Interlude - Julian's companion

The City of Gayan is a place with buildings that has round arches in conjunction with bulky-appearing stone masses of thick, fortress-like walls. The city's roads are paved with cobblestone and everyone is dressed in silk and leather.

The City is bustling and the common folks are enjoying the peace. The small water canals around the city made the city feel refreshing. The Flower petals float and drift down the canals. The leaves on the trees are colored violet, they sway with the wind. The children run amok the streets playing with sticks, pretending to be warriors.

The stalls around the city are constantly loud. People bartering with each other and on these stalls are men with weapons as well as armors. These are Adventurers who came to visit the crossroad city of Gayan to gather supplies for their journey.

The main road of the city which is connected to the main gate is crowded. In the middle of the road, there are lines of carriages, while the side of the road is filled with visitors from other places.

The main road is composed of at least six streets. These streets are namely residential, but there are establishments run by business owners. Bars, Inns, and brothels can be found on some of the streets. Courtesans, drunks and fatigued people dwell well in these particular streets.

The world outside is rather bleak. Thus cities and towns are heavens to the visitors. They can relax on these sanctuaries and forget about the chaos-torn world outside.

The adventures are strewn across the street. Some of them are talking to the courtesans, while some are walking to the bars to drink their stomach full.

In a particular street located east of the city. A person clad in black walked silently. The adventurers who saw this person’s outfit immediately made way for this man in black. No one was foolish enough to bump into this man. Even the unsteady drunks who were drowning in alcohol immediately went sober the moment they saw this man.

The person walking through the streets is none other than the Reaper himself. The Deathbringer, the Carnifex of the continent of Hillines. Also known as the man that could face an entire army of elites by himself, a person who slays monsters, demons and supernatural beings, this person is none other than Julian.

His reputation has taken the continent of Hillines with a storm. From how he emerged from a dungeon filled with monsters sealed by a Nephilim. How he faced the entire non-human forces that invaded the continent with his bare fist. And how he made the demons from the underworld cower in fear simply by cutting the head of the Devil who lead them with a kitchen knife.

Julian Nostredame wasn’t like this from the beginning. It was rumored that he was just simply a servant of a noble house. Until one day he was abandoned and fell under a dungeon that changed his life forever. Julian Nostredame is someone that cannot be controlled by anyone. He has his own will, and he doesn’t support anyone other than the current Matriarch of the Kingdom of Lin, Elizabeth the War Maiden.

It is said that no nobles could dare to threaten the War Maiden’s position simply because he exists. The War Maiden is blessed by the Goddess of War herself, but even so. Her power along with Julian’s presence makes anyone who dares to touch the current status quo dead.

So imagine the fear that is brought upon the boorish adventures at the moment. One sleight of the hand could be their end. Thus they let Julian saunter in the middle of the road like nothing. The bustling street became quiet the moment Julian appeared. No one dared to talk simply because his entire presence is just overwhelming.

Julian himself is intentionally letting his aura spread on these streets. He is currently looking for a person who is hiding in this location. So in order not to allow this person to escape his grasp, Julian decided to spread the fear he controls just so he can lock on the imbecile who threatens the security of the Kingdom of Lin.

He wasn’t in hurry to deal with the fool. So he casually strides along the street slowly until he stopped on a certain Inn. This is Inn is among the others that are established on the street he is in. With the city of Gayan being the crossroad city of the Kingdom of Lin, it acts a gateway intersection to the other four corners of the whole Kingdom. So the city is filled with Inns for the visitors.

Juliann casts his eyes upon the Inn. Continuing to produce the aura of fear around him endlessly, Julian scanned his surroundings and gestured people to get out of his way. The people who saw his warnings immediately vacated the scene. Julian then grabs his neck before taking a deep breath. Staring at the walls of the Inn, Julian bent his knees and readied his right hand like a claw.

As he narrows his eyes in focus, Julian then suddenly leap towards the Inn’s walls and pierced it with his right hand! The wall of the Inn meant nothing for Julian, so he claws upon the walls of the Inn. Then he suddenly pulled his right hand out and along with it is a dark skinned man with pointy ears grabbed by the shoulders.

Julian carried this man out of the Inn and pummeled him on the ground. Tightening his grip on the man’s neck, Julian’s eyes went zero degrees cold as he stares at the non-human individual and asked.

“Now tell me what you are doing here Dark Elven. Or would you prefer for me to force it out of your mouth?”

“A-AHHH”

The Dark Elven man could not help but scream inside his head as Julian stares at him. With Julian emitting his aura of fear like a waterfall flowing down a pool of water, the Dark Elven man could only feel despair in front of him.

...

Julian made the dark elven man ttell him what he wanted. From why a non-human like him is in the city of Gayan. And what he is doing in the city exactly. Julian heard of the dark’s elven man’s reasons and discovered the existence of child disaster named Dace.

This child named Dace is a powerful person brought up by the dark elven to incapacitate the whole kingdom of lin. She possessed a magical power capable of destroying every living being in the kingdom of Lin. According to what Julian heard, this child was born to become the living weapon of the non-humans who will take revenge against humanity.

Julian learned all of this without changing his expression. His emotions remained unchanged as he calmly accepted the information that the non-human told him. He let the dark elven man go with no warning at all. The Dark Elven man, who was curious why he didn’t get any threats from Julian, asked.

“Why are not threatening me?”

Which Julian replied, “Because I will just kill everyone who you will all sent.”

This reply made the Dark Elven man feel a chill on his spine. He immediately left with a pale face and headed out of the city before Julian could change his mind. After Julian was done with the Dark Elven man, he went out of the city of Gayan and headed towards the town where the child disaster is located.

It is a simple village with houses made of stone and wood. The people of the village are mainly farmers that sell their crops to the cities every harvest season. They are quite poor, and with the local guards barely enough to keep them safe. The village is embroiled in a gloomy atmosphere.

Julian walks along the village’s dirt road while searching for the child disaster that will soon explode and kill the whole kingdom of Lin. Julian, who learned of the threat, was simply unafraid of the disaster. He faced many foes and disasters before that could make any sane man turn into lunacy.

Julian somehow survived all of the encounters simply because he is strong. He can kill all the foes that threaten the kingdom without any bit of fear on his heart. So, as he scours for the child disaster on this village located just near Gayan City, he found the threat on one of the village’s houses. He sensed the magical power the moment he turned in his senses around the village. Julian looked at the house for a while before smelling something horrible coming from the house. Sauntering towards the door, and pushing it. What revealed in front of his eyes was a little girl sitting on a bed. Behind her was a square window, the pale light enters through this window.

Around the Little girl were blasted pieces of skin and meat. Strewn everywhere, the whole house was painted in blood and gore. The little girl, who has short hair and is wearing a leather dress wasn’t covered by the mess she made. Julian looked at the little girl with his brows slightly raised. The little girl who noticed Julian’s presence raised her bubbly head towards him. Hugging her knees, the little girl, whose mouth is frowning, looked at Julian who is standing at the door.

“Are you here to use Dace?” the little girl said threateningly.

“No,” Julian replied.

“Then why are you here?” the little girl’s petite body shone with violet light.

“I came here because someone told me that there is a living disaster that will destroy every single being of this kingdom.”

“Are you here to kill Dace?” said Dace. “Dace is a weapon created by the dark elven. Dace is always told that she is nothing but a useful tool that will bring upon lex talionis against humans. They always said that Dace is only useful for that.”

“I see,” Julian said, walking closer to the little girl.

Dace continued, “Dace always asked if Dace had parents. But since dark elven don’t like Dace too much. They always tell Dace to focus on the mastering her powers. Dace was tiny when they ask me to control my powers. They put weird medicines on Dace’s body, and let Dace eat weird crystals.”

“And why are you telling me?” Julian asked.

“Because Dace is a calamity, and with the aura mister makes. It is no surprised that he wants to kill Dace and make this kingdom safe. Dace really doesn’t care about this kingdom. Dace didn’t like killing anyway.”

“Then who are these people?” Julian scanned the bloody mess painting the house.

“Those are Dace’s guardians. They asked Dace to burn the city near this place and kill everyone living in it. Dace really didn’t want to do it. Dace doesn’t like hurting people and when Dace told them that. They scolded Dace and told Dace how useless I am.”

“I see...”

“Dace really didn’t want to kill them too. But Dace contemplated on how much people Dace will kill. Dace didn’t want to kill people, it is bad and Dace hates it. So since Dace was refusing to kill everyone in sight. Dace made Dace’s guardian into a blooming flower.”

Julian moved his eyes at the little girl’s head as he moved closer. The little Girl looked at Julian and said.

“Dace didn’t really want to do it. Dace loved them but they were plotting to kill everyone. Dace doesn’t understand why they need to kill people. They look like they aren’t killing people. And Dace really doesn’t comprehend why they hate the humans too much. Dace is sad.”

“...I see.” Julian said.

“Dace doesn’t know what to do anymore.”

The Little girl was lost. Julian could see plenty that this overwhelming magical girl in front of him is a threat to the whole kingdom. His job was to protect this kingdom and especially the Matriarch that Julian loves.

“Dace want to ask mister...”

“What is it?”

“Is Dace a monster? Because Dace’s guardian told Dace that she is…”

“...”

Julian slightly tilted his head to the right. The Little girl waited for Julian’s answer. She observed him, as he lifts his right and touched her head.

“No you are not,” said Julian. “Don’t believe them and become someone you are not. I don’t know what your whole story is. But can I assume that you don’t want to hurt this kingdom and its people?”

“Dace doesn’t want to...”

The Little girl rested her head on her knees. She was lost in a world she doesn’t understand. And Julian could see that this little girl is confused.

“Then that’s good.”

Julian patted the little girl’s head and put his hand to his side. The little girl lifted her head towards Julian and asked him.

“What should Dace do now Mister?”

“I don’t know,” Julian replied.

“Then Dace doesn’t know either. Dace was told that she only exists to become a weapon. She really doesn’t know anymore and probably, those people from before will come after Dace again. And Dace really doesn’t want to kill people.”

“Sounds problematic,” said Julian. “You staying here will make trouble for this kingdom. Not to mention that you are powerful...”

“Then what should Dace do?”

“Didn’t I say that I have no idea?” Julian crossed his arms. “You are not my problem. And I am someone who protects this kingdom as best as I can. Little girl, I am more than a monster than you do. To me, you are just a simple little girl that is lost. So do you expect me to somehow take care of a child that is a ticking disaster ready to happen?”

“No...” the little girl said sadly.

“Wrong. Of course, I will. Let’s get you out of here. As long as you behave then I am willing to take you along with me.”

“Eh?” the little girl got confused.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said let us go. I still have things to do.”

“But you said...”

“Protector of the kingdom, I told you that right?” said Julian, dispersing the stiff expression he had.

“Yes...but Dace doesn’t understand what is happening.”

“Are you going to follow me or are you just to mope around here?”

“I...Dace will follow Mister!”

The little girl quickly steps on the floor and followed Julian who was leaving the house. The two then slowly walked out of the village.

“Dace doesn’t really understand...but can Dace at least know mister’s name?”

“My name is Julian.”

“I see...Dace’s name is-“

“Your name is Dace. I get it as if you speaking your name every time you open your mouth wasn’t enough.”

Hearing him, Dace pouted, “Dace was just trying to be polite.”

“And I am annoyed by you always telling me your name, every time you speak. What are you a repeating bird?” Julian said teasingly. As Dace heard that, she opens her mouth with a frown and said.

“Hmm, Dace thinks that she made a mistake.”

“Me too.” Julian smugly said

"Eh..."

Dace said as she watches the smug expression Julian’s face. The Little girl was even more confused than ever.