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    This will not be from any known persons PoV, just fyi


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    Victoria PoV


    Getting up, I stretched before moving into the small kitchen, swiftly preparing a meal for myself to start my long, grueling, but fruitful day.


    Life in the Tragon Kingdom, one of the Three Western Kingdoms, was peaceful and rxed, albeit a life of hard work.


    But it was fulfilling work, and I, as the only Core having person in my vige, had to help with the heavier jobs and make sure my people were safe.


    Something like a vige chief, if you will.


    Finishing the small loaf of bread that one of the vige girls had made for me, I stretched again before grabbing the battered sword that my father had given me, while I strapped on the thin leather armor my mother wore.


    They had both been retired adventurers who wanted to live the calm life and raise a family, but sadly my mother passed birthing me, and my dad gave his life to protect the people of this vige when I was but a teen.


    Patting them both, I muttered a silent prayer to my two parents as I walked outside.


    Sadly enough, the years had dragged by, and I could no longer recall my fathers face, and the painting of them had faded over the years.


    Letting the depressing thoughts drift from my mind, I nced around the bustling vige, nodding to everyone as they walked by, each smiling warmly at me.


    For forty years I have guarded this vige, and I had seen generationse and go during that time.


    The best example is-


    "Miss Victoria~!"


    Holding in a chuckle, I felt a girlunch herself towards my back, her arms wrapped around my waist as she embraced me.


    In herte teens, this girl had a crush on me, but I couldn''t bring myself to reciprocate her feelings; both the age gap and the fact that...


    Well, I knew her mother...


    On a ''personal'' level, but she had married someone else.


    "Gina, good morning."


    Smiling down at the girl, I watched as she grinned up at me, her freckled cheeks and long brown hair tied into a bun.


    "Off to the bakery already?"


    Nodding, she beamed as she thrust a basket into my hands, forcing me to ept it.


    "I made too much yesterday, so..."


    Seeing the shy blush that spread across her face, I smiled wryly as I took the basket, watching as she ran away, embarrassed.


    ncing inside, I saw a loaf of bread and some biscuits, each one made with our viges special Soft Rock Wheat.


    Going to store the basket in my house, I returned outside and did my rounds, helping the elders with their chores before joining the lumberjacks, moving the felled logs back towards the vige.


    My mana was weak and thin, but the difference between me and the vigers was a wide gap; I could lift a more then two menbined, and I was faster then them by quite a bit as well.


    As the day crawled by, we eventually all made our way to the inn, where we would eat and drink before returning to work.


    During that break, the Innkeeper, M, would tell us whatever news she had heard, specting and debating with everyone about the severity of some issues.


    Currently...


    "Nah, there''s no way the Empire gained a Light Mage! They already have that one, the hell was her name..."


    "The D''Arcondy! Yeah, this has to be them trying to scare us Tragon''s! There''s no way they have another rare Magician!"


    "Empire doesn''t matter right now guys! Didn''t you hear what M said? Romagi Kingdom has had a Gate appear not once, but twice!"


    I nced at the middle aged man that said that, his face fearful as he recounted that piece of news.


    Gates...


    This vige had one smaller Gate appear four decades ago, and that was how my father died.


    It had been open for an hour, and we were lucky enough for it to have connected to an empty part of the Labyrinthian, but...


    Thatst minute had released a dozen Goblins, each one chittering as they swarmed into our vige.


    The men and some women had grabbed their axes, scythes, and hammers to fend them off, but many died to the onught of strengthened goblins, and my father held off half of them before perishing from dozens of wounds.


    So for not just one, but two Gates to appear in a year...


    When Tragon has only had two appear in four decades...


    Well, it was worrying, especially because Romagi was the stronger of our Three Kingdoms, and they were our ''shield'' from the Empire.


    The inn fell quiet, everyone murmuring to one another.


    With that somber note, everyone returned to work, the discussion slowly fading from our minds.


    Tilling ournd, harvesting some of the quicker growing crops, repairing fences, tending to the animals...


    Life in our vige was peaceful.


    Sighing, I waved goodbye to the dozen people who had just repaired our northern fences, leaning against the wood as I gazed over my home.


    A simple rural farming vige.


    The worst we''ve had to deal with is any Knights traveling into the vige, some weaker goblins or slimes, and a rabid wild animal.


    We payed our taxes, paid tribute to our lord, prayed to our gods, and supported one another.


    A simple life.


    Simple, but easily shattered.


    Watching as the vigers walked around in the dimming light, I groaned as I pushed myself off of the fence, my joints aching slightly after a long days work.


    "Maybe I should..."


    Sighing, I stared up into the clouds, letting my mind wander as I started walking slowly to simple wooden cabins.


    However, I stopped when I heard something tear behind me, followed by a low rumble.


    Turning, Iid my hand on my sword, looking around the forest with narrowed eyes.


    I may be weak, I may be getting old, but...


    Scanning over the forest, I pursed my lips as I saw...


    Nothing.


    That tear...


    Looking around for another minute, I sighed and scratched my cheek.


    "Maybe that experience I think I have is eroding too..."


    Chuckling, I started walking back down to the vige, before another tear was heard.


    This time, in the center of the vige.


    My eyes widened as I saw a tall rip in the fabric of reality, raw green energy forming a circr whirlpool of magic.


    "N-No..."


    Breaking out into a run, I shouted "Get away! Run! It''s a Gate!"


    I had seen it before, forty years prior.


    A Gate to the Labyrinthian was in the center of our vige, but unlikest time...


    Swelling, the green circle grewrger, before something stepped out.


    A giant front leg was the first thing we saw, the dark silver scales shimmering in the light of dusk, covered in small, sharp spikes.


    Next was the head of the monster, its scaled head sporting two giant horns, while its jaw was filled with razor sharp teeth, overflowing with saliva.


    Pale green eyes raked over the vige, filled with a raw, primal hunger.


    It continued out, its long scaled body shimmering in the light, while its long tail swept side to side, coated in glistening spikes.


    Like a wolf, the monster stalked into the center of the vige, its twenty feet tall shoulders looming over the small vige.


    However, its movements were quiet, and its head snapped towards me as it heard me scream.


    As for the vigers, some were already running away, while others had copsed to the ground, trembling.


    Letting out a low growl, the monster turned away from me, instead focusing on those running away.


    I watched in horror as a dozen ritual circles appeared above it, forming spears of pure condensed air, which flew fast towards the runners.


    They were impaled on the spears, before they returned to the monster, dragging the screaming or silent vigers back towards it.


    Unhinging its jaw, the monster gulped down the vigers, dead or alive, and crunched down on them, tearing their flesh apart while crushing their bones.


    Swallowing them down in a shower of blood and gore, the remaining vigers screamed hysterically, watching the monster devour their neighbors, lovers, family...


    Drawing my sword, I screamed as well as I charged the monster, hoping to distract it.


    I know it was a fools errand, but...


    Coating my de in the dull brown glow of my earth mana, I swung the de towards the monsters legs, before gasping as I felt my hand break, the sword shattering on the metal like scales.


    I stared at my disfigured hand in horror, while the monster simply ignored me, instead focusing on the running vigers.


    It rushed forwards, leaving me standing stupidly in clearing, before I shook myself awake.


    Turning, I searched the crowd of fleeing vigers, ignoring the pain of my broken hand and running with them.


    Spotting Gina, I grabbed the girl and tucked her under my arm, pouring everyst drop of mana into my legs.


    Running with her, I listened to her sobs, her voice incoherent as she muttered to herself.


    The bright, bubbly girl of this morning was gone, instead reced by a broken, bloody girl who''s eyes were dull.


    However, I wanted to save myself, to save her.


    ncing over my shoulder, I felt my heart ache and break as the monster mmed its tail into Fidal, the happy baker, sttering his body into the ground.


    Next, its head lunged forwards as it gobbled up old M, swallowing the woman whole.


    Turning back, tears poured down my cheeks as I continued to run, abandoning my friends and people as I tried to escape the carnage behind me.


    The winds were picking up, and the trees were swaying dangerously.


    Entering the forest, I continued to run, stumbling this way and that way as the forest grew darker.


    Listening to the roars of the monster inside the vige, I kept running, even as my old knees cracked, my muscles screaming at me to stop.


    I ran and ran, carrying the now unconscious Gina in my arms as I tried to escape.


    Time passed, but I knew not just how long, as my world revolved around running.


    I traveled deep into the forest, before eventually copsing, holding the girl in my arms close to me while I leaned against a tree.


    Surely we were safe?


    Surely we had escaped?


    Panting, I shivered as the realization of what just happened truly set in.


    They were all gone.


    My old mes Heildi and Giana.


    My drinking buddies Henry and Oldan.


    The reliable farmers Ussian and Xerxes.


    The hunters Po and Lok.


    All dead.


    All devoured.


    Burying my face into Gina''s hair, I sobbed uncontrobly, my world shattered.


    But, when I heard a tear in front of me, I looked up in unfound horror as a Gate appeared before us, the bloody jaws of the monster almost grinning at us.


    "I-Impossible..."


    Its blood sttered head inched closer, and I stared into its maw with wide eyes.


    T-This beast...


    Could create Gates.


    That was thest thing on my mind as I hugged Gina to my chest, before screaming as its teeth tore into our bodies.


    ---


    Felt like I needed...


    Something to happen now; political battles are a slow affair, and unless I wanted to alternate between Zhu''Rong and ss, with some Slice of Life between, there isn''t much to do in preparation.


    So, here we are...


    Also, what''d y''all think about this chapter~?


    I''m curious~


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