27 LIBERATION (2/2)

”No,” he lashed out angrily, ”Do not activate it! They can feel an elemental charge! He wants to talk so it's best to hear him out first before getting all riled up.”

”They should've placed some physical barrier or some sort to these fortresses. It's no use to have a magical walled fortress if those damned rebels can just ask some Daomagarian criminals to their aid. They can practically jump from there to here like cakewalk.”

”Yes, but I do believe these fortresses are built against Nagozulians not Daomagarians.”

”So, who shall we send sir?”

”I'll be the one who'll go there.”

”But sir...”

”He wants me.”

”But if you go...”

”Don't stop me sergeant,” he clicked his tongue in frustration, ”If I don't return, you're in charge. Call all the enlisted persons and the Privates. Call all the Sergeants and the Corporals and do not leave this fortress. Fight them to the death. Understood?”

”Yes sir.”

”Mabuhay to our Queen! Mabuhay to Nagozul!” he smiled.

”Mabuhay!” the Sergeant replied fast and proud but with weary eyes.

As the Lieutenant opened the door, the Sergeant sighed.

”Sir, to think that if their attack happened tomorrow midnight after the mobilization of the Generals and the Strike Teams...”

”No, Sergeant Djogi, It's just our time. We can't question fate now.”

”I'm just sayin'... The Sibara Masters and Apprentices that we have here are not from the best divisions.”

”What is done is done. And besides, have some respect for the dead Sergeant. It seems as though you are insulting them. Even though they are a bunch or ungrateful ill-tempered men, they have risked their lives for Nagozul.”

”Right... Sorry sir... Well, we'll be ready to kick their asses, sir!”

”It's an honor...”

”Hey,” Djogi interrupted, ”We'll kick their asses if something goes wrong and we'll get you back don't worry.”

The Lieutenant just smiled without confidence and then he left the room with a click on the door to a shut.

The Fortress gates gently opened just slightly for the Lieutenant to squeeze in. He walked proud and commanding even though his heart is pounding madly in fear, choking him just enough to hinder his nervous swallow. It must've been the longest walk he ever did but this did not make his resolve waver even though in his mind he is indeed trembling. As he approached his enemies' eye to eye, he gathered all of his courage to speak trying his best to hide the fear he has in his heart.

”We are not surrendering the fortress to you rebels. It is our duty to defend the flag of Nagozul and we will never back down, not even to you, Yiv.”

”How admirable,” said the Masked Man behind Yiv. Strong and confident with a ridiculously low pitch as if he's trying his best to talk with that low tone which is almost worthy of a laugh, if only he's not that frightening but the Lieutenant just ignored that fact as he continue on. ”But there is a dilemma here Lieutenant. You see I wouldn't want bloodshed, but I will be forced to reckon the idea if you persist on your stand.”

”You have already taken that step the moment you annihilated the Sibara Clan members...” the Masked Man pulled up his palm stopping him in his speech and then directed his hand towards the Sibara men lying on the ground.

”You have failed to notice that we have no intention of spilling blood in order to attain our goals. We did not have to employ murder to prove our point unlike your Nagozulian Grand Princess. These Sibara Assassins are merely poisoned, paralyzed and asleep. They are indeed in need of medical attention, but they are not harmed to an extent that is fatal. We can exterminate all of you inside with as little effort as what we did but we won't. We are appealing to diplomacy first before acting out rashly on your fate.”

”What are your demands, Daomagar?”

”We do not want your fortress. We only want the villagers inside. Free them within two minutes and your lives will be spared. Comply or we will be forced to enter your fortress and extract them forcefully from you clutches.”

”But we can't! We have orders to contain them in the fortress.”

”I don't think I have made myself clear Lieutenant. Free them or we will slaughter you all inside applying the most painful death a mortal can feel as possible. We are creative in exploring the realm of pain, Lieutenant. Don't make me prove it to you.”

”Understood. But at least give us an hour to prepare them for travel.”

”Make that ten minutes or I will strike you now to prove my point.”

He didn't have any words to say but a silent nod coupled by a crunched nose of anger.

”Instruct the villagers to leave their unimportant articles for the travel.”

”Okay,” he finally said while nodding to turn away.

”And Lieutenant,” the Masked Man added, ”the clock has been running since we got here. Better run fast.”

”Sergeant Djogi!” shouted the panting Lieutenant running towards the Gatehouse. The Sergeant went ahead and craned his head outside to heed to his summon.

”Sir! What happened?”

”Release all the prisoners!”

The Sergeant followed with haste ordering his Corporal to relay the commands to the other Sergeants and then ran towards the Lieutenant who is then ringing the bells to get the attention of all the people inside.

”Sir!” Sergeant Djogi shouted as he ran towards him and continued after catching up as if whispering, ”Not to question you sir but are you sure it's a great idea to release all of them out there? We'll be severely punished for that and I just got my promotion last week.”

”It's either that or we die tonight Sergeant.”

”Yes, but what about the Grand Commander Prodea? It's better to die than to be humiliated and demoted by her highness.”

The Lieutenant smiled getting the joke, but he explained. ”You see Sergeant, this plays to our advantage more than you know. They can liberate the prisoners anytime they can, but they chose to spare us and let us deliver the prisoners to them instead.”

”Wait... how can that beneficial to us?”

”We can let them temporarily take the prisoners from us, and then we could strike them back after the reinforcements arrive. That's beneficial since we'll be alive and, at the same time, we could get the prisoners again in mid transit.”

”I see,” he smiled with profound joy. ”Genius! Great thinking sir!”

”Thank you,” he smiled too believing in his brilliant plan, ”They chose the wrong fortress to mess with. We are in the center of all of the other fortresses and there will be no escape since we are the center of all roads to anywhere.”

”But sir, what about the hills due west? They might take refuge in the obscurity of the forest there.”

”No worries Sergeant. After the reinforcements arrive, all we have to do is surround the forest and then have a grid search there. We'll be trapping them in their own plan, and we will be reclaiming our prisoners in no time. That is if you've sent for the best. Have you?”

”Yes sir! I have sent communications to the Palace as well. All of the first-class strike teams will be in here together with first class Master Assassins of the Sibara and their own strike teams. Even Yiv can't take all of them all at once.”

”Great Job Sergeant. Now to prepare the people here. We only have five minutes to get them out of here.”

”Yes sir!”

The gigantic double metal doors of the fortress opened wide as the surge of anxious villagers ran out in exodus. They saw the masked man pointing towards the western hills which all of them followed without question. Anything is better than being trapped there and no one wants to be trapped further in the fortress, so they want to hastily move out to taste their right to freedom which has been so illegally taken from them.

Grog howled running towards the villagers, but they did not flinch in fright. If Grog is with those brave men that gave them salvation, it's only logical that he's not there to eat them all up as the rumors say. That thinking was automatically inscribed on every single one of them giving them the urge to move their foot quicker than the other in a sort of a run - except Of course, for the kids who hugged their parents tight being struck with fear leaving for them to be carried by piggybacks to save some time.

The Lieutenant ran towards the Masked Man as the last of the remaining villagers ran towards the hills. He was fueled by anger after seeing them not leaving, still standing firm on the grounds watching the procession of the villagers.

”We have relinquished our prisoners to you. What else do you want?”

”Nothing anymore. Your existence is not of my concern. Follow us and you'll die. Plant a spy and you'll all die. Understood?”

”Yes. But remember you may have defeated us, but you'll never win against Nagozul, not now that you've stirred up quite a commotion here.”

”You're wrong Lieutenant,” corrected the Masked Man, ”It is not we who defeated you but Nagozul. Nagozul wins by giving freedom for the innocent whom you have tagged as guilty by exploiting their weakness and by abusing your power. We are not the enemy of Nagozul, you all are. It is you who should've been locked up starving not them. You should all be ashamed of yourselves!”

”Wait!” he shouted as they turned their backs to move out. ”What's your name, rebel? Give me your name so that I may report the news of your radical insights to our Grand Commander!”

”I am Magnus!” he exclaimed almost in a laughing manner, ”And I am not afraid of your weak-minded leader. I am not afraid for you to spread my name. In fact, it'll inform them of our deeds so that others might see how you insult Nagozul with your corruption!” and then he dashed on forward disappearing into the shadows along with Yiv who's eyes appears to be smiling all the while.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

”Arjin I want you to follow them and don't leave them out of your sight!” whispered Djogi fitting a camouflage jacket to his Corporal.

They are behind the western walls just outside the fortress crouching to hide themselves with Corporal Arjin almost annoyed as if being forced beyond his will.

”Hey! I don't really want to do this! If you want to, you can do it yourself! I'm not going to subject my wellbeing for your sake!”

”This is for US! Stop whining and receive your order soldier!”

”OH! So, now, I obey your every whim? Is that it?”

Djogi restrained himself wanting to smack some sense into his Corporal slapping his thigh instead to alleviate his frustration. ”It is not just my whim! It's a tactical decision. I'm second in command in this fortress until the generals arrive tomorrow so I'll be inside the fortress to receive them when they turn up! You, on the other hand, are free to gallivant around without nothing much to do because clearly there is no one you're guarding inside right?”

”Yeah, so pick other people out there! Why me!?”

”Why YOU!? It's because I TRUST YOU you lazy monkey!”

”Hey...”

”It has to be you! So that when the troops come in, we can get the general's attention and have great merits after we capture them again!”

”Oh! I see!” he smiled finally making the Sergeant sigh in relief but suddenly backtracked again into his annoyed look. ”So, I go there and be spotted then be killed so that you can get your reward and be promoted further?! My life for your promotion?! Is that it?! Does it look like it's not Yiv there?! Have you lost sense of everything reasonable!?”

”NO!” he clicked his tongue in further aggravation, ”You'll be wearing a disguise and will follow them to a distance at least five hundred feet. You could crawl on the ground to do that! That's why I'm fitting you this camouflage! You won't be seen. Not in this dark night!”

”Okay! Okay! Geez! You and your plans!”

”Hey, don't forget it's my plans that landed you being Corporal!”

”And you being Sergeant!” and he walked away stomping his feet in great dismay almost running to avoid him having the last words.

The villagers ran forth like clumped ants towards the hills and into the forest. They all ran in an orderly manner in which no one strayed to the group as if being in synchronicity talking with each other using only their minds. There is no light, no torches, not even an activated Amplifyer to light their way. They are moving following the person in front of them which is ultimately following the howling Grog marching to the forest just a mile down the hill.

The Corporal, upon seeing this, smiled figuring what's happening. It's an inside job! It has to be! Or that's what Arjin thought. All those villagers are too trusting to the rebels leading them to the forest and that's just unusual. Plus, the fact that they are running quietly means that this all planned out perfectly. That's why they waited for this specific night to strike. The fortress was left vulnerable this night for a pressing matter on finding the missing gold cargo intercepted by some rebels in the Golden Road to the trading posts at the southern edge of Nagozul. It curious to see all of these events being too interconnected but he did not dwell on thinking about this. He's convinced he's not that smart after all and this kind of thinking may very well lead for him to be ridiculed being too paranoid. No one wants that kind of a title especially in the military. Never mind death, social exile is much more frightening.

He crawled going downhill slowly but without taking his eyes away from the running villagers. With his camouflage equipped, even standing to run to follow them wouldn't raise any suspicion but he doesn't want to risk it. It's his life after all and his birthday is coming up next week. He invited Prince Yosh and his brothers and he's looking forward for that - especially after hearing out Prince Yosh just confirmed yesterday and is going to give a secret gift to him. A rather unusual thing for him but he's just happy the prince has such concern for a lowly soldier like him and Djogi. He even asked questions about the fortress, how many friends he has there and how strict the soldiers are to him, being a newly promoted Corporal. It's as if he practically interrogated him about his job and the fortress but he thought he's just curious about the duty. After all, what does he know about being a soldier? And besides, there's nothing he can talk about a prince except his job. A young prince should also learn what a lowly soldier does and it's a privilege, nay an honor, for him to offer his ideas and teach him everything he knows about the fortress and what being a soldier feels like. He feels he's an inch close to being friends with the Prince Yosh and that gave him much eagerness in his crawl, however difficult that may be. Having friends with royalty is very rare for commoners and he's not going to let that slip away easily.

A fast arrow came flying swiftly above him, impaling his left thigh on impact. The wound grew big and bulgy. It's an Elven Arrow! He grunted silently curling up in agony thinking on how they could've spotted him being careful at almost a mile away. He tried to break the arrow taking heed not to disturb the throbbing wound but the barbed vines encircling the shaft just cut his wound even further making him cry a little bit in excruciating pain.

”I wouldn't do that if I were you,” whispered a kid holding an Elven Bow behind him with an almost smiling tone.

The kid then knelt down almost sitting on the ground just a foot before him. His eyes glowed yellow like a cat. He's the kid who's standing on the hill with Grog from before and, like Yiv and the other mysterious man, he has a half face mask equipped in place hiding his identity. He wears a black thickly woven muffler and a light silver hunting armor worn only by the mythical Elven Warriors.

Elves. They don't exist. Or do they? Mixed emotions filled him topped with confusing ideas trying to merge into his consciousness rendering his tongue to maneuver a series of slurred rambles. He couldn't maintain his calm anymore. Even if he attended all those talk and courses about pressure and fear in combat at the academy, it's still different from the real thing. It's different when death is staring you at the face. That led him to beg.

”P-please sir... Don't kill me... I'm just following orders... Please sir. I'm sorry... I--”

”I won't kill you Arjin,” interrupted the Elven warrior, ”Just don't follow us further. Okay?”

”How'dya know my name? Who are you!?”

”I am Aether and we are the Night Hunters. And by that I trust that we can have an understanding when I tell you that we see everything in the dark.”

He stood up stashing his bow to his back and redirected his eyes towards him. His yellow cat-like eyes turned dead serious until he felt a slight shock on every single part of his body. He's paralyzed. He can't move, he can't speak, he can't even blink his eyes. He just lies there unresponsive to any sensual feelings. The radiating pain is slowly fading away too giving him a false sense of relief as he continued on talking in a weird language. After his weird chants he pulled the arrow right out of his thighs returning his legs to normal, except Of course, from the lacerations coming from the barbed vines from before when he tried to break it apart. The Elven warrior Aether turned to him with smiling eyes and then continued.

”I'm sorry. I have to stop you from following us any further. Don't worry you are not harmed. You'll be standing up and about in no time. There is no point in following us either. You won't find us after this.”

He waved his hands as if saying goodbye and with this he magically vanished leaving him like a stone just lying on the ground helpless.

As this hapless night grew dim and gloomy, at least there's still one miracle to appreciate about and that's the wide array of magnificently enthusiastic bright stars dancing in the skies like fireflies. It's as if they have been grabbing the attention of mere mortals like him that night but was just left aside and ignored. People have the mistake of being busy with more pressing matters that they do not have the luxury to sneak a peek from that endless free show in the heavens. That is up until now when he was forced to look up to the skies. The calm lullaby fixed his unresponsive senses but instead of standing up and running to the fortress, he gave in to its intoxicating sleep-inducing rhythm. All those tension and fear and trouble is taxing to the tired and weary body. He can always blame them from knocking him out cold as a justification. At least there's something to salvage in tonight's mishap and that's a good night's sleep, he thought as he surrendered himself to sandman's kind invitation to dreamland.