Chapter 199 - Volume 2
Volume 2 Chapter 144 – Warm words of hope (6)
The bodies of the dead were covered with a layer of leaves, and were lined up in the village’s square in front of Goddess Nia’s statue. A crowd observed in silence while an elderly priest performed a rite for the dead.
The difficulty of life had become part of Senia’s citizens dating from a few centuries back. The weak race was powerless to resist the forces around them, and they could only choose to retreat further into the dark forest. Cold, hunger and monstrous creatures greeted them and brought about the threat of death everyday.
Everyone looked to the oldest elder amongst them, one whom they regarded as the most experienced in life and the best leader they could have in trying times. The leaders had always managed to lead the citizens of Senia out of difficult situations in history. However, their wise elder was now hunched in defeat with melancholic eyes.
The old man leaned against the cane in his hand, with each wrinkle in his face seemingly casting a dark shadow over him. His sigh of lament was just loud enough for the dark-skinned middle-aged man with a short beard beside him to walk off with a huff.
“Uncle Brynjar, where are you going?” A tall youth beside the old man immediately yelled after him.
“I’m going to take Sifrid back by force!”
“Please calm down!” The youth urged: “Uncle Brynjar, what can you possibly do by yourself? Are you trying to head to your death?”
But in this world, they were still here, despite the signs of fights and bloodshed that happened not long ago.
The statue of the Goddess of Hunting and Harvest, Nia, was present in the center of the village and undamaged. She wore a long leather coat and carried a shortbow over her back, while her hands held a basket of hunted game and fruits over her head.
Brendel shifted his eyes to their cottages made out of stone and wood with a reed thatch over the roofs. These were unlike the rumors where they lived in tents like barbarians. However, their old culture was mostly lost and their title of ‘Hunters of the Night’ was nothing more than a legend now.
But their ties with the Druids were still there and as close as it had ever been even from a few centuries ago.
When the door was closed, the Grey Wolves Mercenaries’ grumbles were silenced and they started reconsidering the difference between the Senia and the rumors about them.
Brendel did not have to wait very long as there was a knock on the door once again. This time it was the man he had been waiting for—
An elderly man who held onto a cane entered the house. Brendel immediately figured he was the leader of the village. Sifrid was standing beside a dark-skinned middle-aged man, most likely her father, and they came in together with the elderly man.
“My guests from faraway, I thank you humbly.” The elderly man bowed deeply and said.
“Please refrain from thanking us. This is something that we happened to solve in our journey,” Brendel did not have the chance to even get up when the elderly man spoke quickly. He frowned slightly and replied: “We have our own request to trouble you……”
The old man exchanged glances with the Sifrid’s father and he nodded: “Ulf has told me of your requests to enter the forest, my lord. It isn’t a troublesome thing for us.”
Brendel’s frown became a grimace.
[This Elder is starting off with a lie. Why is that?]
Entering the Dark Forest here was a dangerous thing. Even if his men were to enter it they had to be extremely careful and prepared. If the Senia went in deeper to the forest it would be no different from heading to their deaths.
“Who are you sending?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m going.” The middle-aged man took a look at her daughter and at Brendel and his men, and said with resolution.
“(Father?)” The little girl raised her head and asked in surprise at once.
[Are you leaving your daughter behind…..?] Brendel’s surprise was palpable. He realized why the Elder said it was no trouble for them.
TL: I also have chapter 145 ready in about 3-4 hours.