Vorthakar

Moving between the razed houses, Nathan thought about the villagers, how they died without even a chance to fight back.

"Imagine how they felt," he muttered, "waking up to their usual routine, only to be greeted by an invasion."

"Nathan... the world is a sad place," Lilo said quietly. "As a nymph, I never saw things like this before."

"Good for you."

"It's still sad…"

"But we can only move forward."

They pitied the villagers, but that wouldn't change anything. All they could do was keep moving. Nathan glanced at the compass. The needle had shifted slightly, not toward the main gate, but toward a ruined church off to the side.

"...Guess it's time for a prayer."

"Don't joke right now," Lilo said, punching his arm.

"Ouch."

They stood in front of the church. The door was still intact. Nathan pushed it open... and was hit with another horrifying scene.

"Those bastards…" he muttered.

"I'll wait outside, if that's alright."

"Yeah… you should."

Lilo quietly stepped out as Nathan moved deeper inside, anger and disgust boiling in his gut. The church was simple: a center aisle, benches on both sides. Bones were scattered everywhere. Another massacre.

At the far end stood a reading platform. That's probably where the priest had spoken during sermons.

Nathan walked down the aisle. At the altar, a skeleton slumped forward, still in a black robe. A rusted sword was driven through its chest. Dried blood stained the wall behind it. A book sat open beside the body.

"I'm sorry," Nathan whispered.

Something about the book drew him in. Maybe out of pity. Maybe respect. Either way, he read the prayer out loud.

"O Vorthakar, Binder of Hours,you who walk the cracks between yesterday and never,hear this plea from the lips of the lost.Turn not your spiral eye toward me,let memory blur and time forget my name.Still the wheel, still the breath,shatter the day before it begins.To you, I offer what I cannot keep... a moment, a heartbeat, a truth once spoken.Spare me your gaze, O Broken One,for those you mark are never whole again."

"...Amen."

The god's name Vorthakar. That must've been who these people worshipped.

Behind the priest's skeleton, Nathan spotted a small worn bag. He picked it up. It was empty. Still, he slung it over his shoulder. He took the book too. Something told him they weren't leaving this place anytime soon.

"Lilo?"

"I'm here,"

"Hm?"

He followed her voice behind the church and froze. Lilo stood beside two small skeletons. From the torn clothes still clinging to the bones, it was clear... it had been a mother and child.

"I'm sorry, Lilo."

"It's fine. It's probably long forgotten."

"You're right... Hey, have you ever heard of a god named Vorthakar?"

"No...?"

"Not surprised."

"Why do you ask? And how do you even know that name?"

"Check this."

"Oh!"

Lilo flew up behind him, peering over his shoulder at the book. She read silently for a moment, then frowned.

"Wait… what language is that?"

"What?"

"This isn't written in the Empire's language."

Nathan blinked.

"How can you read it?" she asked.

"I don't know..."

"Hey, it's okay. Doesn't matter."

But it did matter. Lilo couldn't read it. He could. That wasn't normal.

What did it mean?

"Heh... it's funny," Nathan chuckled.

"What is?"

"I thought we were stuck here because you're a nymph or something."

"Oh... I guess that would make sense."

"But I'm probably the reason."

"Hey, don't say that. And even if you are... it's okay."

"Thanks...Lilo,"

The bag slung over Nathan's shoulder pulsed with a soft white light. He pulled out the compass. It was glowing again, pointing somewhere new.

He slid the book into the bag and stood up.

"Let's go, Nathan!"

"Behind you."

They followed the compass's light, leaving the village ruins behind. The forest swallowed them up again twisting trees, thick underbrush, no clear path. They kept walking until they reached a solid wall of bushes.

"This is pretty cliché," Nathan said. "Bet there's a dramatic scene waiting on the other side."

"I'll go first this time."

"Oh? Paying me back for last time?"

"Shush. I'm going!"

Lilo flew through the greenery and vanished.

Nathan waited.

Then her voice came through.

"Nathan! Come quick! You need to see this!"

"I'm coming!"

He pushed through the thick bushes ... and stopped cold.

He wasn't sure if what he saw now was better… or worse… than the village.