Shattered Hope.

Unable to watch the brutal scene, Lloyd looked away and closed his eyes. Still, he couldn't block the painful cries of his friend, or of the sharp sound of bone being sawed. What's worse was that he could distinctly feel his friend struggle within his arms.

'Hold on, old boy! It's almost done.' It was unknown whether these words were meant for Gunter or himself.

The others in the crowd, however, were more vocal towards this visceral sight.

"Oh my…!"

"I can't watch this."

"So much blood…"

"Eugh!"

Most turned their gazes away after watching for a few seconds. A few amongst them could not keep their calm and threw up in revulsion. As for Foreman Jason, he was amongst the former but was dangerously nearing the latter stage.

As for the person performing the barbaric act, the young man wore a mask of quiet confidence and calmness. There was not a trace of repulsion within his eyes and his demeanor was entirely still.

Operating the crude saw with his hands, the young man exhibited a sort of graceful aura. With neither a shake nor a tremble in his hands, he moved the saw with utter certainty and acute precision. Rather than say hacking a body, the youth looked like he was performing a craft.

And perform well, he did.

In just a few minutes, he cut through the remaining bone and successfully amputated Gunter's right arm. He then immediately put down his saw, clutched the open wound tightly with his left hand, and used his right hand to tie a tourniquet over the elbow. He had already tied a tourniquet earlier to greatly limit the blood flow but was now doing it once more to ensure that no accidents occurred.

After properly finishing tying up the tourniquet, he then immediately moved to inspect, disinfect, and bandage the wound. The pouch near the youth's waist provided him with most of the articles required to bandage the wound making him almost entirely self-sufficient in his duty. The only time he ever stopped to request the others for something, was when he required a bowl of boiling water to disinfect the wound.

By now, the apprehensions and doubts present within the hearts of the onlookers had diminished by a large extent. Seeing Gunter's body gradually relax was proof of the young man's competence. The crowd gradually felt a budding sense of appreciation and respect grow toward the young man.

Of course, most still stood on the fence and were of uncertain opinions. The young man's unnatural and eerie behavior made most view him in a less than positive light.

After spending almost ten minutes bandaging the amputated elbow and stopping the blood loss, the young man finally stopped his hands and wiped the sweat gathered on his forehead. His bloody hands, however, resulted in blood-stained smears on his forehead.

"Is it over?" Lloyd asked after seeing the young man stop. He still held an expression of uncertainty on his face as he was unsure of how to treat the youth, given their prior conflict.

Raising his gaze to meet Lloyd, the youth first nodded his head and then immediately shook it. Lloyd immediately felt his heart sink to the bottom of his chest leading him to hurriedly ask. "What's that mean?"

"I successfully finished the amputation and properly dressed with some medicinal herbs to prevent infection and boost recovery." While saying so, he raised the amputated, infected arm and put it aside. "Unfortunately…"

The young man pointed to Gunter's extremely pale complexion and finished.

"It seems like he's lost too much blood." He then paused in thought for a second before correcting his sentence. "Correction. He has lost too much blood."

"If left as is, he will die."

Pin-drop silence immediately descended around the scene.

"Wh-what?" Lloyd dumbly stuttered with disbelief. He couldn't comprehend the words that he had just heard.

'He'll die? B-but the poison was stopped! How can he die!?' Llyod was unable, or to be specific, unable to accept the truth.

The bloodstained young man continued to speak with a neutral tone, "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't interrupted me. By delaying the treatment he was harmed."

Lloyd's body quaked seemingly as though he had suffered a blow. He looked at the youth with a face of disbelief before turning back to look at his dear friend's unnaturally pale face. He was immediately overwhelmed with the feeling of guilt.

With tears pouring from his eyes, he thought to himself. 'I-I've harmed you…? Wh-what have I done?'

"Ca-can ya help him?" Lloyd turned towards the youth, desperation evident in his eyes. "Please help him! I BEG YA! PLEASE SAVE MY FRIEND!!"

Lloyd's desperate howls echoed within the quiet cavernous chamber.

Looking at this pitiful scene and hearing his piercing cry doused the rising embers of hope within the hearts of the people within the crowd. A few of them couldn't take the depressing scene any longer and left, while the majority shook their heads and clicked their tongues in pity.

Soon, Lloyd's resounding cries quietened into light sobs. Tears and snot trailed down his face as he hung his head with despondence and shame.

"No… no… no…" He quietly muttered. "Why? Why must this happen to us? What did we do wrong?" While spoken with a low voice, his question echoed within this quiet atmosphere, striking at the crowd's heart.

It was true. Why did they deserve such a fate? Who or what did they wrong to deserve this? Weren't they also people looking to live during these trying times?

The life of these people has truly been depressing in this past year.

Eight months ago, it had been announced that their home country, the Constantine Kingdom, was at war with its neighbor. This not only caused general worry to descend but also halted trade and caused the price of general commodities to rise. Still, it wasn't anything new. War wasn't a concept unfamiliar to these people. They simply went about their daily lives and hoped for the best.

Six months ago, news spread that the enemy had broken past the kingdom's borders. The frontlines had fallen, and the north-eastern lands were being subject to invasion. The kingdom's forces were trying their best to push back the invaders, but the enemy was too strong. The situation didn't seem very favorable for their side.

Still, the people did not easily lose hope and kept their faith in their country. While continuing to hope for the best, they did their best to contribute to the war efforts.

However, only two months later, this hope was crushed.

Four months ago, it was announced that the north-eastern lands were completely lost to the enemy forces. The lords of those parts had largely been executed or had surrendered to the enemy. Just like that, the Constantine Kingdom had lost a third of its total land to the enemy.

Just when the people thought it couldn't become any worse, the invading force, i.e. the Conlixions, spread news that they would not stop until the entire kingdom of Constatine had been invaded. This news caused the morale within the kingdom to sink to an all-time low.

Seeing no hope for the future of the kingdom, many deserters and traitors appeared within the military and political ranks of the country. Its people openly and covertly betrayed the kingdom and caused the invasion to proceed smoothly and with greater effect.

Territories were being lost by the day and people were found surrendering en masse. Towns were pillaged, forts were burned, and cities were destroyed. The armies of the Conlis Kingdom marched ahead fearlessly.

And finally, just over a month ago, the people belonging to House Helm's barony were called to vacate. Thousands felt their final hope shatter and deserted the barony, turning traitors and surrendering to the enemy forces. Only a portion, less than three hundred answered the Baron's call.

And so, Baron Helm personally helmed the retreat and led two hundred and forty-seven of his willing subjects deep into the cursed, Brooding Dark Forest. They then established the quaint, unnamed town and passed their days in trepidation and fear.

"I knew it… I knew coming to this forest was a horrible idea!! WE SHOULD'VE STAYED HOME AND SURRENDERED!!" Unable to bear the pressure, someone within the crowd finally snapped.

"We should've stayed away from this forest! Look at what it's done to us!"

"Sob. Sob. My wife, my child… I'll never see them again! I'm gonna die!~"

"Shut up! Everyone! SHUT UP!!" Foreman Jason snapped and lashed back at the crowd. Taking a few steps forward, he turned around and faced the crowd.

"What da' hell is wrong with all of you!? When did y'all turn into such cowards!?" He roared. With a livid expression and bloodshot eyes, he continued to scream. "Tell me! Were any of ya forced to come here!? Huh!?"

He waited for a response and only received a few head shakes from the crowd.

"That's right! Nothing! The good Baron forced not a single one of ya to follow him! Even when hundreds of those traitorous, cowards scurried away like gutless rats, abandonin' their Lord and betrayin' their country, he never stopped them or denounced them! No, the good Baron had us gather and leave behind an enormous amount of rations so that if they ever decided to come back, they wouldn't have to starve!"

"Say, you stay behind and surrender? What do ya think 'ill happen to ya!? Do ya think that everythin'll be fine and dandy? That the invaders will simply let ya be?"

"NO! They'll burn yer lands, pillage yer wealth, **** yer wives and daughters, kill yer sons, and force yer toddlers to join them! As for you, well…" he scoffed, "I don't have to tell what'll happen to ya."

Speaking until here, Jason halted his speech to give the crowd a moment to ponder his words. After a few seconds of restless silence, he continued once again. This time, his tone was much softer and his words were much less confrontational.

"Look, all of ya have got to stop thinkin about the past. Comin to this town may or may not have been the best choice, but it's the one that we made! Every one of us made it!" He appealed. "Things might look terrible right now, but you gotta look at the good things that happened too!"

"Didn't we have His Highness, the Blessed Child of the Heavens, arrive in our town? Didn't he guide us and lead us to a better tomorrow? For Gods' sake, look around you!" Jason motioned at the cavern and at the various wooden structures that held it stable. "Look at all this!" He emphasized.

"In just a week since His Highness' arrival, he had us accomplish all of this! Could ya imagine the state of the town without him!? Can ya honestly touch yer heart and tell me, that if you hadn't come to this place, you'd have a warm bed to sleep in every night and warm gruel to fill yer belly when hungry? Can ya!?"

Silence filled the cavern once again, and more people answered him by shaking their heads. The expressions of the people within the crowd were much brighter than before, some even possessing smiles on their faces.

Even those naysayers who were crying and complaining about their situation possessed ponderous expressions on their faces.

"That's right! So stop complain' and cryin', and get to work! We've got wolves waiting for us outside! Our food and water are quickly runnin' out! Many of our friends and brothers are suffering in pain! Let's do somethin' about this instead of complainin' to the sky!! YA HEAR ME!?"

"YEAH!!" The crowd replied with a deafening roar.

"That's more like it!" Jason roared back with a grin. He then turned around and faced the pale-faced youth.

"What's yer name, boy?" He asked.

"Heinrich."

"Well, listen, Heinrich. I've had a miracle happen and haven't lost a single man of mine. And I don't plan on starting anytime soon." He then pointed towards Gunter and asked, "Can ya save him?"

Heinrich lowered his head and quietly pondered. After a few seconds of thought, he looked up at the foreman once again and replied, "Maybe. But it's risky and will depend on his luck."

Jason nodded his head at this answer. "Do it, and don't spare a single effort!" He then turned around and walked away.

"What're ya buffoons standin' here for!? I told ya to get to work!"

Meanwhile, Heinrich started to dig through his pouch one more time. His face once again wore the mask of indifference and concentration as he searched through his belongings.

"Found it," he mumbled and took out a certain object. Turning to look at Lloyd, who was looking at him with an expectant gaze, Heinrich spoke.

"Give me your hand. I'm going to transfer some of your blood to your friend."

Heinrich was going to attempt a blind blood transfusion to save Gunter.