Kavren: So what do you think?
Kavren thought of my childhood as he looked at the boy he had cornered in the alley. He looked at him too. His face searching for answers. He seemed to hold on even tighter to the bag he had stolen from Kavren. He fought with himself for a while with the realization that the bag he had hoped to find food in would be a waste of his hopes. When he realized it was a futile effort, he gave it back without saying anything.
Elyon: I ask you something?
Kavren: Of course you can ask.
Elyon: No one would chase a kid this hard for an old bag. What's in that bag?
Kavren: It's an old book.
Elyon: A book...what is that? Is it something valuable?
This child was the progeny of a futile effort against the extinction of humanity in the midst of the apocalypse. It was normal that he didn't know about the book when it was such a rare thing, he thought.
Kavren: Think of it as papers with important information on them.
Elyon: Important information? What kind of information?
Kavren: The director believes there can be a knowledge for "hope".
He understood. For this child hope meant food.
Elyon: ? Information about food?
His eyes were shining. His hand went for the bag again, but he quickly gave up. I took his grasping hand to his messy brown hair, dirty with dust and sand, and cleaned it.
Kavren: I hope so, son. I hope so.
He stood up from the cul-de-sac and looked down at the brat with a wise look.
Grasp: Be careful, be strong.
Then he walked away without looking back. Until today he had never cared about anyone, including himself. But he could feel that boy stirring something inside him. She saw her past in his eyes and she was afraid that he saw his future in hers. Fear. It was a precious moment for a man who struggled to feel emotions. He stopped. He turned around.
Your grip: What's name?
Elyon: Elyon.
Kavren: Kavren is mine too.
He walked away and kept walking through the streets. From the alleyways came the smell of fresh corpses, and that was not the worst of it. Some had human teeth marks on them. The famine had reached such a point that even the dead were seen by others as hopeless.
was seen as a disgusting tool for the continuity of the future. If the creatures won't finish us, he thought, we will finish ourselves. It was like walking through hell. In such an environment, death was not something Kavren could avoid.
A life to grovel. Death followed by possible cannibalistic end. Sooner or later he came to a fork in the road. Either he would go to the administrator's house, or he would go the other way and wait for his long overdue end on the usual hilltop.
He was indescribably tired, but something inside him would not let him kneel down and wait for the end. He felt that something was blocking his steps. He waited like that for a while. When he turned towards the setting sun, he saw how it painted the sky red. "It was a unique sky that could give even me a taste of peace," he thought. At that moment you felt a fire flare up inside you. "One last time," he said, "for years he protected this place from those flying demons. "I deserve a slightly harsher end," he said. Then he thought of those eyes. Those eyes looking at him. The boy's eyes were engraved in his head and staring right through his lies. He was incapable of speaking them, but he took that step anyway. He headed towards the manager's house.
By the time he reached his door, the sun had already set. He knocked calmly. When he opened the door, he realized that the despondent mood he had seen her in the morning had increased exponentially.
Manager: It is late.
Kavren: I had a little misfortune.
His eyes swept over Kavren and then he nodded his head sideways as if inviting him in. They went in together.
Manager: So do you have anything to say?
Kavren: I came to talk to you about your plan.
His desperate expression had disappeared for a moment.
Manager: Are you serious?
Kavren: Yes, I'm serious.
Manager: So what changed your mind.
Obviously he was asking himself that. It was tempting to tell the obvious lie he had invented himself. He preferred to keep the half-vague truth to himself.
Kavren: It hasn't changed yet. I just came to listen
Manager: I see, you have always been the best fighter here, that's why I wanted you to lead the caravan.
He went to his desk excitedly. He took a map from the shelf and laid it on the table. Kavren also went to the table to look at the map.
Admin: Now, everything is very detailed in the book. I have read it many times and I was able to draw this map as a result of detailed work. I really have to give credit to your father, he wrote everything down to the finest detail.
Kavren: Okay, whats on your mind?
Admin: In the book, there is a place called the last hopemankind with a heavenly fertile land.
Kavren: And where is that?
Administrator: In the far north, between the mountains.
Kavren: So you expect me to go all the way to the other side of the realm, get food and seeds and come back?
Administrator: Look, though a lot of people have died because of the famine, there is still a large population and very, very few of them know how to fight. We can't go anywhere else but here. We need food, seeds and water to survive the famine. This is the only hope we have.
Kavren: And there's mention of human settlements elsewhere? It's closer and easier to get to.
Admin: Again, there are small groups of people scattered in the desert and in the land, but this book was written many years ago. Even if they are alive, their situation is not different from ours.
Kavren: We can cross the apocalypse and come back with nothing.
Admin: In the book it says that the mountains protect the area like a wall. If someone is still alive, they might be there.
I couldn't hide my anger any longer. I rose in a stern manner.
Kavren: this is a very big gamble.
Manager: Doing nothing is a definite end, on the other hand there is a chance of winning the gamble.
He took a deep breath
Kavren: Look, this is our last resort, ? We don't have any other option.
He took a deep breath to calm himself and looked at the map again. This trip was suicide.
Kavren: And who will be in the caravan?
Manager: A few warriors like you and, if you succeed, a team with a few carts to carry the cargo. In total you will be close to 20 people.
Kavren: This number does not increase our chances.
Manager: But it gives us a chance. You are my best fighter. If there is a chance, you provide it.
He didn't know why he was so insistent. He had already decided to leave, but he was in such a hopeless situation that he wanted to know which branch he was clinging to.
Grasp: All right. I'm going to do this.
Manager: Great. I'll assemble the caravan tomorrow. Be here early in the morning. We'll go over the plan one more time.
Kavren nodded in agreement, then reached into his bag, pulled out the book and handed it to her.
Manager: No, you don't need to give it to me. You are the one who will lead the caravan. That book belongs to you. It has always belonged to you.
He in bed, waiting for sleep to overtake his body. But there was something disturbing his soul. That book. He couldn't stand it and got out of bed. On the first page of the book, only "TENEBRIS" was written. He opened a random page from the beginning.
He was talking about his experiences in the desert. At first he skimmed ithe started reading the parts that caught my eye;
"DAY 10
I'm at the beginning of my journey and I'm still trying to cross the desert. The conditions are already very difficult. I don't know if I'll be able to complete this journey. I don't know if I'll see the end. My primary goal is to cross the desert. I will head north along the way. Before the fall, some of the caravans will travel to the mountains in the north.
I need to know if there are any survivors. The sands of the desert seem to hide the fires of hell beneath them. Even though I had packed provisions for the journey, I had to rely on a bit of luck. I had already used up a lot of water and it was getting harder and harder to find shelter. Along the way, I felt the sand moving under my feet, not like an earthquake or a strong wind moving the sand. In fact, it was as if the ground was not moving, but something huge was moving under the ground. Frankly, I didn't even want to think about that possibility.
Could there have been a creature down there carrying the desert on its back?
DAY 15
I can't sleep. I can't sleep because of the earth movements. I think I'm getting paranoid already. It can't be a living thing. I hope it's an earthquake. In the mornings I walk north without rest. Sometimes I walking in the evenings. I rarely rest. It is not easy to find a decent spring or a safe resting place in the desert. To be honest, it was always easier to give up hope, even if it was early, than not to give up hope. I haven't seen anything yet, just me and the sand.
DAY 18
I SAW IT. I SAW IT. My fears were right. Beneath all these hellish sands lives a giant creature. A gigantic snake. The biggest creature I've ever seen in my life. It had a very sturdy shell and a mouth full of saw-like teeth. It's a miracle I survived. Especially the fact that I was saved by other people really feels like a blessing. It seems that after the fall people are scattered not only in two locations but all over the world. This gave me the idea that there might still be human life in other parts of Thalmyrendell. But the possibility of people in the northern mountains
it still sounds higher. I had never heard of any group fleeing to the deserts when I lived in the palace. People might have scattered to other regions as fugitives or in small groups, but I knew that a mass journey was made to the northern mountains. It is still my primary goal to get there. Anyway.
These people called the creature "Ako" and as they told us, the chord was not a single creature. Although they lost many people trying to find the creature's weakness, their efforts paid off and they quickly adapted to the desert environment and the chords
they've learned to protect themselves at least long enough to have time to escape. That's how they saved me. One of the chords shook like an earthquake and opened its huge mouth through the sand.
rose. Even if I ran desperately, I had no chance of survival if these desert people had not found me. The wide mouth of the chord was both a weapon and a vulnerable moment for him.
and it was creating. I learned that although the outer shell was very hard, the inside was not so durable and the chord was extremely sensitive to fire. They attacked the inside of its mouth with flaming arrows, repelled the chord and saved me. I expressed my gratitude and they accepted me. I told them my story and they told me theirs. They really became a very strong warrior community. They were all very skilled and generous. They said they would help me cross the desert. I was touched and cried.
They use camels to travel and constantly on the move in the desert. Although they did not have a map of the desert, they had memorized the stars and fixed landforms very well. This way, none of them could get lost. They knew the oases the desert, the places where they could find food and drink, and that is how they survived.
Sometimes they hunted various creatures , if they were lucky, a baby chord. Since the hatchlings had not developed their outer shells, they could hunt and their large size provided them with plenty of food. The smallest baby chord I saw during my journey with them was even taller than two adult humans. It's really incredible. Honestly, when I was very close to losing hope, all this has been source of strength, curiosity and fear for me. I hope he can make this journey."
I closed the book and put it back on the shelf. I lay quietly on my bed. "What am I getting myself into?"
At first light, he arrived at the door of the administrator's house. With a sword on his back and a book in his bag. Just as he had said, there were 3 carriages and about 20 people, but only 4 of them had come forward and were talking specifically to the manager. The others were preparing the carts and supplies. The 4 people and the manager were gathered around a table and seemed to be arguing. He reached them.
Manager: Ohthere you are. Let me introduce you to your traveling companions.
One of them was particularly large. He had an extremely strong body and he was holding his sledgehammer in one hand. He had short black hair, almost bald, and black eyes. The exposed parts of his body seemed to be full of wounds. But especially his eye
The scar from an accident that had passed over him and almost blinded him was far more conspicuous than the others. He spoke to Kavren with the utmost calm and politeness, despite his pine-like appearance;
Torm: Hi, I'm Torm. Nice to meet you, you're the one the manager was talking about. You're going to lead the caravan, right?
Kavren: Yes, to meet you too.
Administrator: Let me introduce the others. Ralthir, Zarveth and Tarveth.
Then he showed them Kavren.
Admin: This is Kavren and as Torm saidhe will lead you.
Zarveth and Tarveth were twins. They were relatively thin and Zaveth's hair was long and red, while Tarveth's hair was a little shorter and brown. Zarveth carried a double dagger at his waist. Tarveth a bow and arrow.
Ralthir had a very good physique. He had short blond hair. He carried a single sword, just like me, but he was wearing old battle armor. He was not eager to talk much and directed my attention straight to the papers on the table.
There was the map the manager had shown him the previous evening and some other papers. Some locations were marked on the map and a route was drawn. A line going straight north.
Director: All right, guys. attention to the map once again. You will move directly to the north. You have to cross a desert and a huge forest before you reach the northern mountains. All the information is already in the book in Kavren. Giant snakes named Ako are waiting for you in the desert.
Kavren: Flaming arrows into their mouths. I read the book.
Manager: Very true. If you are lucky you can find help.
Ralthir: What do you mean by help?
Administrator: I think there is a small possibility that there are still people out there.
Amid the puzzled looks of the others, Kavren remained calm and asked a question;
Kavren: And then what? What happens when we cross the desert?
Manager: So you didn't read those parts. There is nothing to read though. The scribe mentions that he entered a forest. But he didn't write anything more. According to his writings, he spent almost a month there.
Kavren: What, a month?
He now the bewildered looks of the others.
Manager: Yes, and he didn't write a word for this period of time. There are only notes about the day he entered the forest and the day he left. Your journey will be long and you will read them.
The manager took a breath and surveyed their reactions. They were attentive, waiting for the rest of what he had to say.
Director: When you finally cross the forest, you reach the foothills of the northern mountains. Remember that the place we are looking for is not behind the mountains but between them. After that it is up to you.
Ralthir: You have to be really desperate to implement such a crazy plan.
Torm stared at the ground.
Torm: Aren't already?
Zarveth and Tarveth looked at each other, then Zarveth;
Zarveth: I don't want to crawl to despair. That's why we are here.
Manager: this is our last gamble.
Then Kavren heard a noise from behind. It came from the boxes of supplies ready to be loaded onto the carts and distracted him. When he turned around, there was nothing. He turned again;
Kavren: Our trying is keeps our chances of success alive. As much as I don't want to admit it, it's the best plan we have.
Manager Unfortunately. I wish we had a better chance. But we can't hold out much longer. Cannibalism has started. At this rate, we will all destroy ourselves by eating each other.
Now get ready. You leave in an hour.
At his word, they parted. He approached one of the carts to load the boxes of supplies. At that moment he saw a box moving. He put one hand on my sword and slowly reached for the lid, and when he opened it and pointed his sword at it, he saw him. Elyon was doubled over in the box, eating a piece of bread he had found. Silent and angry;
Kavren: what are you doing here?
Elyon: Please, I'm so hungry.
Kavren: You shouldn't be here.
Elyon looked pleadingly, almost with tearful eyes.
Elyon: Please don't tell him I'm here.
Kavren: But this journey is very dangerous.
Kavren: He resisted the desperation in Elyon's eyes for a while, but he couldn't resist for long.
Kavren: Okay, but be quiet.
As he left Elyon's side, Karven wondered how he had become like this. Why, why was he protecting this boy?
A little less than an hour later the preparations were complete. Kavren deliberately took a seat near the boxes where Elyon was hiding. Torm took a seat next to him. As the caravan set off, the manager spoke one last time behind them.
Director: You are our only hope. If there is a God, God bless you.
As Kavren left slowly, he wondered if he would ever see the manager again. Torm seemed to Kavren to have a different kind of desperation than everyone else. Torm looked up at Kavren, who lifted his face abruptly from the ground.
Torm: So, captain. What do you think?
Kavren: I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me captain.
Torm: But you're the leader. Should I call you by your name.
Kavren: I am not a leader. Let's just do our job.
Torm: Youre a little harsh. Tell me, why are you here? Why did you agree to this?
Kavren: Maybe I just want to die.
Torm: If you want to die, there's no surer way this.
Torm in vain to cheer up the gloomy mood. Kavren didn't want to play this game, but Torm didn't back down.
Torm: Still, alternative options be very tempting. It's so easy to die. Why is that?
Kavren: ....
Kavren: What about you? Why are you here?
Torm suddenly returned to his previous helpless look and paused. Torm: Because of the "maybe". I said maybe we'll make it.
That kind man had a stern demeanor.
Torm: the lives of people like us become precious when they are connected to another life. On that day, Karven, you will stop asking for death from death and live for maybes.
Karven listened with a dull expression.
Karven: We are the last pied piper. I don't know about you, but my dear lost her preciousness when I was a child.