Chương 107: The Broken Gate

We rode on the gravel road for six more days at a higher tempo, our souls calling out for that restful place we called home. The wheels of the carriage turned steadily on the active road, each rotation carrying us farther from the nightmare of the fresh trials we had just gone through. The landscape gradually transformed into something almost peaceful in its appearance.

Towering mountains rose in the distance, their peaks shrouded in heavy mist, while lush green valleys stretched between them to illuminate our eyes. The land was filled with dense forests and clear streams that sparkled under the occasional sunlight. The air felt much cleaner here, carrying the scent of wild nuts and damp earth after a fresh rain. It reminded me of rugged training grounds where young warriors honed their skills against the raw forces of nature.

Rugged cliffs stood tall, and hidden caves lay tucked away somewhere in the endless green that seemed to swallow the horizon. Yet, even in the midst of this beauty, the weight of our journey clung to us like a shadow. Conversations during those days were quieter and less reflective. We guarded the carriage in small groups, sharing what little food we had left, as our entire goal was focused on a straight line toward home.

"Six days," Xihua said one evening as we camped beside a small stream, her pipe smoke curling upward into the twilight.

"Six days and we still feel like we're crawling out of that hell. Every night I see the faces of those we lost. Every morning I wonder if we truly escaped." Her voice was soft, heavy with the same grief we all carried. Xhife sat beside her and me, his baby face looking much older now.

"I keep thinking about the people on that road, the impaled bodies, and the way that monster of a madman laughed about it," Xhife admitted.

"It makes me so angry that we share the same ground. But also… scared. He was very powerful. What if we go back to base and everything feels the same, like nothing changed? That would actually be the best outcome for me." I stared into the small fire, the flames dancing in my eyes with a bright shine.

"The journey we ventured has changed us," I replied.

"We're different from before we departed, stronger in ways we didn't ask for. The pearls, the newfound knowledge, the losses of our comrades, they all mean something for us. We have said it plenty of times. We just have to make sure we get so much stronger that it won't happen again." My voice cracked slightly. The nightmare of Siegfried still lingered in the back of my mind, as I had a nightmare of him every now and then, his dark shadow always waiting right behind me.

Zhuofing, our leader, spoke from the other side of the fire as he took his rest with us. His voice was steady but tired.

"We will split up when we reach Zhenhai with the others," Zhuofing announced.

"We will wish each other luck. Golden Tooth will rebuild, but none of us walk away unchanged. I wanted to let you know that too." The next few days blurred together. Gravel roads turned into dirt paths as the mountains loomed closer, and the lush green valleys opened up like welcoming arms. We spoke of small, ordinary things as we saw more merchants and caravan activity on the road, a clear sign that civilization was now at peak activity all around us.

We talked about the favorite foods we had missed and wanted to eat, and shared old stories from before the Rift happened. Laughter came much easier on the sixth day. It was fragile, but it was real, and it felt like the others had finally healed mentally from the ordeal. When we finally reached the Zhenhai region, it was time to split up. We wished each other good luck with tight embraces and quiet words spoken between the different agencies.

"Stay safe," Xihua told Qixian, her eyes noticeably moist. It was clear she had made a new friend for life.

"Don't let the nightmares win, Qixian. Don't let Mo's loss sit on your shoulder alone." Xhife punched Woushi's shoulder lightly.

"Next time we meet, we will both be much stronger. We will do it for all of them." I told Qixian to keep riding with her chin up and to look at the brightness ahead, promising that next time, we would have our rematch. She chuckled, her cheeks turning a slight shade of red as she looked back at me.

"Yeah, I guess we still have to have that rematch, now don't we? I will train hard for it, so you better prepare yourself, Erumes Flamma!" I bowed deeply before looking straight into her eyes.

"I will." Woushi and the others simply nodded, their faces carrying that same familiar mixture of relief and sorrow, all brewed together like ingredients in a cauldron. Our group, traveling without the carriage now, walked the final stretch back to the base of the Golden Tooth Agency. The familiar gates finally came into view. They were tall and sturdy, yet they felt smaller somehow to me, less grandiose and far more ordinary than I remembered. The business itself was running strong again.

Other groups had already come back, having successfully completed many escort missions. Caravans moved in and out of the courtyard like a bird pecking rapidly at wood, while merchants shouted orders and coins clinked around the elders' smiling faces. Outside our circle, life continued to bloom greater than ever. But as our specific group returned with so many lost souls and such an unfortunate outcome, the elders were deeply stricken by the grim news.

They decided to close the gates to outsiders for the time being, choosing to restructure the agency, train both the old and new agents, and officially mourn the ones we had lost. Needing an immediate release for the tension in my chest, I took a break right away from all the talking. I grabbed my sword-axe and went out to the courtyard, swinging some heavy arcs against the cool air to clear my mind. After that, the quiet night came to greet me, telling me it was finally time to rest.

That night, I went to my quarters and slept badly as a nightmare formed to haunt me and my ego. Siegfried's shadow, with his piercing emerald green eyes, decided to pay me a visit again. But he did not appear merely as a shadow to laugh at the current state of things; no, he stood right before me in the flesh. I rushed at him instantly with my weapon ready, but he beat me to the ground no matter what I tried, Vestuto or not. His overwhelming presence crushed me on each approach.

I did not understand how he could be so completely overwhelming, especially when I remembered him being far weaker than Master. Was he truly that strong now, or was I simply weak enough that I would lose to him right now? Those were my frantic thoughts inside the active nightmare while other unseen shadows laughed in the darkness, mocking my open-lying weakness. I woke up abruptly at four in the morning. Light raindrops greeted me through the window, pattering softly against the roof in the quiet dark.

I decided to extensively swing my swords in the free arena again, accompanied only by the rain. The arena was empty, the wooden floor slick with rain as I stood in the center with my Sword-axe perfoming Elsa di Fuoco in my hands. The blood monster's face flashed in my mind. His red threads, his demonic laugh, and his relentless pressure haunted my thoughts while using my ability. I swung hard, my flames hissing loudly as they met the falling rain.

"Not fast enough," I muttered. The monster had overpowered us with sheer madness. I adjusted my grip and swung again, harder and faster this time, imagining the blood threads whipping directly toward me. I sidestepped, counter-slashed, and watched as fire trailed in the air. Siegfried's shadow came next, bringing his overwhelming presence and the agonizing way he crushed me in every way in that... dream. I roared into the dark and attacked the empty air with everything I had left.

"I will not stay weak!" Strike after strike. Hours have passed. My arms burned. The active rain soaked my clothes wet. My wild dark red spiked hair clung to my forehead. But I kept swinging. Each cut sharper. Each flame on my veins running hotter. The blood monster's extra eyes. His regenerating threads. Siegfried's mocking laugh. I wove them together in my mind. Training against both nightmares at once.

"You will not break me," I whispered between breaths.

"Not the road Demon. Not the laughing shadow. Not again I will show my active will." The morning call started while I was still swinging. My body was completely drenched and my muscles were screaming in protest, but my mind felt much clearer. The rain had stopped, leaving the empty arena glistening under the early dawn light. I finally sheathed my blade, breathing hard. The solo training session had been my anchor, a necessary way to turn lingering grief into raw purpose.

We all returned to the main station with saddened faces. Recently, many of our agents had died, but that was simply how this dangerous business operated. Everyone knew the risks, yet the morning duties were still a part of life that needed to be done. So, they all put on pristine white clothes for today, preparing to honor the lost ones in accordance with our tradition. The courtyard filled with quiet murmurs as people adjusted their white sashes with downcast eyes.

The damp ground reflected the somber mood of the entire Golden Tooth Agency. Before they started, I was called to the elders. Zhuofing, the leader, sat in front on the wooden chairs above, looking down on me. The room was dim, and the incense burned softly, filling the space with a thick aroma. The elders' faces were heavily lined with age and sorrow. Zhuofing started the meeting by expressing his deep thankfulness.

"Erumes Flamma. You have done so much. You helped us when others faltered, and you supported the agency through the darkest times. We owe you more than words can say." His voice was warm and entirely genuine. The elders all nodded in agreement, and one older woman spoke up after him.

"Your courage in the Rift and on the road saved many lives. We see that clearly, Erumes." Zhuofing continued.

"We are letting you free of the open debt. You can go out of the escort agency if you wish on any moment from now on. No chains hold you here no more." He paused, his eyes meeting mine.

"But before you answer… we want you to stay. We will increase your pay. You have earned it. The agency needs people like you to become stronger." Emotion swelled in my chest. Gratitude, relief, and a touch of pride fought against a wave of deep uncertainty. The nightmare still lingered in my mind. Siegfried's shadow, the tragic losses, and the bloody graveyard road were fresh memories. I opened my mouth to respond, words forming on the tip of my tongue.

But before I could speak a single word, a huge commotion from the main gate started to appear. The massive gate, built of heavily reinforced wood and thick iron, got broken in with a deafening crash. Splinters of wood flew wildly across the courtyard as terrified shouts erupted from the mourning crowd. No one was prepared for an attack during the ceremony of souls passing.