"P-PLe-ase...I-I have a so-"

  Splurt.

  It was easy.

  It was ridiculously easy.

  They were just an uncoordinated, untrained bunch. There was nothing worth mentioning in that fight. No, Julian knew it was not proper to call that a fight.

  It was a slaughter. Not even a minute in, all he ever saw and chased down was the back of his guests.

  "Pitiful..."

  If running away was not disgusting enough, some of them even dared to beg as if they were the victims of the situation. That was incomprehensible for Julian.

  Amidst the yard of severed limbs and heads, Julian's eyes went to a whimpering, shrivelling boy on the ground. His hands were missing, and a makeshift spear pierced his shoulder. Safe for the one who was sneaking around the hill, Marlion was the only one still alive.

  [Marlion Brundells(Soldier)]

  State: Unawakened[Whisper of Arcana]

  Fate: 20

  He did not need that weird, floating text to know the name of the weak child. He naturally recalled the name of someone who started it all. Julian dragged his uncomfortably short feet, calmly making his way to Merlion.

  "Marlion, is the Trial worth that much?" Julian uttered, his sword pointed to the ground.

  "HaRk- HArk-"

  "Speak, Marlion... I did not cut your tongue, did I?"

  The boy did not respond. His breath only became heavier. His sheet-white face trembled as his eyes, panicky, shot left and right.

  Seeing that the boy was unable to communicate, Julian rested his sword under Merlion's chin. His eyes shut for a second, and another sigh left him. It was not one of relief, nor was it one of exhaustion. It was one of disappointment.

  "Marlion Brundells, lift your chin."

  "N-no... n-n-no..."

  "Ah, you are able to speak..."

  "S-sorry- I-I-ma...make it up..."

  "...Lift your chin, Merlion," Julian said, gently shaking his head.

  "Please...Julian..."

  "Suit yourself."

  Julian lifted his sword above his head.

  Swish.

  With a sharp whistling of air, his sword arched down. In a straight path, his sword flew to the boy, striking his head and splitting his skull in half. Blood poured down,slowly collecting into a new puddle in the yard.

  No, that was what he had intended to happen. Unfortunately, the path of his sword was blocked by a petite figure.

  "...Woman, what do you think you are doing?"

  Between Julian's sword and Marlion, Maria stood, trembling. Her eyes clutched closed, and yellowish liquid seeped from the corner of her mouth. She was mouthing something, but all Julian heard was a soft squeak.

  Julian held a bothered, yet impressed expression. He did not know how Maria summoned the strength to stand there. Not too prior, she was puking so violently that she was about to faint.

  "Move," Julian uttered.

  "...Julian, that's enough."

  "I am the one to decide that. Move," Julian said, his voice agitated.

  "No"

  "Hah," Julian scoffed.

  He was speechless. Before the woman, who was only two heads taller than he, his sword did not seem to mean much. Perhaps it was because she was not even looking in the first place, but still, it remained a baffling instance.

  "Oh, Maria..."

  Julian lowered his sword. He stepped toward the woman. His lip curled.

  Maria's face immediately softened hearing that gentle voice. She tried to pry open her eyes, but the pungent, heavy scent of the blood stopped her from doing so. Her hands embraced one another, and her feet dragged in the direction of the gentle voice.

  "Ju-"

  Thud.

  "A-argh..."

  Thud.

  She immediately lost the glimmer of strength left in her legs. Her eyes, startled open, could only gaze at the sword's pommel that had struck her stomach twice. She wobbled, tripping drunken on the bloody grass.

  "W...hy...?"

  Compared to the glaring question filling her mind, the pain in her stomach was not much of a concern.

  "Rest for now."

  Even when she was being laid down gently by him, she could not see any kindness and love she used to see in the boy's eyes. His voice, though as gentle as she remembered, was void of any warmth.

  She wanted to know if the boy standing before her was truly her son.

  "It won't take long," Julian mumbled.

  Pushing himself up, Julian fixed his gaze to the body lying behind Maria. Once again, he let out a sigh. A shame, but Marlion seemed to have died somewhen. Being denied his right to deal the finishing blow, it would be a lie if he did not feel bitterness.

  'O' Julian... How easy it could have been....'

  It was not the best of a start. He was forced to create so many widows and orphans not long after returning. Alas, he could only blame those bastards for marching there in the first place.

  ***

  Crackle.

  Crackle.

  "You are awake. Head inside for now," Julian said, hearing the sound of gasping behind him.

  Julian was staring at the blazing fire before him. They shot high, licking every corner of the yard. They crackled and roared as if they wanted to swim down and burn the whole hill and anything that stood in between.

  Naturally, it was Julian who set them.

  "Why...?" A teary voice called out.

  "Burial is unsuitable for them. There were no warriors, nor martyrs."

  "Why?"

  Maria uttered the same question. Same question, same word, but the second one carried far more weight.

  "Why indeed?"

  Julian knew what Maria was actually asking. His previous answer was just a deflection, a wish that Maria would put the matter to rest. A wish for him to have not the need to remember what happened, or what should have happened that day.

  Unfortunately, Maria did not seem to like his act of ignorance too much.

  "... Because they deserved it, Maria."

  He clearly remembered that day.

  His first entry ticket, the key to the Royal City. It was the key to changing their lives. It was a key that he had put more than blood and sweat into acquiring. And, it was a day when that key was stolen from him.

  However, that loss was only a small loss. It was such an insignificant matter that he would have easily forgotten after years of his life.

  It was insignificant compared to the other thing he lost that day.

  "Hurry up and get in. You don't expect me to carry you, do you?"

  "..."

  Hearing no reply, Julian looked away from the 'spoils of war' resting before his boots. Behind him, a little distance away, a woman sat weakly. She was sobbing. Hands and lips were trembling, though the air was piping hot.

  For such a gentle and kind soul, he did not know why fate was so cruel to her.

  "Don't worry about the fire. They don't come after this kind," Julian said, walking slowly toward Maria. Kneeling before Maria, he continued, "Gather your stuff, we are heading to the capital."

  "...N-now? Are you leaving already?!" Maria asked, obviously confused about what her son was saying.

  "We are leaving for the capital, together," Julian said. With a calm voice, he continued, "So go and bundle anything important... We may not be able to return here in the future."

  Looking at the retreating figure of the woman, he reminded himself once again that a weak soul cannot be protected by another weak soul. It was something that he had learnt about too late.

  [Maria Swordshards(Knight)]

  Blessed Servant.

  State: Unawakened[Passion of Salvator]

  Fate: -

  [Anomaly.]

  [Restoring underway]

  [219:38:00]

  [219:37:59]

  [219:37:58]

  There, his greatly needed conviction.

  He had fought against countless beings. There were those that move constellations with just their breath. There were those that command even the hail of time with just their thoughts. And there were those who shaped worlds with just their intent.

  As powerful as they were, they were all enemies that he could see.

  "O'Esmeheldi, is fate as unforgiving as you?"

  [Julian Swordshards(Peasant)]

  Blessed Servant.

  State: Unawakened[Greed(Earth Fold)(Whisper of Arcana)]

  Guides: None

  Fate: 20