The Safe Zone Compound

The safe zone compound— A massive wall, 30 metres high and stretching 200 metres in length, offered refuge during these tumultuous times. It had a storehouse of rations for at least two months for everyone. Except from the storehouse. The walls have existed since the time Murk came into existence. According to the scripts, it was structured by the knights of that era. 1000 years ago, when they built the gate. A vital lifeline in the face of chaos. 

Stepping inside, I was met with a different kind of panic situation. Tears of people frantically flowed as they searched for their loved ones. Their cries echo through the enclosed space. Some, gripped and losing themselves in agony for the lost lives of their loved ones by those creatures, screamed in despair. Tensions flared as people confronted knights, demanding answers.

"WHERE IS THE KING???"

"WHY ISN'T HE AND THE ELITE KNIGHTS DOING ANYTHING?"

"AND WHY THE GATE OF MURK IS OPEN"

"IS IT TRUE THAT THE SEAL OF THE GATE IS BROKEN?"

"AREN'T YOU GUYS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT IT??"

"ANSWER ME, YOU USELESS KNIGHTS!!! GODDAM IT!"

At a distance, I saw one more lady from my neighbourhood yelling out.

"THEY ATE MY SON...SOMEONE...OH GOD...WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW???"

The situation here is indeed grim, and because of so many anguished cries and tearful outbursts, Ron and Nina looked at each other with uneasy glances. Their hands started trembling in my hands, and tears filled their eyes.

"M-Mom..." said Nina, thinking about her parents.

"Nina.." I said, looking at her with a warm smile. "You too, Ron. Don't worry, it'll be okay. Let's go inside, where it's a little calm."

They didn't say a single word in reply; they just nodded while sobbing. They are strong kids, holding themselves as much as possible.

We made our way inside, with my focus on finding a more secure spot where Ron and Nina could feel a little bit comfortable. After a two-minute exploration inside the compound, I saw one group of children sheltered by three knights and an elite knight. It seems like they have taken separate measures for children who don't have guardians with them. We made our way towards the group.

"Hey Ron! Nina! Here.." One kid from the group recognised them and called. It's probably their classmates or friends.

"My honourable knight, I am Eleanor j'Arc, daughter of Arno j'Arc. Last year student of the Knights of Ashura Academy. These two kids are from my neighborhood. They have been separated from their parents. Please keep them safe with you."

I said while bowing and placing my hand on my chest to show my utter respect to the Elite Knight standing before me. She was a female herself.

"Raise." she said.

I brought my gaze to her level.

"You can leave the kids here; we promise to take care of them." she said while smiling warmly at me.

"Thank You."

"You sure look a lot like your father, Eleanor." she said.

"You know me?"

"Yes, I do. BTW, I am Rose. Your dad and I sit in the cabinet meetings together."

"I-I see..."

"So finally, he passed on his Witchcraft to you?"

Witchcraft? I remember the knight from earlier seeing Dad's chained knife in my hand and calling it Witchcraft too.

I held it firm in front of me and slowly answered.

"Yes.."

"He always wanted to give you that."

"What? Really?" I was surprised after hearing that.

"Yes. He used to come up to me and other knights all the time, feeling all confused and always asking what he should gift you for graduating as a knight. Most probably, before your Infusion ritual, he was planning to give it to you."

"I see.."

"He always believed that someday you'd surpass him."

Hearing that, I felt happy.

"And I assume he asked you to do something."

...

I looked at her with a silent stare. How come she knows?

"That's how he is. We will never understand him or what he is saying until it all ends. It's like he already knew everything before it happened."

"By the way, my dad. He is dea-"

"I know."

Before I could complete my sentence, she answered as if she were expecting it. She kept staring at me. She was calm with her words, and her eyes were filled with sympathy for me. 

"He was indirectly talking about it last time when we met. Though I ignored it, thinking he was joking." She said.

He was talking about it? About his death? How much does she know? I was getting confused, and questions were about to arise.

"You—" I said.

"Glad to see that you are alive, Elea." 

That straightforward voice...quirkyness in the tone... I recognised it in an instant. The person I was with a few hours ago. I turned my head towards her.

"Marie.!!" I hugged her tight, bursting in tears.

"Ouch* little slowly..you'll choke me dead..Elea..Bleh*"

"I am glad to see you too." I said.

"C-can you first let me..I c-an't breathe." Marie said it, tapping on my shoulders repeatedly.

"I was wishing so badly that nothing should happen to you."

After a few seconds, I realised she wasn't replying or saying anything.

"Marie, why aren't you saying anythin-" I said as I let her go and instantly realised the reason for her silence. And I was choking her badly.

"I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry." I kept bowing in front of her as she was coughing out a white fuss.

—

*Sigh**

"Seriously, I am glad to see you, Marie. Everyone in your family, okay?"

"Yes. They are all okay. There was a knight patrolling in my vicinity who notified everyone from the locality, and we all evacuated before those weird-looking pieces of sh*t rushed in."

"I see."

"It must be the same case with your locality, right? Your dad was home too."

"..."

"How's your family? and Elyana?"

In those moments of silence, as Marie asked about my family, I just lowered my gaze and made a pathetic face, remembering it all.

I didn't even have to explain; Marie, within a few seconds, caught my emotions and hugged me.

"It's okay, Elea, Tell me everything later."

"Hmm.." I nodded with a faint smile.

—Just then, a knight rushed inside the compound, banging through the door.

"Arolt...What happened? You were supposed to be with the King, right?" One of the knights asked him.

Everyone stopped on their toes, looking at Arolt, who came rushing in like that. Everyone assumed at once that he had landed on some information. Suddenly, there was a complete silence inside the walls.

"Huff* Urghh.. It's.....Huff*...over." Arolt said.

"Oye..Arolt..what do you mean by it's over?"

"Huff* They...they all...c-came..people looking like devils; other than the creatures outside, they were capable of speech; they made their way inside the palace; and..."

"And what?"

"The King...is..dead."

"HUUHHH? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING AROLT."

"They killed him and that man in the red coat. He ate the king's heart in front of my eyes." He answered, petrified, looking down on his feet.

Everyone was uproarious. People started losing their hopes. A few fell to the ground.

The air became thick with confusion, and it seems no one has a clear understanding of what's really happening and how they'll find a solution for it.

The king is the strongest person in the kingdom. If he is dead, then who'll protect us now?

Suddenly, my head started hurting, and flashes and images of what Dad said started falling before me. I sat down, holding my head.

"G-Go inside of it..Murk...They came from there. This world is done...You will find your answers in the Murk...Do not wait here any longer. Just run inside; you'll know once you keep going."

Yes, I must go. This world is done, and the only way to understand everything and the keys to solving it lie inside the Murk.

In the middle of the panic of the compound, I rose with determination, gripping the dad's Witchcraft. The resolution in my eyes mirrored the glint of the blade.

"Umm..are you okay, Elea?" Marie asked.

"Marie, I have to go."

"Go where?"

"Inside the Murk."