Chapter 72: Slaughter in the forest (2/2)
”Please, I will do everything, please, don't kill me!” Tears of terror trickled down the face of the girl. Her eyes appeared as if she lost all her sanity, not even attempting to retaliate against the tribesmen.
”I will do it. Keep her still.” Ordering the youngest of their group, Al released a tired sigh before pulling out his short sword once again. As he moved towards the bush, Lessen pulled his hand even higher, keeping the girl's feet above the ground in order to make her unable to wrestle her way out. Even though the difference in their physical ability was as clear as the bigger of the twin suns on the sky, Lessen was perfectly aware how someone backed against the corner could struggle.
”Al! The baseline…” Bringing the same topic as before up once again, Uffer attempted to protest, only to be met with a furious glare of his commander.
”Are your eyes hidden in your ass? Or are you just outright stupid?!” Barely keeping his emotions in line, Al stopped in his tracks. Canceling the noise of the struggling girl in his mind, he pointed the blade of his sword at their surroundings. ”The great spirits are enslaved. That I believe you noticed. Now tell me, when was the baseline deal agreed upon? WHEN FOR THE MERCY OF THE GREAT SPIRIT HAVE WE SIGNED IT WITH BLOOD?!”
As he spoke, Al's emotions started to take better of him. Noticing the problem right before he would completely lose his control, Al took a few breaths to calm himself down.
”Do you really think I didn't notice it?!” Snapping as well, Uffer slammed his gianormous axe at the unfortunate tree nearby. 'That's it for the stealth…' Commenting on his friend's behavior in his thoughts, Al didn't even flinch under the display of anger. ”But does it matter? Even if we somehow moved through time, do you really believe our promises are voided?! Is that all your word means to you? Is that all to the dignity of our blood?!”
For a moment, Al stopped. Not even his chest moved as if he stopped breathing at all. Then, he opened up his eyes, darkened even further than they were before their routine of murdering everyone they crossed paths with started.
”And you just signed her death sentence yourself.” Resuming his march towards the girl struggling in Lessen's hold, Al ignored the voice of his friend. 'Now that she heard it, only the great spirits themselves could intervene to save her life. And given how they are still enslaved in this world…'
”No! Please, please! I have a little sister, I didn't hear or see anything! Please, no!” The girl's efforts to free herself only intensified when Al took a swing. His sword rushed toward's the girl's chest, aimed right above where her third rib should be. 'I will make sure you won't feel any pain.' Even if he hated it, Al had his own responsibility as the chief of the clan. The most he could do for this pitiful little one was to make sure her death would be easy.
”CHIEF!” Out of nowhere, a new voice entered the fray. Initially alarmed, everyone halted their moves and prepared for a clash. Even Al's hand stopped in its tracks, redirecting his weapon to a guarded position. But instead of yet another group of enemies, a familiar face appeared from between the woods.
”Ation?” Al leaned his head to the side while his eyes widened. ”How could that be? Weren't you stationed at the northern fort?” So far, everyone Al saw coming out from this strange rift in the world belonged to the expeditionary army or the forces that clashed with it. 'Could it be…' Just as Al was about to at least attempt the reason behind this unexpected reunion, his eyes turned into slits as he lowered on his knees. Yet, before he could rush forward in an attack, Ation raised his hands and gestured his chieftain to stop.
”I know how it looks like… But it's not the case. Those two, are not celestials, that I'm sure off.” Pointing his hand at the duo of mixed genders, Ation made sure to stand in the way of the potentially incoming attack.
”If you say so…” Still not relaxing his stance, Al slowly returned to his senses. 'Is this the mission that wore me out so much?' It wasn't common for something so simple to tire the veteran warrior so much. And outside of physical tiredness, only the corpses of the many kids he slaughtered during their scouting venture could wear his mental state down so much.
”I know how it looks like, but they have some really interesting things to say.” Seeing how there was no imminent threat of his commander attacking the two he took on himself to protect, Ation released a sigh of relief. But after this moment of relaxation, his entire body tensed up as he stood up straight and reported.
”While I have little to no means to confirm it… They appear to not come from our time, nor from the time of the celestials. What they appear to be, are our descendants!”