Shelter of Stone
The village was called Cragdon.
It was only later that I learned its name meant “Shelter of Stone” in the language of the Orc Empire.
We decided to rest there for a while.
In truth, we had no choice. We were on the verge of starving to death.
Naturally, the residents of Cragdon did not welcome us. They feared the kingdom’s army would kill them. Some even came with crudely made spears, trying to drive us out by force.
As the standoff continued, Siggrid stepped forward. He knew the language of the Orc Empire.
He shouted to the orc villagers in their tongue.
“Give us enough food to last a day. Just a piece of bread and a sip of water.”
Even to me, who didn’t understand the orc language, his cry sounded desperate.
Whether our desperation reached them or not, the orc villagers gave us food.
Enough for us to eat our fill.
They didn’t spare from their abundant stores. In a time when food was already scarce, they helped us out of pity for those on the brink of starvation.
We expressed our gratitude repeatedly. Seeing us prostrate ourselves, the orc villagers lowered their guard. They allowed us into the village, provided food and water, and gave us places to rest.
We decided to stay there for a few more days.
There were certainly orc villagers who disliked the kingdom’s soldiers. But for the most part, they welcomed us.
And there, I met an orc child.
Whether to call him a child or a boy, he was a young orc somewhere in between.
His name? His name was…
Jubik. Yes. Jubik.
He was clever and curious for his age.
At the time, I was interested in the orc language and was learning a few words from Siggrid. Jubik seemed intrigued by me and kept talking to me. Sometimes he even acted as a teacher, teaching me the orc language.
By the time I became quite fluent in the orc language, Jubik said to me,
“Berian, I want to learn magic. Teach me magic.”
I looked into Jubik’s eyes.
In them burned the spark of longing for magic.
As he wished, I taught Jubik magic.
I shouldn’t have, but I did it in secret.
Only Dalmon and Siggrid knew that I had taught Jubik magic.
Jubik, as expected, had exceptional talent.
In just a few days, he reached the level of a kingdom army apprentice mage—enough to be immediately assigned to the rear mage unit.
Jubik had an older sister named Garsha.
Even though she was an orc, she wasn’t large in build and was slender, so even we humans found her quite beautiful. Dalmon was close with Garsha.
Garsha was very interested in human culture, and Dalmon had taught her the human language and culture. Just as Jubik and I became close, Dalmon grew close with Garsha.
After recovering their strength, some soldiers went hunting and brought back wild boars and bears to give to the orc villagers. They wanted to return the kindness they had received.
That’s how we lived. After a few days, even the orc villagers who had been wary of us no longer guarded against us. But then…
Berian’s body trembled violently.
The orc army came.
Someone among the orc villagers must have reported to the orc army. That we were stationed in this village, that we were taking the villagers’ food…
It was hard for humans to distinguish orcs just by their faces. They all looked the same.
Especially at night, it was practically impossible. Whether they planned it or not, the orc army came at night.
Since it was dark and we couldn’t see their faces, we didn’t know they were the orc army.
There was no way the orc army would come here out of nowhere, so we naturally thought they were orc villagers.
Even when the orc soldiers drew their spears and stabbed our hearts, we couldn’t react at all.
Then someone screamed.
“It’s the orc army! It’s the orc army!”
“Ian’s been stabbed!”
We weren’t standing there confused anymore. The orc army began killing us with spears, swords, and maces, and we killed the orc soldiers with the same weapons.
Magic flew, screams, shrieks, and battle cries filled the air.
But we had reacted too late.
It was a sudden ambush, and our discipline was extremely lax at the time…
Above all, above all…
We had lost our resolve.
The resolve to kill orcs without hesitation.
We had become too close to the orc villagers. Even when killing the orc soldiers, we hesitated thinking of the villagers.
They no longer seemed like mere “enemies” but intelligent beings like us…
We were defeated in battle, and Dalmon and I were taken prisoner.
Though prisoners, our treatment wasn’t bad.
It was thanks to the villagers.
They testified that we hadn’t plundered food, that we had helped with work and even provided game from hunting to supplement their food.
Moreover, Dalmon and Garsha seemed to have been quite close. Closer than I thought.
Not just friends, but… lovers, or something like lovers.
Occasionally, Jubik and Garsha would come to the makeshift camp where Dalmon and I were held, secretly bringing food or talking through the night.
While we were captured, there were several small-scale battles between the kingdom army and the orc army.
Battles to recapture us, the prisoners.
…We gave information to the orc army. We confessed everything about the kingdom army’s weapons, tactics, and forces.
If we didn’t, the orc army threatened to conscript Jubik and Garsha.
I had no choice but to do it to prevent that. Truly.
After about two weeks as prisoners, an orc soldier came to us. His armor decorations were more ornate than the others. He was probably an officer.
“We’ll release you. Leave this place.”
The orc officer said to Dalmon, me, and all the other prisoners.
“We’ll release all the prisoners. Leave this place. Don’t invade our territory anymore. Don’t advance toward us. Retreat. We’re tired of the continuous fighting.”
“Understood. I’ll convey that.”
But the orc officer shook his head.
“Conveying it isn’t enough. We need a definite answer. Otherwise, we can’t release you.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
“Really?”
“I’m a high-ranking mage. Dalmon is a knight. Equivalent to nobility. If we speak, they will surely retreat.”
I answered in awkward orc language, and the orc officer finally nodded.
Prison life wasn’t too harsh, but it wasn’t comfortable either. The thought of escaping it was relieving.
But it wasn’t entirely relieving. There was regret.
I grabbed the orc officer and said,
“Before we go, I want to see the two children. I want to see Jubik and Garsha.”
The orc officer pondered and nodded.
“Granted. Bring Jubik and Garsha.”
The orc officer knew the relationship between me and Jubik, and between Dalmon and Garsha.
He sent a subordinate to fetch the two children.
Berian’s body shook violently.
His condition was not normal. Cold sweat flowed, and his eyelids trembled.
I prepared for the hypnosis to break. There was a possibility Berian would wake from hypnosis and cause a disturbance, so I prepared to administer the sedative, Lullaby of the Mist.
However, Berian did not wake from the hypnotic state.
He continued to tremble and sweat coldly, but did not break out of hypnosis.
In that painfully distressed state, Berian continued his story.
Thanks to the orc officer’s consideration, the four of us were able to talk in a separate room with no other prisoners or orc soldiers present.
There we said our goodbyes. When Jubik heard we were leaving, he said to me with tears welling in his eyes,
“Berian, come back later. By then I’ll be a stronger mage than you.”
“Yes. If it’s you, you could do that. I’ll definitely come back. I’ll come back to see how much stronger you’ve become.”
It wasn’t empty words. Jubik really could have become a stronger mage than me.
He was that talented a child.
Dalmon and Garsha were holding each other.
Dalmon remained composed, but Garsha wept openly.
“I’ll miss you, Dalmon.”
“Me too, Garsha. We’ll see each other again someday.”
“Promise you’ll come back. Promise you’ll come see me.”
“I promise, Garsha. This dagger is the token of that promise.”
Dalmon gave Garsha the dagger as a gift.
It was the dagger he had received when he was knighted.
Then, from somewhere, we heard a “boom.”
And battle cries. “Waaah—!” Among them, faint shouts of “For Lumentea!” could be heard.
Screams and the sounds of fighting followed.
The human battle cries were so loud that the orc screams seemed small in comparison.
Just from the sound, we could tell there were far too many kingdom soldiers.
I looked at Dalmon. Dalmon looked at me. We knew instinctively.
The kingdom army had brought reinforcements to recapture the prisoners.
It seemed the kingdom army was determined to retake us even if it meant an all-out battle.
Shock and fear appeared on Jubik and Garsha’s faces. Having learned the orc language and their culture, I could now read their expressions.
I could feel their emotions, so vividly…
At that moment, Jubik jumped up. He tried to leave the room.
“Where are you going, Jubik!”
“I’m going to check on Uncle Mook and Aunt Barash. I need to see if they’re safe.”
“No!”
Dalmon shouted. As a knight, his voice was loud enough to make one’s ears ring. He blocked Jubik and Garsha from leaving.
“If you go out there, you’ll die. The kingdom soldiers will kill you. All of you…”
“We’re just going to check if Uncle Mook and Aunt Barash are safe. Why would they kill us?”
“They will kill you! The kingdom army will kill you!”
Dalmon had lost his reason.
I felt the same. The kingdom army would kill every orc.
To the kingdom soldiers, there was no way to tell civilians from soldiers.
It was safer to kill everyone, civilian or soldier alike.
Jubik and Garsha would surely die if they stayed.
I grabbed Jubik and said,
“Tell them you want to enlist in the kingdom army. A mage of your caliber would be treated well.”
There were already a few orcs in the kingdom army. Former prisoners who had earned merit and become regular soldiers.
I explained that Jubik could do the same. That way, he could come with us. Naturalize in the Kingdom of Lumentea and live there together.
“I don’t want to. I was born and raised in Cragdon. I can’t abandon this place.”
“The kingdom army will kill you. They’ll kill every orc living in Cragdon!”
“Then instead of naturalizing or running away, we should fight!”
Jubik was too young to understand.
“Garsha, please. Convince Jubik. This is the only way for you to survive.”
Garsha was older and wiser than Jubik. She seemed to seriously consider naturalizing in the kingdom.
But before Garsha could persuade Jubik, they arrived. The kingdom army.
Deputy Siggrid and three soldiers I didn’t recognize. The four of them had come looking for us.
Deputy Siggrid frowned uncomfortably when he saw us.
The soldiers looked confused. Their faces seemed to ask why kingdom soldiers were with orcs.
“These children are planning to naturalize in the kingdom. This boy named Jubik has exceptional talent as a mage. He’ll be useful to the kingdom.”
I spoke as if making excuses.
No one spoke. It was quiet. Too quiet.
That was the problem. It was too quiet.
The silence was too heavy. I, Dalmon, Jubik, and Garsha were all tense. That was the problem. That was the problem…
One soldier took a step toward us. It was probably just an unconscious action.
Jubik reacted far too sensitively.
Flames appeared in Jubik’s hand. Whoosh—a fireball. A fireball.
The fireball that flew from Jubik’s hand blew off a soldier’s head. Another fireball followed, blowing off another soldier’s head. Two men died in an instant.
If only it had ended there.
Jubik then tried to kill Siggrid with a fireball as well.
I had to choose.
I… I had no choice.
I should have killed Jubik with a fireball.
Otherwise, Jubik would have killed Siggrid. If that happened, both Siggrid and Jubik would die. After killing Siggrid, Jubik wouldn’t be able to naturalize in the kingdom either. So… for Jubik’s sake, I had no choice but to…
Jubik died.
Garsha rushed at me. Holding the dagger Dalmon had given her.
Holding the dagger that had been the token of their promise, she charged at me with eyes full of rage…
I… I reacted instinctively. I created a fireball to throw at Garsha.
At that moment… Dalmon swung his sword at me. To protect Garsha, he tried to kill me. Dalmon’s sword flew toward my neck. I thought I was surely going to die.
But Dalmon’s sword never reached my neck.
Because Siggrid had drawn his sword first and knocked Dalmon’s blade aside.
There was a crack. It was the sound of Siggrid’s arm breaking as he blocked Dalmon’s sword.
Immediately after, Garsha rushed at Dalmon.
Once an orc is enraged, they lose all reason.
Garsha had been interested in human culture, but her nature was still orc.
Blinded by the rage of losing her brother, Garsha seemed unable to even recognize Dalmon.
With the dagger she had received as a token of their promise… Garsha stabbed Dalmon in the side.
Dalmon could have dodged, but he didn’t.
Even then, Dalmon had been trying to save Garsha.
When Garsha tried to stab Dalmon in the neck with the dagger, Dalmon could no longer stay still.
Dalmon raised his sword and stabbed Garsha in the stomach.
Garsha… looked at Dalmon, and then she died.
Once again, silence fell. A heavier silence than before.
“Uwaaaah. Uwaaaah, uwaaaah…”
Dalmon collapsed, covering his ears, crying like a child.
Siggrid stood there in a daze. I ran to Siggrid and grabbed him by the collar.
“We were going to be released soon. We were going to be released…! You bastard, you should have stopped the kingdom army! The people of Cragdon were so good to you!”
“How could I stop them? On what grounds could I stop the reinforcements the kingdom sent to recapture the prisoners!”
“You still should have stopped them somehow! Somehow!”
Even knowing Siggrid couldn’t have stopped the kingdom army, I blamed him.
Because he was the only one I could blame…
“If the mage hadn’t taught that brat Jubik magic, none of this would have happened!”
Siggrid shouted at me.
“If we’re going to talk like that, then you! If you hadn’t suggested we enter this village in the first place…!”
“We were about to starve to death, all of us! If it weren’t for me, we would have died anyway, so…!”
We blamed each other.
We couldn’t endure it otherwise. Without blaming someone…
“…What is all this talk?”
And one soldier had heard our entire conversation.
Yuric. Siggrid’s subordinate.
Siggrid, Dalmon, and I belatedly noticed Yuric’s presence.
We had been so agitated that we had said things Yuric shouldn’t have heard.
“You taught an orc magic? What does that even mean? And what do you mean the Cragdon villagers were good to you? Dalmon, Sir Dalmon! Why are you like this?”
Yuric looked confused. We looked at Yuric with confused hearts as well.
We had no idea what to do.
Eventually, betrayal filled Yuric’s eyes.
“Traitors…”
At that moment, I saw it. Yuric placing his hand on his sword hilt.
And Siggrid quietly drawing his sword.
There was a swish. And Yuric’s head rolled across the floor.
Before Yuric could do anything, Siggrid had cut off his head first.
Siggrid hurriedly wiped the blood from his sword and said,
“Jubik already killed two kingdom soldiers with magic. And you, Sir Berian, taught him that magic.”
“…”
“If this fact gets out, you won’t be able to avoid punishment, Sir Berian. They could charge you with treason or rebellion.”
Siggrid glanced at Dalmon.
“We also have to consider Sir Dalmon’s honor. If rumors spread that the mighty knight Dalmon wept after killing a single orc, it would be troublesome. If rumors spread that he had an affair with an orc woman, he might even be stripped of his knighthood. We had no choice but to kill him.”
Siggrid continued in an eerily calm voice.
“Moreover, the orc army was acting as if they knew our kingdom army’s tactics and forces. Because of that, the kingdom army is already suspecting that you or Sir Dalmon leaked information.”
“That’s…”
I had nothing to say. It was true that we had leaked kingdom army information.
Siggrid’s eyes widened.
“Sir Berian, I’ll falsify the records, so burn this entire village. Burn the whole village to erase all traces of us. Traces of our collusion, traces of us being friendly with the orc villagers—everything. No…”
“Ugh, ugh.”
“…Let’s erase even the trace that there was a village here. Let’s say this was an orc army outpost, and we burned the entire outpost during battle. We have to do at least this much if we want to survive.”