The Path of Ruin

When the speech was over, a deep silence fell over the area.

Kael wasn't sure if it was an effective speech or not. It was as if the townspeople were not sure what to say or how to react.

The soldiers and Hakon didn't push them too hard. After the speech was over, they turned around and walked out of town, not caring much about the silence.

And that's when Kael realized something else. All the soldiers who had no business in the town were always waiting outside.

'So as not to scare the people?'

That was the most logical option he could come up with.

But... it only made him more confused.

The Empire... it was not supposed to be this good.

From his experiences at the palace, from what he had heard all his life, he had always thought that the Empire would be something more like a cruel dictatorship. So... tyrannical and evil.

But they were too nice to the townspeople. Or at least they tried to look like that.

'Or... maybe I'm just a little bit wrong?

Not completely, of course. He was not so naive as to fall for what he had seen in only a short time. But... maybe he could be a little bit wrong?

'I'll wait to see and find out, I guess...'

*******

Things went much faster than Kael had anticipated.

So much so that it was time for the Imperial soldiers to return before Kael realized what was happening. Only those who would later build buildings and explain in more detail what had changed and would change in the governance of the Empire were to arrive.

In short... It was time for Kael to leave too. They were going to leave for the capital of the Empire, at least if he hadn't misunderstood or misheard anything.

But he did not want to leave immediately.

Instead, he asked for ten to twenty minutes before leaving. There were two places he wanted to go. And since things like preparing the soldiers would take a little more time, he received the time he asked for.

And the first place he wanted to go... was one of the few buildings in the town that hadn't been demolished, the building of the mercenary branch where he spent most of his time in the town.

It wasn't completely demolished, though. The second and third floors had collapsed, leaving only the first floor. And that was it.

Kael sighed slightly. He ignored the eyes behind him watching his every move to make sure he didn't run away and entered the building.

Unlike usual, he was not greeted by the noise of adults and the smell of alcohol that permeated the entire building. Instead... a deep silence dominated the building.

This did not mean that it was completely empty. A few mercenaries were still here, half as many as usual. They were quiet, but they were here. And... they were all looking in Kael's direction.

Kael felt the difference in their gaze quite easily. They were looking at him with different eyes than at previous times. And, well, it wasn't that hard to guess what they were thinking.

But Kael ignored them. He walked towards the reception counter and no one tried to stop him.

Eventually he passed through the door leading to the back of the first floor.

And he found the person he was looking for lying comfortably on a long couch.

Laen was right in front of him. His head and right arm were covered with bandages. He didn't look in very good shape, to be honest. But despite that, he hadn't lost any of his aura.

His closed eyes opened when he heard Kael enter. His straight lips curled up slightly. His eyes narrowed as he slowly straightened up from where he was lying. Looking at Kael with a serious expression, he spoke in a slightly mocking tone.

"Well, well, well! Look who's here... The new dog of the Empire, huh?"

Kael remained silent at Laen's words. And Laen grinned in contrast to his lack of reaction.

"You tricked me good, Kael. You said you weren't a bearer. You said you wouldn't go behind my back, but..."

Kael was silent again. It was as if he had no intention of speaking... as if he would listen to everything Laen said without doing anything.

"What did I say that day? Oh, I'm generous as well as vindictive, right?"

Laen's smile widened.

"I also said I would use you, but... in the end, I was the one who was used. Ironic, isn't it?"

And that was when Kael finally opened his mouth.

"I-"

"Pft, ahahahah!"

Laen's sudden burst of laughter stopped him in his tracks. A puzzled expression appeared on his face as he looked at the giant of a man in front of him.

"What are you looking at? Did you think I was going to attack or set a trap for you?"

Laen shook his head from side to side after recovering his laughter and continued.

"No, my head is still clear. I'm not going to try anything stupid, especially when it involves a bearer and the Empire. I have no thirst for my life."

He sighed slightly. Leaning back in his couch, he looked directly into Kael's eyes.

"Just... congratulations, I guess."

Kael's expression became even more confused.

"Huh?"

"What 'huh'? In case you haven't heard me clearly, let me say it again... congratulations. You fooled me, you found a much bigger supporter to back you up and make you stronger. And you succeeded. You won, and I... lost. I'm not someone who can't accept defeat, so... congratulations. I have nothing more to say."

Kael just stared at him for a while. He said nothing, he didn't move a muscle. In the end... he could only sigh deeply.

"I... thank you. For giving me shelter for two months, for teaching me a little about fighting and..."

His eyes narrowed involuntarily.

"For preparing me to be part of this world."

And... that was it.

"I hope you can achieve your goals."

Nothing was free, of course. Laen... had done everything for his own future plans.

Still, that didn't change the fact that Kael was grateful to him.

He turned away, preparing to leave.

But he paused one last time. Turning his head slightly and looking into Laen's eyes, he asked... curiously but also seriously.

"If things were different, if the stakes were much lower... would you chase me? To kill me, I mean. To... take revenge."

The answer he received... was only a broadening smile.

A smile that reminded him so many times what the world was like.

"I see..."

He turned back to the front.

He was not surprised, in fact... it was exactly the answer he had expected.

Still, he couldn't feel angry with Laen. That's why he ignored it.

And that's how he left the mercenary building, leaving Laen and the building where he lived for two months as a mercenary completely behind him.

And heading towards the last place he would stop before leaving this town.

*******

When Kael arrived in front of his target, he paused.

The building he was looking at was split in two in a perfectly diagonal way. One of the general's attacks must have hit exactly here. It had therefore collapsed.

But the upper floors had already been cleared of debris, just like the mercenaries' building. So the first floor was usable again, although it no longer had a roof.

He remembered the first day he came to town. Now that he looked at everything, how much had changed in just two months...

He sighed deeply. With slow steps, he entered the town's only orphanage.

The sight that greeted him... was the sight of children sitting in the hall right in front of the door. Just behind them stood an old woman who looked as if she had lost a leg.

They all looked at him in surprise.

A clumsy smile appeared on Kael's face. His eyes lingered on a girl with green hair. He recalled the challenge he had made to himself, even if it had been a childish one. And he opened his closed mouth.

"I... will leave this town."

He bowed his head slightly, not allowing anyone to react.

"The first day I came here, you gave me clean clothes and let me take a shower. For... nothing."

He bowed his head even more, to show his gratitude.

Before, he had wanted to do this sarcastically for the challenge. But... he didn't want that right now.

So he went with his heart.

"So... I wanted to thank you one last time before I leave."

He waited for a while with his head bowed. In the deep silence that descended on the orphanage, he stood still, doing nothing. After a short while, though, he finally raised his head.

He saw two people smiling, even though most of the children had confused expressions on their faces.

One was the old woman and the other was Miny.

"Take good care of yourselves."

And with that, he prepared to leave without doing anything more.

But, just then, the old woman raised her hand and waved it gently as if to say goodbye.

"You're welcome."

And that was all she said.

Miny also did not remain silent.

"I hope you accomplish your goal."

The smile on Kael's face widened.

He turned around, murmuring softly before walking out.

"I also hope I will..."

And so, he left the orphanage behind.

When he stepped outside, he saw a man in black, Hakon, standing in the doorway.

"We're leaving."

You don't have much more time, he said simply.

"I know."

And Kael was very much aware of that. That was why he had kept his 'visits' so short and made everything rather quick without wasting unnecessary time.

He took a deep breath and looked up at the gray sky.

It had happened much faster than he had thought. And he was going somewhere he never thought he would go.

Still, he was finally leaving the town.

He had already made his choice, even if he was still not sure if it was good or bad.

Now... all he had to do was keep moving forward. As he always did. Only then could he see the results, find the answers to the questions he didn't know yet.