Sacred Brother

When I woke up, Aliannelle was already gone from my bed.

A simple confirmation with my senses allowed me to know that she was simply in the kitchen. I quickly washed with a basin of water, changed into clean clothes and joined her.

"Good morning, Sillath." She said with a cheerful smile on her face immediately after seeing me.

"Good morning." I lightly answered while noticing that it was almost noon.

Without mentioning what had happened the night before or the reason why we overslept, we ate our breakfast together. As usual, she was drinking her extremely bitter and strange blue tea while I simply munched on a piece of soft bread.

Her previous weakness was gone, replaced by her usual cheerfulness like a mask she was all too used to wear. I did the same in the past and knew that there was nothing I could do except wait for her to slowly lift the mask to let me see the truth lying beyond.

I just hoped that I would still be around when she will decide to trust me with her truth.

*Bang*

A sudden violent noise brought me out of my thoughts while Aliannelle let a small scream of surprise escape her mouth.

I immediately stood up and gathered my mana by reflex to face the entrance and the impatient visitor.

However, I immediately let down my guard when I noticed who entered the room.

"Dad!"

Aliannelle stood up in turn with her cheeks puffed betraying her anger. She must have perceived just like me the strong odor of alcohol still radiating from him and testifying that our previous assumption about his absence was true.

"Dad, you're really…"

"We don't have the time for that!"

Paul immediately cut his daughter's words with a scream completely different from his usual calm attitude.

I frowned while looking at Paul.

He had large bags under his eyes, testimony of the short night he had, while his clothes were dirty and his appearance messy. He also had trouble catching his breath which was surprising coming from this robust and fit man.

However, more than his unkempt appearance, understandable if he spent his last night drinking, it was his behavior that surprised me.

He wasn't just agitated.

He was afraid.

"What happened?" I carefully asked.

"Nothing yet." He quickly answered while calming his breathing.

"I overslept and now we're late. Quick, come with me I will explain everything on the way."

I exchanged a glance with Aliannelle but her face told me that she didn't know what was happening either.

In front of Paul's pleadings, we put on our jackets to fight the coldness of the outside world and followed behind him with hastened steps.

The sun was already high in the sky but its warmth wasn't enough to fight the cold breeze assaulting us and quickly dispersing the last bit of my drowsiness.

Contrary to his earlier promise, Paul walked ahead of us with hastened steps without explaining anything to us. Aliannelle had troubles following the pace while my small build forced me to run to keep up.

"Paul!"

He ignored me and simply waved with his hand to follow him.

We followed him for ten minutes across the unusually quiet farmland district. Aliannelle and I both woke up late, so the day was already well advanced. At this hour, the farmers were usually working but all the fields around us were completely empty.

This sight alone was enough to understand that Paul's unrest was justified.

It's only when we reached the end of the farmland district that we finally saw other people walking toward the entrance of the town.

Seeing this familiar group, Paul's hastened steps finally slew down while his expression softened.

I stopped running and turned my head to look at Aliannelle behind me who had trouble catching her breath. She put her hands on her knees for a few seconds before the three of us quickly joined the previous group.

"So, can you tell us what's going on?" I finally asked without hiding the impatience in my voice.

"Sorry about that. I spent the afternoon and the night with an old friend but we drank too much and kind of lost track of time."

"We already got that part. A single look at you is enough to understand that. What we want to know is why you made us run like madmen!" Interjected Aliannelle clearly displeased by her unusually tough run.

"Sorry sweetheart. With my friend, we were late to wake up and late to hear about the news. Someone probably came to the field to warn the other farmers but…"

"What news?" Aliannelle asked, clearly eager to know the heart of the problem.

Paul sighed after her heartless words preventing him from finding excuses.

"A member of the Ryunno clan is coming." He slowly said with a serious expression on his face.

"Ryunno clan?" I asked puzzled.

I expected something serious to have happened, such as an attack on the town or someone looking for me but his words were beyond my expectations.

I had heard about the Ryunno clan a few times, but because of my grandfather, I didn't spend enough time in school to know all the details.

Alianelle was probably in the same situation as me considering the look on her face.

"I don't have the time to explain everything. Just remember to do everything I do and, no matter what happens, do not talk under any circ.u.mstances."

"We mustn't talk?"

"Yes, you mustn't talk." He stopped his steps and turned to us with an overly serious face betraying his worries.

"Remember, do not do anything to attract their attention and above all, don't utter a single word."

Both Aliannelle and I immediately subconsciously nodded in approval.

Worry was contagious.

Paul's attitude finally affected us and made us swallow all the questions we had.

We simply followed in silence the group with heavy steps toward the entrance of the town.

After a few minutes of a silent walk with a dozen other people, the gate of the town finally came into our sight.

It was natural to see many guards patrolling near it, but it was much less common to see civilians there.

However, today was different.

From the large gate, several rows of people densely packed but neatly aligned could be seen at each side of the door. There were guards, mercenaries, farmers, townsfolk and even a few children each with their respective clothes betraying their respective identity.

Many of these people usually never crossed each other's paths. However, no matter their origins and occupations, they all stood still next to one another.

This scene was very much like in a parade except that there wasn't any joyful expression on the faces of the people present. Their faces were gloomy while a strange and heavy silence had settled. This absence of noise seemed incredibly out of place and unnatural especially considering the impressing number of people gathered.

There weren't many children in this Advanced town, but they all seemed gathered at the front rows even if many of them didn't seem to like the idea.

"Quick, you must go to the front row."

"Why?" I asked, intrigued by Paul's order.

"It's the rule. Children in the front row."

Without any other explanation, he waved his hand at me to make me walk toward the front. After making my way among the dense crowd, I spotted a familiar figure in the front row a few meters away from us.

"Jazor is there." I simply said while walking toward him with Alianelle and Paul following my steps.

As there weren't many children and most of the a.d.u.l.ts chose to stay behind, the front row was particularly empty. In this situation, Jazor who was alone in the front row without anyone beside him stood out like a sore thumb.

"You're late, dumbass."

"I know. Sorry" Quickly answered Paul confronted with Jazor's rude words.

Even the always easy-going Jazor wore a serious expression on his face this time.

"What are you doing in the front row? I thought only children had to be there?" I asked while frowning.

This whole situation was becoming weirder and weirder.

"You don't know the rules?"

While I stood with Jazor on my left and Alianelle on my right side, I finally lost patience.

I turned my head to look at Paul who was just behind us with many other a.d.u.l.ts.

"We waited enough, Paul. Explain what's going on."

Confronted with my displeased tone, Paul simply deeply sighed.

"This is something taught in every school. Alianelle missed important scholarly years because of our situation but it seems that's it's the same for you."

"Yeah."

"Alright, we don't have much time and it's frowned upon to talk here in this situation so I can't explain everything." Added Paul without dwelling into my circ.u.mstances.

His calm and peaceful face was long gone replaced by an anxious expression enhanced by the regular glances he was casting around him.

"All you have to know for now is that these are old rules for when a Ryunno clan member visits a town."

Even if Paul was whispering, I could sense various malicious glares directed at us from all around. Sensing the same thing, Paul nervously continued his short explanation.

"Everybody must attend, no exception. Children must be on the front row and no one is allowed to talk."

"And no one is allowed to hide. That's why I'm also in the front row." Completed Jazor with a wry smile.

I had even more questions after hearing this lacking explanation. The only thing I understood was why Jazor was at the front. As I looked at the dense crowd on the other side of the street, I noticed that many women and a couple of other dwarves were also standing in the few first rows and weren't hidden by the massive builds of the men behind them.

"But why must…"

"Shhh"

Jazor cut my question short with authority very much unlike him.

His attitude finally made me close my mouth and swallow my questions. I had heard about the Ryunno clan but all I knew was that they were respected.

However, this gloomy hedgerow of honor in front of the town's gate made me understand that I was completely mistaken.

They weren't respected.

They were feared.

Soldiers and farmers, powerful mages and harmless children were all waiting together with the same dread that was slowly finding its way into their respective hearts.

The feeling of safety I had acquired after living for nearly a month behind sturdy walls completely disappeared as I watched with growing anxiety the closed gate slowly opening.