亚洲综合中美

Staxius slept peacefully despite the cold. The others had to take refuge and sleep near the fire. Thus, continued the night till daybreak. No chirping of birds, rather, a sharp echoing growl had the team on their feet.

“Morning,” he voiced fully dressed for the day at hand.

“Morning, master,” replied the butler who had cooked breakfast.

“Morning,” sighed Serene still half-asleep. Achilles and Intherna were outside taking a whiff of fresh air. A few minutes later, everyone had breakfast in silence. It was as if their last meal, the pressure of venturing in the wild had multiples of emotions whelm from within. The clock soon displayed 07:45. The trip would be made on foot as opposed to the carriage. In that endeavor, large backpacks with essential gears as well as weapons laid on the bear-rug.

“Is everything ready?” asked Rasu who came from the toilet.

“Yeah, we should be fine,” nodded Serene.

.....

“Alright people,” voiced Staxius seeing the team ready to march, “-make sure to only take the essentials. As told by Rasu yesterday, our goal is the first outpost. Should take us around two days to make it.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied in tandem.

*Click,* opened the door to a nervous-looking Elder.

“Good morning,” greeted Staxius courteously. A glance to the right showed Alice and her mother shyly gazing upon those who were to leave.

“Good morning, majesty,” replied the man with shaky arms, “-here,” he handed a necklace, “-it’s a charm of good fortune. Little Alice pestered her mother to make one for you.”

“Is that so,” kindly taking the commodity, “-I’m thankful for the sentiment,” to which he wore the item. Exchanging goodbye, they walked through the gates and into the mountain. Enormous with the slope unclimbable on barefoot, the path was the only option. Trees stretched on further the more they walked. Branches, leaves, and pebbles stood out against the icy-white path. At times, the ditches would shuffle and cause fear. And so, the walk up the path began. Two days till the first outpost, a long walk of which they knew not the length. ‘Wait for me, Eira, I’ll come soon.’

Meanwhile, on the border between Kreston and Dorchester, forces breached into a foreign land. Unguarded and unwatched, the forces would take around a day or two to cross Rotten Thicket.

Far, far away from the action; Castle Garsley was getting readied for Ayleth’s marriage. A ceremony that would happen in four days. The to and fro at the capital was more than exhausting, Julius ended up staying awake at night. Awake to witness the proper proceedings.

“Do we have more to travel?” asked Intherna when the clock struck noon.

“Not that much,” replied Rasu, “-we’re around a quarter of the way there,” he smiled pointing to a landmark. The latter being a graveyard to the fallen. White and dull, the scenery never changed.

Camping out at night then starting at day. The two days went by as if a blink. The air grew to be thin, a slight change but noticeable.

“The first outpost,” proclaimed Rasu as they walked up to a gentler land as opposed to the slope. “I have no idea why this is here,” they stopped. A giant wall with a few strongly built buildings displayed against the pureness of the mountain. “It was mainly occupied by blue-goblins,” said Rasu who continued the walk. “It wasn’t that tough to clear. Small fries if you ask me,” he chuckled whilst passing the broken gates. One of which was tall and curved at the top. It hosted battlements from which archers could stare down the mountain and fire upon targets.

“Are you sure this is safe?” asked Intherna with a smirk.

“I was here when they were killed, so I would presume so.” In a blink, as those words were spoken, an arrow narrowly grazed his face and ended on the ground.

“Clear huh?” Achilles mocked the presumptuous statement and dashed forth. Monsters were camping, readying their weapons to strike the village. Two buildings on each side with the path down the middle. No escape from either right or left. Red glares were spotted all across the broken windows and roof-tops. The battlements that now stood behind was clear. No orders no command needed to be issued. Staxius stood in wait as the monsters were slain. Achilles tore straight into their flank. Intherna nonchalantly burnt a building to the ground, her only expression was, my bad. Serene took to the skies, she summoned many o’ ghouls to do her bidding.

‘Look at them go,’ thought Staxius with a blank expression.

“They’re powerful,” commented Adete. “Good luck to anyone who dares go against us.”

“Can never be too prepared,” he added as another building got devoured by flames

“Are they not strong?” inquired out loud, “-wait, where’s Rasu?” The man vanished from existence and assassinated many archers who were out on the trees. Bodies fell to then crumble into dust. A mere ten-minutes went by, “-are you done?” asked the King nonchalantly. The fighters stood proudly. Two buildings on fire, numerous bodies turned to ash.

“Yeah,” grinned Intherna, “-I got to have some exercise,” she stretched smugly.

“I suppose we should get back on track?”

“No,” interjected Rasu, “-we’re going to camp here for two more days. Your body needs to adjust to the climate, it’s only going to get steeper.”

“Fine,” on that, a temporary camp was set-up in a still working cabin.

Out in Arda, the politics grew harder. The guild grew into a system where the weak failed miserably. No job requests came forth, the adventurers who worked were either desperate or forced. The majority had left.

“Majesty,” knocked the door to her chambers, “-the council has come.” The door opened to a few servants hailing from Kreston. Nuns and sisters who were bound to serve. The premise was that of a gift from the church. ‘Prison,’ she thought and walked to the throne room. There, the four saints waited righteously with their holy book and white robe. *Clop, clop, clop,* they walked up the stairs to a full room. Previous guild-leaders sat on one side whilst the other was of traitors. Turncoats who took to the Saint’s favors quickly. Great Mother Ayluin and Barbara the Dryad, were absent. On their feet at her sight, the four factions of Elves, Beastmen, Dwarves, and Demi-Human, stared intently. Together, backed by the populous, none could do them harm. The only race in favor of the Church was the Lizardmen with a rather large area of land. A battle between the people and nobles – all of this was kept under wraps.

The rumor and needless killing of the Demi-Humans had Haru in anger. Her face, gentle at one time, was filled with the resolve of revenge. She wanted to lash out and kill the invaders. Those she represented were the only ones being persecuted. It was as if a replay of what happened in Hidros so very long ago, an asylum turned hell.

“Greetings respectful representatives,” spoke a lady with black hair. The Queen’s new right hand, “-today’s discussion will be about the fate of town Eden.” Nodded to start, the discussion went silently. The conversation was heavy sided to the saints. They spoke as if the monarch.

“We should cut ties with Queen Gallienne. Her action against our god has heralded multiples of backlash,” said a man with blond hair and glasses. They all looked similar, same complexion and same hair-cut, the resemblance was uncanny.

“Yes, what Saint Tim says, we need to stop collaborating with Hidros.”

“May I interject,” voiced Ryul, “-I do understand that Queen Gallienne has cause trouble for Kreston. The basis of why such discrimination needs to occur is shaky at best. I’d like her majesty to think long and hard.”

“Are you meaning to say that the Church is wrong?” asked Saint Tim, the first who spoke. “Are the elves going to rebel against the crown the same as the nightwalkers?” he laughed with a disgusting expression.

“Silence,” voiced Xula, “-I wish not for the nightwalkers to be brought up in this discussion,” warmly gazing Ryul as well as the others, “-I have to disagree with what Saint Tim proposed. Town Eden is essential in Arda’s economical growth. Our craftsmanship is a thing of wonder, we pride ourselves with our know-how.”

“Majesty,” spoke another Saint, “-surely you’re not going to go against the church, are you?” an under minding threat.

“Saint Mich, may I have to remind thee who’s the monarch of Arda. I will not allow decisions made on bias and emotions. Even so, if the church is as mighty as you say is, why not provide the funds? 500,000 gold coin should suffice, what you say, Saint Mich, are you willing to go that far?” she stared coldly without mercy. “Does anyone wish to add to the table?”

No response came. The Queen had read their intentions long before the council. A game of pretending in which the Saints felt as if they manipulated her.

“About the forces being sent to Dorchester,” voiced Mieshre, “-did her majesty allow such an action?”

“This is the first,” she faced Niroz, “-General, care to elaborate?”

“I think that’s enough for today,” said Saint Tim, “-it’s time to pray.”

“If you’d please,” they excused themselves from the table. This action allowed the General to make up and excuse and accompany the four others.

“Majesty, I think it’s time for us to leave as well.”

“As you wish,” they stood and left. Frustrated and powerless, the council fell into disarray.

Soon, four days passed. Staxius’s team made close to the second outpost, the fortress. The deadlock, the place which had halted the adventurers advance.

“Kearen, Magra,” hailed Rasu which echoed inside a cave. The wood crackled, the fire formed shadows on the ceiling. Tents, a pot on the fire, and torn clothes stained by blood.

“Rasu?” pointed a figure with a staff, “-is that you?” she asked with an exhausted voice.

“Yeah, it’s me,” footsteps followed.

“Who are those with you?” asked the other.

“Back-up,” he added coyly.

“Did her majesty sent back-up?” asked Magra, “-are we that weak that she sees fit for us to need support.”

“Oh please,” came a sharp voice. Their dulled eyes rekindled. “How pathetic can you guys be?” a singular figure approached.

“Lady Serene?” mumbled Magra who dropped her staff, “-is it YOU,” she leaped into her arms.

“Our leader has returned,” chuckled Kearen. The hopelessness of fighting without advancing took its toll. Moral ran low. A weak mind meant a weak body, and a weak body meant defeat. The ray of courage her presence made was a credit to how good a leader Serene was.

“Did you come to rejoin our team?” asked Magra ignoring the people behind.

“No,” she smiled after exchanging hugs, “-I’ve come as part of another team.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” sparkled the Platinum Tag, “-I’m Xenos.”

“Xenos...” they took a step back, “-sorry for our rudeness,” they knelt onto the rough-edged cave.

“Please, there’s no need to worry about formality. We’re all comrades,” he chose to not disclose the state of the capital. “Where’s Oenus, the dragonkin?”

“Fighting, majesty, he’s fighting,” added the dark-elf in shame.

“Our stamina ran low, he forced us to return to base saying that we held him back.”

“When was this?” Staxius asked sharply.

“A few hours ago; we were on way to rejoin him,” completed Kearen.

“Well then,” he took off the backpack, “-I’m sure the day has been tiring. Serene, please, have the supplies be shared. Magra and Kearen are worst for ware.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“I’m going to fight, is it not obvious?” he smirked, “-it’s my turn to have fun.”