Chapter 12

ARE YOU INSANE." Benn shouted. "They will kill you. You wouldn't even make it inside the building."

"I have reasons to believe otherwise," Kylian replied nonchalantly. Even though he hadn't used much of his assassin techniques for the past couple of years but he was sure he could easily infiltrate a mid-tier assassin guild. He was created to do so.

Benn looked at him in disbelief but if Kylian wanted to do so, then it was none of his concern. They both would be in their different paths and he had no reason to meddle with a man determined to get killed.

"Do as you wish. We would be halfway to the Borkun mountains." Benn was irritated, no matter how short his stay with Kylian was he had saved him a couple of times, and keeping aside his personality switch and the permanent irk on his face, Kylian was okay.

".....No....."

"That's what I am suggesting but look at him he is determined to go." Benn complained

"....We three....go...." the giant spoke without much expressions.

Benn's mouth slacked open, this was not he was expecting.

"What no." Kylian replied, "It is dangerous and you don't need to be a part of it, you return to your home."

"Exactly. You said we are going to your home. What about these villagers, they are so excited about leaving. You told them about peace and good food there.... you promised 'Hodor?" Benn stood up against the giant, looking for answers in that round pinkish face.

"....They go....we three Mattidis...."

Benn looked at the giant in disbelief, again deciding for himself like for the past two days - "I won't go there to die" Benn spoke furiously "Weren't you listening? It is dangerous. I am not going."

" ....We come....." 'Hodor only repeated himself stubbornly

"Why do you want to accompany me? You could go to your home, Borkun mountain." Kylian had never seen 'Hodor act so rashly before.

"Yes exactly and why do I have to be a part of it. I am taking none of it, nobody can take me where I don't wish to be."

"....My path joined.....to you....and Benn follows."

"What...What is he even talking about, paths? Now you giving out prophecies 'Hodor"

"....I know things....all true...."

"You know things, then tell me how did you even end up being a slave. You liar." Benn was fuming with anger, everyone else had been in too much control of his life lately and now he was taking none of it.

Kylian knew 'Hodor has been wiser than most of the people, but Kylian himself was unsure to believe 'Hodor's such a big claim.

"....Only truth....." 'Hodor took a step forward.

Benn was in no mood to back down either from the challenge "You just a liar" he spoke aloud pressing against the giant. Even though Benn hardly reached his chest.

".....No liar..... Just truth....."

Kylian was surprised seeing 'Hodor's head furrow in anger, he had not even so much as twitched when more than 2 dozen of his tribesmen were killed earlier in the valley.

"You are just a liar. What about Kylain's story you told me about ?"

"What story ? I don't remember telling any story." Kylian looked at 'Hodor puzzled. They had not even talked much about their lives, just strategical information.

"Liar Caught red-handed." Benn jumped up, "Now do you dare say you still not lying ?"

"....Not lying....all truth...." 'Hodor just repeated himself.

"You have done it" Benn looked at Kylian " You ever know anyone named 'Maya' or about a village being burned or a fire mage ?" Benn shifted his gaze back at 'Hodor "Look he does not. You big liar."

Kylian quivered as a chill ran down his spine at Maya's name. He swallowed the hard lump in his throat and tried speaking but words hardly left his dry throat.

His brain had gone numb, he could see Benjamin and 'Hodor talking but their words failed to reach his ears. All he could hear were screams of his loved ones burning alive. With trembling hands, Kylian closed his ears but it was futile.

" 'Hodor" Kylian whispered through the loud noise in his head. He took a step forward fighting the dizziness" 'Hodor" he managed to speak again but the two did not seem to notice him, both busy with their quarrel.

" 'HODOR" Kylian screamed this time.

Both 'Hodor and Benn froze and simultaneously turned their head towards Kylian. Benn gaped. Kylian was standing pale, it seemed even standing was a task for his trembling legs.

"How do you know of them." Kylian spoke, his voice unusually weak.

Taking a pause even longer than usual, 'Hodor replied- "....Whisper sheer.....I see things....."

"Kylian you okay ?" he was looking weak. What startled Benn was Kylian's expressions, he looked weak and scared, an emotion Benn hadn't thought he would see on him ever.

"What is that mage's name? Where is he right now? What do you know of him." Kylian asked through gritted teeth. It felt like a hundred needles pricking his skin.

".....Nothing.....I see just....as much he lets me....."

"Who ?"

"....Yhorm....."

"Now we talking about gods. Seriously 'Hodor." Benn spoke vexed at his story. Yhorm was among the first mages and was even treated like God by the Jeyan's.

"Kylian you sure he isn't lying." Benn spoke with disbelief, but Kylian gestured Benn to sushhh, his whole attention was on 'Hodor.

"....All truth.....My path connected....from start.....I dream.....see things..."

" 'Hodor. I want to know everything."

"Yes. Big guy let's hear it." Benn added.

In his broken tongue 'Hodor started.

Kylian's furrow only deepened and his expressions dulled as 'Hodor continued with his story.

He did not made any sense talking about gods, yet he knew each and every person Kylian had known.

On the other hand, Benn's disbelief only rose, he would have interrupted a dozen times only if Kylian wouldn't have been so much invested in 'Hodor's story.

"....All true...." 'Hodor looked at Benn as he ended.

Benn had been waiting for him to stop so he could cross-question the giant.

"Too many loopholes." he spoke "So as per your story. This god comes to your dreams and he tells you what you should do. All are related to Kylian, and you have been seeing them even before you met him ?"

".....Yes....just two times....dream.....other time he whisper..." 'Hodor replied in his broken tongue.

"Yeah, and he doesn't tell you that mage's name or where he is, isn't worshipped as a god? Couldn't he just kill that mage like.....toss a thunder arrow or something?"

".....No Yhorm dead.....his little..... conc...concio...consciousness left....not strong..."

Benn crossed his arms in front of his chest- "Okay, now he is dead, and what about that red light you see in Klyian when he is ...when he is different." Benn spoke hesitantly, he had no idea what that was. "Why don't you know about it huh. Ask your god, we can wait."

"....I cannot ask.....he tell himself....."

Benn sighed "So many lies Kylian, and I haven't even started questioning about that training story of yours yet."

Benn looked at Kylian but his expressions spoke otherwise.

"Kylian ?"

"Every name he took every detail he spoke of is true." Kylian spoke with flushed expressions.

"No...that's not possible." disbelief still on Benn's face. This whole situation seemed like a big fantasy pick straight from a book. Gods, prophesies, a boy of unknown origin trained in secrecy. Benn knew magic existed but it was rare, only a few common folks had ever witnessed something like magic. The closest thing to magic his town people had ever witnessed was some basic healing magic.

"....I tell truth.....Everything true..." 'Hodor replied "...Your path cross... our path.... I know you too...."

"Prophecies about me, entertain me big guy." Benn was having a hard believing everything.

"....You ran away....fa"

"Haaahhh" Benn gave out mocking laughter, "I told you about it just yesterday."

'Hodor ignored and continued -".....You mother....died ill.....father another wife.... another mother..... don't like you...."

"I...did..n't tell you that." Benn stuttered, "What is happening.." he looked at Kylian hysterically.

"What is all this...why is this happening to me."

"Benjamin" Kylian spoke aloud.

Benn continued muttering "Have I turned insane seeing all that blood ? Wait is it all even real or an illusion ?"

"Benjamin" Kylian spoke again, louder this time.

But Benn was still lost in trance "No this cannot be, so wh-" he was still mumbling when Kylian slapped Benn hard right at his face.

"Benjamin calm down."

Benn felt his swollen cheek. It was swollen but it had done the job well. With teary eyes Benn looked at Kylian obediently.

"Listen, Benn. Past days have been difficult for you, both 'Hodor and I know it. You are not used to seeing any of this, we get it. But things happen, things we have no control over. Once in everyone's life, there comes a time when all of our reality twists and turns and eventually shatters into nothing. It is the way of this world we live in Benn and the sooner you accept it the better."

By the time tears were already trickling down Benn's pale face. "I can just go back to my old life, think all this never happened, think of it just as a nightmare." he managed to mutter.

"....You will die.....in just few days....if go back...." 'Hodor instantly added.

Benn started to sob weakly, everything was going too fast he wasn't used to such life.

" There are possibilities that your village must have already been run down Otron's army. And not a word 'Hodor has said until now is inaccurate."

"Why me? I don't want this, any of this."

Kylian's burrow furrowed "Do you think I wanted this. Do you think I choose this any of this life ?"

"No I just cannot" Benn ran, without even looking back. He was devasted with what had just been told.

"Is he really necessary ?" Kylian asked 'Hodor as he saw the fleeing figure of Benn

"...Yes very..."

Kylian sighed, he was running out of patience -"I don't care, I will kill that mage with or without you both. Get ready in ten minutes if you want to join. I don't think he would be joining." Kylian stated firmly and left.

'Hodor stood still in his place for a while, "....He come....", then he took a bottle out his pocket, which contained a dark green liquid in it, he then went after Benn.