The Kind of Evil

‎A week had passed since they took over the three nations. The news had spread all across South Neva, but the news about Corrupted was left out because they didn't want to bring fear to the people.

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‎Their valid reason was that they didn't want to make those demons and the emissary take extreme measures. They didn't want them to feel pressured or to feel like they needed to use their last resort to take over South Neva.

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‎"A letter just came in," Thalior sat down across the table from Rasmus. "Her Holiness has identified the undead, and they are indeed Corrupted just like the one that we encountered beyond the Blackcliffs."

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‎"There was no sign of divine energy being used over there, which means whoever killed those Corrupted, they weren't using divine power to kill them," Thalior continued as he sighed.

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‎"This is a big mystery, and whoever did that, we need them on our side," Thalior muttered under his breath.

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‎Rasmus wondered how Astrea couldn't trace demonic energy there. Since it was Videl who killed the Corrupted, there should be a trace of demonic energy. However, since Astrea didn't feel any demonic energy, it was a good thing for him.

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‎"Did you know that Princess Anastasha is here in South Neva?" Rasmus tried to change the topic since he wasn't interested in something that he already knew.

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‎"Princess Anastasha? You mean the Princess from the Asghar family?" Thalior furrowed his brows.

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‎"You didn't know? I met her in person a while back. I met her not long after I asked for your recommendation letter for Commander Arka," Rasmus answered.

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‎"Where?!" Thalior leaned his body forward and stared intensely at Rasmus.

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‎"Far west, Bastios Kingdom," Rasmus answered, furrowing his brows. He never saw Thalior to be on the edge from hearing Anastasha in South Neva. "Seeing you react like that, it seems that she really came here without anyone knowing."

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‎Thalior immediately calmed himself down, realizing he had shown unsightly behavior. He slowly leaned back and rested his arms on the armrests as he was deep in thoughts.

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‎"We heard Bastios Kingdom is one of the few kingdoms left that's still fighting against the revolutionary parties. If Her Highness is still there, we need to assist her," Thalior rubbed his chin as he spoke.

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‎"I believe Commander Arka already knows about her existence. You should ask the fleet to support the Bastios Kingdom. Although I'm sure he already sent people to protect the kingdom," Rasmus said as he crossed his arms.

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‎Thalior hummed and nodded, realizing that Arka was capable of doing so. He wondered why an Asghar family member had decided to hide in South Neva. There were so many possibilities as to why Anastasha decided to stay there.

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‎"So you have met her in person, Count?" Thalior was worried after knowing Rasmus and Anastasha had met.

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‎"I did. I saved her life once, and then I met her for the second time, knowing each other," Rasmus nodded.

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‎Thalior didn't like the fact that Rasmus had met with Anastasha. He knew a lot about the Asghar family, in fact, he had met with all of them. Every single one of them was a talented schemer, and they were dangerous people.

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‎Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, snapping Thalior back to reality.

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‎"Your Grace, a letter from Commander-in-Chief."

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‎Thalior received the letter and read it thoroughly. The content was about the border that had been expanded after the success of invasions toward the revolutionary army.

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‎Uriel and all the South Neva Union knights were coming in three days along with reinforcements from the Alliance. The situation on the east side was still under control with no sign of demons or demonic cult members.

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‎"The representatives from the Alliance are on their way to the Caldara Kingdom, where the Servil faction is. We will depart there tomorrow morning," Thalior said as he put down the letter.

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‎"So we will discuss the next move? That's faster than we thought," Rasmus asked with his brows raised. "Looks like with Here Holiness on their side, they become confident again even though they lost quite a lot of forces."

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‎"It appears so," Thalior nodded. "With Her Holiness on their side, it also helps us control their influence and their greed," he added.

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‎"Well then, I'll enjoy my time here for one last time..." Rasmus said as he stood up and then left the room.

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‎Rasmus went to the monastery where the wounded were being treated. He saw Daryus talking with a wounded knight on the bed, smiling and laughing. He stayed at the door, observing the knights who got badly injured during the war that had felt better.

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‎Daryus noticed Rasmus at the door, wearing a black robe and a hood that covered his hair. He excused himself after he treated the knight and went to speak with Rasmus.

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‎"Heard you're well-liked among the soldiers. Your way to treat them and listen to their problems makes you their favorite," Rasmus said as he leaned his shoulder against the door.

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‎"I only did what I believe is best for them. Sometimes it's not the physical wounds that hurt them, but the scars from within," Daryus said as he turned around and looked at all the knights being treated by physicians and priests. "These guys are really strong, mentally, but to lose their fallen brothers, it still hurts them. They can't bring the bodies of their fallen brothers back to their families which is devastating."

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‎"They know the risk, and their families as well. It's not that they regret it, it's because it's not them who died instead of their brother in arms," Rasmus said as he crossed his arms.

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‎"Yes, the guilt is consuming them slowly. Time might heal, but we are at war right now. I have to keep their guilt at bay for now," Daryus nodded in agreement. "Anyway, I heard about what you did during the war..." he said as he stared at Rasmus.

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‎"And?" Rasmus stared back at Daryus with a stoic and cold expression.

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‎Daryus couldn't believe that Rasmus had single-handedly killed more than a thousand soldiers. It was something that came out of a fantasy book, a hero or a villain depending on the context.

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‎"Do you have any guilt from that?" Daryus asked even though he already knew the answer.

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‎"No," Rasmus answered without hesitation.

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‎Daryus expected Rasmus to make a justification for his answer, but he didn't. He was trying to understand Rasmus better, and he slowly began to piece the puzzle of Rasmus's mind.

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‎"Keep doing this and you'll become the person you want to be. However, I doubt you can stay the same after what you have seen and will see from this war," Rasmus said as he pushed himself from the door. "I'll see you around," he said and then left the monastery.

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‎Daryus had seen the Corrupted with his own eyes, and the evil that lurked in the shadows. The evil that could and would erase humanity in this world, and everyone would witness their cruelty and the chaos they made. He knew that humanity needed to survive, and righteousness alone wouldn't be enough.

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‎"Now I understand why Archduke Thalior and even Her Holiness need someone like him at this moment..." Daryus muttered as he watched Rasmus walk away. "Someone that can remind them of reality in their minds."

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‎"The luxury of comfort and choices will soon be gone. Survival trumps ideals and beliefs..." Daryus said under his breath as he walked back to treat the knights. "The ones who fought for humanity, only a few could enjoy it."

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‎"The good are sacrificed while the bad reap everything..." Daryus wiped his teary eyes with the back of his hand. "Oh, heroes of humanity, you'll be long forgotten, and your sacrifice might not change anything. This world doesn't deserve all of you..." His voice trembled as tears fell to his chin.

Once he calmed himself down and tried to think positively, he went back to help the knights who were still having a breakdown. He heard their pain of losing their brothers in arms, and the burden they had carried. The long forgotten trauma of losing someone important came back to them unfiltered.

The pain of the people who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, were hidden under the roof of a monastery. A small dot in a vast world, unnoticed by the people. Only one person understood them, and he had to carry that burden on himself.