Chapter 4: The City of Molivia

“Mother, are you alright?” Dan asked. His eyes were squinted as he looked at the huffing figure on his left. Her mother was filled with sweat all over, and the green mucks from the beasts covered most of her skin.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Minerva replied. She was exhausted, but her resolve to appear strong before her son kept providing her strength. The two of them had exited the dense forest; occasional decapitated corpses were seen along the way. Till now, numerous clouds of smoke filled the sky. It created a surreal painting straight from a battle field.

They were now on a grassy plain filled with overgrown weeds. The swaying grasses crept up till their waist, and its sharp blades kept gashing against their bodies. The pain was tolerable, but when coupled with the scorching sun above, it became excruciating. They were in desperate need of water, and they knew that such resource was impossible to acquire; everywhere around them were unending fields of weed.

Minerva’s memory the night before was blurry, but one thing was sure: Dan made sure of her safety. She had a vague idea on what happened the moment she lost consciousness; just the battered appearance of her son, his muck-filled body, and the blade marks on the corpses of the beasts were enough testaments to the events that occurred while she was ‘asleep.’ She had an inkling of the truth behind the veil, but she was afraid to ask. She was afraid of the answer.

The two of them continued to traverse the seemingly unending field of overgrown weeds, and after a couple of hours, they eventually reached their destination. They were expecting to see a large army blocking the colossal gate of the entrance to the Empire, but reality gave them a different picture.

The Great Wall and the Empire that governed it seemed detached from the nightmare that happened before. The wall remained unchanged, and guarding its colossal gates was a meagre amount of soldiers that hardly surpassed two dozen. They were positioned right before an outpost; surrounding its perimeter were stone blocks that made a clearing despite the unending grasses of the outskirt’s meadow.

Minerva glanced towards her son, and with resolve in her eyes, she grabbed his young hand and ushered him towards the outpost. The soldiers assumed a wary stance as the two figures approached their group. A soldier took a step forward and said in a loud and firm voice, “Halt! State your purpose!”

Minerva swallowed the lump in her throat and replied, “We wish to seek refuge in the Great Empire of Kulaima, honourable soldier, sire!” Her left hand was on her chest, and her body was bent low in respect.

The soldier scrutinized the two figure’s body from head to toe. They wore battered looks, and the mucks that covered them gave an irksome appearance. The soldier cringed and assumed a slightly disgusted look on his face. He asked, “Did you swim through mud or anything similar?”

Minerva shot a quizzical look but still replied, “Krukas sir. I’m sure the soldiers stationed on top of the battlements saw the fire that ravaged our village?”

The soldiers stationed bolted up the moment the word ‘Krukas’ came out of Minerva’s mouth. They nervously glanced at each other, and some of them swallowed the lumps in their throats. The soldier from before paused for a long time before it reluctantly asked, “K-Krukas? We did see a sea of fire miles from here. Numerous sea of fire… separated from each other.”

‘So our village is not the only one ravaged by those beasts? Still, I’m surprised with the so called ‘Great Empire.’ They’re not even aware that their enemies are lurking nearby. They’re too laid back. They’re worlds apart from the Leopold Family,’ Dan thought. He silently listened on their conversation.

“Yes. Our village…,” Minerva’s body trembled as she tried to continue with her words. “It was attacked by numerous beasts the night before. Everyone was killed. We’re the only….” She was unable to continue the last bit of her story. Dan felt her grip on his hands tighten, and he casted a gentle look at her quivering face.

“It’s fine. You have me with you, mother,” Dan softly said. His voice was low and hardly audible, but it held great strength behind it. Somehow, to Minerva’s surprise, it filled her with strength.

“Are your words true?” a voice sprung out from beyond. They glanced at the source and saw a man cladded in white armor walking towards their direction. His black hair had tinges of white, and a well-kept beard lined up above his lips. Despite the numerous wrinkles, his face was firm and muscular. His eyes were deep and hazel. “If it is, then we have to inform the Royal Family. We have to mobilize the army of the Molivia City.”

“Captain Jackslow!”

The soldiers immediately assumed a respectful bow upon seeing the middle-age man. The so called captain of the soldiers wordlessly walked towards Dan and his mother. Afterwards, he raised his gauntlet-cladded right arm and mumbled a few incomprehensible words. An azure light enveloped the two, and it filled them with unexplainable warmth.

“Hmmm… they’re humans. There is no need to worry if these two are High Fenris that morphed into a human body,” Captain Jackslow said. He mumbled another few incomprehensible words, and the mucks that clung to Dan and Minerva’s body dissipated. Their wounds closed on its own, and the fatigue that continued to embrace them vanished. They entire body was cleansed and rejuvenated.

“Wow,” Dan said in honesty. He had never seen such a convenient thing before. It was without a doubt a form of magic.

Captain Jackslow turned towards his soldiers. He shouted, “Coordinate with the City of Molivia! All soldiers stationed on the battlements are to ready their magic and arrows! Create a link with General Orbit! We are to immediately assume a tight defensive stance!”

“Yes sire!” the soldiers chanted in unison. Afterwards, they immediately scattered and assumed their roles.

“Thank you… for believing us,” Minerva said while bowing. Her eyes were moist, and the feeling of having her son’s injuries healed almost sent her to tears. She had the feeling that her son fought a battle she was unaware of during the time she was unconscious, but she was afraid to ask. All that she could do was stand beside him as they both traversed the unknown.

“Don’t get mistaken. I don’t believe you, but there is no harm in preparing for the worst, is there?” Captain Jackslow said. He stared at the twin blades strapped on Dan’s waist. “There is something peculiar with your kid. I cannot pinpoint it, but my instincts are screaming at me… he’s dangerous.”

“He’s human! You said so yourself!” Minerva said. She nervously glanced towards Dan then to Jackslow. She was ready to run from the captain if the situation willed it.

“Relax. I didn’t say that he’s a Fenris. I’ve confirmed it with magic: both of you are humans. There is no need to fret. It’s just that….” Jackslow’s voice trailed off. He heaved a sigh and said, “Nevermind. If what you said is true, then this area is no longer safe. We normally charge two Wys per person as entrance fee.”

“Two Wys?!” Minerva uttered in disbelief. It was an amount that would feed their entire family for half year.

“Yes. There’re two of you, so the entrance fee is four Wys, but this time’s an exemption,” Jackslow smiled. “As exchange of the information you’ve given, I’ll give the two of you free entrance to the Empire. I won’t be able to guarantee what happens to you guys after that though.”

“So you’re not really aware that monsters began decimating villages in the Empire’s outskirts? Even though you’ve seen the sea of fire the night before?” Dan asked. His question took Jackslow by surprise. His words seemed unbefitting of his age.

“The Empire… I hate to say this myself… but they do not care what happens to the villages that are not under their sovereign. Even if we see the entire Rul Forest burn before our very eyes, we will do nothing but watch. It is not part of the Empire’s territory.”

Rul Forest was the forest that surrounded the outskirts of the Empire. It was the forest where Dan’s village was located. He remembered the looks of anguish of the villagers as they succumbed to their deaths. It was a gruesome sight, and the Empire did nothing but watch during that time of peril. Still, he somehow understood the stance the Empire took. It was the same stance of the Leopold Family: “We do not involve ourselves to those outside our jurisdiction. It’s part of the code of Separated Territories.”

‘At least the Empire’s soldiers are not scumbags. At least not this one,’ Dan thought. He pertained to Jackslow. Dan smiled and lightly bowed his head. He said, “I see. Then, Captain Jackslow, thank you for granting me and my mother entry to the Great Empire of Kulaima. Thank you very much.”

Jackslow did not reply and instead just returned a smile. A soldier walked towards the captain and saluted. It said, “Sire! We’ve contacted Molivia! General Orbit is going to send an army of two thousand soldiers to guard the entrance to the Great Wall. A reinforcement consisting of five thousand soldiers is on stand-by!”

“I see,” Jackslow said. He turned towards the Dan and Minerva. “Go. The soldiers shall grant you entry to the Empire.”

Dan and Minerva again said their thanks. After that, they went towards the direction of the gates. It spanned a hundred meters in height, and a single side was two meters thick. It was made of pure iron. It opened inwards with a loud creaking sound the moment the two approached, and a shrouded view of a city greeted both of them.

The gap created was enough for them to pass through side-by-side. After a confirmatory nod from a soldier, Dan and Minerva entered. The colossal gates shut afterwards.

“As expected of the Empire,” Minerva mumbled. Numerous structures that spanned three to four stories in height were seen. The ground was paved, and soldiers filled the streets. Some of them glanced at the two, but afterwards dismissed the sight. Murmurs and buzzes filled the air. The entire city was bustling.

“Captain Jackslow told me to escort you two to an inn,” a soldier from behind spoke. He was wearing the same brown leather armor as the rest of the soldiers. He seemed to be around early twenties. He removed the leather cap on his head. “I am Hans. A trainee soldier. Welcome to the Molivia, the military city that guards the front lines.”

“SOLDIERS! GET YOUR ASSES UP AND READY! HURRY UP!” a shout from beyond was heard. Hans seemed apathetic to it and said, “So, let’s get you two to an inn?”

Hans walked forward and Dan and Minerva immediately followed. He was humming, and he was calm despite the blatant tension that filled the streets. It was obvious that everyone were on their edges after knowing that Krukas was about to attack the Empire.

The group entered an alleyway then turned left after reaching a corner. Numerous broken barrels filled the cramped path, and a cabin with a broken window was seen on their left. Eventually, they reached the end of the alley, and they found themselves in a different road. It was wider than the previous one, and a platoon of soldiers stood in attention before an officer. Hans waived for Dan and Minerva to keep following him. Eventually, they stopped in front of a structure made of polished lumber. It was three stories in height, and its entrance was a double door. Muffled voices were heard from the inside.

“Know what, the two of you are not the first ones who asked for entry to the Empire. A dozen refugees also went towards the wall to seek shelter,” Hans said. His voice was nonchalant. “They wore torn garbs like you guys do, and their expressions were grim. They said monsters began attacking… saying Krukas is on the move. The soldiers dismissed their story though. Can’t blame them o’ soldiers. The royal magicians said its five years from now.” He scratched his chin. “The story became believable when the two of you came. I guess you two are like the confirmation of their message? You can’t blame us. It’s hard to believe strangers, right? Lucky for you guys that Captain Jackslow was stationed outside when you guys came. Otherwise, you would have been like the previous refugees.”

Dan and Minerva did not utter a word. The words of Hans confirmed their suspicions. It was peculiar that they were the only ones that sought shelter inside the Empire—others did so too, but was refused entry. It seemed that they were lucky that the captain was a reasonable man.

“Here’s the inn. It’s the cheapest in the city. The food’s bad. I mean… it’s really bad.” Hans chuckled. “You guys look poor, so I guess this inn would serve as the best choice for now. Well, it’s not like I’m discriminating. Just saying my thoughts, ‘kay?”

Minerva dismissed the rude remark. She said, “Thank you, soldier Hans.”

“Hahaha! Madam, I’m no soldier. Just a trainee. And thank God Mulavek that I’m currently a trainee. Otherwise, I would have been forced to fight Krukas outside the solace of this city. Just the thought alone makes me shiver. Geez,” Hans replied. He walked forward and waived a hand. “My job’s done. See ya.”

The two of them watched as Hans calmly walked away. He turned right at a corner and disappeared from their sight. They turned towards the inn and entered through the double doors. A cabin-like view greeted them upon entry. The tables and chairs were wooden, and at the corner was a counter; a fat lady wearing a spotted dress with frills at the edge stood behind it. Five people were sitting before a table at their left, and two were at their right. They casted a quick look at Dan and Minerva. Afterwards, they resumed their conversations.

“Welcome,” the fat lady said. She was wiping a wooden tankard. After seeing the hole-filled garb of her potential customers, she mumbled, “Oh….”

Minerva took the initiative and said, “Lodgings for two. A dinner right now would also be nice.” It was currently dusk; it took them half a day to reach the Empire by foot.

“Certainly,” the fat lady said. She continued to wipe the tankards before her. “That’s three Ors per night. Food’s included. Down payment please?” Her voice lacked enthusiasm.

Minerva fumbled inside her pocket. After a few seconds, she took out a golden Wys coin. It clanked twice after she placed it on the counter before her. The fat lady’s eyes widened in surprise, and she immediately assumed a big smile. She exclaimed, “Oh! Dear customers! Lodgings for two it is!” Her smile was still plastered on her chubby face. Freckles adorned her cheeks. “Please sit. Dinner shall be served in five minutes! Please take your order!’

She went out of the counter and ushered the two towards one of the numerous vacant seats. After Dan and Minerva sat, the fat lady took out a small parchment and a quill pen. She said, “Tonight’s menu is Grilled Rakal. Yellow Feshlin is also available.”

Minerva had eaten Yellow Feshlin before. It was a type of fish that grew in shallow water. She said, “Two Grilled Rakal please. Double the servings for my son.” Dan was a big-eater despite his young appearance.

“Right away, madam,” the fat lady said. She added, “An additional fee will be charged for the double serving.”

“Yes, please do,” Minerva politely replied. After those words, the fat lady returned to the counter. It shouted a few words accompanied by some cursing towards the cook inside. The voice of a man retorted, and the sound of a tankard hitting bones slightly resonated.

Minerva looked at her sitting son. She said in worried tone, “Dan, are you alright?”

Dan stared back. He then glanced at the twin blades that dangled on his waist. Surprisingly, no one seemed to mind the weapons he carried. With a gentle face, he replied, “Yes, I am fine, mother. Instead, I should be the one asking that question. You’re pregnant. I don’t want to lose my future sibling. Please, take care of yourself better.”

No matter how many times, Minerva could never get used to his son’s maturity. She was always taken by surprise whenever the child uttered words that carried weight. She was about to respond when she heard footsteps coming towards their direction. Upon looking, she saw the fat lady from before walking towards their direction. She carried a tray with her, and two wooden plates were on top.

“Grilled Rakal. Here you go,” the fat lady said as she placed the plates before the two. The plate before Dan was filled with a large serving. “Enjoy.” She politely bowed and walked away.

Dan thought on how money could instantly change the demeanor of a person as he stared at the fat lady’s shadow. The memories when he was still Hades resurfaced on his mind. As if dismissing the thought, he shook his head once and scooped a large portion of the chunky flesh. He bit it off thrice, and gulped down the lump in his mouth in one go. He heaved a sigh of exhilaration and said, “Uaah~, Mr. Hans told us that the food here is bad, but this one’s good.”

Minerva sliced a portion of the meat and chewed in an elegant fashion. She wiped her mouth with the cloth placed at their table’s center. “Yes, you’re right. This is really good.” Her voice was loud and clear.

The other customers glanced towards their direction after her words of praise.

“Woah. Seriously?”

“Who would have thought that there would come a time wherein someone would actually appreciate this inn’s food?”

“Those two must have been used to eating worse stuffs. Amazing.”

The two of them dismissed the comments and continued eating. The opinion of others hardly mattered. What was important was that they were enjoying the food on their plates. They came into contact with a life-and-death situation just a day ago, and the mere thought that they were able to have dinner again together made the Grilled Rakal akin to Food of the Gods. It was absurdly tasty, and each and every bite seemed to melt in their mouths. They wordlessly ate until their stomachs were unable to carry the load any longer. With a sound of relief, they leaned on their chairs and grinned at each other.

“Delicious,” Dan said. Minerva smiled in response. She rubbed her belly, and Dan stared at it. Her son asked, “Mother… I’ve been hearing the word Krukas numerous times. It seems that everyone knows it.”

Minerva paused for a moment but eventually decided to speak. “Krukas. Dan, it’s the term used to call those that belong to the army of the Demon Lord Vanarava. It’s quite complicated. To make everything simple, the Demon Lord Vanarava died two centuries ago, but he left behind five descendants. Each of those descendants has the power to vanquish an entire army alone. They’re the greatest threat in the Continent of Tal.”

“TWAGGG!” A loud sound reverberated inside the inn. The ground violently shook, and shouts were heard from the outside.

“TWAGGG!” Another sound echoed. Afterwards, the sound of asphalt cracking and breaking was heard. It was accompanied by neighing of horses. The ground continued with its violent quake, and the tables and chairs eventually tilted over. Those inside the inn immediately crouched to prevent themselves from falling to the ground; Dan and Minerva were included.

“TWAGGG!” Another sound was heard. The frantic voice of a soldier echoed afterwards, “THE WALL! THE WALL WAS BROKEN THROUGH! ALL SOLDIERS ARE TO ASSUME FORMATION—DEMON SUBJUGATION! THAT IS GENERAL ORBIT’S ORDERS!”

The customers inside the inn immediately went outside the moment the ground stopped trembling. Dan and Minerva immediately followed. Upon exiting the inn, they were greeted with the sight of a bustling street filled with pale-faced soldiers. Numerous shouts filled the air, and from their spot, the damage to the wall was unseen. It was as imposing as before.

“The wall’s been broken through? Impossible!” they heard a soldier say.

“No, not the wall! The gates! The gates were reduced to smithereens the moment the Stone Dragon showed up!”

“What about the soldiers stationed outside? I heard that General Orbit sent two thousand men to personally oversee the outside. What is Captain Jackslow doing?!”

“Captain Jackslow is dead! He died while trying to buy time for the soldiers to escape! We need to assume the Demon Subjugation Form or else this city is done for! We can’t let that happen!”

Dan felt a slight pricking sensation in his heart after he heard of the captain’s death. He was a good man, quite contrary to the Empire he served. He grabbed Minerva’s hand; it was ice cold. He said, “Come. Let’s escape. This is a city devoted to the military. It won’t fall that easily. We should use that time to escape deeper into the Empire.”

Minerva broke from her trance after her son’s words. With a nod, she dashed off towards their escape. Suddenly, the inn from before blew up into tiny bits and pieces, just in time after they were a few meters away. A loud roar was heard, and the same beasts the night before showed themselves. There were around three dozens of them, and behind them was beast that resembled the monsters. Unlike the other beasts, its size was ten meters—thrice that of its comrades.

The soldiers immediately pulled out their swords from the scabbards. Numerous ~twing sounds echoed, and their weapons reflected the moon above. A large fire suddenly erupted from their rear, and cries of agony accompanied it. The City of Molivia was turned into a living inferno.

Numerous roars echoed, and the beast began charging towards the armed soldiers. Clanking of metals resonated, and the sound of flesh and bones being torn apart filled the air. Dan did not bother to look at the blood-filled battlefield.

Instead, he grabbed hold of his mother’s hand and pulled her towards their escape. At the corner of his eyes, he saw a familiar figure. Still holding Minerva’s hand, he went towards it.

“Mr. Hans,” Dan said towards the figure. It was hiding and crouching behind a wooden cargo box. Its entire body was trembling. Hans looked towards Dan and his mother. After a couple of seconds, he turned the other cheek. His two arms were twined together as he embraced his body. Dan knew Han’s face well. It was the face of a man that had lost all hope. His eyes were empty, and his body seemed devoid of blood. It was the same face Dan’s targets assumed when the blade of Hades was about to struck their necks. It was the same face the prey of the Grim Reaper of the Leopold Family assumed a few seconds before their deaths.

Dan placed a hand on the trainee’s shoulder. He said, “Mr. Hans, It’s not too late. You could still escape. Please. Please tell us where the direction of the other gate is. There should be another gate that leads deeper into the Empire. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise.”

“It’s over… there is no escape,” Hans mumbled. He pointed towards the east. “There. A gate that leads to the Serpent Fork is located at the east. As for me… I’ll stay here.”

“Soldier Hans! We could escape together!” Minerva exclaimed. Her eyes were moist. Mortifying things that kept happening one after another were taking its toll on her mind.

Hans slightly replied and said, “I’ve told you. I’m no soldier. Just a trainee, madam.” The last bit was uttered with bitterness. “I’m the cause of this thing. If only I did not open the gate to save the captain. He said so himself that we should not open it. Strong as they are, Krukas won’t be able to break through such thick armor so easily. If only I obeyed his last order… if only I was strong enough to sacrifice the captain for the sake of Molivia… if only… if only….”

Hans kept chanting the last part like a mantra. His eyes were red and capillary-filled. It kept dashing right and left. His lips were pale and dry. Dan squeezed the man’s shoulder. With a whisper, he said, “Thank you. You are a soldier Mr. Hans. You’ve resolved yourself to die with the city. Your decision... I respect it.”

Hans looked up but saw no one. At the corner of his eyes, he saw the figure of Dan and Minerva fade into the crowd. He mumbled, "Haha... me, a soldier? No... Hans... is just a trainee. I'm no soldier. Definitely not."

With another loud ~twag sound, the structure behind him was crushed to pieces, and along with it was his youthful body.