Chapter 15 : Fear Has a Name
After a long journey, they finally reached the main road.
Fenlor and Henry collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, staring up at Rudravaan in disbelief.
Henry wheezed, "Don't you ever get tired?"
Rudravaan didn't respond. He didn't even slow down. He simply stood there, calm and unmoved, watching the road—waiting.
After some time, a horse-drawn carriage approached. Rudravaan stepped forward and stopped it.
"Can you help us?" he asked. "We're traveling nearby. We'll pay you in gold."
The driver studied them briefly, then nodded. "Alright. Get in."
Once inside the carriage, Fenlor and Henry immediately leaned back, exhaustion overtaking them. As the carriage began to move, the driver glanced at Rudravaan.
"So… where are you headed?"
"The Southeast Kingdom," Rudravaan replied.
The driver's face darkened.
"Oh… that place. I heard the previous emperor was defeated. The kingdom's in terrible shape now. The new ruler is nothing but scum—he exploits the people, kills for entertainment."
The driver hesitated, then continued quietly,
"Every month, families are forced to offer someone—daughter, wife, mother. He doesn't care if they're children or elders."
Rudravaan's hand tightened around his sword.
A crushing killing intent filled the carriage. Fenlor snapped awake instantly, sweat forming on his brow. The driver felt a cold chill run down his spine and turned back slowly.
Rudravaan spoke in a low, deadly voice.
"Ah," he said quietly.
"He's going to regret ever being born."
Rudravaan couldn't bear to hear any more.
"Enough," he said sharply. "Do you have any booze?"
The carriage driver flinched at his tone and nodded quickly.
"Y-yes… I keep some in the back. Lift the carpet—left side."
Rudravaan reached back, pulled it out, and began drinking without pause—like a man trying to drown something far deeper than thirst. When the bottle was empty, he let it slip from his hand. It hit the floor with a dull sound.
He leaned back, staring at the roof of the carriage, his chest tight with anger… and something heavier beneath it.
Fenlor didn't know what had been said, or what had changed—but he felt it. The air around Rudravaan was different. Dangerous. Fenlor didn't dare ask a single question. He simply watched, silent.
Inside, Rudravaan's thoughts burned.
He remembered how his people used to live when he ruled—laughter in the streets, children playing without fear, smiles that came easily. A kingdom that had known peace.
And now…
His grip tightened unconsciously.
The carriage rolled onward.
Before long, the walls of the Southeast Kingdom came into view.
They had arrived.
Rudravaan jumped down from the carriage. Fenlor and Henry followed, landing beside him.
Rudravaan reached into his pouch and tossed a gold coin to the driver.
"As promised," he said, "your payment."
The driver caught it, hesitated, then spoke with urgency before turning the reins.
"Whatever you came here to do… finish it quickly," he warned. "And leave this place as fast as you can."
Rudravaan's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword. He stared at the entrance of the kingdom, rage burning in his eyes.
"Yeah," he said coldly.
"That's exactly what I plan to do."
They enter the kingdom as soon as they entered the street that once filled with joy now seem empty henry and fenlor looking around the place as they walk henry was sad to see the kingdom look like this and throught about how rudravaan describe it they are scared to even ask question to rudravaan about what happen they just follow him rudravaan face was darken as they walk they saw a some group of harassing a lady on a street as she crying henry and fenlor anger by that and just they throught about attacking them the group of was sliced in half there blood was splasing around everywhere everyone was shocked the lady stared screaming and faint on spot fenlor saw a some sort of red wave he then realish that rudravaan killed them just by using his kill intent.
They turned into a narrow street.
The moment they stepped in, the stench of rot and fear filled the air. Gambling dens lined the walls, thieves lurked in corners, and desperate cries echoed from dark doorways. This street was a wound—open and bleeding.
Fenlor and Henry followed behind Rudravaan, their footsteps slow and uneasy.
As Rudravaan advanced, something unseen moved with him.
One by one, the men on the street collapsed.
Some were cut down instantly, bodies splitting apart before they could even react. Others clutched their chests, eyes wide with terror, before falling lifeless to the ground. No blade flashed. No spell was spoken.
Rudravaan didn't even look at them.
He just walked.
Fenlor's hands trembled. Henry's breath caught in his throat. They understood now—getting close to him was death itself.
A few of the criminals sensed it too.
Panic erupted.
Screams tore through the street as people turned and ran, knocking each other aside in blind terror. The narrow road filled with chaos, fear spreading faster than blood.
But it didn't matter.
Those who tried to flee fell just like the rest.
Fenlor and Henry could do nothing but keep walking behind Rudravaan, their eyes fixed on his back—knowing that the safest place in this broken kingdom was right behind the most terrifying man in it.
The screams did not go unnoticed.
At the edge of the district, a group of guards and soldiers paused mid-conversation.
"Hey," one of them muttered, frowning, "don't you think the noise is louder than usual today?"
Another laughed lazily. "Yeah. Sounds fun. Let's go see what's happening."
They turned into the street.
The moment they stepped in, their smiles vanished.
Blood coated the ground. Bodies lay scattered like discarded trash. The air itself felt heavy—oppressive.
Before they could react—
One soldier fell.
He didn't even have time to scream.
In the blink of an eye, Rudravaan appeared behind another guard. Cold steel pressed against the man's throat.
"Don't move," Rudravaan said calmly. "Just answer my question."
The soldier's knees buckled. His weapon slipped from trembling fingers.
"P-please," he stammered, tears streaming down his face. "I'll do anything. Please don't kill me."
Rudravaan's voice was flat. Empty.
"Who is ruling this kingdom?"
"T-that is—"
The blade flashed.
The soldier screamed as his ear fell to the ground, blood pouring down his neck.
Rudravaan pressed the sword back against his throat.
"Answer."
"E-Elias!" the soldier cried out in agony. "The emperor's name is Elias!"
Rudravaan stepped back.
For a brief moment, the soldier thought he had survived.
Then his eyes rolled back.
His body collapsed lifelessly to the blood-soaked street—killed not by the blade, but by the crushing weight of Rudravaan's killing intent.
Without another word, Rudravaan turned and walked toward the palace.
Behind him, Fenlor and Henry stood frozen.
They hadn't even seen Rudravaan move.
All that remained was silence… and a street drowned in blood.
They followed the path he had carved, stepping carefully through the aftermath, knowing one thing with terrifying certainty—
Rudravaan was no longer searching.
He had found his target.