Chapter 22: Orcrox’s Warriors (1)

Antuak’s house was exactly as he had seen it in the illusion with Aruna still lying in her bed, looking off into empty space.

Yi-An and Antuak sat across from each other and stared at each other. The welcome Antuak had given earlier was the same as the illusion. Yi-An felt close to Antuak; it felt as if they had shared a long conversation together. He was now eating the potato soup he had eaten in the illusion with others, alone.

Antuak was the same as before.

He said, “You killed all of them.”

“Yes,” Yi-An replied.

“What you saw were things they were going to do but hadn’t done yet.”

Antuak glanced at the place where the players had stabbed his back in the illusion. Yi-An clenched his fist and then released it.

“You don’t regret it?” Antuak asked.

“No,” replied Yi-An with a stern expression.

“Was it the right decision as a warrior?”

“I want to become a warrior, not a saint.”

“Is that so...” Antuak nodded and then gestured for Yi-An to eat.

Yi-An drank his soup. It was still delicious.

“You’re stronger than I expected. I am relieved,” Antuak said as he walked over to Aruna’s bed.

Aruna’s face moved. Yi-An flinched at the sight, uncertain if Aruna had awakened for a second. However, Aruna continued to stare past Antuak; her faded, gray eyes stared into empty space. Antuak caressed her face gently.

“Are you planning to seek Tashaquil?” Antuak asked.

“Yes.”

“This will guide you.”

Antuak flicked his finger, and a small flame rose from its tip. The flame hovered in the air and then approached Yi-An as if it had its own will. As Yi-An extended his hand, the flame landed on Yi-An’s finger. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hot.

Antuak said, “I wish you could stay longer, but there’s no time.”

“Huh?”

“Go before it’s too late.”

“What do you mean ‘late’?”

“You will know once you meet Tashaquil,” Antuak stated seriously with a mysterious smile.

Yi-An rose from his seat, picked up the bowl of potato soup, and gulped it down. The soup warmed his insides. After drinking for a while, he put down the empty bowl. The soup was even more delicious than he remembered from the illusion.

Yi-An raised his thumb and declared, “It’s the best potato soup I’ve ever had.”

“It’s just potato soup.” Antuak shook his head with a smile. “My wife used to make the best potato soup.”

“Ah...”

“If my wife returns one day, I will invite you over. I want to give you a taste of the best potato soup.”

Yi-An smiled. “Yes, I look forward to it.”

“Tashaquil will be waiting. Go.”

Antuak made a gesture, and the door opened, letting the cold breeze seep in. It was still dark outside. The flame that had hovered around Yi-An’s fingertip flew to the door and danced as if urging him to follow.

Yi-An looked at Antuak. He didn’t think he could forget Antuak’s gentle face.

“I will come and visit. Stay alive,” said Yi-An.

“Stay alive. Bul’tar.”

“Bul’tar!”

Yi-An departed from Antuak’s house. The flame moved rapidly. Yi-An walked quickly in case he might miss it, but he turned around for a second and was shocked by what he saw.

“...!”

...Nothing. There was nothing where Antuak’s house used to be. The log cabin from where warm light and smoke seeped out had disappeared. Now, the spot was a mere clearing in the forest lit by the moon.

Yi-An looked forward again. The flame Antuak had given him led the way like it was alive.

The flame was proof Antuak was real, but Yi-An felt as if he had been bewitched by a ghost. Yi-An looked through his memories again. Antuak was definitely real, and they could meet each other again someday.

Since a sorcerer of his caliber had urged him to quickly seek Tashaquil, it had to be important. Yi-An quickened his pace. He shook off his thoughts and focused on following the flame.

He ran in the dark forest for a while. Even with an orc’s stamina, the long distance was a struggle. Eventually, he began to see some light. From afar, he saw numerous houses and tents spread out everywhere. He had arrived at Basque Village.

The scenery of Basque Village, illuminated by the blue moonlight, was beautiful. Yi-An ran even faster. Orcs were walking outside in a line at the entrance. Yi-An waved to get their attention, and they stopped in response.

“Are you alive?!” Yi-An exclaimed.

An orc replied, “Are you alive?”

“I am Yi-An, an apprentice warrior.”

They were all sorcerers. The orc who had been seeing them off came forward at Yi-An’s introduction. The other sorcerers made way for him. He was larger in stature than most orcs, and his face was covered in tattoos. He had tiger skin with distinct stripes draped around his shoulders, and a skeleton of an unknown animal hung from his neck. This orc had a potent presence that was incomparable to that of other sorcerers; magical power wavered around him. Yi-An had an inkling of who this orc was. He had to be one of the great teachers who led the orcs with Instructor Lenox—Tashaquil.

“Are you alive, young orc?”

“I’m alive. Are you Tashaquil?”

“Are you the apprentice warrior Lenox teaches?”

“Yes.”

“For what reason did you come all the way here?”

Yi-An tried to point at the flame that had guided him, but the flame was no longer in sight. It had disappeared just like Antuak and his house. Yi-An was dumbfounded.

As if wanting to have Antuak’s existence acknowledged by Tashaquil, Yi-An mentioned Antuak’s name.

“Do you know a sorcerer by the name of Antuak?”

“...!” Tashaquil’s eyes quivered. “Where did you hear that name?”

“I heard it from him.”

“You met him?”

“Yes. Antuak advised me to seek you. He said you would be waiting for me...”

Tashaquil became lost in thought.

The other sorcerers approached Tashaquil and said, “Tashaquil, we are ready to depart.”

“Wait a moment.”

“Yes?”

Tashaquil looked at Yi-An. “Young orc.”

“Yes,” Yi-An replied.

“Antuak told you to look for me?”

“Yes, he advised me to hurry.”

“How long has it been since you departed from Orcrox?”

“It has been two days.”

“Is that so...” Tashaquil let out a sigh. He organized his thoughts as he swayed his staff. Then he yelled, “Kinjur!”

“Yes!”

“Take this apprentice warrior,” he commanded.

“Understood.”

As it was suddenly decided that Yi-An would accompany them, Yi-An thought this wouldn’t be an appropriate moment to seek advice on the path of a warrior.

“Where are we headed?” Yi-An asked instead.

“Orcrox,” Tashaquil replied.

Yi-An wondered what had occurred for all of these sorcerers to set off for Orcrox so late in the night. He turned around to look at the party of sorcerers. They were fully armed; they carried staffs for wielding magical power, and close combat weapons such as axes and swords hung from their backs. Underneath their sorcerer attire, they wore leather armor. Even their gazes were threatening. They looked like soldiers awaiting battle.

“There’s no time to explain. Just follow them,” said Tashaquil.

“Understood.” Yi-An could only nod in agreement at Tashaquil’s solemn expression.

Tashaquil glanced over at Kinjur. “You may leave now.”

“Yes, we will head out. Stay alive.”

“Let’s stay alive and see each other again.”

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Kinjur, who was at the head of the party, waved his staff. An unknown strength flooded from it, and waves of magic saturated its surroundings. The sorcerors’ bodies trembled.

Yi-An felt the waves of magic permeating his body. Strength surged from within. His body felt light like he could immediately run toward the horizon. He felt the wind graze his skin, and a sound like that of a beast’s growl seeped from his mouth.

“Grrrr...”

This was a sorcerer’s spirit magic!

The sorcerers charged forward. Yi-An became one with them and stormed onto the earth. Kinjur took the lead, and the others followed suit. This scene resembled that of the head of a wolf pack leading its members.

Tashaquil watched them from behind as they disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

As night fell, silence settled over the village. There was only the moonlight and the sound of breathing. Tashaquil fell into deep thought. He waved his staff out of habit, and the surrounding magic moved along with him. The moonlight shone down on his head in fragments.

“Antuak...”

How long had it been since he had heard this name?

“Are you alive...” a quiet voice seeped into Tashaquil’s surroundings. “Are you alive, Teacher...?”

The whisper was like a sigh. A flame appeared out of thin air and circled around Tashaquil, who stared blankly at it. He extended his hand but couldn’t catch it. The flame danced in the air and then moved upward. As it swam in the sky, the flame dimmed and then finally merged with the night sky.

***

“The sorcerers have arrived.”

“Is that so?” Lenox said.

He had been looking into his axe. Lenox ran a dry rag across the blade of his axe, and the clean surface glistened brightly. He could almost see his reflection.

“Lenox, Yi-An has returned with the sorcerers.”

“The apprentice?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.” Lenox turned his head and looked at Hoyt. “What do you think about him? Do you think he will become a decent warrior?”

“I’m certain of it,” replied Hoyt. “He will become a true warrior.”

“A true warrior,” Lenox cackled. He seemed to be enjoying himself. “Hoyt, who is a true warrior in your eyes?”

“You, Lenox.”

“I don’t enjoy flattery.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Haha, a true warrior...”

Suddenly, the door opened.

An orc came into Lenox’s room. “Are you really going?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you rushing too much...?” the orc asked.

“It will be too late if I don’t go now.”

The orc was Tanya, the administrator of Orcrox. She was the one who managed the administrative matters and operations around here.

“If we wait, the enemy will only become stronger.”

“Understood. Everyone is waiting for you.”

“I will be out soon. I’m always grateful, Tanya.”

“Don’t mention it.” Tanya glanced over at Hoyt as she left the room.

Lenox turned to Hoyt again. “We will take him.”

“It’s too early for him,” Hoyt commented.

“A warrior needs to experience more of the world,” Lenox stated.

Lenox hung his axe on his back and grabbed the helmet hanging on the wall. It was a hard, black steel helmet. Lenox looked at it for a while. The helmet had acquired a lot of scratches and cracks over time, but its structure was still firm. He caressed the traces of war on the helmet with his fingertips and then put on the helmet, which cast a shadow on his face and hid his expression. However, a flash of light was reflected in his exposed gaze.

Lenox’s mouth curved into a grin. “I also want to see a true warrior.”