4: fall of the wall

After contemplating the view of the immense horde approaching from the horizon towards the fortress for a moment, I started running to find Gareth.

First, I had to search in the meeting room where I woke up; it seemed to be the place where they gather in these situations.

...

It took a few minutes until I reached the floor where they were supposed to be, but when I opened the door, I found no one. The room was completely empty.

On the way, I also noticed that I couldn't find any servants anywhere; the building seemed abandoned and silent, as if the apocalypse had passed. Ironically, it wasn't far from what was happening now.

In any case, if they were not in the conference room, I should find a guard or someone who could tell me where they were.

So, I headed to the walls, where there should be guards all around.

When I reached the first floor, I took a moment to catch my breath, and as I did, I noticed that no one was guarding the doors of the building.

'I suppose that's normal; no one would waste precious soldiers guarding this place when a horde of creatures is approaching the fortress.'

After a couple of seconds of rest, I ran again towards the walls, which I reached just a few minutes later.

At the entrance leading to the top of the walls where all the social troops were gathered, there were two guards wielding iron spears or some similar metal. Both raised their spears and crossed them to block my path.

They both looked at me simultaneously, and the guard on the right asked me:

"Identify yourself. Normal civilians are not allowed up on the walls."

'I wish I were a normal civilian; I could leave here and do nothing. Too bad I had to go through this damn test.'

"I am Norch, the direct advisor to Lord Gareth. I need to meet with him and was looking for someone who could tell me where they are now."

The two guards narrowed their eyes as they inspected me from head to toe.

Their eyes widened slightly when they recognized me; their bodies straightened, their heads nodded, and both said at the same time:

"We apologize for our disrespect. Lord Gareth is currently at the top of the wall. You may proceed now, please."

I was somewhat surprised by such a change in behavior, but I didn't have much time to linger here, so I simply nodded and ran up the stairs again.

When I reached the top, I was amazed for a moment.

There, along the length of the wall, were many people brandishing spears, swords, some dozens had crossbows ready to use, and in the distant towers, it seemed there were several archers in position to attack. All these soldiers were more than ready for the battle they would face this day.

But my eyes stopped at the tall, robust figure standing in a high area of the wall between two towers. Gareth was looking out at the horde about to crash against the outer walls.

His silver steel armor reflected the sunlight, dazzling me a little. But I also noticed something I had observed before, that strange red cross stained with golden liquid that all the castle soldiers wore on their right shoulder.

But Gareth, he had that symbol on his chest, now shining brightly in the blinding sunlight.

After being fascinated, I began to walk towards him, and he seemed to notice my presence, turning his head and locking his eyes on my figure.

Then he simply looked forward again. I wasn't sure if that meant he allowed me to approach or if I should stay where I was, but either way, I would go to him.

And when I arrived, I looked back once more, and his handsome face was now turned in my direction. When I was close enough to him, he spoke to me:

"Norch, I thought you would leave with the rest of the civilians. It's good to see an old friend's face here. Though it's also dangerous, so you'd better go with the others, you still have time."

For a moment, I really wanted to tell him yes and leave this damned place, but if I did that, the curse would probably throw me into an even worse event than this, so it's better to stay here.

"I can't do that, Gareth. I must stay here; I'll support you from behind as you face these creatures."

Gareth turned his gaze back to the horde of monsters that were already near the walls and spoke again.

"If you're staying here, you'd better have a weapon to defend yourself with."

He turned his gaze towards me and his body turned as well, pulling something from behind his back and extending his hand to me.

In it, I saw the beautiful silver dagger that reflected the sunlight, its blade intricately carved with a serpent pattern winding along the length. In its hilt, smooth leather, well-made and marked with the same cross as the soldiers, and Gareth was on its pommel.

I reached out and took the dagger, which was as long as my forearm, about ten inches long.

"This seems too valuable to give away like this."

Gareth withdrew his hand when I took the dagger and replied evenly:

"It's valuable enough to be a lifesaver for a good friend. Stay, and you'll return it when we kill the tyrant."

I looked at the man against the sunlight, and there was a slight smile on his face as he finished that proposal.

"Alright, I'll use it and give it back to you at the end of this attack."

He turned around and gave me his back.

"That's a promise, and I hope the time doesn't come when you need to use it. You can stay by my side if you want."

With that, a loud noise that could have broken my ear drums snapped me out of my thoughts.

When I turned my head towards the source of the noise, I saw how a section of the great and powerful wall fell helpless before the onslaught of a five-meter creature that broke it without mercy.

It was the tyrant. As fucking terrifying as I remembered it to be, but seeing it in person and knowing it could kill me at any moment, the aura surrounding it was much more fearful.

The creature began to shred anyone who was in its way through the wall and running towards our position.

Behind the tyrant, several dozen beasts fell into the traps I had made, and several died.

'It's unfortunate that those deaths don't count as mine.'

The soldiers waiting on the ground took advantage to kill as many creatures as they could when they fell into the sleeves.

The tyrant moved effortlessly through those trying to stop it and would soon reach the inner wall.

"Move a little, that thing will jump up here, hide or flee, you decide from now on."

With that, Gareth unsheathed his great sword and set himself to wait for the tyrant. Five more came out of various places on the wall and stood by his side.

I stayed behind and then hid behind a wall that rose near the area where they would fight.