I, Eric the lumber boy, stood there—frozen. The horrors I'd seen here would haunt me long after I got out… if I ever did. Seeing a man fall into a pit was one thing. But watching someone get decapitated and also burned alive—that was something else entirely. It seems like the guards had orders to kill anyone on sight. Chaos ruled. People fought over a single sword. The weak and the old ran for their lives. Fire swallowed the prison yard, flames twisting in the wind. If living in the prison was hell, I didn't know what to call this.
At least I have someone reliable to follow. We took a separate path even more downward toward what looks like a simple damp room. I wanted to complain, but I am in no position to talk. It looks like they used this place as the kitchen. The man with the sword walks toward a seemingly normal wall. But wait, what is a straw wall doing in an underground room of a stone tower? The straw wall finally revealed a tunnel. It looks like a pathway dug by some people.
Running through the tunnel with a hunchback for around an hour was certainly doing a number on my back. At least I was lucky to be young. I felt sorry for the old geezer behind me who was having a hard time. If it was in the good old times, at least I would have advised them to take it easy and rest. But alas, neither the time nor the situation helped. All I can do is run and hope for the best.
By the time we made it, dawn was already breaking. I saw on the opposite side of where we came in, and all I can see is the thick smoke. It seems that the tower has collapsed. It was old anyways. Two people greeted and congratulated us for making it out alive. We took this time to take a breather. One of them has a horse, and the other one has a chilada-drawn carriage. Inside the carriage were some women that I didn't recognize. And with the miracle of the gods, the old man made it.
The man with the sword went near the other with the horse and muttered something. After a small argument, they neared us survivors and told us that we could follow them or split from the group and make our own way on our own. Only one guy decided on the latter.
Even if I want to go back to my village, I have already crossed the point of no return. I was stuck with these people for a while, I guess. As we started the journey, I strategically positioned myself near the man with the sword. After a short while, I started with
"Sooo... thank you for saving me, I guess. I really didn't have the chance to say so."
"It's ok. Even if you and those fellows back there weren't part of the original plan, having more soldiers will never hurt."
"Wait, aren't we supposed to go into hiding? Why are we becoming soldiers for the empire?"
"Who said we are going to be part of the empire?"
"Well, I don't know any other army other than that of the empire right in the middle of it."
"You're going to get it once you get there. by the way, I didn't catch your name earlier."
"Oh yeah, my bad. the name is Eric; it's a pleasure to be with you in this journey."
"Likewise, the name is Rusca. i hail from the east."
"Really? I couldn't tell. I come from a village in the Madale woods, a little south from here, by the lake."
"Hm. I'm sorry to ask, but what kind of injustice have you committed to be mixed with this bunch? i fail to see someone like you committing an atrocious crime."
"I am going to say this for you to understand me, Lord Rusca, but I have never even dreamed of committing a murder. I just happened to be there when that old pig didn't even know what was good for him."
"But what occupation did he have for you to have a death sentence? , you know, everyone there was waiting for the gallows?"
"Beats me. He was just an old farmer with a bunch of cows for his name. But I will say, he was much wealthier than any other farmer there. I guess they threw me here because there are no other prisons other than this one."
"Guess that's how our country has become."
"It's ok. I have learned to live with it."
"and die with it."
"I get it. I get it. No need to tease me. By the way, where is our destination?"
"I will tell you when we get closer. But for now we will be going south. at least until we reach the lake at least."
We haven't had much conversation after that. Since the wagon was almost full, we were forced to walk on land, on the scorching desert. We gave the last spot we had on the couch to the old man, who, by the way, seems to be an acquaintance of Rusca. I found out later that his name was Raymond. After three long days in the scorching sun of the desert, we finally reach the edge of the desert, near the lake.
Rusca came to me once and asked me if I know the forest nearby very well. Of course I know it. I was born and raised there. My answer may have helped him come to a decision. After that, he announced to the group that they were going to walk through the Madale woods rather than taking a boat and rowing to the other side. He explained the reason being that they will be vulnerable and exposed if they take the lake. And it will take time to make the boats, and time is what we are lacking the most. The empire must have gotten the news of Iue's escape by now.
We walked for another six days to finally be on the other side of the forest and toward the grasslands. After a total of eleven days of walking nonstop, we finally reached the village by the hills.
The village's name is Viglor.