The dawn had just broken over the vast expanse of the Darkhart Dukedom, its first rays spilling over the massive city walls like liquid gold.
The city, nestled between the wilderness that stretched into the unknown, began to stir.
From within the towering stone walls, the sounds of life slowly awakened — local shopkeepers unlocked their doors, sweeping the dirt streets in preparation for another day of trade.
The clatter of carts and the low murmur of voices filled the air as merchants set up their stalls, while the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the early morning breeze.
This city, a fortress on the edge of a wilderness where no man dared tread too far, was alive with the rhythm of its daily chores, unaware of the looming storm on its horizon.
Atop the city walls, the soldiers stood lazily by, some leaning against their spears, their eyes half-lidded in boredom.
The morning watch was always the slowest — no battles to be fought, just the endless repetition of guarding a city that had not seen war or beast tide for years.
Two soldiers chatted quietly, their conversation far removed from thoughts of duty.
“Last night… I went to visit Mei from the Red Blossom Pavilion,” one soldier smirked, his grin widening as his companion raised an eyebrow.
“Brother, you have no idea. That woman has hands like silk and a tongue that could drive a man insane.”
“Mei? She’s the one with the scarlet dress, right?” His fellow soldier leaned in closer, his curiosity getting the better of him, “I heard she’s got a way of making you forget the world, but… how was it really?”
The first soldier grinned, licking his lips as he remembered the night. “She’s even better than the rumors, trust me. The things she did… let’s just say I’m still trying to figure out how she made me feel like that.”
“By the end of it, I didn’t even have the strength to stand. My legs were shaking so badly, I had to crawl out of her room.”
He laughed, puffing out his chest with pride.
His friend chuckled, shaking his head. “Sounds like she did more than just drain your strength. Probably squeezed every coin out of your purse too.”
“Coins? Ha! Worth every copper. I’d sell my sword if it meant another night like that,” the soldier replied, eyes gleaming, “You’ve no idea what you’re missing, brother. That woman is a goddess in bed.”
His friend chuckled, shaking his head, “If your wife finds out, you’re going to get yourself into trouble one day.”
Just as the soldiers were lost in their idle banter, one of them squinted towards the main road that stretched out beyond the city.
A figure appeared in the distance, a single horse galloping toward the city gates.
The early morning haze blurred the details, but something about the rider seemed… off.
“Oi! Look!” the soldier shouted, pointing. “Someone’s coming fast. But Doesn’t it look like something is wrong!?”
“What do you mean, brother? Where?”
“See for yourself! Look over there.”
The other soldiers quickly joined him at the edge of the wall, their hands shading their eyes as they peered down the road.
As the horse drew closer, the sight became clearer — the rider slumped heavily, the reins loosely gripped in their hands.
Blood soaked the horse’s side, and the figure atop it barely seemed conscious.
“STATE YOUR NAME!” one of the guards shouted, his voice cutting through the still morning air.
But, there was no response.
The rider remained silent, swaying with the horse’s galloping rhythm.
Another soldier cursed under his breath, “Look! That person is barely holding on. They’re seemed to be injured!”
“Oi newbie, go fetch the commander, now!” one of the guards barked, urgency creeping into his voice as they moved to open the gates.
“F*ck! Newbie, what are you standing there for? MOVE! Call the commander!” the older guard snapped, his patience wearing thin.
“Yes, yes.., right away captian!” The recruit, jolted back to action, hurried off, his steps quick as he rushed to carry out the order.
“You there, sound the alarm!” the guard ordered, his voice firm and steady.
“Right away, Captain!” he shouted as he sprinted across the courtyard, his armor clanking with each hurried step.
Soon,
Ding~ Dong~
The alarm bell echoed through the city, a warning that sent guards scrambling to their positions.
The streets stirred in response, citizens glancing toward the gates with worry etched on their faces.
After all, this was the Duke’s household; any breach of its security would not only put the Duke’s life in danger but also threaten the reputation of the entire Empire.
The city immediately went into high alert, with more guards rushing forward as the wounded rider drew closer the city gates.
NEIGH~~
The horse, soaked in sweat and visibly exhausted, limped to a stop in front of the city gates, letting out a weak, strained neigh.
A gaping wound on its abdomen, crusted with dried blood, bore the unmistakable marks of a savage wild beast’s claws.
Its body trembled with every ragged breath, barely holding itself upright, as if on the verge of collapse.
The moment the animal stopped, the rider’s body sagged, tumbling from the saddle like a lifeless doll.
Thud–
They hit the ground with a sickening thud, dust swirling in the air as the soldiers rushed forward, quickly forming a tight circle around the fallen rider.
Their eyes darted between one another, hands gripping the hilts of their weapons, ready for anything.
“This person appears to be unconscious!” one of the guards called out, kneeling beside the rider.
His hand hovered over the man’s chest, hesitating.
“Wait!” another guard warned sharply, eyes narrowing, “We should still be cautious. It could be a trap! Wait till the commander arrives.”
Just then, the heavy thud of boots announced the arrival of the city guard commander.
His dark brows furrowed in concentration as he strode through the gates, his armor gleaming under the dim light and clinking with each purposeful step.
“What’s the situation?” he demanded, his voice cutting through the tension.
“Commander, over here!” one of the guards called urgently.
His sharp eyes immediately fell upon the figure lying in the dirt.
The figure lay crumpled on the ground, an arrow embedded deep in the back of his leg.
His tattered clothes were drenched in blood, torn in several places.
A putrid odor filled the air, emanating from the man’s body — a grotesque mix of sweat, dried blood, and the unmistakable scent of ‘festering wounds’.
The foulness was overwhelming, causing the soldiers encircling him to grimace in disgust and instinctively pull back, their expressions reflecting revulsion as they maintained a wary distance from the fallen figure.
Instead of using his hands, the commander positioned the man’s body by carefully rolling him onto his back with his legs.
As he looked upon the fallen figure, his expression shifted dramatically, his face paling to a ghostly white.
Tremors coursed through him, as if he had been struck by an unseen force.
“How… How is this possible?” he murmured, his voice barely rising above a whisper.
His hands quivered as he knelt down quickly, examining the bloodied face to confirm the horrific reality before him.
While the other soldiers surrounding him failed to recognize the man, he, as one of the Commander Generals under the Duke Darkhart’s command, possessed an acute awareness of the identity of the individual lying unconscious before him.
It was impossible for him to overlook the unmistakable features — crimson eyes and white hair — every detail resonated with the truth, striking him with the force of a thunderclap.
“Commander!” one of the soldiers asked, alarmed by his superior’s reaction. “Sir, do you… do you know this person?”
The commander shot the soldier a withering glare, “Fool! Don’t waste time with questions. GO! Fetch the Duke immediately!”
Although they did not understand the gravity of the situation right way, the soldiers quickly sensed the shift in the atmosphere.
Witnessing their usually easygoing commander’s stunned reaction, an uneasy feeling settled over them.
Another soldier stepped forward, his hands shaking, “I’ll go get the physician, Commander. We will be needing his help!”
Seeing the commander nod in agreement, he quickly turned and sprinted through the gates toward the city, shouting for the physician.
“Four of you!” the commander barked, urgency lacing his tone, “Get your ass over here and lift him gently. We need to get him inside immediately. If he dies on your watch, I’ll make sure you pay the price with your lives!”
The soldiers obeyed instantly, their faces pale.
They moved to lift the wounded man, their hands gripping him as delicately as if they were handling a priceless artifact.
Even with the arrow lodged in his leg, they navigated the task, ensuring not to jostle his injury as they cradled his body,
The tension in the air was thick, the morning light doing little to dispel the growing sense of dread that hung over the scene.
As they carried the man toward the city, the commander followed closely, his mind racing, heart pounding with anxiety.
This can’t be happening!