Chapter 56 – Disappearance

Leone could hold himself any longer and grabbed hold of Ludak’s wrist. Ludak took a glance at Leone and asked him.

“Let go of my wrist?”

“Stop this already, you did enough.”

Leone said as he throws Ludak away from the guard. The guard’s eyes was a mess, he could probably be able to eat anymore with his mouth so disfigured. Leone did the guard a favor and ended his suffering.

“Why did you do that?” Ludak said.

Leone looked Ludak sadly. He thought that he has gone too far.

“Why? I was just making him happy. It’s just a joke!”

Ludak’s smile was so innocent. Leone could not bear it any longer and grabbed Ludak’s head. Forcing him to face the guard, Leone said.

“What do you see?”

“It’s him! You made him sleep even though I was just having fun putting paint on his face” Ludak cackled.

“No, look again Ludak. What do you see?”

“Like I said...the soldier has paint on his face. I made it only as a joke bro, no need to be stuffy about it.”

Leone frowned at Ludak’s replies. He may be used to cruelty, but never would he find such a maniacal work like what Ludak did. He could not stomach his ‘savior’ acting like mad.

“LOOK AT HIM AGAIN!”

Leone’s voice attracted the attention of the resistance members for a second. One of them tried to appease Leone but was stopped by Leone’s ice cold glare. Ludak who was forced to look at the guard’s face did not cease his smile.

“Like I said it is just painted on his face bro.”

“Don’t be so blind Ludak. Look at him again and tell me what you see.”

“No, I am telling you what I see here. Bro, come on, just let me go okay?”

Ludak struggled, trying to get out of Leone’s grip. Sadly for Ludak, Leone’s strength was far greater than his. So he wasn’t able to move an inch.

“Tell me what you see and what you have done Ludak.”

A vein popped on Ludak’s head. He looked at Leone with a violent glare but Leone did not bulge. Leone was upholding his ideals and at the moment he could no longer be convinced until Ludak tells him what he sees.

Ludak struggled even further. While Leone keeps his grip tight around Ludak’s head. Ludak wanted to protest but even he could see how unmovable Leone is.

“Like I told you all I see is the color that I painted him with! It’s just a brush and a joke. Can you please let go of me already?”

“A brush huh?” Leone sneered. “Then try painting your hand.”

“....”

Ludak didn’t reply and just stared idly at the dagger he is holding. He shivered, sweated and hesitation flooded Ludak’s eyes.

“Can’t do it because it would hurt now wouldn’t it Ludak?” Leone said.

“No, I just don’t like painting myself.” Ludak made a petty excuse.

“A little bit of paint wouldn’t hurt now would it? Do you want me to do it for you?”

Cold as ice, Leone declared. Ludak who was still forced to look at his work. Ludak was frightened and suddenly he started struggling violently against Leone. Leone didn’t loosen his grip and immediately push Ludak’s head right into the desecrated face of the guard.

What followed was Ludak’s face colliding with the guard. Leone let Ludak’s head touched the guard’s face and then suddenly...Ludak screamed.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH”

Ludak’s everlasting smile turned into a frown filled with despair. Leone felt like he accomplished his goal and was about to let Ludak go when Ludak suddenly muttered a chant and casted the glowing spell.

The Spell illuminated the area brightly that it blinded almost everyone. Leone who was closed to the blinding light covered his eyes with arms. And as the bright light disappeared, Leone slowly adjusted his eyes and looked around.

Ludak was nowhere to be found in the area. Leone started to ask around if they have seen him but everyone who watched got blinded by the light that Ludak produced.

He tried asking around the area but no one noticed Ludak. They were too busy dealing with the Guards of the fort that they missed Ludak’s escape. Leone was quite concerned and thought that he might have gone too far on trying to open Ludak’s eyes.

He was trying to help him. He wanted to make Ludak open his eye and awake to what he is doing. It was a cruel way but with no words getting to Ludak. Leone felt that what he did was the best way to get through him.

“Where did he run away?”

Leone looked around the place. The wind fluttered his hair and clothes. The Torches around made a hissing sound. Leone tried scouting the area for Ludak but nonetheless, he was nowhere to be found.

Leone then thought that he should find him later. The Fort was captured but it was still not secured. So Leone helped around and cleaned the fort along with the resistance.

The cleaning up took longer than expected. It was already dawn and with morning coming, the resistance leader arrived at the fort. Awk dragged the target he was holding up and put him on top of the stone fort.

The Resistance gathered around to watch the Resistance leader make a speech. Leone wasn’t interested in what the leader was saying. His mind was worried about Ludak, and where he was.

Leone stayed and watched as Leader of the Resistance decapitates the target. After the decapitation, everyone was told to disperse. Leone who was concerned about Ludak went about the area and started searching for Ludak around the city.

But no matter where Leone would look. There was no sign of Ludak around, each corner of the street, every resistance member, and the citizens didn’t know where Ludak was.

Leone spent the whole morning looking out for Ludak. But even with that amount of time, he wasn’t able to find him.

Ludak disappeared.