A man rode swiftly toward the group, one hand holding a torch and the other controlling his horse. He rode through the darkness, hissing out, "Cedric! Cedric!"
Cedric a young man of 19 with medium brown hair and sharp features, was startled, he bolted quickly toward the arriving horse. "What happened, Orlen? Are you well?"
Orlen a 22 years old man, the scout with a keen eye, was catching his breath, his eyes wide open, his hands trembling. "You must witness this with your own eyes! I don't have time to speak, follow my lead, quickly!" He shifted his horse.
Cedric's heart beat faster, eyes furrowed. "Huh? Wait, Orlen!" He climbed onto his horse swiftly and with a sharp tone said, "Follow me, Torric and Selara!"
As they rode through the trade route diverging toward the forested mountain, they found themselves on a narrow, rough path surrounded by large, thick trees. Branches and rocks jutted out from the ground as their horses thudded across the path.
Chilling cries for help echoed from somewhere ahead, sending shivers down their spines. Torric, a 6'7" battle-hardened sergeant, rode faster ahead of Cedric. "Stay close, Captain." Cedric nodded.
As they got closer to Orlen, he halted. His horse snorted and stamped, and Orlen turned the horse sideways, looking up ahead toward the village in the clearing. They caught up and looked. Jaws tightened, eyebrows raised, breathing heavy.
The screams were so loud they pierced through their ears. The entire village was gathered outside with torches, covering their mouths with scarves, just as dumbfounded and terrified. One old woman with a long stick murmured nonsense, her voice absorbed by the screams. What they were all witnessing here felt like hell on earth.
Ten villagers writhed on the ground, clutching their stomachs as they convulsed. Their eyes rolled wildly, raw rasping sounds tearing through the air without end. Blood gushed from their noses and mouths, and large black sores covered their bodies, helpless against the sickness that consumed them.
One fragile old woman smashed her head on a rock multiple times to end the pain. Her skull shattered, her body lay lifeless on the ground.
Selara a 19 years old graceful woman swallowed. "Oh Lord, have mercy on them."
Cedric took a deep breath. "We must liberate them from their pain. Torric, can you do that for me?"
Torric cleared his throat, swallowed, and tightened his jaw. "Will do, Captain. May God deliver them from their pain through me."
Orlen, cautious, his voice cracked. "H-halt! Don't get too close to them. Grab the spear from its end and don't let their blood taint your body." Torric nodded.
He got down from his horse steadily, his grip tightening on the spear as he crept forward, the point steady and ready to pierce. Just as he got close enough to deliver the strike on the screaming man, a shout louder than the piercing cries tore through the air.
"Stop! Stop! That's my father! Don't kill him!"
Torric hesitated and looked back at Cedric. Cedric gave a firm, commanding nod. Selara looked away as the girl grieved. Torric's spear pierced right through the man's neck. He proceeded with his mission, disregarding the villagers' pleas.
The thumping of a single horse could be heard arriving.
"Captain! Selara! Orlen! What's going on here?" His voice was drowned by the screams. As he got closer and looked in the direction where everyone was staring, his mouth fell open,his horse startled by the uneasy feeling.
Cedric, with a steady voice and furrowed eyes, said, "Fenric, I'm glad you arrived. But I didn't order you to follow. Either way, those people are in great pain, it's our duty to deliver them. Shoot them."
Fenric a 31 yo man with well defined features, rubbed his face with his hand, his eyes twitching. "This is horrible… horrible." He grabbed his bow, loaded an arrow, drew the string, one eye closed, focused and patient, and released. The arrow pierced right through the skull of an old man with the disease.
With the combined effort of Torric and Fenric, the diseased individuals were all put to rest except for one little girl. Her small body was covered with large black sores, blood dripping profusely from her nose. She didn't scream like the others; muffled cries slipped through her lips. She looked around at the people surrounding her, then fixed her gaze on Torric and Fenric.
She turned away, dragging her frail body with her hands, grabbing the soil toward her house. Memories of the laughter and joy that once filled that home flashed before her. She knew things would never be the same, as her mother and father lay on the ground with arrows through their heads.
Fenric and Torric hesitated to make their move. The villagers stood grieving, and the murmuring of the old woman with the long stick grew louder. Cedric, seeing his men unable to end it, got down from his horse and walked towards Torric, who stood still, his spear covered in blood, his broad shoulders lowered.
Cedric grabbed the spear at once, slowly moving toward the crawling little girl. The villagers cried in despair, helpless, knowing death awaited the girl, and though it would deliver her from pain, it was too cruel to watch.
Cedric's team stood in silence, breathing heavily, eyes softening. As Cedric crept closer, the girl turned her body, her voice rising into a thundering scream, uncontrollably sobbing. Cedric held his spear steady, moved swiftly, and impaled the little girl at once. The screams ended.
Orlen ran his hand through his hair and grabbed his head, exhaling sharply, his horse swaying slightly. Selara glanced toward the weeping villagers, then at Cedric and the bloodied girl, her eyes glistening.
Fenric kept his head down, and Torric sat on the ground, looking over the villagers he had killed, composed, yet with furrowed brows. Cedric slowly pulled his spear out, stabbed it into the ground, wiping away the blood. He made a religious gesture and looked up at the sky, releasing a deep exhale.