Chapter 27: The tale of the red cloak

[

There was a cloak

Blood, it was soaked

Flaying people like games

And always seeked fame

]

A song that I often hear when I am at Nakitel.

I don't know what he seeked for.

Everytime, I hear it, I feel sympathy for that mad man.

The light of campfires softly sings a song of tomorrow.

Endeavour, dream and money.

But what they don't know is that there are two threats that can lop their head any time soon

That <Silent Leaf> undead and the sandfolk nearby beside me.

Shak! Shak! Shak!

The blade sharpening sound

Thack!

The sound of venting anger on wood.

They have all the tools to kill the undead. Hammers, maces, swords, shields, stakes, nets and bolas.

"Jehidas, why are you here?"

"Chasing after that undead"

"What purpose?"

"He annoyed me so I must get his head, his soul and his existence out of this world"

"How so?"

"He showed up at Nakitel and his voice was trying to make me kill all the citizens of Nakitel. And I can go relentlessly until a lake of blood is formed. You want to see that?"

"You are lying."

I stand up and slash a nearby old tree. It leaves a huge mark

"This is proof that you shouldn't make me your enemy." I sheathe my dagger

"That tree was old. I still doubt" She shrugs

"I can't fool your eyes," I shakes my head ", I am sure that your institution is telling you to run now"

I let out my murderous intent. It is quite heavy to the point that many people here can't move a muscle. My bloodlust is not from a human but rather a drake lord.

"It really told me to run but I am not gonna abandon my comrades here. I rather die than letting you kill more of us" She stays strong

"Amusing. I guess I should help you out a bit"

****

We prepare some traps, arrows, stakes and flammables. That undead should be done for. 43 of us can handle this.

"Jehidas, why don't you consume these people? They are weaker than you"

Shut up

"Isn't it very tempting to kill these ones? Some of them are worthy enough"

Shut up

"Don't you remember those dwarves who hunted you down, Hiwan?"

Shut up

"You can't stop me. I am your maker, your superior and your consciousness. I am your soul"

Shut up!

I broke the stake I am holding.

Damn it

I grab another one. My compulsion acts up again.

Luckily, there is no sign of that undead.

Isn't he one of <Silent Leaf>?

"He is here! The stench is near! On guard!" I yell out

"It seems that my luck ran out once again heh? Not bad for something non human like you" the undead emerges from leaves.

"Jehidas, did he tell the truth?" Narla raises her sword against my neck

"Jehidas, interesting name. I am telling the truth, that person there is not a human nor a living that I know" the undead cleans his bow

"Narla, he is lying" I raise my gun out

Bang!

"Quick but not good enough, Mister Strange One" He rushes closer to us

I pull out my dagger and try to stab his neck.

I miss. His sword is now right on my torso but Narla blocks his arm movement.

He seems hurt from that shock

She knocks him with her elbow, he stumbles.

"After this, I need to know what you are, Jehidas. Right now, this damned thing is our common enemy."

The others seem to be frozen by the fact that it happens quickly or they are hesitating to rush out for a surrounding.

Narla quickly whistles out. The others surround us, they are tempting to attack the undead and it seems that they are quite doubting me.

We rush into the undead.

Periodically, we attack him from everywhere so he can't escape again.

****

It seems the battle is settled

The dust is clear and the undead is now fallen. I stand exhausted mentally and they are exhausted.

I take the crest from that undead to do a further examination.

"Jehidas, was he telling the truth?"

"The proof you need is the fact that I can bleed like a normal human being right?"

I slit my finger. It oozes out a bit of blood that I prepared before. I knew this would happen someday. The blood is from a nearby carcass.

"I believe you for now. Any trick, you are dead no matter how strong you are."

"I swear in the name of Lamento"

I raise three fingers up.

****

We prepare to get back home. We shake hands and depart.

I am in the Nakitel group and Narla is in the Galima group.

While the Nakitel group is getting on the track, something catches my interest.

There is a great wooden tomb on the side. It seems like it was carved by a dwarf. No, that is clearly dwarven rune marks.

I can feel there is a soul, no two souls are struggling with each other. One is trying to break free and the other is trying to hold it down.

Perhaps, that soul which is trying to escape is the red cloak, since I can feel his murderous intent to kill all the races. It can make animals run away, human's legs shake, drake be on guard and giants be humble.

Speaking of murderous intent, I can sense one coming this way. He is targeting me. I signal the others with a whistle that there is an incoming assault.

"HARGHHH!"

I knew he would use a spear, aimed for my head. But I parry it with the tip of my dagger and put my gun on his neck.

"Well, well, well. You finally show up heh?" I am ready to pull my trigger

"You have the nerve to put this on my neck, don't you?," he smiles ", my fellow murder"

"You too have the same to say that to a murder like me?"

I was a bit wrong, he takes the form of a saurian. Flexible, expertise in spear and ambushing.

"I knew you were there, but you didn't raise your dagger against me. I figured that you were oblivious but when I attempt to ambush you once again, I was right, you are a dangerous murder that needs to die"

"Long talk huh? Let's see if you can"

BANG!

Missed, it went through a bit of his scale. But fear not, I put my dagger right on his neck right after the shot. The others seem fine with me handling this.

"Let me tell you a thing. I know you are a sandfolk. If you want me to expose you right here right now, raise that spear on me. If not, back out" I whisper

"Fine, I will take my leave. But beware, if you lay your hands on the innocent, your souls are mine. Even if it costs my secrets, I will take your damned souls" he replies in the soft wind

He backs out.

I signal the others not to pursue him.

****

Finally, it is Nakitel. We go on our own path.

"Jehidas, tell me. Don't you desire some pain from the Nortus?"

Damn it, not again

"Jarek, you knew those who led to your dear village in flames"

Shut up

"Hiwan, don't you think it is time to flay those Nortus one by one?"

Shut up

"Dasmuth, don't you think those Nortus deserve to eat hot coals until their last breath?"

No! No! No!

"They are all your faults, Jehidas. Those lives, they demand vengeance"

NO!

I run back to my home.

Slam the door, throw everything in my room everywhere just to vent anger.

Stab the door with my dagger and finally sit down after few dozens of strikes.

It hurts

It hurts

It hurts

Stop bringing those memories back. I am sorry for y'all.

I am sorry for being ignorant. I am sorry for not being a brave man.

****

Morning.

Another forsaken day of my existence.

Every time I kill or finish someone, I put a smile on my face, but the smile is not a smile of being happy but rather a smile to cover my own pain.

I want to forget all what Nortus had done to me.

I want to follow that lazy old fart's advice.

But now, my evil side is telling me to kill Nortus after sleeping for years.

I told it to stop.

Telling me what to do

Telling me to kill Nortus

Telling me to flay Nortus

Telling me to let Nortus die in the most gruesome ways.

I can't shut its mouth.

I can't stop hearing those screams of the others.

Now, my resolve is to be stronger, be more reasonable and be cruel if they are indeed evil. I will even kill the current king if he is doing something wrong once and will display his head on top of the castle as a reminder. Not even king can live after doing such evil things