Chapter 21: Calm before the storm

Back in the End of The Line, the medic sat in isolation, contemplating of what next to come. He was to lead what was left of the 23rd Chapter. The young man could not comprehend why such a decision was made.

What exactly did Captain Meredith saw in him?

The medic never had training as an officer, the medic barely even made past the physical tests. While he was certainly adept with a weapon, his deformity did not allow for strenuous actions for an extended amount of time. A soldier without endurance. But it was not out of a lack of effort.

Left as a child in front of an orphanage, the medic was one without a family name. That by itself condemned the baby to a life of hardship. His kind was not welcomed, too unpredictable they said. But the medic was different from his peer, as he was also born with a deformity. He could not control nor feel half of his face, letting snots and saliva dripped uncontrollably. It also clogged one of his windpipe, severely restricting air intake.

With such conditions, none would ever take him in, even the more questionable elements. Thus the boy roamed the street as a shadow, surviving on scraps and drinking puddles. A wretched existent. The boy would spend most of his time, simply observing others, trying to survive till another day. For what, he did not know.

The young man had his answer as one day, the 23rd Chapter marched through his street. They were the embodiment of discipline and might. But he did not care for one bit, as his eyes were glued upon the man who led them. Captain Meredith, also one without a family, who rose from nothingness.

That very next day, the young man applied to become a knight. They frowned upon him, and for good reason. Despite training harder than everyone else, the young man could not compete physically. If so, then he shall become a medic.

But now, the young man was the acting leader of the 23rd Chapter.

A baffling decision, but he trusted in the late Captain. The medic would lead his people to safety, no matter what that would entail. After devising a plan, his people was ready to move out. The main bulk of the 23rd would focus on recuing the prisoner. A smaller detachment, composed of more veteran members, shall focus on reaching a post outside of the meadow. This group shall be guided by Snowdrop. It was tough choice to make, but as the leader, the medic chose to trust this raider.

But before they could move out, there was another matter to wrap up. It was the people of End of The Line, they needed to be evacuated. Yet, they were forbid from ever leaving, or else their curse of infertility shall be spread. The Doctor was adamant such a thing was not possible, but an order was an order. And the medic chose to ignore it.

He met up with the mayor, discussing on how to evacuate the people. But he did not expect the answer she would give him.

“You all are going to stay!” The medic was taken aback. “But we won’t be able to wipe out the raiders. After we leave, they will surely overrun this place.”

“Then we shall die.” The mayor replied calmly.

“With all due respect, I cannot accept such an answer.” The medic objected to that idea.

“It was a decision all of us had agreed upon, ever since you knights first appeared in our town.” The woman sat explained. “Look around you, we do not have much time left. We have lived a life, one filled with ups and downs but still a full life nonetheless. None of us would want young blood to be spilled so that we can live just a bit longer.”

Even if the people of End of The Line decided to be evacuated, the remaining force could not guarantee their safety. There was not enough people left, it was that simple. Sometimes the right choice to make was clear as day. But it would still weight upon the medic.

“If that is your choice… I shall honor it.” He answered.

The mayor still had one last thing to ask, however. It was her people only favor, one that she shared. “I only have one thing to ask of you.” She said, not as the mayor but as a mother. “Please take care of my daughter, unlike us, she still has a long life ahead of her.”

“I will, miss.” The medic promised.

With that done, it was time to move out, the 23rd final mission. In their last ride, they shall be accompanied by the Kid and her mentor, along with the Warden and X. Although the Doctor was not in any condition to fight, but his insight would prove invaluable.

___

The group marched towards the forest, weapons in hands. Their eyes darted around nervously, waiting for an attack that was yet to come. It was impossible for a group this large to move around undetected. But splitting up might spell doom as they would be easier to conquer. Every single moment was nerve wrecking, yet nothing happened.

They arrived at the forest in one piece. But this was now enemy’s territory. At any moment now, a monstrosity could jump out and torn them to shred. While the medic’s tactic had been working out so far, it only worked when there was enough space for defensive maneuver.

Now, the knights’ lives were in the hands of those not part of their rank.

“Are you sure?” Jaren asked his companion.

“Yes, yes, yes, of course I am.” X replied, annoyed at the constant question. “If I can sense anything, you will be the first to know.”

Her curt response did not help much to ease all the troubled minds. The Kid placed her hand on Carina’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I also can’t sense anything lurking yet.” Hearing that, the young scout breathed a sigh of relief.

X looked at the two, muttering. “What with the discrimination.”

The knights moved on through the forest, slowly cutting away the branches as they passed by. A sudden crackling could be heard and a dozen spears were immediately pointed at the source. It was just a bird, spooked by the march.

“Move.” The medic ordered. “Be careful, we are nearly at their base.”

His words were quickly passed down through the ranks. Before moving out, the medic had created a system of communicating order efficiently on the field. While such a thing was a part of their training, it did not account for skirmish that required constant adjustment. With a network of officers and those that would replace them should they fall, orders could be issued through the whole Chapter in an instant.

Their march was stopped as X immediately jumped forward with her hand ready on the hilt for a quick draw. The Kid also stood still, holding her hat with one hand while the other hovered over the big iron on her hip.

“This presence…” The girl wondered out loud.

It was unlike what she had ever felt before. The presence was faint but no doubt of eldritch nature, it weakly emitted a sense of serene like a flowing river. It was enough for the executioner’s eyes to glaze over. This would not be a prey that could bring any semblance of challenge. Its power dwarfed by even the mindless abominations.

The presence soon arrived in front of them with hands stained red, it was not what they had expected. It belonged to a man of contradiction. His figure and bald head suggest one of primal power, yet he dressed in a finely made coat, adorned with gold accent. The man’s skin was of a greyish color, akin to the toughest boulders. Yet it was also fragile, cracking all over. Most striking, however, was his bloodshot eyes. With red veins so pronounced, one could easily mistake them to have red sclera. But they were also calm and peaceful.

“I was not informed that you would appear.” The Doctor stepped in front of the group. “Is this an ambush?”

“I assure you not, as much as I want to wring your head off right now.” The man replied with a calm conviction. “But there was a change of plan. Madam Mandrake had proved to be more devious than I ever thought she was to be capable of. All the remaining Mutants were already turned over to her side, since when I do not know.”

“To think that someone could even betray Rohan the Adjudicator.” Doc muttered.

So this was Snowdrop’s benefactor, the one who easily killed the Mutants’ patriarch in one to one combat. X remembered the Doctor earlier and scoffed. This Rohan did not seem much of a threat to her. But perhaps his power lied in that weapon strapped to his back. A two-handed sword with long straight blade, yet it was only slightly wider than a longsword. The guard also rounded instead of a pointed shape that would be suited for locking blades.

“I have been blinded by my quest to hunt you down. Because of that, such a plan could be hatched under my watch, causing much pain and suffering.” Rohan replied. “I shall offer you all my help to right this wrong. To prove my commitment, I promise to give you three days of reprise, Doctor.”

The medic was uneased by this sudden development for good reason. The first stepped they took was already fraught with challenge. But the Doctor assured him of Rohan’s trustworthiness despite being the subject of his hunt. ‘The Adjudicator never lied’, Doc said.

Still torn, the temporary captain decided to trust this stranger. Without outside help, his knights would be food for the Mutants. Whether he liked it or not, the medic must accept the dubious help.

Meanwhile, X, who was disappointed by Rohan’s reveal, had returned to bothering Jaren. The Kid was also curious. The Adjudicator looked tough, but nowhere near the level that Doc had painted him to be. The girl asked and the Doctor simply shrugged.

“Trust me, he is a pain to deal with. His skin is bulletproof, for example.”

Despite speaking with a tone most nonchalant, Doc was burning up inside with worry. He did not know if Rohan would turn on them or not. And if he did, the Doctor was in no condition to take the Adjudicator on with his shaking hands. Even before, Doc had to steer clear of this man for a reason.

But most worrying of all was a phrase the Doctor had casually thrown out, ‘trust me’. Despite the Kid nodding, he was wrecked with a question of whether she still believed him. Doc steeled himself, no matter how the girl would look at him, he shall protect her at all cost.