Chapter 9: A Warm Welcome

Prego and the others witnessed the devastated state of the port town. The pungent smell of decaying organism lingered in the air. And what lies before their eyes were their slain brethren.

Prego fell into his knees. Blood were splattered from everywhere and the bodies have started to rot. He can only imagine the terrified faces his people made, their agonizing shrieks, and their helpless cries as they were running and murdered.

Conrad, Prego's childhood friend and private corps Captain, is a good-looking man, dignified, and powerful. His tanned face and chiseled physique make him even look stronger.

From their childhood days, Conrad swore that he shall follow his friend anywhere it goes. He saw that his friend Charles, no, Prego, possess the essential requirement to be a leader.

Though Prego will not inherit the village, his very existence is so important to it. He still has a big role to the village and Conrad is very much willing to serve his best friend. That was his selfish thought when he was young.

But upon seeing the destroyed port town, his murdered brethren and his friend who have fallen to his knees, he was struck by reality and was once again reminded of the time when Prego returned from his studies only to mourn the girl he dearly loves.

Upon seeing the crying face of his best friend during Mona's burial, he weeps in despair. He thought he will follow his best friend, help him in his responsibilities, but now he left him struggling in carrying his burdens alone. He had miserably failed.

Now that he saw the blank stare of his best friend, he wondered to himself if he truly ever shared his best friend's worries. Has he failed again?

The other five men were in utter disbelief. They can't help but feel worried for their families. However, they have not hoped for a miracle that they could be alive. Seeing the state of the port town, it was hopeless.

They can only tighten their fist and wallow in despair for they cannot do anything to help their fallen people. Blood drip from their fists as their nails dug deeper into their palms.

Anger swelled in their heart and wrath is slowly consuming their minds. Right now, they wanted to rampage, wreck anything, and slay anyone just to appease their violent rage.

Trying to calm their feverish desire to destroy, they vowed to exact revenge.

They collected the bodies and prepared a grave. The cliff to the left side of the port town served as the mass graveyard. They offered prayers and set off to the village.

Their territory is the entire island of Carcassonne. Their group will need to pass through the fields where the island grows its crops. The wide fields are what separates the port town to the north and the village at the center.

Travelling by horse, the wide plains, were already in sight. Usually, travelling from the port town by carriage will take a day. The road is rough and uneven, and if unlucky travelers may encounter beasts along the way. But they're quite weak so it's not dangerous. It will only take some time to defeat them.

However, they were again welcomed by a barren plain. The plants have withered and the land has dried. There is no presence of water like it has not rained for forever.

The flourishing local vegetation is nowhere to be seen. And the farming village was annihilated as well.

They quicken their pace, advancing farther towards the center. It was almost dusk when they reached the sorceress village. It was devastated like the other two they passed, with blood splattered on the road and broken walls. However, not a body was found.

They cannot exclaim a breath of relief because they are bothered with the enormous dried blood on the stone paved road, bloody scratch marks on the walls, and bloody trails of something being dragged.

The center of the village have several bloody wooden model of a cross. With that in sight, their last bit of hopes fled completely.

Even their fountain with a Sage statue now stood headless.

Walking towards the village chief's house, Prego and the others didn't expect much only to get it shattered after a while.

But they did not truly expect it to see a bed lying atop of the hay. Children clothes hanged on the window frame being blown by the wind gently. A small bedside table is placed meters away from the bed. It has several fruits and properly washed tableware.

Surveying the house, they found an underground passage that seemed to be the family's secret room. It was opened however.

Did the village chief's family survive? Or were they found out? They really don't know.

Nightfall came and what took their attention is the eye-catching light from the hill beside the village. They ran towards it and hear a small burst of laughter.

Their hearts were gripped by its sudden tightening. Their agitation is clearly visible on their faces. They followed the aisle lighted by torches on its side. And upon reaching the top, there at the center of the wooden circular altar sits five little children.

They were sharing laughter over a simple amount of bread and butter, an apple they divided proportionately for each other, and a warm glass of water.

The mere sight of the five children took their budding rage out of their system. They don't even know what to do if insanity took over their minds.

The laughter of the kids died down upon seeing the seven newly arrived unexpected guests.

But it was the adults who expected it even less to see those five attractive kids. Their eyes fell to the most familiar faces among the five, it was Elisha's.

'Elisha-sama.' They said in unison and fell to their knees.

Elisha, surprised upon seeing Prego and the others, raised to her feet and approached the group.

With a sweet smile that tells them 'everything is fine, you did good', she finally said, 'Welcome back.'

With only that warm welcome, the seven have finally ward off their unease.

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