The Liberty of the Night

It was almost midnight when the sealing ritual was finished. Alicia was quickly escorted back to her house where she was greeted by Daisy and the other maids who were expecting her arrival. They tended to her needs, gave her food, and supplemented her with what she wanted and needed.

By the time everyone was finished everyone quickly went to their rooms and slept, except for Alicia. The room filled with wonderful decorations and furniture that befitted her family's name was illuminated by the light of the moon as she stared back at the eyes of the moon that constantly gazed at the land.

She was sitting on her large wooden chair near her window with her arms on the ledge comfortably placed and relaxed. Her tender yellow eyes were stuck to the moon. She was reflecting on the ritual about how it came to be, why it all started, and why she had to do the ritual once in a full moon. Feeling distressed about everything and things are uncertain for the future, she just watched as the moon's gentle somber gaze struck.

'I wonder if I have to continue this forever? Or rather I fear what would happen if I failed to do the sealing ritual' She said inside her s she felt sad while thinking about this thought.

She was anxious about how many possibilities would hinder her progress that would be clouded by fear and the unknown,

"Arthas, huh, I wonder if you are also keeping a secret more difficult than I do? Well, you are a man full of mysteries anyways. Not to mention, you are foul-mouthed and rude as well." Her voice carried exhaustion and pressure.

Her face was a bit frustrated as she remembered her conversation with him downtown near the marketplace. Along the way she was having fun as she walked with someone that didn't know her, someone who wouldn't think of her as something worthy of marriage due to high status, or be overly exerted with respect and grace because of her family lineage.

"Hmm, I wonder what he meant by being careful? Will something happen later in the morning? I wonder, hopefully not, I'm already tired from all the fighting."

With a deep sigh, Alicia thought about the possibilities as to what his words could mean, although she didn't want to accept peace that easily everyone around her was starting to ease in. As much as Alicia wants to acknowledge it, she knows that it wouldn't be that easy. Knowing this she had to stay vigilant.

"They all gave up too easily, I don't think that they would back off without a reason, Arthas, whatever may come, I hope you'll be here to help."

She didn't know why but she has an unknown urge to trust Arthas even though they just met and they didn't know much about each other. All she knows is that her feeling is telling her that whatever may come or anything that may come, Arthas would be able to help.

'Well, I just hope you can help us this time if something happens' She whispers under her breath, seemingly waiting for something to happen.

**********************

"Oi, be careful with that. Hey, and you take care of this, make sure that it would be safe away from rats and other animals. You, there, gather some people to cook, arrange people to proceed with the plan of bringing everyone together food, and prioritize the children, elderly, and the woman. Oh, and Moltar"

"Yes, sir. What can I do for you?" He readily replied and approached Arthas as fast as he could.

"Just call me Arthas. You seem to know most of the people here, will you be able to organize a team of diligent people to rally everyone into place? I want to restore the chain of command, bring Maria with you, she'll be able to increase the trustworthiness of others."

"By your command, sir Arthas!" Moltar asked no questions as his determined and stern face was looking at Arthas as he follows his command.

Moltar placed his right-hand palm on his chest and enthusiastically replied.

"Hey, aren't you being too submissive to commands? I heard this village was led by you, and what's with this cloak what does it symbolize anyway?"

"Sir Arthas's words resonate with everyone and is the savior of the village. Also regarding me being chief, I lost that position the moment I failed my village. And the cloak…Well with full honesty, it's nothing special"

"Nothing special? Why were the people in Alcemia looking at me like I destroyed their city?" Arthas was a bit irritated by that reply, probably from the lack of sleep or out of pure annoyance.

"I use to wear that cloak a lot and soon became my symbol, they probably thought that I died and passed on the role of the chieftain, or you are my son that would soon lead this village into prosperity" Moltar replied in a rather, soft and nostalgic tone as he said so.

"Yeah, fuck that bullshit. I'm only temporarily here, so you'll have to take the lead at some point in time"

"I'll keep that in mind, well then I shall proceed with your orders"

"Mhmm…Also, Shuna, come here for a moment"

"Yes?" She was surprised and her head tilted as she replied.

What responded to Arthas was a teenager wearing a dirty long gown with a sleeveless tunic. She had a small face, pure white and dazzling, clean and smooth. Her dark amethyst hair was styled in a ponytail, it was dirty but it dazzled in the night as it glimmered through the darkness.

"Can you call gather women and separate them into groups that would attend to the children and help the men in cooking? By the way, the name's Arthas"

"Umm…Sir Arthas, how do you know my name?" She inquired and asked in a confused tone.

"Maria told me who you were"

"Maria?"

"The Krypten over there that helped during the evacuation"

"Krypten? Is that what they are called? That's cool. So do you communicate with her through speaking the same language?" She asked in an excited tone as her eyes sparkled.

"No, we communicate by feeling. Also just do what I told you already"

"Alright, Alright…Thank you for saving the village though" She said in a soft but gentle voice.

With that, she went off to the others seemingly doing what Arthas ordered her. He looked at her with interest as he remembers what Maria told him after he came home from the village.

Around thirty minutes or so, he finished buying all the supplies he needed. There was too much so he planned to buy a cart but that would be too much, He then heard about the large crates that the military used for their defense against some kind of siege and brought him an idea.

In the dark hours of the night when the city was still lively and bright, he was outside searching, after searching for a long time he was able to find large wooden crates surprisingly it was near the entrance, far from the portcullis but quite a distance from the city walls, to carry everything he needed.

The city was quite loose probably because of the mood and atmosphere but, the entrance wasn't heavily guarded and he was able to go right in, same way as he went in he got out one by one carrying everything by hand, people were looking at him suspiciously but went on with their day. Everyone was so busy, drunk and would continue to live their lives as they were.

Arthas didn't know what was happening but he was sure that something big happened to let them do a celebration until the light of dawn. He was lucky that whatever event is happening allowed him to sneak in unnoticed and unwanted from the wonderful atmosphere.

It took him quite a while but he got it all by the large crates and was ready to go. Except he didn't have the means to carry it or did he?

He summoned Morpheus and made him carry the crates by wrapping the rope over him body and made carry it all, dangling down to its side. Once everything was there were at least 8 large crates dangling around him.

It was fortunate that the color of Morpheus was black otherwise they would have been caught easily.

When they set off for the village they were going at a pace slower than what they started but it was necessary due to the supplies they were carrying. Every time the stomps of Morpheus were heard the ground would shake and the trees would clear the way as he walks the forest.

That night unknowing to Arthas, the legend called The Liberty of the Night was made. Sounds of roaring stomps were heard. It signified freedom, liberty, and courage.

When Arthas came home, Maria gave him the rundown of everything and particularly about an interesting girl named Shuna. He was quite impressed by what Maria told him, in the end, he was more determined to make this village back to where it was and make it stand up for itself.