Earth: The Second

Damnation

To know what exactly happened in Udeka’s mansion, we have to step back two days before, on the day of discussion. After Udeka reporting a false attack about Roberto, he went straight to his mansion, accompanied by one of the soldiers.

That soldier’s name is Christie. Although a female, she showed her interest in the military from a young age, and choose to aim to become a knight instead of getting married.

Christie let Udeka sit in the back of her horse. Along the way, she questioned him about what happened in the village.

“That is terrible, ma’am, when we are talking to one of the elders, suddenly the crowd goes mad! Some of them arrived with a crossbow in their hand, and one of them shoots the captain!” Udeka exaggerating his story, making use of the fact that they are not present at the time of the attack.

“That’s terrible,” she answered.

“I’m sorry… That your captain has to go like this…” he pretends to feel sorry.

“What are you talking about? That is not enough to bring captain down,” replied Christie.

“Huh?”

“You say that he was attacked by an arrow right? The captain always told us that a soldier has to be stronger than one or two arrows on their body, he is talking about inner strength or something, but he is not the type of person that would be taken down only by a single arrow.”

“Is...Is that so?” Udeka answered, but this time, his voice sounds not really confident.

Udeka may be worrying about what will happen with him if Roberto is still alive, but the other side of his brain thinking about something else.

Christie is one kind of a girl that chooses to work hard as a soldier, instead of other jobs that are considered more ‘suitable’ for a girl according to society. But her feminine spark does not go even after she did this job.

“I have never had a chance to know more about Roberto’s subordinates, what is your name, girl?” asked Udeka.

“Me? I’m Christie, sir. But people are more fond to call me ‘Chris’ instead,” she answered politely. Christie takes off her helmet and lets the wind blowing her blonde hair. 

At this moment, Udeka has been amazed. Deep in his heart, he wanted to see this girl as his personal guard every day.

“Well, Chris, I think that everything could happen at the moment. No one knew what exactly will happen to your captain. But if your platoon turns out to be disbanded, would you be interested to work in my mansion instead?” asked Udeka, shamelessly.

“Huh?” At first, Chris sounds confused, but later she letting out a laugh. “Ha! Ha! That is not how it works sir! If what you said is true, then we have to report back to the capital, and reassigned to a new commander.”

“That a shame, but I believe that we can make some exception here, and there,” while sitting behind her, Udeka already imagined all the dirty things he can do once Chris agrees to become his personal bodyguard. 

“I’m not sure if we can, but let’s see how far you can tempt me,” answered Chris.

At the time of their arrival at the mansion, everything seems normal. The guards are guarding the lawn, and the head butler is standing right in front of the door, waiting for his master to return. When he sees Udeka arrived at the front gate, together with a female soldier, he hurriedly walked toward them.

“Welcome back sir!” greet the head butler.

“Prepare to open the safe! I wanted to offer a generous amount for this lady to work with me!” screamed him.

“Sir, actually…” the head butler seems rather doubtful to speak. “There is someone waiting for you, in the guest room.”

***

“How dare you disturb me when I’m working!” screamed Udeka as he slammed the door. At the same place where he used to meet the Black Claws, a black hooded figure sitting at the chair.

Her hood covers all of the faces, but her arm and body can be seen from the gaps between his mantle.

Seems like, the figure is a female, but more than that, she had much darker skin compared to the typical Henrian.

The figure seems quiet, even when Udeka is barging the room. 

“Hey! I’m asking a question here! Are you another bastard that wanted to talk to me?” asked the Duke.

The figure keeps quiet until words finally coming from him.

“Is that how you thank someone who is helping your scheme?” asked her.

“Bah! Are you the person who I ordered to kill Roberto? I don’t need time to talk with you! You will get your pay from my middleman as usual!” screamed Udeka, he already forgets all of his worries, instead, he wanted to recruit Christie as soon as possible with his money.

At first, the figure is quiet, but then an eerie laugh coming from her.

“You really are despicable, Duke of Horundah.” 

Cold air suddenly invades the whole area of the mansion. Even Udeka himself feels the chill, mixed with the unnatural uneasiness.

“Who...Who are you?” he asked. But the woman is already standing up from the chair and walked to Udeka.

“I wonder how can people like you live with that mind? Are you never feel regret over your action, Udeka? When you killed those peasants, or when you brought those poor women into your room?”

Udeka is stepping back, his heart is throbbing, and his life seems to flash according to what she is saying.

“So what? What if I wanted to feel good and to obtain pleasure whatever I wanted!? I have the money right!? I have the power to do so!” he screamed.

Again, a laugh comes from the hooded figure. 

“This is it! This is the sinner that I needed! Blinded by fortune, he going around doing everything as he wanted to!”

That woman is stepping back when suddenly, the door is slammed open.

Over the door, the soldiers, maids, butlers, are coming through. Everyone in the area of the mansion, even Christie herself, is now in the guest room where Udeka is.

At first, Udeka thought that they are there to save him.

“Finally you are here! Please help me! Save your Lord!”

But they are all quiet. Need a while until Udeka to nice, that there is purple light, on those people’s eyes.

“Is that… No way…” Udeka turned to the hoodie girl, and he realized the purple mana that flowing from her left hand.

“Let the damnation begun,” she said.

Christie, the soldiers, and the servants are screaming. They lifted their sword, knife, or anything they could find, and walking to Udeka.

“No...No… I’ll give everything I have PLEASE STOP!”

Screamed the duke, as he drowning in terror.