"The Valley of Silence? What is so special about that place?"
Apparently, the saint had come to have a word with August about something important. That was what she said while describing the place, it was important, very important.
August already had a suspicion that she was hiding something from him deliberately, at the time she made that request to him.
However, he believed it was because of the lack of trust the saint had in him. He was a stranger after all.
Also he did not immediately accept the proposal but asked for some time to think over it. That signified his own caution.
Whether she would tell him or not was a very crucial gesture which could make or break his trust with her. And if August decided against trusting her, he would obviously not accept her request.
He thought the full disclosure would only come after he had accepted her request but surprisingly the saint decided not to keep anything from him.
Maybe she wanted to gain his trust.
Another thing August was wondering about was why the saint was so hell bent on recruiting him as her escort? She had not even seen him fight yet.
Likely because she had no other option, he thought.
August and the saint walked under the empty coldness of the starry night sky.
Their surroundings were illuminated by the beautiful radiance of moonlight. Under this calm and peacefulness the saint was talking while August listened to her carefully,
"Warrior Augustus" she said addressing him calmly, "as you already know, we are maidens of the wind, and I am their saint. Meaning, I hold the most important position within the faction. Therefore it is my responsibility to make sure that every one of my sisters reaches home safely. Right now I am in dire need of a warrior like you. I know I've promised to not pressurise you but I hope you'll make the right decision. In return you will get anything you want, money, medicine, elixirs, women you can even take one of our maidens as your wife if you want. You know what it means right?"
Indeed, putting out all her cards like that could mean only one thing: the saint was desperate. Not that August could have blamed her though, she was risking it for her sisters. She seemed to be bearing the same responsibility as August and the only difference was that the saint was actually trying her best to save her people.
Unlike August, who had fallen into some god forsaken lands by his idiotic actions which meant that he was running from his responsibility. This statement could really be proven right if he did not return to his home quickly though.
However, right now August was stuck in an unusual predicament. The saint was asking him for help, stooping as low as asking a teenager like him and even offering him one of her maidens as payment? The matter was much bigger and important than August had imagined it to be.
The time, even though short—he had spent with the saint's group he did not need evidence to know how important every one of the maidens were to the wind manor.
Now when August had an idea about the depth of the situation, he too had to know everything and consider the offer seriously.
Honestly, August had given it a thought before. Firstly he did not know where he was at and obviously he did not know which way would lead him home. Neither did he have any accomplices to help him obviously.
On the other hand he knew the maidens of the wind better than he knew anyone else in this strange place.
On top of that, he was in a direct conversation with a saint who seemingly held a high position in one of the bigger factions. Not that he knew what those factions were of course.
He had never heard of them before.
Come to think of it, August did not know anyone in this place. As he considered all the facts he came to the only conclusion that if anyone could help him return home it would be saintess Aireen.
To get her help —he first needed to help the saint herself. As he had observed the saint, she did not feel like could pose any harm to him, nor was she hiding any malice towards him that was for sure.
In reality August had only one quick and easy option —to ask the saint for help.
However, the saint asked him first and he felt reluctant to get himself into any other trouble that too for someone else's sake. Saint did not have known anything about him, yet she was ready to reveal every confidential information about the journey that too before he had made any decision.
She knew that the information could direct his decision far from her own benefit but she decided to tell him nevertheless.
"Okay, Miss saintess," he said, letting out a sigh, "tell me what do you need me for?"
The beautiful face of the kind saint tensed up with unusual expressions,
"I want you, so that we can cross the Valley of Silence, safely."
"Valley of silence?" August asked with a confused expression, "what's so special about that place?"
"Figures" this time it was the saint who let out a sigh, "I guess that you are not from here." August' expressions were unreadable. He simply shook his head, "the Valley of Silence is a mythical realm which appears somewhere between the trisha mountain ranges and the wind manor. That place is a mystery and remains always shrouded in thick white fog. It serves as a toll booth between various factions only because the guardian of that place is a corrupt entity. Everytime someone passes through the trisha mountain ranges they have to pay the toll, meaning they have to bribe the guardian."
August was suddenly watching a hint of angry expression appearing on the kind saint's face,
"Just because the valley falls under a god's domain, the guardian thinks he could do as he pleases. If anything, that vile creature of mist had become more corrupt throughout the ages. Unfortunately for us there are very high chances that the valley could appear in our path since our way back is directly from the heart of the mountain range."
August started to feel the danger of the situation when he got to know about the valley of Silence. Apparently the place was way smaller than a fraction of God's domain.
However, August was still confused as why do even a small part of a god's domain appear between mountain ranges anyway?
While the saint told him that the corrupted guardian of the strange part of the realm was responsible for that, August still wasn't convinced. He suspected much bigger danger than that considering if the things he had read about the god of silence were all true.
Well, he did not think much about the matter because he could not possibly compare with the guardian, the god was completely out of equation already.
'What am I even thinking'
His tiredness might be catching up to him once again, he thought.
Before that he had many important questions to ask the saint,
"So what do you want me to do? Haggle with the guardian over money?"
The saint laughed at his joke, which from his perspective wasn't a joke whatsoever,
"No, the guardian does not take money but the soul or you can challenge him to a duel."
August stared at her blankly,
"Let me get this straight. You want me to sacrifice myself or either want me dying in a duel with an ancient entity. Because I think you know I am powerful and at the same time my power cannot be compared to the guardian. I am sorry miss saint but I am not a fool to knowingly jump inside the maw of death."
The saint was silent for a while and then she said,
"No, there is another way by which we can cross the valley safely. The guardian was a knight once, an honourable one at that. Even if he had been taken over by corruption now, he still holds the duels in high regard inside his corrupted mind. The only thing you have to do is challenge him to a duel and fight honourably, enough to impress him and after that it does not matter if you win or lose. He will definitely spare you."
August was surprised to hear about a being who had gone insane but there was a little bit of him left inside himself as the honour towards a duel. The fact that one was able to save a fraction of his sanity under the sheer influence of insanity was already admirable.
While the victory was not guaranteed they still had a way nevertheless. Something was better than nothing after all. And there was still the possibility that the valley would never appear before them.
Things were becoming somewhat clear to August. The road ahead which was shrouded into mist and his thoughts which were once clouded, seemed to be clearing off.
He was now a thought away from accepting her request. There was too much benefit for him and the very same level of risk involved. If he takes up the request this journey is sure to become an adventure for him.
High risk, high reward.
August was just one convincing argument away,
"Tell me saintess. Why did I put my responsibilities on hold while aiding in fulfilling yours?"
Surprisingly the saint said just the words he needed to make a decision,
"...maybe because doing that will bring you closure to what you have to do."
She let out a sigh,
"Don't take it as an offence warrior but to me, you look like someone who is lost. Lost from home, from your path, from the route you are supposed to take, from light perhaps. I hate talking big but what if helping me will turn out as you helping your own self? Maybe you would find solace in the sense of achievement that would drive you closer to the place you belong. Don't take my words lightly, I am not the saint for nothing."
She let him think a bit and then continued,
"Our destinations may be different but I feel like our paths are connected. Not even connected but intertwined. Maybe it's fate who has put us both in a situation where we need one another. I know I need you, a warrior because only a warrior could challenge another warrior to a duel. I would have happily fought the guardian myself if it weren't for the rules of combat. Hell, I would've given my life gladly as a sacrifice to ensure the safety of my sisters but unfortunately my life isn't mine to sacrifice, not any longer. Something tells me that you are perfect for this task. That, gods themselves have sent you to help me get out of this situation. The reason however, I have no idea about. But I know you definitely have a reason to help us."
It was scary how convincing the seemingly kind saint was, the fluidity in which she had spoken facts about him, sent chills down his spine.
She was right, he had a reason to help her. It was his only choice not to mention.
However, despite knowing all this, Aireen still chose to tell him the whole truth knowing well that reacting this way would make her look only desperate.
After going through the details again and again August was sure that this was his only bet to return home in time.
"Alright I am convinced," he said, letting out a long sigh, "I will help you reach the wind manor safely."
Although there were more details to be discussed none of them were in a state to carry out the conversation further. It was midnight already. August felt tired and exhausted.
"Let's make sure to get a lot of rest. Our long journey will start by tomorrow."
In the end August agreed to the request from the saintess.
"Saintess! Warrior Augustus!" Miles screamed from a distance, "why are you two out at this late hour. Come and sleep already. We have a lot of distance to cover tomorrow."
August smiled at his possessive words.
"You know what warrior?" the saint spoke suddenly, a proud smile was showing on her face, "Miles was ready to duel the guardian before you showed up, even if he didn't know how to fight properly."
August smiled less on the situation and more on himself,
"Don't compare me with him …I am not that brave."
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