Chapter 49

Year 163 – Fall – Quintus Mensis – 18th day

Avem, town of House Kalator, land of the Vale

When Vatra finally woke up, she was alone on a bed inside a wooden room with a thin window letting the rays of the sunlight come through. The town was alive like any usual day.

Where am I?

Vatra was confused and tried to raise herself to see through the window. She had barely moved when a horrible pain reached her waist, revealing a flash in her mind.

Wait, no . . . Ethen! The citizens . . . No . . . Wait, calm down . . . What happened? I was trying to run away, and I got struck by a spear. I fell into the water and . . . Ah . . . It’s still blurry.

She pulled her pillow closer to her back and forcefully raised herself.

My clothing . . . Where are they? What happened? Wait, I know . . . I was about to drown when the shadow . . .

Vatra looked at herself but couldn’t see any trace of the dark presence which took control of her during the night.

Did it save me? Could it have made me run to the next town or village? If that’s the case, how long have I been here? The Kalator could be on their way.

She slowly placed both of her feet on the ground and tried to raise herself. When Vatra transferred her weight on her legs, her vision turned black, and the pain in her waist worsened. She grabbed the windowsill to hold herself while stabilizing her breathing. When her vision came back, she looked through the window to see where she was under the glare of the sun.

Vatra – “I’m in . . . Avem?”

Shocked by what she saw, Vatra lay back on her bed.

They have taken the town and I’m still here. Why didn’t they kill me? Why did they take my . . . Oh no. Not this . . . I can’t end like that. I need to escape.

Vatra forcefully got up again and walked while holding herself against the wall. When she reached the door, she was shaking out of pain yet managed to open it. The pathway seemed empty. She could hear some voices coming from the room in front of her and none from underneath, so she closed the door behind her and walked toward the stairs. She then moved one step lower.

Keep focusing. You can do it.

One step after the other, she was walking down the stairs while holding herself from both sides of the wall. Halfway down the path, she heard the door of the other room open. Her heart was pounding faster and faster. If she didn’t move now, she would be seen. Vatra bit her lips to endure the pain in silence as she sped up her pace. As she reached the lower floor, Vatra kept her motion going until she reached a nearby table. The pain in her waist was getting out of control. She grabbed her waist and felt her blood. A cold sweat crawled from the back of her neck as she released her bleeding lips to breathe. She looked around and saw a gambeson hanging on a pole further away.

This is not where it ends. C’mon! Move your legs!

When she heard the footsteps walk down the stairs, she moved toward the armour. She was feeling dizzy, and her breathing was sporadic. Vatra arrived at the pole and grabbed the gambeson with her right hand to hold herself onto it, but her bloody hand slipped and made her collapse to the ground where she fainted again.

When she came back to reality, she was back inside the same bed as earlier and her wound had been healed again, but this time, someone was sitting on a chair in front of her bed, a man with dark brown hair and profound brown eyes.

Where have I seen him?

Vatra – “Are you the one who healed me?”

Nelis – “Correct.”

Vatra – “Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

Nelis – “Cause you did. In the forest, when you had been attacked by the wolves. You’re starting to have quite the debt toward me, don’t you think?”

Vatra – “Why do you keep saving me?”

Nelis – “Because of Lanaya. She hasn’t forgotten about you since the woods. She still wants to recruit you.”

Vatra – “So, you’re saying I’m not a slave?”

Nelis – “Well, that depends on you. You’re not forced to join us.”

Vatra – “As if I’d choose to be a slave again . . .”

Nelis – “Well, since you intend to join, I suppose proper introductions are needed. I’m Nelis, second-in-command and sorcerer of the Silver Lining.”

Vatra – “You’re the one who blew up the fort and butchered everyone yesterday?”

Nelis – “That was two days ago, and I didn’t take pleasure in it, if it can help my case.”

Vatra – “It doesn’t.”

Nelis – “Anyhow, what’s your name. I can’t recall it from the first time I saw you.”

Vatra – “Vatra. Vatra Xīwàng.”

Nelis – “Were you a soldier of House Valmai when we first encountered you in the forest?”

Vatra – “Why do you care?”

Nelis – “It’s a question of trust. Besides, I’d like you to look into my eyes when you’re answering.”

Vatra then stared back into his eyes with an angry glare.

Nelis – “Were you a soldier of House Valmai when we encountered you in the forest?”

Vatra – “No!”

Nelis – “Then why did you choose to stay instead of following our advice?”

Vatra – “To go where? The Kalator killed the only people who cared for me. Besides, I didn’t have the food to travel further.”

Nelis – “Once you became a soldier, you could have deserted.”

Vatra – “They killed the deserters.”

Nelis – “You’re lying.”

Vatra – “And what about it? I’m sure you’ve got your secrets.”

Nelis – “Try not to move too much this time. I might not be there to heal your wound if you reopen it.”

Exasperated, Nelis stood up, opened the door, and left the room.

Vatra – “And if I’m hungry?”

Nelis turned around and looked at her.

Nelis – “I’ll bring you something to eat later today.”

He closed the door and walked down the stairs. Vatra then closed her eyes again in the hope to recover from her wound faster.

I won’t fail my pledge, Ethen! But I’ll branch off the path we expected.

After a long wait, Vatra slowly entered into a deep sleep. She was walking on a road during the middle of the night when she heard whispers behind her. Vatra turned around, but nothing was there. She kept on walking on the lonely road when she heard a voice more clearly.

The strange voice – “Their fate cannot be avoided.”

Vatra turned around again and saw the moonlight being swallowed by the night’s veil. She took her sword out and listened to her surroundings, but this night was empty and calm. After a while, she dropped her bag on the ground. She took a few dry leaves and two wooden sticks to start a fire. She placed the dry leaves and the first stick on the ground before rubbing the other stick on the first one, spinning it between her hands. In an instant, she smelled the smoke of the charcoal and kept on spinning the stick until the first flame appeared, revealing a horrifying sight. All around her were laying hundreds of dead corpses wearing the faces of everyone she knew.

Vatra woke up in shock, full of sweat and breathing heavily. The sun had fallen, and she could hear the voice of a few men talking on the floor beneath her, from which she could recognize only one of them. Next to her was waiting a stew made from potato and red meat. Realising it was just a dream, Vatra took back her breath and began eating the cold stew.

Jowrik – “How is she?”

Nelis – “She woke up for the first time today. She was quite weak, but she’ll get better.”

Jowrik – “Did she eat?”

Nelis – “Yeah, a little.”

Wait, there’s another wounded?

Jowrik – “I don’t know how to thank you, Nelis.”

Nelis – “Well, about that, there might be a way.”

Jowrik – “I’m listening.”

Nelis – “The new girl is a little . . . let’s say . . . wild.”

You bet!

Jowrik – “You’re saying she’s like Petra?”

Nelis – “No, not that kind. She’s more like a frightened rabbit.”

What? What does that even mean? That’s . . . no! That’s not true. Is . . . Is that what I sound like? I’m pathetic . . .

Jowrik – “I see. But how am I supposed to help you with that?”

Nelis – “Well, if you’re able to tolerate Petra, talking to her should be easy.”

Jowrik – “Not necessarily.”

Nelis – “Why?”

Jowrik – “I’ve known Petra for as long as I can remember, so there’s a stronger connection between us than just personality. I don’t see her character the same way you do because I know exactly why she’s the way she is. Anyway, I’ll give it a try tomorrow, but I can’t promise you anything.”

Nelis – “Thank you.”

Jowrik – “I’ll go sleep with the others. You should do the same.”

Nelis – “Yeah, I will . . . soon.”

Jowrik – “Right, sleep well on your chair then.”

Nelis – “Good night.”

Jowrik – “Good night.”