ALL NOVEL Chapter 158 – Cathalica
Reaching the point where the ferry was carrying travelers back and forth, they found nobody there, only abandoned boats bobbing up and down on the wide, fast-flowing body of water. It was clear that when the Undead came, everyone abandoned everything, simply escaping to the jungle without a second thought of looking back. With Lia's instructions, they loaded their carriage and horses onto one of the abandoned ferries, and Lorin took control of it, sailing downstream, heading towards Cathalica.
"This doesn't look good…" Louise sighed when they saw smoke rising from the distance, and after a bend in the river, they arrived at a part where the shoreline was not covered by trees but cleared away of nature.
There stood dozens of stone docks, some destroyed, sunk into the river, alongside the ships anchored to them, their bows sticking upwards from the water, straight towards the sky. They saw the packed, big city, many of its buildings in ruins, destroyed and burnt, the rising grey and black smoke originating from the carnage laid upon them. Further in, Lia could see the inner walls, people moving about atop of it, and she could see the tallest structure, a castle's tower being intact, standing straight further in.
It was evident that the most extensive destruction was wrought upon the city's docks, and it was where controlled fire was burning at this moment while people were throwing bodies into them. No matter who looked at it, it was a sorry sight to behold. As they got closer, the people there also noticed the coming ship and sounded the warning bells. By the time Lia's ferry anchored down and stopped a few meters from the shoreline, armed soldiers, looking exhausted beyond belief, were standing there, accompanied by a man in bloody green robes.
He looked to be in his mid-twenties; his long, black hair was wet from sweat and grime, sticking to his deeply tanned face. His black eyes were tired but watchful, surveying the ferry and the three people standing on it. Walking forward, he stepped on the river's surface, heading straight to them, stopping once he climbed onboard.
"I am the son of the late lord of Cathalica, Quatlo Tzikachi." He introduced himself, watching the three, trying to feel their strength but could not penetrate deep into their presence. He believed that they were magical but couldn't measure their power… although they were not emitting the stench of Undead.
"My name is Lia; my companions are Lorin and Louise. We heard what happened and came to offer aid. We brought supplies and are also ready to assist with the cleanup. With both the dead and living."
"Came to profit from misfortune?" He asked accusingly, which made Louise flare up, but Lia gently nudged her with her elbow to remain silent.
"We would like to look at it from the point of view that we are offering our services to those in need." She smiled at him amicably. "We ask not for money in return."
"Not that we could pay." He added, crossing his arms, watching Lia, trying to gauge her strength.
"Magi Speciali. All of us." She chuckled, watching Quatlo's face twitch, his eyes flash with worry and fear… he was only someone at the 3rd Tier, a Magi. He was being rude to people who were two tiers above him, not a good thing to do, especially now.
"We are from the Academy," Louise added indignantly, annoyed by his words and wanting to get back at him.
"Ah…" Quatlo flinched again, putting two and two together as to why would so young mages be at that high level. "My apologies… we had… a horrible few days." He bowed, placing his hand on his chest, asking for forgiveness with sincerity.
"Understandable." Lorin sighed, feeling for the young man.
"Can we come ashore?" Lia asked, maintaining her smile, showing she wasn't taking any issue with his attitude and she understood why he was like this.
"Certainly." He nodded, guiding the ferry to one of the somewhat intact docks while his people were waiting for instructions.
"The cargo is magically enhanced. So it may look small, but the insides are filled with useful stuff. Mainly medicine and food." Lia explained, nodding towards Lorin and Louise. "My men will help you unload. Just direct them to a place where they can set up shop and start working."
"Ingor!" Quatlo waved his hand, calling an older man over, telling him their origin briefly, and making him the impromptu guide to lead them to the main market square and give them a place where they could start operating.
"Don't worry!" Lorin smiled at Ingor, who looked at them like they were vultures. "We are not here to make a profit; we won't ask the people in need to pay for our services!"
"I would still heal those first who are kind and amicable," Louise grumbled under her nose but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"You heard her." Lia chuckled before turning back toward Quatlo, "I'd like to speak with you about what happened here. If you can spare me an hour or so."
"I…" He wanted to refuse, but then Lia continued, her voice turning a bit more assertive.
"We are experts in finding hiding Undead. For that, we need precise knowledge. Fast."
"I see… this way." He gave in in the end, leading Lia into the city, while Ingor did the same with Lorin and Louise.
Lia could see the carnage that was wrought upon this place as they walked through the streets, passing by the ruined homes and watching the faces of the survivors. Some had desperate or almost dead-like expressions, unable to deal with their loss or rushing around, calling for their loved ones who may never answer. Walking past an old, half-collapsed warehouse, she saw the bodies piled up inside, hiding in the dark, and many of them were cut into pieces, an emergency practice she knew about, but it was the first time seeing it. When the dead littered the streets after big battles, armies were instructed to immediately dismember the deceased if they couldn't set them on fire. It was so that if any of them stood back up, they would have time to act before it reassembled its body.
"How's the city?" She asked, turning away from surveying the state of the people, feeling somewhat guilty that her own fortress and group survived without anyone dying… The fact that not every place was filled to the brim with mages at the fourth or fifth Tier was a hard pill to swallow, and Lia felt her stomach shrink to a pinhead.
"Bad," Quatlo answered without sugarcoating it. "We lost two-thirds of the city before the invading Undead was stopped, and we managed to mount a counterattack. My family… did not survive." He added, his voice trembling a little as they arrived at a stone house serving as a hastily established outpost. After leading Lia into a messy room, he opened a wine bottle with shaky hands, pouring some for themselves.
"My condolences," Lia whispered, not in the mood to refuse the gesture, and she drank it with him. "I am sorry to ask, but I need… details."
"Yes." Quatlo nodded, knowing it, expecting he would have to relive it so soon, so he drank first, getting some courage and strength back to recall the memories. "They came without warning. By the time people on the docks had time to send the warning signal, half of it was already gone. The people there were very quickly turned to bolster their numbers. I… I think nobody survived who was initially there."
"How were the Undead?" Lia asked, watching him, her senses enveloping Quatlo to feel if he was lying or telling the truth. He was suspicious; he could be under the influence of Undead, like everyone else in the city. While Louise would start casting healing spells, she would also look for Undead presence in the people, same with Lorin.
"Mostly normal zombies… they were moving and acting in a monotone way, going after people in no particular order. But… When the alarms were sounded and my parents led the provincial army to battle, four Intelligent Variants appeared. They caused most of the damage you see now. They ruined almost the entire city with their spells, and I don't want to count how many people are dead on my streets!" He groaned, fighting back his sorrow, pain, and anger.
"What happened after?"
"My mother and father brought down one of them… before succumbing to their injuries. The remaining three were wounded but showed no sign of pain or fear. It was a mild inconvenience!"
"Then…" Lia asked, looking surprised even though she already knew why they survived. She just wanted to hear it from him... maybe letting slip something he shouldn't know about. For example that it was thanks to the House of Honu and their army invading their base.
"How did we survive?" He smiled with a painful expression, "I don't know. Call it the blessing of the God of Fire! Half of the Undead dropped to the ground at one moment. They turned into what they should be… dead. Then, one of the speaking ones simply groaned and fell from the sky while the other two retreated at once, abandoning the rest, their still walking, stumbling spawns."
"Do you have the bodies of the Intelligent Variants?" Lia asked, even though she already guessed the answer.
"No. We burnt them first… afraid they would get back up."
"I see. I would have done the same." She nodded even though she sighed a little, a bit disappointed. "You should rest. My partners and I will watch; we are experts in tracking them down! I will wander around the city, check out everything."
"Yes… thank you." He bowed, saying it from the bottom of his heart. "But I don't know if I could rest. My mind is… agitated. I ordered my men to seal the exits so we were not letting anyone out. I follow the rules that any leader must!"
"You imposed a quarantine on your city…" Lia whispered, a bit surprised but also looking at Quatlo with respect.
"Yes." He spoke, his voice turning grave, "Now that you are here, I am afraid you will also be part of the quarantine. Right until someone from the Venerated Six Houses comes and places judgment on us."
"..."
"I am not saying this to disrespect you." He added, taking Lia's silence the wrong way. "But even if you are a Tier 5 mage, we will stop you from leaving with anything we have."
"I see. You are resolute!" She nodded, letting out a long sigh.
"I have sworn to be a responsible leader… and know my duty. If necessary, I shall await my judgment and die by the holy fire with my people beside me."
"If it comes to that…" Lia closed her eyes as her blue fire flickered from the top of her head for a brief moment, surprising Quatlo, "It will be quick and painless, I promise, on my name of Lia Amarin."
"...!" Quatlo immediately recognized the name, and he never thought that someone may dare to parade around with the name of the strongest House. He knew of The Six and their appearance; now, watching Lia, he could see the resemblance to the famous Reyra Amarin. It was enough proof for him to know he was in her daughter's presence. "Your Lordship!" He went to both knees, bowing his head.
"Don't kneel!" Lia stepped forward, pulling him up, patting his hands. "You don't need to kneel before me or my mother. Ever!"
"..."
"Don't spread it yet… panic is not what I need right now... Let me and my men conduct our investigation."
"Yes…" He answered, holding back his tears, steeling his resolve once again.
"I'm sorry…"
"No…" Quatlo whispered, shaking his head, "If we must die, I want to die in the flames of the champions of all living beings! I want to die by the hand of someone with the blood of Erias Amarin in her veins… not killed and turned by monsters! I want to enter reincarnation intact and not be a slave to the dead! Fire be praised!"
"I just hope it won't come to that… so please, don't bury yourself so readily! Okay?" She smiled at him weakly; he tried to return, but his face was contorted in a weird way. "Now rest… You earned it. Mourn your parents in peace; let us deal with the aftermath!"
