I heaved and took heavy breaths as my mouth started to produce an excess amount of saliva. Branne took out some familiar looking green leaves and stuffed them in mouth. Mint obliterated my sense of taste and sense. The pores across my entire tongue opened up and the air travelling through my nose was now sharp and cool. My actions did not sit well with the people in the room. Combined with the how the doors pounded from the floor below and screams of fright from other witnesses, everyone panicked.

Being attacked was an expected outcome. In fact, when we filled up this library earlier, the guards inside told us not to panic. People, however, don't always act as they should.

Everyone moved all at once. Individuals and families inside the smaller room all rushed out, following the rest of the crowd towards the exit in the back. The several guards inside the building shouted to "not panic" as if it would do any good. Luckily, they were competent enough to realize the futility of their messaging and moved towards entrance and exit of the building, helping guide the villagers. Or trying to, at the very least.

"You wouldn't happen to have any tricks left up your sleeve, would you?" I asked Branne, still chewing on the mint leaves.

"If it comes to it, I will hand you my bag," he said, tapping his cane against the floor. "Take it and run."

"You picked the worst person in this situation to run."

His cane came to a full stop. "That I did. Damn." It started tapping away again.

I braced myself and looked out the window once more and examined the situation between the red and pink mess.

"You know, maybe we don't have to run," I said.

To my surprise, the number of gnolls and hyenas had dwindled down drastically. All the villagers had either died or were fighting against the ones who went to attack the buildings. Only a few guards looked severely injured, and the soldiers from the Oxcross garrison were mostly unharmed. Part of this was in the way they attacked in formation. Each member covered for another, and would then trade blows, allowing a moment of rest in between the chaos.

"I must say, I underestimated the strength of garrison members," Branne said, stroking his beard.

"And no wonder the captain said I was nowhere near good enough. Sheesh. Now I feel bad for Athas. What kind of hellish training will he have to undergo?"

Outside the room, the crowd was at a standstill, chanting about letting them out or whatever.

"And," Syn spoke up, feeling as if it were now her turn to contribute, "That vice-captain becoming a Weaver makes a lot more sense now. The physical training helped, sure, but their formation facilitates a certain flow to the anima within them. With enough time, each member of the garrison will become a Weaver."

"Do you think Captain Tharkun came up with this himself? Or is it some secret ancient technique that he found?"

"How would I know? You should just ask him directly if you're interested."

"You know what? I will."

I coughed and almost swallowed one of the mint leaves. Although a pleasant flavor, I decided its use for now had run out and aimed to spit it out. However, after looking around and not finding an appropriate place to throw it out, I picked the green wad out of my mouth and placed it in the middle of the round wooden table.

Branne gave me the side eye.

Shrugging, I ignored this, and emptied my waterskin into my mouth. I clicked my tongue as I screwed the top on. Somehow, I forgot the weird chilling effect mint and water had. The previous chanting from the crowd transformed into a unintelligible yelling as it started to move. It was quite confusing on why the villagers wanted to leave the building so much as the guards at the front had done their job and prevented the gnolls from entering.

I turned my attention back to the events outside the window. And I wish I hadn't.

Villagers from the other buildings had already begun to run away. Their existence proved fatal to the fight below. The gnolls and hyenas, still alive and present, chased after the now exposed and unprotected people. This chase, along with more villagers dying, caused even more panic. This left the soldiers and guards in a terrible position. Previously weakened gnolls had now feasted and recovered their previous strength, perhaps even gaining more than they continued to eat. Hyenas evolved into gnolls. Overall, it was a disaster.

"I... might have spoken too soon," I said, my voice quivering.

Branne shook his head. "The foolishness of people cannot be underestimated."

The soldiers and guards tried their best to chase after and attack the gnolls, however, their actions were rendered mute. The gnolls ignored their presence and continued to chase only after the villagers. Seeing such a sight, one soldier blew on a whistle around their throat, and waved their hand, motioning towards the village hall.

An out of breath guard rushed up the stairs and through heavy pants, tried to speak, but failed at doing so.

"Evacuate to the village hall?" I asked, based on his hand movements and what I saw earlier.

He gave me a thumbs up.

Branne tossed him his waterskin and spoke up before he could leave. "Catch your breath. We'll inform anyone left."

The guard slumped to the ground and nodded his head.

Moving with Branne, we informed anyone left in the building. Most had left long ago. Some had stayed. Some returned. It didn't matter.

I walked outside, my teeth chattered. Mixed in was a putrid and pungent odor mixed with a sickening sweetness. I regretted not keeping the mint in my mouth. However, I had no time to turn back. Everyone inside, along with the guards, kept as a loosely formed group, running straight towards the village hall. An idea which could have worked, but the bloody crowd made it impossible to maneuver through.

Branne and I eventually split from the group as the guard from earlier tagged along. We ran continuously, as stopping at any point would result in death. Unfortunately, the cold air on exasperated my already poor condition.

I still continued to run, but started to fall and stumble behind. I didn't want to stop moving, for I knew what would happen, but, no matter how much I knew this, my mind and body just—refused. I didn't stop, but instead, moved at a slow walking pace.

Ravenous noises grew louder and closer. I turned my head and notice that a gnoll noticed my condition and rushed towards me. Branne and the guard had already made it many feet away before they noticed the lack of my presence. Without any hesitation, Branne actually started to run back towards me. The guard, surprisingly, did the same.

"Syn!"

"It's all on you."

I clicked my tongue and picked up my pace. At the same time, I began to cast [Spectral Snap]. Before I knew it, the gnoll was here and jumped next to me. My fingers snapped as a dark light manifested in my left hand. The gnoll took up most of my vision at this point, making the aiming part of my attack not a problem.

My mind raced, but only half of it. The other half was oddly calm. A nervous grin crawled across my face as I flicked my hand. The dark light traveled in an instant and quietly exploded. The gnoll groaned and slowed for but a few steps. Its entire body now right on top of me. Not giving it time to attack, I swung the sword I took earlier upwards. The shakiness in my hand made it miss entirely.

The gnoll stuck its face in mine. It opened its gaping maw and snarled, shooting spit all over my face. Now, up close, I realized I was right. It was much more frightening. Its head dropped down to bite. I brought the sword in from the side and slide it in place of my head. The gnoll's teeth obliterated the steel. Small shards flung out, with some grazing my face.

At the same time, I prayed to any god that was willing to listen, and activated [The Fool]. The card appeared in my hand and left, all in the same motion. Within it, I willed the strongest spell I had, [Lightning's Ark]. The card narrowed and transformed into a white line which struck the gnoll square in its chest. The gnoll whimpered as it staggered backwards.

Branne looked at me with wide eyes as he dragged my body up with the guard's help, allowing me to run once more.

A few moments later, I dared to look behind me for a moment as I ran with my hand clutching my chest. For one reason or another, the gnoll didn't give chase.

Seventy-six seconds later, I counted each and every breath. I arrived at the doors of village hall, just barely managing inside before collapsing on the floor.

Heavy wheezes and coughs left my body as I caught my breath. A just as out of breath, Branne slumped beside me. After safely seeing us in, the guard with us actually left through the main doors.

"Don't tell me..." Branne shook his head.

I let out a dry and nervous chuckle. "Suddenly... Athas's... story... is... more... believable," I said, taking a heavy breath between each word, deciding this was the best way to explain it.

"Not bad," Syn said with a smile.

"A not bad is all I get?"

Branne looked back down at me. "What was that?"

I had accidentally said those earlier words out loud.

"Did I deserve to live?" I said, changing my question.

"Who am I to say?" Branne replied. "The only person who can answer that question is yourself."

"Wrong. The correct answer is yes." I pushed myself off the floor.

Branne shook his head. "We aren't out of the woods just yet."

"The situation has devolved into a mess much worse than what we could have ever expected," Cyrne said, walking through the front doors alongside Lieutenant Arie and a few other members of the garrison.

"Glad to see you're still alive, Athas," I said with a sigh of relief.

"I would say the same to you, but, uh, you sure don't look it," he said, scratching his cheek.

Hodgan shook his head after removing his helmet. "Not glad to see me alive?"

"You too," I added.

"And what about me?" Arie asked.

"When did my opinion matter so much?"

"It doesn't," she said.

I didn't respond.

"You said that the situation is much worse even though all of you are here now?" Branne asked.

"We killed all the gnolls at the eastern and western gates with some injuries but no fatalities," Cyrne explained. "Right outside, the Captain and the delegates are taking care of the gnolls. From there, we'll bring everyone outside. However—"

"I didn't like the way you said that, however," I said.

"However," Cyrne nervously smiled as he continued, "One of our scouts reported another gnoll war band marching towards us. This time, they include a number of dangerous threats."

"And the Tamor garrison?" Branne asked.

"On the flank."

I rolled up my cloak and tucked my head into it. "Wake me up when this ends."