Chapter 19 – The Journey to Milaria

Cedric had been traveling for days, and with each passing hour, his resolve grew stronger. He was used to being alone, but there was something different in the air now. The longer he walked, the more he felt as if something—someone—was waiting for him. He didn't know what that something was, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't meant to be isolated for much longer.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon when Cedric heard the distant sound of horses. He crouched low behind a tree, instinctively reaching for his Golden and Gray Blades. His senses had sharpened since his fight with the demons. He was always prepared now.

The sound grew louder, and soon, Cedric saw a small carriage pulled by two horses, with several people riding alongside it. They were moving quickly, as if trying to outrun something. Cedric stayed hidden, watching carefully. He could sense something was off.

His instincts were right. As the carriage drew closer, a shadow darted from the woods, and Cedric could hear the unmistakable growl of a demon. Pandemoniums—demons that attacked in groups—had become more common as the days went by. But this one… it was larger than the others. It was a massive creature, easily twice the size of a normal man, with long claws and blood-red eyes.

The people in the carriage didn't seem to notice the creature yet, and Cedric knew he couldn't let it get close. If they were attacked, they wouldn't stand a chance.

He moved quickly, his Golden Blade flashing in the fading light as he lunged at the Pandemonium. The demon turned just in time to face him, its red eyes narrowing as it bared its fangs.

Cedric didn't hesitate. He rushed forward, aiming for the demon's neck. The Golden Blade struck with precision, but the demon swiped its claw in retaliation, forcing Cedric to leap back to avoid being hit.

The driver of the carriage screamed, realizing the danger they were in. The horses neighed in panic, but Cedric could tell they were trained well enough to keep pulling the carriage forward.

The Pandemonium snarled, lowering its head as if to charge. Cedric felt a surge of adrenaline. This was going to be a tough fight, but he wasn't backing down. He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore—he was fighting for these people, for their lives.

The Pandemonium lunged at him, its claws outstretched. Cedric blocked the attack with his Golden Blade, but the force of the impact pushed him back. His feet slid against the ground, and for a moment, he lost his balance.

The creature pressed its advantage, swinging its other claw toward Cedric's chest. He barely managed to dodge, feeling the sharp edge of the claw skim past his ribs. He gritted his teeth, his heart racing.

He had to think fast. He couldn't keep trading blows with the demon like this. He needed a plan.

Cedric summoned the Gray Blade and swung it with both hands, aiming for the creature's arm. The blade connected with a sickening crack, and the Pandemonium howled in pain, its arm hanging limp at its side.

But the demon wasn't done yet. It roared in fury, its remaining arm swinging wildly at Cedric. This time, Cedric was ready. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with a slash across the demon's side.

Blood splattered across the ground, but the creature didn't fall. Instead, it bared its teeth and launched itself at Cedric again, desperate to finish the fight. This time, it was faster.

Cedric barely managed to block the creature's claws, his Golden Blade vibrating in his hands from the force of the blow. He took a step back, trying to regain his footing, but the Pandemonium was relentless. It attacked again and again, each strike forcing him further back.

His breath came in ragged gasps, but he refused to let up. He couldn't lose this fight—not when these people were depending on him. He had to finish it.

With a grunt, Cedric gathered all his strength and rushed forward. He used the momentum of his charge to swing the Gray Blade in an upward arc, aiming for the demon's neck. The blade struck true, and the Pandemonium let out a final screech before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

Cedric stood over the demon, breathing heavily. His body ached from the fight, but he was alive. He had won. And the people in the carriage were safe.

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The Ride with Strangers

The driver of the carriage slowly climbed down, his hands shaking. "You—thank you!" he stammered. "You saved us. I don't know how we could have fought it off without you."

Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to catch his breath. His muscles were sore, but he had done what needed to be done. "It's nothing," he said, sheathing his blades. "I'm just glad I could help."

The people in the carriage looked at him with a mix of gratitude and curiosity. There were four of them: two adults and two children, all looking a little worn but relieved. One of the adults, a man with graying hair and a weathered face, stepped forward.

"You're not from around here, are you?" the man asked, his voice cautious but friendly.

Cedric shook his head. "No. I've been traveling for a while. I was just… looking for people. I've been on my own for too long."

The man raised an eyebrow, as if trying to decide whether to trust him. After a moment, he spoke again.

"We're heading to a place called Milaria," he said. "It's a sanctuary, for people like us. High Humans, Low Humans, anyone who's looking for a safe place. If you're interested, you can ride with us. We could use the help."

Cedric felt a flicker of hope in his chest. A safe place. A sanctuary. It was exactly what he needed. But he wasn't sure he could trust these people yet.

"Milaria?" Cedric asked, his voice skeptical. "I've never heard of it. Is it really safe?"

The man nodded. "It's the one place where people can live without fear of the demons or the High Humans who are hunting us. People from all over the continents are trying to make their way there. Some of us have been traveling for months."

Cedric thought about his own journey, the struggles he'd faced. He had been alone for so long, and the idea of a place where he could find others, where he might belong, was tempting. But he had learned not to trust easily.

"Why are you going there?" Cedric asked. "You don't seem like High Humans. Why would they let you in?"

The man's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't hesitate. "We're not all welcome by the High Humans, but that's the point of Milaria. It's a place for people of all kinds—High Humans, Low Humans, and everyone in between. It doesn't matter what you are. What matters is that you're trying to survive."

Cedric nodded slowly. It seemed like the kind of place he'd been searching for. A safe haven, a community of people who understood what it meant to struggle and survive. He could find a new purpose there.

"I'll come with you," Cedric said, finally. "But I'm not looking for anything from you. I'm just trying to get by."

The man smiled, a look of relief crossing his face. "We're all just trying to get by," he said. "That's why we're going to Milaria. We can help each other."

As Cedric climbed into the carriage, the man introduced the others. There was a woman named Lila, who was holding one of the children in her arms, and the other child, a young boy, was sitting quietly beside her. They both seemed to regard Cedric with curiosity but didn't speak much.

The ride was slow and steady as they continued on their journey. Cedric found himself listening intently as the man and woman talked about their travels and the state of the world. They spoke of the growing danger from the demons, of how many towns and cities had fallen to the Pandemoniums, and of how people were beginning to gather in secret places like Milaria, hoping to survive.

As the sun set and the night grew darker, Cedric settled back against the wall of the carriage, feeling a small sense of relief. For the first time in a long while, he wasn't alone. And he wasn't just wandering anymore—he had a destination.

Milaria. A sanctuary. It was a place of hope, a place where people like him could find safety. It might be the beginning of something better, something he hadn't dared to believe in for a long time.