Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 41: Lost

Are we charging south? Damn it! After fighting for so long, who knows which direction we're heading now! But this question seems rather pointless at the moment!

Raising his head, Captain Gerald glanced at the overcast sky, obscured by dark clouds, rendering the sun, moon, and stars useless for navigation, and a wry smile crept across his face.

"Damn it, it doesn't matter; we can't return to Bylins anyway. Charging in any direction is the same, so follow my command: rein in and turn around!"

With a thunderous shout, Captain Gerald suddenly yanked the reins, causing his warhorse to rear up dramatically. He then squeezed and nudged, and the well-trained steed executed a perfect one-eighty.

Joining him in this maneuver were Sergeant Cowell and all twenty-eight human cavalrymen, including Darn. As their exceptional horsemanship took effect, the speeding human cavalry swiftly clashed with the orc wolf riders.

"Hahaha! We've outsmarted those fools again!" Amidst hearty laughter, Captain Gerald led the twenty-eight riders to quickly distance themselves from the orc wolf cavalry.

Finally, a moment to rest! Three hundred meters, heh heh heh! The orcs won't catch up to us today! Glancing back at the furious orcs, Darn broke into a wide grin, and with his laughter, drops of sweat began to seep from his armor, trickling down the cold steel and into the earth.

The successful tactic afforded Darn and the other twenty-eight cavalrymen a brief respite. Though this respite was merely a painful delay, for Darn, it was a rare gift.

To breathe another day, to engage the orcs for one more day, brought immense satisfaction to everyone, especially as night fell and darkness enveloped the prairie. Each person, including Darn, felt even more elated.

It was yet another moonless, starless night, thus sparing them the annoyance of night battles. Exhausted, Darn lay on the grass, inhaling the fresh scent of the grass and the earthy aroma of the soil, and soon fell into a deep slumber.

Without the worry of a nighttime ambush, Darn slept soundly, and in his dreams, he saw Antonio, Klia, and the Governor's Mansion of Ruthania-his home.

Hmm, Mom and Dad look so happy. What could be the reason for their joy? Ah, it must be because my martial skills have finally broken through to the fifth tier! Yet, more than my martial prowess, I wish for a greater appetite. How strange, why can't I find the kitchen?

In his dream, Darn searched the Governor's Mansion for anything to satisfy his hunger, but curiously, apart from his parents, he could see no one else, not even the kitchen he desperately sought, which remained shrouded in mist.

Damn it! I'm starving! Mom, Mom, I want meat! I want fish! I want... Huh, what's this? Honeydew? Or perhaps wine?

A refreshing sensation spread throughout Darn's body as he held a cup and drank incessantly. Yet no matter how much he drank, the liquid never seemed to diminish, and the hunger in his belly remained unabated.

Damn it! I'm done drinking! I want food! With a loud shout, Darn tossed the cup aside and suddenly opened his eyes wide.

The chilling sensation still coursed through him, and the sound of rain told him that the coldness did not come from honeydew or wine, but from the relentless downpour.

Hmm, it's raining again. The weather on the prairie is truly peculiar; it either doesn't rain for months or pours for months on end. Wait, can we take advantage of this opportunity...

Suddenly flipping over, Darn sprang up, his eyes wide as he searched for Gerald. When a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, he realized with shock that he was utterly alone!

Where is everyone? Where are they? Where is Captain Gerald? Where is Sergeant Cowell? Why is no one here!? All fatigue and discomfort vanished in an instant, leaving only an indescribable sense of fear and loneliness in Darn's heart.

He searched diligently for his companions, but apart from his warhorse, he found nothing. After a few flashes of lightning, Darn finally grasped a grim reality: he had fallen behind!

For a sixteen-year-old boy, this was devastating news. However, fortunately, along with the bad news came a glimmer of hope.

The cacophony of the wolf riders had faded, and the direction where the orcs had camped was eerily quiet. In the darkness, there was no sign of movement. Given the orcs' brutish nature, there was only one explanation: the wolf riders had also set off into the night.

The orcs must have sensed something! They're pursuing Captain Gerald! Damn it, if only I hadn't fallen asleep! Captain Gerald must have intended to slip away under the cover of this rainy night! Damn it! How could those bastards not notice someone was missing!

Cursing in frustration, Darn embraced his warhorse's neck, pressing his face against the horse's. Sensing his distress, the horse blinked a few times and extended its long tongue.

"Ugh, no, please, I'm already soaked; I don't need you adding more moisture!"

Affectionately patting his steed's head, Darn felt a significant reduction in his loneliness and fear. After standing in the pouring rain for a moment, he, now a brave warrior, suddenly swung himself onto the horse's back.

I must leave! If I wait until dawn, I won't stand a chance against those orcs alone! Glancing in the direction where he remembered the wolf riders had camped, Darn made his decision: for survival, for the home he had seen in his dreams, and to reunite with his parents, he gritted his teeth against the rain.

"Let's hit the road, partner. It's just the two of us now, and if we want to get home, we'll have to work hard!" He murmured to himself, gently squeezing the horse's belly as they galloped into the thick rain and mist.

The vast Nagalan Prairie was quiet and serene amidst the downpour. The once rampant flames of war had vanished without a trace, washed away by the rain. Even the blood of countless beings gradually seeped into the soil, diluted by the cold rain, leaving no sign behind.

The Nagalan Prairie, drenched in heavy rain, was clean and verdant. The grass, nourished by the rain, danced joyfully in the storm, vibrant and full of life. The rain had washed away any trace of bloodshed.

Freed from drought, the prairie was recovering at an astonishing pace. In the foreseeable future, the Nagalan Prairie would once again be a happy home for the orcs, who would no longer need to trek thousands of miles, like a swarm of locusts, to invade human territories. In gratitude for this bright future, all the orcs on the Nagalan Prairie joyfully bathed in the rain, thanking the heavens and the beast god for the life-giving deluge.

Yet, in some corner of the vast prairie, Darn, trudging alone, felt none of the joy brought by the rain, nor the vibrant life of the rain-soaked grass. Alone, he was engulfed by loneliness, uncertainty, and fear.

Since awakening to find himself separated from his comrades, Darn had been alone on the Nagalan Prairie for three days. To his surprise, he had not encountered a single orc during this time, whether it be the wolf riders of the Rampaging Lions or the migrating orc tribes.

This was an excellent situation. Prepared for battle at any moment, Darn utilized these rare three days of calm to diligently recover his strength and fighting spirit, while carefully bandaging his wounds and repairing his weapons and armor. Though he was clueless about the matters ahead, he still aimed to restore as much of his strength as possible before the inevitable confrontation.

Little did Darn know that no matter how well he prepared or how much strength he regained, if he encountered a large group of wolf riders, his fate would still be grim, unless...

Unless I can cross the Nagalan Prairie alone and return to the Kingdom of Bylins... Furrowing his brow, Darn gazed at the endless expanse of grassland, feeling a wave of bitterness wash over him, for he was lost.