Chapter 6

The man asked the details about the city which was captured by the guards. Mathew who was still young, trusted people easily. His sister was older than Mathews and she was very warry of the situation they were in.

The man turned out to be a noble of Holy Kingdom and he took to himself to take care of the siblings.

The impression of the man had improved tremendously. As a noble and priest of the Kingdom, he had sent Mathews under the care for another nobleman. Sara was however, married to the fat priest.

As much disturbing this was to Sikandar who had a taste to modern world, it seemed to be a norm in the world of Mathews.

Years passed and Mathews grew embracing the religion of the holy man. He was brought up with utmost care. The values of religion held more importance than even his life.

As a foot soldier to the Holy Kingdom, he would go to different territories and under the commanding officers, he would shed blood like a butcher.

Time passed and his unshakable faith grew even deeper. It was not just his religion that drove him crazy but also the social status.

He was respected by commoners of his Kingdom. The holy man who was now a husband to his older sister. If he were to show a spec of disagreement, his sister would face consequences.

The holy man turned out to be an even more aggressive right wing follower.

“Burn them all alive, Heretics must die. Burn even the children for the lord cannot save them.” The commander of Mathews commanded.

The foot soldiers eliminated poor people one after another. Those who were captured would then be tied and burned.

There was only scream that reached the sky with smoke. At last, it was Mathew’s turn to put fire on all captured heretics. Not only was it a punishment for the poor people who were captured, it was also a test to foot soldiers. A training to make their hearts strong. The stronger the hearts, the powerful the army would become.

Mathews, with complete control and calmness picked a torched. Proceeded with utmost confidence. There were two things in his mind right now.

He will be promoted now that he have completed several of such tests. With promotion, he will now be able to shift near his sister’s house. She was his only family left after all.

With a grin on his face, he so excited to kill the heretics that he didn’t even consider if these so called heretics were same as him. Humans.

“You all are sentenced to death by fire. For you are heretics, users of magic. Those who look for power other than our god is a Heretic. Your children who born from you will have the same connection to other power source. So they are heretics as well.” Mathews announced.

Justifying his actions with those words, he proceeded with the torch in his hand.

“But we are not mages, there is some confusion” A man from the prisoners yelled with a panic.

“Kyaaaa” the man could only scream in pain.

“Silence Heretic, how dare you to speak in front of us. Even if you are not a mage, you are prisoner of war. You are beyond saving and you shall perish for speaking up to us. Peasants should know there place” Another foot soldier yelled back at the man, slicing his throat.

Mathews proceeded, lighting people one after another. Not caring and also not looking into the eyes of those he was killing. Deep down there may be some kindness in him however, he was trying his best to suppress it.

Feeling if he should revolt like other few who did in past. A human could so long only do enough cruelty.

With Sikandar still stuck in the mind of Mathews, unable to do anything other than observing. Even the former cruel dictator was pissed with the barbaric brutality. Shaking with rage all he could do was scream.

It wasn’t that he was ever kind but the first hand torture and slaughter was very painful even to him.

“What the fuck has this world come to?” Furious Sikandar could only yell.

He may have ordered to attack countries, but he always attacked nations with armies. A fair fight. He truly did believe in fair chances. Not this bullshit.

“Killing people like some live stock is not a true power” Sikandar kept on barking inside Matthews’s head.

The foot soldier however, had long forgotten to listen to his consciousness. Let alone some non-existent being with only ‘read-only’ access to his memory.

Mathews proceeded further to kill more heretics. This time he noticed there were three women. Two of them were holding the third very tightly. The two women were young and good looking. They were holding onto an old woman who appeared to be wrinkled.

Her hair were already falling off and whatever remained on her skull was gray hair.

Mathews, out of curiosity chose to look at their faces once more before he would kill them off.

“Ma….Mathews?” The old woman asked with a confused look on her face.

Mathews immediately recalled who was standing right in front of him. Shaken with the thoughts, he took few steps back. He dropped the torch and placed his hands on his ears.

Wanting to scream but he feels chocked. It was as if he had lost his vocal chords. Instant shock took over his body. The frozen foot soldier then suddenly realized a hand landed on his shoulders.

“What happened comrade, finish the job” the man whose hand lay on his shoulder commanded.

“H….How could she be a heretic, she is…..” Mathews mumbled

“She is what comrade, how do you know her?” He asked raising his voice.

With this Mathews’s tension grew further. He was attracting a lot of attention from everyone. Not just other prisoners, even foot soldiers, cavalrymen were listening to their conversation.

Even the holy man with whom his elder sister was married to was present.

The pressure rose as the commander asked again.

Now the people started gossiping. “To think a heretic infiltrated our ranks” Someone tried to whisper but couldn’t hold it low.

Sweat was dripping down Mathews’s forehead like a shower.

Deep within him, Sikandar was laughing. “You fucking deserved this, you fucking scoundrel” He yelled while smelling like a maniac.

“Thank god you are alive Mathews, I thought you and your elder sister had died when foreign kingdom attacked” His mother said in a satisfied tone.

“Look, I even found your sisters. They are with me.” She added.

A frowned Mathews could only cry further. What an unfortunate reunion this was.

“I… I” Mathews currently dumbfounded could only mumble. The shock was too much to bear.

If he tries to rescue his mother and sisters, he will die with them and his elder sister too will be killed as a descendant of heretic.

If he kills his mother and sister here, he can continue to live a lavish life and his elder sister too will continue to live in peace.

But how could a son kill his own family? Just how?

One moment, Mathews would step forward towards the fallen torch, the next moment he would pause.

“Remember, if you fail to execute them, you will be charged with treason. If you kill them, promotion awaits you and you will become a noble. Take the decision wisely” The commander behind him whispered in his ears.

The commander was now smiling. He had already eavesdropped at their conversation. He knew full well that Mathews was a son of heretic.

There was very likely no promotion waiting. He was basically a source to entertainment. Or maybe he would be forgiven if he really kills them? He counter questioned for the possibility.

Sikandar who could hear Mathew’s thoughts could only face palm with disappointment. “Why am I stuck in this fucker” he yelled looking towards the roof of Mathew’s skull.

“Will you shut up, I am thinking” Mathews said inwardly.

“Eh? You could listen to me? Sikandar asked in an amused tone.

“Of course who wouldn’t listen to such a fucking loud mouth” Mathews thought back

“Since when can you listen to me? Why are you reacting now?” Sikandar asked with a frown on his face.

“Well since I saw my mother. I heard that you were so happily saying I deserved this. I will kill you some day.” Mathew said

“Ah you fucking deserved it nonetheless you fucking brat” Sikandar responded with his eyes closed and smile all over his face.

“What do you know about my life to judge me?” He asked

“I know it all. Your life was like a movie” Sikandar replied.

“What’s a movie?” he asked.

“Never mind that, so what’s next” Sikandar finally coming back to his senses asked.

With a grin, Mathews said “I have a proposal”

A trial brought Sikandar a deal. Was it a blessing in disguise or a test? Sikandar could only frown his brows.

Snapping his fingers, Mathews stood in a different posture now.

Swinging his arms and yawning a little.

“Ah it’s been a while since I have felt my body” Mathew’s lip ends touched ear to ear as Sikandar’s consciousness took over Mathew’s body.

Now snapping his neck and doing sit ups for a few minutes, he looked at the size of army that were looking at him with a confused look.

Had Mathews lost it finally? Will he abandon his life over a heretic? Few questioned.

“So it seems you have made the wrong choice after all you. You fucking son of heretic.” The commander yelled in a mocking tone not noticing the change.

The commander swung his broadsword and as it was approaching the weak point of Mathew’s armor. The neck, which was supposed to be sliced in a flash of second.

The man who was supposed to be beheaded in a moment’s notice.

He was standing, smiling and holding the blade with bare hand. Rather it was just his index finger and a thumb.

The commander’s eyes widened. This person standing in front of him was probably the true heretic.

Even the god would admit that Sikandar was in fact a defaulter. A sinner. These superstitious followers were just pawns and it was obvious. A mage user was one who drew power from other than divinity. They drew powers from mana.

This man, was different. No mana was used. He simply stopped the sword with bare hands. There was no enchantment provided to foot soldiers, no blessings were provided as there was no light around the body.

This man stopped a blessed commander’s sword. With a hand. Commander panicked, leaving his sword he swung back towards his cavalry men. “He is the true heretic, attack together” He yelled with a frowned look on his face.

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