Inlander

The Past Story between Gristie and Eliza

The night turned to morning, the dew slowly dripped from the leaves. The sun's rays made their bodies warmer. The morning air was still cool, but they all woke up from their sleep.

Luckily for them, last night not a single troop passed, not even bandits. Indeed, this road is very difficult to pass, making people lazy to pass this route.

They broke into the tent and cleaned up the campfire to get rid of any traces of the Prusiudeus army who had followed them from behind.

They continued their journey. They raced their horses, but this time their pace was not as fast as the previous day. They are now more relaxed and calm.

They passed through the valley and combed the foothills of the Arden Mountains from the west side. They directed their horses to the south, to the location of the town of Eastend. You could say this route rotates and surrounds the Arden mountains.

Gristie led their line, then Eliza spurred her horse a little harder, she levelled the horse she was riding with the gristie horse. She started a conversation. "Gris, why are you desperate to save me to endanger your life?"

Gristie smiled, She said, "if you are in my position now, surely what you do will be the same as what I did, right? Besides, I also owe my life to you".

Then Eliza praised Gristie, "you are a good person." With a feeling of guilt, Gristie said. "I'm sorry, because of me, you were jailed".

Eliza also humbly said, "never mind, this is not your fault, the most important thing is that you are saved". Hearing that, Gristie even shed a little tear.

Exactly five years ago, there was an incident. where at that time Gristie had not become a troop like now. She used to trade with her father in several cities.

At one point, Gristie and her father were about to trade in the Sarleen town. However, at the same time, the second prince Prusiudeus was visiting the town of Sarleen.

The second prince was so arrogant, selfish and whatever he wanted, it had to be done. At that time Gristie and her father were in the market, however, there was a prince and several troops near them.

Suddenly the Second Prince fell in love at first sight when he saw Gristie who was still young. He also gave orders to his troops, they approached Gristie and his father.

The prince got off his horse, with disrespect, he suddenly grabbed Gristie's hand. He said, "be my concubine, beautiful". Gristie was shocked, then she quickly released her hand from the second prince's grasp. She said, "what are you doing?"

Suddenly two guards came forward, one of them said "you are not polite, the common people must obey the prince's order".

Then the second prince forced Gristie to become his concubine, he gave orders. "Take her". Then the two guards grabbed Gristie's hands while forcing and dragging Gristie to ride a horse with them, but Gristie was adamant in rejecting it. She tried to free her hand from the grip of the guard.

One of the guards said, "you should be grateful. You should be happy, commoners like you can become royal concubines".

Then Gristie's father also tried to persuade the bodyguard, he knelt, and joined his palms together, he pleaded, he said "Sir, we are just merchants, we are also not a native of this city, we are residents of Eastend sir. So please let us go. Sir"

The two guards remained adamant, he didn't want to lose, he wasn't swayed by Gristie's father's pleas. He said emphatically "the prince's order is absolute".

But even Gristie's father insisted on begging, he fell on his knees while holding the bodyguard's two legs. He embraced the guard's legs tightly. He said, "forgive us, sir".

Seeing the commotion that was happening, many people crowded around them. Also, Eliza was there too. She was walking casually on a horse, when she saw the crowd, he got off the horse, and approached the crowd. She witnessed that.

Indeed, even the natives of Sarleen already knew that if the prince wanted something, they would not refuse, or argue, because if that person refused, then only death would come to them.

Whereas Gristie's father didn't know anything about it. He kept trying to beg the bodyguard. Infuriated by the behaviour of Gristie's father, The bodyguard kicked Gristie's father with all his might. Gristie's father was thrown far back.

Gristie approached his father, she saw her father fall down, she was about to help her father stand up. But the prince gave another order "take her quickly,". The prince got back on his horse. As for the two bodyguards, he approached Gristie and dragged her back, this time they dragged Gristie with full force.

Gristie's father returned to his feet and restrained the bodyguard. He knelt back down and grabbed the guard's two legs. He tried to get the guard's hand out of Gristie's hand.

Eliza also saw them from the crowd. It seems that she doesn't want to interfere in this royal matter. She turned away and turned around. She intended to stay away from the crowd.

But between Eliza's footsteps, Gristie's father passionately begged "please let us go, sir, let us return to Eastend".

Eliza was a little surprised to hear that because she had just heard that they were not native Sarleen, but residents of Eastend.

She didn't want to know anymore. Now, She turned her body back into the crowd. She would help the two of them after hearing of the town of Eastend. But it was not until Eliza was in the crowd, from on horseback, that the prince gave the order. "Just kill him, then take the woman to the royal capital".

Because the prince's order was absolute, then the bodyguard kicked Gristie's father back.

"Run Gris!". A loud sound came out of Gristie's father's mouth, after two seconds, the guard suddenly slashed Gristie's father's chest mercilessly when Gristie's father was falling on the ground.

"Father…" Gristie was crying uncontrollably. All the tears dripped and came out of her eyes. The entire surface of his father's brown shirt turned red, blood running all over his father's chest. She could not see her father being killed in front of her own eyes. Then she ran towards her father's body. She hugged him. She could not hold back his sadness.

Besides that. Eliza who clearly saw the incident looked dumbfounded, she was sorry. Why didn't she save her earlier? She regretted that she was late to save them. She realized that.

However, it is never too late. There's still Gristie to save. When the guards were about to hold Gristie's hand back, suddenly from the opposite direction, a beautiful woman stopped him. Yes, it is Eliza.

Eliza parried the guard's hand. Then he said, "let her go!". Shee is like a hero figure for Gristie. Now, Gristie felt a little calm at Eliza's arrival. But that did not reduce the sadness. Because, his father, who she was hugging in front of her. Now he is gone, his life is gone. Gristie was so sad and crying.

When the Controversy between Eliza and the guards broke out. Suddenly everyone ran scattered. They are all scared. They ran away from the scene. It was as if they already knew that they would die if they continued there.

Now there are only Gristie, her father, Eliza, the second prince and a few bodyguards who are in that location. Because Eliza tried to block, the second prince said "hahaha, interesting, there are two beautiful people who are trying to be my concubines. Catch them both"

Eliza also fought them. Eliza took out her black magic. At that time, Eliza's condition was still unable to control her magic. By raising one of her right hand, she chanted an incantation. Then release the magic.

"Black Smoke"

Instantly black smoke came out from the mouths of everyone around her. Especially from the body of Gristie's father. Thick black smoke was absorbed from Father Gristie's body. However, Eliza couldn't control her magic yet. Because, everyone around her, friend or foe, they were all affected by Eliza's magic. No exception with Gristie. She saw that Gristie's mouth was also coming out of black smoke. When she saw that, Eliza immediately stopped her magic. Everyone who was hit by Gristie's magic suddenly weakened and it was as if she was about to pass out.

After stopping her Magic, Eliza said to Gristie, "go now !, run to Eastend!. Look for captain D'Breick !. Tell him the situation!".

Gristie said "but, you ...?" Then Eliza cut off Gristie's words. She asked, “what's your name?” Then Gristie answered quickly “Gristie”. Then Eliza spoke again. "All right Gristie, go now!".

But Gristie did not immediately start running, she was still confused. She was worried about the woman who saved hee. She said, "but how about you?". Eliza casually replied, "don't think about me, your father's death will be in vain if you don't go now. Go quickly!, put on my horse. Find Captain D'Breick".

Even Gristie could not refuse anymore, She immediately ran on Eliza's horse. Quickly she spurred a horse to the west. She moved to the town of Eastend.

Eliza seemed to have calmed down a little now. Because there is nothing to burden her anymore. On the other hand, the guards were shocked, because they saw a black magician. Black magicians are so rare to find, and surely black magicians are so powerful.

Then one of the guards said, "stay away from here, prince. She is not an ordinary woman. She is a black magician. She is very dangerous".

The second prince understood and was afraid, now he went a little away from the battle.

At first, only two bodyguards were dealing with Eliza, now more than eight guards surround Eliza, they circle Eliza. They were about to attack Eliza at the same time from all directions.

There was no escape for Eliza. inevitably she had to go back to doing her magic. But she was so uneasy and worried. Because she knew, she couldn't control her own magic. she can't differentiate between opponents and friends when using her magic.

But there's no need to think about it anymore. She knew that was the only thing she could do. She raised her hand again, she recited a spell. The guards who saw it were scared because they had just seen the magic. They quickly attacked Eliza. they swung their swords at Eliza from all directions. But they didn't have time to hit Eliza. Because Eliza's spell was finished, and the magic was working out.

"Black Smoke"

Then everyone around her, whether dead or alive, emitted thick black smoke from their bodies. They felt as if they were choking from within as if parts of their bodies were being sucked out.

The guards were in pain, they released their swords. They held their necks with their two hands. They screamed, moaning in pain.

Eliza didn't stop her magic either, she kept on enduring it. Until one by one, the guards fell. Five of them lay down, even their lives were lost due to suffocation. Only a few of them were able to withstand the magic.

But strong magic must have a strong side effect as well. Plus Eliza still can't fully control her magic.

Suddenly Eliza stopped her magic. She coughed violently and blood came out of his mouth. It couldn't withstand the side effects of this magic. Even though more than half of the bodyguards were already dead and lying down. But now she couldn't escape, because her body was weak.

This side effect was eating away badly at Eliza's body. Eliza's body never stopped bleeding.

After a few seconds, Eliza's consciousness began to fade, her eyes saw fireflies. She was so dizzy and suddenly lay on the ground and passed out. Finally, Eliza was caught by the Prusiudeus royal army. She is considered a dangerous criminal because she has killed almost the entire army of the second prince's guards.