Killing Butterflies ( Inspired by Lewis Blisset)

The Silent March

The crowd parted ways for Aylin immediately, revealing a man in the royal guard's attire. His tone was flat, almost cold, as if he were merely a possession summoned at will.

Silence fell over the crowd, their anger quelled momentarily. They looked on in a mix of fear and curiosity as the guard shoved his way toward Aylin, his bulky frame forcing people aside. "Mariposa," some whispered to one another, seeing the star, permanently etched on his face, forever signifying his difference from other people.

The woman beside Aylin breathed a sigh of relief, thankful it wasn't her name called, and lightly pushed Aylin toward the guard, their eyes meeting briefly—an unspoken bond of empathy. As much as the crowd had been acting up just moments before, the presence of a royal guard now stifled their anger.

Beyond the barricades, Aylin caught a full view of the destruction. Houses lay in ruins, turned to rubble, while the remnants of people appeared as mere skeletons, their bodies consumed by the Butterflies. The barricade itself was made from whatever was readily available, which included bodies. The creatures had left their mark almost everywhere they went, the remnants of their unnatural essence lingering in the air, tainting it with a sharp odor that felt almost like a signature of their passage.

With the guard's hand firmly clamped around his shoulder, Aylin was plucked from the crowd. No carriage awaited them, though he hadn't really expected one; they would walk—or march, in the guard's case. His serious expression never wavered as they moved away from the barricaded crowd. A chill seeped from his touch, and Aylin gulped, already imagining the Governor's gaze upon him—piercingly sharp and filled with judgment.

Aylin walked in silence beside the royal guard, whose presence was as unyielding as the towering trees surrounding them. The guard had not spoken since he had claimed Aylin from the crowd, his demeanor strictly professional. Every step they took echoed in the stillness of the dark forest, where shadows danced and whispers of unseen creatures filled the air. The guard remained quiet, not speaking another word to him unless necessary , his very presence commanding respect.

The path was treacherous, the underbrush thick with brambles, and the oppressive darkness seemed to swallow them whole. Aylin could feel the weight of every rustle and snap of twigs, a reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond his sight. Wild predators prowled these woods, unseen but undeniably present, their hungry eyes watching from the shadows. He wondered if those amber eyes watching viciously from the cover of the trees was truly his imagination.

Hours passed as they trudged onward, the forest deepening around them, wrapping them in its eerie embrace. Aylin's heart raced, not only from the physical exertion but from the oppressive atmosphere that thickened with each passing moment. The guard remained stoic, eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of movement, but Aylin couldn't shake the feeling of dread settling in his stomach. 

Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught Aylin's eye. A single Butterfly glided toward them, its iridescent wings shimmering even in the dim light of the forest. For a brief moment, it hovered before Aylin, its gaze filled with a strange disappointment, as if it recognized him yet wished for something more than the company of the Governor's men. It wasn't here to maim or kill — if so, there would be more of them. It was a reminder, that the swarm was everywhere and could find him anytime, that their current absence did not excuse him from the promise that he made.

Before Aylin could react, the guard's sword flashed in the darkness. The blade met the Butterfly mid-flight, slicing through the air with a deadly precision. The creature let out a high-pitched, mournful sound as it fell, its essence dissipating into the night.

"Why did you do that?" Aylin blurted out, his voice trembling with a mix of surprise and confusion.

"It was a threat," the guard replied tersely, not breaking his stride. "These creatures can be deceiving. Their presence often signals danger."

Aylin shivered at the thought, but the guard's tone left no room for argument. He could only follow, keeping pace with the relentless march toward the capital. The encounter lingered in his mind, a stark reminder of the tumultuous world he was navigating.

As they continued, the trees began to thin, and the darkness started to recede, revealing a distant glow on the horizon. Aylin's breath caught in his throat; they were nearing Arcluna. The capital loomed ahead, a sprawling mass of stone and shadow that held the weight of countless secrets. 

By the time they emerged from the forest, the night was well underway. The streets of Arcluna were quiet, shrouded in an unsettling stillness that felt like a prelude to a storm. Aylin's heart raced, anticipation and fear warring within him as he contemplated the confrontation with the Governor that awaited him.

The guard marched on, leading Aylin through the winding streets, where flickering lanterns cast long shadows on the cobblestones. Each step brought him closer to the heart of the Governor's domain, where power and corruption thrived like weeds in a forgotten garden.

With each moment, Aylin prepared himself for the reckoning that lay ahead, knowing that the outcome of this meeting would alter the course of his life forever.