'What you'll see here is the truth that you humans are blind to.'
'The truth?'
'Just watch, and you will understand it all—why you children should be protected.'
'What am I seeing then...'
'You can tell me that much right?'
Everything here was reminding me of the voice I had been hearing—even down to the way he spoke.
'This is the town you were at, where I came to pick you up.'
'But it doesn't lo—'
'This was ten years ago—the day I was born.'
'Silence now, and watch it.'
I paid attention like she told me to.
It was a village different from the current one, it was a lively one.
The streets were filled with children playing outside—those around my age and younger—while the adults were watching over them, talking to one another.
Everyone here had a smile on their face, with the sound of laughter filling the air.
And no one was left out.
'It looks beautiful...'
It was something I had never experienced. The only person close to my age I truly spent time around was my sister.
'Indeed, it does. And how does it compare to now?'
'It's empty now, the streets are empty... and no smiles can be seen.'
'Just watch... I'll skip over to the night it occurred.'
It was a dark evening. The streets were a mere shadow of what they were during the day, with the only light coming from the roadside houses, their glow casting shadows onto the street.
Everybody sat at home with their families, and if one was alone—they sat with their neighbors.
No one was left alone—a world opposite of mine.
It looked beautiful.
A woman appeared, screaming from the dark horizon,
"HELP!! HELP!!!" They were awful screams, as if her heart itself was torn out.
It was a scene I had seen earlier today.
The clicking of door handles kept sounding as if it echoed through the city.
"RINA! What happened!? Why do you look like this...?" A crowd had formed around the woman.
She wore a torn white dress, that reached all the way to her ankles—stained red.
There were clean tears from her legs, up to her chest and arms, her arms being the only thing that held the dress together.
But the blood had not soaked only at the tears. It was clear what had happened.
Blood was still streaming down her leg, but no wounds were visible.
"The bandits—the bandits took my son...! I beg you all... please... please help him..." Her words became whispers, with tears filling her eyes while she kept her chin up, with teeth tearing through her bottom lip.
But her arms still trembled, and her eyes were dried up even as they leaked.
Her grip had loosened. She had forgotten about herself, with only one thing on her mind.
It was a part of her. No—she was a part of him. She was the one who needed him.
"Look after her, we'll take care of it." A man came from behind, his voice cutting through all the others. He had a familiar face—it was the innkeeper.
But his face was the only thing I still recognised. From his straightened back to his clear voice—he was now just a shadow of his former self.
He turned to his side—his eyes were clear but his jaw was clenched—and pointed at a group of women.
"You girls, take care of her—she needs you." He smiled as he spoke to them, but as soon as he turned back his nails dug into his palms.
"Rina, don't worry, I swear on everything that we're going to bring him back, and I'll make them pay."
He turned away from her and screamed loud enough for the entire road to hear. "Everybody out! Gather all the men and let them take up arms—even those without weapons!"
"Tell them all to join! We'll show them what happens when you mess with Lusd—with us!"
It's called Lusd then...
"Come outside, and take arms! We are going to save family!" This was screamed down the main road, the residential areas, and even the alleyways—each and every house knew what to do.
Not even fifteen minutes passed before the once-dark road was filled with light—from the few torches, and from reflections off the many iron and steel blades—from swords and axes to pitchforks, shovels, and fire pokers.
There were no children, elderly, or women among the crowd—more than a hundred adult men, bigger than most bandit groups could hope to be.
The innkeeper stood in front, covered by light armour and an iron hat.
He lifted his sword, leading all the men behind him.
"RINA TOLD ME WHERE THEY ARE!" He screamed louder than before—spit flew from his mouth, hitting the faces of those behind him.
"WE ARE BEHIND YOU!" They all responded in unison—spit flew through the air, raining down on his face as he turned around.
"FOLLOW ME!" And he lowered his sword.
They marched west, down the road Rina had come from, in search of the bandits' hideout.
'Nothing happens here. They had a long way to walk, so I'll take you to the encounter...'
'...'
Huh? Where is their camp? We were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but trees on our left, and fields on our right.
The only light source around came from crowd that marched in vengeance.
"How long do we need to walk before we reach their camp?" One of the men behind spoke up.
"She told me that we just had to walk down the road here, but she didn't specify how long." The innkeeper responded.
"We have been walking for an hour already..." His eyes widened with each word he said, and realization he came by. Skin tore off his palm clenching his sword.
"TURN BACK! NOW!" He turned around and ran toward the crowd, who had done the same upon hearing his scream.
Everyone understood it from his scream alone.
Rina had betrayed their town.