Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 220: Betrayal’s Embrace - A Lord’s Pain To Bear Part Two

As they approached the shelter, Yandol’s eyes fixed on the structure that stood like a beacon in the snowy landscape. The demons had used some sort of spell to appear human, so they would be able to enter the shelter without problems. The shelter, built with sturdy stone walls and a reinforced entrance, was designed to withstand the harsh winter.

The flickering light of a few lanterns inside hinted at the presence of his people seeking safety within.

Despite the sight of refuge, Yandol’s guilt lingered. The weight of leading destruction to his people weighed heavily on him. He gritted his teeth, reminding himself it was for his family. Each step toward the shelter felt like a heavy compromise for the sake of those he held dear.

Alzureth’s eyes narrowed as he sensed Yandol’s internal struggle. With a hint of sarcasm, he questioned, "Having second thoughts?"

Fearful for the safety of his family, Yandol quickly responded, "No, we continue." The weight of his decision echoed in his voice, torn between the duty to his people and the desperate desire to protect his loved ones.

As they approached the shelter, the contrast between the impending doom and the haven became more pronounced.

As Yandol and Alzureth approached the massive entrance to the shelter, a soldier stationed inside caught a glimpse of figures approaching from the distance.

Exclaiming with caution, the soldier called out, "Identify yourself! State your purpose!" Another soldier, equally cautious, joined him, ready for any unforeseen threat.

Yandol breaths were ragged, and the pain in his left lung seared with each inhale. Yandol summoned every ounce of strength, attempting to raise his voice above the howling wind. "It is I, Yandol!" he called out, his words carried away by the winter gusts.

Despite his efforts, the soldier stationed inside the shelter strained to make out the features of the approaching figures. Squinting against the cold darkness, he called out, "Identify yourself! Is that really you, Lord Yandol?"

Yandol, still catching his breath, managed a strained reply, "Yes, it’s me." His voice carried a mixture of pain and seriousness, echoing through the snowy expanse.

Exclaiming with joy, the soldier called out, "Our lord is here! Open the doors!" Another soldier, filled with disbelief and excitement, rushed over, asking, "Is it really true?" The first soldier confirmed, and together, they eagerly began the process of slowly opening the gates to the shelter.

As the gates began to open, Alzureth spoke in a sarcastic tone, "Look at how glad your guards are to see you, their lord. How truly unfortunate for them." Yandol, gripped by a mixture of guilt and despair, clenched his teeth but remained silent. The soldiers, unaware of the impending danger, continued to express joy at the sight of their lord’s return.

Once the doors were opened, the guards stepped out. One of them said, "Welcome back, my lord. Seeing that you made it back here, did you and the others succeed in wiping out the demons?" The guard asked with a slight hint of enthusiasm.

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But Yandol simply ignored him and walked into the shelter’s entrance, alonge with the demons in their human appearance. While inside, he instructed, "There should be a priestess here. Have her come over to quickly treat my wounds."

Once they were inside and the doors slowly closed up behind them, Alzureth leaned in and whispered to Yandol, "Why don’t you go and find your precious family and ensure their safety? Once the slaughter begins, I can’t guarantee their well-being. After all, I have no idea what they look like." Yandol, with a heavy heart, nodded and made his way toward the shelter.

Yandol slowly approached the crowd of people who all looked worried about him, his seriously wounded state could be seen with tattered clothes and the frozen part of his arm and chest. His breaths came out as ragged gasps.

Suddenly, a woman cut through the crowd, more worried than the others. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her red hair and green eyes hinting at her talent for fire magic. She was visibly pregnant, she swiftly walked over to his side, a proof of her strong will and spirit.

She was Lady Amillia, Lord Yandol’s wife, and the mother-to-be of a frost dragon destined to shake the world, despite its weak bloodline.

Amillia, rushing towards Yandol, exclaimed, "Yandol, what happened? You’re hurt!"

Yandol, trying to reassure Amillia, stutterd, "D-don’t worry, love. There are more important things right now. Stay back; my body is freezing cold."

Amillia, with a mixture of concern and frustration, yelled at him, "You should be more serious about your health! Look at you, freezing and wounded!" She gazed at the ice on his chest and his frosen severed hand, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth.

Suddenly, a guard returned with the priestess while asking, "But, my lord, where did you find those people? I thought everyone had already evacuated."

Yandol, with a solemn expression, replied, "I encountered them along the way. It’s complicated."

The priestess, arriving with her healing supplies, assessed Yandol’s injuries. She spoke with concern, "These wounds are severe, my lord. I’ll do my best to heal you."

Inwardly, Yandol mused, "This may be the last time I see a priestess, so I have to make sure I’m in top shape. I don’t completely trust what the demon prince said, so I have to be able to fight if he decides to go back on his word."

Suddenly, Alzureth in his human disguise walked up to Amillia while Yandol was being healed. He smiled, then mumbled, "So, this is the lucky person."

His tone and action caught the Priestess and the guard off guard as they all silently wondered why he spoke like that to the lord about his wife.

Hearing Alzureth’s voice, Yandol stared daggers at him as he swiftly stepped in to shield Amillia from him, saying, "Don’t get anywhere near her."

Slightly irritated by Yandol’s tone, Alzureth momentarily adopted a serious demeanor, directing his cold, piercing gaze at Yandol. However, he chose to simply ignore him and direct his focus elsewhere.

Turning around, Alzureth headed back to the other disguised demons and spoke with a slightly serious tone, "We’ll be starting soon. I expect you to have said your goodbyes to your people." His tone sent a shiver down the spines of Yandol, his wife, the guard, and the Priestess.

The guard by Yandol’s side became irritated, prompting him to ask, "My lord, that man was very disrespectful towards you. He has to be dealt with." The Priestess also added a similar remark, but Yandol simply replied with a slightly somber tone, "Forget about it," catching them off guard.

Meanwhile, another guard approached the demons still in their human appearance, suggesting, "I believe it’s best you all move closer to the mana crystal at the center for warmth." Alzureth, in his human form, grinned and swiftly ended the guard’s life with a wave of his right hand. The guard’s body fell to the floor in pieces, blood pooling around his corpse.

The people who witnessed the sudden bloody display paused momentarily before breaking into a panic.

The demons then released the spells that concealed their true forms and began the slaughter. The guards were all taken by surprise at the sudden transformation of the new omers and all headed in to try and put them down, but they were all simply no match.

Guards called out to Yandol, but their pleas were ignored, and they were mercilessly slaughtered. The air was filled with screams as Emily, in particular, seemed to enjoy the chaos.

Amillia, trembling with fear, urged Yandol to intervene. "They’re killing everyone! We can’t just stand here!"

Suddenly, Alzureth approached Yandol, and Amillia, along with the priestess, trembled behind him. Alzureth asked, "You still haven’t explained what’s happening to your wife, about the deal we made." His right hand, used to slay the guard from eariler, was covered in blood, dripping on the ground as he made his way towards them. His presence seemed to send chills down their collective spines.

Amillia was slightly confused by what Alzureth said, prompting her to ask Yandol, her tone laced with disbelief, "Darling... what is he talking about? What deal?" Her words seemed to sting; each of them only made Yandol feel even more guilt.

Yandol, his heart heavy with guilt, approached Amillia, his wife. He apologized, "Amillia, I’m sorry." Amillia, confused, asked him, "What are you apologizing for?" Yandol momentarily remained silent, unable to form a reply, his gaze filled with sorrow.

Struggling to find his words, Yandol said, "Amillia, I... I had no choice. They told me they would spare you if I led them here. I was already seriously wounded, so I couldn’t fight back. It was either I had you, or lost everything."

Amillia, horrified by the revelation, whispered, "But at what cost, Yandol? Look at what they’re doing! Our people...."

Yandol, unable to meet her gaze, clenched his fists. "I know it’s hard to understand, but I had to make a choice. Our family had to survive."

Amillia, tears streaming down her face, shook her head. "Survive? Is this survival, Yandol? Is this what we’ve become?"

As the slaughter continued, the once-thriving shelter now stained with the blood of its inhabitants, Yandol grappled with the consequences of his decision. The demons, reveling in chaos, showed no mercy.

Haunted by the choices he had made, Yandol could only watch as the shelter descended into darkness, the cries of the innocent echoing in the night.