The sound of boots crunching up the wet soil beneath it filled the air.
Walking at the forefront of the group alongside Garrick, Nero couldn’t help but wonder about how strange the dynamics of the party must be now that two of their mbers had died.
Their ashes had been collected in two separate urns that were kept in Geors rucksack.
After burning the bodies, Nero had introduced himself to the two other mbers of the party.
He had gotten to learn their nas as well— Geor and Aisha.
Geor was a head larger than Garrick. However, he was not as good looking. Instead, he seed much more timid even though his features were brash.
There was one thing he had noticed about the larger man— compared to the charismatic Garrick, he was more of a gentle giant.
The experience earlier had done quite the number on the dainty Aisha— a small frad, cute-looking girl that seed to be in her late teens just like him. He had no idea what business a fair-skinned girl like her had being a Hunter.
"Hey, Nero. Are you listening?"
Nero snapped out of his thoughts to stare at Garrick.
He shook his head,
"No. I was a bit lost for a mont there. Sorry."
Garrick chuckled and patted his shoulder,
"No. It’s alright. It’s only normal for one to be quite shaken after sothing like that. Even after so many years, I’m still not used to it myself."
Nero nodded silently.
Garrick was silent for a mont as well then spoke,
"You don’t look like you are native to Liedenstorm, Nero. Most of the local Hunters aren’t dressed like that. But the closest town to Liedenstorm is all the way beyond Golgotha. Where did you co from?"
Nero could hear the suspicion in his voice.
Nero grimaced, "I ca from Gor."
Garrick raised a brow,
"Gor?"
Then his expression changed,
"You an that Gor? The Gor at the edge of the empire? That Gor?"
Nero nodded slowly.
Garrick stopped,
"How the hell did you—?!"
Nero ca to a halt as well and turned around.
The dark forest around them had fallen into a stagnancy. Even the wind seed fearful.
Everyone else stopped and fell silent as well.
Nero sucked in a deep breath,
"Gor has been destroyed. Everyone is dead."
Obed’s jaw went slack and Geor frowned.
Garrick spoke,
"What? How?"
Nero glanced up, his eyes a bit cloudy,
"The Grey Cloud."
Garrick trembled, the fear evident in his eyes,
"It’s been nine years since the last descent."
He sucked in a deep breath and frowned,
To think that another one has—"
Nero shook his head,
"No. This one was different from the one nine years ago."
A scene flashed through his mind. One he would have preferred to have forgotten.
His voice trembled with genuine terror,
"The last descent was not nearly as terrifying."
Garrick grimaced, "You have to be joking."
"The reason I made the treacherous journey through this much wilderness was so I could deliver this to the Church. Besides the Grew Crows, there was sothing else. Sothing far more terrifying. An evolved Grey Crow. A more powerful, horrific one."
Garrick fell silent.
Obed walked up to him, a look of distrust plastered on his face,
"Bullshit. I don’t believe you. That’s outright bullshit."
He turned to Garrick,
"You seriously don’t believe this kid, do you?"
His expression was dark as he spat,
"This bastard is obviously the scion of so rich noble family dressing up like he is a Hunter as well. You think you can make fun of us, you damned prick?!"
Nero took a step back while Garrick stood between them,
"Obed, that’s enough. You don’t know that!"
Obed snarled, "Bullshit!"
Nero’s expression was dark. However, he chose not to defend himself. After all, it would make no difference.
He turned to Garrick,
"That’s the reason for my journey. Of course, you could choose to believe or not. It doesn’t matter."
His eyes narrowed, "And I believe its not just the Grey Cloud. I didn’t pass through Nlightwyrm on my way here, but I suspect sothing bad must have happened there as well. I can’t be too sure."
Garrick frowned then turned to Obed.
Obed’s face was still dark.
He snorted,
"Whatever. I don’t care. Let him say as much crap as he wants. I’m not listening to this shit."
With that, he began walking forward, leaving the others behind.
Nero let out a sigh.
That was when he noticed that he was trembling slightly.
He frowned and clenched his fists.
’It doesn’t matter if he believes or not.’
He had told the truth and nothing other. That was all that mattered. Besides, the only ones he needed to make believe was the Church.
Although he wasn’t their biggest fan, he believed they were the only ones that could make the most fo this information.
Due to the large distances separating the various towns and cities, information took ti to travel.
With almost everyone in Gor dead, it would take quite so ti for the empire to realize that sothing was wrong. His existence would only help speed up this realization.
Garrick huffed, "I can’t say I believe you a hundred percent. But I believe you aren’t a bad person, Nero."
Nero sighed, "Thank you."
Garrick chuckled,
"Of course, your story does seem a bit far-fetched. Isn’t that right, Geor?"
Nero turned.
Geor had a difficult look on his face. But he nodded after a mont of hesitation,
"Yeah. I believe him."
Nero smiled bitterly.
"Since you aren’t from Liedenstorm, I can take you to the Church once we get there."
Nero nodded, "I’d appreciate that a lot."
Garrick nodded, "In that case, it’s best we keep going. I’d prefer it if we do no spend the night out here in the open."
As they continued their journey, Nero couldn’t help but contemplate on Obed’s words.
He looked down at himself.
His clothes were beyond tattered, looking even less than rags. He had truly been through hell on his journey.
What would make him think he was just so wealthy kid seeking adventure?
’In the first place, wouldn’t that be stupid? What kind of wealthy kid would head in here in the first place? That would be beyond foolish. That is seeking death!’
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