Slow march to their death

In the distance, a wooden cart pulled by a running horse could be seen.

As the sun struck its annoying heat, the wheels continued to roll over the unpaved road, making the cart's body bounce up and down.

Coincidentally...coincidentally and unfortunately, I was riding in that cart. Yup, I was a passenger of that awful cart. Might as well, burn it into pieces.

"It's the worst, " I complained, as I felt a burning sensation on my back and especially my butt.

My neat hair was now all over the place and my dress was now full of creases. Not to mention, my baggage. Just thinking, I had to hug it tightly just to keep its contents from spilling made my head hurt. Now, I had a headache. Seriously, what an ordeal.

Once again, the cart jumped and brought my head to hit on the ceiling.

Wosksbwiahwksnske!!

At this point, all I did was thump the soles of my boots on this junk. Seriously, what's with this cart.

"Are you alright there, lady? I seemed to hear something banging inside." The chauffeur opened the small window and peered at me.

'Just continue driving there, you dork!" Though I wanted to say that, I shut my mouth and gave him a forced smile.

"We still have a long way before we arrive at the city, so, be patient." I'm doing my best, though.

"Yes, thanks for your concern," I answered and gave him a slight bow, of course, still hugging my luggage.

Even I knew that it was the cart's fault and the driver's.

"If you're that thankful, then I'll expect a tip from you," he laughed and closed the window.

Okay, I take that back.

Trying my best not to throw my luggage at him, I went back to sitting there silently.

I calmed myself and cleared my throat.

Hi, there. It's me your favorite painter... I suppose that introduction wasn't quite right. Anyway, I was currently on the way to my next job and as you can see, I'm stuck inside this junk, bumping and hitting my head in every corner. Of course, it is not my fault. That for sure, I can assure you.

Fortunately, after my long suffering, the cart was slowly pulled to the side until it came to a stop. Just when I thought we had arrived at my destination I heard something crack under me.

"Aahhh, it's no good." I heard the chauffeur voiced his disappointment hence I promptly opened the window that separated us.

"Is something wrong?" I felt dumb asking an obvious question. Nevertheless, I still need to hear it from the horse's mouth... Did you get it? He's riding a horse and the horse's mouth?

Anyway...

To be short, it seemed something broke under the cart. It seemed like a certain individual thumped the soles of her boots on the cart and made one of its large springs, which apparently, for making the ride more comfortable...or so, he says, loosened and it hit the nearby wood...or so, he says. Obviously, I had no idea what is he saying nor who banged the cart too hard that it made it break.

Seriously, who was that fool might be.

As I wondered, I fixed my dress and sat on the grass, clearing my mind as I looked at a distance. I hoped that person, who was in everyone's surprise was me, wouldn't have to pay for things she broke. Or else, she would end up couldn't get an inn and had to stay in the street for a day.

"What a poor person, someone should take her in and give her food to eat. Oh... and she wouldn't mind treating her like a queen...since she was once mistaken as one." Aha ha ha ha, what a lovely memory to recall.

As I was enjoying myself, I decided to paint the scenery in front of me and gave it to the cart's driver, who was now doing his best on fixing his cart. But of course, I wouldn't give it for free but at the lowest discount.

'30? No... 25? Uh uh... Then, a 20 percent discount will do!' I thought as I merrily rummaged in my stuff.

Well, it's an opportunity to make money. Knowing what kind of a person I am, I wouldn't turn my eyes away from it.

After I took my empty canvas out and had my paintbrush in my hand, I heard some noises from the distance. Not too far from me, I saw a sequence of shadows as though a line of ants. For a second, I wondered what that might be.

A parade? What nice timing!

As I started to sketch my canvas, I noticed a shadow coming from my back. I turned my head to the chauffeur as he pulled the towel around his neck to wipe his forehead. Excuse me...you're stinking.

"What a poor people, isn't it?" the chauffeur said as he watched the progression.

"Poor people?" Wasn't it a parade?

"Oh, lady, you didn't know what is it?" There was no hint of teasing in his voice but for some reason, I felt annoyed. "We cart drivers who passed this area called it a black parade," he continued.

So it is a parade?

"Basically, it is like a funeral parade like what the other country does when someone in their relative died. But in their case, they crowded up like that and marched to their death."

"What do you mean by marching to their death?"

"I see. So you still couldn't understand it, huh."

Please don't look at me like you were a big shot, or you'd end up walking in that line too.

His story took place a hundred years ago. Honestly, even I couldn't believe it.

There was once a peaceful country. Its people were living a normal life and the businesses going inside it proceed smoothly.

But one day, the country's peacefulness was disturbed by a young lad. He claimed himself as a traveling sage who gave could foresee the future. He warned the king and his people that in one week, the country will fall into chaos.

Like any other king would do, he banished the traveling sage away from his country. And the peace in their country continued as if nothing happened.

On the fourth day after the traveling sage's prediction, the king died. There was no sign of an intruder in his room nor did they find any poison in his food. In other words, he died while he was in the middle of a dream. Not only the king but a handful amount of nobles and commoners died in the same way on the fifth and sixth days, just like what the traveling sage predicted: the country fell into chaos in a week.

The people protested that it was the king's fault that many of the people died. Had he not ignored the sage's prediction, the country would continue its peace. The fire started to burn in the country and the people blamed the royal family. Hence, to calm their rage, the prince took his father's job and declared that he would call the traveling sage.

Just like what he declared, the traveling sage arrived a day after the prince's declaration, as if the sage knew that he would be summoned by the prince. Contrary to what his father did, he welcomed the traveling sage with open arms, he even bowed to him, a thing that a king shouldn't do to his lowly people.

"O' great sage, What had my father done! If only he listened to your warning, the country wouldn't turn this way. Please tell me how to save this country," the prince beseech the traveling sage.

To the traveling sage's response, the prince was surprised. Because the traveling sage's answer was only 'The country was not at fault but its people.' After that, he suddenly disappeared, and no one saw him again.

The prince thought about the sage's answer for days and nights only to arrive at the worse conclusion. The day after, he declared that the people need to pay for their sins by marching for a week with no food and water. He even said that the sage was sent by the gods above to help the people cleanse their souls. Hence, the tradition started.

One week.

The people marched for one week and like what had happened to their country, the people fell and died.

"So it is because of their beliefs, huh," I commented. I felt like my excitement died and my brush wasn't moving anymore.

"I guess, you can say that, Lady. People tend to be blind when they see a bright light, after all."

I dropped my brush and hugged my knees. Inside my chest, something gloomy was brewing but it wasn't hatred towards the prince's decision. These people marching in front of me was stranger to me, after all.

I closed my eyes and brought my face hid on my knees.

"Seriously, what a bunch of foolish people."