I was seven years old when it happened.
A rider rode into the bustling streets, bringing an eerie silence with him. The once lively road, filled with joy and chatter, grew still.
He spewed warnings to my people and left with his sword drawn, as if marking the arrival of something yet to come.
I watched from afar, not thinking much of it at the time.
But the awaited day came....
The Matron said God would protect us, so many stayed, praying in their homes when the monsters arrived.
Rivered gulped, his voice growing heavier and heavier.
The riders came to our village, burning everything in sight, taking women and children alike. They slaughtered the men of the village. I saw my father scream, his guts spilled out, and he cried to me to run, to flee the town, for the gods had no answer for us.
And so I ran, through the dark alleys where the fire's light had yet to reach.
I hardened myself as I abandoned my family.
Rivered's voice grew bitter as he continued.
"My mother, my sister! I left them to die!"
Vigrath placed his hand on Rivered's shoulder, as Rivered was nearly whimpering.
He said with compassion in his voice, "It's alright."
The forest around them grew darker as the sun finally set. Torches were being lit near the tents as patrolling knights scoured the camp's perimeter.
The knights now moved in pairs; never was one alone, even after defeating the shapeshifting monster, not everyone was at ease.
This was for their own safety and security.
A total of ten knights were joined after the massacre in their group, including Dame Selina.
With more fight on before the Mios dungeon, they had to be careful not to lose more of the soldier.
Vigrath glanced around, his eyes scanning the crowd before he spoke hoarsely to Rivered, "I don't think we should rest tonight."
Rivered, his eyes still red, also looked around. He understood the intent behind the words and responded in a grim voice, "Let's meet the captain."
Both of them carefully trudged their way toward the tent of Captain William Silverhorn.
On their way, they encountered the patrolling knights. A bit timid after their encounter with the monsters, they moved with caution. Some were already drunk on the alcohol they had been gifted by the merchant.
Some saluted the Yorwkisa group out of respect, while others outright ignored them, their eyes filled with fear.
Vigrath muttered in a low voice, his gaze fixed ahead, "So weak. These are the so-called knights of Avarath? Pathetic."
Without responding to his friend, Rivered glanced at the drunken knights by the campfire. Heavy with booze, some danced while others sat with lifeless eyes. He could see himself in them.
He shook his head, feeling Vigrath's gaze on him.
Silence lingered between them as they approached the Captain of the Knights' tent.
Unlike the others, the tent was larger and more majestic, adorned with the Emblem of Avarath, a beautifully carved fire symbol.
Rivered entered the tent first. He saw the captain lying on the bed, still asleep. Beside him, a woman sat in a chair, holding a booklet of monsters in her hand.
"Selina?!"
The lady looked toward the voice and gave a faint smile. "The captain was already asleep before I arrived," she said.
Rivered glanced at the Captain, who was fast asleep, then shifted his gaze to Selina, who was watching him intently.
"It's been hours since I last saw him," she said.
Selina's brow furrowed as she asked, "Is there a priest among us?"
Vigrath bolted out, shouting, "I'll call him!"
Rivered moved closer to the Captain, checking his pulse, heartbeat, and breathing. Everything was normal, he was alive.
He turned to Selina and said, "He's fine, just a bit warmer than usual. Probably a mild fever, but nothing serious."
"Is he really that exhausted?" Selina asked quickly, her voice tinged with worry.
Shrugging his shoulders, Rivered replied, "He fought a ferocious monster this time. Maybe it took a toll on him."
He stood up, putting some distance between himself and the Captain, then moved toward Selina. "A priest will take care of it," he said, his voice serious and stern as he looked directly into her eyes. "I think there's a much bigger problem we need to solve."
He cast a brief glance at the entrance of the tent.
"There's an impostor in our camp."
Selina's brow furrowed as she said, "Explain."
Rivered turned his gaze back to her. "There are far more knights now than we had before, especially with the ten of you joining us."
She asked, "The same monster?"
Rivered shook his head and replied, "Monsters. There are many."
Selina scratched her head as she paced back and forth within a few meters, a restless motion. Her voice carried a hint of urgency.
"How many are we talking about?"
Rivered's eyes followed her closely as he replied, his tone darkening.
"Maybe a few," he said. "Maybe many."
Just then, the fabric of the entrance fluttered as Vigrath stepped inside, a priest following closely behind.
"I have brought the priest," Vigrath announced.
Selina cried out, "Father, please look at the Captain."
The priest shook his head, bowing slightly to greet her and Rivered, but due to the urgency, he said nothing and moved straight to William, who lay there, almost lifeless.
He moved closer to William, sat beside the bed, clasped his hand, lifted it into the air, and closed his eyes just as he began chanting a hymn, his words flowing quickly as a golden light enveloped William's body. A circle formed, with a symbol of purity etched at its center. It convulsed, glittering starlight shimmering around it. More circles began to appear, forming concentric patterns as the priest's chanting intensified. The circles materialized faster and faster, until a saintly hologram formed behind the priest. His chants now directed a plea to the goddess of Purity.
With a deep voice, he chanted the last hymn:
"For the Purity of the World, she wanders through all of reality to find the one who shall live with Purity. Purify."
A beam of golden light streamed down from above, filling the entire tent with its serene and tranquil glow.