Two kilometers away from the old man's house, soldiers were setting camp.
It had been a long way from the battlefield. Wounds were all over, some injured so much they had to be carried back home, but it was worth it, they had won the war and the sacrificed lives had not been in vain. Throughout the day, shouts of victory and songs were sang. Melodies of chivalrous men took the paths in the sky while they trod the ground underfoot.
A little past evening, the camp was set. Camp fires had been raised and the people had all settled.
Amidst the joy and laughter echoing in the camp at night with all the camp fires and the jubilation, one soldier sits outside his tent, in front of it, a small fire which he shares with his friends. He draws away from the camp a little, holding in his hand, a locket, one of many memories. One that has kept him going through the many occasions when he could've died. Today, he still holds it, after surviving the war. The memory of his family as he recalls, sitting in a cool environment, where the noise can hardly be heard. He recalls;
FLASHBACK...
A marriage alliance. It had gathered many people for the occasion. His whole family was there, along with his wife and her family and the whole town. He had just finished his bow to his wife, the marriage had been completed, now, what awaits them is their love life and the family they were going to create. However, fate just plays its own way.
A warrior comes rushing into the town on his horse, "REPORT!" he said out loud as he made his way to the venue. When he got of his horse, he barged into the venue and said loudly, "Emperor's decree! Asta's king, Helis, has declared war and is charging with his army to the Southern Border. All military personnel above Soldier Trainer rank two, and below Hellist Whisperer rank are required to report to duty immediately!"
"Don't worry I'll come back." He assures his newly wed wife, hugs her and kisses her on the fore head before going to report to duty as ordered. It's been seven years since then, and they are now coming home with victory. He has held on to this locket for a very long time, now, he's just a few months away from holding on to his wife. The happiness, only he knows, as he looks up to the sky, the wonderful scenery he will behold once again with his beloved.
His friends come around, " Little Chino, are you looking at that locket again?" they ask.
He smiles.
"You always look at this every night. Why is it so special?" one of them asks.
He smiles, "You don't know, it's a special locket my wife gave me..."
"It does wonders!" he ends simultaneously with his friends, and then, they burst out into laughter. The night was mostly lively.
As the laughter ended, he slid the locket beneath his clothes.
As at the moment, he became still.
Feeling uneasy and breaking into cold sweat.
He looked toward the horizon, the road they had just passed.
He seemed to have traced the uneasiness to that very spot.
He kept staring in that direction without blinking. Then, his friends, noticing he had become too silent, looked in his direction.
He seemed to be in terror. His sweat looked like he was bathing in steam.
They turned towards the direction he was staring in and seemingly got caught in the moment.
The uneasiness, the terror, and the cold sweat, broke on their faces.
The path was empty, but it was as if someone was coming. No habitation had been around, so it was impossible for someone to be passing the route. It was an untouched wilderness and only the soldiers used that route.
Then, sounds of stomping feet were heard. Like the march of an army.
The friends who had been stuck in horror, raced into the camp and gave an alert. Soon everyone was battle ready.
But would their camp be able to hold on and fend off the enemy? Most of them had grave injuries from the war, but in an area where they were alone, a march like that coming from outside the camp was a death threat. It was a life and death matter.
Soon, they could see lights, many of them. It was like an entire town had been lit up.
Against an army so many, what would two hundred fit soldiers and three hundred injured soldiers do.
They were prepared to die at most, although they were in terror.
After a few minutes, the march stopped.
Then, the lights went out.
It was as if no one was coming, but still, the fear was grave, and their hairs stood up.
They kept looking in that direction, and then
A candle lit up, it was very conspicuous.
There was something wrong, and the soldiers could tell.
Though the light was outside their lit camp, it was very visible but no one was there.
The terror.
Then, just then, the candle light split in two and then, they turned into two separate eyes. Suddenly, the terror on the faces of the soldiers as they struggled to even swallow their saliva and hide the fear.
More of the eyes appeared in the shadows, bright and terrifying.
Suddenly, the lights in the camp flickered, and then went out.
The next morning.
The old man from earlier, stood in front of his door and looked outside. He stood there for some time and then looking to his left, where a thatched house similar to his stood, he called out, "Lazy Chu, it's morning, wake up already!"
"Old Master, go back to bed, it's too early" he responded
"You this child, what should I do with you, how am I supposed to die in peace when you're this lazy. Hurry up, get out!"
"Old man, I'm coming, wait a little"
After some minutes, a boy came out. He was quite the normal height. He looked quite handsome with his red hair, broad chest and six feet height. He carried a charming look that would turn your anger into a flattering fleeting moment of awe and an energy of youth that made him hyperactive. He looks jovial anyway you look at him.