《Karla and The Undead Knight》 Prologue - The Foggy Depths of Desolation White fog loomed along the mountaintops, from the depths of the valley, swirling around through the tops of pine trees. Its essence bubbled atop the leafy greenery. Dew formed around the heart of the human soul, of animals, and bugs. Across the valley where the fog resides, inhuman meaty creatures are born. Their misshapen forms crawled across villages, for they are its former residents. Across the toxic swamp where cancerous meaty tumour spread upon one whiff of its scent, the Refuse the rejected creatures of heaven walked. Nearly human are their forms, yet something is missing, such is the fates of those rejected by gods. ¡°These inhuman beings are once creatures of high wit and rational thought. Once, their souls are filled with longings of high dreams. Yet now nothing but mud crawling, shit eating, fly loving chunks of meat. What happened here?¡± The figure who had just talked to herself is Karla, from the proud family of Karenin she had a habit of speaking to herself. This journey she¡¯s on and the long solitude that came with it produces these episodes of rumination. Karla stood atop of a dilapidated tower, beside her is a lone fireplace. The amber glow illuminated her surroundings of ashen grey rubble, she stood in front of a hole in the wall, it was once used for the guardian of this fort to watch over long distances in fear of bandits and enemy soldiers, yet now even that sounded like a futile attempt of maintaining humanity. Her bag sat near. She looked up to the sky, the stars twinkling through the fog. ¡°What happened here? What happened to these creatures?¡± Though there was no one to answer her thought, she knew the answer all too well. The gods and the heavens disowned them, exiled them, and left them to rot in this frozen wasteland. Karla took a deep breath and decided it is time to continue her journey. She knew her destination was close. The answer to her questions will be answered soon. Karla gathered her belongings and readied herself for the journey ahead. She strapped her bag tightly to her back, and tucked her journal and quill behind her belt. She filled her pockets with stones and pebbles, for protection and solace, should she ever face danger. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Taking a deep breath, Karla began the climb down the dilapidated tower. Every step was taken with caution, for she had to be wary of any lurking creatures. She moved stealthily, her gaze never straying from her path. As she reached the bottom, she was met with an eerie silence. Although she was frightened, she steeled her heart and continued on. The fog had grown thicker, and the darkness seemed to swallow her up. But Karla was determined. She trudged on, her feet crunching against the frozen ground. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Karla arrived at the edge of the frozen fortress. She was awestruck by the beauty of the land. It was desolate and eerie, shrouded in a thick white fog. The air was cold and oppressive, and the land was barren and lifeless. Ancient ruins loomed in the distance, their decrepit structures crumbling in disarray. The fog blanketed the area, obscuring visibility and making it difficult to find one''s way. The fog was so thick that one could barely make out the surrounding landscape, and the only sound was the occasional rustle of leaves or the chirping of birds in the distance. The ruins of the old civilization were scattered throughout the wasteland. Rusted weapons, crumbling walls, and broken pottery littered the ground, hinting at the once vibrant culture that had once thrived here. The ruins of the old city were a stark reminder of the destruction that the fog had brought to the land. Despite the bleakness of the landscape, there was still a sense of beauty to it. The fog created a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere, with a hint of magic and mystery. The ruins of the old civilization had a certain charm that could not be replicated elsewhere. These vistas lit her determination anew. To uncover the cultures that once blanketed these lands in place of fog. The people within it, the cries of newborn children, and the loves of humanity that once brimmed. To the dead and misshapen, she took her step. Onward, to the depth of the fog. Chapter 1 - The Village and Encounter Karla trudged through the fog, her feet crunching against the frozen ground. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the whimper of winds in the distance. She had been walking for what seemed like hours and the thick fog was starting to take its toll on her. Her body was weary and her mind was murky, but she was determined to press on. Blending of grasses gradually hardens, the sound sharply changes, soft whispers of dampened blades, now a hard rocky crunch. One a split rocks made as leather boot steps. A wooden street sign came into view. Karla arrived at the edge of a ruined village. A whisper came from her mouth. ¡°T¡¯was was a solemn sight. The fog hung heavy in the air, obscuring the ruins of old houses and shops. The only sound was a faint whisper of the wind, as if nature itself was mourning the death of the village. The cobbled streets were cracked and broken, and the old buildings were crumbling, their roofs collapsed and their walls crumbling. The trees and plants were withered, their leaves long gone and their branches bare. The air was still and silent.¡± Those ruminations were a passage of an encyclopaedia she read over and over again as a child in the library of Helios, it told the fate of a village called Melchior. Once a bustling city, an oasis where merchants stayed the night for a short reprieve before a long period of circulation in the kingdom of Yuthresia. Once the gate to the golden city, now the eye of an abyss. ¡°It was as if time had stopped here long ago¡° The fog blanketed the entire village, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere. Despite the desolation, Karla thought, the scenery it creates is beautiful. The fog brought her a non-insignificant amount of comfort, she didn¡¯t know why, it was taking a toll on her along the way, but here the fog embraced her, holding her in a comfortable squeeze. She felt that the fog had grown thicker, and she could barely make out the shapes of buildings in the distance. As she stepped into the village, she noticed a strange presence. It was a figure shrouded in fog, standing in the middle of the village. . ¡°... !¡± It had no eyes, no mouth, and no ears. It was a misshapen creature of some sort, and it seemed to be in a state of shock. It was the Refuse. A misshapen and hairless creature. Its pale skin was almost translucent, revealing the blue veins beneath its surface. Its body was tall and thin, with long arms and legs that seemed to stretch on for eternity. Its hands were large and its fingers were long and bony, ending in sharp claws. It had no eyes, no mouth, no ears, and no nose, only a few holes that seemed to be used for breathing. Its head was round and bald, with a few wispy strands of hair that seemed to be growing atop its scalp. It had no visible clothing, and its body was covered in a thick layer of sickly grey fur. The Refuse seemed to be in a state of constant shock. Its posture was hunched and its movements were slow and sluggish. Karla noted that It seemed to be in pain, constantly in agony. Its movements were jerky and its body trembled with each step. The fog hung bleakly over her temple and beads of sweat formed as her eyes cautiously watched its every limb, she noted those jerky movements. The Refuse seemed to retain a sense of routine, she pondered whether there is an order to its movement. The Refuse moved its leg away from her, trembling all the while, treading its path with an occasional hesitation, towards a silhouette of a stone well covered by mist. It stopped by the well, the Refuse stayed still, it jerked its arm, then motioned with its misshapen hand full of tumours and wispy strands of hair that dotted its surface, a circular movement, before continuing its meandering, into the foggy distance. Out of her sight. Karla stood still, watching the Refuse walk off into the foggy distance. As she watched it disappear, her gaze shifted from the creature to a dilapidated house nearby. Its roof had collapsed, its walls were crumbling and its windows were smashed. But despite its decrepit state, the house still seemed to have a certain aura about it. It was as if something important had happened here, something that could not be forgotten. It was a two-story structure, with a sloping roof that was partially caved in. The walls were made of stone and were covered in moss and lichen. The windows were broken and the door hung crookedly. The house reminded Karla of a merchant house. Karla imagined the house was a grand structure, with brightly painted walls and ornate doors. Inside were luxurious furnishings and fine art. But now, it was nothing like that. Decrepit and desolate, with only the faintest hints of its former grandeur. Karla cautiously entered the dilapidated houses. The room was dark, and a thick layer of dust and cobwebs blanketed the floor. A foul stench filled the air, and Karla could feel a chill run down her spine. She slowly made her way through the room, her steps echoing against the walls. The floorboards creaked beneath her feet, and the walls seemed to be closing in around her. Suddenly, Karla stopped in her tracks. She had come across a pile of corpses in the corner of the room. They were in various states of decay, their limbs twisted and their skin grey and mottled. Their eyes were hollow and their mouths frozen in a silent scream. Karla gazed at the scene before her. There is a tingle inside her stomach. She wondered how they had died and what had caused their deaths. Why hadn¡¯t the fog that was responsible for the Refuse turned these people into one? Their twisted forms and mottled skin, spoke deeply of the pain they undergo. They seemed so still, they had frozen in time. ¡°I wonder what their lives had been like before the fog had taken them, and what secrets they could tell if only they could speak.¡± Karla found a letter underneath the corpse, written in an unintelligible language. ¡°Well, the letters seemed familiar¡­ This is probably the language of Yuthresia. Its usage is a little bit different from what I was practising though. Maybe the structures is different¡± Karla stared at the letter in her hands, trying to make out the words, but it was all too foreign. "But what is this.. a list?" She muttered. "Supplies for a mission? People to be rescued? Names and places, a record of the village''s history?" She shook her head and stuffed the letter into her pocket. She sighed. "Well if i¡¯m lucky. Maybe this letter can hint why the fog came here, and the circumstances why those people didn''t turn into Refuse. Hopefully it turn out to be a list of survivors, that would add credibility towards one hypothesis of the timing of her death¡­ And also pile upon more questions on why some are affected by the fog and some aren''t. Is there a criteria to become a Refuse and a semi Refuse?" This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Karla cautiously made her way through the rest of the house, her eyes darting around the room in search of any clues that may explain the fate of the village. Everywhere she looked, there were signs of a life abruptly interrupted. In the kitchen, dishes were piled in the sink and the cupboards were filled with jars of spices and preserves. In the living room, books lay scattered around the floor, and the furniture was covered in a thick layer of dust. In the bedrooms, the beds were unmade and the closets were full of clothes. Karla found traces of the lives that had once been lived in the house. The rooms were filled with reminders of the people who had once lived there. Photos of happy children and smiling families lined the walls, and small trinkets and toys were scattered around the floor. Karla slowly made her way up the stairs, her heart thudding in her chest. At the top of the stairs, she found a door that seemed to lead to an attic. She opened the door, and was met with a wave of stale air. Inside, she found a dusty room filled with old furniture, boxes of books and trinkets, and a few paintings of landscapes and portraits. Karla rummaged through the boxes, looking for any clues that may explain the fate of the village. In one box she found a few old books, some of which were written in a language she couldn''t understand, nor the Common Language nor Yuthresian. In another box she found a few documents and letters, some of them in Old Common Language, which she quickly scanned for any useful information. After a few minutes of searching, Karla found nothing of use, and decided to leave the attic. As she left the attic, Karla noticed a strange smell. She followed the smell to the back of the house, where she found a small, dark room. Inside, she found another pile of rotting corpses, their skin mottled and their limbs twisted in unimaginable ways. Different from last time, Karla felt a chill run down her spine as she stared at the bodies. She slowly approached the pile of corpses, her heart pounding in her chest. The smell of decay was almost unbearable and the sight of the bodies was too gruesome to behold. She forced herself to take a closer look, and soon noticed something odd about the corpses. They were not simply rotting, but had been arranged in a strange pattern. Karla''s eyes widened in wonder as she noticed the strange pattern ¨C the corpses were arranged in the shape of a circle, with their heads all facing the same direction. She had never seen anything like it before. Suddenly she noticed something ¨C a small book, tucked away in a corner beside the corpses. She carefully pulled it out and examined it. It was written in the same language as the list before Feeling a sudden surge of curiosity, Karla opened the book and started skimming through its pages. She soon noticed words that seemed to match the words from the letter she had found before. Karla''s excitement grew as she read through the book, as she began to understand the words from the letter. She was so engrossed in her discovery, that she almost forgot about the pile of corpses. The strange pattern and their silent screams seemed to fade away, as Karla uncovered the secrets of the letter. *** Karla blinked back the exhaustion that was starting to set in. She glanced outside, only to realize that the sun had set and the night was quickly descending. She sighed, realizing that it was too dark to continue reading the book. She understood that the letter she had found was nothing more than a list of groceries. She had been so hopeful that it would provide her with some answers, but in the end it was merely a mundane item. All her excitement and anticipation quickly evaporated and the darkness of the night seemed to close in around her. She felt a sense of profound disappointment and sadness, as if all her hopes and dreams had been crushed. She wanted to cry, but all she could do was sit in the darkness and ponder what could have been. The silence was deafening, and the darkness was oppressive. Despite her best efforts, Karla couldn''t help but feel a sense of hopelessness, as if any chance of finding the truth had been lost forever. ¡°The fog on morn, did it bring? A naught but bleakness, and a heavy sting. She did trudge, through the silent night. Her weary feet, in the cold snow''s plight. Alas, the truth she did seek But found only despair, and a voice so meek. The people of old, in a deep dark rest. Their hopes and dreams, now a silent crest. Her heart did ache, in a deep sorrow. For what is true, no one can borrow. In darkness she sits, and sighs in despair.¡± Karla closed the book and stepped towards the window, gazing out at the night scenery. The fog had grown thicker, and it blanketed everything in sight. The trees were draped in a heavy mist, and the moonlight glinted off the droplets of water suspended in the air. ¡°For the truth she sought, was never there.¡± As Karla''s gaze drifted further out, she could make out the silhouettes of crumbling ruins in the distance, barely visible in the moonlight. The old walls and broken buildings were a stark reminder of the past, and Karla couldn''t help but feel a wave of sadness wash over her. The fog seemed to be a physical manifestation of sorrow, a reminder of all that had been lost. Karla took a deep breath, pulling her focus back to her immediate surroundings, and surveyed the room. Looking around, she decided to use the dusty furniture and boxes to create a makeshift bed. She cleared off an area of the floor and spread out her cloth on top of it. She propped up a few boxes to make a headboard, and then used her knife to cut the strings off of a nearby chair and use them to tie the boxes together. Next, she took out her flint and lit a small fire in the corner of the room. She placed a few logs around it to keep it contained, and then used her knife to cut off some of the furniture to feed the fire. She also used her knife to cut a few pieces of cloth from her pack, which she hung from the ceiling to act as a makeshift tent. Lastly, Karla took out her map and spread it out on the floor. She studied it intently, looking for any clues that may help her in her quest. As she studied the map, she also took out her books and notes, reading them in an attempt to find some sort of clue. By the time Karla finished her preparations, the room was transformed. She had a makeshift camp, with a fire to keep her warm and a makeshift tent to keep her sheltered. Though she didn''t know what the future held, she was happy with the progress she had made. She curled up in her makeshift bed, and slowly drifted off to sleep, her mind filled with questions and her heart filled with hope. Yet the night is still young. As Karla was just about to drift off to sleep, suddenly the silence was broken by the loud crash of a wall collapsing. She sat bolt upright, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked around the room. In the corner of the room, she could see a figure shrouded in fog, its misshapen body trembling in terror. It was the Refuse Karla jumped to her feet, her heart racing as she watched the Refuse crash through the crumbling wall. The creature stumbled around for a moment, its movements jerky and its breathing laboured. Its eyes were wide with fear and its skin was pale and clammy. Karla froze in terror, her mind racing as she tried to decide what to do, and then, the Refuse made a twitch, a single twitch. Karla jumped into a sprint. Her heart raced as she sprinted up the rickety staircase, the Refuse close behind her. Its misshapen hands, with sharp claws outstretched, reached out towards her. The stairs creaked and groaned underneath her feet as she raced up them, her feet pounding the wood. As she reached the top of the staircase, she felt the Refuse''s hands grab at her ankles. She screamed and kicked out with all her might, finally breaking free from its grip. She leapt into the attic, slamming the door shut behind her. The Refuse pounded on the door, its claws scratching at the wood as it tried to get in. Karla''s breath came in ragged gasps as she looked around the room desperately for a way out. She spotted a window on the far side of the room and rushed towards it. With trembling hands, she opened the window and climbed out onto the roof. The cold night air hit her face, and she took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly closed the window, hoping the Refuse would not be able to follow her. Karla scrambled across the roof, the tiles slippery and treacherous beneath her feet. The Refuse pounded on the window, its claws scraping against the glass as it tried to get out. Karla felt a chill run down her spine as she made her way across the roof, when suddenly, she heard a loud crack. She looked down to see the tiles beneath her feet crumbling away, and the edge of the roof quickly coming closer. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Karla leapt forward, her heart thudding in her chest. Just as she was about to make it to safety, she felt the roof beneath her feet give way, plunging her into darkness... Chapter 2 - The Refuse and Deus Ex Machina Karla screamed in agony as she plummeted into the darkness, her leg snapping painfully as she hit the ground. Her heart raced as she crawled away from the edge, her broken leg throbbing with every movement. The pain was unbearable, and Karla could barely see through her tears. She managed to make it to the wall of the house and propped herself up against it, using all her strength to hold back the tears. Karla glanced up at the window of the attic and saw the Refuse still perched on the roof, its misshapen body trembling in the fog. She was relieved to have escaped, but the pain in her leg was unbearable. She knew she had to find a way to get back to her makeshift camp and tend to her wound, else she would have to be happy to be part of the corpse carousel. She dragged herself across the ground, her broken leg stinging with every movement. She could feel the cold sweat of fear on her brow as she made her way to the living room, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the sound of heavy footsteps coming down the stairs, and she knew it was the Refuse. She scrambled into the kitchen, her breath coming in shallow gasps, and hid behind the cabinets. She peered out from her hiding place and watched as the Refuse slowly descended the stairs and stood in the middle of the living room. Karla could feel her heart in her throat as she watched the Refuse, its pale skin illuminated by the fire''s light. She was filled with terror and despair, and had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. The Refuse slowly walked around the living room, its long, thin arms reaching out as if searching for something. Its misshapen body was hunched over, trembling with pain and agony. Karla held her breath, not daring to make a sound. She heard the Refuse''s heavy footsteps coming closer, and she was filled with dread. She wanted to scream, to run away, but she knew that if the Refuse noticed her she would be doomed. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She closed her eyes and waited for the Refuse to pass by, her body trembling in fear. She watched as it stopped in front of the fireplace, its head tilting to one side as if it was listening to something. Karla felt her heart racing as she watched the Refuse, her mind flashing back to its behaviour in the village. It had seemed so harmless then, but now it seemed so menacing and powerful. She shivered in fear, knowing that the Refuse had the power to take her life in an instant. She watched as it slowly walked towards the kitchen, and she felt her breath catch in her throat as it stopped just a few feet away from her hiding place. She closed her eyes and held her breath, praying that it wouldn''t spot her. Suddenly, she heard a loud crash as the Refuse suddenly smashed its fist against the wall. Karla let out a gasp as she watched it stumble backwards, its misshapen body trembling in pain. Then, without warning, the Refuse suddenly turned and disappeared up the stairs, leaving Karla alone in the kitchen. She let out a sigh of relief and slumped against the wall, her body trembling from the shock. Karla slowly got to her feet, her leg aching from the pain of her broken bone. She limped out of the kitchen and made her way to the living room, her mind running through the events of the past few hours. She shivered as she remembered the way it had looked at her, the power in its gaze. She knew it was dangerous and she had to be careful. She tried to rationalize its behaviour, to understand why it had acted the way it had. Was it just scared and trying to find a way out, or was there something else at play? Karla wasn''t sure, but she knew she had to be prepared. She reached into her pocket and felt a small, metal object ¨C a flint. She took it out and held it tightly in her hand, her mind racing with possibilities. The flint would be useful in defending herself if the Refuse attacked again, but would it be enough? She had to find a way to protect herself, but how? Karla''s mind reeled as she tried to make sense of the Refuse''s behaviour. She had seen it in the village, and now it seemed to be following her. Was it really just scared and trying to find a way out, or was there something more sinister at play? She thought back to the list of supplies in the letter she had found. The list of supplies may have been written by the survivors, as a way of preparing for the Refuse''s arrival. It had mentioned a source of heat, and Karla realized that the Refuse seemed to be drawn to warmth. Was it searching for warmth, or was it searching for something else? She thought back to the strange pattern of corpses she had found in the house. The strange pattern of corpses could indicate that the Refuse was drawn to the human soul¡­ Hear her out, It is possible that the Refuse was searching for a source of warmth, or perhaps a spiritual connection with the souls of the deceased. The corpses may have been arranged in a circle as a way of summoning the souls or as a form of reverence by the surviving villagers. Whatever the reason, it was possible that the Refuse was drawn to the human soul. Could it be that the Refuse was drawn to the human soul? She shuddered at the thought and clutched the flint tightly in her hand. Karla slowly limped her way back to her makeshift camp, her mind racing with possibilities. She could feel the pain in her leg intensifying with every step, and she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming. She knew she had to do something to stop the bleeding, or else she would bleed out before she could get help. She stumbled into the living room, her vision blurred from the pain, and threw her bag onto the floor. She frantically rummaged through her bag, looking for something to help her tend to her wound. Her hands were shaking as she pulled out her knife and a piece of cloth from her bag. She took a deep breath and steeled herself for the pain, then carefully cut the cloth into strips. She took one of the strips and wrapped it tightly around her leg, wincing as the cloth dug into her skin. She gritted her teeth and continued wrapping the cloth, her eyes glued to the floor. Once she had finished wrapping her leg, she took out her flint and placed it on the floor. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then struck the flint with her knife. Sparks flew from the flint, and Karla quickly grabbed the cloth and pressed it against the wound. She gasped as the cloth seared her skin and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. She could feel the heat radiating from the cloth, and she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming. She held the cloth against her leg, her whole body trembling with pain. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Tears streamed down her face as she endured the pain, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. She held the cloth against her leg for what felt like an eternity, until finally the pain began to subside. When Karla finally removed the cloth from her leg, she was relieved to see that the wound had stopped bleeding. She wrapped the remaining cloth strips around her leg, tying them tightly to form a makeshift bandage. Karla''s heart raced as she heard the loud footsteps of the Refuse echoing through the house. She had to find a way to escape, but her leg was in too much pain for her to move quickly. She glanced around the room, her mind racing with possibilities. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the fireplace. The fire was still burning and the heat was radiating from it. She realized that the Refuse had been drawn to the warmth of the fire earlier, and she hoped that it would be drawn to it again. Karla moved as quickly as she could, her leg aching with every step. She stumbled over to the fireplace, her eyes glued to the stairs. She could hear the heavy footsteps of the Refuse, steadily coming closer. She threw a few more logs into the fire, and the flames grew bigger, the heat radiating from them. She backed away, her heart pounding in her chest, and waited. Suddenly, the footsteps stopped and Karla heard a loud intake. She glanced up and saw the Refuse standing at the bottom of the stairs, its misshapen body trembling in the fire''s light. She watched as it slowly walked towards the fireplace, its long arms reaching out as if it was searching for something. It stopped in front of the fireplace and seemed to be mesmerized by the flames, its body trembling with pain and agony. Karla held her breath, not daring to make a sound. She watched as the Refuse slowly backed away, its head tilting to one side as if it was listening to something. It slowly moved away from the fireplace and made its way back up the stairs, its heavy footsteps echoing through the house. Karla watched in amazement as the Refuse slowly backed away from the fireplace, its head tilted to one side as if it was listening to something. She had assumed that the Refuse was drawn to the warmth of the fire, but now she wondered if there was more to it. Could it be that the Refuse was drawn to something else? Karla was filled with curiosity as she watched the Refuse slowly make its way back up the stairs. She had read about the Refuse, and she knew that they were said to possess powerful abilities. Could it be that the Refuse was listening for something supernatural? Could it be that the Refuse was able to detect the presence of otherworldly beings? Karla shivered as she thought of the possibilities. As the Refuse disappeared up the stairs, Karla was left wondering what it had heard. Was it the voice of the dead, calling out from the afterlife? Or was it the whispers of a mysterious being, hidden in the fog? Karla had no way of knowing, and she was filled with a sense of wonder as she contemplated the possibilities. Karla was filled with confusion and uncertainty. She had assumed that the Refuse was a mindless monster, but now she was beginning to suspect that there was more to it than met the eye. She decided to take a closer look at the creature and carefully crept up the stairs. She peered through the door and spotted the Refuse standing in the middle of the room, its misshapen body illuminated by the moonlight. Karla watched as the Refuse slowly moved around the room, its long arms reaching out as if it was searching for something. She noticed that it seemed to be drawn to certain objects, and she wondered what it was looking for. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she realized that the Refuse was drawn to the empty beds. Karla slowly stepped into the room, her heart pounding in her chest. The Refuse turned to face her, its pale skin illuminated by the moonlight. She could feel its gaze burning into her, and she had to fight the urge to turn and run. She took a deep breath and stepped closer, her mind racing with possibilities. She stopped a few feet away from the Refuse, and she was surprised to see that it seemed to be trembling in fear. She realized that the Refuse was not a mindless monster, but a frightened creature, and she felt a wave of compassion wash over her. Karla slowly reached out her hand and the Refuse flinched, its misshapen body trembling in fear. She took a deep breath and slowly moved her hand closer, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, the Refuse reached out its long arm and gently touched her hand, its cold skin sending a chill down her spine. Karla watched in amazement as the Refuse slowly stepped away, its misshapen body trembling in fear. Karla watched as the Refuse slowly reached out its long arm, its hand trembling as it hovered in front of her. She could feel its gaze burning into her, and she could almost sense the desperation in its eyes. She could feel her mind probed. Behind the static and agonies, she found something. Enduring the feeling of her head being clawed, she tried to read. The Refuse had a vague memory of a life he once lived ********************* he couldn''t be sure if it was real or ****************** just a ********* dream***?. All he could remember ************ was a murky feeling of loneliness and despair that he couldn''t shake. *************************** He felt like he was ********* something important ****** he could never quite put his finger on ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************. Was he missing someone? A place? He just couldn¡¯t ******. An empty room with a window, just a way more formal place than it should, who was it, on the other side, her face, her skin, her hair. Someone important, someone he shouldn¡¯t forget. Everything, she¡¯s everything to him. Why couldn¡¯t he? The pages of his torn journals, they described her, yet nothing appears, not even a strand of her voice, her feelings, her name? Who was she? Page 24, page 108, page 238, page 987, remember the day of her birth, don¡¯t him? The time he dunked her face on a mass of mosels? Who was she? Why is she so dear to ¡®him¡¯? Why couldn¡¯t the torn pages make him feel the same again? *** **** *** Suddenly, a blinding white light split the room. Karla screamed and shielded her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. When the light finally faded and Karla was able to look up, she was met with a horrific sight. The Refuse was split in two, its misshapen body lying lifeless on the floor. Karla was filled with horror and she stumbled backwards. Smoke filled the room from the broken wall. Karla stood in shock as she stared at the lifeless body of the Refuse. She couldn''t comprehend what had just happened. The smoke slowly began to dissipate and Karla was met with a horrific sight. Standing in the middle of the room was an undead knight, its armor rusting and covered in dust. Its face was hidden beneath a dark helmet, and its body seemed to be radiating a strange and eerie energy. Karla was filled with terror as she watched the knight, unable to move or speak. It slowly raised its arm and pointed its sword at her, and Karla could feel her heart racing in her chest. The knight slowly advanced towards her, its steps echoing through the room and its armor clanging against the floor. Karla was filled with fear and she could feel her body trembling. She was paralyzed with terror and could only watch as the knight slowly advanced towards her, its sword still pointed at her. The knight stopped just a few feet away from her and slowly lowered its sword, its head still hidden beneath its helmet. Karla could feel her heart pounding in her chest and she slowly backed away, her mind racing with possibilities. What did this creature want? What was it doing here? Was it here to take her life, or was it here to offer her something else? Karla had no way of knowing, all she knew is that Refuse is a vessel of memories. Chapter 3 - The Undead Knight Light filtered through the hole in the wall. A vertical hole, running from the floor, exposing wooden structure behind the piled up stone and mud, ran above, towards the ceiling, where it revealed rays of silver moonlight. Gleaming from it, is an undead knight. There is something sobering about being held on a knifepoint by a corpse. It felt as if waking up from a long sleep underneath a frozen tub. The Undead Knight strode towards Karla, filtering through dusts and sands that floated up the air. In a suspended animation, the dusts moved as the Undead Knight brushed against it. Then it fell down unto his shoulder as Karla slowly digested her situation. She gazed at the wall and the blade he held, then at the corpse at her feet. She would say her condolences has it not been for the fact that she¡¯s caught in it. The heavy footsteps of a walking corpse stopped shortly near her. She stared at the slit among its helmet, it was dark. Not even a glint of life is seen, does it even have a body? That shouldn¡¯t be a question however as the tear of armor along its body is many, and it revealed a dry wrinkled skin. A semi Refuse? Contrary to the peaceful (personal interpetation) behaviour of the Refuse, this semi Refuse seemed (considering the newly minted corpse at her feet) hostile. The blade caressed her cheeks and a streak of blood fell from a shallow slit. Then the Undead Knight realign his blade towards her neck. Karla¡¯s deep blue hair softly covered the blade. Her golden eyes stared in a fearful gaze at the slit of the helmet, looking for something. As if the knowing appearance of the Undead Knight would have an effect for her current situation. Karla¡¯s feet shook with undetermined terror, the pain prevented her to run in fear of reopening the would. She felt that her legs would give out, yet feared that if any of her movement was perceived as an act of rebellion she would be done. This being in front of her, emitted the strength of something alien, something that shouldn''t exist. Time stopped here, there is no telling of how much time has passed until she calmed down. The two stared at each other, Karla¡¯s breath slowed as the resulting smoke cleared. The moonlight no longer shines. ¡°U-um.. Where did you come¡­¡± Thinking that a simple death would be more eventful and preferable to this current state of quo. Of awkwardness, and of not-doing-anything-other-than-staring-at-each-other. Karla gambled her luck on a greeting. Such was the word she chose. Karla, noticing that the Undead Knight hadn¡¯t moved. Her mind cycled to the memories of her encounter with strangers. She try to find words that fit to the current situation, of meeting an undocumented creatures, that seemed to be hostile. She settled for a simple greeting in the Old Common Language. ¡°My name is¡­¡± She noticed the Undead did not move as much, it was as if the Undead was waiting for her to speak a word that would conclude whatever is the question floating inside its head. Depending on the answer it arrives at, Karla might survive. ¡°Um, It is hard to speak like this.¡± Karla gazed at the Undead Knight, her hand pressing against the cold metal plate ¡°I¡¯ll need to make room for myself. Sorry, okay? This is not a hostile action¡± Karla pushed the Undead Knight away, and it gave in fairly easily. Retracting his blade as if determining that Karla is no threat. Having finally a room to breathe, Karla let herself a loud intake. She closed her eyes and prepared herself to introduce herself. ¡°My name is Karla of Karenin¡­¡± Karla opened her eyes, and realised that the Undead Knight had walked away, and is now inspecting the room. The beating of her heart dulled her hearing so much so that she did not hear its heavy footsteps. Having been brushed away twice, the first being considered that she is harmless, and now it has considered her name unworthy to listen to. Somehow this way of being ignored put a strain on her mental state, having not met anyone to talk to. Maybe she has unconsciously considered The Undead Knight as a conversational partner having a long heart to heart stare during the beginning. Karla strode up to the Undead Knight, ignoring her broken leg, it seemed to have swollen up a little, and tapped it at its shoulder. The Undead Knight crouching to look underneath the bed, turned towards her. ¡°Listen to me,¡± Karla spoke, smiling. The Undead Knight stayed very still. ¡°My name is Karla of Karenin¡± she assumed a pose, hindered by her broken leg she winced and propped herself using the wall. ¡°The second daughter of Victor Karenin, third of five siblings.¡± She relied on her arms and hand to make theatrical movements as she introduced herself. ¡°I hail from Helios, a land once hovered under the oppressive rule of Abilene, now basking under the fire of thousands of battlefields.¡± She smiled as she recited the grand line she had prepared for the native ¡°Dear people of this land, I have been sent here by my grandfather to learn of the former Yuthresian kingdom. To widen my perspective of the world, and understand a completely different culture.¡± She stopped and gazed at the knight. It still seemed to be listening. Then she continued, wondering whether the creature even understood her words. Or even talked. ¡°Well, it seemed to be listening,¡± she whispered to herself. And continued ¡°I¡¯d like to ask many things. But first let me begin with a question of a normal kind. What is your name?¡± She asked. The Knight nodded and pointed at its own mouth and shook its head. ¡°Ah, can¡¯t speak, huh.¡± That limited her question to a few facets. Karla awkwardly looked around. Her eyes locked at the Refuse¡¯s corpse. ¡°Hey umm..¡± She began, ¡°Was it truly necessary?¡± she asked the Knight. ¡°They seemed pretty harmless.¡± The Knight stared at her, then gazed at her broken leg. ¡°No this was¡­ an indirect consequences of my own flaw¡± Then she thought back at the scene that flowed into her head. Was it the owner of this room? Or was the Refuse itself just something that retained the former self¡¯s essence. Trying to regain and claw its former life back? Then Karla gazed at the Refuse¡¯s corpse and her inaction ¡°Maybe this one is also consequence¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Karla then stared at the Undead Knight, now loitering around the room as if collecting something. Then it walked out towards the stair. Karla stared at the Knight as it left. An enigmatic creature, she thought, she had many to write. Many new entries to the history of Yuthresia. Her mind is tired from all the events that has happened. She¡¯s ready to sleep. Yet nothing could distract her further than the Undead Knight. It nudged at her. If only it could speak, what kind of words would it say. Karla is determined to find out more about it. So Karla pushed herself forward, leaning on the wall, dragged herself down the stairs. The Undead Knight sat beside her makeshift camp, gazing down every single item as if reading a wall of text, his hand made peculiar motions. Karla trudged forward, and arrived beside the undead knight. She sat, near it, and it turned to gaze at her before continuing his search. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Karla spoke, not expecting any reply. A sudden high-pitched voice pierced this ethereal atmosphere ¡°Finally found you!¡± a fairy flew from an open widow where layers of cloth flapped with the wind. The little being stopped beside the Undead Knight ¡°Goodness...¡± it breathed out with a small amount of relief. Then it went on a tirade ¡°When your corpse burns alight my heart dropped. No matter how many times I went through it, I couldn¡¯t help but feel panic. Could you be more considerate of the people you left?¡± Karla sat still, a little bit shocked at the sudden appearance. Fiery red hair gradually turns greed near the end, it flowed down her shoulder before abruptly stopping at her hips. The Fairy is the size of a pinky finger. There is something amiss with her statement. Burn alight? As thought about it, something seemed to click. The Fairy continued her lecture for a while before she noticed Karla. ¡°Oh, and who are you supposed to be?¡± Her finger pointed at Karla, and her face beet red as if she was caught doing something private. Karla stood at this, finally understanding the situation. She recalled her introduction toward the Undead Knight and the Fairy listens in deep thought. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s how it is outside.¡± She nodded ¡°My name is Gretchen, one of the youngest fairy on this island, I manifested shortly after the fog appeared so I don¡¯t know anything that could help you regarding the old culture of this land¡± Gretchen then shifted her view towards the Undead Knight and then turned back toward Karla ¡°This here is Dantes, I found him during one of my excursion towards the inner layer¡± She smiled proudly ¡°He was starving under the kingdom¡¯s dungeon. I don¡¯t know what he did before the fog happens that lend him credence to be imprisoned, but I was in a bind back then, I need something to prove to the elders that I am an able fairy and could be trusted with the explorer¡¯s badge¡± Gretchen then flew close towards Karla and show her left hand, there is a crest there. ¡°So I freed him and long story short, skipping how he rampaged and killed many fairies during my interview, he became mine¡± Karla smiled in response ¡°Ah so that¡¯s how it is!¡± She pumped her fist, excited after finally having a conversation partner ¡°I don¡¯t know how grave the death of many fairy is but considering how you speak so cheerfully, I could only congratulate you for receiving the explorer¡¯s badge!¡± Gretchen laughed merrily at this statement, her pose screaming ¡®praise me more!¡¯. Then Dantes swatted his hand making Gretchen yelp. ¡°What¡¯s that for!?¡± Gretchen flew behind Karla for protection ¡°Alright, fine! He didn¡¯t became mine, they just forced his responsibilities towards me and begrudgingly gave me this crest so that I could wander carefreely and before I realize it somehow always giving me dangerous task that somehow located far from the village!¡± Gretchen glared ¡°Happy now?¡± But before Gretchen could satisfy her anger, Dantes was already on his feet. Loitering around the room, as if he was looking for something. Karla then redirected her face toward Gretchen ¡°Is he always like this?¡± Gretchen then simmered down and replied Karla ¡°Ah that, Dantes has some, I guess you could call it, weird abilities that allowed him to assess the situation clearly. I don¡¯t know how it work, but this is what he always do upon seeing something new¡± Abruptly, Dantes stopped. Curiously Karla dragged herself toward him. Dantes is crouched down as he looked inside Karla¡¯s bag, there, in his hand is a picture of Karla¡¯s father. Karla stopped shortly near him ¡°Ah that¡­¡± Dantes then put the picture back and stood. Seemingly having enough look around, Gretchen then flew beside Dantes. ¡°What did you find?¡± she talked to him, then nodded. ¡°I see, she¡¯s harmless then.¡± Gretchen then calmed down, and flew toward Karla. ¡°Karla, was it?¡± Karla nodded ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here, I don¡¯t know what your grandfather told you about this island but there is nothing here. Once in a while there is someone like you¡± Gretchen then sat on Dantes¡¯s shoulder as he approached. ¡°Some got lost in the fog, but many died. There is no happy ending here, this land is marinated by fog, I was born in it, and many would be.¡± Dantes stopped near her, his figure intimidating, looking down at Karla ¡°This fog saps your soul until there is nothing left, there is no mystery here, just mindless ambitions. Even heroes who vanquished dragons and mighty beasts came here to squander their life. Ending an empty husk drained of dreams and romance¡± She smiled, her eyes far ¡°Parties disbanded, saintess buried underground, all for the promise of some hidden meaning.¡± They towered upon Karla, her face buried in shadow. She stayed very still, her hand calmly caressed her broken bones, then she pressed her finger against the open wound at her cheek. ¡°So what?¡± she spoke, her voice quiet and calm. ¡°I am not here for something like that. People lived here once, even in this house there are traces of dreams, the pictures on the wall, the grocery list, and even the unmade beds.¡± Karla smiled fearlessly ¡°So what if there is no some grand mystery? So what if there are no hidden meaning? Understanding the people who once lived, is enough for me.¡± She spoke completely sure of her words. ¡°Even if the culture here differed not much from us, that would be enough.¡± Gretchen then nodded ¡°So be it¡± Then she laughed ¡°It is fine then, if you tag along with us. This culture you seemed not that interested in would be uncovered pretty easily when we reached my village, the elders there knows a whole lot about this land. Especially Flore¡± then she tapped Dantes¡¯s helmet twice ¡°And it would be safer this way¡±. Dantes walked away towards the fireplace, Karla quietly watched. ¡°Let¡¯s just rest for tonight, we¡¯ll embark tomorrow morning.¡± Karla then relaxed her body that unconsciously tighten as Gretchen welcomed her. ¡°Thank you¡± she muttered ¡°Coincidentally¡± Karla spoke, slowly crawling towards the fireplace to speak with them both. ¡°How did you both communicate?¡± her eyes sparkled with questions. ¡°And where did he come from? I¡¯m pretty sure the village is empty before I set this camp.¡± Dantes stared at the fire, and Gretchen replied ¡°Well, once you get to know him, he is easy to understand.¡± Gretchen laughed ¡°And for the second question¡­ I guess that could wait until next morning? But eh, I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ve seen his¡­ I don¡¯t know, he called it ¡®sef¡¯ point¡± She scratched her hair and looked around the house, and then pointed at one of the open door at the back of the house ¡°It is in there¡± Then it clicked, ¡°Ah¡± Karla then realized that sometimes there is just something that she missed. A blind spot to her judgement. If she wasn¡¯t engrossed with the encyclopedia she found she might have realized it. ¡°The circular corpse¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡± Gretchen smiled. Then pointed at one of the corners of the room ¡°And that, is the refill. My Dantes is an immortal as long as there are corpses left, and in this land. There are many of them¡± Then Gretchen¡¯s smile took a little twisted turn as she narrowed her eyes at Karla ¡°And there is one in front of me¡±