Eyes was gone, but his presence lingered in the wet breeze.
"The Seer's gene."
"I wonder what they meant by that."
Right on the spot – where Eyes vanished – sounds of pages flapping broke into the silence. XN slowly walked to the damaged journal, picking up the photo on the way.
He stared into the void as his thoughts processed the depth of his ignorance.
"my knowledge is limited."
"I need to learn more, if I intend to survive."
The tings of crossing swords had ceased, followed by his thoughts, as a cry of lamentation traveled the cold sands dimly lit by the stars and lights from the Great Walls.
"No! WHY ?!"
"This can't be happening!"
From the cold terrace, XN scoped around, attempting to capture the source of the mourning that went on.
" c'mon, wake up now! Don't die on me.. Please"
The air grew heavier, burdened by the tears, sweats and blood of the victims. With it, the scent of death intensified as the corpses began to rot.
"I should go check it out"
XN walked down the trapdoor, holding in his left hand the journal which enclosed the soiled photo. The sound of his steps echoed down the stairways as he descended, void of emotions.
He stretched his sight, eyes squinted, as he struggled to see through the dim lighting. The blue flames covered the surfaces with an indigo blue hue.
A rectangular silhouette loomed between two narrow walls that extended into its darkness.
"That must be the door"
"I should take some water."
The doorway revealed a corridor with darkness stretching beyond his sight. He longed the walls, disoriented until the concrete floor felt sandy, and his shoes sunk in. The starry night received him with the full moon casting its silver light on a wooden caravan.
XN threw a glance at the caravan, curious about what could be within its linen roof. He then threw a quick glance as he walked by, heading for the battlefield.
The pungent smell of the waters poisoned the atmosphere. However, XN walked through the respiratory threat indifferently.
Behind the hazy wall of sands formed by the whistling winds, two profiles separated from the numerous others. A young adult male knelt by a laying body.
The mourning amplified, suppressing the sounds of XN's feet that steadily approached.
"Hey, stay there !"
The young adult yelled through with cries as he finally perceived XN's silhouette.
"You're one of them, right?!"
His voice, filled with frustration and anger.
"I don't know who you are talking about,"
" however I'll suppose you refer to your aggressors."
XN's features progressively unveiled with the closing distance. His expressionless visage released an air of unease in the war victim.
"Now, if I were one of them, you'd be already dead."
XN glanced at the corps by the boy's knees, as his voice sent shivers through the young adult, leaving his coffee brown hair soaking in the tears on his pale face.
"Who was he to you?"
"A brother"
Trying to hold back his tears, the boy responded with his eyelids pinching against each other.
The tension grew thicker as XN's interrogation developed in an awkward direction.
"Tell me, did your tears bring him back?"
"Why are you mocking me?"
The boy asked, with embarrassment carved onto his features.
The cries of the comrades who fought by his side began to resurface. The dreadful atmosphere faded as XN's words resonated with mild empathy.
Rapidly, the interrogation evolved into a motivation.
"You all fought because of a cause and failed."
"Do you mourn the defeat or the blood of your allies?"
The boy looked away, his wet eyes cast into the shadows of his hair. Desperate by the turn of events, he submitted to XN.
"What should I do?"
For a brief moment, XN feasted his sight with the bloody aftermath. The oxblood that draped the dunes sparkled underneath the silvery moon. The casualties were numerous, and the deceased were even more. He sought for trust and for that, he needed to be convincing.
"He would surely prefer to have them returned to their homeland"
XN thought to himself. If they were this numerous, yet coordinated, they must have some sort of headquarters.
"This could be my chance to learn more."
While he pondered on the presenting opportunity, he remembered the caravan down the terrace. His voice fell in decibels as his profile vanished behind the dunes,
"Wait here."
Ten minutes later, a squealing sound pierced through the breeze. It grew louder as the structure closed up with the casualties. XN pulled the vehicle effortlessly, which left the victims in awe.
The thump of the carriage replaced the squealing wheels.
XN paused in front of the young adult who nodded in agreement to his suggestion,
"Let's give them a proper funeral"
The dynamics of the field became more active as the least inflicted victims gathered the corpses in the caravan. The moon light lost in intensity and a hint of the day crawled in a warm breeze.
Then a voice traveled from the crowd,
"We should get moving. It'll soon be dawn."
XN and his acquaintance stood near the caravan. He observed the injured lad and offered his assistance,
"I'll help with the Caravan."
All those who heard it turned and gave a suspicious gaze at XN. One mixed with disbelief and relief.
In his mind, XN's voice followed,
"The young man seems to be the leader. I need just his approval."
Which the young man gladly gave him, with a smile forcing on his restless face.
They all regrouped at the center. XN placed his hands on the wooden bar of the caravan, ready to pull it when suddenly,
"Huh? It's not.. moving!"
A grave voice spoke from within,
"I didn't sign for this"
It was the entity. XN's inhumane strength suddenly vanished with its fading voice.
His face twisted in disgust, realizing things might not work that easily.
"You know, no one would blame you if you left. I understand it must be a hassle."
The lad noticed, but XN wouldn't let go of the opportunity.
"Trust me, I'm fine"
XN forced out, with the carriage barely moving.
They began to trudge east of the battlefield, led by the young lad and XN, by his side. He pulled the caravan with great effort as the tires grew heavier through the sticky sand. In his silenced distress, he lamented to himself,
"How did I get into this?"
Landscapes changed and features varied as they walked a great distance. The sand and dunes were the only components that remained faithful through the length traveled.
The sky hung low, a bruised canvas of burnt orange and fading purple revealed the nautical twilight.
Beyond the buttes, fine lights reflected on XN's face. His breaths were shallow and his lips were cracked. Exhausted, he nonchalantly raised his head. Sweats gathered in his brows.
"What's that now?"
The lad who had been silent through the journey, chuckled as he watched XN confused.
"You must've noticed."
"Our community is hidden behind those buttes."
The escaping lights disappeared as they approached the landscape,
"We use a system of reflection to fake the continuity of the desert."
XN analyzed the lad's words, his energy shared with the luggage he pulled.
"Some sort of camouflage. I see."
Out of the blue, a doorway opened up on the walls that reproduced the surrounding environment. Two men matched to each side, dressed in some leather armor. The guards stood, ready to receive the travelers who matched between the buttes.
Behind the mirror walls resided a rural society decorated with clay abodes; some made of sand-crusted concrete. The residents gathered on pavements shared between cracked asphalt and packed sand hardened by time.
A woman walked forth. Her build was athletic, revealed by her light leather cloak – a faded copper patina.
Behind her, an old man in his seventies stepped out of the crowd. His garment was a one-piece luxury whose value had faded with time.
The footsteps that walked the pavements hushed, as his voice rumbled with a generous smile,
"welcome back, children."
His eyes hidden by the weight of the wrinkles on his visage.
The defeated warriors remained unresponsive, burning shame etched on their faces as the ache of defeat and losses lingered on the worried faces of the residents.
Silence reigned for a while. The residents gradually understood the fate of the war. A gust blew on the cold face of the amazon dressed in copper patina.
Her eyes widened in fear as her hair wallowed in the breeze. Her pupil shrank in her shaking eyes. Suddenly she manifested her panic
"Where's Rys?"
The sound of that name was like a sword in the injured lad's chest, who unconsciously clenched the fists.
"Sorry, Valora. I.."
"I couldn't save him"
His whispers echoed through the village. The girl shattered on her knees in disbelief. Her lifeless eyes mirrored the sobbing warriors.
"That wasn't the plan"
Her voice fainted, each word damped by her tears, pouring from her heart.
The profiles of the warriors blended with the void of her iris as she focused on the injured lad.
"Sora.. why?"