Chapter 23 – Entering Uncharted Territory
After surveying the devastated village, Shawn was determined to give the fallen villagers the dignity of a proper burial. The sun hung low in the sky as he painstakingly gathered the bodies, arranging them with care. Even the soldiers who had attacked them weren’t spared from this act of respect. As Shawn laboured, Makara busied himself scavenging for supplies, with a particular focus on finding food and, of course, alcohol.
Hours passed, and the sombre task weighed heavily on Shawn, but he pressed on. Each grave he dug was a small act of defiance against the violence that had torn the village apart. As the final mounds of earth were patted down, Shawn knelt by the graves, offering a silent prayer for the dead.
Makara, watching from a distance with a mouthful of food and a swig of sake, raised an eyebrow at Shawn’s actions. Between bites, he called out, “Why go through the trouble of burying those who tried to kill you?” His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was a genuine curiosity behind the question.
Shawn, his hands dirty and his face etched with exhaustion, looked up from his work. “They were following orders,” he replied, his voice calm but firm. “I’m angry, yes, they tried to kill me, and they killed these villagers. I’m angry at them for that, but they’re still human beings. They died for someone else’s cause, and that doesn’t make them any less deserving of respect in death.”
Makara took a long swig from his sake gourd, nodding slowly. “A noble sentiment,” he muttered, more to himself than to Shawn, before taking another bite of the food he’d found.
With the burials complete, Shawn rested for a while, replenishing his strength with the food Makara had salvaged. Meanwhile, Makara, content and slightly drunk, dozed off against a tree. The weight of the day began to lift as Shawn allowed himself a moment of peace. When they both had recovered some of their strength, they set out once more toward their destination—to the Tri-Kings.
The path was winding, cutting through dense forests and over rolling hills. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, a stark contrast to the smoke and bloodshed they had left behind. The silence between them was comfortable, each lost in their own thoughts.
As they walked, Shawn’s mind replayed the events of the day—his newfound powers, the battle with the soldiers, the revelation of his destiny as the Guardian. Though he was young, an ancient weight now rested on his shoulders. He knew his journey had only just begun, and there was still so much he didn’t understand about the power he now wielded.
Makara, walking beside Shawn with his usual carefree stride, took another swig from his sake gourd. Heb remained relaxed, almost nonchalant, yet Shawn could sense the depth beneath his seemingly light-hearted exterior. Makara’s skill in battle was undeniable, and Shawn had begun to appreciate that his drunken humour might be masking a deeper wisdom.
After hours of walking in comfortable silence, Shawn broke the quiet. “I know we’re heading to meet the Tri-Kings, but do you know exactly where they are?” His tone was casual, yet there was an undercurrent of confusion.
Makara glanced at Shawn with a confident smirk. “Yeah, I know where they are. They should be gathered at the Land of Vishoth, ruled by King Vio. It’s just a day’s walk from the Plains of Rohena.”
Shawn furrowed his brow. “What do you mean by ‘should be gathered’?”
Makara’s smirk widened into a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry too much. Even if all three aren’t there, at least one of them will be. They’re all preparing for war, so they’ll be in or around the land of Vishoth.”
Shawn nodded, absorbing this information, but Makara wasn’t finished. “You know, Shawn,” he began, his voice taking on a more serious tone despite his relaxed posture, “the Tri-Kings might not roll out the welcome mat for us. They’re not exactly known for their hospitality, especially with everything going on.”
Shawn glanced over at him, curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”
Makara took another thoughtful swig from his gourd before answering. “Well, these kings aren’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type. They’re leaders of their domains, each with their own agendas. You might find them… sceptical of anyone who shows up when everyone is on edge due to war, and especially us since we’re from the Azurian Kingdom.”
Shawn considered Makara’s words. “So, you’re saying we need to be prepared for more than just a discussion?”
“Exactly,” Makara replied, his tone now serious. “Be ready for anything. They might see us as intruders or even as a threat, depending on how they view our involvement. Just keep your wits about you and be ready for anything.”
Shawn nodded, his resolve strengthening. “Understood. I’ll be prepared.”
Shawn nodded slowly, digesting Makara’s words. He had hoped the Tri-Kings would be natural allies in his quest to end the war, but it was becoming clear that the path ahead would be more complicated than he had anticipated.
Shawn’s expression hardened with resolve. “I’m not looking for their trust. I just want to stop this war.”
Makara chuckled, the sound low and knowing. “Good attitude, but remember, the world’s not as black and white as you might think. The Tri-Kings aren’t evil, but they’re far from saints. They’ve got their own kingdoms, their own people to protect. Right now, they’re desperate, and desperate men don’t make decisions out of kindness.”
Shawn didn’t respond immediately. He kept his gaze fixed on the path ahead, feeling the weight of his responsibility grow heavier with every step. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he murmured, almost to himself.
Makara glanced at him, his usual grin fading into a more serious expression. “And what if stopping the war means making some hard choices? Choices that could haunt you? Choices you’re not ready to make?”
Shawn hesitated, the question hanging between them like a dark cloud. He finally met Makara’s gaze, his eyes burning with determination. “I’ll do what needs to be done. I will make all the required choices, and for all the people who’ve suffered… I will stop this war by any means necessary.”
They continued walking in silence, the tension between them slowly giving way to a more comfortable rhythm. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the path, painting the horizon in hues of orange and gold as they approached the border between King Azure’s domain and King Vio’s territory.
After several more hours of walking, they crossed into King Vio’s region. The twilight was beginning to break, the sunset stretching across the plains of tall grass. The air was cooler here, tinged with the scent of dew and earth.
As they walked through the plains, Makara’s tone shifted to one of cautious calm. “Shawn, when we meet the Tri-Kings, or anyone else for that matter, you must hide the fact that you’re the Guardian or at least until I give you the signal to reveal it.”
Shawn frowned in confusion, ready to question Makara’s advice, but before he could speak, a subtle shift in the atmosphere caught his attention. He sensed they were being watched. His muscles tensed instinctively.
Makara, noticing the change in Shawn’s reaction, nodded slightly. “Yes, Shawn, we’re being watched. We’ve just entered their territory, after all. It won’t be long before we’re surrounded. Let me do the talking, and you just follow my lead.”
Shawn’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, his senses on high alert. But before his tension could fully take hold, Makara gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “Don’t look so tense. Just stay calm, and remember—things are rarely as simple as they seem.”
As Makara and Shawn continued through the plains of tall grasses, the tranquillity of the sunset was abruptly interrupted. An intimidating scene of soldiers emerged from the grass, surrounding them with a menacing array of sharp spears. The soldiers’ metal armour, tinged with a distinctive blue, gleamed ominously in the dying light. Their chest plates bore the insignia of King Vio, a symbol starkly different from the mark of King Azure.
Both Makara and Shawn exchanged a glance and raised their hands, a gesture of non-aggression and peace. But the soldiers remained unyielding, their expressions a mix of suspicion and readiness. The atmosphere crackled with tension as the soldiers’ stance indicated they had no intention of lowering their weapons.
From a distance, the sound of marching hooves echoed through the air, growing louder by the second. It was the rhythmic sound of marching horses. Three cavalrymen appeared on the horizon, the silhouettes of their steeds cutting through the golden twilight. The lead rider is followed by two fellow riders, with one holding a flag with the same insignia as the soldiers’ armour, signalled for the others to halt. They approached, their horses’ hooves pounding the earth with a resonant thud.
The lead rider, a commanding figure clad in ornate armour, his glaze sharp and unyielding, looked down at the two with a mix of curiosity and suspicion and questioned the assembled foot soldiers. “Who are these intruders?” he inquired, his voice carrying an authoritative edge.
One of the foot soldiers, his face stern and his posture rigid, responded, “Sir, they entered our territory from the direction of King Azure’s lands. We believe them to be spies or scouts.”
The lead rider’s eyes narrowed as he processed this information. “Arrest them,” he ordered, his tone brooking no argument. “Take them to the camp and inform General Mong. He’ll decide their fate.” With that, the leader turned his horse, leading the other two riders away to continue their patrol, leaving the foot soldiers to carry out the order.
Makara, who had been silent up until now, raised an eyebrow and let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, this is just great,” he muttered, loud enough for Shawn to hear but quiet enough to keep the soldiers from catching on. “A warm welcome, and I must say, they really know how to roll out the welcome wagon.”
Shawn, his face a mask of determination and frustration, cast a sideways glance at Makara. “You find this amusing?” and was beginning to understand that Makara’s humour was his way of handling tense situations. But the reality of the spears pointed at them kept his focus sharp.
Makara chuckled, his grin widening. “Not amusing, just amusingly unfortunate. I’m starting to think they’re a bit too enthusiastic about their job. But don’t worry. Our job just got easier.”
The soldiers stepped closer, ropes ready to bind their hands. Shawn kept his expression neutral, his mind racing for options, but he knew they were outnumbered.
“Relax, Shawn,” Makara continued, still whispering. “They are taking us to their leader and saving us the trouble of searching for them.”
Shawn shot him a sideways glance, half-amused, half-concerned. But something was reassuring about Makara’s carefree attitude, as if he had been through worse and come out the other side just fine. Shawn took a deep breath and decided to trust Makara’s lead—for now.
As the soldiers moved to disarm them, the initial tension seemed to ebb away. The soldiers shifted from their aggressive stances and began their search. Shawn, carrying nothing but his resolve, was quickly deemed harmless. Makara, however, had a few more items of interest—a sword, a sake gourd, and a scroll bearing a royal seal.
The soldiers carefully collected Makara’s possessions. When they reached the sake gourd, Makara’s usual nonchalance wavered slightly. “Hey now,” he protested half-heartedly, “that’s my treasure!”
The soldiers, unfazed by Makara’s protests, took the items and secured them. As they began to bind their hands, Makara’s jovial spirit persisted. He gave the nearest soldier a cheeky wink. “Hey, watch the ropes, will you? I’m not exactly built for rough handling.”
One of the soldiers, caught off guard by the remark, looked at Makara with a mix of confusion and irritation but remained focused on his task. The others, disciplined and stoic, showed no sign of amusement, their professionalism keeping them grounded.
Shawn, observing the process, kept his thoughts to himself. Despite the discomfort of their situation, Shawn’s mind raced with questions about General Mong and what awaited them.
As they were led away, Makara glanced at Shawn with a mischievous grin. “Well, Shawn,” he said, “looks like we’re in for the royal treatment. Just make sure to enjoy the ride!”
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