Chapter 221: Trial Of Lord [6]

Elias crouched beside Gram and carefully checked the old man’s breathing, but no matter how long he waited, he felt no breath against his fingers.

The realization struck him like a hammer, and his expression twisted as guilt flooded his mind. He had come here intending to steal a necklace, yet he had ended up taking an innocent man’s life. Gram had done nothing to deserve this, and the old man had even treated him kindly during their time together in the village.

Elias stared at the motionless body for a long while before finally rising to his feet.

’He would have died to the Rotted anyway... I simply sent him peacefully.’

The words sounded hollow even inside his own head, but he clung to them because the alternative was admitting that he had murdered someone out of desperation.

With a grim expression, he slipped the necklace into his trouser pocket and left Gram’s house, closing the door behind him as quietly as he could.

However, the old man’s image continued to flash through his mind as he walked back to the cottage. Every time Elias remembered the sound of the wooden staff striking Gram’s head, his stomach twisted, and he found himself wondering whether the old man might have survived if he had simply fled.

But then he remembered Natasha disappearing beneath the Rotted’s black mass, her desperate expression lingering in his mind even after his own death.

He couldn’t allow something like this to stop him.

He had already failed to save Natasha three times, and he refused to let the same tragedy happen again merely because he couldn’t bear the weight of his own actions.

When Elias finally returned to the cottage, he slipped into bed beside Natasha and wrapped his arms around her. She stirred in her sleep, briefly shifting closer to him before settling down again, unaware of what he had done.

Elias remained awake for a while, staring into the darkness as he listened to her breathing, but eventually exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted to sleep.

The next morning, he and Natasha packed most of their belongings and prepared to leave the village. They informed a few people that they were heading to the city beyond the mountains, offering no explanation beyond wanting to see the city.

Although some villagers expressed surprise at their sudden departure, neither Elias nor Natasha lingered long enough for further questions. Once their belongings were secured, the two of them left the village early and began their journey.

At first, the road passed through familiar fields and stretches of open grassland, but the terrain gradually grew rougher as they approached the mountains. The gentle slopes gave way to uneven paths, scattered rocks, and steep inclines that forced them to slow their pace.

Even so, Elias felt more at ease with every step they took away from the village. He knew the Rotted would eventually arrive there, but if they could cross the mountains and reach the city before then, Natasha would be safe.

As they made their way along a narrow path, Natasha glanced at him and asked, "How are you feeling now that we’re going to the city?"

He turned toward her and smiled.

"Better."

She studied his face for a moment before smiling as well, seemingly relieved that his strange behavior had finally begun to subside.

They continued their journey until night fell, and then they found a sheltered spot among the mountains where they could set up camp. After eating a modest dinner, Natasha settled down to sleep while Elias remained beside the fire, watching its flames flicker against the darkness.

However, sleep refused to come easily to him.

Whenever he closed his eyes, the Rotted appeared in his mind, their enormous maws and countless eyes emerging from the black mass as they swallowed the village. Then Gram’s face would replace the grotesque creatures, followed by the sound of the staff striking his head.

Elias clenched his fists, trying to force the images away, but the harder he fought them, the more vividly they returned.

’I have already made my choice. I cannot turn back now.’

He repeated the words to himself several times, hoping they would quiet his thoughts, but his unease lingered until exhaustion finally dragged him into sleep.

The following days passed in much the same way. Each morning, Elias and Natasha packed their belongings and continued through the mountains, stopping only when they needed food or rest. The rough terrain made their progress slower than it would have been on a proper road, but neither of them complained, and they gradually grew accustomed to the rhythm of their journey.

Fortunately, they encountered no large beasts along the way. The city regularly sent mercenaries into the surrounding mountains to hunt dangerous creatures, and their efforts had made the main routes considerably safer for ordinary travelers.

Following this routine, Elias and Natasha crossed the mountains within a week and finally reached their base, where the rocky slopes gave way to a broad road leading toward the city.

The remaining journey was far easier, and after another week of walking, the city’s stone structures came into view.

Elias stopped for a moment as he gazed at the distant walls and buildings, feeling an immense wave of relief wash over him.

He had done it.

He had saved Natasha.

For the first time, he felt that he had finally escaped the terrible fate waiting for them in the village. They had left before the Rotted arrived, crossed the mountains, and reached a place where they could live without constantly fearing for their lives.

However, as they approached the city gates, Elias noticed the guards stationed at the entrance, inspecting travelers and their belongings. His steps slowed, and he glanced at the necklace hidden in his pocket.

He couldn’t risk bringing it inside.

The necklace might have belonged to someone important in the city, and even if it didn’t, the guards could easily claim that it did simply to confiscate it for themselves. Either possibility could create unnecessary trouble, especially when he and Natasha had only just arrived.

Elias glanced toward a nearby tree and bent down beside its roots.

Natasha stopped and looked at him curiously.

"What are you doing?"

"I got a pebble in my sandals," Elias replied, keeping his voice casual as he discreetly buried the gold necklace near the tree’s base. Once he had concealed it beneath the soil, he straightened and brushed his hands against his trousers. "Let’s go."

Natasha nodded, apparently satisfied with his explanation, and the two of them resumed walking toward the gates.

When they reached the entrance, the guards gave them contemptuous looks, their gazes lingering on their worn clothes and travel-stained belongings. One of them stepped forward and asked where they had come from and why they were entering the city.

Elias answered calmly, explaining that they were a married couple seeking work and a place to settle down. The guards asked a few more questions before finally waving them through, seemingly deciding that the two of them were too insignificant to warrant further attention.

By the time Elias and Natasha entered the city, night had already fallen, and lanterns illuminated the streets between the stone buildings.

They walked farther inside, looking for somewhere inexpensive to stay, but Elias soon stopped in his tracks.

"Shit," he muttered.

Natasha furrowed her brows and turned toward him.

"What?"

"I dropped something," Elias explained, already turning around. "Stay here."

Before she could ask anything else, he hurried back toward the gates, leaving Natasha standing beside the road with their belongings.

When he reached the guards, Elias explained that he had dropped something near the entrance and needed to retrieve it. The guards exchanged a glanced before they allowed him to pass through.

Elias quickly returned to the nearby tree and dug up the necklace before slipping it into his pocket.

He then picked up a strange-looking rock from beside the tree and carried it back toward the gates. The guards noticed the object in his hand and immediately assumed that it was what he had dropped earlier, so they paid him little attention as he entered the city again.

Once he had rejoined Natasha, the two of them resumed searching for a place to spend the night.

They wandered through several streets until they eventually came upon a church. Its stone walls were illuminated by lanterns, and a few people were still moving about inside despite the late hour.

Near the entrance stood a kind-looking woman who greeted them with a gentle smile. Elias approached her and asked whether she knew of an inexpensive place where they could stay for the night.

The woman listened to his request before simply suggesting that they sleep in the church instead.

"You can rest here tonight," she said warmly. "There’s no need to wander the streets looking for a room at this hour."

Elias hesitated, considering the offer, and glanced at Natasha. She seemed equally uncertain, but after thinking it over for a moment, they both decided to accept.

The church provided them with a simple meal of bean stew and freshly baked bread. Having spent two weeks traveling through the mountains and along the road, they were ravenous, and they ate greedily before thanking the woman for her kindness.

Afterward, they were shown to one of the quarters where travelers could sleep. Natasha settled down beside Elias, and the two of them soon drifted off, grateful to have a roof over their heads.

The next morning, Elias sold the gold necklace and used the money to purchase an old house on the outskirts of the city. Although the building was worn and needed repairs, it provided them with a place of their own, and he was satisfied as long as Natasha could live there safely.

Elias began taking whatever work he could find, earning money through various odd jobs while gradually becoming familiar with the city. Meanwhile, Natasha found employment as a maid at the church that had sheltered them on their first night.

Their days became busier, but they settled into a comfortable routine, and Elias slowly began building connections with the people around him.

His knowledge of the previous two attempts at surviving the Rotted also proved useful when a group of bandits attacked the city.

Remembering their methods and recognizing several flaws in their approach, Elias helped the city guards anticipate the bandits’ movements and organize an effective response.

The skills he had honed during his previous attempts, particularly his ability to keep moving under pressure and make use of whatever weapons were available, allowed him to distinguish himself during the fighting.

His contributions earned him the recognition of the city’s authorities, and he was eventually appointed as an official guard.

With a steady income and a secure position, Elias could finally provide Natasha with a more comfortable life. They made friends among the city’s residents, and their days passed peacefully without the constant threat of the Rotted hanging over their heads.

However, as time went on, Elias began to notice a growing distance between them.

Natasha had wanted to visit the city, not abandon their village and build an entirely new life there. Although she had initially agreed to leave because of his insistence, she missed the people she had grown up with and often spoke about returning someday.

Elias, however, refused to entertain the idea. He had seen Natasha die three times, and the thought of returning to the village filled him with dread. No matter how much she missed their old home, he believed that staying in the city was the only way to ensure her safety.

Their disagreement lingered for several days, leaving an uncomfortable tension between them, until an unexpected discovery changed everything.

Natasha was pregnant.

When they learned the news, both of them were overwhelmed with joy. Elias could hardly believe it at first, and he repeatedly confirmed what the physician had told them before finally allowing himself to accept it.

Natasha was equally delighted, and after thinking about their future, she decided to remain in the city for the sake of their child.

That decision lifted an enormous weight from Elias’s shoulders. He no longer had to worry about Natasha insisting on returning to the village, and he could finally look forward to the future without imagining her being swallowed by the Rotted.

He had been right from the beginning.

There had been no point in fighting the Rotted when they could simply leave before the creatures arrived.

And finally, after two horrible deaths, Elias could live a happy life with his wife and their child yet to be born.