They are now on the road, heading towards the village. They had been going along the main, stone road for the most part of this trip. Which started from Prinop, the capital, passing through most of the Empire's lands, going through other big cities.
This village was a small one. It had a dirt road, connecting it to the main one, but it was really bad made and preserved. It passed right through a forest, which with its thick vegetation, made crossing it really difficult.
They didn't have a choice, however. It was the only way to the village. So they had to take it.
Now, each one of our heroes, on top of their respective horse, were slowly making their way through. They had been going for nearly ten hours. With no breaks along the way, it turned out to be a really tiring trip.
Mira told them, that it was unavoidable because they were in a hurry. Something that they agreed on as well.
A dead silence had fallen upon their group. No one was in the mood for talking. Andrew, being bored, was looking at the scenery around him. Tall trees planted left and right along the road. The forest spreading at both sides.
Since the moment they entered, he hadn't noticed a single animal passing by, when at the main road, they saw a lot.
That only made him feel even more creeped out about the whole situation. And the dark, cloudy sky wasn't helping either.
That was the second thing that caught his attention. The dark, cloudy sky. When they departed, the sky was clear. In fact, it had been like that since they arrived in this world. With the only exception being their first day here and this one.
A strong wind was blowing, indicating that a storm was probably on its way. The tree branches going left and right, the whole forest battling with the wind, making loud noises.
“ Mira. There is a storm coming our way.” Andrew informs her about his predictions.
" I can see it. We are just there. In a few minutes, we will arrive. There we shall find shelter." She lets him know and then announces it to everyone.
Anna fastens her pace, and joins Mira, marching alongside her.
" Say Mira. Did you notice the weather? Doesn't it seem a little strange to you?" she asks her.
“ It is weird, but not in the way you think. It isn't controlled by magic. It is completely natural. And that's the worrying part.” she says.
It was then that she notices a strange smell in the air. The smell of rain, from the upcoming storm, was only increasing this other smell's tensity. It was weird she thought. But at the same time frightening familiar.
She fastens her pace, almost to the point of running. The others, surprised by her actions follow her. Anna starting to have the same suspicions as Mira, something that sends shivers down her spine.
Their disturbance was clearly visible. And they weren't even trying to hide it.
A few moments later, Ivan catches that smell as well. His face darkens, realising what it probably was.
Alex tries to ask but is immediately cut off by Mira.
“ We have to hurry! Quickly.”
Now at full speeds, they are rushing towards the village.
Andrew can see the smoke, in the distance. But unlike last time, that there were many small ones, each coming from a fireplace, now there was only one. Big and thick, covering the wide area ahead of them.
When the forest's vegetation goes away, they are met with a horrifying sight. The small village that had asked for their help, was now nothing more than burnt buildings and ashes.
Each and every one of them, still smoking. It was done recently, Mira said to herself.
The guys are left speechless. Unable to react, they just stand there, looking horrified at the hunting scenery.
" Wake up!" a girl's voice is heard. " Hey!" Finally getting their attention back, Mira speaks to them.
“ Help us search for survivors. There might still be someone left.”
And with a new goal now, they all scatter, and start looking at the destroyed buildings and under the debris.
" Hey, Mira. Do you think that the fire-goblins are behind this tragedy?" Andrew asks her.
“ I am sure about this. Darn it! If only we had come sooner!” she says in anger.
“ It wasn't your fault Mira. You didn't know they were under attack.”
“ No. But if only I hadn't taken that quest, then someone might have arrived sooner. And then... this whole thing wouldn't have happened.”
Andrew can't say anything to that. If there really was someone, that could have come in half their time, then he would have prevented this. But that would also mean that she had sacrificed all these people, just for her revenge. And if it was Greyo's team.
They continue searching, inside the destroyed buildings. And at some point, someone calls out to the rest.
" Hey, guys! I found someone! Come quickly." spoke Alex.
They all rush to his side. He is sitting next to some debris, a fit hand, sticking out. A very small hand. A very childish hand. Which made Alex, all the more depressed.
He starts pushing them aside, trying to reach to where the hand was. And when he removes the last peace, he is met with a shocking reveal.
A burnt, small corpse, was stuck on the other side of the piece. It's burnt muscles mixed with the rock. Its right arm, that was sticking out, was the only thing left intact.
A little further away, on the floor. Laid a cloth doll. In a very childish design.
" They tried to run. Dropping every unnecessary thing behind." Mira tells him, already standing beside him.
" This little kid, dropped its doll while running. But it seems like they didn't manage to go far." she says.
She looks around. She can see the outline of two more figures, in the debris next to the one that Alex had risen.
“ But... but... it is just a little kid.” he says with tears in his eyes.
“ I know. But what makes you think that they care about such stuff. They are monsters and act as such. They don't care if they kill men, women and even children.” she says tightening her fist.
" But even still. It is... just too much." Ivan says, not sticking around any longer to look at the poor child.
Andrew's face has a mix of both sorrow and anger. His gaze lost in something forgotten. Something from a very long time ago. Mira touches his shoulder, snapping him out.
“ We should continue searching for survivors. If there is anyone still alive, they definitely need our help.”
" I agree. Let's go." Andrew answers her, his behavior not going unnoticed by Mira.
They all leave, but Alex still remains there. Looking at the horrific site. He isn't saying anything, he is just standing there.
“ The poor guy.” Ivan tells Andrew. He nods his head.
" It must be really tough. For god's sake, he might have never even experienced someone dying before. And now he has come face to face with something like that? He must be devastated." he says before he looks at Ivan.
" And how about you? You might have been in the army, but..."
“ It is still very hard. I have gone through special psychological training, but no matter how you think you are prepared for death, it isn't enough.”
“ I see. It is really hard, especially when the ones evolved are children.”
“ I thought at first, that this was just another war, but... this is only a slaughter. These guys, are like animals, and they have to pay!” he says, his sadness turning into rage.
Alex stands up. His face dark and cold. Tears still flowing.
“ You are right. They must pay. I swear... that whoever did this thing, is going to pay!” He shouts, looking at the kid's remains.
“ I promise you, that I will avenge you, and this whole village.” he says, letting the debris down again, creating a somewhat of a grave for the unlucky child. And then he leaves.
Both of the guys are surprised by his reaction, he took it way differently than what they expected.
Andrew joins him, grabbing his shoulder. He doesn't have to say anything else. Alex understands him.
They move on, searching for anything that might give them a hint about survivors, or the attackers.
They eventually reach the center of the village, where a big well is placed. Its wooden roof had been destroyed, and it now looked more like a hole in the ground than a well. Around it, were many houses, now in smoking ruins.
They search inside the destroyed buildings, but they find nothing. That's until Mira decides to look inside the well.
She gets closer and bends over, only to instantly fall back, hitting the floor, holding her mouth, trying her best not to throw up.
Everyone else rushes to her aid.
" Hey, Mira! Are you ok? What happened?" Andrew is the one to arrive first and asks.
In response, Mira just shows him the well.
" That thing... don't look at that thing." she says trembling.
Andrew curiosity overwhelms him, but he manages to control himself.
The others arrive shortly after.
Anna helps her get up.
“ What happened Mira?”
“ I think I found the villagers. Or at least what's left of them.” she says looking at the well.
They all follow her gaze in shock, understanding what she meant.
They all slowly back away from it. No one having the courage to look. All but Andrew, who bends over and sees inside.
As soon as he does that, he puts his hand in front of his mouth to stop himself from puking.
The well was full. Not with water or dirt, but with the remains of people. Pieces of flesh splattered on the walls, covered with blood. A bunch of bodies, one on top of the other, arms and legs poking out. Most of them were really damaged, entire parts were missing, and marks were all over them. Marks of blades and teeth.
Andrew can't look anymore. It's like he is watching a beast's leftovers. All thrown in a trashcan.
But one thing that stood out, was that he didn't see any smaller bodies. Which means that there weren't any children in there, for as long as he could see. Or is he just trying to comfort himself with his thoughts?
He pushes these things aside. The important part was that they had just found where the entire village was.
“ I guess the people we saw earlier were the lucky ones, eh?” Mira asks him.
“ What do you mean?” Alex jumps in.
" The people thrown there were first devoured, then disposed of. So the ones who died a quick death, are the luckier ones."
“ The is no luck in death.” Ivan says.
“ But there is less and more pain.” Anna also joins in.
" So, any signs from the attackers?" Alex asks them.
“ No. But we should call the headquarters quickly. They need to investigate this.” Mira tells them.
But as to answer to her sayings, a weak voice echoes from the pit. It sounded like an old woman.
They all rush to see.
The rest of their team, almost threw up, from the disgusting site in front of them, but quickly got over it.
They look inside the well, trying to figure out where the voice came from. They hear it again, a weak call for help.
They eventually spot a trembling figure at the top of the pile. It is a young woman, with an elegant, traumatised face. Her hair, black in colour, had been torn apart, making her bold on some parts. Her legs had been cut off and she was bathing in her own blood. Her weak voice still being heard.
“ Help... me... please... help... my child” she begs them.
Anna doesn't waste a minute. She immediately jumps in, picks the injured woman and brings her up with her. She puts her down and steps away, giving her place to Mira to help the woman with some healing spells.
Everyone gathers around.
“ Please... save our children.” she pleads.
“ What do you mean? What happened to them, what happened here?” Mira asks her.
“ We... were attacked.” she says while coughing.
“ By who? The fire-goblins?”
“ Yes. But they weren't alone. Along with them was a giant boarman. He seemed like he was their leader. They attacked today at noon. They burnt our houses, everyone who managed to go outside, was instantly captured. We were all brought here, in the village's center. This is where they took our children away from us, put them into chains and drove them away from the village. The rest of us were held here, where that boarman began eating us. He would take one and bit his lower half, legs or arms. He would then throw him into the well.” she says, trying to catch her breath. The storytelling is really taking a toll on her body.
“ This is utterly disgusting! How would someone do such a thing?” Alex asks.
“ They are monsters Alex. Real monsters.” Mira reminds him. “ So. How did you survive?” she asks her.
“ I was one of the last to be eaten. It seems like he was full already, so he didn't bit any organs. And... I was able to see where they headed, just before I passed out.” she says, her eyes starting to close.
“ And where is that?!” Mira shouts at her.
“ North... they went... north to the forest.” she says. Her breathing stops, her gaze goes blank.
Mira stops the healing and closes her eyes.
" She used her last bit of energy to give us this information. We ought to honor it." she says. Everyone agrees.
She gets up and starts walking towards the direction the woman told them.
“ What are we going to do with them?” Alex asks looking at the dead woman and at the well.
“ What do you want us to do? We are going to rescue the children of course.” Andrew replies.
“ I know that. I meant about the...” he tries to say looking at the pit.
“ There is nothing we can do about them now. We have to hurry and rescue the children while we still have time.” Mira tells him.
Alex is trembling. The poor guy she thinks. He is seeing so much death, in just one place. Everyone is hurt by this, especially she. But she must do her best, and lead everyone else.
They leave the village, after she lights up the well on fire, burning the bodies of the deceased as a quick way of disposing them and preventing any diseases from spreading. Then they go to their horses and head over to the northern side of the forest.
At some point, rain starts to fall. It started quietly and lightly but slowly turned into a heavy rainfall. The dark sky rumbling, the wind blowing. It was as if nature herself was angry with what had happened.
“ Don't falter! This is ideal for us!” Mira shouts so they can hear her through the wind.
“ And how is that?!” Ivan asks her.
“ Because of the rain, they will have to find shelter! And while they are waiting for it to stop, we will catch up to them!” She explains.
" Great plan! Let's get going though!" Andrew reminds them.
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