Every dead body of both the former soldiers and villagers alike, limb from limb, was properly yet separately burned and returned to where they came from—to dust.
The loot from the pillagers was also settled—a bountiful necessity for the journey along the way.
Additionally, during the brief ceremony to pay respect to the dead, Kaya summoned the village elder and received his approval as a form of gratitude to take everything of what's left in the village, which was, but not limited to, the stockpile of food.
In this rural abode of 30-40 wooden houses, geography-wise, the villagers' way of living was solely focused on farming and fishing. Realizing that fact, as we began our preparations to depart, my voice hinted a sense of regret.
"If only we arrived a little earlier..."
"..."
We could have become trading partners with the villagers or, given the rare opportunity, absorbed them into Eshu County as its new citizens.
Considering their life skills, they would have become an additional help in stabilizing and pioneering the source of food, which was still tilting into an utter inefficiency at this point in time.
'What a pity.'
Leading the way, as I reined atop the new horse we acquired and easily tamed, and after engraving a few traces that only those under my command would understand, we departed from the unnamed village.
We didn't burn or erase the village's existence.
It's either to become a ghost town until time immemorial or become a hidden stronghold for future operations.
Neigh!
"Hup! Let's go!"
*
With approximately 50 horses of fine quality, as each one harbored two passengers, we rode the straight yet uneven paths in the middle of two noble territories that were hundreds of kilometers away from each other.
It's so desolate that only the lost and inhuman entities would go through such paths.
We passed by rainforests with towering trees that served as shelter against the sun during the scorching afternoons.
On some days, we crossed several rivers with low tides and speared some fish as an additional source of food reserves.
We met some territorial beasts on the way, at least those that didn't pose a significant threat. However, as this expedition was the first for some recruits, the first-hand experience was inevitable to invite numerous wounds.
Thankfully, no soldier was in critical condition.
After some respite, we continued with our journey day and night.
Our pace had become significantly faster and incomparable during the time when we traveled on foot—a sign of insanity, I'd say. But it was necessary to maintain and improve the territory, so we had no choice but to do this.
Some other times, we tend to glance at our resting horses with gleaming expressions. It was as if the gratitude for having them was enough to reach the heavens.
After all, without these four-legged commodities, we wouldn't witnessed yet the sight in front of us...
A chilling and ominous sight.
A bizarre and inexplicable phenomenon.
A curtain of separation between the good and evil.
"That's the border of the Dark Forest... of the Abyss Lands..." Kaya muttered.
Even in my case, it was the first time I witnessed it with my own eyes.
It was absurdly overwhelming compared to when I was just reading its vague description when it was still a form of literature in my mind.
[- A dark veil that seems to have rejected the blessing from the heavens...]
[- A world in its own sphere of nature where no gaps existed for the light from the outside to reach...]
[- The place of evil. Of the abandoned. Of those who were forsaken...]
[- The land of riches. Of corruption. Of the ancient mysteries...]
[- The home of demonkind. Of the Demon King. Of those who wanted to swallow humanity...]
In front of us, just only several kilometers away, our eyes beheld a dark curtain of mist. Strangely, we could see through it, seeing a vast lifeless forest filled with trees that loomed over everything.
Arriving early in the morning, I couldn't help but think that it truly resembled water and oil—morning on our side, but only darkness on the other.
That's the unholy characteristic of the Abyss Lands—a place of everlasting darkness, an area that refused to let a flicker of light, a dreading dimension of its own.
"It's eerily silent..." Beatrice muttered.
Other soldiers gulped at the sight. Even the Golden Crown failure of a spy, Yena, subconsciously swallowed. Everyone's complexion betrayed their anxiousness, that's a given in this grueling expedition.
'I can't blame them...' I reminded myself before gesturing to Beatrice to hand me the map, the basis of our journey up until now.
Checking the detailed map in my grasp, I confirmed our location.
After that, I commanded everyone to take a break, to brief them on the do's and don't's when we entered the Dark Forest.
But to sum it up, I was basically reminding them that:
"If you don't want to die, just follow my orders."
Do not be excessively curious.
Do not be astray from the path.
Do not talk unnecessarily.
Do not fear.
Everyone nodded, but the tension remained.
Now then, after leaving several traces for the [Food Supply Force] and the [Backup Force] to follow, we proceeded with our expedition as we reined on our horses with unshakeable resolve.
"We will now be entering the Dark Forest! Follow me!"
Kaya, seated behind me, tightened her grip on her hands as she embraced me from behind.
Yena, seated behind Beatrice, also tensed her body to be ready for any signs of abnormalities that could turn things very badly at a moment's notice.
Azrabel, seated behind Yusbel, clutched her weapon on her side. But the former's eyes were glaring at Yena, gauging any possibility of betrayal.
It was now time to enter the unknown.
*
Meanwhile, after witnessing the traces on the very village that turned into a place with no inhabitants, the [Food Supply Force] waited for the [Backup Force]—as it was a new order from their very lord, which they received thanks to Yena's ability to handle communications via small animals.
Together, they formed a force of 150 men and women and immediately followed the paths the [Raid Force] had traversed.
Brasken, Rudgar, and Drevan, the three of the five squad leaders that were leading these combined forces began to lead the way.
Throughout the journey, in their minds was a single question despite putting their trust in their lord—
'What would await us?'