The travelling pair were awoken by a loud slamming sound from above.
"Alright ya two lovebirds! Rise and shine, your kingdom awaits ya!"
The two stirred and Zenna yawned loudly. Marcus reached for his belongings and his blade, placing them back at his waist.
"I cannot believe it has been two whole years already... considering how long I've been gone there has to be at least a few changes here and there. You should look out the window, Underhill is a wondrous sight."
After blinking her eyes a few times, Zenna opened the curtain on the window and was blinded by the morning sun. She adjusted to it and became awestruck at her surroundings. They were passing through deep farmlands which grew every crop imaginable - the fields stretched far beyond the horizon, with a few cottages dotting the landscape. People just beginning their workday were peppered amongst the greenery.
As they proceeded closer to the city, it became apparent why Underhill was a superior nation. Its gleaming alabaster-white stone walls stood proud, hundreds of feet tall and seemingly as powerful as a mountain. The marvelous construction went far as the eye could see in either direction, but eventually bent backwards and met up on the other side of the city, forming a perfect circle. Towers covered its peak every so often, giving uniformity to its strength. Looking closely, Zenna could see guards adorning the battlements.
"Good to see we have not fallen to a foreign foe while I was away," Marcus spoke with a laugh, "but I doubt any country would be foolish enough to try. Not since Sunborng, at least..."
The wide dirt road the carriage travelled on broke into neat stonework and was littered with other carriages, horse riders, and those unlucky enough to have neither, either making their way in or out of the city. The wooden gates stretched nearly as tall as the walls themselves, and although it was mainly for show, it emphasized the might Underhill wielded. The kingdom's crest adorned a banner stretched across the top of the giant door. A smaller, more aptly-sized door was built into the larger one for daily usage.
"Woooaahh! Stop right there, you!" the coachman called, reigning in his horses. The carriage came to a halt in front of the gate and a pair of guards approached.
"Business?" one of the guards asked quickly with a voice laced with disinterest. It would be a question he would ask dozens of times today, and he would hear dozens of menial, pointless answers.
"Not mine to say, man in the back would know," the carriage driver motioned behind himself.
"Let me talk to him," said Marcus, motioning Zenna away from the window. The guard approached the window and looked in to see the pair. His eyes darted slowly between the two, clearly enjoying looking at the elf, but also more interested in speaking to Marcus.
"My name is Marcus Throydill, I have returned from a two-year journey, sent about by none other than our lord, King Trinas."
The guard raised an eyebrow at the man, unrecognizable under his overgrown beard and hair, "do you have any proof of this?"
Marcus stood from his seat and opened the carriage door. The guard stepped back, allowing Marcus to drop onto the ground nearby. As he came to face the guard, Marcus could see the details click in the man's mind. His eyes light up like lanterns, growing massive instantly.
"Indeed! You
are
the war hero, Marcus Throydill! I would know that armor anywhere sir, I served in the war right alongside you! I was even there when you struck down that Sunborng bastard a decade ago! Please forgive me for holding you up and give the king our best for me! We all appreciate your service, sir!" the guard saluted Marcus and motioned for his men to allow them through.
"Thank you, carry on soldier," Marcus nodded to the man.
Marcus reentered the cart and they rode through the gates and into town. Zenna was amazed at the sheer intricacy of the city. It was clearly an old place, built by hands with a sense of pride hardly rivaled today. But the modern inhabitants respected their metropolis with buildings just beginning to grow taller as horizontal space inside the walls became a luxury. The buildings themselves had stood for so long they became weathered by the sun while vines grew along the brickwork. An artificial aqueduct passed from one side of the city to another, causing them to go over a bridge as they travelled down a street. Music and cheer echoed along city blocks until it filled her ears. A market which sold every food imaginable wafted its concoction of potent scents through the air, allowing the blue-haired elf to imagine tasting the nourishment. Her mouth watered a bit, nearly wanting to jump out of the cart and sample one of everything she saw.
People of all races passed by each other as equals without a second glance, and overall the metropolis had a far less threatening atmosphere as compared to where she met Marcus. It seemed to be an entirely different world. Marcus could see the amazement on her elven face and allowed her time to take it all in.
Still looking out the window, Zenna spoke, "So, you are some kind of local hero here? That guard respected you greatly for those you killed during your service."
Marcus sighed, "no one becomes a hero by killing people. I led our people to many victories, that is how I want to be known."
"But you did kill people?"
"Yes. Many."
Marcus, wanting to change the subject, turned his attention outside the window, "I want you to closely inspect the people. Study what you see, what you hear. What is missing?"
Zenna scanned the marketplace as the carriage continued deeper into the capitol city. The people all seemed normal, going about their daily lives, walking with friends or family. Her eyes saw humans, elves, a few spatterings of dwarves, even an orc or two - clearly peoples of all races were accepted here. People came and went from shops, restaurants, metalsmiths, carpenters, cobblers, guilds, butchers, mage guilds, and everything in between. Eyes lingering on a few specific individuals, she saw nothing out of the ordinary, but Marcus asked for something that was
missing
.
Now using her ears, she closed her eyes and processed each sound resonating off the city walls. People talked, ate, clanged metal, birds chirped, wind blew, and water flowed. All the normal sounds you would see in a city, except...
"...there's no children?"
It was true - there were no audible noises of children playing, laughing, running between buildings, or any other sounds one associated with adolescence. The latest people she could see were young adults such as herself.
"That's right. It looks as if there are still no children being born in our country, and the curse is still in effect. Do you believe me now?"
Zenna pulled in from the window, instead looking at Marcus. His demeanor was all business as he anticipated her answer.
"Well... I didn't doubt you... but I could have never imagined what it would actually
be
like."
"No country should go through this, especially not the one I call home."
"I'm sorry it had to happen to your country, knight."
"Please Zenna, do not apologize for things that are not your fault. I simply hope that the sights you are taking in now show you how much we need a savior such as yourself."
His choice of words made her blink, and a huff escaped her nose. Heat welled in her chest.
"And if I say no? What would you do with me then? Lock me in some dungeon and drain me into a husk?"
Her comment was jarring enough it made Marcus pause. He had to fight down the surprise on his face as she closely studied him - any indication that such an event would come to pass would be detrimental in his endeavor to convince the elf.
"No... gods no, Zenna, please never think of that again. I would never..."
"Okay,
you
would never. What about your king? If I truly am your last hope, he might have his guards take me away and have me enslaved again. That would make the whole show you have put on for me this far pointless. How can you sit there and promise me that would not happen?"
Marcus gulped audibly, watching her fiery eyes glow in the morning light, as if the flames within them wanted to swallow him whole. Yet, he felt humbled by the elf, as if commanded to answer.
"My lord Trinas would never do such a thing. It would disappoint him greatly if you chose not to help us, but he would never..."
"Every human I've known so far has either enslaved me or wanted to use me. Even you are no different, knight."
"I promise you will..."
She nodded negatively and turned her eyes back out the window. The conversation was clearly over, but Marcus still felt a gnawing sensation in his chest.
They rode in silence the rest of the way to the palace, which stood like a monolith over the empty city blocks that surrounded it. Pillars rose into the sky, not quite as tall as the walls protecting her, but still impressive, nonetheless. Ornate would be an understatement - the building nearly appeared to be constructed by the gods themselves as a symbol of appreciation for Underhill's centuries of accomplishments. On every face there were carvings of ancient kings and heroes that were the size of buildings. Guards stood everywhere there was an angle to do so, lightly armored and carrying a spear. The carriage began to slow as it approached steps which led up into the palace.
"I think this be far as I can take ya," the carriage driver started, bringing the carriage parallel to the steps and opening the door for the pair, "now, there's gotta be the matter of my payment? After all, I
