The time of dusk arrived, the crimson rays gazing upon Lucien were gone but there was light. The autumn winds were blowing with their speed of own.
Lucien's eyes were heavy—as if they were begging him to go to bed already.
Lucien saved the woman and took her out of that street fulled of darkness and the intentions of the devils.
With his stare, all the people on the street stopped looking at her—going there own way but there was someone, someone strong in front of Lucien who was not staring at the woman—but at him.
Lucien looked at his face—commander Ervis.
Before Ervis could say anything, Lucien spoke.
"Commander Ervis, before you go to any kind of conclusion, please go in that street and look from your own eyes. ".
Lucien was no more grabbing the woman's hand and she was hiding behind Lucien; not looking at the person Lucien was talking to.
She had covered her ears and didn't hear the commander's name.
Ervis listened to Lucien and went inside the street full of darkness.
The sky was shining with the magenta color and there was the crescent moon.
Lucien looked above the sky—to the crescent moon; the black moon. The moon was slowly turning black.
He murmured, "Ah, so a black moon night. ".
The woman heard him and looked above the sky, it was her first time looking at a black moon—she found it really horrific and it scared her this much that he grabbed Lucien's right hand with both of her hands.
Lucien's face was still above but he slightly moved his eyes towards the woman and sighed.
Commander slowly walked inside the street and his left foot touched something wet.
In the street, there was darkness, darkness everywhere but commander always carried a candle with flint and steel.
He placed the candle on the ground and struck the flint and still together couple of time to ignite the spark; the candle catched the fire.
Now there was lighting by the gaze of the candle everywhere—there was only blood and the corpses of those men.
Commander's eyes widened, he couldn't believe that a normal grandson of a normal merchant was able to do this.
The thing which surprised him the most was the sliced head of those men. Only a perfect swordsman could slice like this.
He could smell the blood and he too looked above the sky—the upcoming black moon.
It terrified him to the deepest point of his body, he started sweeting. Without wasting any moment, he called his fellow soldiers and commanded them to clean it quickly.
Couple of soldiers came with their own weapon, sword, spear and bow.
They started cleaning it and even commoners started helping them.
Lucien was watching all this and the woman was trembling and still holding his hand.
The commander came out and said with his heavy voice, "Lucien, you did a great job. Not all have the courage to save a woman against these types of scum. ".
Lucien remained silent. Commander's eyes looked at the woman hiding behind Lucien.
She peeked a little to look at commander's face because to her, his voice was familiar.
Commander said, " Lady Emily, it is all okay. I am commander Ervis, I will accompany you to your home. ".
Her eyes widened, tears started running down her cheeks, her expression changed to happiness.
She left the side of Lucien and hugged commander and started crying.
Lucien murmured, " Lady? ".
Commander asked, " Is there anything wrong? ".
He nodded in denial and said, " Well, now excuse me. ".
Lucien went to his wagon and went towards the inn. The commander was still looking him—at his sword which he always carried.
The darkness was coming way too fast, the might already arrived—full black night with the gazes of twinkling starts and no moon.
Actually, there was a moon but it camouflaged with the dark sky and clouds.
Lucien could now hear the voices of the monsters, there footsteps and rampages.
During the black moon night, monsters would hunt each other down because of their hunger. Their hunger would increase tremendously that it forces them to even eat their own kinds.
All of the street suddenly became silent and as the time passed, the streets were filled of loneliness. Couple of minutes ago when there were people on the street—but now, all were gone and there was only the silence and Lucien and his wagon.
The sound of the rampages grew stronger, it was like they were trying to destroy the walls surrounding the kingdom.
Lucien looked towards the tower of the archer and the archers were shooting there arrow at a particular place.
They carried no quiver and had different kinds of talent, from ice arrow to flame arrow and more different kinds but each of their bow had a command talent, infinity.
It was a talent through which their bow can create infinite arrows and they didn't need any arrow for that.
Lucien was sure that the monsters were really trying to come inside the kingdom because there was still a little scent left of the blood of those men and because of their increased sense of smell, they could smell it.
Lucien arrived infront of his inn whose door was close and there was silence around it too.
He got off his ride and knocked the door.
Knock! knock! knock!
The door slowly opened with a keeeekkk! sound and again, there was him, the fat sweety owner of the inn welcoming Lucien.
Lucien's time of remaining in the inn was already up as he only payed to remain for one day.
The owner said, "I am really sorry sir, but your time is already up. However, you can extend it for any number of days you like. ".
There was no expressions on Lucien's face as he realised that already before coming.
He payed the owner 14 silver coins and rented a private room with luxury meal for 2 whole days.
The owner again welcomed him and sent his servants to park his wagon. He went inside the inn, the candles were still shining brightly as if they never melt.
Again, there was no one around except him, the owner and few of his self made servant.
He said, "I would like to eat dinner and after that, I want you to send me some hot water so that I can wash my face. ".
The owner said, " As you command, sir. ".
Lucien sat on of the table to wait for his food. His seat was near to the stairs, he looked around and there was only light and darkness in the corners. Lucien could hear a sound, sound of someone fighting.
The sound was coming inside from a shared room on the 1st floor. From the sound it was clear that they were fighting to sleep on a particular side of the bed.
Lucien gave a sigh and murmured, "We humans, we carry an abyss within us—
A darkness deeper than the night itself.
We do not learn from our mistakes,
Yet we are quick to cast blame upon others,
As if our sins weigh less when shared.".
He rests his head on the table, exhaustion pulling him into a quiet slumber.
The sound grew stronger, as if the argument turned to physical violence. The owner sent his servant to look what was happening and to silence them.
A few minutes passed and the servant didn't return. Lucien pulled back his head and looked towards the owner and suddenly, the owner felt a little shock.
Only those with the talent to summon servants can feel this shock. They feel it when there servant dies or someone kill it.
Suddenly, Lucien heard 2 people murmuring something and coming down the stairs with very violent aura. He looked towards the stairs and they were those people who were arguing a few minutes ago.
They came with shouting at the owner, "Is this the kind of service you provide to your costumer, huh!? ".
They were 2 men and each of them had dark circles below there eyes, there skin was pale as if it was dead.
There messy long black hairs made there look even more creepy.
They were wearing the full plate armor, as if they were mercenary. Each of them carrying a battle axe at their back and they were quite muscular.
There voice was heavy but not as Lucien and the commander Ervis.
The owner spoke, "There are other costumers too and I have to think of their comfort too, sir. ".
Those men looked at Lucien as if casting their bloodlust on him but Lucien felt nothing. There brown eyes staring Lucien and Lucien's eyes staring on them.
One of those pointed at Lucien and asked, " Is this the costumer you are talking about!? ".
The owner remained silent and that man came down the stairs and a sound was coming out of the floor at each step.
keeekkkk!
That man walked towards Lucien were murmuring something. Lucien's eyes were heavy, he just wanted to sleep.
That man grabbed Lucien by his hairs using his right hand and asked, "Do you know who the fuck am I!? ".
Lucien remained silent—controlling his actions and anger.
The man slapped Lucien and at this point, Lucien thought, 'If the world demands I embrace the darkness,
If fate itself tempts me toward sin,
If the deeds of others carve a path of ruin,
Then tell me—why should I not walk it?'.
He grabbed the man's right hand using his own right hand and Lucien's grip was so tight that man felt intense pain.
He screamed, "You.. leave my hand! ".
He screamed in pain again and again and Lucien, he increased his grip every second and few seconds later, Lucien broke his hand.
Lucien was looking at him—dead into his. The owner, the man and his friend could feel the bloodlust out of Lucien.
He cried in pain as his hand was broken.
He took few steps back, his friend said, "Hey, chill. We were just kidding. ".
Lucien spoke, "A simple jest can wound the heart,
Yet we stand blind, unsure of blame—
Is it the one who spoke in jest,
Or the one who took it to pain?
But truth lies not in fault nor name,
For it is the moment itself to blame.".
But they couldn't understand Lucien's words as his words were too complex for their tiny minds to understand it.
Lucien draw his sword, making them fell on their knees with just his aura.
They started begging, "Please, we are sorry. We were mistaken, we were the wrong, please spare our life. ".
Lucien spoke, "At times, it is not the act but the moment that holds true weight.
Sometimes, an action may deepen the wound rather than heal.
And sometimes, time itself stands against you.
Instead of seeking forgiveness too late,
Let us learn to honor time before it turns away.".
Again, none could understand his words but only him. He walked towards them and from the fear, they pissed there pants. Tears running down there dead pale skin.
Lucien walked towards him and he crawled back with fear.
He crawled this much that he was now in the legs of his other friend who also came down the stairs.
Both of them were crying, they begged him continuously to spare their life.
Lucien was looking at them and sheethed his sword back—he lost his interest.
They took the moment to importance and ran back to their room with full might.
At every step, the floor gave the sound keeeekkk!.
Lucien looked at the owner and asked, "Is the dinner not ready yet? ".
The owner was surprised to see such bloodlust from him. For few seconds he remained silent and froze at one moment but then when he understand his words, he said, " Yes.. yes.. yes just give me few minutes more. ".
Lucien came back to his table and sat at his chair.
His mind was overflowing with thoughts but his eyes were not supporting his mind. He could feel the weight of his eyes.
He sighed again and heard a sound, the sound of the main door opening of the inn.
Keeekkkk!
Someone else also came in the inn. None expected that, neither the owner nor the Lucien.