Outside the stronghold, birds flew, so care-free and oblivious to what had just happend----No, to any of the world's woes.
Only going where they feel like going, as they fly into the sun as the light overcame their small bodies.
...
Then somewhere towards the far south, a boy on a horse galloped through thick mud as the wind rustled both his hair and the horse's mane.
Tch!
I hate this!
Could've just sent a messenger for this!
"Damn father!" He muttered to himself as a bitter taste clung to the back of his throat.
The jostling stride of the animal beneath him sent a hiccup rattling through his chest. Each upward lurch a fresh wave of discomfort.
The rhythmic plop-plop-plop of its hooves against the mud, a monotonous counterpoint to the simmering feeling in his gut.
Muscles rippled beneath its hide. The reins remained slack, offered no more guidance than tangled weeds. Each tug that he used on the foul animal, was just met with a defiant toss of its dense head.
The world around him shrouded in a blurry canvas of white---a thick, clinging mist that swallowed the edges of the path.
The already muted gray sky, fading into nothingness as the breeze blowing his ruffled golden-brown hair .
The air hung heavy and damp in his nose, each breath was tasting of moisture and the earthy scent of the mud below him.
When am I getting closer to this damn town?
"Hyahh!"
Flicking the reins even harder.
The beast muscles bulged more as
It's veins were so thick that blood can be felt rushing through them feeling like an entire river is in there.
The wind that hit against his face became more harder.
I never knew that it could go this faster than before.
The sword in its sheath clanked in rhythm to the gallops, the bags on its saddle waved around seeming like they could fall off at any moment.
Slightly farther in the mist, a sign appeared off to the side, the words were unreadable at first.
Finally! A sign!
It reads uhhh…
Let me get closer to it first.
*Plop-plop* *Plop-plop* *Plop-plop*
As the boy drew closer to the sign, he beginned to be able to make out the words bit by bit. The sign read "Slov" with a drawing of a horse with a pickaxe and shovel that formed a cross.
Yes I'm at Slov!
Now no more wasting time…
…Zara's waiting for me.
The animal strided against the mud, tearing it viciously as it galloped along the path and past a wooden gate on the verge of collapse, it was just being held by nails and ropes.
*Plop-plop...*
*Brrrrfff*
The horse flicked its tail in the air as the boy pulled on the reins.
This stubborn piece of shit!
Stop goddamnit!
*Nyeeeigh!*
*Brfff*
The air, thick with the cloying stench of stagnant water also with a hint of something rather vaguely…fecal.
The murky puddles reflected the boy's long light brown cape with the inner dark purple shirt made with the finest fabric—The shirt dotting his clan's crest design—The twin snakes with their backs facing each other, the gap between forming a circle.
As the boy on his horse passed by, he saw a shallow puddle below him as his reflection casted there.
Hehe
The sight makes the water much more better.
The buildings sagged under the weight of dampness, their lower levels stained a uniform brown up to even the edges of the roofs.
The brickwork in some parts show a clear sign of poor craftsmanship—and the boy looked at the buildings, noticing all this.
Damn…
Well…Though I shouldn't be surprised.
Truly a testament to the filth these commoners live in.
But they couldn't try their best?
Even if worthless?
A woman with a child that clung to her sodden skirt trudged past the boy as the horse was finally moving more slowly.
All the commoners' eyes were on him,as if he's one of the gods—his whole dressing and carriage contradicting their own. Their faces etched with a weariness that seemed beyond their years, mud splattered against their bare feet.
Heh!
Utterly disgusting…
Don't these people have the smallest amount of pride whatsoever?
And uhhhgn… that smell…
The boy reached his hand into the satchel on his waist as he rode along, coins clung, with paper rustled till he feels the cloth.
Ah, there it is.
He removed a piece of clean cloth from it and put it directly on his nose as his horse passed by a group of people.
WHIP!
"Hey! Hey!"
"Get back to work!" Someone barked while a whip danced in the air.
---The end of chapter 7---