Chapter 3

After a day of careful and detailed planning, Deca and Tria departed from F city. But this time they are moving on foot. 

Each one of them carrying rucksacks filled with supplies. They are also equipped with their own beloved weapons. Even the freezing climate left them unfazed. They continued to head Northeast, bewildered by the fact that no other creatures hindered their path. The calmness of the surrounding gives unexplainable fear. Day turned into night, footsteps on the heavy snow is the only sound that can be heard. Not even the swaying and creaking of trees. The relentless icy wind blows giving a hair raising echo.

Caius called for a stop.

"We're camping here tonight."

Without further ado, his men started lighting up fire from the woods they gathered earlier.

The dark cold woods finally have a little sparkling light. The embers created a contrasting beautiful sight against the snowy white ground.

Ten grown-up men squeezes themselves beside the blazing flame.

At the break of dawn they continued their journey. With their superhuman speed, they've reach the innermost area of the Eastern part of the North. And there, they are greeted by a scene that they never thought would be possible in this desolate place.

People singing and dancing, long tables filled with food and wine. The atmosphere is full of joyous air.

One of the dancing children spotted them, and points at the place where they are standing. The action of the kid caught the attention of the adults in the village. One by one, they casted them a look of curiosity and fear. The festive air became sullen all of a sudden.

Sensing that the atmosphere is not right, Sebastian steps forward and raises his two hands gesturing surrender.

"We meant no harm, we are just travelers who accidentally passes your area."

The villagers are not well learned people, but they can recognize some common words spoken by the outside world.

Hearing the word travelers, the people heave a sigh of relief.  This is not the first time travelers passes their village, and knowing their God is watching over them, their fear had vanished into thin air.

The Village Chief approached Sebastian and in his broken phrases invited them to join in their celebration.

Caius nodded, signaling Sebastian to accept the offer.

His second-in-command smiles towards the Village Chief and agrees.

"We would be honored to join."

Caius called one of the members of Deca and ordered him to make inquiries.

A tall slender young man bowed nimbly as he accepted the order. Wang Jun Hei, a Chinese descent who awakened the ability to understand all languages and dialect. He can also teleport to a maximum of 500 kilometers. Those abilities enable him to collect more information easily, and aside from the fact that he is a well known hacker before the chaos.

The village chief called all of them and offered the seats on the long table where he sat.

Children keeps peering at them as they slowly sat down. The adults on the village hurriedly poured them wine and offered them foods.

And as expected, the taste are so bland, But the meat really is soft. And paired with wine it tastes doable.

Jun Hei picked up a few apples and took a bite. He's eyes curved like crescent and he slowly let's out a moan.

The guy beside him can't help but elbowed him.

Jun Hei looked at Eric and smiled showing his two dimples.

" What? You should try one too, it is really good." Then he passes the other apple that he's been holding.

He stood up, and started mingling with the crowd. His eyes fell down on the kids running around a dilapidated wooden house. When he got closer, few of the kids tried pulling his clothes, as if preventing him from seeing what's inside. Feeling the aggression of the kids, he stopped and crouch down.

He smiled at the kids and introduced himself using the dialect that the tribe used.

The kids widen their eyes in shock followed by some happy squeals.

"Big brother can speak like us wow!!!"

"Big brother is so amazing!" so on and so forth.

As if feeling more at ease the kids also crouched down and crowded beside him.

*

As the day slowly transcends to dusk, the gray and bright red orange hue gives the heavens a picturesque sight. Gentle breeze blows, scattering the fallen leaves on the ground. The refreshing scent of flowers permeated the air. Birds sings a lonesome lullaby. A silhouette of a young man can be vaguely seen under the eaves of a big and old Cypress tree. He's figure has been swallowed by the tall and lively Miscanthus senensis Zebrinus. As the sun sets and the skies turned into the darker shade of gray, the youth opened his eyes.

*

The lush greenery and the beautiful foliages of the Zebra grass greeted my sight. Such beautiful thing, a seldom seen relief in this turbulent and chaotic world. The sandy and dry desert of the Sahara had become a vast grassland filled with life. The gentle flowing of rivers, the swaying of leaves, the chirping of birds as they nestled in their nests, the call of cicadas in the night creates a beautifully harmonized melody. Such a place is truly a miracle. If only the law of heavens permits, I would be willing to just stay here until the day I will held my last. But I, still have my purpose, a goal I wanted to achieve. I am created between light and darkness, favoring none. I have no place on heaven, and hell abhorred my very own existence.

An angel forsaken by the heavens, can neither become a demon nor a spirit. I've existed since time immemorial. I watched the rise and fall of countless civilizations, I witnessed the extinctions of countless beings. And this time, is no exception. Every beginning will always take the path heading to destruction. The Gods deemed humanity as a garbage that needs to be disposed. Human greed have reached the pinnacle of their very own existence, devouring one another for the sake of power. Such avaricious appetite for strength awaken the Gods desire to destroy.

"Veni ad me, te arcesso Kushim" ¹

Answering the call, a huge black fog appeared in front of the slender youth. It morphed into an enormous serpent, its obsidian scales gives off a majestic glow. Its golden eyes flickers with devotion as it stared at the youth. 

"It's been a long time since I last saw you my liege." a deep baritone voice filled with longing broke the serene song of nature.

The youth caressed the cold scales and stared at the snake's golden eyes.

"Your eyes are really beautiful." The blank eyes of the youth continued staring like he is reminiscing about a distant past.

*

A child born blessed by the Gods shook the entire population of Canopus. A newborn who is gifted with golden eyes shimmering like countless starlight. News spread far and wide, and the child that should have been a dazzling king as foretold by his fate, didn't even have the chance to grow. He's family had been massacred and his eyes had been gouged out while he is still alive. The three months old baby boy had been left bleeding to death. The only thing left is his stubborn incomplete soul clinging into his cold, lifeless body.

Author's Note:

Please do bear with this amateurish writer, I'll continue to work hard.