Chapter 116: City of Lost Fragments

Zaid stopped immediately and his smile faded. He glanced over his shoulder and replied, "You don’t know the hatred in my heart that I have to carry day after day. Hatred and revenge are emotions stronger than simply being hypocritical or selfish... How do you keep your body and mind from having suicidal thoughts just by looking someone in the eyes?"

John fell silent. He didn’t understand his words, but from his dangerous gaze, he knew something wasn’t right.

Zaid quickly realized that he had lost his temper for a moment, so he softened his gaze and smiled again. Perhaps that smile had, long ago, become what he did when he wanted to keep from losing himself.

Then he spoke again. "It’s not easy to control yourself and remain human when the person you trusted stabbed you in the back and led you down a dead-end path. It’s not easy to remain human when all you want to do is destroy your enemies... It’s not easy when your enemies are all the very people who should never have been your enemies in the first place," his last words were a whisper that John didn’t hear.

Zaid walked away.

’I think Zayn is right about one thing,’ he thought, gazing at the moon. ’We’re murderers and psychopaths, but we triumphantly sing a song of joy that tells us we’re strong—so we can convince ourselves that we’re heroes and not lose sight of who we are.’

Although he didn’t want to admit his greatest enemy was right, he had no choice but to do so. Even though he hated the man who had controlled him like a puppet, somehow he also began to admire him.

Zaid felt a strange sensation in his heart. Why did the strong always have philosophies of life?

Anhur had told him that he needed a philosophy of life—a way of viewing life and acting in order to become strong.

Zayn, whose strength is unknown but who managed to control an entire territory as if it were puppets, had a very clear philosophy that allowed him to be himself in every aspect of his life.

He thought back to his Talents and the new descriptions that had appeared after he’d broken free from Zayn’s partial control. ’Concepts... I wonder what that really means.’

He stood guard that night.

John didn’t sleep a wink all night. No one knows what he did—was he thinking? Crying? Lamenting? Remembering? He simply stayed in the same spot all night.

Throughout the night, there were no further attacks.

–

The next morning. The sun was shining on the horizon when Zaid, Erick, and John resumed their walk.

John looked different. He even approached Zaid to thank him personally.

"Don’t thank me. We’re on the same team; it’s only natural to help your teammates."

John nodded. "You’re right."

Erick didn’t ask any questions.

So, with no horses available, they continued on foot.

Night fell once again, but they chose not to stop. They weren’t here as tourists; they needed to get to the city quickly.

Mainly because they didn’t know how many people were in the organization that had attacked them, but they knew that eventually they would find the bodies hidden in the thickets of the woods. They couldn’t afford to be surrounded by more people who were stronger than them.

The city was a safe place, so they ran toward it.

And at dawn the next day, they reached the walled and fortified city, built in the style of a medieval city.

"Wow..." Erick was the first to react when he saw the interior. The imposing walls had already made a huge impression, but the architecture—so exquisite and rustic at the same time—was a beautiful contrast to behold.

It was built to save money, but also to appear more eccentric and extravagant than the world’s great capitals.

Erick was amazed because it reminded him of the cities in the fantasy novels he loved to read.

"It’s no wonder so many successful novels come from here..." he murmured.

Not only was the architecture exquisite, but the energy it radiated was truly a marvel for the senses. It was a deeply serene energy that a city filled with cars and technology simply couldn’t provide. There was a strange sensation emanating from the earth, letting you know that you were standing on the very essence of nature.

Moreover, people wore light clothing—not as heavy as in big cities. Not many people cared about keeping up appearances. They wore loose-fitting pants or shorts, with baggy shirts and sashes or belts around their waists.

Almost everyone had swords hanging from their waists. Some carried daggers, however, and the most extreme among them carried spears or various other weapons slung across their backs.

"I feel like the wizards in colorful robes are missing," Zaid muttered.

"Right? I was just thinking that!" Erick laughed.

They both stopped the moment they said that. Because right in front of them, what they were seeing was actually happening.

A group of seven people was walking down the middle of the street wearing gray and black robes adorned with gold and purple trim. Even in the city, that kind of attire was uncommon, so they caught the attention of passersby.

"From the church," someone in the crowd murmured.

"Don’t get in their way," someone reminded him and pushed him to the side of the road.

They walked in a straight line down the middle of the street, forcing horses and carriages to stop. No one said anything to them.

John frowned and said, "They’re from the Church of Holy Loyalty. They aren’t magicians like you think."

Erick shook his head helplessly.

Zaid nodded. ’Just as I thought.’

"Is there a headquarters here?" he asked.

"Yes. They practically built this city." John pushed them aside when he saw them walking right toward them. "It’s best not to mess with them."

"Are they strong?" Zaid asked.

"They’re the strongest organization in the city. What do you think?"

Zaid nodded and looked at them.

They passed right in front of him. For a brief moment, Zaid and the seven exchanged sidelong glances.

A few meters later, they turned right and disappeared from view.

"Let’s go. We have to report what happened with the horses."

Zaid kept his eyes on the ones who had just disappeared before continuing on his way to the Transport Guild.