Chapter 62 Atrocities Of War

Their trip to Talion was a fairly uneventful one.

Accompanied by Wilfried, who was a 5th circle mage, the group didn't run into any major troubles.

Furthermore, since Wilfried was a highly accomplished wind mage, he could use his magic to speed up the carriages.

They were already able to see the Karsia's city walls by the time the sun had set.

It would have taken Arvell at least 3-4 days on foot, and that was assuming that he didn't come across any trouble on the way.

Travelling fast, comfortably and luxuriously…

Returning Zen back to his family was definitely the right option!

Arvell wanted to thank his mom for instilling him with at least basic compassion.

Something he had done out of pity had paid off this much.

August watched the upcoming city walls with visible excitement.

The carriage ride had been an extremely entertaining ride for the young dragon, to say the least.

The carriage had passed by lakes, forests, meadows and countless other locations, letting him see many things for the first time.

Since they were travelling at a high speed, August wasn't given much time to see everything in detail, but even so, he was content.

After all, August wanted to explore the whole world!

He wanted to see everything the world had to offer!

Even if he wasn't able to see much this time, he could always come back later.

August had his entire life ahead of him after all.

Arvell had told August about Karsia since he had visited the capital a few times as a kid.

Mostly to see princess Lilianna.

Both kings wanted to use their marriage to end the centuries of war between the two neighbouring countries, and wanted their two children to get along.

If their marriage went well, perhaps both kingdoms could finally put aside their differences and seek peace.

Sadly it didn't work out like how they intended.

Their engagement was annulled, and the two nations went to war.

It wasn't just a simple border skirmish either.

The war threatened to destroy both countries as a whole.

If the two kings didn't sign an armistice, both countries might have ceased to exist.

While the previous wars were considerably devastating for both countries, the last war was unlike those before it.

If tens of thousands had died in previous wars, the last war claimed millions.

Both countries had their populations culled significantly.

Ordinary citizens were treated like grass, with them being killed left and right…

Entire cities were burned to the ground…

People killed their own family members due to food shortages…

It was a scene straight out of hell.

Due to the knights and soldiers being busy with the war efforts, no one was left to maintain civil order.

Crimes such as theft, **** and murder ran rampant throughout the unguarded communities.

Human trafficking was especially common at this time, with countless young men and women being kidnapped as slaves.

This was one of the reasons Arvell used this as his alibi.

After all, one of those kidnapped slaves just happened to have been bought by the king himself to be one of Arvell's caretakers.

Sometimes buying a slave was cheaper than paying a maid's wages, so it wasn't an uncommon practice.

When Arvell first met his new 'maid', it was almost like he was talking to a corpse.

Outwardly his new maid looked fine, but she might as well be dead on the inside.

Having her entire family slaughtered, while she and her friends were sold off as slaves.

It was more than enough to break someone, especially someone as young as her.

Even though Arvell was a prince of the very country that had imprisoned her as a slave, his empathetic nature moved her.

Making sure to not mistreat her, Arvell had never looked down on her, even with her status as an enemy slave.

Arvell treated her with kindness and empathy.

Hoping to help ease her pain, if only a bit.

'I wonder how she's doing now?'

While it did take Arvell some time, he was eventually able to make her open up and tell him about her past.

Arvell had used her village's name as his 'birthplace' when tricking Zen's family about his background.

He hoped that at the very least she was assigned to the twins.

Those two would surely take good care of her.

Tristan and Alecia were raised by the same empathetic mother after all.

As the carriage headed towards the gate, feeling parched, Arvell grabbed a nearby water flask and poured himself a cup of water.

He brought the cup close to his mouth and enjoyed the cool sensation wash over his tongue.

"Oh yeah, Arvell… Don't you share the same name as the deceased Vispian prince?" Zen suddenly asked.

"PTWHOO"

A volley of water escaped Arvell's mouth, drenching the face of an unexpecting Zen.