Fᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ, ᴛᴏ Wɪɴᴘᴇʀ Cɪᴛʏ
Edited by the keen Jiem
Characters in this chapter:
Cohen Kheda: The main character.Fischer Sumrs: Cohen's friend, prince of the Swabia Empire.Jack, Marfa, Wilder, Moya: Cohen's childhood friends and firm supporters.
After the farewell, Fischer and I set off aiming for our sole destination: Winper, the business city.
While selecting our horses, Fischer took the white horse regardless of my complaints and kicked with the other stupid all-black steed while comnting that "white suits '.
Was black a thing for ?
Fischer handpicked sixty n from his Imperial Guard Troop (IGT) to depart with us. Nevertheless, I, thought that the na was cheesy. Fischer spent an entire night thinking of the na.
Sixty n were segregated into two teams. One team made holes in the front, while the other guarded the rear. All of them dressed like rcenaries. My n were essentially a group mixed races, thus they looked kind of like they were dressing as hired soldiers.
The identity of Fischer and I were mage apprentices. Thus, we walked in the middle.
"Hey! Whitecloud, no need to hurry, do we?" Fischer gave the nickna for his revenge.
"Bloody Raven!" I said roughly, "Our precious ti is to make money! Now, stop wasting it and shut your damn face!"
We had been advancing in a rush for days and arrived before a grand, barren area between Dark City and Winper. As we ca closer to the coast, even the incoming wind that blew past slt of the ocean. And people of small numbers could be seen every now and then on our journey.
"Young Lords!" An IGT mber rode towards us from afar, "We've got a village up front. Mr. Jack said it's dark. He asked if you want to settle down there today."
"How big is it?" At the soldier's report when Fischer was making fun of Arnold, he resud his seriousness imdiately, "Who's their chief?"
"It's rather small. We've had the chief and making contact!" The IGT man said, "Everything appears to be normal."
Fischer nodded. The soldier made a formal knight's salute and rode away.
"By the way, Cohen!" We slowed down our pace as Fischer asked, "Why didn't you bring Wilder and Moya along?"
"This isn't appropriate for them!" I enjoyed today's sunset, "This expedition wouldn't benefit them much. I'd rather let them train our troops in Dark City, or get scolded by my uncles."
"Then, what about Jack and Marfa?"
"How could you be so stupid!" I said, "Jack and Marfa's personalities won't fit in the army. They could be dium officers of sorts, instead of generals. They are ant to excel in other areas."
"I see… then what kind of a general do you think Wilder and Moya will beco?"
"I think…" The aforentioned small village appeared on the skyline. I gazed at its outline and said slowly, "Wilder will be a leader of craftiness and a nightmare for all who defend. As for Moya, his personality is extrely steady and calm, though well-behaved, however, he's not as stiff. With the help of a fine advising officer, he'll achieve no less than Wilder."
"Is that so?" Fischer was only partially convinced.
"Don't you believe ?" I said, "Let bet on it."
"I'm not betting with you!" Fischer said, "You have no sha in losing."
Before I could consider changing Fischer's mind with an act, I found myself approaching the village gate. Many hardworking peasants were toiling away at the field. Seeing us approach the gates, a few n ca running to notify their chief.
A while later, so people arrived at the entrance. The fat man who was leading the people ca over with an obsequious face.
"Ah! Welco! My complints for… gods! Such events where two esteed warlocks visit our county is unexpected!" Then, he put a hand on his chest and another raised up high to show his courtesy. However, I rely thought that he must have been having trouble on which god to praise seeing a dark mage beside a light mage.
"May the God of Light favor you, man of piety!" Fischer usually was the one to deal with such situations, "We are light mage apprentices. If only our abrupt arrival will not trouble you."
A modest and gentle voice, as well as kind and warm calling forth knowledgeable gracefulness was the signature of any mage even slightly related to the Light Temple.
"Not at all!" The atball said, "My appreciation and tears of happiness to serve heralds of the Light God. Your servant is the chief of this place. My aningless na is not worthy telling you. Your Benevolent Excellency, please grant with a Protoss title!"
(What a disgusting man!)
"Have you gotten a light mage co over before?" Fischer asked.
"My Lords, let see!" The Chief said, "We were all brought and settled here. The village was established in short ti before any Excellencies ca over…"
"I see…" Fischer said with consideration, "We are rely apprentices. Our temple rules don't allow us to grant nas for anyone yet."
"It's okay! I believe in you two Excellencies' potential achievents…" atball said hastily, "There must be a lot of n being granted nas by you two. I suppose we could get that process done a bit earlier."
"Alright, n of piety!" Fischer realized the fact that he needed to na the man in order to enter the village, "As a light temple mage, I shall now grant you Title of Protoss: Imrse Sunset."
"Ah… my, such an elegant na… you have my utmost appreciation!" Imrse Sunset was really tearing up and shivering with gratitude, "Please follow , my Lords! Co in! I will arrange for your dwelling tonight! Please, my Lords, have a seat. Your feast will begin by nightfall."
Fischer and I washed off the dust on us that had gathered on the way and by the ti we were dressed in clean attires, it was already night. A manservant was sent to lead us down the stairs. A bonfire was set up in the chief's yard. It seed like this was the feasting ground.
I left the diplomatic duty to Fischer. I, the quiet dark mage then imdiately sat by a short table regardless of the fact that I had occupied the host's seaf.
"What's up with that Lord… I didn't see him pray before eating." Imrse Sunset's voice was high enough to make hear him. Now, I was eating a chicken leg and feeling very annoyed. What was your business on whether I prayed or not.
"You know, my friend was wounded during a battle with evil spirits." Fischer explained, "So, he was sorta infected by the demons. Now don't you worry too much. He's getting much better. As soon as our travelling is finished, the temple will officially grant us titles and positions."
"Ah! I see! I get it!" Imrse Sunset then called everybody to sit and left after coming up with an excuse
"Where is he going?" I asked Fischer who sat beside .
"He said he's arranging for a show." As a decent light mage, Fischer deserved to be sitting in order.
Not long after, Imrse Sunset ca back with a face full of smiles. Before he managed to sit down, he clapped his thick and fat palms three tis.
"My Lords, we don't have much good stuff here. But, I sincerely hope you enjoy the show!"
Right after his clapping, a few young girls stepped out from the corner of the yard with decanters held in their hands. I couldn't see their faces by the dim camp fire clearly, but I was sure that they were human beings.
"Your Excellencies!" Imrse Sunset turned his body, "This wine is all that we have. My Lords, please make do with it. Forgive …"
"It's alright, we'll be leaving tomorrow." Fischer said.
"Not possible! My Lords, please stay for a few more days…" Imrse Sunset rubbed his palms anxiously, "More wine!"
The few girls went ahead. Then, I just noticed their difference customs. The girl who sat beside Fischer wore white from upper neck down to the heels of her foot. White cotton covered every inch of her body.
The one sat beside Imrse Sunset resembled Fischer's, though her clothes were much looser. Mine had a delicate and pretty face. She wore a veil of black see-through diaphanous garnt which slled like fresh grass. The garnt was so thin that even the two pinkish spots on her pair of under-developed breasts were vaguely revealed.
"My Lords, drink! Let's drink…" Imrse Sunset held his cup and said a few sickening toast words.
"Pour the wine!" Imrse Sunset said smilingly, "My Lords, I bought them just a few days ago. Your Excellencies, this… haha, they are still virgins!"
I watched on stiffly as the girl who had presented my goblet shivered and poured wine into it with the decanter that was held above her chest. Once my goblet was full, she instantly retracted the container and used it to shield the parts where a girl was not supposed to let anyone see. She averted her eyes and two beads of tears landed onto the fine carpet.
"My Lords! Cheers! My Lord?"
"Oh, wait…" I took out the chicken leg that was in my mouth and said, "What a big fire, I need my cloak taken off."
I draped my black cloak over the girl's tiny body, and after consideration, also put the sleepy Arnold into her arms; hoping that Arnold's adorable appearance would cheer her up.
"Co on!" I raised my goblet, "Let's drink!"
"Ah! My Lord, it's the first ti he talks!" Imrse Sunset said to , "Does everything suit you tastes?"
I wanted to slaughter this pile of fat swine!
Imrse Sunset clapped once more and a few dancing divas started performing bizarre movents. Fischer now began asking about the current status of Winper City. I, on the other hand, was annoyed by the fat pig, as well as feeling that it was improper to talk to a naked girl as a young, healthy man. As a result, I drank alone.
"Clap" Butterfingers. My cup dropped, causing the wine to splash all over the carpet.
"What's wrong, my Lord?" Imrse Sunset said with extra attention, "Did she offend you? I'll teach her a lesson imdiately!"
"No!" I said, "The cup is rather small. My hands weren't steady."
"Ah, in this case!" Imrse Sunset nodded, "I get it! Hold on, my Lord. You there, bring His Excellency one of our specialized goblet, now! By the way, plate it with silver laces…"
I had no comnts for a man who put his heart and soul out purposefully.
Half way through the banquet, a servant ca back, holding a silver platter covered with red cloth. Imrse Sunset waved his hand and the servant knelt and placed the platter on my table.
"If this is the cup…" Fischer pointed at the thing underneath the red cloth, "Isn't it much larger?"
"My Lord, though it is much too big, it fits your status…" Imrse Sunset said, "Please, my Lord, have a look…" I uncovered the cloth, and as expected: it was a huge wine cup. However, the girl beside emitted a whispered cry.
"Get lost! Yelling? You wanna scare off His Excellencies?" Imrse Sunset scolded, "Do your job properly!"
"Yes…" The girl sobbed and poured wine with an even greater intensity of shivering. Her once stopped stream of tears flowed again.
I sized up the new cup by the light of the fire, but I was not able to detect its color. The shape was like a half cut waterlon. It was indeed a huge cup, too large for to handle with a single hand. Fortunately, the silver plated laces were just right for my fingers to grasp, making able to hold it.
As much as I could tell, this cup was weird. However, the crafting technique was not bad! Especially for the silver decor: they were crafted into livia vine that twisted around the whole object. Leaves of silver shone by the fire.
"Indeed, it is not bad. A decent cup." Fischer said, "Very delicate."
"Do you want one, too? My Lord!" Hearing Fischer's complint, Imrse Sunset said happily, "It's not much of a trouble! Only a while…"
"No…" The girl next to suddenly opened her mouth, her lips turning pale, "Please, no!"
"Shut your damn face! How dare you speak without permission!" Imrse Sunset yelled, "Shut up!"
I glared at him vigorously, making him swallowed his about-to-burst profanities.
"I think, perhaps this cup is not for ." I took the girl's hand. They were ice-cold.
"Tell !" I looked into her eyes, "What is wrong with this cup?"
"The cup…" She cried, "is…"
"Is what?"
"Is…" Probably because my warm hands had given her the courage to speak up, she said, "Is made out of human…"
"You… what?" Fischer's smile froze.
"Human! The cup is made out of a living human!" She finally cried out.
Silence blanketed the yard, leaving only the sound of the crackles of the fire.
Both Fischer and I gazed at the cup speechlessly.
"Hehe…" A while later, Imrse Sunset broke the silence, "My Lords, you don't know about such cups? We make a lot every year! This kind is a special supply for the light temple mages!"
"Are you saying…" Fischer resud his smile, "You make a lot of these every year?"
"Yes, My Lord. Your servant's cup is well-known by many. Many new mage apprentices often buy it for magical practices."
"En!" Fischer turned to and said, "He said he makes a lot every year, and many have bought them…"
"What's your na?" I quit replying to Fischer and gave the girl a hug, "Don't be afraid, I'm a very kind villain."
"I…" The girl looked at , "I don't have a na."
"Not a problem!" I said, "You sll like grass and flowers. I'll call you Lily."
"Yes…"
"So… Lily!" I grabbed the cup and left it in her hands, "Take this for ."
I rose to stand and nodded at Fischer while he repeated the sentence for the third ti, "He said he makes a lot every year, sales amount to a lot…"
A lingering sound of a whistle went off in the quiet night sky. I was the one who made it. Though I was a good whistle blower, I intended not to whistle often.
"Boss!" Marfa's head appeared by the top of the wall, "What's up?"
"Seal the village, zero escape!" I said, " and Fischer are teaching soone a lesson."
Before Marfa could say yes, Fischer kicked his table over and with a sword in hand, he drew near Imrse Sunset with a blank expression.
"My Lord!" Imrse Sunset retreated and yelled, "My Lord! What have I done wrong? My Lord, why the sword! You… You! You are not temple mages! Kill them!"
A few guys who looked like hitn howled and ran past their master and towards us with cruel faces. However, what a sha, their abilities did not match the ferocity of their expressions. Fischer took them down one at a ti.
"Get them!" Imrse Sunset yelled as he hid in a corner, "Kill them, kill them all!"
We had no idea where were those people. As of now, more hitn erged from the yard , rooms and the cellars.
I dashed in front of Fischer. No words were needed before an attack and killing of a person.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Fischer pulled out what I had taught him earlier. Golden combat aura appeared and bit by bit, it accumulated all over his body. In the dark night, his presence was gleaming like a golden sculpture.
"Shake!" Fischer yelled, then the aura burst forth as golden sparks spread and began shooting around the yard. The n around him were pierced by millions of sparks before they could make a sound and were destroyed by the aftershocks.
I knew Fischer was in a bad mood when I heard him yell. Thus, I instantly took Lily away. As for the rest of the girls, since I was a stranger to them and unable to hold that many, I kicked them out of the door one by one.
Imrse Sunset scread and crawled to the back yard. Fischer followed and killed all of the n who tried to help him. His white robe was stained with blood and his body was shrouded in a gold; even his sword was covered in a pale yellow.
Fischer was not in a hurry to kill Imrse Sunset, but surely he had every intention to kill the rest of them all.
I was certainly going to corporate. However, I had a girl in hand, thus I followed behind and slaughtered anyone who tried to sneak an attack.
What was left behind was taken care of.
There was only one room in the backyard with all lights off. Imrse Sunset trembled and crawled in. I blocked the door before Fischer arrived and casted a lighting spell. Then, I stepped in.
Once I was inside, Lily who was trembling in my embrace shivered even harder, as if she was in hell.
Imrse Sunset attached his back closely against the wall and was crying across a wooden station.
"Don't kill … I don't wanna die…!" He murmured, "I didn't do anything… please don't kill …"
Everyone ignored him. Fischer, Jack, Marfa and I, as well as all of the IGT mbers were staring at the station. My n and I were all once in the battlefield, so we were familiar with dead corpses. However, when faced with the thing we were looking at, so dropped their weapons while so rushed out to puke.
On the wooden stand lied a naked female. Both her hands and legs were bound down by iron shackles. It was obvious that she was very young. Her smooth skin was covered with ugly stains and bruises of all kinds. Her ten fingers were burrowed deep inside the wood. Her head was firmly embedded with two thick iron bars; mouth was stuffed by a rug; her skull gone.
"Get this pig out…" I put Lily down and told my IGT n, "Kill him with your cruelest ways!"
"Fischer!" I tapped his shoulder.
"Ah! What is it?"
"You want a mont outside?" I cared for him.
"No!" He shook, "I'm better off staying with you."
I nodded and had soone fetch water and asked Lily and the others to set those who were held captive free, plus more clothes.
Fischer helped get rid of the silver decor on the cup and placed the naked skull on the female's head. Fischer attacked the bone with a spell. When Lily ca back with clothes, we had already cleaned the girl's body.
We dressed her up and crossed her hands over her chest. Now, she looked serene and peaceful.
"Rivers hold, that you are as pure.
Breeze proves, that you are as neat.
Earth, mountains and lakes clear, that you are as white as a lily."
As we bid farewell to the girl, Lily burst out in tears.
Then suddenly, by flashes of twisting images and feel of sickness, Cohen ca back to his consciousness.
He opened the eyes and saw white wall and sheets. A huge red cross sign was not far from him.
It was obvious that he was in a bed.
A sharp pain ca to his head that made him burst out screaming.
A nurse-like girl ca by Cohen's screaming and instantly shouted, "He wakes up!"
Turned out, Westley lived from the explosion and was saved by a fisherman.
All that happened were just his dreams.
Then a few doctors ca into the room, with protective suits covered all over their bodies.
Westley's headache beca ever so painful and his vision dimr, the last words he heard was,
"... he's mutating. I want him in the Nesis Program..."
Then he blacked out.
(Happy April Fool's Day suckers! Hahahahahah)
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