As usual, I was taking a morning stroll through the village. But today, I needed it more than ever. To calm my nerves, to think, and to stop myself from getting consumed by this all too familiar feeling.
Fear
I know that I'm the protector of this village. I'm supposed to be courageous and brave. But how could I not feel fear, if I know that my village is in danger. Maybe I would've doubted those reports that I got, but I could clearly feel just how true those reports were.
The monsters were fleeing from something. That much was clear.
And no, it wasn't some miracle. We'd fought those creatures for years, they wouldn't just give up. It would be delusional to think they suddenly decided to resettle elsewhere. No, this wasn't "good" news.
This was a threat.
Something out there was strong enough to scare those beasts away. Strong enough to make them abandon their hunting grounds like terrified prey. And it wasn't just them.
Even the few children in this village that would usually run around causing chaos and problems with their antics while having those cute smiles on their face...
Even they were hiding in their houses, their cold sweat visible as they peeked out their windows, trying to check if that thing had already arrived.
And that thing, it was near. Close enough that everyone could feel its presence like an invisible pressure pushing down our very skin.
In short, this was a catastrophe. One on the scale of a natural disaster.
And it was lurking just beyond these very walls... silently waiting.
I had to act fast. I had to report this to the King. Because if I faced it alone, I'd die. I didn't need to face it to know that I would die. Then the village would shortly follow. Then the kingdom.
That thought alone drenched me in cold sweat. More than even the children.
I wasn't being paranoid. I'd seen death before. I'd seen the aftermath of arrogance. And this? This wasn't something you handle alone. That would be suicide.... no, worse. It would be selfish.
Once my mind was clear, I went to the stables. I didn't waste time packing anything besides some water. Every second that passed was a gamble. If that monster decided to enter the village, we wouldn't even get to scream before it was over.
The horse was restless. Maybe it sensed it too.
The stable doors opened slowly, so slow to the point that my anxiety reached new heights, but the guard eventually got it and opened them. I galloped out, but first heading one last time to the gates, located near the forest.
In that very forest is that thing located. Sitting there, probably in a cave, completely alone. And even though I wanted to walk towards the forest, I felt that if I would take a single other step, I would faint.
It was an immense pressure, as if thousands of insects are running over your skin. It felt disgusting and terrifying.
In that moment I knew for sure, the King must be informed. And even more than that, he had to understand what we were dealing with. One misstep, one wrong decision… and thousands could die.
I've made mistakes before. I know what they cost.
And reality is, nobody gets second chances, and life rarely ends with a happy ending with a "happy ending".
The only thing you can trust, is death.
Inevitable and sudden. Unwavering in its pursuit to get you and impossible to evade.
Yet, like cockroaches, we humans keep trying. We fight. We crawl. We grit our teeth and bite us through. And at the end we survive.
Foolish?
Maybe. But that's just what we humans are.
And like a cockroach, I will bite, fight and crawl all I can to protect my life and the life of this village. I will kill that thing and make it regret having come near this village.
I was finally ready to depart, and as I turned my horse around my face was filled with killing intent.
Suddenly I heard a noise coming from the forest that was silent up until now.
It almost sounded like a laughter, mocking me.
Thinking that I was merely hallucinating, I started riding towards the palace.