CHAPTER 1.8

 Weapons were unsheathed at the sight of the arrivals. The environment quickly became hostile.

“One step closer and you're dead!”

The ladies looked at them, disgusted by their presence. Daito stood beside the administrative head like a scarecrow. The ladies shifted their focus and directed it towards him.

“It is him! The village purger!”

Grips on their weapons tightened. Stories of his purging had been circulating around the close circle of villages, merchants who were traveling through multiple villages brought stories along, stories of how a ruthless man was running amuck. They were ready for him, all they were awaiting were the go-ahead orders from their chief and they would let loose on those two intruders.

Lady Melo finally appeared from amongst the crowd that was building up in front of the entrance. She hoisted her hands high and shouted her orders out, forcing the soldiers to disengage.

“At ease! These men are not here to fight!”

She casually walked up to the two men and turned back to face the confused crowd. They eagerly waited for her next words.

“By order of the Master Heads, I have been instructed to let these people search our village…”

The chants intensified, some throwing hand gestures towards her.

“You would allow these two filthy men inside our village?”

The chanting continued.

“It is not my decision. These people are in suspicion that I might be hiding something. I want them to stop pointing fingers at me. It was by order of my superiors that they are here today and search for whatever they are looking for. The easier we make it for them the quicker the search will be and the sooner they will be out of here.”

“You heard what the Lady has said. This is going to happen in every village, not just yours. And you are no exception so either you let us do what we came here to do or you answer to the master Heads.”

The crowd fell silent after the chanting melted away. Melo turned her attention towards the two once more.

“You better make this quick!”

“That is the plan, we have other villages to get to so I suggest you make this easy for us and we will make this easy for you.”

As they were entering the village through the pathway at the entrance, Daito abruptly stopped. He had his gaze fixated on a young girl that stood amongst the crowd, at the front of the pack. She tried to squeeze her back into the congregation but it was so compact she couldn't find a way through. It was a long awkward stare down. Alvatrone was steps ahead of him when he noticed he wasn't walking with him, he turned back to see what was going on.

“Hey! What is the matter?”

Daito did not respond. He kept staring at the young girl. Lady Melo noticed the situation and paced over to him. She stepped in front of his line of sight and stared him down furiously.

“I said do what you came here to do and get the hell out!”

Alvatrone walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder severally, “What is it you that you saw?”

Daito paused for a while, confused. It was as if he was trying to remember something but nothing came to mind, his eyebrows slithered across his forehead persistently as he placed his palm over his forehead. He flinched momentarily before his expressions faded. He turned back to Alvatrone and said, “Nothing, I just had a mild headache.”

He walked away as if the encounter never happened. Alvatrone took a long investigative look at the spot where Daito’s eyes were fixated and he saw nothing, only unrecognizable female faces that stared back in wrath. He decided it was not worth his time and walked away, lady Melo let out a sigh of relief, she looked back and the girls smiled at her slightly, assuring her that they had taken care of it. Lisa gasped heavily, she was frightened and eased at the same time.

She had been standing in front of the crowd, trying to get a good look at the visitors when she saw her big brother. She looked into his black eyes devoid of emotions, he was not the same person she knew. As he looked back at her she was frightened by that face, all she wanted to do was get away from there. For a moment it seemed as if Daito had recognized her but it too short a moment to be sure about it.

SALS VILLAGE IN DISTRICT DARK

Reene and Robert Townsdy were resting at the porch of the headquarters. It took them a while but they seemed to have fit into their assigned positions well. In Alicia's absence, they had been appointed by her to oversee the affairs of the district. The two twins Valmon and Salron were at the outpost.

One soldier burst into view, sweating profusely and panting like a rabid dog. The two got up from their seats and walked swiftly towards him.

“Hey! What's the problem?”

“You have to come, there is someone who appeared from the forest. He said he was from North Angus and he was sent here.”

“Where? Where is he?”

“At… at the outpost with the Portriesse brothers.”

Reene and Robert dropped whatever it was they were doing and dashed their way to the outpost, leaving behind the exhausted messenger. On arrival, they were met by the two twins at the entrance.

“What, what the hell is going on?”

“It’s a stranger. He just appeared out of nowhere from within the woods and began shouting like a madman. Some of the soldiers saw him and arrested him, brought him to us here at the outpost.”

Valmon said.

“What did he say, did he say where he was from?”

“Apparently he is from North Angus and he was sent here?”

“By the tyrant?”

“He hasn't said by who. He didn’t get the chance to, once he got here he just lost consciousness and collapsed.”

Robert and Reene tried to make their way into the infirmary but they were pushed back by the twins.

“Not yet. The physicians are with him right now and they told us to wait outside. His arm was severed and he lost a lot of blood. They also think the wound might be infected. They said they’d tell us when it was safe to go inside.”

The State Guards stayed outside, waiting for the physicians’ approval to enter and confront the visitor.

FLOWER GARDEN

“Are we finished here?!”

“Yes, I think we are.”

“Great, now can you two please leave my village!?”

Alvatrone and Daito, after an unsatisfactory visit, turned towards the footpath leading to the entrance and continued their walk towards it. Before they got too far Alvatrone focused on Melo one last time before leaving.

“I know you are hiding something Lady Melo. Sooner or later I will get to the bottom of it.”

“Well, let me know when you do. In the meantime can you stop wasting my time and get the hell out already!”

Alvatrone chuckled before resuming his exit. She was relieved that Drom left that morning before their arrival. He was well on his way to Free State. There was a village situated near the border. The same village was where Lora and Jrue grew up in. He would soon come to meet someone there, someone who would be significant in his journey to the Forgotten Temples.