94 A Brewing Storm (1/2)

”Did you hear what is happening right now? Every guard and adventurer have fearful faces, and I even saw some merchants waving their arms like some headless chicken.”

”WHAT? You still don't know? Let me tell you, my son is a guard in the North Gate and he told me …”

”… and apparently, one hundred thousands of undead are approaching!!”

”100 000!!! That's impossible”

”… 30 000, I am telling you, no more than 30 000 skeletons are approaching. Anyone that is telling a higher number is either dumb or a liar. You know me, my father is the main treasurer of Archet. There is no reason to worry, the walls will protect …”

As they walked in the street, they could feel the fervor that seemingly everyone had embraced. Children weren't playing anymore but where tightly gripping the legs of their parents, scared by the behavior of the surrounding adults. Nearly all the different stalls were closed and many peddlers were surrounding them, in some heated debates. In this day, no one had the will to happily shop.

Funnily enough, even the usual petty thieves and beggars were weirdly absent from such a huge crowd. For the usual humans, they wouldn't be able to spot them or even notice the many traces that were invisible to the unknowing eyes. But inside the dark alleys that led to the poor area of the city, mutes were arguing against one-legged men that were standing on their two feet. To their despair, the ongoing disaster that plagued their homes didn't stop, it only grew worse.

Too many families were randomly targeted by those dark monsters that were lurking inside the night, and now, an army will besiege the city. If it had been anything else than some undead, they wouldn't have been so concerned and their entire gangs would have left without making any sound. But now, they knew that trying to leave would only result in their death, making them really scared. At the same time, many thought of this as an occasion to cast aside their old self and begin an entirely new life.

No one had their hands entirely clean, meaning that everyone had at least some skills at fighting another human. Even if it wouldn't amount to a lot on a normal occasion, they had already managed to extract the truth from the lies that were spreading like a fire in summer inside Archet. As for who told them that, well, as the Mayor had many dealings with the White Hand, many wealthy families had a dark side hidden from the eyes of the public.

This time, whether they wanted it or not, they knew that they will not be able to leisurely wait for the end of the conflict without even lifting a finger. If the grunts and low ranked subordinates were arguing about that in a small group, under the scorching sun, those that had real power were no better. Inside a room without any windows and a few meters under the ground, their fears were awfully similar compared to those under them.

Maybe because they had tasted the sentiment of greatness before, but most were inclined to help the local garrison at all cost. Previously, they were considered the scummiest reject of mankind, mere defects of the society only busy at stealing the possessions of someone else. And while it was completely true, they were fine with their lack of conscience. But recently, that last week, they felt how many people had relied on them to survive.

While those monsters hunted those that were cast aside and left to rot in the dark corners of the city, only the numerous gangs were originally roaming in the night to protect them. The number of patrols of the guard was increased, but they seldom entered deeply the poor area. It gave a sense of security for the rest of the city, but for those that were neighbors of the victims, they didn't feel the same way.

The sentiment of being looked upon in such a favorable way was like a drug for those men. They already had most of what they wanted. Money, power, women. But when an innocent little girl offered an apple to one of them, while looking at adoration to the man that was protecting her and her family, he felt it. They were previously as popular as a disease, making everyone run away in fear and locking themselves in their homes. But now, they were just … humans.

Of course, not even Meridiana or the Mayor could have predicted that. She was currently watching a single human trying to convince a far greedier crowd to fight for the city. Namely, the adventurers. Of course, there was always a few idealists and optimists that didn't need anything to give up their lives for an empty belief. Most of that group were rookies that would barely help at anything except moving water, rations and equipment.