37 Apathy
Two weeks after the huge battle between the two armies, Olmaria's forces are marching undisturbed towards the Luberistan's capital. Olmaria King Colton Jerkins IV joined his soldiers after being informed of the astonishing victory.
The army of Luberistan was defeated. The survivors were captured or escaped to hide in the villages. Only a two-seventh of Olmaria's men were killed in the battle. Much of it was part of the rear lines.
The knightly order of the rose rides at the head of the victorious army, protecting the king and the silent general. The little nobles of the territories located along the main road hurry to kneel to the new ruler bringing gifts and promises.
The Luberistan King has closed inside his castle abandoning his people. Fortunately, Olmaria has no intention of looting its new possessions. King Colton IV intends to integrate the territories and increase the welfare of both lands. Already during the advance the wise leader is trying to create bonds in the nobility. Territories without nobles are entrusted to some victorious army officers while the nobles who have made a vow of obedience promise the small estates in Olmaria and the possibility of some strategic marriages. An exaggerated diplomatic work.
King Colton IV himself did not believe he could win. The plan ready in his drawer provided for the payment of a ransom and the signature of an armistice. A practice that lasted for hundreds of years between the two neighboring kingdoms.
In addition, the king was very puzzled to find that much of the merit for the reversal fate of the war is attributable to a small group of mercenaries. Their commander is a very young boy from a remote village of miners.
His most loyal men informed him of the unlikely plan, how the mercenaries resisted holding such a large army, giving them time to wander and crush them in a grip. They also reported the terrible betrayal of one of the officers and how Simon turned into a black demon and killed dozens of enemies included the traitor with his own hands.
Now King Colton IV, General Drevor and his attendant Luc are heading for the carriage in which the young commander is housed. Simon was made to lie down inside this splendid splendid carriage with the royal insignia. On a soft upholstered sofa.
Inside the carriage, sitting in front of the feverish boy you can see Desmond with a worried face, a girl dressed in white, a priestess of the deity of the order and a doctor intent on using him very rare 'cure' ability on Simon.
The door opens and Luc's head peeps out "Doctor? How is the patient's health? The king would like to see him."
The doctor answers worried "These are wounds I've never seen! Skills, enchantments and cuts! If you did not see it with my eyes alive on this sofa, I would say it should be dead."
Desmond careless of the protocols is part of the speech "If they were only wounds he would already be on his feet. He does not want to get up. He thought he had left Selin in safe hands and instead he saw her kill before his eyes without being able to do anything. He is convinced it's his fault. He does not want to wake up. "
Without answering Luc turns to leave room for the King and the General, obviously the two, a short distance, have heard all the talk.
Gregor observes the boy lying down and using a touch of his vocal ability whispers "Stupid boy! Selin died because of those mercenaries, do you think that after you killed Eric, you took your revenge? No, you only started. So get up now, take care of your worried men and get ready to find the real culprits. Who knows, perhaps the king of this nation knows something about it. "
The voice of the general, despite being very low volume, vibrates throughout the interior.
Simon's eyes move but the boy continues to sleep. The disappointed King Colton IV speaks "I would have liked to talk to him. I hope he will recover quickly, it would be a serious loss for all of us."
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Another seven days of march during which Elza never moved from Simon's side. His hand continually caresses the young man's hair. Every now and then the deity tells Simon what happens outside the carriage or some history of the past.
Suddenly one of the wagon crashes in the middle of the road. The wheel seems sunk into the ground. Elza knows what's going on but can not tell anyone. In the army there are no priests of her cult.
Some mercenaries approach the cart, trying to push it forward. The ground splits. The men have time to move but the cart plunges into the hole.
The whole army blocks the march. The officers approach to understand what happened.
A shadow.
A whistle.
The ground seems to vibrate but it is not the sound of soldiers' footsteps.
Fast as lightning a huge mass rises from the hole attacking all soldiers nearby.
The giant beast sprouts from the earth at least twenty meters away. It looks like a big hairy snake. Along the body a series of small paws allow him to dig and move under the ground. The snout is completely hairless and covered with a multitude of small eyes. The mouth is gigantic and with each movement swallows the soldiers along its trajectory.
Elza sees George running before the mercenaries trying to protect them. The first blow throws it away. The impact against a rock makes him throw out all the air in his lungs and slump to the ground in lifeless state.
The worried deity begins to tell what she sees in a confused way to Simon.
Desmond undecided does not know whether to go out to help or keep watching over his friend.
Outside the archers began to target the magical beast. But the thick fur prevents the arrowheads from doing damage.
The hysterical screams multiply.
The boy's eyes start to move.
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Simon no longer feels pain. Darkness and tranquility. Occasionally some voice reaches him. But he never gave in, he knows they are lies invented to confuse him. There he feels nothing, no pain, no memories. Why should he come back?
All the voices tell him about what is being lost, how beautiful the world is. Lies!
Then a voice came close to his intent, Simon was about to give way. Vengeance! But along with this feeling, pain is back too. "I managed for a while not to give up. The pain would come back and I could never do it. It's better here, I can not feel anything here."
Still silence and tranquility then the screams, screams of pain, screams of fear.
George's voice. Elza's voice.
"If I looked only for a moment I could always go back, as long as I do not get involved."
Simon with immense effort manages to open his eyes.
A woman dressed in white, a frightened man hides under the pillows and Desmond is massacring his hands trying not to intervene in something.
Elza looks out the door of a carriage and is talking about something. "Simon! It's terrible, it's eating the soldiers! Archers are useless! "
The pain begins to make its way. But the words of Elza also open the door to anger, dissatisfaction, resentment and sense of duty.
"My men are in danger and I do not do anything as usual!"
Desmond looks at him stunned.
Simon stands up. The head turns. "How long have I been lying? It does not matter."
The young commander gets up and after a moment of disarray opens the door and goes out of the carriage.
A huge magic beast is spreading panic.
Simon feels a huge rage grow inside him. A feeling so great that it seems to explode his heart. So great to overwhelm the pain for a moment.
"Anger instead of tranquility. Let's see."
The boy stands in front of the beast with a worried Desmond at his side. He opens his demonic bag and extracts his trusty magical halberd.
He weighs the weapon in his hands and then a sense of awareness assails him.
First uncertainly then with ever greater security Simon regains possession of all his skills. First a quick run towards the huge beast, then a jump. A quick study of the terrain. A jump to the right to dodge.
The soldiers move around, watching the scene fascinated.
A jump then a cut of halberd. A paw falls to the ground. The beast screams in rage and starts moving faster.
Simon sees everything clear. He is not afraid of dying as usual. If he dies he will be quiet forever but if he survives he can unleash all the rage he carries inside. A fantastic feeling.
Desmond watches his friend, with an apathetic look, facing the threat regardless. He has changed.
Simon teleports along the huge beast with the ability to 'gate' and increasing the speed hits the whole body with the sharp blade of his weapon.
The blood starts to dirty all the fur while the giant struggles.
The frightened magical beast tries to shelter in the recently excavated tunnels but as soon as it tries to put the head in one of these the powerful voice of General Drevor stuns the animal.
Simon's halberd crashes on the neck of the abomination, cutting it in half, two more blows and the head comes off.
Behind the general a smiling king applauds the young "Well done!"
Simon, with his dull gaze, returns to the carriage and lies down sleeping.
