The Path of the Doomed

Chapter 1: Encounter

Chapter 1: Encounter

There is a known legend in the village of Marr about a restless ghost. The villagers say that it continues to haunt those who wronged it when it was alive and those who robbed it of its life.

The ghost killed them in their sleep and when the morning came, the victims faces were as pale as ice, their eyes wide-open as though awake, their mouths stretched like they were in the middle of a long, helpless scream and their limbs and fingers, all bent in the wrong places.

But before this ghost came to be, he was said to be the kindest man in all the lands in the Kingdom of Albione. Aided those who needed it without asking for anything in return but then his hatred outweighed all the kindness in his heart.

They say that even with a man such as him, is no exception to the cruelty of the world. But I came to realize at a very young age that the world is not the one that is cruel. It is the people that live in it.

The amount of evil deeds a single person is capable of doing in a lifetime is as many as the stars in the night skies.

Some may forgive, some may forget, some can move on while some will suffer for a lifetime without acting, but not me. I make sure to return the pain, the sorrow, the horrors that they brought.

And so perhaps, in another lifetime, that ghost was me but of one thing I am certain, I never kill those vermin in their sleep. I make sure that they are very much awake and aware of what I was doing to them.

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"P-please, h-ave mercy." The man begged as he choked on his own blood. I tightened the chains around his neck making him shudder as he tried to loosen them with his bloodied hands but to no avail.

"W-why are you doing this?" He managed to ask.

"No point telling a dead man." I whispered as I tightened the chains even more, urging him to squirm forcefully until he became completely still.

I stared as the luster of life left his eyes. I straightened and stretched, reveling in the cold wind that hit my face.

The sun's completely hidden, leaving the lush green of trees and bushes with the darkness of the early night. I unwrapped the chains from the dead man's neck, wiping the blood stains with his cloak.

Before he met his doom, this man was no more than a mere soldier. He was discovered stealing information about Albione's strategic plans. Of how he was able to acquire such important information eludes me.

What confuses me even more was the fact that my order was to simply execute him. I am certain I could have made this man talk and get as much information as I can. But it is no longer my concern. I know better than to question her orders. I will do what I must to continue my search for him. It's his head that I want.

I reached for the dead man's pocket and found the letter he carried with him before he left. This is what he was supposed to deliver to the enemy soldiers today.

The war between Tulgar and Albione has been happening for years but now, it seems to be nearing its peak. Tulgar is becoming more desperate to win but Albione's strategic plans even to minor missions are almost flawless.

This was a clever move for Tulgar, only they had chosen a sloppy man for the job. I detest wars but living in the continent of Zarga, war is all you hear about almost anywhere you go. I wore my hood and stared at the dead man on the ground again.

Normally, I do not clean after my mission but he was a soldier. Finding a lone, dead soldier will create rumors and will possibly question the kingdom's management with its army. The Royal Council will certainly use this against us but I will not let them have the satisfaction.