The members of the second squad arrived in the city of Bial, some visiting it for the first time.
The human commanders stood stunned in front of the scene unfolding before them.
Hundreds walked slowly through the streets, carrying leather whips and striking their skins in coordinated movements.
Those whips were soaked with their blood, and their tattered clothes were torn under the blows.
The sounds of crying and moaning spread among the crowds, their pleas engulfing all other noises in the town.
They had long thought Bial was a foul-smelling town, but they did not expect that particular foul odor… the scent of rusty iron, the scent of blood. They had expected the town to be bustling, filled with the snarling noises of hybrid monsters, but they did not expect the monsters' snarling to be high-pitched cries.
Sabana shouted in panic, "What is this? Is Bial under attack too!!"
Mika looked with a heavy heart. "No, commander… These are Bial's ceremonies for Nieth loss."
Rin said in terror, "Even the children…"
They were walking beside their mothers… small children. Their parents helped them perform the ceremonies correctly. Some children were having their first ceremony, holding small whips prepared for them by their fathers, gently striking themselves, but… their fathers stood beside them to help them strike correctly.
Nier said in pain, "This is how the progeny of light try to atone for their sins… hoping that humans will condemn them one day…" He grabbed his weapon, a large white sword made from Nieth bones. "If someone is trading with Frata… then there is one person we can talk to."
Elir replied, "Ah… Azar."
Nier noticed the traces of anger on Birko's face, so he turned to him and said, "Commander Birko…"
Birko said, "Yes, I know… the pimp who runs all the illegal activities in Bial… or have you forgotten that I am a commander…"
Nier, Elir, and Inini led their commanders to Azar, while the rest of the squad continued to interrogate the people of Bial.
Seeta, Mika, and their leader Sabana stood looking around, and Sabana said hesitantly, "We must… we must ask the townspeople…"
Sadness seemed to be on Ayk, Mika, and Seeta's faces… because today… they hated this day intensely.
Everyone began to move alongside Ino, Ayk, Arlo, and Noel.
Arlo seemed irritated as Noel refused to go to Azar with them. He said to himself, "Inini… be okay…"
A woman in clothes stained with blood ran towards Seeta, leaned on her, and said, "Seeta… my dear… Have you returned to us?? Have you returned to your mother??"
Fear was etched on Seeta's face.
When she felt alone or scared… she remembered her mother… the kind mother she remembered… with long black hair and white skin… and beautiful white clothes… She had always wanted to grow up to wear her mother's clothes… but… she always tried to forget her mother's memory on the day of humans' victory over Nieth… her white clothes stained with blood… her thin face splattered with her blood and others' blood…
Sabana noticed the fear on Seeta's face and said hesitantly, "Please, ma'am, stay away from the soldier while she is performing her duty! Seeta is here on a mission…"
Seeta's mother frowned and said in a frightening voice, "Why are you talking to me, you human whore… I am talking to my daughter…"
She uttered her sentence as she was about to attack Sabana with her whip… but before she could reach her, Mika stood in front of her, raised his weapon, and said, "Listen, ma'am… I don't want to hit you because you will be my mother-in-law one day… but stay away from here, you mad woman, or those humans will catch you and execute you if you don't leave…"
The woman screamed in terror and said, "Why is everyone trying to keep me away from my daughter!!"
She kept screaming hysterically… Seeta stood trembling as she did not look at her mother's face… she didn't want… she didn't want to remember her like this…
Mika said, "Seeta… let's go…"
They began to move.
Sabana looked at them in astonishment and muttered, "Seeta…"
Sabana stopped them and said, "Wait… stop, everyone…" She looked at Noel, who was distracted, and said to her, "Noel… we don't need to interrogate them here; they won't tell us anything… let's join them at Azar…"
She looked at Mika and Seeta and said, "Can you guide us…"
Seeta smiled at her and nodded her head…
Noel was standing looking at the crowds in the streets, with disdain and hatred on her face; she did not even try to hide them.
Arlo said to her, "Leader Noel… come on…"
Noel looked at him but did not change her expression before passing him and walking in front of him…
The rest of the squad arrived at Azzar's house, where those who hadn't joined Farata's army had returned. Azzar came out laughing, a cigar in his mouth, and said, "Did you miss me that quickly!!"
Rin said, "Mr. Azzar… we want to talk to you about something…"
Azzar, looking at Elir, replied, "No problem… as you can see, I'm not busy today since everyone is outside slicing their backs…" He sat on a chair at one of the long tables and said, "Please have a seat… what shall I bring for the humans who have honored us with their visit… what would you like to drink… we have some wine that my men stole from Farata… but it will cost you a bit here…"
Berko looked at him with disgust, but Rin gestured for them to sit and said, "Thank you… but we didn't come here to drink… we want to ask you about something…"
Azzar signaled to one of the young men, whose wounds were still visible.
Nier looked at him as he approached their table… he used to see him in the trainings…
Azzar said, "Nonsense… do you think the filthy lights are not generous!! Boy… bring the finest wines we have…"
Then he turned to Elir and said, "Ah… Elir… I don't know if someone told you that… but your father passed away shortly after you left…"
Nier looked at Elir in surprise as Azzar continued, curling his lip in an ugly smile, "Ah, blondie… don't worry about your mother… I treat her well…"
Nier's face contorted, and he growled in anger, "What!!"
Berko struck the table angrily and said, "You despicable… how long should we tell you that we want to ask you something!! Are you disrespecting us!! Do you know who you are talking to?!"
Nier calmly said, "Commander Berko… we are in Bial now…"
Berko responded angrily, "And?? Do you think I'm afraid of him?"
Azzar, with a darkened face, said in an unusual tone, "I think I was wrong when I sat at the same table with a human like you… do you dare talk to someone who carries the blood of the God's soldiers in his veins like this!!"
Berko stood there, hesitant in his eyes, but stood firmly in front of Azzar, drawing his weapon, the same weapon as the black wings but with a padded handle.
Azzar stood up when he saw Berko drawing his weapon, taking a knife out of his pocket, but Elir grabbed his shoulder and looked at him. Azzar looked at him for a moment and looked at this empty look in his eyes.
Tension and silence filled the gathering. Everyone was watching Azzar and Elir. The situation remained like this for long seconds before Azzar sat down again and said, "The wine, boy!! I am starting to sober up!!!"
The boy placed the wine on the table, so Azzar drank his cup and said, "Now, before I help you…" He looked towards Inini and Fojta and continued, "How are my girls, ha? You took those two from me…"
Fojta looked at him with disgust, but Inini turned her face away. Azar went on, "You can take that damn one-eyed girl… but return Inini to me… ha, what do you think? Her admirers keep asking about her."
Fojta looked at him angrily and said, "You filthy old man…"
Azzar laughed loudly. Rin said, trying to remain calm, "Listen, Azzar… Farata has been attacked… someone released some explosive birds in the capital… and we think if the explosive birds were obtained from here—from Bial… do you know anyone who could be selling something like this…"
Azzar was silent for a moment, then continued to laugh his obnoxious, loud laugh, saying, "What? Explosive birds? Are you kidding me? It seems you didn't forget old Azzar and came all this way to make him laugh…"
Berko's anger reached its limit. He sucked his teeth, about to strike Azzar, but before he could do anything…
Azzar's door was forcefully opened, and one of the working girls stood there, screaming, "Bial—"
Her words were cut off by a fiery arrow that pierced her stomach, and she fell to the ground.
Azzar stood up in anger and said, "Who dares to kill one of my workers!!"
The second squad stood up immediately, and Berko said, "The criminals must have known we came!! They are trying to launch a surprise attack on us…"
Rin replied, "Yes… let's go quickly!"
Azzar hit the table in anger before saying, "I don't know what you brought with you… but don't involve Bial in your problems!!"
Nier ran towards the girl at the door and grabbed her. His eyes had opened on his trembling face. Her black aura was disappearing around her; she raised her hands and touched his face and said, "Is this how the lights look? How beautiful…"
Her hand fell, and her black Aura completely disappeared.
Nier gasped for air as he tried to fight his tears back. "Not again…"
His body was shaking as he tried to stand up. He looked at her dead body, then to the outside. Tears sparkled in his eyes as anger built on his face.
Nier began to run outside quickly.
He didn't care that Elir was screaming for him to stop. "Not again."
He didn't care who was out there with the arrows. All he could think was, not again—he doesn't want anyone else to die.
Elir ran after Nier, followed by the others.
Nier stood looking around at the blazing fires appearing all around the town. The heavy air carried the smell of smoke and the screams of people throughout Bial. Houses, stalls, and shops were burning.
Nier thought, "Is this hell?"