《The Tale of Tim - Lia and Eszti's Journey》


 The Tale of Tim - Part 1

    Currency of the Governor:The settlement did not utilize currency; they obtained everything from the King or made it themselves. The entire world was ruled by the King, and it was separated into sectors, each of which had a Sector Governor. The neighboring sector''s governor instituted their own currency, which was exclusive to that sector.


    Torch-staff:A wooden-handled light source that emitted light like a torch. A luminous, round or teardrop-shaped crystal or glass, which emanated a greenish-yellow light from within, was seated atop the staff. The luminous material was non-flammable and never needed to be charged.


    Slate-book:A tablet-like gadget that made it possible to read books in bright light. It was extremely durable, being almost unbreakable, and it never required charging. It was also an excellent tool for playing music.


    Part 1


    It was a beautiful, sunny day in the final hour of the school week. Tim looked out the window, lost in concentration as the bright fall sunlight seeped through the leaves of the bushes.


    ¡°Tim, answer the question!¡± The voice of Master Ledren snapped.


    Master Ledren''s entire name was unknown to the locals. For nearly a decade, he had served as the settlement''s elected leader and head teacher, he became Master when Tim arrived in the village at the age of six.


    Tim looked startled at the large, gray-haired man.


    ¡°Yes, Master Ledren?¡±


    ¡°I asked what shooting stars are!¡±


    Tim gave a thoughtless response.


    ¡°Pebbles that fall from the sky.¡±


    Even Master Ledren smiled as laughter erupted, but the kids became silent as he held up his hand.


    ¡°That''s right, some are indeed just pieces of rock, but most shooting stars are no bigger than a grain of sand. They have several names...¡±


    Master Ledren was a good and entertaining teacher, but Tim was more enthralled with the lovely weather outside than the session that was being held within. Furthermore, Lia, a member of the graduating class, showed up in the courtyard of the living quarters. The girl had a slate-book in her hands as she walked slowly along the graveled path reading, her beautiful brown hair drifting softly in the wind.


    ¡°How beautiful!¡± Tim let out a half-aloud groan. Master Ledren appeared at his side and gazed out the window.


    ¡°I understand that you find that girl beautiful, but concentrate on the task I just assigned! Page ten, lesson three.¡±


    Everyone in the class laughed, and some even looked out and whistled. Master Ledren turned away from Tim at this point and moved in front of his pupils.


    ¡°What did I say about whistling at girls?¡±


    ¡°It''s improper and rude!¡± chanted the kids in unison.


    Aroon, who sat closest to Tim, nudged him with his pen.


    He murmured, ¡°Just don''t let Kosta find out!¡±


    ¡°Find out what?¡± Tim muttered.


    ¡°That you''re mooning over Lia!¡±


    ¡°I am not!¡±


    Tim instantly located the task in his slate-book. After a few minutes of completing the questionnaire, he surreptitiously peered out the window once more. Lia, however, had already vanished from the courtyard.


    As Tim walked out of the room at the end of class, his mind already racing toward Lia, the old teacher grabbed him by the elbow.


    ¡°Please stop, Tim.¡±


    Tim''s entire body tensed, and he stood anxiously in front of the senior teacher.


    ¡°Yes, Master?¡±


    ¡°Tim, I need more attention from you,¡± the teacher said. ¡°You have a good mind, you could really succeed! You''re good at crafts class, and you''ll do well in other subjects too if you focus on your studies,¡± he added, gesturing with a finger.


    Tim gave him a startled look. Master Ledren smiled.


    ¡°Go, find the girl! May I know her name?¡±


    ¡°Lia,¡± Tim replied with a flushed face.


    The old man gave a nod.


    ¡°Okay, locate Lia! She''s probably at the training area.¡±


    Tim whispered a vague ¡¯thank you¡¯ to the teacher before running away. He hurried to the courtyard behind the living quarters without even setting down his suitcase. He could see Lia from a distance, who was leaning on the railing and reading her book. The graduating guys were practicing on the field, wearing shorts and jerseys.


    Tim tried to relax himself by slowing down, but his heart was racing. What should he say to Lia? But he couldn''t think of anything because someone had grasped his shoulder.


    ¡°At last, Tim! You''ve gathered your courage and decided to join the team. A quick sprinter like you would be very helpful on the wings.¡± It was Kosta, the captain of the squad and Lia''s friend. Tim desired to go.


    ¡°Yes.¡± He heard himself say, ¡°Yes, I''ll join,¡± as though someone else was saying it.


    ¡°Great! Gentlemen! Tim is going to be our winger.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.The squad paused training, waved at Tim, and some came over. After putting her slate-book aside, Lia faced them. Kosta approached the girl and gave her a casual embrace, and even giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.


    ¡°Hi, sweetie!¡± he said as the girl drew back a little, but the burly boy wouldn''t let her go.


    ¡°Are you still upset? I apologized already, didn''t I?¡± Kosta inquired with a gentle and sympathetic voice.


    ¡°Go away from me! You had no right to touch me like that at the party, and an apology doesn''t fix everything,¡± Lia said grumpily, her voice trembling with anger. ¡°I told you I wasn''t ready, but you didn''t listen. I need time to think about whether I can trust you again.¡± Kosta released her, as pleading with a girl was starting to get embarrassing in front of the squad.


    ¡°Winger!¡± Kosta looked across at Tim. ¡°We''re going to train tomorrow after breakfast! We''ll be here waiting.¡±


    Tim managed to answer, ¡°Alright,¡± but his eyes were fixed on Lia, the girl, however, had already left them after spotting her girlfriend. Kosta''s face took on a look of disappointment before turning to face Tim.


    ¡°Then tomorrow!¡± He said, ¡°Don''t be late!¡± and started getting dressed. Kosta unpacked his backpack, pulled out his kit, and ripped his shirt off. As he put on the uniform, his broad shoulders and well-defined muscles moved with remarkable grace. Kosta joined the team, and they kept on training.


    Tim slowly slunk away. He looked about for Lia, but she didn''t show up until nightfall. Tim didn''t care about the team''s yelling or Kosta''s enormous leaps. His wanderings continued till dark, when the rumbling in his stomach told him it was time to eat, so he made his way to the dining hall.


    Lia was standing there in the light of the torch-staffs as yellow light streamed out from the dining hall door onto the courtyard. While her companion was describing something in great detail, Lia glanced around in desperation and cried out to Tim as soon as she saw him.


    ¡°Winger! Eszti, I was just mentioning him! He''s the newest member of the squad! What''s your name, anyway?¡±


    ¡°Tim,¡± said the boy, and his tan complexion was drenched in sweat.


    ¡°Remember well what I''m about to say, Tim,¡± the girl said, unexpectedly linking arms with him, as they left the startled companion behind and began to move toward the cooks.


    As soon as her buddy went away and searched for another victim, Lia stopped.


    Staring at the boy who was a few centimeters shorter than her, she exclaimed ¡°Finally, I got rid of her!¡± while tousling Tim''s thick, midnight-black hair.


    ¡°I appreciate it, Tim! Be cautious of Kosta; he can be a real jerk!¡±


    Tim stumbled over his words, having almost passed out when the girl linked arms with him, and became even more upset when she ruffled his hair. With ease, Lia turned her back on him, proceeded to the servers of supplies, and after placing her supper on a tray, sat down to eat by herself.


    ¡°Congratulations, I saw everything!¡± Tim heard Kosta''s voice behind him.


    The boy thought the floor would give way under him as he raised his fists defensively and spun around, but his hearing had misled him, for only Aroon stood behind him, grinning broadly.


    ¡°You have to tell me everything!¡± Aroon muttered. ¡°How did you manage that?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Tim gave him an incomprehensible look.


    ¡°This! You and your princess were strolling hand in hand.¡±


    Tim chuckled.


    ¡°She''s not my princess!¡±


    ¡°Then your Queen! I thought you were a loser, buddy! But you succeeded, and she noticed you! You are a King.¡±


    Tim listened to his friend with pleasure. When Aroon described how purple Kosta''s face would be if his lover dumped him, Tim straightened. They were just about to approach the supply servers when Master Ledren emerged in the dining hall. The hall became silent.


    ¡°Students, have a good appetite! Express gratitude!¡± the teacher instructed those within the area.


    ¡°We are grateful to the King and the Court for the school and the supplies! May they be blessed by heaven!¡± the students shouted together.


    Tim and Aroon also received their share, located a table and ate their dinner. After this, Tim returned to the counter and requested another full amount, but since it was night, he only got half of it the second time, though he was rather happy, being quite hungry after all the excitement he had been through. He accompanied Aroon to the living quarters. Tim listened to his friend in silence, hardly paying any attention.


    ¡°Did I tell you what I think will happen to Kosta?¡± Aroon inquired, and a suspiciously familiar voice replied.


    ¡°No! What will happen to Kosta?¡± came a voice as Kosta emerged from the opposite hallway.


    ¡°He''ll... win the championship!¡± Aroon quickly covered, bringing a chuckle from Kosta.


    ¡°You think so too, winger?¡± he asked, making Tim flush horribly and grip his shirt awkwardly. The squad captain placed his hand on Tim''s shoulder. ¡°Well? Is that what I''ll experience?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we''ll win!¡± Tim said, his voice sounding nearly squeaky like that of a tiny rodent, but Kosta only found this amusing.


    ¡°You''re correct! Tomorrow, I''ll see you at training,¡± he said before departing.


    The world whirled around Aroon and Tim as they rested on the wall. When Kosta''s footsteps faded in the corridor, the tension almost burst out: they laughed loudly and freely for minutes. Once they had calmed down, Aroon gave Tim a backslap.


    ¡°That was close!¡±


    After using the showers, they proceeded to the sleeping area. Everyone else was in bed: some were reading, others were listening to music, and fat Tolle was already sleeping soundly. Tim thought he had overindulged, as his gut ached a bit.


    ¡°Amazing dreams! Congratulations to the Queen!¡± Aroon exclaimed. As sleep crept over his eyes, Tim thought warmly about the girl.

 The Tale of Tim - Part 2

    Part 2


    By the time Tim woke up, the rays of first light had just begun to peek through the heavy draperies. There was a problem.


    The typical quiet of the living quarters was disrupted by the thundering of horse hooves and distant shouts. The kid felt his


    stomach churning and gingerly sat up in bed, his hair was tangled from the restless slumber.


    He mumbled to himself, "What''s going on here?" as he slipped from behind the blankets and made his way to the window.


    The sight before him took his breath away: two columns of armed horsemen were advancing on the main street of the


    settlement, which led to the living quarters. Tim felt his heart thumping in his throat. There had been no need for troopers in


    the community for a long time - violence was something that happened in old stories, not in their peaceful world under the


    King''s protection.


    "Awaken! Get up!" The corridor echoed with Aroon''s voice. "Soldiers have arrived in the village!"


    Chaos reigned in the following minutes. Tim was unable to reach the window and was unable to see anything as everyone


    hurried to the windows to see who had arrived at the living quarters. From the outside, a girl screamed: someone was crying


    and looking for her friend.


    "Cease! Silence yourself! Slow down!" Master Ledren''s voice cut through the noise as he walked toward the upper corridor.


    "Everyone stay in their rooms until we clarify the situation!" he instructed them before running down to the courtyard of the living


    quarters with five armed guards.


    The troopers dismounted from their horses and poured into the courtyard, numbering maybe twenty or thirty men in their unit.


    Master Ledren was preceded by their leader, a slightly thick man with a round, smooth face and a cunning look.


    "Master, good morning! This unit is under my command! Could we spend two days with you?"


    Master Ledren took a while to respond. There was silence, even among the birds.


    "Good morning. Yes, you may stay," said the senior instructor at last.


    "We''ll also require enough supplies for a week! We''ll use the governor''s funds to cover it."


    "That is not applicable here! The King gives us our drink and supplies! I can only supply your guys with enough nourishment for


    one day."


    One of the troopers, a tall man with a scarred face, went forward.


    "Old man, it wasn''t a request! Whether you like it or not, we''ll obtain the supplies we need!" he said, then turned to his companions


    and asked, "All right, boys?" His companions laughed.


    Tim observed from the second-floor window as the situation became more tense. The fat commander grinned pleasantly.


    "All right, this should be sufficient for today. To the dining hall, soldiers!" he called out to the group. The troopers marched into the


    hall with joy.


    It was breakfast time, eight o''clock. Before heading down for breakfast, Tim felt he needed to use the bathroom. He made his way


    to the door.


    "Where are you going?" He was called after by Aroon.


    Tim rushed to the restrooms where he immediately relieved himself and washed up, returning in a few minutes.


    The sleeping quarters was deserted.


    As Tim sprinted down from the floor and arrived at the courtyard, he noticed Lia frantically making her way to one of the dedicated


    classroom to hide inside, but a trooper guarding the horses noticed her and grabbed her arm firmly.


    As he ran his palm over Lia''s upper body, the man smiled and said, "Well, look what a beauty!" He drew the frightened girl close to


    him. Tim clinched his fists in rage and leaped from the third step of the stairs onto the trooper, forcing him to lose Lia and stagger


    back before attempting to draw his sword. Holding his hand, Tim gave him a headbutt to the stomach, but was struck by the trooper''s


    kick as he doubled over, landing hard with his knee bleeding and palms burning from the scrape, feeling the liquid trickle down his leg.


    The man turned to face Lia, who was frozen in terror. He pulled out his sword.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Come here, girl!" he yelled. Lia began to approach the man gently, her eyes watering. Tim was also afraid, but he slowly rose up, his


    entire body stiffened, hatred bubbling inside him. The trooper nervously held the blade towards the boy.


    "Don''t force me to use this, kid! Stop now, or I''ll chop off your leg and make you watch while your girlfriend enjoys a real man''s embrace!


    Recognize?"


    The trooper raised his sword as Tim approached him. Lia stared behind the trooper as she suddenly froze, fear showing on her face.


    "Come here, I said! Are you deaf?" the trooper roared, advancing on Lia. When Tim noticed that the sword was no longer aimed at him,


    he got ready to strike once more. But before he could take action, the tall man who had laughed at Master Ledren - the one with the scarred


    face - came into view. After tripping his buddy from behind, he kicked the falling man multiple times and then struck him in the face with his


    fist. After that, he gave Tim and Lia a ferocious glare.


    "You two, leave this place!" He yelled at them, "Now!" Tim grasped Lia''s hand and dragged her along with him. The scarred-faced trooper


    continued to kick his companion, and Tim could still hear him.


    "You can''t hurt my little sister, you worm!"


    Tim was perplexed. This scarred man appeared to have a moral code, despite his vile view on other issues.


    Reaching the first room on the ground floor of the sleeping quarters, Lia squeezed Tim''s hand as they walked in together. Everyone looked


    at them, with all of Tim''s group present - Aroon consoling the hungry Tolle who was gripping his stomach, the girls sobbing in the corner -


    while others moved away from the window, having witnessed all of the interactions between the troopers, Tim, and Lia.


    Lia addressed Tim.


    "Look, Tim! What happened out there..."


    "I couldn''t let him take you!" Tim''s head dropped. Aroon approached them and listened intently.


    Lia reached for Tim''s chin and as he gazed up at her, they stared into each other''s eyes before she leaned over to kiss him on the lips, the


    kiss tasting simultaneously sweet, hot, and salty from the tears still covering her face.


    After the kiss, Lia whispered a soft ''thank you'' before hurrying to the girls, who eagerly questioned her about the courtyard incident as she


    sat down with them. In the meantime Tim stood uncomfortably in the center receiving applause from the boys until Aroon stepped forward


    to give his friend a hug.


    "You truly are the king!" he said, and handed Tim a handkerchief to clean the blood from his hands and knees.


    A few minutes later, Master Ledren came in via the open door. The pupils sprang to their feet.


    "We can go eat breakfast!" Tolle yelled, but the instructor held out his hand.


    "Sadly, no. All of our supplies - both prepared meals and the raw ingredients - are currently being loaded by the governor''s men. The good


    news is that they won''t even be staying overnight; they''ll be departing shortly."


    Tolle was distraught, but the rest of the youth were relieved. After turning around, Master Ledren made his way to the entrance.


    "What should we do, Master?" Tim questioned, and the man replied in a low voice.


    "A guard will be stationed in front of the entrance. Stay in the room! Look after the girls!"


    He quickly departed after saying that, and Tim turned to face Lia, who smiled back at him. Tim''s worries were instantly allayed by this, and he


    proceeded to lock the door. The drapes were drawn by Aroon and another lad. They all took seats in small groups on the floor. Lia then took a


    seat by Tim, placing her head on his shoulder and giving the boy a hug. Aroon took up residence next Tim and Lia as well.


    "What do you think - will they leave?" Aroon asked Tim.


    Tim considered this before turning to Lia. "That scarred guy... did you hear what he said, Lia?" the girl shook her head, her dark eyes gleamed


    with fascinating beauty.


    "No, I didn''t hear, Tim," she said kindly, and Tim''s only desire was to kiss her crimson lips again.


    "He said: ''You can''t hurt my little sister, you worm!''"


    Aroon questioned, "Did he really say that? From up here we only saw that you knocked down the bastard with a champion jump, then


    headbutted him in the stomach, and you were about to charge at his sword."


    "Did I really do that?" Tim gazed with wonder at Aroon.


    "Yes, like a real bodyguard!" Lia purred, nestling closer to Tim. Aroon watched their happiness with envy.


    When Aroon eventually said, "A bodyguard who protects the Queen,"


    Lia boldly interrupted, "No, he''s a bodyguard who protects me," and Tim caressed the girl''s hair.


    "You are my Queen, Lia!"


    After blushing, the girl hurried to kiss Tim.

 The Tale of Tim - Part 3

    Part 3


    The day flew by. Everyone was hungry by nightfall, but luckily there was a water tap in the room, so they weren''t thirsty. The guard kept an eye


    on them when they left the room to make sure no trooper could see them, and they could also use the restrooms covertly. Tim was aware that


    there were many pupils hiding all over the structure, which had a large entryway that was guarded by four guards.


    All day, the troopers were at work. The bulky commander yelled orders as they continued to load the supplies from the storehouse onto a cart


    and horses in the courtyard. Tim also once heard the scarred one.


    In the afternoon, Lia dozed off. Tim held the girl''s little hand while he sat next to her the entire time.


    It got dark. Tim heard Master Ledren and the commander talking, but he was unable to understand a word they said. The troopers remained.


    Aroon compiled a list of people who would be on guard at night in case the troopers moved or started searching for them.


    Tolle shook the shoulder of a sleeping Tim well after midnight. "Awaken! There''s something going on outdoors!"


    Tim leaped to his feet as he heard a moan followed by the guard''s body hitting the floor outside. The door was smashed in half a second later,


    and six men rushed into the room, one wielding a bloody sword and the other five grasping clubs, among whom Tim recognized Lia''s abuser.


    When the students saw the armed men, they woke up and started screaming. Tim was filled with a mixture of fury and terror. What do these


    men want from them, after all?


    The towering, scarred-faced trooper, who must have had to be an officer, came in the door and yelled at his sword-wielding companion.


    "You fool, what did I say? Avoid killing the guard at all costs; it will just frighten the young soldiers."


    It all fit together in Tim''s mind: these men were recruiting as well as coming for supplies! The man with the injured face moved ahead of


    the pupils.


    "If you comply, nobody will suffer harm! The lads join us; the girls remain here!" He yelled, "Line up!" and everyone immediately stood up.


    Tolle shoved Tim, upsetting the order as the boys attempted to create two columns, and the troopers stepped in, beating Tim and a couple of


    other students in the back until everyone complied. They marched dutifully to the courtyard between intimidating walls of troopers on either


    side. Tim glanced at Lia before heading out; the girl was crying once again and frantically cleaning her tear-stained face.


    A horrifying scene greeted the students in the courtyard: in the dim light of the torch-staffs, in front of the dining hall, a group of men approached


    Master Ledren, who had his hands bound behind his back and his hair disordered. They roughed up and insulted him, while his four guards lay


    unconscious nearby.


    "What now, old man?" One of the troopers laughed.


    "Not so big-mouthed now, are you?" remarked another.


    The third shouted, "Class, attention!" and dragged the Master away.


    Though his strength had started to wane, the old man tried to fight. The troopers stopped abusing Master Ledren when the commander arrived.


    The commander shook his head but did not look at them critically; rather, he saw their behavior as a practical joke and even smiled slightly.


    He said, "Enough playing around, boys!" as though reprimanding kids. "We have more important things to do."


    Tim was stunned by the commander''s almost conspiratorial gaze at his troopers - though not appearing harsh, this individual''s lack of empathy


    for others'' pain made him perhaps an even more formidable foe.


    The commander turned to the students, forcing himself to be serious.


    He shouted, "Attention! Step forward if you''re over fourteen!"


    When Kosta took the lead, his teammates followed suit. Aroon grabbed Tim''s hand as he attempted to move ahead as well.


    He murmured, "Are you crazy?" and they both ducked behind Tolle''s wide back in terror. Although the troopers failed to see them, they approached


    and started picking people one by one from those who hadn''t come forward, focusing on the boys with more muscle.


    The briefing was continued by the commander.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site."War has erupted in the nearby area, as you are aware! We require soldiers! You will gain fame and fortune if you fight well."


    Tim''s mind was whirling. So it''s accurate! They need soldiers since there is a conflict. However, why should they be required to participate in the


    war? The settlement is not part of the Governor''s territory!


    Master Ledren yelled, "This village is under the King''s protection!"


    The commander became impatient at these words.


    "Hang the old man!" he exclaimed, as three of his men grabbed the frantically protesting teacher. A trooper brought out two chairs. The commander


    sat on one of them, while they intended to place Master Ledren on the other. There was panic among the pupils. The older boys were appalled as


    well, but they no longer dared to act. Like Tim, most people observed the sight in horror. Tim noticed Lia and the girls sobbing as they peeked out


    the window of their room; most of them had their eyes covered.


    At the attic door of the dining hall, a pulley mechanism with a rope fastened to its beam - normally used by the cooks to carry supplies up to the


    attic - caught the troopers'' attention. After wrapping the rope around the old teacher''s neck and fastening a noose at the end, they made him stand


    on his chair. Master Ledren stood still with resigned, closed eyes as one of the troopers kicked the chair out from underneath him.


    Several of the boys, particularly the younger ones, started crying when they heard a loud crack. Not daring to look at what had transpired, Tim also


    lifted his palm to his eyes in horror.


    The commander said, "Ah, leave it, he ruined the fun!" that he heard.


    As Tim turned to face the dining hall, he was shocked to see Master Ledren on the ground, sitting with the rope still around his neck and blood


    leaking from his temple, surrounded by fragments of the beam and broken pulley from where the old building''s structure had collapsed during their


    attempt to hang him.


    The commander got to his feet. Master Ledren was left half-conscious on the floor as his troopers carried him inside the dining hall.


    The commander turned to the chosen boys and said, "Enough of this! You''re coming with us; that''s my order!"


    Everyone fell silent. In the profound silence, Tim believed he could even hear the breathing of Master Ledren.


    At last, someone said, "We can''t go! This is our home!"


    The commander became so furious that his chubby head went red.


    He said, "What do you mean you can''t? Have you not noticed my immense power?" He gasped, "I can look after anyone if I want to! You can''t get


    away with this, can you?"


    Despite the commander''s complete breakdown, the scarred-faced officer maintained calm as he stepped forward and signaled to the other troopers.


    "You and you! Take these men to the horses, get them uniforms, and keep an eye on their progress! If you''re not changing, just sit on the ground and


    don''t move! Do I understand correctly?" he shouted.


    To Tim''s surprise, Kosta held out his hand, making the scarred guy scowl, "What do you want?"


    "I just want to announce that you have no chance against my twenty-three formation!"


    Tim glanced around hastily and realized Kosta and his teammates had indeed positioned themselves in the famous local formation. The pattern,


    where players linked up in a unique way to create an almost unbreakable human wall, had become legendary in school competitions. Teams found


    it nearly impossible to push through or outmaneuver players in this formation, and Tim noticed he was already in his assigned winger position - ready


    to sprint past any opponent who tried to break their line.


    Before he could consider this further, Kosta leaped with great force upon the scarred-faced officer, signaling the other boys to launch their pre-practiced


    attack patterns, and the athletic youths quickly overwhelmed the astonished troopers two by two. Tim recognized that the winger needed to get moving!


    "Guys, run!" When Tim yelled, everyone leaped to their feet and started racing in the direction of the front gate, or the village''s main thoroughfare. At first,


    Tim sprinted beside them, but he veered right and vanished into the dark before the exit.


    With his heart pounding frantically, Tim slipped up the rear steps of the living quarters. Happy that they had all made it to the street, he heard Kosta and


    his group rejoicing with war cries. Despite his fear and the tears that filled his eyes, he continued.


    The troopers in the courtyard were rising from the ground and starting to gather themselves while cursing, and he felt as though he was running out of


    time. He had no doubt that they would look for the other girls and young men. When Tim arrived in their chamber, he rushed in, prepared to die.

 The Tale of Tim - Part 4

    PART 4


    Silent and frightened in the corner, Lia and the girls swarmed around Tim as soon as they noticed him, with Lia quickly taking his hand.


    "Follow me!" Tim uttered, and as the little group ran back the way he had come, more girls emerged from their hiding places in different rooms, joining


    them at the sound of fighting from the courtyard.


    Several local women gathered to greet them when they arrived at the edge of the settlement, close to the forest. One girl broke down in tears.


    "What is it, Eszti?" Lia placed a hand on her friend''s shoulder and inquired.


    "Ana isn''t here!" Eszti cried bitterly. "Black, like me, but little shorter. I had believed she was with us..."


    Tim glanced exhaustedly at the crying girl.


    "I thought... I thought all along that she was with us!" When Eszti started crying, Tim turned to face the living quarters.


    He answered resolutely, "I''ll go back," and Lia rushed to him.


    She declared, "We''ll wait here!"... Taking Tim''s face in both hands, she gave him a deep kiss, making him reluctant to go.


    "This way, straight ahead, then left, there''s a hiding spot. One of the ladies remarked, "A cave, I''ll take you there, children," and the girls began


    to move. Tim started to sprint in the direction of the living quarters.


    Finding no one in the courtyard on his return, Tim hurried inside the building and discovered Ana asleep in the room he was checking for


    the second time, the young girl gazing up at him in panic as he shook her awake.


    "Don''t be scared; my name is Tim. Come, I''ll lead you to a secure location," he said softly and when Ana took his hand, they began to leave.


    The young girl could hardly keep up with Tim as he ran like the wind. Hearing shouts behind him as they neared the settlement''s edge, Tim


    knew their pursuers had spotted him, but he took comfort in knowing these woods and every trail and hiding spot.


    Reaching the spot where they had split from Lia, Tim paused to look at Ana.


    "We must separate. Proceed directly, then turn left; the others and a few adults will be there! Run!" he said, pointing the path in the early


    morning light. She started to run in the direction of the wooded areas.


    With the troopers rushing and shouting after him, Tim ran into the forest, finally shaking them off after an hour of sprinting, climbing, and hiding.


    After slipping back to the edge of the settlement, he headed toward the hiding spot, walking deep into the forest but unable to find where to


    turn left, so he continued forward before turning left along an empty path. He pressed on in silence through the peaceful morning with its rising


    sun, glistening dew on bush leaves, and chirping birds, not daring to call out with troopers still whooping in the forest.


    At last, he came to a clearing, fatigued and desperate, where, as if by fate, he found a bunch of strangers.


    "Hey, boy!" exclaimed one of them, a tall, red-haired man in his twenties. "What are you running from so much?"


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.As he told them what had transpired in the settlement, Tim was panting and fighting back tears. The males paid empathetic attention.


    The red-haired man turned to investigate. Tim remarked, "I''ve been looking for the villagers here for hours ¨C they have a hiding place."


    "Is there a hiding place in this forest?" Man asked Tim, surprised.


    "Yes, they all went there: Lia, the girls, the women from the village," Tim replied.


    "Gill," another stranger cut in, "I only know this hiding place." Now known as Gill, the red-haired man put a hand on Tim''s shoulder.


    "Don''t worry, you''re safe with us. We''re running from the military too, like you," he said softly.


    With all of his leg strength gone, Tim sat down. In addition to feeling secure, he was also concerned for the girls.


    He muttered, "I''m very tired. Help me find the others!"


    "Naturally, we''ll assist. Little warrior, you go to sleep now!" Gill gave a nod.


    One of the men pulled a blanket from his backpack, laying it out next to Tim, who fell asleep as soon as he lay down.


    After a silent pause, the men started talking openly, assuming Tim was asleep.


    One of them remarked, "Gill, we''re running low on the food we stole last week."


    "Time to raid again," another one added. "We can''t go to the boy''s home anymore because of the soldiers."


    Gill let out a deep sigh.


    "Boys, this is awful news." He turned to face Tim, who was listening with his eyes closed. "We''re few, and now we have him too: another


    hungry mouth."


    Tim glanced around discreetly as Gill turned away. The men claimed to be refugees, but they were too well-armed for simple fugitives.


    Furthermore, they weren''t desperate or frightened like real refugees; instead, they discussed their plans with the confidence of experienced


    outlaws.


    Tim felt his heart tighten as the realization hit him: these weren''t refugees at all, but bandits who preyed on nearby settlements. He had heard


    stories about such groups before - Master Ledren had warned them about bandits who took advantage of the chaos caused by the Governor''s


    soldiers, using the confusion to raid vulnerable villages.


    What could he do though? The troopers were waiting in his village, and he couldn''t return. The thought of being forced into the army, of having


    to fight in the Governor''s wars, terrified him more than anything. Even if these bandits were criminals, they at least didn''t want to enlist him.


    Perhaps they even had some code of honor - they did offer to help find the others, after all.


    Tim made the heartbreaking decision to remain with them for the time being. He would watch, and learn, and try to understand their ways. Maybe


    he could even find a way to prevent them from raiding his old settlement. And perhaps, just perhaps, he might discover information about where


    Lia and the others had fled.


    While he lay there, his mind tortured by concerns about Master Ledren''s fate and the others, he realized that his life had changed forever. He was


    no longer just a student - he had become something between a refugee and an outlaw himself. In the darkness of the forest, a tear rolled down his


    face. As he drifted off to sleep, Lia''s face appeared before him - she was smiling, her brown hair blowing in the wind.


    "My darling, find me! I will wait for you!"


    THE END?

 Lia and Esztis Journey - Part 1

    Lia - Part 1


    With a faint sigh, Lia awoke from her nightmare, her body covered with cold sweat. At her side, Eszti was calmly breathing. As Lia studied the short, slim


    girl''s body, she felt love fill her heart as her palm involuntarily caressed the other''s exposed shoulder.


    The memories of her time with Eszti made her blush, and she withdrew her hand. She began to cry, and her cheeks soon became drenched with large,


    heavy tears. As she normally would, she was wiping the tears from her eyes across her face; however, this brought back a painful memory of her last kiss


    with Tim.


    The sensation was excruciatingly terrible, and she broke down into tears as she sobbed uncontrollably, unable to escape the images that continued to


    spin in her mind. The sobbing stopped as Lia got back into bed. As she dove into the blissful slumber that some refer to as sleep, she held onto the one


    she hadn''t let go of just yet. In her slumber, Eszti beamed, reached out, and touched her hand; they lay side by side until daylight, never separating.


    "Hi!" she heard Eszti''s thin, sweet voice. Lia opened her eyes and looked up. The early lights illuminated the room, and as Eszti leaned closer to Lia, her


    beautiful ebony skin almost glowed in the morning rays, her red lips glinting.


    "Wake up, it''s morning already," Eszti whispered, her fingers gently touching Lia''s shoulder.


    "Just a little longer," Lia mumbled sleepily, closed her eyes, and reached for the blanket, but Eszti''s slender hand had already pulled it off her as she sat


    on the edge of the bed. Her dark, velvety skin created a beautiful contrast with the white sheet.


    "Mrs. Margaret is already in the kitchen; can you hear? We should assist her with something," Eszti stated, prompting Lia to open her eyes once more,


    and for a brief moment, she was filled with admiration for her friend. Eszti wore a simple canvas nightgown that reached her knees and featured a gaping


    hole at one shoulder. She sat barefoot on the edge of the bed, playfully swinging her legs like a little girl, her thin arms wrapped around herself against


    the cold as she waited for Lia to get up from bed.


    Lia could smell the sweat from her nightmare on her body. She sat up and quickly removed her nightgown. Eszti''s breath caught for a moment as she


    looked at Lia, then she blushed, shyly averting her gaze.


    Lia paid no attention to it, jumping out of bed. She was wearing only underwear.


    "Let''s go, Eszti!" she said firmly. From the chair beside the bed, she put on a clean linen shirt, meticulously buttoning it over her breasts, and then pulled


    a boy''s trousers onto her slender waist.


    "Alright!" Eszti nodded, shaking off her reverie. She ran to the other chair, undressed, and grabbed her own clothes, including a boy''s shirt, along with a


    thick canvas skirt that reached her knees.


    "Only a girl''s dress, this skirt, and your little shirt remained for Mrs. Margaret. It''s fortunate that she preserved her son''s childhood clothes... "


    "Don''t talk about that scoundrel!" Lia snapped angrily.


    Eszti flinched as she remembered everything that had happened last week. Mrs. Margaret''s son had just come home on leave from the city, and as soon


    as he saw her, he immediately started sweet-talking her. He kept saying they''d never had such a beautiful Black woman in the family, and even


    Mrs. Margaret approved of the idea. But the next evening, before dinner, the man cornered Eszti in the pantry and started embracing her, pressing her


    against the door. Eszti could still recall his desire-filled voice whispering in her ear, ''Either you''ll be my wife, or I''ll tell everyone you are thieves.'' Eszti


    shuddered; she could almost feel the man''s wet hands on her arms, brushing against her skirt. Fortunately, Mrs. Margaret saw them, gave her son a


    powerful slap, and immediately sent him back to the city.


    "Come on, Eszti!" Lia''s voice broke her out of the unpleasant memory. "Let''s make breakfast for ourselves and Mrs. Margaret, then help her in the garden!"


    Lia stepped out of the room''s door, instinctively looking around before moving forward, then headed toward the kitchen. Mrs. Margaret must have put the


    bread in the oven at dawn because she could smell the aroma of fresh bread. Lia retrieved cutlery from the drawer, while Eszti took out plates, and together


    they set the table.


    Mrs. Margaret entered and stopped in the kitchen doorway. She wore her graying hair in a bun, her wide hips straining against the apron of her long, dark


    blue skirt. Her round face, flushed from the stove''s heat by now, smiled as she watched the busy girls: Eszti was just slicing tomatoes, while Lia was


    dividing a small piece of dried meat into three equal parts. Despite her shame over her son, the woman''s heart warmed, grateful that she had taken in


    these two little refugees. These girls were strong, hardworking, and, most importantly, honest.


    "Good morning!" she finally said with a smile, causing both girls to look up. "I see breakfast is already being prepared.But first bring some more peppers


    from the garden, that''ll go well with thebread and meat."


    "I''ll go!" Eszti jumped up and ran to the garden. Lia stepped to the door, following her friend with her eyes, always watching over her. That''s when Lia


    noticed the three workers who were walking down the street toward the cornfields, curiously peering into the house.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.That''s when Lia noticed the three workers who were walking down the street toward the cornfields, curiously peering into the house.


    "Well, look at what beautiful flowers are blooming here!" one of them whistled when he saw Lia.


    "And look, there''s another one in the garden!" He gestured towards Eszti, who was bending down towards the pepper bush, while the men were leering


    at her swaying little skirt.


    "Hey, ladies, when will you have time for a dance?" the third one grinned.


    A dangerous light flashed in Lia''s eyes. With determined steps, she went to the street gate and yanked it open.


    "Here I am. Want something?" she asked icily. Mrs. Margaret was eager to speak, having followed the girl out, but she was no longer able to prevent Lia


    from continuing.


    The man in the middle stepped closer, looking the girl up and down.


    "Oho, I do like such fiery, brown-haired little girls! You''d make a lovely wife..." he said, grinning lustfully, even licking his swollen lips.


    Lia laughed quietly as she sized up the much older figure, then turned her head as if she had become embarrassed. Then she quickly spun around and


    punched her harasser in the nose with all her might. He grabbed his nose, blood immediately starting to flow, and he howled.


    "You fierce hellcat!" He shouted, but his companions were already backing away. "You''ll regret this!"


    "Get out of here!" Lia shouted after them, even taking a threatening step toward them. All three hurried off to their business, grumbling.


    Lia watched them go with clenched fists and was startled when Mrs. Margaret touched her back.


    "Come in, dear, let''s eat!" The woman embraced her, and Lia smiled and sighed, releasing the tension in her body.


    "Alright," she said. She followed the woman into the house, but before leaving, she glanced after the men. Eszti watched Lia with shock but adoration,


    still standing in the garden, though her hands were empty.


    "Come on, Eszti! Are you bringing those peppers?" Mrs. Margaret called to the girl, who quickly picked a few crispy-looking peppers and hurried back


    to the kitchen.


    They sat down at the table, and Mrs. Margaret looked up at the ceiling.


    "Let us give thanks to the King and the Court for the food! May the blessing of the Heavens be upon them!" She said, then quietly added:


    "In the Savior''s name, so be it."


    Lia grimaced; Eszti smiled as she stared at the deeply devout woman.


    "One day I''d like to see him!" Eszti whispered in her thin voice.


    "Who, my tiny one?" Mrs. Margaret asked with interest.


    "The Savior!" Eszti replied innocently, her eyes shining.


    "Enough of this!" Lia cut in sharply. "You''ll meet him when you die, and we don''t want that. Less talking, more eating!"


    Mrs. Margaret touched her forehead with two fingers and shook her head disapprovingly at Lia''s harsh words, but she remained silent. Eszti lowered


    her eyes and quietly started her breakfast. The kitchen fell into a tense silence, with only the soft clinking of cutlery on the plates audible.


    Following their delicious breakfast, the girls began their household chores. Lia immediately grabbed the spade and began working in the kitchen garden,


    while Eszti washed the breakfast dishes at the courtyard well. Lia''s sun-tanned, strong arms had grown accustomed to the ''man''s work'', as Mrs. Margaret


    called it - she chopped wood, pumped water with the wheel well, and hoed the garden as if she had done it all her life. Eszti sometimes secretly watched


    her friend while working, but now she focused on the dishwashing instead, quietly humming to herself.


    "In the afternoon, we''ll scrub the floor together," Lia called over to Eszti while wiping her forehead in the morning sun.


    "Of course!" Eszti giggled, the little tune still not leaving her head. She thought for a moment, then her face lit up.


    "Dandelions and butterflies! Remember, Lia?" She asked her friend and began singing the school melody loudly:


    "Dandelions drift in spring light,


    Butterflies take gentle flight,


    The wind brings melodies so sweet;


    As the flowers bloom, complete!"


    Lia smiled - she loved listening to Eszti''s sweet voice, but her eyes remained sad. The mention of school reminded her of Tim. Eszti continued humming


    the song while Lia began hoeing another flower bed.


    After lunch, Lia took Mrs. Margaret''s arm and led her to the garden where Eszti couldn''t hear them.


    "Mrs. Margaret, thank you for taking us in during the winter, but we must leave tomorrow," she said quietly and firmly. The woman looked at her worriedly,


    and Lia continued:


    "Many problems have occurred in the past few months. There was an incident involving your son and Eszti, followed by the current situation with these


    workers. We need to locate Tim, as I previously mentioned to you."


    "Yes, yes," the older woman nodded.


    "I need to find him. He... he saved my life at school when a soldier... came and..." Lia''s voice broke, but she collected herself. "I love him."


    Mrs. Margaret nodded silently, then took and squeezed Lia''s slightly rough hand from work. In the evening, when Lia informed Eszti about her decision in


    the kitchen, Mrs. Margaret silently observed their interaction. Eszti''s face darkened, but she didn''t object.


    The next morning, they packed their few belongings. At the farewell, Mrs. Margaret embraced them both, but Eszti couldn''t let her go. Small tears ran


    down her face as she clung to the woman''s neck.


    "Thank you... thank you..." she whispered again and again.


    Mrs. Margaret planted a small kiss on the Black girl''s forehead.


    "The Angels will watch over you, my little one!" she said. Eszti looked up.


    "Yes, I know. I learned about the Warrior Angels who protected the Savior. Lia is like them - she''s my protector," she said quietly, so her friend wouldn''t hear.


    Lia finally gently pulled Eszti from the woman''s arms, and they set off on the road. Mrs. Margaret stood at the gate for a long time until the two girls'' figures


    disappeared in the distance.

 Lia and Esztis Journey - Part 2

    PART 2


    One evening, after having been walking on the dusty road for several days, Lia and Eszti stopped at an inn that was located along the roadside. Eszti took out her carefully guarded map, which she had drawn before they reached Mrs. Margaret.


    "This is the path," she explained to Lia, pointing out the thin lines that marked the roads. The black, crossed-out dots on the drawing represented the villages where they had been searching for the boy. "We searched everywhere, but we couldn''t find him. Let''s go like this tomorrow!"


    The next morning, as they came out of the village, they spotted an old man in a grey coat limping at the crossroads, heading in the same direction as them. He had a strange stick ¨C a sheathed sword, used as a prop. Two young men approached him, laughing loudly.


    "Hey, old man!" shouted one. "What''s that in your hand? Wow, that''s a sword, hey!"


    "Take it; it looks like a long sword; it must be worth quite a lot!" said the other. "You''ll give it to us, won''t you, Grandpa?"


    Lia accelerated her pace, but the elderly man was still ten or more paces ahead, and the situation was rapidly deteriorating. One of the two ran up to the old man and tried to take his blade.


    What happened next was difficult for Lia to follow with her eyes. The elderly man moved with such dexterity that it appeared as though he had never been a limper. Suddenly, the sword swirled in the air, snapped, and one of the youngsters let out a roar. The second kid, trying to charge the old man, delivered another lightning-fast strike.


    "Help! Help me, brother!" cried the youngsters, and they started to run. The old man hit them a few more times with the end of the case, hitting them right on the back and head, scolding them in the process.


    "Bring your brothers; I''ll beat them too! Get out of here!"


    "Holy s**t!" Eszti whispered, her eyes wide open as she watched the scene. Lia ran to the old man, stopped in front of him, and pulled herself out in a soldierly manner.


    "Greetings, sir! May we join you, sir?" She asked respectfully and firmly.


    The old warrior looked her over without a word. His gaze settled for a moment on Lia''s strong arm, then he looked at Eszti, who was stumbling uncertainly behind her friend but watching him with interest. The old man smiled slowly.


    "All right, you can come," he said in a hoarse voice. "If you''re good, I might even teach you how to handle a sword."


    Eszti blinked in surprise, but Lia''s eyes lit up. The old man was already on his way, leaning on his sword sheath.


    "Come on, apprentice," he called back to them. "We have a long way to go before sunset."


    The two girls adjusted their small rucksacks and set off down the road with the old man. Lia spoke:


    "My name is Lia Bla..."


    "I know you have a name, apprentice. I also know you were looking for someone."


    Lia''s mouth fell open in amazement. Eszti hummed softly, wondering how heavy a sword was. The old sword seemed too big for her to lift. She sighed as the old man turned back.


    "You, apprentice! Stop humming! I have a short sword for you too."


    Now it was Eszti''s turn to wonder. The girls exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the elderly man, who was walking briskly and humming a war song in a low, hoarse voice.


    "The horns ring out with battle sound,


    While victory marches all around!


    Our swords flash bright beneath the sky,


    There, three snow peaks stand proud and high."


    Eszti looked stealthily at Lia ¨C she knew that her friend had recognized the reference to the royal symbol in the song. The old soldier casually walked ahead of them, leaning on his sword sheath, his posture even more upright than before.


    Lia whispered softly, almost to herself, "The three peaks..." The old man did not turn back, but he heard her.


    "That''s right, apprentice," he growled back. "And now be quiet! We''ll be taking a break soon, but I''ve already got a job for you!"


    When they arrived at a small sheltered resting place along the road, the sun was already high in the sky. Under a wooden shingle-roofed shelter stood a battered table and two chairs. The old man threw his small stuff on the table, and the girls followed suit.


    The soldier sat down and stretched his legs. Eszti spoke.


    "I''ll make some food!" With that, she grabbed her rucksack, opened it, and retrieved the bread and dried meat that Mrs. Margaret had meticulously wrapped. The old man smiled, as he had expected her to do. Unexpectedly, he reached into Eszti''s sack and pulled out a short, yellow stick-like object.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere."Wow, a small torch-staff! I''ve never seen this kind before!" He turned the object in his hand and switched it on and off. The tiny light source gave little light during the day, but that didn''t bother the old man. Eszti reached for the torch.


    "Give it back; it''s mine, mine! Mrs. Margaret gave it to me!" She cried, hissing, and tried to take the lantern from the old man.


    "Mine! Mine!" laughed the old man, and he amusedly imitated Eszti''s voice but would not give the object back to her. Lia looked annoyed at Eszti, who stopped her childish behavior and took another parcel out of the little bag.


    "That''s what holds everyone captive, possession," the elderly soldier noted, letting out a breath. "And some people think of people as property, don''t they, apprentice?"


    He glanced at Lia, who crouched down next to him.


    She began to say, "I don''t consider Tim to be my property," but the elderly man interrupted her.


    "Oh, so Tim is his name?" He nodded, but he continued to focus on Eszti and the food the Black girl had prepared for him. "All right, apprentice."


    "And you''d do anything to marry Tim, wouldn''t you?"


    Lia responded, "Yes, sir," and her heart started to race.


    "Good, good," the elderly man responded once more. He took a large portion of what Eszti had prepared for him: two slices of bread with meat and vegetables piled between them. He ate with immense pleasure, and his face was glowing. Eszti sat down next to him and started eating right away, gesturing for Lia to follow. She remained seated next to the elderly man and shook her head.


    The soldier gave her a downcast gaze.


    "Well, apprentice, you also eat! You won''t be able to practice if you''re hungry!" he added, staring at Eszti, who smiled back at him with a mouthful of food.


    Lia swiftly stood up, grabbed her portion, and quickly consumed it. With the blade inside, the soldier turned to Lia and picked up the long, bulky sheath he used as a staff.


    "Take the sword out of its sheath!" He extended the weapon''s hilt toward her.


    Lia took hold of the hilt and yanked forcefully. The elderly man stiffened his muscles and remained still. Lia could feel the old man''s feet digging into the earth as he locked the sword in place.


    Eszti nearly swallowed the bite as she coughed. For a second, the elderly man ignored Lia and turned to face Eszti. Then, Lia''s gaze landed on the strap that was attached to the side of the sheath. Once she had undone the knot, the blade emerged from its sheath with a loud clang.


    The elderly man nodded in acknowledgment.


    "You got it, apprentice!" As Lia examined the sword shimmering in the sunlight, he remarked, "It takes more than strength; it takes brains. Now take a close look! It''s not a toy. Avoid touching the edge!"


    Meanwhile, Eszti had finished her meal and was observing them both. Suddenly, the elderly man faced her.


    "Apprentice, stop staring." He yelled out, "Come here, I''ve got a sword for you too," and then he went to his backpack and pulled out a shorter blade. "This is just for you!"


    Lia took a couple of swings with the long, narrow-bladed sword before venturing out into the street.


    "I thought a sword would be heavier. It''s quite easy to swing," she said, turning to face the elderly soldier.


    The old man nodded and gestured to Eszti. "Yes, yes," he said. "Face each other!"


    Eszti grabbed her sword and followed the trail as well. After exchanging glares, Eszti brandished the short sword. The old man moved swiftly to separate them.


    "Halt, halt, apprentice! Not in that manner! Go cut some wood first."


    Eszti gave him a perplexed glance in return, but Lia nodded and moved toward the path''s shrubs. She began cutting branches with her sword. The elderly man yelled at her.


    "Apprentice! Not for firewood! Bring me a long stick and a short one, about the length of a sword."


    Lia knew what the elderly man desired. She handed him two sticks, carefully chopped to the appropriate size. The old soldier studied the cut marks closely.


    "Well, apprentice, not bad! Return my sword to me."


    Lia handed back the sword. The old man went to the bush, grabbed a branch, swung once, and cut it off. He gave the sword back to Lia, then showed her the three cut branches side by side. "See, apprentice? This is how to cut - look at mine!"


    Lia examined the cuts carefully. The old man''s cut was clean and straight, while hers had wood fibers sticking out irregularly at the end.


    During her examination of the tips of the branches, she uttered in a low whisper, "Incredible!" The elderly man merely grinned while Lia investigated it.


    He remarked, "By the way, do you have any lighter?" but the girls shook their heads. They had planned to stay at inns, so neither of them had given it any thought. The elderly man gave a headshake.


    "So, how exactly have you been looking for this, Tim? Simply aimlessly wandering?"


    "Well, something like that!" Eszti grinned. "But I drew a map!" she said with excitement. Setting her short sword aside, she hurried to her backpack and pulled out a sheet of paper. The old man grabbed it from her, caressing his beard with his left hand and smiling as he studied the badly hand-drawn map.


    At last, he said, "Didn''t you have a slate-book?"


    Lia simply shrugged, while Eszti shook her head.


    "We are left with nothing after leaving Smalltowers."


    The elderly man looked up.

 Lia and Esztis Journey - Part 3

    PART 3


    He asked angrily, ¡°Were you present when the Burn occurred?¡± Lia nodded.


    ¡°Indeed. We witnessed the removal of the inhabitants, and later, we witnessed the burning of  our school and the entire village.¡± She went on, her eyes full


    of sorrow. ¡°Tim was taking us out of  school when the Blueshirts attacked. Then, while he enticed the soldiers away from us, he  returned for Ana and brought


    her back to us. Tim had lost his way in the woods and was unable  to locate our hiding place.¡±


    Eszti stated, ¡°Tim went back for Ana, my little sister.¡±


    The old man''s fist beat the air in rage as his eyes brightened.


    ¡°The Governor''s Blueshirts! I''m not going to divulge that traitor''s name! What right do his  soldiers have to oppose the King?¡± He sounded a cry. As the two


    girls watched with sorrow, Lia  pondered how beneficial it would have been for their community at the time to have had at least one or two soldiers like this old


    veteran.


    ¡°They''re scoundrels, I tell you! If I were a soldier today, I would show them the power of the  King!¡± The elderly man went on.


    Lia ran her hand over the soldier''s gray clothing.


    She said, ¡°So, this coat is more than just an accessory. You were a royal soldier.¡±


    The old man smiled bitterly.


    ¡°I was, apprentice, I was. Commander Mattias, I am here to serve you! I served as long as I was  strong. I just roam aimlessly now.¡± His eyes darkened and his


    speech became distant.


    ¡°Governors like this existed long ago, during my lifetime!¡± He shook his head and declared, ¡°The  Black Tunics were our enemies. We faced them when we


    fought for Rock City. Like you, I was  strong and youthful at the time. The Black Tunics believed they could reach the city, but we were  familiar with the


    mountainous routes and managed to defeat them. Consequently, a  ravine ensnared five thousand of their soldiers.¡±


    Lia moved closer, her eyes sparkling. The old man noticed her interest.


    ¡°There were only five hundred of us, and we successfully blocked their path in the narrow  passage. Had these five thousand Black Tunics managed to reach


    Rock City, the outcome of the  battle for the city would have undoubtedly changed.¡±


    His words were more intense than before.


    ¡°Five hundred of us were present!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Apprentice, do you understand what that  means? For every one of my soldiers, there were ten Black


    murderers!¡± He spoke, straightened,  and reached for his sword, which Lia handed to him.


    ¡°They came at us like a dark tidal wave from the moment the sun rose, and the war began! I was  at the front, surrounded by the men of my century.¡±


    At this point, the old soldier assumed a combat stance, raised his sword, and pretended to grasp  a shield with his left hand.


    ¡°The first wave of murderers arrived! We sustained only a few scrapes when we cut them down!  Then more appeared, and we also chopped them down!


    Step back, slash, stab, raise your shield, and then do it again. The Black Tunics'' blood caused the sword''s hilt to slip, yet we were unable  to go because if


    we did, a city would fall! That day, we saved one hundred thousand innocent  lives!¡±


    The old man performed the moves with such vigor that his forehead started to sweat heavily. His  story completely enthralled the two girls, who watched him


    in silence.


    "Once again, stab, slash, and shield up. By late afternoon or nighttime, they faced defeat."


    Mattias lowered both his left hand and his sword. He was panting heavily when he finally sighed  deeply.


    ¡°The enemy corpses piled up around us like mountains, reducing our number to just a hundred.  Blood poured in torrents all around me, and the dying sun


    had never been so red.¡±


    The aged soldier leaned on his sword as a deathly silence descended. Lia produced a  handkerchief, which the man accepted and used to dab at his


    forehead.


    ¡°They said that perhaps if a hundred Black Tunic-wearers survived out of the five thousand,  whom the King then imprisoned for life,¡± he added at the end,


    looking off into the horizon once more.


    ¡°The historians did not document our fight in the gorge. The historical slate-books only recorded the King dismissively waving his warriors to defend Rock


    City against the numerically superior  Black Tunics,¡± he sighed.


    ¡°I discovered at that point that sometimes power isn''t the most important factor. You must be  shrewd, knowledgeable, and, most importantly, devoted until


    the end! Your dedication is more  valuable than any weapon.¡±


    At that moment, Mattias glanced at Eszti, who took the small sword and held it firmly.


    ¡°Because I see in you the same fire that burned in us back then, I pass on all I know to you. Since  he performed bravely, your friend Tim already understands


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.something, apprentice; I don''t think  he needs any instruction because he will know what is right. However, you''re girls.¡±


    ¡°Girls who don''t let themselves be pushed around!¡± Lia yelled.


    Eszti swung her small sword and nodded.


    ¡°That''s right, the next time the killers come, we''ll cut them all down!¡± Eszti spoke so  passionately in her tiny voice that the elderly guy grinned.


    ¡°Apprentice, you''re right! We must exterminate the rebel killers!¡±


    Everyone then spent a few minutes lost in their own thoughts. After Mattias had finally finished packing his baggage, the girls silently stowed their own items


    into their bags. Old Mattias kept a  close watch on the girls, who were cooperating well.


    ¡°I already know how you will fight against the enemy, apprentice!¡± At last, Mattias raised his  voice. Lia grabbed her long sword-sized stick and picked up her


    rucksack. Eszti tucked the stick  into the belt that held her skirt and placed the short blade the old man had given her in her  purse.


    ¡°How?¡± Lia inquired, glancing over at Eszti to check on her progress.


    "Exactly as you acted now, apprentice," Mattias responded. Mattias answered. ¡°Always watch  over your partner, know that they stand beside you safely, and


    then you can defeat anyone!¡±


    Lia gave a strong nod.


    ¡°Commander Mattias, we can get started!¡±


    ***


    Summer has arrived. The small team persistently searched for Tim; the two girls and the old  Mattias never gave up hope. The girls practiced every day


    following the soldier''s instructions,  and the clashing of wooden swords in their roadside campsites or the backyards of inns had  become a familiar sound by


    now.


    ¡°Stop! Your posture is bad, apprentice!¡± snapped the old man at Eszti during a morning practice.  ¡°Hold the sword as if your life relied on it! Your life will ultimately


    rely on it.¡±


    Eszti raised her short sword higher. The old man stepped closer.


    ¡°See?¡± He pointed to Lia''s staff, which size was equal to a long sword. ¡°Yours is this much  shorter, right?¡± He indicated the difference with his hand.


    ¡°I know, I know, a hundred times already...¡± sighed Eszti, but her friend''s glance cut her off. The  old man continued:


    ¡°Since your sword is shorter, you need to pay attention, apprentice, to always keep a proper  distance from the tip of the long sword! And if the sword comes,¡±


    he gestured to Lia, who was  about to strike, ¡°you step back like this, then step closer and thrust!¡±


    Eszti followed the old man''s steps, walking closely behind him as if they were performing a  strange dance. Mattias smiled contentedly in his beard.


    ¡°Did you hear what they were saying at the inn yesterday?¡± asked Mattias one day. They were in  the courtyard of a small inn, where the girls were practicing


    again as usual. "They captured three members of the Red gang."


    Lia lowered her stick. ¡°And?¡±


    "They claim that the Red has begun collaborating with new individuals. The old bandits, who  were all older, seasoned warriors, have now started raiding with


    three new youngsters.¡±


    ¡°Have they seen Tim too?¡± Lia interrupted.


    ¡°They saw the redhead and the new members during a basement break-in: a chubby kid, a  black-haired, bony guy, and a tall, olive-skinned guy!¡±


    ¡°It must be Tim; he''s tall and has olive skin!¡± Lia exclaimed, and for the first time in months, a  warmth of hope filled her heart.


    ¡°That''s right, apprentice, that''s right. But what would happen if he joined the Red Bandit?¡±


    ¡°That''s impossible!¡± Lia interjected again. ¡°Tim would never join a gang!¡±


    ¡°Unless it''s out of necessity,¡± Eszti spoke up quietly, having been listening to them in silence  until now.


    Mattias nodded.


    ¡°That''s right, apprentice, that''s right. Who knows what happened? He lost his way, had no place  to go, and the gang desperately needed a recruit.¡± The old


    man listed the possibilities, then  looked at the two girls who were hesitantly shifting from one foot to the other.


    ¡°Alright, enough talk! Continue the practice! If you want to find that boy, you need to be strong.¡±


    The wooden swords began clashing again, but now there was a new fire burning in both girls''  eyes.


    ***


    In the evening, Mattias went to his room early, saying he was tired. In the tavern''s common  room, Lia and Eszti were just having dinner when the innkeeper


    unexpectedly approached their  table.


    ¡°Your old master is asking you to go up to him,¡± he said to Lia.


    Lia furrowed her brow. This call was unusual, as Mattias never separated them.


    ¡°I''m going,¡± Lia said firmly as she stood up, but her stomach twisted into knots. Eszti looked  after her with concern.


    At the top of the stairs, Lia paused for a moment. The old soldier''s previous behavior and  integrity were on her mind. She pulled herself together and knocked


    on Mattias''s door.


    This will undoubtedly be a test; she thought to herself.

 Lia and Esztis Journey - Part 4

    PART 4


    A faint mumbling echoed from inside. Lia knocked again, but there was no response; only the incomprehensible mumbling continued. She cautiously


    opened the door.


    The old soldier lay on the bed, sweat glistening on his face. When he saw Lia, his eyes began to shine with a peculiar light.


    ¡°Mara... dear Mara, you''ve come back!¡± He whispered hoarsely, extending his trembling hand toward the girl.


    Lia took the old man''s hand, and he began to stroke it.


    ¡°Mara, my dear little wife, you are alive!¡±


    Lia''s throat tightened. He''s not himself, she thought; he thinks I''m his wife. I wonder what could have happened to his wife.


    ¡°Come here beside me, Mara,¡± the old man coughed. ¡°Stay with me for the night, like before...¡±


    ¡°Mattias...¡± Lia was about to start, but the old man interrupted.


    ¡°Wait! There''s something for you.¡± He struggled to sit up and searched his bag. ¡°Here it is. The best weapon I''ve ever acquired. It''s a wizard''s pistol.¡±


    Another cough shook him. ¡°If the Black Tunic ones come, you can protect yourself with this, you understand? Here''s how to unholster it and then aim!


    If you''re not using it, relock it.¡±


    Lia watched the strange weapon and the soldier''s explanation with interest and slowly sat down on the edge of the bed. The old man pressed the


    weapon into her hand, then lovingly gazed at the girl''s slender little fingers.


    ¡°You look as beautiful now as the day we met, Mara. Your skin is silky smooth. I am no longer worried about you. Having this will ensure your safety.¡±


    I can''t tell him the truth, thought Lia, and she squeezed the old man''s hand. For an hour, she sat there beside him, listening to the fevered stories he


    told about the old days, their life together with Mara, and only let go of his hand when the old man dozed off.


    ¡°Don''t go, Mara, my dear little wife! It''s wonderful to see you again...¡± whispered the old man, as a cough shook his body. Lia stood up, observing the


    soldier sympathetically as he slowly drifted off to sleep, his face now creased not from pain but from a joyful smile.


    Lia walked thoughtfully towards the room she shared with Eszti. Before sliding the peculiar weapon into her pocket, she carefully re-engaged the safety,


    just as Mattias had shown her. The girl had heard stories about the wizards'' fearsome weapons ¨C according to the rumors, they were capable of immense


    destruction, and in people''s imaginations, they lived on as large and extraordinary devices. That''s why she was surprised that this pistol was such a simple,


    lightweight little object.


    Still under the influence of what had happened, she walked into their room. Upon her arrival, Eszti sprung out of bed, dashed over to her, and embraced


    her tightly. In a panic, she asked, "Where have you been?" and began stroking Lia''s back.


    ¡°What did he want from you? Maybe he scolded you or...¡±


    ¡°Mattias is dying, Eszti. That''s why he called me,¡± Lia said, shaken, her words surprising even herself.


    ¡°And he just told you this?¡± The other one wondered.


    ¡°No, he didn''t tell me.¡± Lia took Eszti by the hand, and they went to the bed and sat down on the edge. Lia recounted everything that happened in the old


    man''s room, but she carefully omitted the part where she received the magic weapon. Eszti listened with her mouth agape.


    ¡°So, the Black Tunics killed Mara,¡± Eszti concluded at the end of the report, her eyes glistening with tears. ¡°Poor Mattias...¡±


    "Yes, I empathized with him, as you do; that is why I permitted him to touch my hand." Believe me, I didn''t feel like he was holding me ¡®that way.¡¯ I felt


    more like...¡±


    Lia''s voice choked. Eszti hugged her, fully empathizing with the other person''s emotions.


    ¡°I felt that if I had a man like Mattias in my life, I would hope that at the end of our journey, we would hold each other''s hands like this ¨C exactly like


    this,¡± Lia said, looking into Eszti''s eyes, who was already crying. The girl wiped her friend''s face.


    ¡°Don''t cry, my darling! I will always take care of our friendship!¡±


    Eszti smiled, then shivered with cold. Outside, the nights were getting cooler, the room had also cooled down a bit, and she was only wearing her little


    nightgown with holes at the shoulders.


    ¡°Well, it''s time to get into bed!¡± Lia spoke with a hint of cheerfulness, and Eszti quickly hid under the blanket. Lia went to the washroom, washed her face,


    undressed, washed her upper body a bit, and then put on her nightgown as well. By the time she reached the room, Eszti was already fast asleep.


    She carefully snuggled up next to the girl, embraced her as usual, and thus, in complete harmony, they fell asleep.


    The next day, the old soldier was already waiting impatiently for them in front of the inn.


    ¡°While the apprentice was sleeping, I already had breakfast, packed my bag, and have been waiting here for half an hour!¡± he grumbled. Lia curiously


    scrutinized the old man, but he showed no sign of remembering what had happened between the two of them in the room.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir!¡± replied Lia. Eszti was still munching on the last bite of breakfast as she sleepily descended the stairs.


    ¡°I managed to find out that there are a few villages just a few days'' journey to the north from here, and our friend might be in one of them!¡± Mattias continued,


    turning his back to them, stepping out of the yard, and heading down the road. The girls hurriedly followed. They left the village, and the brisk walk felt


    beneficial in the cool morning.


    ¡°It would be best to go by coach, don''t you think?¡± The old soldier, who was limping even more than usual that day, pondered this.


    ¡°As I already mentioned, sir, we wouldn''t want my father to find out...¡±


    The old man suddenly stopped, turned towards the two girls, and his face became serious. ¡°Off the road, apprentice!¡±


    Lia and Eszti saw nothing in the area, but they immediately obeyed the command and hid behind the bushes by the roadside. The road climbed up a


    small hill. A small one-horse cart appeared, with a young man and woman sitting inside and two smaller children huddled together in the back, shivering.


    The old soldier stared off into the distance, and it was then that Lia also heard a sound.


    Twelve blue-coated horsemen galloped after the cart; the foreign soldiers shouted for the cart to stop. During the chase, they didn''t even notice Matthias,


    who waited for the cart to pass by him, then jumped into the middle of the road and struck the first rider in the chest with the hilt of his sword, causing him


    to fall off his horse. The riders quickly stopped and surrounded him.


    ¡°Dirty rebel bandits! What are you doing in our country?¡± He yelled so loudly that the soldiers looked at each other in confusion.


    One of them, a short, gaunt-faced soldier, dismounted his horse and stepped in front of the old man.


    ¡°Man, we have come to restore order in this state, and we are not rebels; we represent order!¡± he said, emphasizing each word distinctly.


    ¡°We will catch the Red Bandit, who has been pillaging our area and is now heading towards village Bushy! But who are you to block our path?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I am Commander Mattias, a soldier of the King!¡± replied the old man proudly, and as he straightened up, it turned out he was taller than the other.


    The blue-uniformed soldier drew his sword and raised it to the old man''s neck. ¡°Do you know who you''re talking to, man? We are Lord Kevin''s soldiers;


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.the King does not command us! If I wanted to, I could cut off your head right here and now!¡± He hissed, a twisted smile on his face. Mattias also


    started grinning.


    ¡°It would be better if you went back to your damned lord!¡± he said.


    The man in blue shirt angrily pressed the blade against the old man''s neck.


    ¡°Don''t you understand, man, that I can kill you here and now?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, rebel!¡± replied Mattias.


    The soldier in blue raised his sword, but as he was about to strike, the old man swiftly grabbed his scabbard, parried the blow, and then struck him hard


    on the head.


    The soldier collapsed, and his comrades, shouting, charged at Mattias. It seemed that the old man was at a disadvantage against ten horsemen, but


    the girls only saw that no matter how hard the Blueshirts tried to hit the old man while sitting on their horses, he dodged the horses and swords, drew


    his own sword, and struck at his attackers with either the sword or the sword''s scabbard.


    Among the Blueshirts, four or five fell off their horses; one clutched his stomach after a stab, another grabbed his throat, and blood gushed from the cut.


    Eszti covered her eyes in horror, having never witnessed the slaying of people with swords. The horses'' neighing, the clanging of weapons, and the


    groans of the wounded completely paralyzed her; with her small hands, she could only cling to the branches of the bush.


    However, Lia''s rage grew stronger and stronger as she watched the conflict. She drew the short sword from Eszti''s belt, rushed out of the bush, and


    charged at the nearest horseman with a loud shout. Eszti''s heart nearly leaped out of her chest as she reached for Lia. She wanted to shout,


    ¡®Don''t go,¡¯ but no sound came out of her throat. With trembling knees, she watched as her friend''s blade glinted in the morning light. Lia fiercely


    slashed at the Blueshirt''s hand and leg, causing him to fall, crying out, onto his horse''s neck. The horse then galloped away with him.


    ¡°That was a nice hit, Corporal Radik!¡± shouted Mattias, and Lia watched in horror as the old man''s steps were no longer steady, his strikes not as


    precise. She surmised that he might be experiencing another intense dream.


    ¡°Watch out, Commander Mattias! Sir!¡± She yelled and attempted to strike another rider, but her sword veered off course and struck the horse''s


    hindquarters instead, causing the animal to neigh and fling its rider off. By this time, most of the riders were either dead or had fallen off their horses,


    lying unconscious or injured on the road. However, four of them managed to pull themselves together. Despite their injuries, they continued to fight


    and made their way toward Mattias.


    The old soldier straightened up, gripping his bloody sword tightly. ¡°In the name of the King! Forward, soldiers!¡± he shouted towards Lia, raised his sword,


    parried the first blow, and countered. After that, he stabbed the second man, then used the sword''s scabbard to strike the third man in the head. Lia struck


    the fourth Blueshirt''s back with her sword, and blood splattered into her eyes. The man dropped his weapon with a scream and fell face-first onto the road.


    ¡°Well done, corporal!¡± smiled the old soldier, looking around. The Blueshirts lay around them, dead or moaning in pain, while the soldiers'' horses wandered


    aimlessly along the roadside. ¡°Just like at Rock City, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Lia spoke, feeling her hand begin to tremble, so she tightly gripped the hilt of her sword.


    Mattias let out a deep sigh. ¡°These ones won''t harm our people anymore!¡± he said, wiping his bloody sword with a rag he pulled from his pocket.


    Lia sheathed the short sword into her belt and then took a rope from one of the horses. She quickly began examining the soldiers lying on the ground.


    She took the weapons from the soldiers she found alive and tied their hands. She reached the third person, the unconscious, wizened-faced, short, bluish


    man whom old Mattias had knocked down at the very beginning. Lia reached for the man''s hand to bind him, but he suddenly lunged at the girl''s eyes and


    jumped up. Lia gasped, touched her eye, and fell backward.


    The Blueshirt screamed, "Death to the King!" as he grabbed a sword from the road and slashed at Mattias, utterly surprising him. The man in blue initially


    struck the old man''s shoulder, and then, in a subsequent move, stabbed him in the chest. The King''s soldier slowly collapsed.


    ¡°This is what happens to those who defy the Lord!¡± He shouted, then pulled his bloody sword from the old man''s body and turned towards Lia. To his


    greatest surprise, he saw the strange object in the girl''s hand, and in fright, he dropped his sword.


    ¡°Good heavens! Is that a magic device?¡± he shouted, looking around desperately. Lia unholstered the pistol and took aim at him. The gaunt-faced man


    screamed and began to flee.


    He shouted, "Wizard!" as he ran, but the thunderous sound of the gun firing drowned out his voice. The man in the blue shirt fell forward, his body


    thudding loudly on the road.


    Lia could still barely see, her ears ringing from the gunshot. She hurriedly put away the pistol, then jumped up and ran to old Mattias. Eszti also emerged


    from the bushes. Her legs were still trembling, and tears were streaming down her face. She rushed over to the old soldier and knelt beside Lia.


    Although she saw that Lia had used the strange weapon, she didn''t ask anything.


    Lia did not cry. She tore a piece from the old man''s shirt and pressed it against the bleeding wound.


    ¡°Eszti! Run to the village for the doctor!¡± She cried desperately.


    They could hear hooves and wheels. That little cart stopped next to them, the one Mattias heroically saved from the attack of the Blueshirts.


    The man sitting on the box spoke to them.


    ¡°Girls! What happened to the fighter? Was he injured? We would like to thank him for what he did for us!¡±


    Eszti ran up to them. ¡°Please, take me back to the village! We need to get a doctor!¡± Without hesitation, the family picked her up and immediately left.


    ¡°Mara...¡± whispered the old soldier, and with his trembling hand, he gently stroked Lia''s face. ¡°Don''t cry, my dear! I knew you would come back...¡±


    ¡°Mattias, please, hold on!¡± Lia''s voice choked. ¡°The doctor will be here soon.¡±


    The old man''s gaze was hazy as he looked at Lia''s face. ¡°Do you remember when we first met? At the market square... you looked lovely in your red dress...¡±


    Lia attempted to smile as the elderly hand caressed her face, and then she took it and kissed it.


    The old man smiled, then unexpectedly continued in a sharp tone:


    ¡°Apprentice!¡± he spoke clearly, and his gaze also cleared. ¡°I know that you are not Mara. You can''t be her... Mara didn''t come back. Death is unreturnable."


    Lia nodded but did not let go of the old man''s hand.


    ¡°Go to Bushy! There... go there.¡± A cough shook Mattias''s body. ¡°Do you understand, apprentice? Our friend will be there; he will be there.¡±


    The rumbling of the cart aroused Lia. Eszti and the doctor quickly returned. The middle-aged, overweight doctor leaped from the coach, surveyed the scene


    with horror, and rushed to Lia and the injured Mattias. Lia stepped aside as the doctor hastily attempted to treat the old man''s wounds. However, Mattias


    suddenly yelled out, his body tightened, and he collapsed back, lifeless.

 Lia and Esztis Journey - Part 5

    PART 5


    The doctor looked at the old soldier with pity.


    "Who was this fighter?" he asked while putting away his scissors and the bandaging cloth.


    "Commander Mattias," Lia replied softly. "He fought in the Battle of Rock City."


    The doctor stared at him with an expression of disbelief. ¡°That is impossible. Eighty years have passed since the Battle of Rock City.


    This man was¡­ more than a century old¡­ if this is true.¡±


    He shook his head, shocked, and rapidly searched the battlefield. "I''ll summon individuals from the village to assist with the burial process.


    They''ll also assist in cleaning up after the burial," he said, pointing to the Blueshirts.


    However, Lia and Eszti were unable to communicate. At last, Lia managed to gather herself.


    "Alright, thank you."


    The doctor got into the carriage and went back to the village.


    The two girls silently looked at the old soldier''s face, which now seemed peaceful and young.


    "Do you think he will meet his wife now that he has ascended to the Savior and God?" Eszti asked softly.


    Lia embraced her friend.


    "I don''t know. But I hope they meet." She replied.


    "I hope so too," whispered Eszti, feeling the tears choking her again. They knelt beside the old man''s motionless body for a long time.


    The sun was already high in the sky by the time the villagers arrived, including several volunteer guards who were armed. Among the guards


    were many young men and women who had never seen so many corpses in one place. The terrible, bloody sight visibly affected them.


    An older guard approached Lia, who stood up from beside the old man at his arrival.


    "The doctor told me what happened here. Did you fight too?" He asked. There was respect in his voice.


    "I did, but Commander Mattias handled most of the Blueshirts," Lia softly answered. "He faced twelve men all by himself."


    The guard raised an eyebrow. "Who knows what would have happened if the Lord''s dozen Blueshirts men had made it to our village?"


    He pondered the girl''s words, briefly glancing at the elderly man.


    After a brief pause, he continued, "The leader has entrusted us with taking the captain to our cemetery so that you can bid him a proper farewell


    there. The leader himself will attend the funeral tomorrow. If you would like, you can also give a speech at the farewell."


    "Thank you, sir," Lia sighed.


    The guard continued, "We will take care of the other corpses as well, and we will throw the surviving soldiers into prison," before turning to


    his companions.


    "Lift the old warrior and take him to the cemetery!" The guards laid the old soldier in a coffin. Lia took the longsword, put it back in its scabbard,


    then placed it on the old man''s chest and set his lifeless hands on the hilt of the sword.


    "That way it looks like he''s still holding the sword," whispered Eszti. The village volunteers lifted the coffin onto their shoulders and set off toward


    the nearby cemetery. On the way, Lia pondered how well she really knew the old man and what kind of speech she could give about him after


    barely a few months of acquaintance. After the guards placed the coffin in the small building in front of the cemetery, the girls stayed with the old


    man for a little while longer.


    They went back to the inn where they started in the morning. There were more villagers than usual present, and when the two girls entered,


    everyone fell silent.


    The innkeeper''s voice broke the silence. "Would you like to get the same room?" he asked them.


    Lia nodded with a pained expression.


    The innkeeper looked around. "I believe I speak on behalf of everyone: thank you for protecting the village," he said solemnly, and the villagers


    murmured in agreement. "When you came here, you only gave your name; you didn''t mention what a strong warrior you are. May we know the


    name of the heroic soldier?"


    "His name was Mattias. Commander Mattias, the King''s loyal soldier." Lia replied sadly.


    The innkeeper''s eyes sparkled. "Commander Mattias, the King''s soldier!" he shouted. "Let us give thanks to the King and the Court for Mattias!


    May the blessings of heaven be upon them!"


    The villagers all loudly gave thanks to the hero, and Lia and Eszti, with heavy hearts but joy, accepted the people''s gratitude.


    The next day, Lia went down to the tavern''s drinking area early in the morning. As soon as she reached the bottom, she almost collided with the


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.innkeeper, who was holding two clean, simple white garments in his arms, each with a black stripe running down the side. Lia had never seen


    such beautiful funeral clothes before, even though the fabric of the dress was merely cheap, painted canvas.


    "I brought these for you, Lia!" said the innkeeper kindly. "Our leader sent these to you as a token of gratitude. The village tailor, I hope, got the


    size right based on my description."


    "This... is very beautiful!" the girl exclaimed in amazement as she took the clothes. "Mattias will have a worthy funeral if we accompany him on


    his final journey in this outfit!"


    With sadness in their hearts but heads held high, the two girls went to the afternoon funeral. The entire village came, and the village leader


    welcomed them. The elderly, graying-haired man nodded at them.


    "Greetings to you, Lia and Eszti! I am the village prefect, Art Doli." He spoke, then motioned for the girls to stand beside him. The man then


    turned toward the villagers.


    "Dear Lia and Eszti, my dear friends!" he began. "Today we bury a true hero, who defended the King''s people even on the last day of his life.


    Commander Mattias and these two brave girls saved our village from Kevin''s Blueshirt henchmen, who would have brought destruction and


    suffering upon us. We owe them our gratitude."


    After that, he turned to Lia. "Would you like to say goodbye to him?"


    Lia stepped forward, her voice trembling but clear:


    "We stand here in deep sorrow by the catafalque of Commander Mattias," she began, then paused for a moment. "Although his death is painful,


    it could not defeat him. Eighty years ago, at the Battle of Rock City, he and his five hundred men stopped five thousand Black Tunics to save a


    whole city. Today, he stood alone before ten Blueshirts to save a family.¡±


    ¡°Nothing had changed; the same loyalty and courage lived within him. He once told me that it''s not strength that matters, but loyalty. He remained


    faithful to his oath, the King, and the people until his death. And although the historical records may not yet have recorded his name, we, who


    stand here, will never forget Commander Mattias, the King''s most loyal soldier.¡±


    Lia''s voice broke at the end of her speech. Eszti watched her friend with tearful eyes, who now seemed so strong and dignified in her white dress.


    She had never seen her like this before¡ªthe kind, cheerful Lia spoke like a true warrior who had fought alongside her leader and now had to say


    goodbye to him. Eszti tightened her grip on the short sword at her side, given to her by the old man, and thought that Mattias would be proud of


    them. Lia, already as courageous as he was, and possibly even herself, who is gradually surmounting her fears, deserves praise.


    The villagers stood silently around them as the rising wind swept through the cemetery. Four gravediggers appeared, dressed in their best clothes,


    took the coffin on their shoulders, and carried it to the nearby grave pit. The prefect and the girls led the villagers, who silently waited for the


    gravediggers to lower the coffin into the pit. The workers worked quickly, filling the grave in minutes, and then placed the funeral flowers from the


    girls and the villagers on the grave.


    Finally, they placed a headstone with the following words on the grave:


    Here lies COMMANDER MATTIAS.


    Died a heroic death


    defending Blackridge


    The leader was the first to approach Lia and Eszti. "Please accept my sincere condolences," he said, and then the villagers began to express


    their sympathies.


    Confused shouting suddenly interrupted the quiet farewell. A guard appeared at the cemetery entrance, waving excitedly at them.


    The volunteers accompanying the prefect led the guard straight to Art Doli.


    "Sir!" the guard gasped. "There''s a problem!"


    "What happened?" asked the old man.


    "As we were escorting the prisoners to the jail, a horseman in a blue shirt charged at us. With his sword, he tried to free his companions!"


    Lia was stunned. She remembered the rider she had first injured, who had galloped away on his wild horse.


    The guard continued: "By the time we came to our senses, one of the prisoners was already hoisted behind him in the saddle, and they


    galloped off!"


    Lia stepped forward. "Who did they take?" she asked with sparkling eyes.


    "He had an unattractive face. When we found him, we initially believed he was dead due to a large burn on his shoulder, but as soon as we


    moved him, he suddenly came back to life..."


    Lia and Eszti exchanged glances. The Black girl squeezed her friend''s hand, signaling to Lia that she wouldn''t mention the magic weapon.


    "We need to head to the village Bushy immediately," Lia said firmly. "The Blueshirts were also heading there when we ambushed them.


    And there is our friend, whom we were looking for with Commander Mattias."


    The prefect turned to Lia. "Wait! I''ll give you a one-horse-drawn carriage. It''s yours; it''s the least we can do for you and Commander Mattias."


    "Thank you," Lia nodded. She cast one last glance at the old soldier''s grave, and then she and Eszti followed the volunteer, who had given


    the officer instructions regarding the cart.


    The girls quickly packed up at the inn and boarded the carriage that was standing in front of the building.


    Before start, they glanced at each other: they knew they were about to embark on a dangerous voyage, but they knew they could do anything together!


    END OF THESE TALES


    STORY OF TIM, LIA AND ESZTI WILL FINISH IN MY NOVEL: IT COMING SOON IN 2025