Chapter 20: Wolves at Midnight [2]

“Okay. That’s good next one. Oi! Take care of Ol’ Elma. Don’t rush her! I’ll beat you if you dare!”

The villagers followed the orders of the old village chief Bose. After hearing the howling of the Death wolves, everyone wanted to escape from the village. They rushed into the carts with no questions. They shadowed the village chief and the other man with all their hearts. They knew things were going to get dangerous in the village.

Scared of what would happen if the Knight did not arrive here in this village. The village elders trembled in realization. Their face contorting in fear as cold sweat dripped on their back. They imagined what kind of unfortunate end they would have.

“One at a time. One at a time! Ya’ brat! Fall in line before I rip yar’ balls out.” The usually calm village chief roared. His frail hands moved, lifting his cane to strike a panicking youth.

“Move! Move! Move!”

As the old village chief remembered the words and explanations of Madam and Auburn. He couldn’t help but wish that the villagers have one more foot so that they could move faster.

It opened his old eyes to the peril that was about to unfold. A shiver passed through his back. Devilish monstrosities had visited their backyard.

He couldn’t help but shout with zeal. Abusing his lungs just to make the villagers move even a little faster. He regretted that his old throat was not as powerful as it used to be.

On the other hand, the burly old man named Septharion led and arranged the spots of over 70 soldiers. They were under him throughout this journey. He positioned them in various areas of the march, serving as the main escort of the villagers.

He then looked at the villagers with a kind smile, his interest piqued. The man played with his beard. His eyes shone in delight, as if he was a child seeing new toys.

A grin appeared on his mouth.

“Interesting.”

...

The long line of villagers started moving with order and haste. The unsettling howls coming from the forest unnerved the villagers. The source of those screeching howls was sure to be apex predators.

They also knew that the knight wished to protect them by sending them away in another direction. All they could now was follow the knight’s arrangements. They all set their feet towards the Barony of Gisvold.

“Uncle, do you know what will happen to the village?” One of the young men quipped, scratching his head as he looked at the man beside him.

“Ya’ darn brat! I don’t know.” The pot-bellied village uncle tapped his bulging body. He moved his head and gaze at the old village chief and the white-haired old soldier. “Ya’ better ask the old chief.”

“Uncle, I felt very weird hearing those wolf howls?!” the youth said. Every time he remembered those howls, his heartbeats would gallop.

He knew they were running away from something. Along with the chilly breeze and the moonless skies above, the youth felt the omen of danger. It was approaching their little village in haste. The sight of the dark miasma creeping from the outskirts of the village also scared him.

The potbellied uncle felt noxious because of the noisy young man. His patience was at its limits. It was near the tipping point, about to burst anytime now.

He woke up in the middle of the night. Forced to march to the Town of Gisvold unready in the middle of the night. Then, the creepy howls. Now, this clown of a nephew. This clown! Argh!

The exasperating sounds of the craggy wagon wheels echoed as it passed the rough stone road.

“Ya! I don’t know! Ya bratty stop asking questi-.”

“Those are not forest wolves.”

‘What th-.”

Hearing the childish voice, the two villagers turned and looked at the source of the sound. In front of them, they saw a young cute kid, his bluish eyes peeking at them with curiosity. He was inside the shaky carriage in front of them.

The few burning torches carried by the knight’s people illuminated the face of the kid. He had an eye-catching grayish hair. It was something rare in this region, catching the attention of the other villagers.

“It’s the little lord!”

“Where?”

“I can’t see!”

“Aya! Don’t walk on my foot bastard!”

“Brat, I’m yar’ grandpa so what if I squish yer’ foot eh! I’ll even cut it if I want to. Hmnp! It’s useless anyway.

“Calm down! Calm down!” Seeing the gossipy villagers acting up, one of the escort horsemen roared. The roars brought immediate order to the rowdy crowd.

“Don’t rush, we’ll punish anyone who causes stampede here!”

In times of panic, using threats was one of the most effective ways to bring order. Of course, only if it’s used in the right way. The roads were dark, the dark skies didn’t bring any comfort at all to the villagers, making them very jumpy.

They were like cautious rabbits, immediately frightened by any sounds. Any big noises and actions will influence them.

“What’s happening here?!”

The potbellied man groaned, his face pale after being pushed around. He looked at the horseman, pointing at the confused kid sitting in the carriage. “The little lord.”

“Oh, hi Mister. How are you?” Klive said, one of his hands waving at the horseman. His smile was comforting. He looked innocent, just like the horseman’s daughter.

Seeing that it was the little lord, he scratched his head and reply with an awkward smile. “Why are you here, young master Klive? Lady Ciera is searching everywhere for you and she’s looking very anxious.”

“Oh. Don’t tell her!”

Realizing his mistake, Klive bowed his head and said to the horseman.

“Mister?”

“Yes, Master Klive?”

“Can I explain to them first what those howls were? I’ll go with you later.” Little Klive used his favorite weapon—his innocent and cute face.

The horseman smiled after seeing those puppy eyes. He then remembered his child at home and finally caved in. “Fine, but let's at least inform lady Ciera, okay?”

“Kay!” Klive ran inside the carriage. He took up a wooden book from his side and opened it with a grin as he entered the carriage. In a few minutes, he peeked out again from the carriage and faced the villagers. His smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.

“It’s the Death wolves.”

He slowly explained what those beasts were, as if he had known them long ago. With his every description, the faces of the villagers would shift hues from pale to ghost white. The sleepy villagers sucked their breaths in fear. Killing all their desires to sleep. No one wants to sleep now!

The villagers thanked the three goddesses for their luck.

Even the listening escort horseman shuddered. After hearing the records of attacks caused by the Death wolves and the casualties after.

‘But how did the little lord know this? Did he hear it from the Madam?’

The fatalities caused by the Death wolves might not be more than the monster tides. It was a calamity. The description of how Death wolves’ victims died was so gruesome that he almost puke.

“Aren’t you scared, young Lord?” A village youth asked.

“Scared?” Klive's eyes widened. “Why?”

The horsemen couldn’t help but take a deeper look at the excited little boy. The expression of the young boy remained the same, as if he knew what will happen. No panic or fear... as if he was nothing but a spectator.

The little lad was... a monster in his own right.