Ashes and Kingdoms

According to what the boy told me, the Legion soldiers did fight for me in the beginning.

Build a defensive fence, light the lights, and put up a sleepless turn.

But instead of paychecks, supplies lagged behind, Dark Beast attacks grew more intense, and the Legion soldiers finally made up their minds when a situation persisted in which not a single messenger sent for rescue to a nearby town. Retreat to Winnea, the fate of the citizens rests in their own hands.

About half the inhabitants left with them at that time. Except only those who can go about the forcible forces treading dozens of kilometres a day. The rest of us just had to wait for them to bring back reinforcements or some miracle would happen. Of course, some decided to protect those who could not go, and dared to stay, and those who fought the Dark Beast on behalf of the legion soldiers.

- But.

The subsequent evolution of the situation was easy to imagine for the Finns.

Defenders are dying, food is scarce, and people's spirits are eroded. In this town, which is smaller than Nanais, and where there are no more soldiers to keep order bent, the collapse would have been a paltry visit.

There was a dispute over food and supplies, and the weak were killed, or had to flee to the wilderness one or eight… At the end of the day, only the orphans, who could not go anywhere on their own, but were good at hiding themselves, remained.

"I see," Igross roared. "I was in the Nanais barracks, but I didn't get a single transmission from Tetna. I had no idea what the rest of the city was like. I'm sure..."

Your voice sinks, and beyond that you are drunk in silence. Finn and his family looked at each other and nodded at each other only with their eyes. Everybody got hit by that. To the beast that was ambushing me in the street.

"The Dark Beast isn't stupid either."

Finn snapped in a whisper. The enemy knows that the streets are the arteries of the Empire. Because I know it's a blood vessel that lets human society go through “nutrients” like information and supplies, oh well I was lurking in a place with nothing around me. The fins got away with that fang just because they were lucky even.

That means that the beast will also be waiting on the road to Winnea ahead. Besides, there's probably only one head. Because there must still be a lot of people coming for help on the road to the state capital.

As he deceived the dark air, Igross turned to the children and called them with a bright voice.

"By the way, is there a child named Farnein in this? She's my niece."

Zawa, and the children look at each other. Slightly and from the back, seven or the other girls came out naughty. Faces bordered by black hair are lean, blue-white, and deep green eyes are like abyss without light.

"Uncle......?

"Whoa, you've grown up. Hey!

Whitely cheerful, Igross lifts the girl. Farnayne was surprised and frightened.

"It was so tiny. Right, it's been four years. You don't remember me. It's Uncle Igross. I've played with him all the time."

It's my uncle, when. Finn and Nellis got all swept up. Igross glanced instantly, but there was no force or dust on the face of the blindfold. My brothers and sisters struggled to make me want to laugh extra. Look at the two faces that are tingly tight, and Farnayne can flatter her mouth.

"Oh, you laughed. All right, all right, that's cute."

Igros grins and strokes Farnayne's head. Finn and Nellis laughed uncomfortably, and Furnaine grinned shyly, too. A reluctant sneak laugh spreads among the children who were watching.

When the air of the venue soothed, the first boy to open the door, this one also spoke with slight signs of laughter.

"Uncles, we're staying here today. They can't even come in the temple."

"Thanks, kid"

In honor of Igross, the boy flaunted his shoulder with an adult trick.

"I'm Mac. It's really Maxentius, but I can't remember the little ones."

The tone belonged to the elderly, who recognize that children other than themselves should be protected. Igros lowered his niece and gave her a big, but serious look.

"Excuse me, I've got this, Commander, Lord Maxentius."

"It's extreme."

Mac laughed and looked around at Igross's people and said.

"As I said earlier, we don't have any extra food, so we can do something about it. While we have the day, we can still look for a store warehouse or something left over... but I guess I don't have that much anymore. You'd better not go to another room because we'll gather in this chapel at night to sleep. This is the only place to set fire."

"Roger," Finn nodded. "Do you have enough firewood?

"I was just collecting it. But you guys are here, surprise me. If it was, would you help me?

"Of course."

"I'll help you too!

Finn and Nellis answer instantly. Oandus and Fauna exchanged smiles.

"Let's make sure the temple is protected and do what we can to reinforce it. Be careful, both of you."

Yes, and responding well, the brothers and sisters, with Mac and several children, went out to town again. The children have a bright look, either from the peace of mind they haven't seen in a long time. Finn, who hadn't been around long enough to see the lazy children, also had his face down.

I wonder if I can burn this, I can't break it because it's a little big, it's heavy to carry - on such occasions, Finn's arm strength and sword helped. Finn and I are not a man in public yet, but still a fine adult compared to the kids. Finn was tickled that each and every one of his words and actions brought together a glittering mushroom.

But we can't forget the harsh reality. It's the role of adults. Finn whispered softly to Mac as he watched the children rush back to the temple with the loot in their hands.

"How much more food do we have?

"... I don't know," Mac sighed. "But if the same situation persisted as before, it would be long and for a month or so. I grow potatoes and beans in the temple's inner courtyard, but it doesn't work."

Mac bit his lip in regret. Due to the size and location of the town, some of the children may be from farmers, but they are still young. It's a big difference between helping as parents tell you and doing everything with your own hands. There will be plenty of sunlight in the temple's inner courtyard, and every night, the beasts will trample on it and raze it.

I can't stay like this forever. Finn was driven by the same impatience he felt in the barracks and faced a tough one.

(That's why you're taking all these kids?

Bring in a large number of children who can't help but flee the streets to make sure that the beast of darkness is waiting with its ominous jaws open - and I don't have to think about what happens as a result. We fall together, we run out of that word.

(Whatever it is, we need to get reinforcements back from Winnea. Not just these kids, to save everyone in Nanais)

But is it really possible to fulfill that? Finn looked up at the increasingly cedary sky, trembling in the shadow of sneaking despair.

Legion soldiers withdrawn from Tetna. If it was not a getaway or collapse but a retreat, they would have moved together and proceeded with a mutilation with a beast waiting on the street. It won't mean they haven't arrived in Winnea.

Still, no help has come to this town.

(Whether Winnea is in a different situation, or... unwilling to help)

Finn remembered a map that was affixed to the orphanage wall. The voice of the teacher who gave me an interesting class, pointing to it, resuscitates in the back of my brain.

- This neighborhood, where we were originally, was a barbarian land from Diatius, a native of the south of the Purma Mountains.

After the war in Tai Ancient times, Diatius had many ethnic states in turmoil, but this land, full of cool and wetlands, inhabited by many brunette barbarians, was not much more fascinating from a country blessed with warm and fertile plains. Only one thing, besides a few gold and iron mines.

Those mines are in the southerly part of the state. For our country, if we can hold it down, we don't have to take it back until we've sacrificed a lot, such as the north side, which produces only about wool.

We were abandoned.

Finn returned to the temple, delayed by dark thoughts.

Inside, Fauna had begun to support dinner, and the children had been sweet or spoiled by their first “mother” in a long time. Igros had his niece on her lap, surrounded by several children, and told her a funny story about it. Apparently, he used to be quite a reader.

When Finn noticed he was back, Igross interrupted the conversation and apologized to the disgruntled children before coming here. The expression is strangely refreshing, and it can be inferred that he decided something, or shaken it off untrained. Finn has a bad feeling about it. I felt that Masud's feelings when he saw his face in the barracks were now a little obvious.

Igross stared at him to explore his face, whether he could see the inside of such a fin - he told him quietly.

"I'll stay here."

Coming. Finn meditates his eyes and roars low. Enjoy and sigh in a stir to avoid spicy dialogues and roughing up your voice and popping out your fierce opposition.

While Finn couldn't say anything, Igross continued.

"I just wanted to make sure my relatives were safe. Farnayne was found dead, and I know your sister and her husband are dead... and most importantly, you can't just leave the kids here."

Finn swallowed it hard when the word came out to his throat that you had nothing left to do.

"Wait, please"

Somehow, that's all he says, Finn takes hold of his eyebrows and nags. Think, think. There has to be some other way, something...

"I'm sorry about you, but I don't want to go any further. There are dark beasts in the streets anyway. Just me and you won't let it get to you. Not to mention taking these kids to feed them."

That much said, Igros looked back behind him to see if the children had asked him. Then he dived further into his voice and whispered in a tone that could almost even be said to be gentle.

"Hey, you know you do, right? There's no way we can get to Winnea. I'm sure the captain didn't expect a letter or a rescue. I can't. I'm going to die. Right?"

――

Finn was stunned. You're telling Finn to stay, not just himself? Hide yourself in a temple in this small abandoned town, fish for only a few leftovers of food, roam the spreads and grass roots of teased beans and potatoes, and live like wild beans until someone helps you one day, huh?

Masud's voice echoed across the back of his brain.

I can only make him go “back to life” - the only one who can beat the temptation is the one who's still alive, kid.

At that time, I just thought it meant don't lose despair. But no, there were pitfalls like this. When I found refuge unreliably small, I stopped and rested there, but at the end of the day, there was a trap that I would not be able to leave again.

Finn stared seriously at Igross so much that the hole opened. But the opponent is neither frightened nor evil. When I'm right, I believe it's natural.

"... let me think"

With a faint voice, Finn walked to the firewood yard in a fluttering foothold. I was surprised that I didn't drop the chop of wood I took from town and hold it in my hand, and that I didn't beat down Igross with it.