The moon was shining bright this day, the cold breeze of December made the soldiers shiver as they inspected the goods entering the kingdom of Dravem from the kingdom of Morhan on the west. Torch flickering and people passing as their identity were checked and marked.
The commander in charge Captain Cedric, a young man of 19, stands 6'0 tall with a sharp look. He runs his hand through his medium length brown hair, yawning. Wooden wheels rumbled slowly as more goods arrived.
"This is ridiculous, will I be doing this for the rest of my life, was i really meant for so little?"
A graceful young lady(19), with long luscious hair and a composed look replied "You should be grateful we aren't starving, besides you are the Commander of 150 men which is significant in this little kingdom."
Cedric sighs and dismissively waves off "Ahh right… look at our lieutenant.. the fat dwarf eats the whole supply, and our strategist… he is dumber than Torric.."
The young lady with an hourglass figure, shakes her head in disappointment and exhales "does it really matter?.. why are you so whiny.. it's not like we will be seeing a great battle in our lifetime."
"But Selara.. we need to keep up impression or they will laugh at us"
"Always so superficial, either way complaining won't help, if you want things to get interesting you should do something about it I am sure you can" as she rubs her hands and walks away."
A scary looking young man who doesn't look his age (21), a little short with a stocky build walks up as he overheard the conversation "Captain she is right, with your intellect and just a little willpower you could possibly make our kingdom the strongest amongst the six and let your name echo through the known realm"
Cedric Chuckles in disbelief "Well look Kaedric, our kingdom Dravem with its small population, and its weak economy combined with its military can never match Kingdoms like Karven and Zythera, and the only reason our kingdom is functioning at all is because we act as the middle link for trade between Morhan and Valeric."
Kaedric nods in a thoughtful way, curling up his lip he says "Yes exactly that's true but I can still smash their big armies with my sword."
Cedric raises his eyebrows in disbelief "ahhh sure… Kaedric why not smash the big ass walls that surround us on both ends while you are at it … which God knows who built" as Cedric walks away to relieve himself.
An old woman with her little child walk through the gate, the boy ask her mom/grandmother "Wow the huge gate we saw in Morhan, the one they call the inner gate why does it not open" the old woman replied "i don't know.. but the holy book says there is another layer of circular land like ours beyond that gate, and an empire must rise above all the kingdoms to open the gate."
The boy eyes lit up and he replied "Really that's so cool i would like to go there someday, but what about the outer wall why can't we go there" the old lady with a tense face replied "It is said that in the vicinity of the outer wall there are supernatural forces which prevents anyone from getting close to it" the boy now scared "really what are those supernatural forces" the Granny now annoyed replied "you are asking too many questions just walk".
Just then the cold wind shifted, a faint thudding echoed as they saw the rider emerge from the dark. A man rides swiftly towards the group, with one hand holding a torch and another controlling the horse, he rides through the darkness hissing out "Cedric! Cedric!"
Cedric startled, bolted quickly towards the arriving horse "What happened Orlen! Are you alright?"
Orlen (Narrow face, sharp features, keen eyes, 5'10 lean and athletic) catching his breath speaks up his eyes wide open, his hands trembling "You have to come see this!! I don't have time to explain, just follow me" he shifts his horse.
Cedric heart beats faster, furrowed eyes "huh?? Wait up, shit" he climbs his horse swiftly with a sharp tone he says "follow me Torric and Selara."
As they ride through the trade route diverging towards the forested mountain, they find themselves onto a narrow rough path, surrounded by large thick trees. Branches and rocks jutted out from the ground as their horses thud across the path.
Chilling cries for help echoed from somewhere ahead, sending shivers down their spine. Torric (35, 6'7, battle hardened, bald with a scar on his lips) rode faster ahead in front of Cedric "Stay close Captain" Cedric nodded.
As they got closer to Orlen he halted, his horse snorted and stamped, Orlen turning the horse sideways, looking up ahead at the village in the clearing. They caught up and looked, Jaws tightened, eyebrows raised, heavy breathing.
The screams were so loud it pierced through their ears, the entire village was gathered outside with torches, covering their mouths with scarves, just as dumbfounded and terrified. One old woman with a long stick murmured nonsense, her voice absorbed by the screams. What they were all witnessing here felt like hell on earth.
Ten villagers were writhed on the ground, clutching their stomachs as they convulsed. Their eyes rolling wildly, raw rasping sound tore through the air without an ending. Blood gauging from their nose, mouth. And large black sores all over their bodies, helpless against the sickness that consumed them.
One fragile old lady smashed her head on a rock multiple times to end the pain, her skull shattered, her body lifeless on the ground.
Selara swallowed "Ohhh Lord have mercy on them" Cedric takes a deep breath "We must liberate them from their pain, Torric can you do that for me" Torric clears his throats, swallows and tightens his jaw "Will do Captain, may God deliver them from their pain through me."
Orlen cautious, his voice cracked "W-ait, Wait! Don't get too close to them grabbed the spear from its end and don't let their blood contact your body" Torric nodded.