Rattleheart
Rithen Village

A short trip took us to a new place. From the top of the valley the farmer was referring to had been seen, he pointed to him and told us that the house and other people waiting for him were there.

A little steep, to get through the village, we had to pull over on the path that was between the ravine and the high cliff. The village is flanked by 3 parts of land separated by a ravine under which there is a river. The river is shaped like a T facing east, and to the west there is a vast expanse of land where the villagers live.

Alz followed, apparently a little curious by walking beside the ravine like this, since he was always in front of us, walking around with a happy expression. I really enjoyed the trip this time. The farmer who saw it was a little worried, as if afraid that Alz would fall into the abyss and instead die before the battle could happen. If for example it is true so the scenario, the sentence “aku is a powerful wizard” was really going to be an irony.

Alz pointed many times, pointing his gaze at me, and it seemed that the bridge that led us to the next plain had been seen, deep, quite wide. I didn't think there was a plain like this near my village just now. This bridge connects the two eastern sides of this T-shaped river. So to reach the sloping land, we have to pass two bridges like this.

Hanging, the bridge seemed to sway in the wind, for the first time I passed the suspension bridge with a height and length like this, we began to set foot on the bridge. As I expected, the road swayed. But Alz and the farmer remained calm, even though the woman was holding on to the bridge barrier while showing a wide-ranging expression. His mouth seemed to be rounded, creating an expression that was shaped like an o. His soul was truly like a young child in general. Ah no, it seems like the other young people would be frightened if they crossed a bridge like this.

After a long time we managed to pass the suspension bridge, now we have reached the slightly sloping part of the plain, here there is no building, but it looks a little stretch in the middle, but it looks a little bit, and the rest of the east is again adorned with high hills whose ends are not visible, covered by an obstructing mist.

Although there were no buildings, there were a lot of farm fields, fruits, vegetables, as well as wheat and other staples all gathered here. It seems that although it is narrow, this part of the area is very fertile so that the local people hang most of their agricultural land here.

The village we are going to is getting closer, it is visible, it is over there, the next side of the broad and deep valley, it is, from the east side to the west there is a very large and long bridge, formed by a large rock that is very sturdy, it is not a suspension bridge, but a bridge that sticks and connects the two high cliff edges that are so far away. From below the end of the bridge the water seeped through the sidelines of the foundation, a sight unique and never imagined before.

The farmer explained to me, he said this bridge was not made by people in the village. He said there used to be a big city around the village, it was gone, and now there are only ruins left, just like the great ruins in Milten Village, around the farmer's village there are many large ruins in the western part of the village.

For people like the farmer and other villagers, it is certainly very impossible to build a big bridge as we go through today. Adding new mysteries to what civilization once lay far above the Clayrien Continent.

The clouds began to cloud, even so the light could still penetrate from behind the gaps of the clouds. The village of the farmer was getting closer, now a small gate that indicates we have entered the village area is visible, from which is written a large enough writing. The village of Rithen is named after him, a village whose majority of the population works as a farmer among the mountains.

The building of this village is simple, of stones stacked in such a way. Some are made of wood coated with stone as the foundation. Nothing is unique, but the surrounding scenery is beautiful. The layout is quite symmetrical, with unique landscapes around it, this village has been very adapted to the heavy terrain as around it.

Step by step we do ahead, but it looks like there is a crowd in front of us, near the village fountain there is an unusual crowd of people. Sahutan sounded everywhere, noisy, full of commotion. It seems that the citizens are debating something big.

As we were about to enter the village square we fell silent outside the crowd, the farmer who invited us then told us to wait here first. He said he wanted to tell us about our arrival to the village chief.

The cheers of the villagers grew louder, until their cries suddenly stopped as the farmer advanced and approached the village chief. Alz and I were just staring from afar, waiting for the next decision from the villagers who were discussing something.

The farmer then said something to the villagers, explaining long, while showing a strong hand. Symbolically, from the movement of his hands I could understand that he was trying to convince them that he had successfully carried out his duty to seek the protector of the village.

After explaining, the gazes of the villagers then moved towards me and Alz. After looking at me for a while, the village chief then asked the farmer a few more things, as if asking. “What can two people like this do to the safety of the village?”. I can't blame him, from the beginning this deal didn't make sense. But inevitably I accepted it, because Alz had unilaterally agreed to take this mission.

Seen from a distance there were a few more people running towards the village chief, they looked tired, confused and explained something I did not know frantically to the village chief. The village chief held his head, sighed and looked back at me.

The farmer who saw the reaction of the village chief then walked towards me and Alz who had been waiting since.

“How? Is there a problem?” ask him. From the picture of the situation I can understand, it seems like they really lack people who can be recruited as mercenaries. So, you could say the two of us are just people who were successfully recruited by the villagers to overcome this problem.

The farmer then explained the situation again and asked me and Alz to face the head of the village. I agreed, and started walking slowly towards the village chief. Alz who saw me suddenly walked up and followed me. Now, the two of us have been in the presence of the confused village chief.

“Do you have anyone else you can invite to come here?”

Languid, his face looked tired. The Village Chief seemed to have truly devoted his time to resolving this matter. Hearing the question, I answered.

“We are not tied to any special mercenary organization, so there is no one else I can bring here. But for this matter, you should be able to directly contact the nearest mercenary union from here”

Hearing that sentence the village chief looked increasingly confused, it seemed like my sentence had been done by the people in the village. Sure enough, shortly after my remark, the village chief explained the scenario I had just imagined in the head. He said he had sent village envoys here and there, but none of them could find help. Even to the central union of mercenaries. No one wants to receive payment for this mission, because in addition to the difficult terrain, they also have to fight The Preacher, who is feared by the mercenaries around here.

Who is The Preacher? If the mercenaries refuse such an offer it is certain that the possibility of completion of this mission is very small. The risk is huge, mercenaries are soldiers who are paid to fight with others. Of course with a concept like this they do not want to take on a mission that from the beginning is almost impossible to do.

Despite being paid to fight, the mercenaries calculated the extent of their chances of survival or loss on the battlefield. Therefore, it was natural to know in advance who they were fighting and who hired them. If the country is hiring this mission, maybe they will be willing to take it, because the country offers great wealth in every mission.

Alz...

What you've done this time.

Alz walked forward and then said something firmly.

“We both had enough for this mission, you don't have to bother to call others in sebrang” area.

Hearing Alz's words, the residents then make a fuss with each other. They thought that Alz was crazy, irrational, how could two people fight against so many troops at once?

Some of them fell into despair. Others suggest bowing to and following the will of The Preacher. Noisy, the debate between the villagers is getting louder, whatever the topic of the chat. One thing is clear, they don't believe we can solve all these problems.

Alz who heard the words of the villagers then took a deep breath, he walked slowly forward, staring towards the vast expanse of grassland in the western part of the village. His expression turned serious, his right hand stretched out long, and the temperature of the air around began to heat up.

From the tip of his hand began to form a circle of orange-colored light, his mouth began to move, not stopping to speak. From him sounded a soft sentence chant that seemed to draw all natural energy into his hand.

“Fire is the light of the soul, bear the song of the destroyers, and leave no trace of you!”

“Incinerate-!”

A whirlpool of fire appeared on the west side of the village. The vortex expanded in a short time. Red, orange, I don't know. This scene was completely unexplainable by words. The ring of fire actually exploded instantly, yet without the sound of an explosion, only the sound of flames expanding could be heard. The ground was lifted into the air, the dust was flying everywhere. A fire vortex that is as large as 2x the area of this village was created in the western part of the village. Silence everyone in limitless silence.

Those who witnessed Alz's magic firsthand stared deep into space, saying nothing. Before long, the magic had now finished playing in the air. Alz who finished it all stared at me slowly, then smiled and said something to me again.

“I am, really a powerful magician right?”