News quickly spread like wildfire the very same night after Belfast kingdom had fallen. Others fell into silent short prayers for the souls of the fallen, praying for their eternal peace, others stated that the Sovereigns only helped them clear unclean and cursed beings from the world while others couldn't care less.
For adventurers, looters and salvagers, this was a chance for them. Those who heard the news immediately started planning on how to get to the ruins immediately the snow levels subsided, all except one team.
Inside a bar in the Orith Kingdom, a group of adventurers listened to the spreading news as they drank their ale.
"Sad indeed, they all just died just like that," said a woman who appeared to be in her late twenties.
"All in the name of doing what is right and just. Makes you question the teachings of the Sovereigns," A man replied as he drank his ale in one quick gulp before bashing the wooden mug violently on the table.
"So, what should we do, boss?" A young looking adventurer in his early twenties asked as he looked at a man seated next to him. Unlike the others, he appeared to be older, most likely in his late thirties. His muscular frame was well built and served as evidence of his discipline and experience in the adventuring world. His short black hair had a few gray streaks. He had not taken a single sip of his ale. His green eyes focused on the ale placed on the table, as if he was pondering deeply about something.
"Alright, I have a suggestion." He suddenly said, averting his eyes from his untouched mug, looking right at the other adventurers present with him on the table.
"We were to head to Elarion next, but now it seems like Belfast kingdom has fallen. May their souls rest in eternal peace. Now, we will have a change of plans. We will head to the fallen kingdom." He said in a calm tone.
"Heading there ahead of the looters and other greedy collectors? I don't mind that, Neil." The woman said, referring to Neil, their leader.
"That way, we can salvage more, avoiding the competition that will come after," the young adventurer said.
"What Jin has said is the main goal, backed up by Velka's conclusion to deter greedy looters who have no respect to the dead. We will head to the ruins, take reasonable valuables like food, currency, minerals and the like. Then we shall also bury the bodies so that these damned looters won't start playing around with bodies to find valuable items from them right Neil?" Asked the man as he ordered another mug of ale.
"Yes Mordain. We shall set out immediately and we shall bury all the bodies we can meet, that is if there are still bodies to bury." Neil said bitterly, remembering that the goblins were also in the invasion.
"Alright. The snow won't be an issue thanks to little Jin over here," Velka said as she winked at him.
"Ha.. My Cognis just recently hit the Visus level." He replied.
Mana in this world, exists as a natural form of energy that cannot be directly absorbed by sentient beings. Deities and supreme entities thus came up with an interface through which Humans and creatures could absorb and utilise the mana: The Cognis, which serves as the core and the pathway between the body and soul. Through it, mana can be absorbed and manipulated.
"The Visus stage? That is impressive! Heck why didn't I know of this,eh?" Mordain asked as he patted Jin's head.
"Let's quickly head out. Jin will preserve his strength until we get to the kingdom. I will clear the snow in our path." Neil said.
They sat there, planning and finding the shortest routes, and they finally set out.
***
Renard opened his eyes slowly as an icy pain spread all through his body. He was back in his body, which was still in his mother's now cold embrace, impaled by many ice spikes. His eyes were dead and his will broken. Slowly reciting his spell, a gentle white flame covered his body. The ice hissed as it melted and his body slumped weakly, landing face first. He did not stop himself from falling, nor did he try to stand up after that. The pain he was feeling on his grotesque open wounds was so much that he couldn't feel anything. Staying in that state, his tear gates finally opened, and he let out soft wails as tears gushed out. The physical pain he was feeling, the mental pain, the trauma, it was all too much for a seven years old child. He could feel his body heal slowly. How? He did not know.
Nor did he care at that time.
His vital organs healed up slowly as he let out loud wails, crying over the loss of everything. He could remember, he could feel it; the cold bodies on the floor, the now slowly freezing pools of blood, the smoke from burning buildings, the horrid smells of burning corpses.
Being so young, he could not understand the feeling he had in his chest. Deep anger, deep resentment, questions he wanted to ask the world, the Sovereigns and the instigators of the massacre. Even as all this tore through his mind, his sanity was still intact. He wondered why as he silently wished to break. He could not feel the crown on his hand. His young mind was placing one and two together, and he could now understand the burdens his parents were apologizing for before they died.
As he healed, he could feel his mana deplete. He was getting dizzy. In one last desperate act, he projected his consciousness all over the area till the furthest he could get. Reality hit him hard again, confirming that there was indeed, noone who was left alive.
As his consciousness faded, he suddenly sensed some life coming towards where the kingdom gates once stood. All he could do was send a weak and silent plea, now hoping to at least survive, remembering his promise.
***
"They really spared nothing." Jin said as the four came out from underneath the snow. They were inside a spherical barrier, one that Neil had set up.
"Let us quickly do this." Neil said as he looked at the weak dying flames. The smell of blood and burning corpses hit him hard which he, thanks to his experiences over the years, knew so well.
"Jin, this might be a bit too much for you. You can stay here and keep watch-"
Neil suddenly stopped talking, as if listening.
"Neil what's wrong?" Velka asked.
He could hear it in his head, a desperate cry for help, very distant and fleeting.
"There is a survivor!" He said as his eyes glowed green. Following protocol, they all focused as they followed Neil, looking for traces of mana.
Neil focused ahead, hoping that he could at least, save a life.