THE LOST OF DESTINY'S SON

The boundary was still buzzing with movement. It acted as a sort of gathering place for merchants from all over the independent states, where they could meet and commemorate their inter-State journeys. Thousands of immigrants attempted to start a new life within the confines of anarchy. The Defectors state's ruthless boundaries hosted an unbiased living standard. Defectors' State condition would be the ideal illustration to explain the concept of hideous living conditions of life if there was such a thing. Capitalism sucked life out of the earth, encouraging wealthier individuals from other states to easily stroll into a refugee camp and acquire it without having to follow any legal procedures. They would then chase away every living soul in the area and transform it into whatever they saw fit, with the majority opting for a plantation.

Not to mention the putridity drove every figure of authority in that state, including the army. The army in defectors' state was an embarrassment, pawns to be exploited by the powerful, or better still, the riches the wealthy flaunted in their faces. They were used as power instruments for nobility and leaders. They carried out nearly every despicable act that the wealthy wanted, from extorting refugees to destroying homes and villages. They were also known to carry out assassinations.

Having said that, the army was the one constant aspect that favored the rich's unruly behavior that led to the State's current condition. The army also had ties to the notorious Defectors state black market, which sold everything from magical relics to slaves.

Alicia stood at the end of a line that led to the gates, where the Knight guards would allow official entry into Defectors state. She was dressed in her formal North Angus Honorary State guard uniform, which included silver armor and a dark purple cloak, the official color of North Angus and a symbol of royalty.

The refugees were being treated harshly by the knight guards, which drew her attention. They pushed them around and yelled at them like a pack of stray cattle. She was disgusted; she had never seen such heinous mistreatment of innocent civilians, not even the servants in North Angus who were mistreated in any way.

One of the knight guards stepped out of the small shack where people submitted their verifications to be allowed passage into the State. He walked out and began flaring his arms out and arching his back as he stretched. He howled like a rabid canine.

A bottle of liquor was lying on one of his hands. He drank from the bottle for a lengthy moment before wiping his chin with the sleeve of his bulky shirt. He smirked as he glanced about, disrespectfully watching others. When he saw Alicia, his grin disappeared easily, as if to imply he had seen a miracle.

His curiosity got the best of him, so he approached Alicia to test his suspicions.

"Is this true!? Are you from North Angus, lady?"

He staggered as he managed to compose himself before approaching and questioning her.

"I am. My name is Alicia Iko, and I am a member of the North Angus Honorary State Guard core."

"Excuse me... Please excuse me, Miss. I was merely... Just as I was about to close up, I see a once-in-a-lifetime occ... occurrence."

His slurred voice made it difficult to comprehend what he was saying but Alicia was able to pick out a few sentences and put them together to try to make sense of it.

"Well, why don't you come in, we only have a couple of bottles left, and they won't finish themselves, you know."

"I'd like to warn you that drinking while on duty is against the rules! I report directly to the king, And I'm writing a report to him. I'm here on a very important mission, now sir, if you don't mind, can you tell me where I can find your superior?"

"Oooh, the little princess is having a grand time. Don't presume I'm stupid because I'm intoxicated... a fema... female State Guard, come on! I may be The Vurhanil King's mother."

Alicia grew enraged. She scanned the man from head to toe, realizing what a weak stance he was standing at. she seized the man's left arm, dragging him closer to her. She yanked him back and pulled him to the ground. The inebriated knight guard lost control of his body. His foot dislodged from the ground, and he plummeted, landing flat on his back with all the force of his fall. He puked up the alcohol that had been flushed down his throat. He struggled unsuccessfully to stand up with the oxygen knocked out of his body.

He was about to unsheathe his sword when he spotted the official king's seal on her breastplate; it appeared that the fall had restored his senses.

As he struggled to his feet, he coughed uncontrollably "I'm sorry ma'am, I was just kidding. The state guard is at the shelter."

The entire audience roared in awe. Alicia took her bag and went right into the hovel, where she noticed a middle-aged guy seated at the far end. A stacked stack of papers sat on the table in front of him. He inhaled deeply and placed his pipe on a tray on the table.

"Was it Alvatrone or one of the Herman bald bastards who taught you those moves?"

He then burst out laughing incessantly.

"Are you the one in charge of this undertaking?"

"I like to think I am... who's asking?"

"My name is Alicia Iko, and I'm a state guard..."

"Yes, I can obviously tell; it's plainly written all over your dazzling costume. So, what are you doing in this landfill wasteland as a high-ranking North Angus officer?"

"I'm here at the king's request. This is a critical task, and I need immediate entry into the state!"

"What school did you attend as a child? You're a state guard. A passage ticket isn't required, You are free to come and go as you want!"

He took up the pipe and lit it again.

"Oh, That was not something I was aware of..."

"Then you must be a royal, for certain people don't travel often enough to be conscious of those things."

"There's one more thing. I'm not fond of how you're treating those people out there..."

"Look, miss," he said as he stood up and went to the door, "you do what you came here to do, and I do what I came here to do, got it?" Why don't you come and do it yourself if you don't like the way we do it around here? Now, here's your route... go ahead and do what you come here to do, and don't forget to leave a gift when you're done, okay?!"

When she stepped out of the hovel, Alicia picked up her bag and gave the guy a cold stare. She knew she didn't have time to argue with a fool like him. She walked through the door, whispering to herself as she began her descent through the state of Defectors.

She could faintly hear a man shouting at her from a distance, away from the hovel.

" When you arrive at the headquarters, leave a note for the secretary. Garwin said thirteen hundred and fifty, so tell her that."

"So who are you, bird head, to give me orders?"

"Oh, just do it, you obstinate teenager! It won't harm you in any way!"

Alicia pictured herself in Defectors State. It was supposed to be a filthy ruin, she imagined. A disgusting atmosphere unsafe for human habitation. At least, that was her mental image of it, based on its well-known reputation and what she had heard.

Defectors' condition, contrary to her expectations, was nothing like she had imagined. The streets were lined with blooming roses, and the valleys were blanketed with lush grass and a thick belt of trees. On the east, a large rice plantation, and on the west, a vast forest cover untouched by human influence. And the moist air that entered her lungs felt pleasant She reasoned that all the tales she'd learned of that location were only lies designed to scare people away from such a beautiful sight, but the ugliness of this state did not hide in its physical glory, as Alicia would soon discover. Only time would distance her from learning about the darker side of that state.

When night fell, Alicia saw fewer people along the way, and when the land started to be engulfed by the darkness, the few people she saw walked quickly to wherever they were fleeing to. Others didn't even bother to wave hello, and some even sprinted away.

She was perplexed as to what was behind the unrest. The crescent moon hung over her, and vivid dots of stars pampered the sky like a rash. She eventually made it to civilization, but even in that place, there seemed to be no sign of life. The majority of the businesses were closed. She took to the streets in search of a place to spend the night.

She could smell something dangerous in the air, and her instincts were accurate in making her feel that way. She had eventually reached an inn. When she came in with her big purse, the owner was preparing to close up shop for the day. The proprietor gave her a puzzled smile. She quickly stepped up to her, dropping the rag she was using to wipe the tabletops.

"Excuse me for bothering you at this time, but are there any vacancies left? I'm searching for a place to stay for the night."

"Oh, sure young lady. And I'm glad you came in before I shut down. You must be a traveler."

"Please come to reception and I will allocate you a room."

They reached the front desk, where the woman took a key from one of the drawers. She offered it to Alicia.

"Thank you very much, Mrs.,"

"Please call me Hannah, that's what everyone calls me."

"Thank you very much, Mrs. Hannah,"

"There's no need for the courtesy; it's my work, after all. Now go lock up your belongings and take a long shower; I'll be back in twenty minutes with your dinner, as I had some leftovers in the kitchen."

Alicia returned to the reception after moving into her room and enjoying a long, soothing bath. She'd already changed into some more comfortable clothing. She found she was the only one in the reception area as she waited for Mrs. Hannah; she hadn't seen a single person since she arrived at the inn, let alone the whole town.

Mrs. Hannah emerged from the kitchen a few moments later, with a tray of steaming dishes. She put them on one of the tables and asked Alicia to join them for dinner. She also sat back in her chair and reached for a cup of green tea that she had brought to the table. She attempted to study Alicia's expression as she sipped her tea. Finally, she decided to speak out.

"So, where do you come from?"

"Uhm, I am from North Angus," Alicia said after forcefully swallowing the food in her mouth.

" all the way there? In Defectors State, what are you up to? Nobody, particularly not from North Angus, ever comes to visit this place,"

"I work as a state guard. I've come to do official business."

"That explains the shiny armor and sword you were wearing earlier, and it also explains why you were wandering outside in the middle of the night."

"What is the reason for this? Is it inappropriate to step outside late at night?"

"No, my dear, it's not incorrect... it's risky. Have you not heard?"

"Heard about what?"

"There have been reports of people going missing at night in recent weeks. It all began with a merchant going through town last month, and since then, twenty-six people have gone missing. The fact that thirteen of them have been discovered is the most frightening aspect."

"However... they have been discovered, which suggests... "

"They were discovered dead in the woods, their corpses torn apart like rag dolls. Other witnesses claim to have seen a creature crawling out of the darkness and snatching them up."

"What was left of those thirteen individuals was not even close to being considered bodies, more like carcasses. Specialist hunters and trackers had been sent into the forest to investigate, and they came to a conclusion no one predicted."

"A vurhan!"