Chapter 124: Welcome to the Carnage Pt.1

Chandea, Year of Severus, 15, I.R., the 48th day of Fall, Arenfall

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Ulfaar lined up along with the rest of the knights and two healers on Commander Crovar's squad. He stood uneasily, shoulder to shoulder with the same knights who eyed on him earlier. His heart wildly thumped on his chest and his throat was parched.

This was the first time Ulfaar had to be separated from his friends. His first mission and might possibly be his last. His hands were clammy and twitching from anxiety. He would've liked it better if he stayed in the surface. But even then, he would still feel unease, especially with his comrades' risking their lives for their freedom.

"Attention!" Commander Crovar shouted at the top of his lungs. "Men, we die today…"

That was the worst speech opening one could ever do. It only made his apprehensions worse. His knees started to grow weaker as the old Commander blabbered about fighting the unknown and dying for the Principalia. Apparently, he wasn't the greatest of speakers, his words turned out more to be punches rather than a bouquet of flowers. That wasn't the most comforting speech he has heard.

"…but we die with dignity and we die knowing that our love ones are safe." Commander Crovar ended his speech and got no reaction from them except for those two healers who made the best out of it. Ulfaar saw how they cheered; it was too energetic to the point of over jubilation.

Somehow he wondered, maybe that's how it goes, when you know your life would end soon. You make the best out of the most mundane of this and treat them as extraordinarily as possible since you cannot bring it to the afterlife.

"That's enough, Syleon." Lord Prestonheim patted Commander Crovar's back giving him a sign that it was time to go. 

Earlier, the old commander volunteered that his squad be the firsrt to descend into the abyss. His reasoning; he wanted to cut down as many monsters as possible so the reckless, glory-hungry commander insisted on going in first.

He could see the uneasy faces of the knights surrounding him, compared to the Commander and his healers who grinned wildly at the thought of lurking monsters.

"Descend!" The loud-mouthed Commander ordered.

They lined up in a queue as pairs of them went descending on the cave. Ulfaar looked around in search for his comrades. He wasn't able to speak with them properly. The poor faerfolk could only look at him anxiously as the line slowly shortened.

Ulfaar may regret this moment if he didn't say something to them, "Have a drinks lots of when alive we!" He signed.

Ulfaar knew he still had a long way to go to perfect the faerfolk's sign language, but he rather do that than shout to them what he truly wanted to say. The faerfolks cracked a smile as they read his crude signs.

"Yes, indeed we will!" The dwarf signed back.

"Yes, when we return, we are going to practice this one." The elf happily replied.

Ulfaar could see the fear in their eyes, but they opted not to make it as obvious as it already was. They were worried for their fates.

"Your turn, beastman!" The knight behind him shoved him forward.

Ulfaar placed his foot comfortably on the small wooden plank tied to the end of the rope and positioned himself securely so he wouldn't fall down once he descended. It didn't take long for him to descend into the hole, Commander Crovar along with some of the knights huddled near the white stone.

"Damn it!" Commander clicked his tongue. "So, this is what she meant by the barrier?"  He knocked on the white stony wall.

"Syleon," Lord Prestonheim's voice buzzed from the crystal ball held by the Orkamuu standing beside the battle-hardy Commander. "The second squad is about to descend." He notified.

"Yes, August," Commander Crovar rolled his eyes and groaned, "Thanks, Lord Commander. I shall now commence the first position!"

Ulfaar  could almost hear a sigh from Lord Prestonheim. "Do what you must, Syleon. May the gods smile upon us all."

Commander Crovar nodded as if Lord Prestonheim was there. The old Commander raised his arm. The knights attentively stood straight and hoisted their shields. The beastman confusingly grabbed his shield and emulated the knights. He wasn't prepared for it. He didn't train for it.

He watched the Commander's hand closely while looking around the surrounding knights. It wasn't hard for him to do it, since he was towering over them. Commander Crovar raised his fore and pinky fingers then pointed it forward.

The knights line formation began to separate into two columns. Ulfaar hurriedly went to one column but felt it was the wrong one. So, he staggered back to his original column. The knights lined up perfectly well with their shields perfectly aligned on their left arm.

Ulfaar was so confused with what happened, like a lost duck looking for his mother, he didn't know what to do or where to go. The old Commander notice his distress and called his attention.

"You there! Towering humanoid!" He shouted at him.

Ulfaar looked around and obviously not having any clue of what's happening, pointed himself.

He could see the Commander's jaw clenched bitterly as he pointed back at him. "Yes you! Come here!"

Ulfaar hesitantly approached what seemed like a man seething in anger. He ought to tread gently as he slowly got near him. His heart couldn't stop from beating wildly as he met eyes with the Commander.

"Your name?" Commander Crovar asked as he met with him face to face.

He shied away from the Commander's intense gaze. 

But the Commander insisted, "Look at me, boy!"

Ulfaar hesitantly looked back into the Commander's piercing stare and answered, "U-Ulf…U-ulfaar, M-my Lord."

"Okay, U-ulf!" He looked at him sternly. "At front, now!" The Commander Crovar ordered.

The beastman was confused with the command. He looked around and saw the piercing gazes from the knights, judging him for his ignorance.  He felt uneasy and cold. His knees won't stop trembling. He tried the best that he could to stop himself from falling down.

"I said, At front." The stern Commander grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to face the white stony wall. "Face there, and no one move until I say so!" He added.

Everyone was silent, but Ulfaar could hear the laughter and snickering from the knights. He could hear the loud insults spat on him by disembodied voices ringing his ear. The voices became louder, and the words more poignant than before. He became jittery as he uncomfortably shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He just wanted to run away at that point.

He just can't take it anymore. He turned around and there he met Commander Crovar facing directly into him. Ulfaar accidentally bared his fangs at the Commander. A mistake that he will regret pretty soon.

"What is that grin for?" The Commander Crovar raised an eyebrow, but he didn't get an answer from him.

Commander Crovar smiled at him before landing a punch on the gut. Ulfaar hunched as the blow landed on his gut. The old Commander grabbed the beastman by the collar, "I don't care what're race is. When I command something, you obey!" He shouted at him before he dragged Ulfaar by the collar and made him face the wall again.

"You stay there and don't blink." The commander said. "Since, you're a big, strong guy but not well-versed with the military tactics…You shall stay there and welcome the carnage!" Commander Crovar pointed at the wall.

The beastman wasn't sure what exactly was he was supposed to do. He looked at the Commander with confusion. He wanted to understand the Commander's order. What did he mean by welcoming the carnage? Is he going to be a sacrifice for the monsters beyond the white stony wall?

"W-what do you…mean—" He hesitantly asked. "I-I…mean…w-what d-do you mean by that?" He added.

The Commander smiled and slapped him across the face. "Did I told you to speak?"

Commander Crovar's slap echoed through the clearning. It stung so much, Ulfaar's ears rang. "No…but—" Ulfaar answered as he tried his best not to wince at the stinging slap he received from the old Commander.

The stern Commander smiled again and slapped him across the face. "Did I told you to speak?!" He raised his voice once again.

Ulfaar got the message this time and just shook his head.

"Good." Commander Crovar answered. "Now, let me get this to your thick skull, you shall defend us from any goddamned monsters there is on the other side of this wall!" The Commander pointed at the wall and shoved him hard on it.

Ulfaar nodded. The last thing he wanted was to let the Commander hurt him even more.

"Very well." Commander Crovar cleared his throat. "You shall welcome the carnage of this hellhole! Do your post well!" He grinned as he eyed Ulfaar from head to toe and back.

The old Commander loathed the freed slaves' existence. This assignment wasn't really necessary to the progress of the hole trip, but Commander Crovar made it for him.  Ulfaar couldn't stop shaking after hearing those words. This was it for him—

A gruesome end.