Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust and cobweb and even tables didint look like they were used at all, the only source of light was the fist sized windows slightly above my head.

At top of the room as high as orlein could reach there laid a framed picture. Taking a close look at it he noticed that it resembled this village, however on this picture there were many people all over the place, the grass was green and pillars on entrance looked white as mountain snow. At the sides of pillars there were multiple guards covered in black Armour with red capes that gave of a sense of magnificence and imposing presence.

Noticing that i had my eyes plastered to the old painting the man spoke as he sighed.

"ahhh... you probably noticed already haven't you, this picture and this village are one and same...but different time, a better time"

Turning around i once again look at the man as i see something familiar to the picture on him. His armor was almost identical to the one that guards had on the picture, only difference is that his was dilapidated nearly falling apart.

"that Armour you use, is it not the same as the ones on the painting?"

I question as i shift uncomortably on the wooden chair.

"ah yes ineed it is the one and same! however that is something you do not need to know about as its a diffrent story."

Raising my eyebrows slightly i put aside the questions that raise up inside me and go back to our previous conversation

"well alright then, however i still want to know what happened with the kings guard? "

His eyes sink slightly at the mention of name kings guard once again, but it doesnt take him long to start speaking this time.

"... it all began 20 years ago with an adventurer that came back from the old kingdom bearing a ominous message........"