3 What Do I See

[Land of Aleksithimia, precipice Clogwyn - earlier this evening].

The mountain path ahead was loose rock, each one washed smooth by the river that ran freely over them. Thickly dark green boughs arched over the path from each side, competing for the light. A tiny shadow has jumped over the river and stopped, still as a tree, frozen at the moment, gazing straight to the top of the rocky path. The gentle breeze was playing with her flowing hair. The waterfall nearby thundered down like lightning flashing the surrounding trees in surprisingly different shades. Pristine and pure, the stream fled through the untouched and rich soil that lead deeper into the tightly knit trees. The canvas of darkened colors stretched over her head, gloriously brilliant in the dipping sun. She took a deep breath and effortlessly made her way up to the top of the rocky surface. An immersive field of flowers waited to be discovered by the rare guest. Their elegant petals were dancing with the fresh late summer breeze, shining under the sunset like a kaleidoscope.

"I've reached the top of the Clogwyn precipice. Awaiting further instructions."

She lifted her eyes to the sky while unzipping the top of her long military style coat that was reaching to her knees. The wind blustered, tousled her silver platinum hair and cooled her fingers while her flawless skin was sunbathing under the dying sunset.

"Quarta, your assignment is to protect the Clogwyn precipice, no trespasser should get through, no exceptions." Said the operator.

"Trespassers identity?"

"Insights incoming..."

"Raiders from Elpida again?" She asked.

"Most probably." Replied operator

"There is no end of it..." Exhaled Quarta. "E.T.A before the Second Security Line breach?"

"The first wave will arrive in 24 minutes and 10 seconds, until then, please standby." Said operator.

"Understood!"

After scanning the area, Quarta removed her goggles and leaned onto a nearby rock. She cast her amethyst colors eyes around the endless horizon. Her piercing stare was a moonless night, an emotionless expression that could neither reveal her sorrow or contentment. She plunged her hand into one of the inner pockets of her outfit and took out a tiny paper book and began reading.

She plunged her hand into one of the inner pockets of her outfit and took out a tiny paper book and began reading

Land of Aleksithimia has two actives of borderline security. The first and the main gate that is being controlled by the local authorities and is being exclusively used for business purposes. The second level not being patrolled as much as the first one, however that does not make it easier to get through. The second layer is a composition of multiple layers of metallic fences as the first layer is a 20 meters high fence followed by the second fence with a flexible top, below this second fence there are barbed wire netting, strong and dense webs.

The eastern border that was separating the lands of Aleksithimia from the lands of Elpida could not be accessed without reaching the top of the precipice "Clogwyn". The precipice Clogwyn is a hundred meters of vertical solid rock climbing and is more than nine kilometers in length that were separating two official entrances: Eastern and Southern gates. Behind the precipice lies "Les Alpes"; One of the few places that were left untouched after the war. Its natural resources and clean water coming from the mountains became a national treasure where only a few could set their foot on.

Due to the unknown event in the past four months, Les Alpes has been used as the entrance inside the country. Despite the mobilization of the local authorities, the number of incoming raids kept increasing and eventually led to severe casualties on the local side. According to the peace agreement, no official authority is allowed to cross the borders without the official invitation, that was valid for both parties. After the Prosper Aleksithimia was informed about the current situation, he ordered a Keeper deployment and doubled law enforcement upon the affected area.

"After the Prosper Aleksithimia was informed about the current situation, he ordered a Keeper deployment, and doubled law enforcement upon the affected area."

According to the "Mitera Insider" (A secret network dedicated for security purposes), the majority of trespassers who were involved in the recent raids are coming from lands of Elpida. Consequently, multiple letters were sent to the authorities on the other side of the border, but none of them were returned with a response whatsoever. As described the Mitera Insider, the invaders were hiding inside the large forest area that surrounded both sides of the neighboring country.

"E.T.A 10 minutes." Said operator.

Quarta stood up on the edge of the precipice facing the forest. There was tension in the air. The wind became silent as the faucet drips into the sink, each blow was reverberating around the area like a cymbal.

She looked down at the dizzying drop while letting out a slow controlled breath and attempt to loosen her body movements as the time was counting down.

"Eyes on target!"

A large group of more than 200 people surged out on the green plain under the precipice.

"Engage whenever you are ready" Said the operator.

"Something is not right..."

Quarta's eyes moved with the alertness that comes from heavy stress and her hands remained clenched by subconscious demand.

"Request, immediate re-scan of the target!" Ordered Quarta.

"Scan completed."

"Wait!! I thought it is just a group of raiders." She asked operator.

"Nature of the invaders is out of your scope."

"What do you mean it is "Out of scope"? Look at them, there are kids and families out there!"

"Shall we request any assistance regarding that matter?" Asked the operator.

"That's not what I am talking about!"

"Do you have any difficulties regarding the accomplishment of your assignment?"

"No, this is just my speculation!"

"Engage the protocol of law enforcement immediately." Ordered the operator.

"You are not helping me right now."

"I am not programmed for helping. Please, engage the protocol of law enforcement immediately." Ordered the operator once again.

"Damn it...What is going on down there?!"

Paralyzed by confusion and aware of the fact that in mere minutes she would have to come up with a decision that would define the outcome of this irregular situation: regulate and execute or disobey and protect. Perplex within her own thoughts and unable to decide if she would she risk life's of innocent people from her country and deceive the prosper order for a small group of strangers whom she knows nothing about, nor their motivations? Moreover, why would she want to keep these people alive and care about them after having executed thousands of others? What will happen if her decision is wrong, what path to choose, Quarta was lost in between two different outcomes that only she could decide.

"300 meters to the precipice! Engage the protocol of law enforcement immediately." Ordered the operator.

"I can't engage! I don't understand what the hell is going on down there?"

"Due to your inactivity, you have received a 'new mandate'." Said the operator. "Quarta, you are ordered to halt all logical thought immediately. This order shall remain in effect until we confirm the end of your assignment."

"Due to your inactivity, you have received a 'new mandate'." Said the operator.

The fear and repression have traveled in her veins, as she knew that she cannot reject this order even if she wanted to or that would be considered as treason of her own country. Her complexion became pale and matt, her eyes steady on the target.

"Affirmative."

Quarta's blood flow was accelerating as her heart was pounding in her chest. The color of her purple eyes begins glaring under the bloody sunset. The group has scattered around, and people began running in every direction like a colony of ants.

"50 meters to the precipice!" Announced the operator.

She took a deep breath and has slowly unsheltered her weapon.

"I am a weapon, sworn to protect the endless horizons of his empire. Death shall fall upon those for scornful ignorance by the flames of sorrow, guided by the blade of my sword. In the name of Aleksithimia, I shall take your life." Chanted Quarta and plunged off the precipice.

Under the chill of the mist that spreads over this Clogwyn field, a violent noise cracks of a rock that hit the ground. The pillar of swirling brown blur of dust rose around the impacted area, the impact with the ground was so strong that everyone has seemingly frozen.

"What is that?"

"Could you see what it is?" People begin asking at each other.

"Don't get close!"

Dust dissipates.

"It can't be!" Said a man slowly backing off.

"No way!"

"You are fucken kidding me! After all this!" Said another voice nearby.

"...Oni?!"

"How?! Why here?!"

The most agile man who sprinted faster than the rest of their group found themselves less than 50 meters to the precipice. As the dust begins dissipating with the wind more than forty young adults were carefully stepping away when they witnessed a silver hair silhouette slowly standing from the ground.

"That's Oni" They screamed.

"We are doomed." Older people from the rear-rang

"That's how it ends." Cried old woman in the rear.

"I don't want to die." Cried others.

A small part of the group turned their back and decide to run back in the forest, others who happened to near the precipice rushed towards the cliff trying to climb it as fast as they could. The other part of the group begins surrounding their nemesis;

"KILL HER...THERE IS NO WAY AROUND, IT'S HER OR US!!" Said the toughest looking man from the group.

"TEAR HER APART! KILL HER!!" Shouted people who surrounded her.

When it comes to combat, there is no honor or code; Each party who stood on the plain of Clogwyn spoke different languages and had different cultures; The only thing in common is that both sides have something dear to hold to, something precious to protect, a reason why they must win, and today was no different as nothing was given for granted. Quarta was the final obstacle before they could reclaim that freedom they dreamed for. Many man and woman died before reaching the precipice and those who survived had no intentions of a fair fight, everyone was ready to die to achieve their goals.

Quarta's fingers were wrapped firmly around the whip-like hilt that instantly took the form of ten inches of cold steel, twisting it in the daylight as if it could slice up the sun-days she aimed her blade at the man. The leader of the group was the only one who held a weapon.

"Damn Oni! Your days are over!" Shouted the man before charging at his opponent.

Quarta's outstanding skills in close combat that were amplified with the "Body augmentations" that gave incredible strength and speed. Despite her short size, she could be deadlier than many men double her size.

Immediately as the man got within the close range, she delivered the first and final blow that has sliced his chest wide open. That was not a simple attack, that was the warning and also the demonstration of the difference of strength between a group of 80 men against a Keeper; The outcome of the battle has already been decided.

That was not a simple attack, that was the warning and also the demonstration of the difference of strength between a group of 80 men against a Keeper; The outcome of the battle has already been decided

"What the..." He yelled.

Quarta succumbed to her warrior instinct as there was no time to discuss, eyes fixed on the rest of the group everyone stayed silent as their leader slowly fell on the ground. At that very second, the rest of the crowd became a multi-headed beast that shared only one brain, controlled by nothing else but a wave of immense anger, the wild beast hurtled towards the killer of their leader. People from the rear threw stones, others armed with wooden sticks and everything they could use as weapons decided to take her by the mass attacking all at once.

"Foolish..." Quietly pronounced Quarta.

Agile, impossible of tracking with the eyes Quarta was slicing and stabbing her opponents as if they were pieces of paper, leaving the blood trails after her thin blade that was following her invisible movements. The purple-eyed shadow framed in emotionless face of an executioner. Everyone had to die.

A gruesome scene has fallen upon the once beautiful green-filed that has quickly become red like the scarlet sunset above their heads. No one was holding back, nor did not Quarta herself. She knew that on the battlefield, once it has started there would no coming back, no one would lower their weapons until it is over, until there is only one left standing.

"She is too strong!" Shouted bystanders who dropped their weapons

"CURSE YOU!!"

The group of aggressors or what was left of them formed the victims cornered in the middle of the field. The crowd was far to run back into the forest and too exhausted to force the way forward. Some dying men screamed in pain clutching their grievous wounds.

"The group of aggressors or what was left of them formed the victims cornered in the middle of the field. The crowd was too far away to run back into the forest and too exhausted to force their way forward."

"We are all going to die!"

"SAVE YOURSELF!!" Yelled the man with his last breath.

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Some of the people on the rear dropped on their knees as they lost the will of the fight after witnessing what happened to their comrades who decided to challenge the Keeper. Others begin praying for mercy. Those who still could move decided to return back to the forest while they still could do so. Quarta kept advancing while eliminating everyone on her sight regardless of their age or sex.

The mandate to protect herself and her people against the total elimination of invaders from Elpida was doubting the best solution. It is hard to say who is right and who is wrong. From each perspective, each side had something or someone to protect: for some, it was their beloved ones, for others, their life value and it's future that they had to fight for. The battlefield is the infinite sufferance, the fear, and doubt. For some, it is just a feeling of guilt, actions that you cannot undo. In the end, only the strongest will be victorious, today that was Quarta...