Chapter 22: On His Back

The fall of Oasis City turned into news that no one could ignore, the City was taken and the Shadow Trekkers managed to bring the city down, destroying the hundred-year-long reign of it. The Inner Lands were sullen about such dire news, the Knights of Talons survivors returned with a dim heart. The Crusaders of Salt Passing retreated back to the Salt Pass after their defeat. Hundreds of Wizards from various schools died, the survivors not mentioning anything other than that the beholder was killed, and the Warden of the Barren Land, Lord Awl has been killed.

Tania, the Obsidian Flower escaped. The refugees of the city gathered in the ancient route where the beholder appeared. They created a new habitat among the ancient routes, making use of the foundation to erect houses and hovels to call as home.

Diego became the second leader of the Ancient Route. The route's discovery was because of him, allowing him monopolize the route that he discovered along with a Walker. Oasis City was destroyed by the attack, but the survivors stayed strong to gather their strength to reclaim the land of Oasis.

Under Oasis was the name of the new land for the people of Oasis. Although it is not Oasis City, it became a symbol of hope for the survivors that they might take the city lands back. Diego and Traders, the Soldiers of Throes, the Adventurers have built a home in Under Oasis.

The Bleak Walkers who fought in the battle dispersed, they left the Oasis City and wandered around the lands. Oasis City was only a rest point for the city, so they left and never look back as they always do. Vie, the green-haired walker wanted to look for someone, she was stopped by the Sunspawn Knight and the Wizard Hannah who took her to study her green-hair. It was a mythical thing for the two, and they wish to know how it could continuously produce poison.

Castro led the bleak walkers of the Oasis to places unknown. Hero of the Elemental Fire, Ryle, was able to recover from his injuries. He was able to protect the defenders of Oasis from the attack of the Orb of Chaos – the beholder by pouring his energy out.

He was not able to fight it out with the Lord of Awl or defeat the Orb of Chaos. He, however, did what he could to support the killers of the monsters that came to attack. He could have defended himself and fight the two but his gamble paid off when Zachariah, the Leader of the Royal Guards and an unknown Bleak Walker whose name people didn't know fought and killed the invaders.

The leaders were dead yet it didn't stop the Shadow Trekkers from continuing their havoc. Lord Gideon, the Right Hand of the King, was able to evacuate the King and his family and now resides in the Under Oasis. Diego handles the small matters, the king manages the affairs brought forth by the fall of Oasis.

The affairs of the fall of oasis showed the Inner lands that the threat of the barren lands is present, the leaders were defeated but that didn't mean that the rest of the enemy vanished. The towns, the cities, the landmarks, the various locations all over the land were troubled by this fall.

Hundreds of Adventurers had to be allowed to deal with the enemy, the armies are stretched thin because of the enemies and lower monsters that once hide among the shadows of the land came to take advantage of the chaos brought forth.

The Salt Passing had to defend against the heirs of the dark. The Talon Knights had to sell the schematics of their weapons to combat the lack of men after their defeat in the City of Oasis. Thousands of men were pulled from their family as conscripts.

The outer city named Moirai was sorrounded by curtain walls. It is a city that was only second to Oasis in defending against the land. Unlike Oasis, Moirai is located in a plain of green pastures that stretches across the inner lands. The land is teeming with animals, the rivers are clean, and the soldiers are always hunting lower monsters.

They cannot compare with the soldiers of Throes, who are always hunting monsters from the barren lands. The Moirai army hunts lower monsters and they are competent in keeping the lower monsters dead. The incident of the fall of Oasis made the Soldiers of Moirai thinned.

Like any army in the inner lands, the Soldiers of Moirai are having a hard time in keeping the monsters. Villages, the small settlements, the farmlands are infested with monsters that are capable of fighting them. The monsters that came from the barren lands became natural leaders. There was also a rumor that there was a devil working to undermine the inner lands completely.

The monsters started to get organized and their actions are pointed to directions that seem to be part of a greater scheme. The Huntsmen of the Inner Lands started to move in search of the enemy. The adventurers, the spies, and the men working in shadows started to move in search of this mysterious enemy.

Hero Ryle recovered from his injuries because of the Woman of Fire. He was now on a trail in search for the rest of the Heroes, the power that he will need and ways to strengthen themselves. He had realized how weak he was, the battle of Oasis awoke Ryle from his state. There was no time to be weak anymore and the time of peace was done, the age of fighting the evils of the barren lands and strife that comes with it has come.

Hero Ryle knew that he would find himself in situations like that. The others Heroes still lay dormant, and they sleep not knowing that the evil has awoken. Hero Ryle wonders who the Heroes are. He is searching for them, knowing that they must cooperate together.

Hero Ryle walked silently along this tree-lined road. He stopped and looked at the sky as he feels a strange resonance. The Fire woman appeared before his eyes, from a ball of wisp she turned into the form that of a human completely. Her gaze pointed at the sky.

"The War Maiden has come," said her.

...

The War Maiden are picked by the hands of fate themselves. The Three Fates wove the war maiden and through this, they will bring forth trials that will rejuvenate the War Maiden even from death. The War Maiden has been chosen but the world can only wonder who this maiden is. The War Maiden that will lead the six heroes through the turmoils of wars.

But where is this War Maiden? Is she hidden from the world?

What would they think if they witness the War Maiden right now?

Would they despair?

She clearly felt the call of the Three Fates and the God of War call for her.

She should be proud and raise her chest in glory. She should be raising her chin up knowing that she was chosen by them. Yet, she could not do that knowing that she was relying on a battered man who could have abandoned her and let her die. The man was trembling because of injuries, he's surrounded by demons, the enemies growling as they gaze upon his sword, crackling, emitting sparks of lighting as it fends the foe.

He was bleeding. His hands were shuddering at the number of enemies that he fought. His body was heavy not because of the wounds that he sustained, it was heavy because he was carrying her. She could no longer walk. She could not feel her legs. If it wasn't for the Three Fates and the God of War gave her a blessing. She would have lost all the will to continue on. She couldn't walk because her legs were bent badly by the enemies. She would have died if he didn't find him.

He narrowly dodged an attack. His bloodied sword carved through the enemies torso with ease. The enemy was about to hit his back. He spun and blocked the attack, receiving the damage, his bones rattled. If he didn't block that she would have been hit by the enemy. She was strapped on a back carrier made from wood and leather.

The enemy rounded him. He evaded the first three attacks. He got hit by the two and almost let his sword go. He breathed heavily as he whirled with his sword and cleave and strike and stab. He was lost in battle that he didn't know that his leather vest was torn by their claws. She could feel his rough breathing and groans. Her lifeless eyes gazing at his bloodied face.

Three enemies. Two were decapitated by his sword. The last one got disemboweled by a proper slanted strike from the shoulder to the hip. The enemies fell to the ground lifeless, their blood created pools and the smell of their organs scented the air. He exhaled loudly and kneeled on both knees. His eyes turned to the sky as he tries to gather all the air he could find.

He was like a barrel of wine that was poked with holes. He didn't move for five minutes as he gathered all the strength he could muster. He took the straps off that allowed him to carry her and stood up. She calmly looks at him who was taking his leather vest off. He drank from a round-bottomed flask and applied medicinal ointment and chewed on a willow bark.

"Are you okay?" asked Nolan.

Ciara slowly looked at him. "Thank you…" She nodded her head. "For protecting me."

"I am alive," he said, "that's all that matters really. These monsters are after you now because of that sigil in your back. You should know what being a War Maiden is right?"

"Yes," she said. "But I doubt that I will be of any use. Do you really think that they'd want a cripple for a War Maiden? They'll execute me knowing that I could not walk!"

"I like to see them try." He said in a frosty tone. "The Gods picked you for this role. I shall take you to the House of Three Fates and asked them to cure your legs. They are skillful enough to do so."

She slightly moved her body using her hands. She carried her feeling-less legs and stared at her. "If this continues on you have to fight these monsters. It has been months since we left the desert. If it wasn't for the potions and ointments you'd be long dead."

"I am used to it." He mouthed.

Her heart pricked. Ever since she was saved by Nolan. He has been doing nothing but taking care of her. From carrying her on his back and protecting her from the monsters that attack her. She could still recall Nolan dragging her out of the desert, dodging the sandworms and the shadow trekkers. It took her until the end of summer to be all healed except for her legs.

"You are hurt," observed Ciara. "You really don't have to do this."

Ciara could not understand why he was willing to put so much suffering into his life by carrying her to the House of Three Fates located outside the Inner Lands. The Outer Lands is an uncivilized place filled with monsters and men who have rejected the light of civilization. There are a few settlements in the Outer Lands but it is a wild lawless place. The Three Fates resides in one of the mountains and legends says that they can even bring the life out of those who are on the brink of death.

They are still in the Inner lands somewhere around the plains of Moirai. From the Desert's of Oasis they have been attacked and Nolan has sustained injuries for protecting her. She could not walk and she can only rely on the repeater crossbow she barely uses to protect herself. Nolan has been acting as her meat shield for too long now.

"I do because I chose to." He told her. "I simply cannot allow the War Maiden to die now can't I?"

That alone made Ciara closed her lips. She stared heavily at Nolan who could barely walk straight. He grabbed the straps of the carrier she was riding and tightly wrapped around his injured body. She could hear him groaning but no words of complaints came out of his mouth. Ciara eyed the back of his head. Her heart-stirring painfully as thoughts brewed inside her head.

The two continued crossing the green pastures of the plains of Moirai.