The sun was at its highest, shining brightly upon the old village.

  A crowd formed in the center, around the three elders.

  “As you may know,” began Pavidus.

  The crowd got silent.

  “In the past couple of days, an incident occurred… A man by the name of Julius has made a mess.”

  “Dominic and his men found their way into our village. However, unfortunately, they ran into Julius before they could do their routine.”

  “The details are uncertain, but all we know is what we’ve heard and we’ve seen with

  our own eyes.”

  The villagesfolk murmured.

  “We’ve seen the climax of this incident. Julius got beat up, humiliated and hurt.”

  “His actions led to Dominic raising taxes up by ten percent. And not only that, but he swore next time someone repeats the mistake Julius made. He will take their life.”

  Sweat dripped down his forehead.

  “Julius was known as a respectable man, but now? He showed his true colors.”

  “I, Pavidus Ignarus, the head of the elders; voted for Julius to be banished.”

  “I, Caecus Sequens, the second of the elders; voted for Julius’s banishment as well.”

  “I didn’t vote.” Securus said

  “Khm. He, Securus Neglegens, voted the same.”

  The crowd acted up, some celebrating, some grieving, others not caring.

  “Is he here? Did anyone see him appear?” Pavidus wondered.

  After a moment of silence, he continued.

  “In that case… Superstes Julius, you are to leave this village by sundown. You have caused us enough trouble.”

  “Leave, and never come back!”

  The three went inside the main hall, and the crowd remained.

  “Has anyone seen Julius?”

  “Frankly I don’t give a shit.”

  “He could be hiding somewhere.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Nah, knowing Julius he is on his way to kill the elders.”

  “He wouldn’t make it, are you mad?”

  “Who would stop him, you?”

  “Guys just go home and don’t go looking for trouble.”

  “He’s right, where Julius appears… there’s always trouble.”

  Julius listened from under the shade of a tree in the distance. He climbed down and hopped on the horse that was next to the tree.

  “Go, boy!”

  He galloped through the part of the village that was mostly ruble, landing on the path outside the village.

  With a last look he gave the village, he followed down the path ahead.

  When the night came, he stopped at an open field. Gathering all the sticks, stones and grass he could to build a campfire.

  The fire kept him warm, through an otherwise cold night.

  All of a sudden, a noise woke him up.

  “...”

  His stomach was growling.

  “Man, what am I supposed to eat?”

  He got up and looked around, the fire was almost out.

  “Where the hell is the horse?”

  After wandering around the open field in the dark of the night, away from the barely visible fire; he stepped on something wet.

  “What the fuck…”

  The horse in front of him was lifeless. The skin and flesh around the ribcage was gone, the blood he stepped on was still warm.

  After a moment of silently observing his surroundings, he drags the horse back to the fire. His stomach still growled as he put more grass on the fire to cook it.

  His eyes got used to the dark while he was eating. He left the corpse and the fire and started walking at a fast pace, continuing down the same path.

  “Pavidus you fucking bastard,” he said.

  The environment slowly changed from grassy open fields to hills and forests.

  At this point, he walked for so long that it was noon. He found a river inside of a forest, he drank from it and sat down for a moment.

  While he was resting, listening to the sounds of nature; running water, birds chirping, his own heartbeat.

  A deer walked out of a bush near him, they looked at each other for a moment. It walked back into the bushes and disappeared, he stood up and followed its trail.

  The trail eventually ended and he kept looking for another clue, that he no longer could find.

  But he found the way out of the forest, and in the distance a town.

  He reached the town's gates.

  “Halt! Stop right there. Who are you?” One of the men standing behind the closed gates asked.

  “Julius.”

  “Julius? I believe we are not expecting a guest, let alone someone by the name of Julius.”

  “I am but a traveller.”

  “In that case, there’s lots of places to travel to. I suggest you get to it.”

  The man behind the gates walked away.

  Julius sat down with his back leaned against the gates.

  “Great…”

  He felt something stab into his back.

  “Sir, he’s not budging.”

  “Leave him then.”

  “But sir… We can’t just leave him there.”

  “Tsk, fine. Gates up!”

  “For fucks sake.” The man whispered.

  Julius blacked out, and woke up later.

  “So you’re awake now?”