The Evil Intruder Years Ago, The Familiar Intruder Now?

Hamel was a quiet man. He quietly led the way to the leader's house with heavy and unhurried steps. But from time to time, he would look back at the priest following him in silence, to check on him. Whether to see if the priest was planning a surprise attack or simply grateful for his help, only Hamel could say.

On the other hand, however, Kael felt like a prisoner being escorted under guard as he silently followed the dwarf. He rubbed his forehead and cleared his throat, preparing himself to break the suffocating silence. 

"Little friend, can I ask something?" Kael began. There was a nervous smile on his face, and his voice sounded overly polite. Of course, how could he risk offending his armed guide?

Hamel glanced over his shoulder and glared at Kael over the curve of his axe. After a moment, he answered in a gruff voice that still held a hint of irritation. 

"My name is Hamel. I am little, but I am not your friend, human. Call me by name."

"Alright. My name is Kael," Kael answered. He scratched the back of his head and asked again, "So, Hamel, can I ask something?"

"Shoot."

Kael flinched slightly, not at the word itself, but at what he suddenly sensed. 'Shoot' was just a figure of speech, an invitation to ask. However, the silence and darkness could not hide the sudden change in the atmosphere. It was filled with extreme murderous intent. 

He looked up sharply, wondering where that intent was coming from. They were still walking down the road, so everywhere Kael looked, he could only find houses with some windows lit, and some were dark.

The heavy footsteps of Hamel came to a stop. Then, his voice followed, "Battle. Heading to the mine."

"You can feel it?" Kael asked, a bit amazed. His thoughts raced. He couldn't help but think of Eryn. Was it him…fighting the intruder?

"The dwarven race can sense even the slightest tremor beneath their feet," Hamel explained. His voice was softer as he looked off into the distance. "The mine is far from here, but I can feel the ongoing fight."

Kael followed his gaze, but all he saw were the looming mountain walls. Yet in one of the nearby homes, he noticed a dwarf peering out the window in the same direction. That was all it took for Kael to understand why the entire dwarven kingdom had fallen into such a dreadful silence. 

"Is it your people fighting the intruders?" Kael asked with a worried tone. 

If Hamel answered 'yes', Kael would feel a bit relieved, knowing that Eryn wasn't fighting alone. Otherwise, inner peace would be impossible. 

Swoosh—!

In just the blink of an eye, the gleaming, sharp blade of the sword was pressed against Kael's neck. One wrong move and his head would roll on the ground. Yet even with the cold steel threatening his life, Kael remained calm. He opened his mouth to speak, but the dwarf growled at him.

Hamel snarled through gritted teeth, "How did you know there was an intruder?! Are you with them?!"

Kael met the dwarf's glare without flinching. "We heard an explosion at the gates," he said calmly. "And dwarves don't let anyone into the kingdom after nightfall. That's how I knew whoever bombed the gates wasn't welcome."

"Are you one of them?!" Hamel growled again, pressing the blade just a fraction closer.

Still, Kael showed no fear and did not even blink. His steady breathing and serene expression left Hamel visibly unsettled. 

How could someone at the face of death still breathe soundly and look as peaceful as this priest?

Kael slowly shook his head. "No. Take me to your king and you will know."

Hamel sneered, "Aren't you just saying that to find our king so you can kill him?"

"I swear by the name of Solvantar, I came here solely to retrieve the temple's relic said to be in your kingdom's possession," Kael replied, raising his right hand in solemn vow. 

Still, Hamel wasn't convinced. He said, "You humans are born with deceit in your blood. Humans are inherently evil. You speak of one thing and do another. I don't trust you." He shoved the sword a little closer. 

Kael felt a sharp sting at his neck. He could feel something trickling down. Still, he wasn't alarmed and didn't beg Hamel to stop. He knew nothing would happen to him anyway. At most, he would feel the pain, but that was all. 

Oh. But if the dwarf chose to sever his head, there'd be no putting it back. That was Kael's only concern. 

Hamel demanded, "Give me the scroll you spoke of!" 

Kael knew that refusing would only deepen the dwarf's suspicion. Thus, he carefully retrieved the scroll from within his robes and slowly handed it to Hamel.

Hamel snatched it from his hands, then jerked his chin forward. "You lead the way. I will tell you where to go."

Kael obeyed, stepping ahead with a quiet sigh. He felt a heavy sense of disappointment and sadness settle over him. 

What had humans done to the dwarves to earn such deep mistrust? Has the kidnapping and trafficking of dwarves become common in recent years?

"Straight ahead," Hamel commanded. 

Kael obediently followed. Now, what he thought earlier had come true. He was now a prisoner escorted by a guard. Still, he couldn't allow Hamel to drag him to a dungeon or anywhere that would take him farther from the dwarven leader.

"Hamel," Kael said, his voice careful but sincere, "humans aren't born evil. Would you call an infant wicked the moment he's born? Good or evil, one can only develop these capacities from environmental factors, individual experiences, and societal structures. Just as I believe that not all dwarves are good and diligent, I hope that you won't judge all humans the same."

Hamel didn't answer, but Kael could feel that the burning distrust in the dwarf's eyes had dimmed, if only slightly. That alone gave him a sliver of hope. 

He considered bringing up the young dwarf he'd once helped; perhaps that memory could earn him a little more trust. But he had long forgotten that dwarf's name. Mentioning it now, without details, might only make Hamel think he was lying to gain favor.

So, Kael held his tongue and continued walking. 

After a moment of silence, Hamel spoke. 

"Dwarven warriors were summoned after the explosion to guard the king's palace and hunt down the intruders. Our families are hiding in fear. Some fathers, including me, whose sons were called to fight, are trembling with fear for their lives."

The dwarf's voice was tinged with grief and fear. Kael exhaled deeply. 

"It's been centuries since someone tried to trespass into our kingdom. That person left an unforgettable impact on our ancestors and future generations. He, too, claimed that he came here to get something very important to him, but when he failed to present what the king asked for, he went on a rampage and killed most of our people." 

The rage in Hamel's eyes flared as he recalled the memory, burning with the weight of a wound carried through generations. 

Kael didn't need to ask which race the man had belonged to. He lowered his head, feeling blue that some people were truly capable of that kind of evil. He wondered, what kind of life would drive a human to that point? 

What circumstances would have to unfold, or how far would someone have to be pushed, for their humanity to erode into something so monstrous?

"Even though this story had long been passed," Hamel said, "the evil and the fear it left behind became permanent."

Kael remained silent, consumed by his own inability to influence people to do good. He simply followed Hamel's direction, and at last, they arrived. 

Not far ahead stood the same grand structure Kael had glimpsed from the mouth of the tunnel. But now, he saw clearly that the brown shapes he had mistaken for scattered stones were, in fact, a crowd of dwarves, each one clad in full armor, standing guard. 

At the same moment, from the mouth of another tunnel leading somewhere, a figure flew out. This figure was dressed in white, almost a similar style to Kael's priestly robes, but adorned with a red ceremonial cloth draped across the left shoulder and wrapped around the right arm. 

It was a man. He had short-cropped hair and wore a string of small prayer beads dangling from one ear. His thick brows curved upward from the bridge of his nose to his temples, giving him the permanent appearance of being furious. Those sharply slanted brows drew even closer together as he crashed to the ground, face-first. 

"It's the intruder!"

"Catch him!"

The dwarven warriors charged toward this person, but before they could reach him, they were flung into the air by an unseen force. They all landed not far from the man, groaning from the impact.

Meanwhile, this person slowly pushed himself upright. But instead of facing the dwarven warriors that shot arrows at him, he turned to the mouth of the tunnel where he came from. His face distorted into extreme rage and contempt. Blood also trickled from his nose, and part of his forehead was covered with it. 

"Fuck you! You little piece of shit! What did I ever do to you?! Why are you messing with my business?!" he shouted hoarsely with rage. 

Kael gasped. He was rooted in the spot. His body froze as a cold wave washed over him.

Despite the man's altered demeanor, his violent outburst, and the years that had passed, Kael recognized him. 

It was someone he had known long ago.