[A Few Moments Earlier]
Duruk was a denizen of the small settlement of Urich, and a lanky man.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him the moment he spotted the quake that caused their village to tremble, and the smoke that ascended to the sky.
While the others still deliberated on what it could be, this man was already suspicious of the entire thing and labeled it a threat. He was often known to be superstitious and overreacting in the village, but this time his gut feeling wouldn't let him rest.
"Duruk, go to the Lord and report this incident to him. There's a possibility this is no small matter. Besides, whatever has descended upon us must be made known to him." The village representative told him.
Those were the words that spurred Duruk into action and gave him the strength to race straight for the noble's abode.
"Please be safe, everyone! I'll bring backup!" The man prayed.
Initially, the guards were skeptical to let him in, but after seeing his desperate eyes and the exhausted breath he gave, they were convinced of the validity of the man's words.
They allowed him into the noble's house despite the terribly wretched appearance he had. His outfit was like an ugly stain on the beauty and sanctity of the compound's interior, Duruk himself was aware of that.
Out of all the villagers, he was one of the few who had visited the lord's mansion more than once. As one of the delegates who usually brought the tax of the village to the lord's manor, he had seen the interior many times before. Still, it never ceased to amaze him.
Compared to the dirty and ugly village he grew up in, this was heaven. How Duruk envied the guards and servants who lived in such a residence. If only he could too...
Quickly shaking those thoughts from his head, the man focused on the mission entrusted to him, and, for the first time in his life... he was granted access to the inside of the Lord's mansion itself.
It was the greatest honor!
It was beautiful... too beautiful to be described!
The walls, the furniture, the chandeliers, the floors, everything was perfect. As he entered, the guards within directed him to the place where he would meet the noble, and they ascended a flight of stairs to get there.
Duruk had never climbed stairs all his life. How could he have? The village houses were all bungalows, after all.
He marveled at the frighteningly new experience.
Finally, they took him to what could be called a longer area, where a bunch of sofas was neatly placed, and the Lord was speaking to another person, an individual garbed in a robe.
"My Lord. Someone is here to see you concerning an important matter." One of the escort guards introduced Duruk.
He felt honored to be in the presence of such a magnificent figure that he didn't even know when his body crumbled to the ground to greet the noble who sat before him.
"Hm?" A short sound came from the magnanimously dressed man.
He was of average build, having neither plump nor lean stature. His face spoke of elegance, a sharp contrast to the hardened one of the villager.
The moment he felt all eyes on him, Duruk realized he had failed to introduce himself to the most important man in the room.
"M-my name is Duruk. I come bearing grim news from our village!" His unrefined voice echoed throughout the room.
The noble sighed a little and spoke.
"What village?"
Glad to have heard the voice of the man he so respected, Duruk instantly replied without a moment of hesitation.
"It is the settlement of Urich. From the far northern border."
That last part was unnecessary, he knew. As Lord, there was no way the noble before him didn't know of the details of the settlements in his own territory. Duruk knew that, yet he overspoke.
"Hm, I see..." The noble mumbled.
Duruk's head was still bowed, but he could feel the attention of the Lord shift from him to the other important person in the room... the man garbed in a robe.
"Is this what you were referring to? That some sort of calamity will befall my domain and a messenger would come to deliver the grin news?" The Lord, Karl Edward Zerund, asked.
The man in the hooded robe, though the hood was currently having behind him as a result of courtesy toward the noble, smiled in response to the words he heard.
"Maybe. I didn't expect it to happen so soon, though..."
The Mage, Zakiel Laquis, was a man of renown, famous for the visions he had and how they always came true. Of course, these visions sometimes came in parables and riddles, but they were most certainly always fulfilled.
He had seen a vision of chaos befalling the domain of Lord Karl, and had come to warn him if it—for a fee, of course. He had also told the guards that if any bearer of grim news appeared, they were to bring them up instantly.
That was the reason why Duruk was granted access to the Lord's mansion which would usually be off-limits to plebians.
Now that all the cards had gathered and it appeared the mage's vision was upon them, there was only one thing left to do.
"Let's first hear the young man out."
The Lord sent the guards away and ensured only he, the mage, and the villager were in the room. The guards didn't hesitate to leave their Lord's side, since they knew no evil would befall him as long as the famed Magic-User was by his side.
Duruk was told to raise his head, stand to his feet, and explain the grim news he brought. The man gulped when he saw the eyes of important people on him.
From the way the Lord and Mage spoke, the issue seemed to be less than trivial, no, of utmost importance. Just as his gut feeling had told him, that was no mere quake.
Though Duruk felt like the current information he had was inadequate, he was determined to embellish his story so well that he would not be ignored. If he did well, there was the possibility of a reward.
If he could be rewarded, and become a servant to the Lord himself... his longtime dream would be achieved!
And so, Duruk spoke, exaggerating the story to the point of awe and fear. However, as he still spoke, a sharp sound was heard from outside, and what seemed like a splatter of blood stained one of the glass windows in the lounge.
Fear and anxiety gripped everyone in the room as they realized that the calamity that was befalling the land had already advanced so far!
[IMPORTANT INFO: Please read the Chapter 'The Mage Of Renown' after reading this Chapter. Afterward, you can progress normally. There was a mistake in the lineup. I'm sorry.]
