Caden entered the guardhouse where a group of city guards stood.
"Ah, Caden, you're here. We're sorry... About Merill," the captain replied.
"So you already know," Caden said sadly, hanging his head.
"Yes, they have already taken his body away. It was a big blow to all of us. Especially for you, you are with us so briefly and already..."
"I understand that, captain. Just give me some work," Caden stopped him.
"Caden, you should take some time to relax."
"Time to think is the last thing I need. Please give me some work," Caden demanded.
"Well... Not far south from the city in the abandoned Temple of Saints, a bunch of thugs settled there, how many we don't know exactly, but..." the captain explained.
"Good," Caden said briefly and walked out into the rain, mounted his horse, and left the city.
He reached the ruins of the temple, dismounted from the horse, and walked on. Soon the leader of the thugs appeared on the stone before him, and then his cutthroats, all around Caden, they were at least ten.
"Well, well, on the watch, little guard? Only yourself?" the leader of the thugs laughed.
"For trash like you, one city guard is enough," Caden replied coldly.
The leader of the thugs jumped off the stone. "So you came to play a hero. Kill him, guys!" leader shouted.
Caden drew his sword and slashed the cutthroat's tendons and muscles of limbs one by one. It was like he was enjoying their pain because it lowered that his. When most of the cutthroats laid on the ground in unbearable pain, almost unable to move, the others with their crossbows rushed past the leader of the thugs, and they all fired at Caden. The bolts stopped in front of Caden in the air, Caden turned his head and returned the bolts to their owners. Everyone around the leader of the thugs fell on the ground. There were four thugs and their leader still alive.
"What are you by all Saints?" thug leader screamed.
"I'm a city guard, and you'd better stay away from my city," Caden said, with a terrifying smile.
The remaining thugs took their feet on their shoulders and fled.
Caden mounted his horse and was returning to the city when he encountered a warden who was attacked by several mercenaries. Caden rushed to his aid, and the mercenaries were slain.
"Saints... I've never seen an ordinary guard fight like that, and so young. What's your name, boy?" the warden asked.
"Caden, sir."
"I'm Edward. Too bad you didn't come sooner, at least the bastard wouldn't have escaped me."
"What bastard?"
"The mage I caught in the village north of here," Edward explained.
"To the north? I'll help you find him!" Caden shouted.
“Well, that would be great, boy. Don't worry about the report, I'll come with you to your guardhouse," Edward assured him.
"Well... where did he escape?"
"Somewhere out there, back north."
"You don't have a horse?" Caden asked.
"I have, but I assumed I wouldn't need him for such a short route," Edward laughed, they got onto Caden's horse and started off.
They reached the burned-out village. Memories were striking Caden's mind like needles.
"There must have been a terrible catastrophe, I heard the local militia was pretty decent. Sad," Edward said as they walked through the village.
The corpses were stacked in heaps. The smell of spoiled meat was everywhere.
"Why would anyone run here?" Edward said.
Edward drew his sword, Caden repeated his step.
"I'll search this side, you take the other one, I'll meet you in the middle of the village. Be careful, he's a cunning bastard," Edward said, handing Caden a bottle and they spread out.
Caden walked among the burned-out remains of the house as he saw a shadow around the corner. Caden ran past the corner and was stunned.
"Hi, brother," a purple-hooded person said.507Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxLS8wJLi0
