The atmosphere was lit up by the rising sun. They found themselves in the middle of a field, surrounded by many other people.
Zephyr looked to the side and saw Ili, still holding his hand. He felt a wave of relief wash over his whole body as he saw both her and Vella alive and well. He stood a few moments in place, trying to process what just happened, before a voice broke through the crowd. On a stone in the center, a person stepped up, dressed in a white cloak. Golden models painted on its edges. The lowered hood revealed bright red hair, like fire. He couldn't be mistaken, the leader of the White Cloaks of Feinhdall, the one who defeated the White Orc. Rainer.
"People of Feinhdall," he shouted, catching everyone's attention. "I'm afraid our city is no more."
The people from the crowd listened, lowering their heads. Some were hurt, some burnt, but most of them were unharmed. Most of them were holding wooden talismans, with some symbols written on them.
"I know that you're hurt and scared. You've lost your homes, those who even had homes in the beginning. But at the very least, you're alive."
Rained looked around for a few seconds, his expression unreadable.
"We will stand together. We'll gather resources and prepare a place to stay in, at least for now, until things calm down and you can return to your homes, if there's anything left."
There was silence once again, but it was soon broken by a fight which started in the crowd. A small circle was made, as a human pushed a bwovnine male. The bwovnine, got right back at him, picking him up by the collar of his shirt.
Soon, the bwovnine felt the cold touch of a thin sword at his neck.
"Let him down," a White Cloak spoke, pressing the sword more into his neck.
The bwovnine threw the human down, not saying a word. The human got back up immediately, anger and hate consuming his face.
"It's all their fault!" he shouted, pointing towards the bwovnine. "If they never came here, this wouldn't have happened! There's no way in hell I'll ever live with them! They're all beasts! They've taken everything from us! They deserved to burn along with the city, straight to the pits of hell!"
The bwovnine's expression changed as well, as he stepped towards the human in anger.
"Do you think we wanted any of this?!" he shouted, pushing the human back with force. "We had no choice! We were taken from our homes and forced to live in your cursed lands! Do you think either of us wanted to come here? To abandon our homes, to take our families in a kingdom that wants us all dead?! Don't you dare take us for those stuck up aristocrats who've taken everything from you! Because they've done the same to us! You think you're the only ones who are suffering?!"
"Shut your mouth!" the human spoke, shaking the dust from his clothes, gripping an axe from the ground. "Don't you dare compare yourselves to us!"
The human launched himself at the bwovnine, his axe ready to strike. But then, a flame flashed between the two, as the axe was severed by a deep red sword, falling onto the ground. The man froze in place, as he saw the red sword turned towards him, held by Rainer, looking at him with a cold expression.
"If you want to leave, leave. I won't force anyone to stay with us, if they don't want to." Rainer turned his head back towards the bwovnine. "The same goes for you as well. But for now, you are under the protection of the White Cloaks. And I won't let anyone under our protection be harmed."
The man scoffed, dropping the piece of wood left in his hands, taking a step back, but not daring to say anything else. The bwovnine did the same, turning around and going the opposite direction.
After things calmed down some more, Rainer spoke again.
"There's a forest nearby. I want the men who aren't injured to pick us tools and go gather some wood, to set up a camp here for the moment. I'll need more people to form a group and go hunting as well. The women should stay here and tend to the wounded, along with some of my men. Anyone who knows healing magic is welcome to remain here as well."
Ili and Zephyr looked as Rainer gave his orders, and started organizing people in groups, with the help of his other White Cloaks.
Ili turned to the side, catching someone's arm. "Eifhal!"
Zephyr was startled by the gesture, having completely forgotten of the person who touched their backs right before everything turned black in Feinhdall. But now that he looked, he recognized him. It was the White Cloak who spoke to them back in the city, and whom they had met a few more times before.
Ili looked at the man, holding his arm, as he wanted to leave. "Care to explain?"
"What is there to explain?" Eifhal said, looking to the side, not meeting her gaze.
"Nobody is asking any questions. This must mean that everyone here knew what happened. We don't. So tell us."
Eifhal turned his head towards Ililith. He didn't seem to want to speak, but eventually did. "We knew that the attack would happen. So, Rainer came here and prepared for mass teleportation magic, to take everyone from the city who wasn't with Æhre and bring them here at once with the use of those wooden talismans, infused with Rainer's mana."
"And the people that were killed?"
"They were necessary sacrifices."
"How so?" Ili asked coldly, keeping hold of his hand.
Eifhal returned the cold gaze, but his expression also showed suppressed guilt. "Æhre needed to get their anger out on someone. After years of suppression, if we didn't allow them to kill the ones who suppressed them most, their anger would have only grown, and their flames of hatred wouldn't have stopped at Feinhdall. They would have come after us, and we're in no shape to fight an army, especially one led by Inferna..."
"Kids died, entire families died..." Ili looked at him, with tears in her eyes. She was angry, and pained. "...and you say they were necessary sacrifices?"
Eifhal pulled his arm away from her grip.
"Yes, they died!" he shouted at her, letting out his anger. "Kids die in wars! It's always been the case!" He sighed, his tone getting softer. "This world is a cruel place... And you should learn that now, because if you don't, you'll suffer fates worse than death. You are a really kind girl, and I know that you care a lot about everyone, but you should understand... not everybody deserves mercy."
Ili looked at the ground, silently.
"Stay safe, alright...?" Eifhal ended softly, turning around and leaving through the crowd.
"I know... how cruel this world can be..." Ili muttered quietly, looking at her hands. She noticed that she was trembling slightly.
"Hey... You alright?" Zephyr asked, placing his hand softly on Ili's shoulder.
"Yes, yes... I'm alright, don't worry..."
Ili brought her sleeve to her face, wiping a few tears from her eyes.
Vella came over as well. Trying to soothe her, she cupped Ili's hand with her's, gently wrapping her soft wings around her body.
After a bit of time, Ili finally raised her hand, and Vella unwrapped her wings from around her, giving her some space.
"Alright... Zephyr, I'll stay here with Vella and help with the wounded. You can also go help with gathering wood and hunting, and I'll join you once we're finished here. We can stay here for today, to help with whatever we can. But tomorrow, once the sun rises, we'll leave with Vella towards the Secluded Castle, as I promised we would. Is that alright?"
"Yes, of course. Of course..." Zephyr responded calmly. He turned his head to the side, looking at the place where men were gathering to go in the forest, with more White Cloaks around speaking to them. "Well, I'll get going. Be safe, alright?"
Ili smiled softly. "You too. Take care!"
The sun raised and passed, the day started turning dark once again. The settlement was being built. A few small triangular houses were made out of wood, with moss and leaves serving as roof.
Zephyr was still out, hunting. He was with a group of twelve or so people, along with two White Cloaks, one of which was Eifhal. As they went further through the forest, Zephyr climbed a hill. The sun was barely visible anymore, but it was still high enough to light up the surroundings in a dark orange hue.
He stopped, as in front of him, far away, the massive, dark walls of a city appeared. In the center of the city, a ginormous tower rose, far above the walls. It was the largest building he has ever seen in his life. Not far outside from the walls, thousands of lit tents could be seen, filled with soldiers in dark armor.
"What's that?" Zephyr asked, pointing towards the city.
Eifhal came next to him, looking where he was pointing.
"That's Björn. One of the most fortified cities in the Iron Gates. It's one of the first cities that the Bwovn Empire built here, after they took suzerainty over us. It's said to be their 'crown jewel' from the Iron Gates. An impregnable fortress, unable to be defeated. Or so they brag, at least."
"And those?" Zephyr asked, pointing towards the military tents. They seemed to be at least a few thousands of them, but only now he was noticing even more into the forest next to them, meaning that there should be many, many more than he initially thought.
"Those must be your people. The united army of kalzraaks, or Hyakhuten, as they call it. They're here for the treaty, the one Rainer told you about. If everything goes well, then that whole army will be added to the Iron Gates."
"And if not?"
"I think you can already tell what would happen if things don't go well. If you and that girl plan to leave this place, I'd suggest you do it as soon as possible, if you're going to go through Björn. The treaty will be signed tomorrow, around the middle of the day, and you'll want to be past the city by then, in case anything goes wrong."
"Alright, thanks... I'll keep that in mind."
Zephyr looked back over to the city, and then back at the tents. Was it really possible? For the kalzraaks to be accepted... And there were so many. He's never seen so many kalzraaks before. He'd heard of the name Hyakhuten when he was little, in stories his parents used to tell him. But it never came up as a good thing. The united army of kalzraaks... Who could manage to unite every tribe and settlement of kalzraaks in the kingdom? He's been away from his people for so long... No, it didn't matter now. He shook his head, clearing his mind and regaining his composure.
"Eifhal..."
Eifhal, who was leaving, stopped, turning back around to face the kalzraak. "What is it?"
"Why didn't you tell us from the beginning? You knew of the attack, and warned all those people from the city. You gave them those talismans, and yet, you gave us nothing. You didn't even tell us to leave."
Eifhal looked at the kalzraak, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes, I didn't. Because I don't trust you. Either of you. You appear out of nowhere, at the exact time and place when something large happens. You're always in the middle of danger, and yet, you always get out mostly unharmed. That's why."
"Then why did you go through the trouble of saving us in the end?"
"Because, in the slim chance that I'm wrong, I didn't want to let two kids die in vain. But don't mistake this for trust. Because I don't trust either of you."
Zephyr stood silent, before turning back towards the army. Eifhal left, continuing the hunt. The kalzraak wanted to go after him as well, but something wasn't giving him peace as he gazed upon the forest in which the army camps were located. Something that made him instinctively create a dagger in his hand. Realizing what he's done, he let the dagger break. The words were constantly sounding in his ears, getting louder and louder, like an army cry... "Hyakuthen" "Hyakuthen" "Hyakuthen"
He pulled his head away from the view, closing his eyes, letting his own thoughts deafen the war cries. He took a deep breath, and exhaled. The words went silent.