Chapter 72 - The Eye of Trouble (1)

There was silence in the town of Edawick. Three days after the talk. The man who was talking to Dan in that forest was found dead along with the scouts that tried to investigate the happenings around the area. The dead were laid in the park for the vigil. Men and women bowed their heads as they surround the coffins of the dead.

“And so may they return to the hands of the lord. Their hearts and souls may rest in heaven with peace.”

A priest’s litany was heard through the park. The families of the dead scouts sobbed quietly as they stare at their dead loved ones. Joshua looked at the coffins. There was a feeling of dread in him. He has seen the bodies when they were pulled by cart. He was carrying lumber from the logging camp when he saw their pitiful state. Their bodies were opened from chest to crotch. Their innards emptied. Their limbs were broken and their expression froze as if they died screaming at the mercy of the thing that killed them.

Most of the people participating in this gloomy vigil had their fists clenched. Joshua, in a way, could only show sympathy at the dead. His eyes did not have the same venomous tone that everyone had. The vigil for the dead lasted about thirty minutes. They then took the dead to the cemetery where the family members cried for their dead in agony.

Joshua carried five red flowers tied with a white string. Everyone carried these red flowers to symbolize that they want to get justice for the dead men. Joshua offered the five flowers to the caskets. He then bowed his head and went back to Dan’s side. Dan gazed at the caskets with sad eyes. “They were good honest men that only wanted to protect their town. They do not deserve this fate.”

Joshua kept silent. He was unable to say anything.

“You know...I saw them holding their rifles. I saw that their fingers were on the trigger. They died fighting. But even so...this is just too sad. Even the dire monsters don’t treat them like this. Their faces looked miserable. Their limbs were twisted as if the abomination that did it were playing with them. This isn’t just right.”

Joshua could hear a sob escape out of Dan’s mouth. Dan looked down. He lowered his hat to cover his eyes. “But...my heart tells me to get revenge for them.”

“What’s stopping you then?” asked Joshua with worry.

“Family,” said Dan bitterly. “I have a wife and an unborn child. I am no longer the hot-blooded brat that lusts for fame and glory. These men were hardened soldiers. Soldiers that should have their rest in this town. But why does this has to happen? They should not have suffered like this. Damn it, I want to take revenge. But I know that I can’t do it. I just can’t and I hate it. Even she objects to it. She knows that I might do it. I want to, but I can’t.”

Joshua could not say anything to that. He stayed silent through the whole funeral and watched the grave keepers cover the caskets. Slowly, the rain bore down the tired town of Edawick. There was a patter on the tile roofs. Teapots swayed and hissed along with the cold wind. Those in the sidewalks looked on as the water puddle in the streets began to make them wonder if they could get home without their boots getting mud in them.

Joshua walked through the puddle-filled streets of Edawick. There was no drainage system in the town so most of the water gathered in the streets and alleys. The rain was pouring hard unrelentingly but he ignored the rain. His cape was making sounds at it meets the heavy downpour. He looked around and there, he saw a friend of his sitting on a bench while staring at the sky. His hair was wet and his usual optimist smile was gone.

“Hello, Joshua.”

“Silo, what are you doing?”

He smiled tiredly. “Same thing I want to ask you. Why are you strolling in the rain?”

Joshua sat down on the bench. “So why are you really here?”

Silo’s smile turned into a bitter frown. “I actually know one of them. I won’t mention his name. It hurts. But he was a good man, a good person who I met when I was just a brat working as some merchant’s bootlicker, trying to get by. Things are hard out there in the road. You’d worry about things and there are times you don’t eat. That old man used to give me half of his bread. Heck, I’d stupidly say to him that someday when I get rich. I’ll let him drown in bread. Of course with how things are with the war. I’d had to improvise and instead trained to become a baker. He used to eat my lame bread. He’d do it with that wide grin. I, that man was like the father I never had. I thought that one day I’d repay him for that kindness. I guess that isn’t happening anymore.”

It was hard to tell whether Silo was crying or not. The rain was pouring down hard. Maybe he sat here so that he won’t be seen crying. Joshua thought.

“I guess you need to live on,” said Joshua.

“No.” Silo looked hatefully at the empty space. There were red veins in his eyes. “I don’t know what the hell tortured him, but I won’t stand for it!” he pounded his knees. “I can’t forgive that abomination for what he has done to the old man!”

There was hate. The bitter sadness overwhelmed him as if he lost all reason. The optimistic yet cheerful Silo was gone. What Joshua was talking too was nothing but a grieving young man who lost a father figure.

“Don’t be stupid,” said Joshua. “You know how dangerous that thing. Even Dan doesn’t dare to fight it.”

“I don’t care,” Silo said hatefully. “I am joining the hunt for that thing.”

Joshua’s forehead crumpled. He thought of Cyra who was affectionate to Silo. He thought of Dan’s bitter expression as he doesn’t dare to fight the thing that killed the scouts.

Joshua thinks that what Silo was thinking was foolish and going blind with hatred, not knowing anything other than to get some vengeance. It was stupid but not unreasonable. Joshua thought how he should persuade him out of this. But yet he can see that Silo was determined to fight. And he wasn’t a bastard that lets his friends die. He knows that he has the ability to survive near-death situations. But he knew that Silo would be in danger.

“Damn it you stupid idiot,” Joshua clenched his fists. “I’ll try to help you so you won’t die out there.”

“No need,” said Silo. “You have no reason to involve yourself here. I appreciate the thought, though,” Silo sternly said.

“I know basic first aid. If your ass gets handed to you then I might pull you there. Fuck, Cyra is going to worry herself to death with this stupidity of yours!”

Silo wanted to say a lot of things hearing that. But knowing that Joshua was coming along, he can’t help but said. “Thank you, and I am sorry that I roped you in. You can still not go along.”

“And let you die? Fuck you...”

Joshua said bitterly. He just couldn’t help himself from helping a friend. He feels like a damn idiot.