City Beyond the River

Far above the Dark Mountains, the sound of rocks colliding could be heard. The sound was so clear that it made the animals in the vicinity scatter in chaos. Inside a cave, far from civilization, the sound was heard, echoing loudly like the howl of a wolf under the moonlight.

In the suffocating, lightless cave, a figure was pounding two rocks in their hands while muttering.

"One for the mighty warriors."

"Two for the wise wizards."

"Three for the cleaver merchants."

"And four for the..."

"To whom does the fourth belong?" He paused for a moment, pondering upon whom the fourth strike should be shouted. The harder they thought, the more difficult it became to remember. Perhaps there were only three strikes, or maybe they had truly forgotten the fourth strike.

He went to look outside the cave and found that the sun was already positioned at one o'clock. He turned back into the cave to retrieve the spear with its tip made of sharp stone and the green cloth that had weathered with time. He tied the aged green cloth to his spear before leaving the cave.

As he emerged from the cave, he walked through narrow and steep valleys. The north wind blew strongly against his face. He paused momentarily from his journey, his eyes fixed on the Great River far in the Wilderness Edge.

He didn't understand why every time he emerged from the cave, his eyes always gazed at the river. Even though he had never visited that river in his entire life, there was a slight longing in his heart every time he looked at it. He averted his gaze from the river to continue his journey.

Descending from the valley, he walked through the Misty Forest. Strong winds blew, causing red leaves to fall. The forest paths, usually rough and challenging to walk barefoot, had become slightly smoother due to the wind bringing down the leaves.

Some forest dwellers from atop the trees began gathering their food, as the forest would soon cease to provide its blessings for them.

The sound of rushing water could be heard not far from where he stood. The paths that were once filled with foliage had become sparser. Step by step, he walked, and the path gradually transformed, becoming rocky with sandy patches around. From where he walked, a tall gorge could be seen, spewing water from its mouth.

Not far from there, there was a small ledge, and beneath it, the inhabitants joyfully leaped, fins propelling them. He released the green cloth from his sharp spear, slowly walked towards the ledge, and prepared to thrust his spear towards them.

Many of the animals leaped down from the ledge, and swiftly, the hunter thrust his spear towards one of them. However, all he got was nothing but empty air from the tip of his spear.

Even though the hunter had attempted it multiple times, sometimes his aim was too slow or missed the target. Once again, the spear-wielding man prepared himself. He stepped one foot forward and the other back, focusing on their movements to predict where they would leap. His body assumed a calm posture, like water contained within a vessel.

The animals leaped once again, and he swiftly thrust his spear. Blood gushed from the body of the finned creature as his spear found its mark. Slowly, he released the animal from the tip of the spear and tossed it to the edge of the river. He continued to repeat the same action until he felt satisfied with what he had obtained.

After feeling satisfied with his catch, the hunter curled up at the riverbank to drink from the clear and refreshing waters. Not far from where he rested, deer and other animals also delighted in drinking from the river while taking a rest. The sky was adorned with hues of orange, and fireflies fluttered around the river's edge. Having quenched his thirst, he stood up to gather his prey into his green cloth. He tied the cloth tightly to ensure it wouldn't come loose while walking and reattached it to his spear.

The man returned to the Misty Forest, but before going back to the cave, the hunter searched for soft woods to bring along. Fresh air permeated through the gaps in the forest, with red leaves fluttering in the breeze. The man had seen scenes like this many times before, but his eyes never grew tired of gazing at the red leaves during sunset. As soon as he obtained the soft woods, he walked back to the cave before darkness engulfed the sky.

Arriving at the narrow and steep valleys, the hunter once again beheld the sight of the Great River at the Wilderness Edge. This time, the sun was on the verge of setting at the Wilderness Edge, reigniting the feeling of longing within him. He paused once more to gaze at the Great River at the Wilderness Edge. There was a slightly different emotion stirring in his heart this time, a warm sensation.

"Why?" he asked himself, never before had he felt anything other than longing when he looked at the Great River at the Wilderness Edge. But this time, there was something different. There was a sense of comfort and warmth that came unexpectedly. Could it be because the sun was at the Wilderness Edge? However, he had seen this many times before, so it felt peculiar to him that there was something different about today compared to the past.

Unconsciously, he loosened his grip on the soft woods and his spear. His eyes became slightly teary, and his mouth opened as if he had something to say. He didn't know whom he wanted to address, but without realizing it, the cave dweller slowly uttered something.

"I...am...ho-"

A commotion came from the direction of his cave dwelling, and his once loosened grip tightened. His teary and gentle eyes turned fierce and grim. The cave dweller swiftly ran towards the mouth of the cave. Upon reaching the cave entrance, he released the cloth tied to his spear and set aside the soft woods he obtained from the forest. Slowly, the hunter walked alongside the cave mouth walls, peeking from the outside. He discovered a figure of a person wearing white clothing, adorned with a long green gown that reached their knees and a hat made of otter fur. The figure was currently holding his belongings.

Carefully, the cave dweller approached the figure, slowly and cautiously, until the figure was unaware of his presence. The person dropped one of their belongings, and they crouched down to pick it up. The hunter saw this as a golden opportunity to strike. He slowly raised his spear and swung it towards the figure's head. Unfortunately, his spear swing hit the cave floor instead of the figure's head. It seemed that the person had evaded after seeing the shadow of his body, as the cave faced west where the sun was currently positioned.

"Hah...hah...I almost lost my life there." he said breathlessly.

The man expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal. Slowly, he turned his pale face in this direction, resembling a corpse drenched in cold sweat. His body trembled uncontrollably after looking towards the hunter.

"What have you done with my belongings!" he shouted at the figure.

"Ah... I'm sorry... I thought you misunderstood-"

The hunter leaped with the intention of striking the person before they could finish speaking, once again, his attack only hit the cave floor. Slowly, the cave dweller turned his head towards the person. The person's cold sweat increased, and their body trembled as if they were seeing a demon.

"Wait, wait, wait, let me explain why I ended up in this place, and please forgive me if I accidentally entered your dwelling," the figure pleaded.

"Silence, you thief!" He shouted at the figure.

"Please, have mercy, sir..." The figure begged while lowering their body, their voice filled with desperation.

"I am just a traveler who got lost in these mountains. If you, kind sir, would forgive me, I will give you anything you desire." Tears fell to the cave floor as the figure pleaded for his life.

The hunter still doubted whether this figure was just a lost traveler or a thief pretending to be innocent.

"Are you really not a thief?" He asked the figure.

"Yes, sir, I am not a thief," the man replied, lifting his face.

From his appearance, the cave dweller felt that what he said was not a lie. Furthermore, the man did not have any sharp objects or anything that could be used for robbery. He retracted his spear and walked away from the traveler.

"Stay here for tonight as the night will soon come and fog will envelop the mountains, but if you insist on leaving at night, I will not stop you."

"Thank you, sir, thank you very much," the traveler bowed again with gratitude.

The spear holder stepped out of the cave to bring in the soft woods and the prey he had obtained from the river. Outside, the sun was nearly fully set, and the fog had spread through the Misty Forest, obscuring the view of the Great River at the Wilderness Edge. He then returned inside the cave.

He placed the soft woods and his green cloth a little further away from the cave's entrance and hung his spear back on the cave wall. Next to where he had placed his spear, the man picked up two stones. He went back to where the soft woods were placed and struck the two stones together on top of the woods. Sparks flew from the colliding stones, but the sparks were not enough to ignite a fire. The man tried again, muttering to himself.

"One for the mighty warriors."

"Two for the wise wizards."

"Three for the clever merchants."

The sparks were large enough to ignite a fire, and the man sat by the newly created hearth. He untied the cloth bundle containing fresh fish that he had obtained from the river. Some sharp pieces of soft wood were set aside to be used as tools to cook his catch. He impaled the fish on the pointed wood and began to cook his catch over the fire.

While he was cooking the fish, the traveler looked at it with saliva dripping from his mouth.

"Do you want some?" he said, lifting the piece of wood he was holding.

"No need, sir, I'm still-" A rumbling sound came from the traveler's stomach. The traveler chuckled softly as his stomach growled loudly.

"Take it, I have plenty to eat," he offered his cooked food, which happened to be ready at that moment, to the traveler.

"Thank you, sir." The traveler took the fish and devoured it hungrily, as if he hadn't eaten all day. From the way the traveler ate, tearing into the food like a wolf tearing apart its prey.

They savored their prey's feast eagerly, and half an hour passed with all the food consumed, leaving nothing behind.

"Ah, so satisfying. I've been walking all day with an empty stomach, and now it's filled again," said the traveler, patting his slightly bulging belly.

"Ah, kind sir, you have provided me with shelter and delicious food. I think it's time for me to repay your kindness. So, what is it that you desire?" The traveler offered to repay his kindness.

The cave dweller remained silent, unsure of what request he wanted from the lost traveler, who was stranded in the middle of an unknown mountain. How and with what could the traveler repay his kindness?

"Well, I'm not really seeking anything specific from a traveler who is lost in the middle of a mountain."

"I can give you money or any item you desire once I successfully return to my home."

"I don't really need all that because everything I have right now is sufficient to sustain my life."

"Well... how about if I repay your kindness with some information or something..." The traveler seemed earnest in his offer.

But the cave dweller truly didn't know what he wanted from this traveler. He looked outside the cave and remembered the Great River far away in Wilderness Edge.

"The Great River in Wilderness Edge," that's what the man thought for a moment. The traveler must know something about it, and perhaps he could also know the reason why every time the man gazed at the Great River, he felt an unbearable longing.

"Do you know anything about the various things across the Great River in Wilderness Edge?"

"The Great River you're referring to is the one that leads from this cave, right?"

"Yes, that's the river."

"Is that the only request you have?"

"For now, yes."

"Across the Great River, there was a prosperous and thriving city, to the extent that the city was referred to as Paradise in the Midst of Hell, as it was built in the midst of the Barren Hills where wicked creatures nested. However, that was only an event from the past."

"What happened to the city now?"

"It has been reduced to ruins, perhaps now transformed into the lair of those wicked creatures."

"How could a city that managed to survive amidst such dangers fall so easily?" Unconsciously, he raised his voice while clenching his fists.

"The city survived because of a powerful wizard who created a formidable shield. Whenever those vile creatures came within its range, the shield would melt them as if they were being roasted by a giant cauldron. Additionally, the city's forces established guard posts along the pathways that connected the city to others. The reason the city turned into ruins was due to a war that took place a century ago between that city and the King of the Old Tower. The King of the Old Tower was the ruler of the Barren Hills, seated on his throne in the Old Tower atop the Barren Hills. He stood around two meters tall, and whenever people heard his words, they would end up becoming his slaves."

"Was it because of the actions of that King that the city was destroyed?"

"No, the city was destroyed due to something that happened after the demise of the King."

"So, that's how it turned out." He could only remain silent while clenching his fists.

"Before I continue my story, I want to ask something of you, sir." He was puzzled as to what could have drawn the traveler's interest towards him.

"Please, what do you want to ask me?"

"How did you come to know about the Praise of the Four Heroes?"

"Praise of the Four Heroes?" The cave dweller was puzzled as he had never mentioned anything related to heroes.

"The praise you just recited when making fire is the Prophecy of the Four Heroes. The song tells the story of how the four heroes saved the city across the Great River at the Wilderness Edge. The praise was only discovered a few weeks ago after a group of learned individuals visited the ruins of that city, and I am certain that the discovery has not been published anywhere, not even by the organization funding those learned individuals. How could you, living in a mountain far from civilization, know about it?"

"I don't know anything about that praise. How could you know about it yourself even though it's not widely known?"

"Because I am one of those learned individuals. We have just returned from the ruins of that city, but on our way back, we were ambushed by bandits, which caused me to get separated from my companions. That's why I was surprised when you recited that praise."

"I believe the words I muttered were just strange nonsense and had no connection to the city across the Great River in the Endless Wilderness. He felt that everything the traveler said was merely a coincidence.

"No, no, this cannot be just a mere coincidence." The traveler insisted.

"I will prove to you that what you recited is the Praise of the Four Heroes."

"How can you prove to me that it's not just a mere coincidence, huh?" Unconsciously, he challenged the traveler.

"With this!" The traveler pulled out a piece of paper with a beautifully drawn illustration. The traveler took a deep breath, and then a deep, melodious chant was heard. The man, who was previously indifferent, now felt something very familiar.

One for the mighty warriors,

Two for the wise wizards,

Three for the clever merchants,

And fourth for the resilient travelers.

Far in the Barren Hills,

Stands the ancient tower, reaching high into the sky,

The haughty King proclaims without mercy,

Bringing calamity to the land of freedom.

The trees groan,

The demons growl,

The heavens lament,

As the King speaks.

Bells toll in the city,

Its inhabitants mourn,

Hope seems distant,

As the King arrives.

Divine light speaks,

Four heroes shall come,

In the midst of darkness,

They arrive with joy.

Radiant light shines,

Darkness vanishes from the city,

Praise resounds,

To the noble heroes.

In the ancient tower, the King reigns,

The King rages like a dragon,

Heavenly rays strike the King,

His body fades, his soul disappears.

After listening to the praise, tears welled up in his eyes. What he felt was not admiration for what happened in the story, but deep within his memory, the man recognized the praise very well. A sense of comfort and warmth washed over him as he heard the song. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation in his head, unfamiliar voices speaking inside his mind. These voices he had never heard before, yet they felt incredibly familiar to him.

Faint images appeared in his mind. There was a picture of someone wearing a funny hat and a long robe, and another picture of someone in iron armor carrying a spear and a sword. Standing beside them was a woman with long hair, dressed in simple yet elegant attire. Their smiles radiated warmth, as if emitting light. He didn't know who they were, but when the man saw them, a smile of longing formed on his face.

"Sir...sir...sir..." The traveler's voice brought him back to reality.

"Are you okay?" The traveler asked him, a hint of pleading in his voice, concerned for his well-being.

"Ah, I'm fine. It's just that the hymn earlier took me to a place that I might know but cannot recall."

"I apologize, sir, but may I ask you one more thing?"

"Please, go ahead. What would you like to ask me?" he replied, wiping his eyes.

"If I may know, I'd like to ask, what is your name?"

"My name is..."

"My name is..."

"My name is..."

"Who am I?" He embraced himself, holding his head, while continuously muttering. "Who am I? Where do I come from? Why do these questions keep arising in my mind?"

Suddenly, the blurry images resurfaced in his mind, but this time they were different. The images of the three individuals became faint, their bodies transformed into irregular shapes. The once strong and graceful hands and legs now contorted and distorted, and the once radiant faces turned grim.

"Huh!" Startled by what was happening, the feeling of joy and longing that had emerged earlier now turned into fear and guilt. Behind the three of them stood figures identical to them, slowly approaching.

"Stop..." He took a step back.

"Stop..." Once again, the man took a step back.

"Please, stop..." Once again, the cave dweller took a step back, but this time something stopped his movement. He looked behind and saw them standing there, their faces grim and horrifying, blood flowing from their eyes, mouths, and noses. They brought their faces close to his and spoke.

"Help us!" they moaned in pain, uttering those words.

"I said stop!" Unconsciously, he pushed the traveler.

"I... I'm sorry... Are you okay?" The man quickly apologized to the traveler.

"I'm fine, really. How about you? You've been trembling in fear all this time," the traveler asked, concerned about his well-being.

"I'm... I'm fine," he stammered, still trying to answer the traveler's question.

"I think you're exhausted after I asked those questions. It's better for you to rest and calm your mind. I truly apologize for my curiosity causing you to suffer like this."

"No, you don't need to apologize. It's not your fault. It's just that I'm feeling something strange in my head. I think it's due to the fatigue from daily activities... Yes, that must be the reason. I'll rest now. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, sir."

The cave dweller closed his eyes, trying to sleep and forget what had happened. But as he fell into a deep slumber, the blurry images resurfaced in his dreams. This time, the images depicted the three individuals confronting someone towering at around two meters tall, wielding a sword in his left hand and a staff in his right. The tall figure was seated on a luxurious throne.

The figure standing at two meters tall was stabbed in the heart with a sword and then struck on the head with a spear. Additionally, from a distance, a bright and dazzling light could be seen surrounding the figure.

After defeating the tall figure, the three individuals discovered something behind the place where the tall figure had stopped. They found a gemstone the size of an adult's little finger, emitting a radiant purple light.

The next image showed the three individuals being welcomed by a multitude of people in the magnificent city. Everyone was cheering and rejoicing at their arrival.

The following image depicted the three individuals presenting the gemstone to someone, but the person receiving the stone was not clearly visible.

The image changed once again, this time revealing scattered corpses in the cities. Men, women, children, and the elderly, all without exception, lay dead in tragic circumstances. Many of their body parts were gruesomely severed. The same fate befell the three individuals who had presented the gemstone earlier, their faces unrecognizable.

Amidst the calamity that befell the city, someone stood amidst the pile of corpses. They held a sword in their right hand and a spear in their left, both weapons belonging to one of the three individuals who wore iron armor. Their body was covered in blood, and around their neck hung the pendant of the purple gemstone.

The depiction started to darken, gradually becoming darker. As the image approached total darkness, the man standing amidst the corpses curled up and uttered something barely audible. The cave dweller woke up from his dream and noticed that light was once again emanating from the back of the cave's mouth.

"You have woken up?"

"Yes, it seems so."

"I would like to bid farewell and express my gratitude to you for allowing me to spend the night and have a meal here, sir..."

"Well, in that case, be careful on the journey."

"You know, sir, I think calling you 'sir' alone is not quite impressive for me, and perhaps thinking of a name for you would be a fitting gift for our parting." The traveler suggested.

"Alright, that's not a bad idea. Show me your naming skills." Unintentionally, he challenged the traveler again.

"Well, how about Verdis Werdain?"

"Verdis Werdain?" He pondered upon the name.

"Yes, Verdis Werdain. Verdis, which means green, just like the color of your hair and beard. And Werdain is the name of the city across the Great River at the Wilderness Edge. What do you think? Do you like it, Mr. Werdain?"

"Yes, I quite like the name you've chosen, sir..."

"Boerly Aeyns. My name is Boerly Aeyns."

"Pleasure to meet you, Aeyns."

"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Werdain." They shook hands, marking the beginning of their friendship.

"Do you know the way out of the Dark Mountains?"

"Yes, this morning when the fog had cleared, I went in search of a trail leading to the nearest town. It's not too far from here."

"In that case, could you tell me where the trail is located?" Before Aeyns left the cave, Werdain asked him about the nearest town from the Dark Mountains and the path to the Barren Hills.

After Aeyns left the cave, Werdain packed his belongings and headed towards the river near the Misty Forest. He shaved his beard and set off to find the trail that Aeyns had mentioned. This marked the beginning of his journey to uncover the truth about himself and to unravel the reasons behind the destruction of the city of Werdain a century ago. With each step he took on the trail, his adventure began.