Breaking Utopia

Chapter Six | The Fort At The End Of The World

North-East of the ruined and apocalyptic scene formally known as Dunton was a Fort. It was about a day's walk from Dunton down roads that stirred off the proper Crowned Road. To go down these roads would put you into deep woods and backwater settlements barely touched by Arkin rule. It was rare for anyone, especially Arkin soldiers, to pass down these roads. Yet in recent times it had become more of a common sight. Especially since the Tiso had given orders to restock the abandoned fort of Maligg.

He appointed High General Himmer for such a place. He was a war hero, just like Commander Hein, proving himself only days before Tiso Wilheim passed. The Tiso bestowed him the title of High General after he took up a commanding role during battle after his general took a fatal shot in the trenches of the twin rivers.

The disguised Soren knew of the man. The Arkins that found him near Dunton talked highly of the man as they walked. They were excited to meet such a legend and even spoke of the legends that they were under. Soren asked them who they served under, but they jokingly told him it was a surprise. "They assigned us to two, ones a broken legend, washed up and sad, the other is like a prototype of what is to come, the new era of warriors. Makes that sorry sack look like a dunce!" One laughed as he gave Soren cryptic clues.

"Don't talk like that! I served under em, for five years! He's a hero to my family!" another stated with stern eyes. "The Captain maybe young, but he aint seen as much as the C-"

"Hush! I wanna see Cass's face when we get there, don't say anymore!" the first private said almost covering the others mouth.

"Speaking of which, why are you wearing that scarf 'round your face? Its scorching in these woods." The third one called Demoine asked curiously. He had been listening in on the conversation for some time and, like Cass, simply kept quiet and let the other two do all the talking.

Soren grew weary, he had been waiting for this moment for some time. Part of his silence was for this very reason. He had been wracking his brain for hours trying to find a good answer to this very question.

"Razor Bear attack." He answered quickly. All these hours of walking and that was all he could muster. "Idiot" rang out in his mind.

"You did not go up against a razor bear and live to tell it." One of the men said in disbelief.

"Oh, but I did!" Soren said giving in to his own outrageous claim. "Why do you think you found me alone? I told you I was a survivor at Dunton, but you think I was sent to investigate by myself?"

"I just thought your team died in the attack at Dunton." Demoine said intrigued.

"Not at all!" Soren answered as he formed the story in his head. "We were attacked on our way there by a Razor Bear. Thing just came out of the woods and went after us. Two of my mates got a good couple of shots in on him, but those sharp shards on their backs are too thick. 'Barely got him. He was bleeding though. He cut them in half with those claws and almost had me, but luckily, I put my gun up and he cut through that instead. Only gave me a good couple slices on my face instead of taking my head off. I was able to get away before any real damage was done!" Soren lied through his teeth. The lie seemed to work well, no one asked the rest of the walk to Maligg about the scarf that hid his face from the enemies he had surrounded himself with.

Not long after they arrived at the large fortress called Maligg. It was named such after the first leader of the base during the War of the Divide who had it built to protect the Arkin Territory from the Western Confederacy. It was used as a boarder gate. Where soldiers could protect the west as well as charge through to the west, yet in recent times it was impossible to go through the mountain pass that was connected to it after a group of Rels was inspired by some silver haired female Rel to escape their captors and use the abandoned Fort as a passage way to salvation through the mountains. After that the Arkins collapsed the passage and now has come back to the wrecked fort for some reason Soren couldn't understand.