Dirt from Dirt Part 2

The Head guard coughs blood, "ugh- it- wa-s a mistake" as the knight pulls out the bloodied sword slowly from the head guard stomach. The head guard slowly kneels as he grips the body armour of the knight and said with a stuttered voice "Wh-y did I-trust you!?" he then tilt his head at the eyes of Gragas. Soon the vision of the head guard became cloudy and turned black as his body falls on the ground.

Meanwhile, the other 9 remaining guards unsheathe their swords and gripping it tight enough. They look frightened to what they have seen with their own eyes. One guard shouted with an angered tone of voice

"For Lord Cartelan we owe our lives to him, we protect and deserve his gratitude until the end. We will fight for the Cartelan family, we will fight for justice!".

Inside the manor house lady Cartelan would watch from her window as she looks at what's happening outside. She was frightened for her son but also angry at the same time, to what those men did. The ladyship would command Garen to take care of Artirian and move their way towards the secret passageway that was going towards the river.

But Artirian disagrees and wants to fight with her mother. Even though he doesn't know how to, Slowly the Elite Guards would move their way towards the Manor house. All of the shiny figurines were destroyed and smashed into pieces. The lady already knew that this kind of day would come. but this scenario is what she least expected that it will happen sooner.

If the new emperor came into power the Cartelan would be one of the families that would be cleansed she has already expected it. But this was too early because of the lord's influence on other officials in Chain of command. That is why the Cartelan family is also branded as one of the dangerous families in the Divine empire, but because of the betrayal from an ally, it took a befall tragedy to the Cartelan Family.

"MOTHER!" Artirian shouted to the extent of his voice, as he grips Garen's arms and trying to make his way towards his mother. Meanwhile, her mother would be facing the elite guards while holding a sword that she was previously using in her teen years with her was the last two armed guards.

"MOTHER! NO! LET ME GO GAREN!" Garen holds Artirian tightly so Artirian cannot escape from his grasp and as he also would try to pick him up and carry him towards the escape route towards the secret tunnel heading to the nearby river.

Slowly as their manor being shamelessly entered by the traitors of her husband. Her ladyship would grip her sword and fight as an old officer back in the day. The ladyship was a former cavalry unit officer. that is why the ladyship also has a fair share of experience in fighting.

The only glimpse Artirian saw for the last time. was her mother was fighting Gragas in a sword fight and able to win at the first exchange of swords. But, in the end, Lady Cartelan was stabbed from the back by a knight. Then Garen and Artirian have never seen the Manor once again. they go beneath the dark tunnel. they can smell the smoke that the manor house was being slowly burned down.

But the Traitor knights did not give up on the boy that easily. they still tried to find Artirian from the old woods that was a good place to hide and also to other houses that were connected to the main manor house. The traitor knights searched for Artirian but he was not found even the shirt he was wearing.

Then one of the farmers that were willing to help walk towards Gragas and said "Maybe that boy has entered a secret passageway?" The Gragas replied "What secret passageway farmer?" The farmer was stuttering "I-I-It w-a-a-s Lo-ca-te-d there" The farmer pointed out the wood that was being covered by burned wood. The Gragas would look at the farmer and then slits the farmer's throat.

"You two, Head over there and check that place out" Gragas orders. Then the two knights walk towards the burned wooden planks as they remove it they would see a door. "We found it sir!" shouted by the first Knight. Gragas would then walk towards the two knights and say "That wooden door seems to be already destroyed and from what I remember that chamber is heading towards the nearby river."

"Move and hop on your horses and double-check the nearby river. Telasco! get half of your squad and check the nearby river" Gragas shouted.

Garen and Artirian have reached the end of the tunnel. They both rested for a few minutes and sitting on the side of the tunnel. they are both exhausted of that run especially Garen who was trying to hold Artirian. Then Artirian would break the silence and say " I am hopeless now Garen, Why are you still with me?" Artirian was looking at the water that was constantly moving.

Garen ignored what Artirian said and rather answer Artirian in a different way "If you need me young master I'll be at the end of the tunnel exit, I will try to scout first for our safety." Artirian nods as a reply. After a few minutes of being seated on the ground, Artirian would get enough strength to stand up. He walked towards the exit and come closer to where Garen was standing.

Then he looked at Garen and said "Why did they…do that. what have my family done to them Garen…" with pain and anger he said that with a low tone of voice.

Garen replied with a gentle gesture as a manner to calm the boy heart from despair. "Young Master, This continent has been plagued by many occurrences mainly from distrust and misery. As you experience this at your young age. I think you will grow as a strong-willed leader because of this. and Soon Ill see you as a great military officer. Right, Young Master" Garen looked at Artirian and smiled. Artrian felt the trust that Garen has given to him. "Yes, I will."

It was not long then horses would be heard in the near distance dog barks was also echoing throughout the woods that was near the river. Garen looks at Artirain and said "We need to run young master." Garen grabs Artirian arms and both of them started running. Garen then looks back and said "Your priority right now is my utmost importance to me young master. you must be safe."

"Over there! get them!" shouted by a knight who saw 2 people running. The knights were already closing the gap between. but because of Garen witty intelligence, the gap widens again because of a tree trunk he pushed for the Knight to be blocked.

"Young Master we need to split so that we could not get both imprisoned or be killed" Garen stated while they are both running. Then Artirian replied " Well that is your plan" Garen halted form running and pulls out a knife. And grabs Artirian palm "He-y! Ga-ren! what are you doing?!" Artirian would have a scared look on his face.

"Don't worry Young Master this is a good way to trick them." As the palm was cut the blood would drip and then Garen would wipe the blood on his shirt and tunic. After that Garen would remove his tunic and throws it afar. while the shirt inside his tunic would also be covered in Artirian blood.

After that Garen would rip a shirt of his to bandage the cut from Artirian palm and then Garen said while pointing at the nearby village "Young Master you must head down there for your safety, while I continue to run towards the end of this forest."

Artirian would look at Garen with teary eyes " Is this all we can do Garen?" Garen nods as a reply. Artirian would then run downwards the slope and heads towards the nearby village as they both split apart.

Artirian as he goes down of the slope of the forest he would see a hole on the wall of the village. He would then look left and right before entering that hole. As he enters the hole it was an alleyway. and a few boys with ragtag hats would be loitering around.

He continued to walk to the main road and he did not stand out from the other commoners. As her mother doesn't like to make him wear fancy tunics and shirts that is why Artirian has easily integrated within the village commoners.

Artirian then looks around at the village it was lively. The village has stone mixed with a wooden wall, it was not that really developed not like the other towns that his family-controlled and has been taken away. But the villagers and commoners seem to be welcoming. As Artirian tried to reach out and beg for a few copper coins for him to get some loaf of bread and a cup of water to drink. But still, Artirian was losing his strength because of fatigue and pain from his wound. Artirian then heads to one of the open churches inside the village.

He tried to knock three times, but no one answered. After that, he slowly loses his vision and came blurry slowly being engulfed in darkness and his body dropped on the ground. Soon the door opened and the diviner would see Artirian on the ground. The diviner quickly carries Artirain towards one of the stool long chairs and gives some first aid on his wound and check Artirian state. luckily it was only fatigue the diviner felt relaxed.

The diviner would then let Artirian take rest on the long wooden chair. and then place some loaf of bread and a cup of water and put a note on the side. "Good child I am humbly sorry for you but I cannot let you stay in a place like this. I would prefer you to go to a place like the orphanage of Greater Casta near the City of Moon Scar. I have already arranged a plan of visiting there would you like to come? sincerely Diviner of the Church of Lancaster"

After a little while, Artirian has gained his consciousness, And slowly get up while looking around because of his hunger. He then starts to munch on the bread slowly as he drinks the water he has been given. After eating he would read the note and give a soft sigh.

After he read the note, that was given to him by the diviner he was startled while reading the note but his choice was still no. Artirian places the note on the chair and walks towards the door of the church.

Inside his mind ``I'll try to find Garen I'll wait for Garen until he comes back I'll wait for him near the end of the village gate I know he will come...``

After a few weeks of staying inside the village, Artirian became one of the ragtag group of boys that were known to cause trouble inside the village. One time he came across a few groups of orphaned boys who were trying to steal an old woman bag. Artirian then shouted at them "HEY!" The ragtag orphaned boy would then look at the kid who shouted at them. And as they see it was Artirain.

They smiled, "Well...Well...Well if it isn't the leader of the so-called mice?" The orphaned boys would already let go of the old woman bag. Artirian smirked, and then say "Heh is that all you can say?". Then the first orphaned boy would shout "YOU LITTLE MICE RAHH" charging forward as he trying to punch Artirian.

The punch landed on Artirian face and as it landed the force would knock him off on the ground. Then the boy looked down at Artirian then said "What now kid!?". Then suddenly Artirian jolted forward giving the orphaned kid a punch on his stomach making the kid go down in a fetal position "ARGZH!" then that kid would make himself fall on the ground in a fetal position. The other two boys would be scared of Artirian eyes. "Please! No we will serve and you will be our new leader!" The second orphaned kid said while looking at his brothers. Artirain smirked.

After months of waiting for Garen, Artirian learned and gain experience in and out of the streets, as he himself is able to adapt and also founded a group for himself the ragtag group called "The Rats" the children whom he recruited are also the ones that are new in the streets these children are kids who lose their parents from starvation in the village or orphans who seek for shelter.