Chapter 425: The sixth person (2/2)
Meanwhile, Hephas, Miko, and Lyno spread out, surrounding the gate in a small curved line, Hephas taking the central position and facing directly into the dim tunnel entrance.
Seconds slowly kept passing as the moment of truth slowly crept closer. The group of youngsters could now be heard clearly, their steady but silent pace reaching ever-so closer to the end of the row of the tunnel. In just a second, they would reach the end and would emerge and reveal themselves and their newest companion to Hephas and his group.
The air was stiff, all of them felt uneasy. Depending on what they would see, the next few minutes could even be the beginning of the end for their city and mayhaps even for the kingdom they served for all their lives.
Still, there was that tiny hope, their small spark of light, that kept the life and reason within them: The youngsters seemed and sounded mostly okay, whilst the mysterious stranger felt rather down, and as he or she got closer, rather wounded…
Eventually, the head of the leading members of the returning party, a pair of hooded cloaks emerged. Although hidden, their figures instantly felt familiar to Hephas. The one on the right, who seemed to be the male whilst the other donning a similar attire looked more feminine, was the same boy that originally talked to them.
Shortly behind them, another two feminine shapes emerged, at their sides, two large-bodied, strong-looking hounds followed along, their panting looked happy, calm.
Soon, a few steps behind, the last of the party, the duo that the guards were mostly looking forward to and, at the same time, worried about, emerged.
A tall, brawny, broad-shouldered figure, with short dark grey hair and an unshaven budding stub of a hideous-looking bearded face, appeared. His armor matte black, without any emblems, badges, coat of arms, or even insignias painted on it.
From an initial, quick glance he looked like those average no-name, unpopular mercenaries that only those with just a few extra coins to spare would hire.
Yet, there was a strange feeling, a mysterious, heavier, more dominant presence to the figure betraying this initial outward feel to him.
He was undoubtedly carrying just as much experience as any of the seasoned guards in the city, maybe even more.
However, if that were the case, why did it seem that this man was the captive, rather than being the tormentor of the youths? Going forward, why did it seem that this rough-looking figure feared that lean, long-black-haired youth pushing and nudging him along from behind?
Just what the hell happened down below, and who could this man be?
—
Baffled by this scene, the guards stood frozen in their places even as the party of youngsters reached the end and were looking back at them with calm, collected looks. The two sides silently gazed at each other for several seconds, before the leading man at the right exclaimed in his crips, clear but slightly annoyed tone of voice.
”Could you guys wake up and do your jobs? It was a long day, and I would really like a good meal and finally see my bed!”